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Calisa Rhose with Heather Kinnane and her Faery Dreamy novel #fantasy #MFRWauthor #interview
Osiyo~
Welcome one and all! Grab a beverage of choice, something sweet and sinful. No-no, not the men. What’s the matter with you? You know the hands-on rules… The guest gets first pick! 😉 Take a comfy seat for another, or a first, spin in the Round Pen.
I’m thrilled to welcome my wonderfully talented guest today, Heather Kinnane, who is sharing her book, A Faery Dream: Nerida’s Story with us!
Please show Heather some real Ranch love!
Before I get to the nosy part of this interview, tell us a bit about you.
Hi everyone!
I’m an Australian writer of sweet and steamy romantic escapes. My books always have a happy ending, because there’s no guarantee of getting that in real life, and sometimes it’s just nice to know things are going to end well. I have three children, and a very supportive husband who is the only reason I’m able to find enough time to write books! He also provides the inspiration for my heroes. 😉
Author Bio: Heather Kinnane is the author of the romantic fantasy series, ‘A Faery Dream’, and the steamy menage series ‘Seeking Satisfaction’. She lives in Australia with her husband, children and pets, in a house in the bush. When she’s not writing she’s usually avoiding the housework by reading, gardening, or soaking up the natural world. Sometimes she’s lucky enough to be visited by echidnas, sugar gliders, or wedge-tailed eagles.
Okay, let’s begin.
My writing area at the moment is a corner of the couch in my living room. What does your writing space look like?
Ha – my writing space is often a corner of the couch, too! I am trying to be a little more organized this year though, so I’ve reclaimed the small upstairs office from my children (who discovered all the arty and crafty bits in the cupboards and took over), and am enjoying having a bit of space where I can spread out and know I (mostly) won’t be disturbed.
For a lot of writer’s it’s a life-altering event coming up with titles and character names. Others it comes as naturally as breathing. Which is it for you?
Titles and names are so difficult for me! It’s very rare that they just fall into place, mostly I spend ages agonizing over them, and changing them a billion times before I settle on something. I’m envious of those who can find names and titles easily. Wish it were contagious!
What advice would you offer aspiring and new writers?
Keep writing. It’s a bit cliché but honestly – the only way to be published is to keep going. Perseverance is the key.
The constant shift of the industry makes me often scratch my head and ask ‘what next?’ So, what do you think it takes to be a successful author at the moment?
I’m not sure I know how to answer that one! So tricky! Like you say – there’s a constant shift – always new things to try. And then you have to be careful that the trying new things doesn’t steal away precious writing time (with three kids any moment I can get to myself is precious – I’ve got to be careful how I spend it!). I guess this answer is a bit the same as above – just keep writing. If you’re writing good stories, the readers will find you (eventually).
Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry- dead or alive- and why?
It would be great to meet Stephen King! I love his work – The Dark Tower in particular is one of my all-time favourite series.
It’s time for 3 in 1! I’ll ask the questions and you answer them in one word. 😆
Favorite animal? Cat
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Autumn
Favorite food? Chocolate
Well done! And for those who question her answer, CHOCOLATE IS A FOOD GROUP! 😉
Okay, Flash four. Ready? What are you working on now?
I wrote a novella during Nanowrimo last year, and I’m working my way through that at the moment… it’s a re-telling of the old Scottish Ballad of Tam Lin – awesome heroine saves her lover from the Fairy Realm. I’m pretty pleased with how it’s going, so far.
What are you sharing today?
My newest release is the third in my ‘A Faery Dream’ series – ‘Nerida’s Story’ – though this one is focusing on a different character, so it works as a stand-alone too.
Nerida’s whole life has been focused on preparing for one thing – to be Consort to the King of Faery. She’s kept herself distant, awaiting the day when the King would be found and she would take her place beside him.
But there is no King. Instead, Nyssa is now Queen, with Kellen, Nerida’s brother, as her Consort.
Nerida has never felt so lost in her life.
When Imradon appears, he brings out feelings Nerida thought she’d never experience. But fighting against a lifetime of conditioning is hard, and then there’s the big question: does she want a partner, or is she just looking for something—anything—to fill this terrible emptiness?
A Faery Dream 3: Nerida’s Story, can be read as stand-alone or part of the series.
Where can we find you and your books?
Nerida’s Story can be found here:
kindle: www.amazon.com/Neridas-Story-Faery-Dream-Book-ebook/dp/B079CBMJWN/
ePub: www.books2read.com/u/3nOA08
My website: www.heatherkinnane.com
My amazon page: www.amazon.com/Heather-Kinnane/e/B00ELDPLZ6/
Where will you be next?
I’m hanging out on Twitter at the moment www.twitter.com/HeatherKinnane
But you can also find me on Patreon (www.patreon.com/HeatherKinnane) – with lots of deleted scenes, and early glimpses of what I’m working on, and plenty of other things too. 😊
Thank you so much for playing along Heather! Wishing you much luck with your book and writing. I hope you’ll come visit again one day.
Thank you so much for having me Calisa! I had so much fun – already looking forward to catching up again next time. 😊
Dodadagohvi~
Calisa Rhose welcomes Science Fiction author Kayelle Allen #MFRWauthor #interview #scifiauthor
Osiyo~
Welcome one and all! Grab a beverage of choice, something sweet and sinful. No-no, not the men. What’s the matter with you? You know the hands-on rules… The guest gets first pick! 😉 Take a comfy seat for the first Tuesday Round-Up interview of 2018 in the Round Pen.
I couldn’t imagine a better guest to kick off the New Year and I’m thrilled to welcome a multi-talented guest today, and my friend. Kayelle Allen is sharing her book, Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire with us!
Please show Kayelle some real Ranch love!
Before I get to the nosy part of this interview, tell us a bit about you.
I’ve been published since 2004. In 2006, as a response to questions from friends for marketing help, I founded Marketing for Romance Writers, a peer-mentoring group open to the entire literary community. MFRW is now a large online author peer-mentoring group, and provides no-cost training in book marketing skills as well as free promotional services for its members. In 2009, I opened the Romance Lives Forever blog for authors. The site now has a reach of over three million. I teach workshops online, and I’m an invited speaker at numerous online conferences. I’ve been a featured speaker at Outlantacon since its founding and hold an honorary lifetime membership there. I was a board member for Gaylaxicon, and have been a panelist at DragonCon and a featured guest at NerdaCon. My books have won multiple awards, including the EPIC eBook Award for Science Fiction Romance, and one was a finalist in Fantasy. My motto is “romance lives forever” and my books include unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion. I’m married to my personal hero and we live in the metro Atlanta area, near our three grown children and five grandchildren. My husband and I are both US Navy Veterans. We met while on active duty in Memphis, TN.
I still don’t know how you do all that you do! You are a true inspiration, Kayelle.
Okay, let’s begin. My writing area at the moment is my lovely (if more than a lot cluttered at times) office/craft room in the solitude of the second floor of our house, where I rely on my laptop to take me to new places. Sometimes I take the laptop for a walk downstairs when the solitary life of a writer gets to me. What does your writing space look like?
I have a basement office that permits me to step away from everything. I use a desktop computer but sometimes go out for coffee and take a tablet with me. My room’s pretty cozy. I hole up there for long periods when I’m writing.
For a lot of writers it’s a life-altering event coming up with titles and character names. For others it comes as naturally as breathing. Which is it for you?
I rarely struggle with character names. They pop into my head with complete backstories. I can’t explain that. It just happens. For example, I needed a name for a character who was a staff member for my empress. I couldn’t keep writing “her assistant.” So I looked around the room and happened to spy a notepad that had the brand name “Elite.” I thought he’d be elite indeed, so I named him Alitus. The moment I had the name I knew a backstory and description. He actually ended up getting his own book.
I only know of one other author who can do that. Amazing.
What advice would you offer aspiring and new writers?
Two things. 1. Don’t quit. Anyone can start writing. It’s those who keep going who finish the book. 2. Study the craft and learn the skills needed. Don’t expect an editor to polish your work. You polish it. Let the editor buff to a shine.
Great words of wisdom!
The constant shift of the industry makes me often scratch my head and ask ‘what next?’ So, what do you think it takes to be a successful author at the moment?
Relationships with readers. You have to get out and meet people, not only in person but online. If you’re not willing to use social media, you are crippling yourself. Likewise, go to other authors’ readings at bookshops. Network. Support other authors. That’s how you get your name out there.
Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry- dead or alive- and why?
JD Robb. I’m such a fan of her work.
You and me both! Or rather, Nora Roberts in my case. 🙂
It’s time for 3 in 1! I’ll ask the questions and you answer them in one word. 😆
Favorite animal? Panther (ooh! An answer as unique as you.)
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Yes
Favorite food? Chocolate
Well done! An all-seasons gal. 🙂
Okay, Flash four. Ready?
What are you working on now?
I’ve started on book 3 of the Bringer of Chaos series, Watch Your Six. Readers know Six is a character in the stories. The only human on the planet at this point. Everyone else is immortal. But I’m also making notes on at least three other books at the same time. I focus on writing only one, however. Notes is all I make on other projects.
I should probably take notes from you!
What are you sharing today?
When the immortal Pietas is marooned on a barren world with no food and few survival tools, he knows it could be worse. He could be alone. But that’s the problem. He’s not.
Half a million of his people sleep in cryostasis, trapped inside their pods and it’s up to Pietas to save them. He can’t release one at a time. It’s all or nothing. He’s facing over five hundred thousand hungry, thirsty, homeless, immortals all looking to him for answers.
It’s not all bad. The beautiful telepathic warrior he’s loved for lifetimes is at his side. He’s bonded with a sentient panther. He hates humans but the one dumped on this planet with him has become a trusted friend.
But before Pietas can build shelter, figure out how to grow food, or set up a government, he must take back command from a ruthless enemy he’s fought for centuries. His brutal, merciless father.
Immortals may heal, but a wound of the heart lasts forever…
***
Amazon and in print. Free on Kindle Unlimited
http://amzn.to/2ABIcCI
Review this book on #NetGalley https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/127569
Where can we find you and your books?
Website https://kayelleallen.com
Romance Lives Forever Reader Group https://kayelleallen.com/bro/
Twitter http://twitter.com/kayelleallen
Facebook http://facebook.com/kayelleallen.author
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/kayelleallen/
Instafreebie https://www.instafreebie.com/discover/author/5186/kayelle_allen
Amazon Author page http://amazon.com/author/kayelleallen
Where will you be next?
For any who want to meet me, I’ll be appearing in person at OutlantaCon mid-May. www.outlantacon.org I hope to have some local events in the Atlanta area as well. Join my reader group and you’ll be first to know where I’m going.
How fun! Wish I could be there!
GIVEAWAY
Here is a free adult coloring book to download and print, based on my characters. It contains original art. I hope you enjoy it! http://bit.ly/color-pietas
Thank you, Kayelle!
I’d like to ask a question of your readers if I may. When you visit an author’s website, what two things do you look for? (Example, book covers, bio) I’m updating my website and I’d love to have some feedback on that. Thank you! https://kayelleallen.com
Thank you so much for playing along Kayelle! It’s always a joy catching up with you. Wishing you much luck with your books and writing. I hope you’ll come visit again soon.
Dodadagohvi~
M.S. Kaye takes Once & Forever into the round pen #mfrwauthor #inspirationalromance #Tuesdayroundup
Osiyo
I’ve got M.S. Kaye on the ranch today to share her latest book Once & Forever with us. Lets sit back and enjoy.
Writing Inspirational Fiction without Preaching
I’m a bit of a stubborn person (my husband would say that’s an understatement), so when I read a fiction title and I get a lecture about how I’m supposed to live, it annoys me. And, of course, I feel bad for being annoyed, like I’m not being a good Christian. Ugh! I read fiction for fun, not to feel inadequate and guilty.
Here are some things to consider when writing fiction with an inspirational vibe (Christian or not).
- Focus on the story. When I set out to write Once, I didn’t intend to make it inspirational. I think that’s why I’m happy with the result. I set out to write a story about characters who happened to have strong ties to their religion.
- No author intrusion. Don’t stuff your opinions into the mouths and thoughts of your characters. Show who your characters are through their actions. Every scene must support the story. Also, be sure you do not include scenes for the sole purpose of getting your opinions across. If it doesn’t move the plot forward, CUT IT.
- Do not preach. Unless you work in a church or you’re the second coming of Jesus, no one wants to hear your opinion of how they should live. If you feel you need to share your vast knowledge of religious texts or lifestyle, you should not be writing fiction. Consider nonfiction.
- Respect your audience. If you generally think people do not live their lives the “right way,” you probably shouldn’t be writing.
- Inspire through the plot. People may not want to be preached to, but they do want to be inspired. This life can be tough; it’s nice to escape into a story that shows how things can work out, or how things going wrong can sometimes lead you down a better path.
Actually, all the above applies to all fiction. Funny how the rules of craft know no religion.
***
Once & Forever
(Once series, Bk 3)
Genre: contemporary romance
Length: Novella
Heat Level: 1- sweet
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Cover artist: Najla Qamber
Release date: December 5, 2016
book 3:
by M.S. Kaye
Who is the mysterious Santa who leaves toys on the convent steps?
After a twelve-year separation, Eden is finally reunited with her brother, Thomas, but why hadn’t she reached out to him in all those years? Eden, a nun, is constantly struggling against her dark past of living on the streets, and her attraction to Trace, an ex-convict farm worker. As Eden and Trace confess their pasts to each other and grow closer, will they be able to resist getting too close?
Excerpt:
“You know what he did to git sent to prison?” one of the convenience store clerks murmured to the other.
Trace could just hear them over the horrible rendition of “Jingle Bells” playin’ through the speakers. He ignored them, like he always did. He tried to come into town late in the evening to avoid people as much as possible, but that also meant it was quiet enough that he could often hear what people murmured about him. Once he’d grabbed some protein bars and a can of beer, he headed up to the counter to pay.
The clerk with a buzz-cut told him the total, and Trace handed him some cash.
Neither of the clerks made eye contact with him, but they both hovered over the cash register as if he might snatch it and run.
Buzz-cut closed the cash drawer right quick and handed Trace’s change back.
“Thank you.” Trace stuffed the change in his pocket, took the bag of protein bars in one hand and his beer in the other, and walked out of the store.
He headed for the back lot toward the alley. He could get through most of downtown by way of the alley. This late at night it was almost too dark to see where he was goin’, but that was part of what he liked about it.
“Bitch,” someone growled. And then the sound of something—or someone—smacking into the brick wall of the back of the convenience store.
Trace moved more quickly and turned the corner, and he caught sight of a skinny, young woman punching a man in the face. His head snapped back. But then another man slammed his fist across her jaw. She looked so frail that the punch seemed like shooting a cannon ball at a piece of notebook paper.
“Hey!” Trace roared and ran at them. “Git away from her.”
Amazon | Kobo | iBooks | Goodreads
Author Bio:
M.S. Kaye has several published books under her black belt. A transplant from Ohio, she resides with her husband Corey in Jacksonville, Florida, where she tries not to melt in the sun. Find suspense and the unusual at www.BooksByMSK.com.
To receive news on upcoming releases, sign up for email updates on her website.
Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Goodreads | Amazon | TSU | Pinterest | LinkedIn
Once, book 1
Her first and also her once.
Jonathan and Rebecca’s paths cross at exactly the right moment, when each most needs to hear what the other has to say.
But Jonathan is three days from entering the priesthood, and Rebecca leaves him to his peace. But he is unable to find peace.
Without each other’s comfort and strength, they must each struggle to forge a new path, with only memories of the one day that changed everything.
But are they able to forget and let go?
Amazon | Kobo | iBooks | B&N | ARe | Goodreads
Once & Again, book 2
She was once his secret desire… Will she be again?
Father Aiden, an ex-marine and new priest, falls in love with Maylynn, but he struggles to stay away from her. He’s successful for many years, though he can’t keep her out of his dreams.
Then one day she shows up for a pre-marital counselling session with her fiancé, Davis. Aiden soon realizes Davis isn’t who he says he is, but what does that mean for Maylynn, and for himself?
Adam Mann takes the Round Pen with Calisa Rhose #Tuesdayroundup #mfrwauthor #interview
Osiyo~
Welcome one and all! Grab a beverage of choice, something sweet and sinful. The guest gets first pick! 😉 Take a comfy seat for another, or a first, spin in the Round Pen.
I’m thrilled to welcome my wonderfully talented guest today, Adam Mann, who is sharing his book, Love in the Boondocks with us!
Please show Adam some real Ranch love!
Before I get to the nosy 5-3-4 part of this interview, tell us a bit about you. What made you decide to write romantic fiction and do you find it difficult as a man in a woman’s world so-to-speak?
I have been married four times, as my previous work made it difficult for my wives to live with me. My first wife died, my second could not face the remoteness, my third had to get the marriage annulled as she had forgotten to get divorced, but for the last 20 years I’ve been happily married to a widow with three children, to add to four of my own, and now we have five grandchildren.
My goodness! Now I’m curious what you used to do for a living. 😉
Okay, moving on. I’ll begin with five questions, then follow with three more, and end with four final ones.
My writing area at the moment is a cozy chair in the corner of my living room, though I do have a lovely new office hubby remodeled just for me. What does your writing space look like?
I have a large chunk of my bedroom as my office, and in here I control internet WiFi, printer and scanner for the rest of the house. I am not a tidy worker, and tend to have reference books and peppermints scattered in any free space.
I’ve had a couple of “bedroom offices” over the years. For a lot of writers it’s a life-altering event coming up with titles and character names. Others it comes as naturally as breathing. Which is it for you?
Not life-shattering. I like writing and usually write 3,000 words a day, so about ten days for a novel, but not every day, say once a month. It also takes a week or two to edit and rewrite the novel, and another few days to decide on and design a cover.
What advice would you offer aspiring and new writers?
Just put your head down and write. Avoid distractions like children and animals, and even wives who come to clean around you! Granddaughters only excepted from this rule.
Yes, it’s hard to ignore those little ones. LOL The constant shift of the industry makes me often scratch my head and ask ‘what next?’ So, what do you think it takes to be a successful author at the moment?
I have to spend a lot of my time promoting my books, mainly on Twitter and FaceBook, but also as a guest on blogs like this.
Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry- dead or alive- and why?
J K Rawlings – her imagination!
It’s time for 3 in 1! I’ll ask the questions and you answer them in one word.
Favorite animal? Large dog
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Spring
Favorite food? Cheese, toasted mainly
Well done! 🙂
Okay, what are you working on now?
The Man who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo – a thriller.
What are you sharing today?
Love in the Boondocks:
Kim is divorced by her uncaring husband when she is working in a remote area, but she meets an attractive man and immediately her divorce is finalized she plans to make herself available hopefully for a long term relationship. Fair enough until you consider her working environment, the living conditions, and emotions, not to mention raging hormones!
Where can we find you and your books?
My website: http://www.adammannauthor.com/
Twitter: @adammannauthor
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/676005
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M72IO4W
I live and work in Vietnam. I used to be a specialist in sustainable development working with farmer families in remote areas, but now I’ve retired.
I would be very pleased to give any reader a FREE pdf copy of any of my books, in exchange for an honest review, at either Amazon or Smashwords. Readers can find my author pages on:
https://www.amazon.com/author/adammannauthor.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/adammannauthor.com
Thank you so much for playing along Adam! Wishing you much luck with your book and writing. I hope you’ll come and visit again one day.
You’d be very welcome, but I should warn you that I live in a mountainous area in Vietnam, not too far from the Red River, although our roads are improving.
The scenery there must be amazing! Thank you for sharing Love in the Boondocks with us.
Dodadagohvi~
Note: This book may be slightly more than a level four heat rating, so you might want to buckle up before reading. 😀
Do You Think About the Homeless? Leanna Sain opens her eyes and heart #thehomeless #mfrwauthor #
Osiyo~
I have Leanna Sain in the Round Pen today. I’ll let her tell you a bit about her book, Red Curtains.
I saw ‘Lily’ while my husband and I were visiting Savannah for our 26th anniversary. We were waiting for a tour bus when she strolled past us, wearing a court jester hat and talking to herself. She walked up to a mailbox by the bus stop proceeded to sprinkle some invisible substance around its base. I cocked an eyebrow at my husband and quipped, “Fairy-dust?” He shrugged, waiting to see what she did next.
She was obviously homeless, and the moment I saw her, my mind started creating her story. As soon as we got on the bus, I began scribbling ideas as fast as my pen could write. Red Curtains is the result.
I know the homeless issue isn’t a comfortable subject, but unfortunately, it’s reality and I hope my book raises awareness. Homeless statistics are staggering, so to help in a small way, I’ll be donating a part of book sales to the “Stand Down” program mentioned in the story.”
***
“Cleo!” she greeted me joyously, as if we were long, lost friends instead of mortal enemies. “It’s so good to see you!”
“Ellie.” Her eyes narrowed at my mispronunciation, but she didn’t correct me. I gave her a cold stare. The only thing that kept me from yanking her out of my seat by her dark rooted, bottle-blond hair was sheer, iron will.
“I saw you come in earlier,” she trilled in her fake- friendly voice. “I wanted to be sure to come tell you ‘hi.’ Imagine my disappointment when I finally made it to your table and found you were gone. But luckily…” she gave Jonas an impudent smile. “…this nice man was good enough to let me sit here and wait for you.”
Finally made it to my table? Yeah, right. I was sure she’d waited—on purpose—for me to leave before she swooped in. I’d seen this act before, and I thought I was ready for it, but I guess I wasn’t. When she finished her little performance with a wink, I think I may have growled.
“Well, that worked out well for you, didn’t it?” My smile was brittle. One false move and my face might shatter into a thousand little pieces. I waited stiffly for her to vacate my seat. Could a person’s blood actually boil?
Jonas was casting an uncertain look between the two of us. I’m sure he was astute enough to feel the undercurrents. He might not understand them, but he had to be aware of them.
Then he sort of jumped, shoulders stiffening, eyes widening in shock as he stared across the table. What was that about? I glanced at Ellie, looking for an answer. Uh-oh. I knew that look. I’d seen her use it often enough. It was her “come and get me” expression—gazing up through her mascara thickened lashes, a seductive smile curving her lips, promising things I didn’t even want to know about—the look that reduced men to puppy-like creatures, eager to please. A movement under the table caught my eye and my jaw dropped. Ellie’s stiletto-clad foot was rubbing suggestively up and down Jonas’ leg. Obviously, Ellie had no intention of relinquishing her spot at the table.
Oh, no you don’t, girlfriend! Not this time! I made a totally out-of-character and utterly rash decision, praying that Jonas would just go with it and that it wouldn’t backfire. I slipped into the seat beside him, snuggling up close. “I like it better on this side, anyway.”
I’ll have to hand it to him. It only took him a split second of startled uncertainty before he dropped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me even closer. He put his lips to my ear, whispering, “I guess you’ll explain what’s going on later?”
His warm breath against my ear caused goose bumps to shiver along my arms and down my legs, but I dimpled up at him and answered, “You know I will.”
Turning to Ellie, I almost shouted over an explosion of laughter from the bar. “Isn’t he a sweetheart? I just love him to death!”
Ellie’s expression had become a bit frosty and I almost giggled with delight. It felt wonderful to be vindicated. Not to mention, it was very, very cozy to be snuggled up against Jonas like this.
She slid toward the outside edge of the seat. “It was good to see you, Cleo. Happy holidays. Nice to meet you, Jonas. Maybe we could meet for a drink sometime?”
“Sounds good,” he said. “I’ll let you set it up with Cleo.”
Ellie’s jaw tightened. “Of course. See you later.” She spun around and stalked away, swaying a little on her four-inch heels.
***
North Carolina native, Leanna Sain, earned her BA from the University of South Carolina, then moved back to her beloved mountains of western NC with her husband. Her “Gate” books have stacked up numerous awards, from Foreword Magazine’s Book-of-the-Year to the Clark Cox Historical Fiction Award from the North Carolina Society of Historians. Sain’s fourth novel, WISH, is a stand-alone, YA crossover.
Her Southern romantic suspense or “GRIT-lit,” showcases her plot-driven method of writing that successfully rolls the styles of best-selling authors Mary Kay Andrews, Nicholas Sparks, and Jan Karon into a delightfully hybrid style that is all her own. Regional fiction lovers and readers who enjoy suspense with a magical twist will want her books.
She loves leading discussion groups and book clubs. For more information or to contact her, visit: www.LeannaSain.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Leannasbooks
Twitter: Leanna Sain@Leannasbooks
Website and blog: http://leannasain.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/LeannaSain
Buy link:
http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/4594-red-curtains.html
https://www.amazon.com/Red-Curtains-Leanna-Sain-ebook/dp/B01L5R53U8
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/red-curtains/id1149202885?mt=11
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/red-curtains-leanna-sain/1124412152?ean=2940156862825
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/red-curtains
Thank you for sharing Red Curtains with my readers, Leanna! I think it’s a wonderful thing for you to donate a portion of sales to a good cause most of us don’t even think about in our own daily lives.
Dodadagohvi~
Calisa Rhose presents~Uncover Monthly #October2016 #mfrwauthor #coverlove
Osiyo~
Welcome one and all! Enjoy more awesome cover art by the incredible authors, publishers and artists who made them possible for you to gaze upon each month.
It would be great if you leave a comment letting everyone know what you think about them and maybe even check out a few author links to meet those behind the books. Or just say hi. Don’t forget to tell your friends to stop by so they can appreciate some greatness, or get in on the fun, too!
This feature is only to highlight the authors and artists (though if you see one you want to buy I’m sure the authors won’t mind 😆 ). Enjoy this months’ covers to ogle and explore. If there is one provided, you can follow the artist links by clicking on the name, if there’s an artist link provided, to learn more about the amazing creators of these beautiful covers.
There’s a heat level rating for covers, one through four scale, for your benefit. You should never see a *5* rating on the Ranch since I don’t feature anything erotic in nature. If there’s anything else you’d like to know about covers being revealed here, please don’t hesitate to let me know. You can leave it either in a comment or by my contact page https://calisarhose.com/say-hey/. 
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Title: “8 Hounds a-Howling”
Klein’s K-9s Service Dog,
series novella 2
Author: Marcia James
Weblink: www.MarciaJames.net
Genre: Contemporary romance
Length: Novella
Heat Level: 4-Hot
Publisher: Marcia James
Cover artist: DR Graphic Expressions
Release date: January 2016
Celebrity photographer “Jax” Jackson volunteers to shoot the Klein’s K-9s service dog facility’s fundraising calendar. His agenda: Convince past love and calendar coordinator Amy Walters to give him a second chance.
Producing the dog-themed “12 Days of Christmas” calendar includes dodging dive-bombing birds, tackling runaway pigs, and handling 78 dogs who’d rather play than pose. In the midst of the chaos, will the reunited lovers find their happily ever after?
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Title: Been Searching for You
Author: Nicole Evelina
Weblink: www.nicoleevelina.com/
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Length: Novel
Heat Level: 2-Sensual
Publisher: Lawson Gartner Publishing
Cover artist: Jenny Quinlan
Release date: May 10, 2016
Annabeth is a hopeless romantic who believes in soul mates. In fact, she’s been writing to hers each year on her birthday since she was 16.
Now, at 34, she’s still holding out hope of finding Mr. Right even though he’d be fighting an uphill battle to gain her trust, thanks to a traumatic experience years before that’s left her unable to commit.
When Annabeth meets a handsome literature professor named Alex on her 34th birthday, she thinks her quest may finally be at an end. Things don’t quite go as planned, so Annabeth resolves to do everything she can over the next year to find the unknown recipient of her letters. But blind dates, Meetup events and online singles sites have nothing on what fate has in store for her when a co-worker unexpectedly quits and Annabeth finds herself working in close quarters with both Alex and her long ago ex, Nick. Fighting her attraction to one and loathing for the other, Annabeth is forced to face all of her old insecurities while keeping an eye on a scheming frienemy who may derail her hopes and dreams.
Written in the tradition of Bridget Jones’ Diary, You’ve Got Mail, and French Kiss, it shows that love on the sweet side can exist for the modern girl, if only she’s willing to trust herself and search hard enough. Been Searching for You was the winner of the 2015 Romance Writers of America Great Expectations and Golden Rose contests.
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Title: Love for Sale
Author: Linda Nightingale
Weblink: www.lindanightingale.com
Genre: Sci-fi Romance
Length: Novel.
Heat Level: 3-Steamy
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Cover artist: Debbie Taylor
Release date: May 22, 2015
March Morgan still believes in true love, but her faith in finding her soul mate is slowly vanishing. She’s been married but never in love. So, it is a miracle to find that fantasy exists on the last page of a glossy women’s journal. Mayfair Electronics, Ltd., in black and white, offers Love for Sale. The London firm has engineered sentient androids indistinguishable from humans. She flies to England and meets the man she has been searching for her entire life.
Christian requires no programming to love March at first sight. He’s handsome, cultured…absolutely perfect…and a little different from the other androids. He has an unexpected independent streak. March signs on the dotted line, buying her dream man. They return to Houston, but soon her past and his future threaten their Happily Ever After—indeed their lives.
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Title: Love Set in Stone
Author: Staci Troilo
Weblink: www.stacitroilo.com/
Genre: Paranormal Romance.
Length: Novel
Heat Level: 3.5- Steamiest
Publisher: AIW Press
Cover artist: IDIM Design
Release date: April 2, 2016
A cold stone heart breaks more easily than it beats. Than it loves.
Damien was a loyal warrior, killed in battle in 1203. Because of his true heart, he was given the option to pass on to his eternal reward or exist in another state of being as a protector… until the time came when he could resume living the life he’d been cheated of.
A soldier by nature, he chose the latter. Then he waited centuries—as a gargoyle—growing increasingly bitter about his choice. Then he sees her.
Rina is a hard worker and loyal friend. She just has the worst luck. One night, after saving her best friend from a violent assault, she finds herself at the attacker’s mercy. Then, out of nowhere, a savior comes and rescues her.
With only an angel to guide him, Damien must make the right choices to win Rina’s heart, or be forever damned as a grotesque mockery of the guardian he once was.
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Title: Moon, Mist, & Magic
A Paranormal Romance Anthology
Author(s): Abigail Owen. J.C. McKeznie,
L.A. Kelley, Sharon Saracino,
Maureen L. Bonatch
Weblink: www.abigailowen.com/
Genre: paranormal
Length: 5 Short Stories
Heat Level: 1-Sweet
Publisher: Abigail Owen
Cover artist: Abigail Owen
Release date: August 4, 2016
Get ready to be enchanted by mythical beasts, magical creatures, and moonlit nights. Enjoy your favorite author, and perhaps discover someone new, in these five fantastic tales of paranormal romance woven with moon, mist, and magic…
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Title: More Than I Wished For
Author: Merry Holly
Weblink: www.facebook.com/
Genre: Romance
Length: Trilogy
Heat Level: 2-Sensual
2- sensual- passionate scenes, closed door sex
Publisher: LanHop Press
Cover artist: Harris Channing
Release date: April 2016
A whirlwind holiday romance, a rushed wedding, to living life on a tropical island away from family and friends is a challenge for the newly married couple. Will Chase’s long hours on his latest project kill the marriage before it has a chance to bloom.
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Title: Stockholm Diaries, Caroline
Stockholm Diaries series
Author: Rebecca Hunter
Weblink: www.rebeccahunterwriter.com
Genre: Contemporary romance
Length: Novel,
Heat Level: 4-Hot
Publisher: Rebecca Hunter
Cover artist: Kim Killion
Release date: July 1, 2015
A pro hockey player with a rough reputation.
An American looking for a taste of adventure.
A chance to turn an intense attraction into something more.
Photographer Caroline Mendoza finally sheds her safe life in Michigan for adventure and a fresh start, and her first stop is Sweden. But Stockholm suddenly becomes more than just a casual stopover when Caroline discovers her reclusive next-door neighbor is ex-Red Wings player Niklas Almquist, whose high-profile alpha bad-boy image, both on and off the ice, has followed him back to Sweden.
While Niklas’s darker side draws her to him, she knows the sensible decision is to move on from Stockholm before she gets too attached. Her time in Stockholm is running out. She must choose between what is safe and what her heart tells her is right. Is she strong enough to take the risk?
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Title: Till Life Do Us Part
Author: Carmen Stefanescu
Weblink: www.shadowspastmystery.
Genre: Paranormal romance
Length: Novel
Heat Level: 1- Sweet
Publisher: Solstice Publishing
Cover artist: Michelle Crocker
Release date: June 9, 2016
Barbara Heyer can hear voices of dead people. They whisper of their deaths, seek comfort for those left behind, and occasionally even warn her about future events. But when Barbara’s brother, Colin, is accused of murder, it will take more than her gift to prove his innocence.
Becoming smitten with the handsome investigator, Detective Patrick Fischer, is a serious complication given his assignment to her brother’s case. Barbara senses there is something far deeper—and perhaps much older—than the surface attraction between them. Could that be why she’s visited by a mysterious woman named Emma in her dreams? Could past life regression tie all the seemingly unconnected events together?
Barbara and Patrick must overcome heartache to find the truth to save Colin, and perhaps themselves.
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Title: Timeless Beginnings
Author: Amber Daulton
Weblink: www.amberdaultonauthor.
Genre: Time Travel Romance
Length: Novella
Heat Level: 3-Steamy
Publisher: Books to Go Now
Cover artist: Books to Go Now
Release date: July 29, 2016
Leonora Harris fled her newly-wedded husband’s home in Georgian England, 1725, and took shelter in a cave during a rainstorm. She woke up in a cold, barren land and a handsome stranger with a mechanical carriage offered her shelter.
Undercover American operative Rodger Ramsey never expected to find a runaway bride in the magnificent Salar de Uyuni. Assigned to Bolivia to investigate Communist activities, he just wrapped up his two-year mission in 1963 and followed his heart to the salt flats one last time.
Sparks flew and attraction sizzled. The lost, stubborn woman kicked his protective instincts into overdrive. Rodger took her home with him, determined to help her before he returned to the States, and Leonora flourished under his guidance. Their hearts intertwined. He wanted her, needed her, but could he truly love a woman who believed she jumped two hundred years in time?
Will they find a way to stay together, despite the obstacles between them, or will Leonora survive in this strange new world alone?
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Title: To Save a Lady,
French Quarter Brides series
Author: Patricia Preston
Weblink: www.frenchquarterbrides.
Genre: Historical.
Length: Novel
Heat Level: 4-Hot
Publisher: River Oaks Press
Cover artist: Patty Wallace
Release date: November 2, 2014
A daring masquerade…
A move from Paris to New Orleans brings disaster to Elise Plaisance’s predictable life as a lady’s maid. The son of her grief-stricken mistress disappears, and Elise must turn to a devious French Creole capitalist for help. Disguised as a wealthy socialite, she is drawn into a dangerous web of conspiracy and deceit as the threat of war divides the city.
A captain bewitched. . .
A stalwart commander, Captain Jesse Cross doesn’t fancy himself as a lovelorn soldier desperate for a wartime sweetheart until a mysterious French spy captivates his imagination. Elise knows she is losing her heart to a man who will never be hers. Their romance is a frail illusion, born in the darkness of a moonlit courtyard and never meant to last forever.
A future imperiled. . .
The enemy strikes. Both on the battlefield and in the Quarter. Lies are exposed and promises broken. Torn between loyalty and love, Elise must risk everything to rescue her mistress’s son before all is lost. Jesse knows he must stop her even if it means sacrificing his honor and even his life to save a lady.
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I want to thank all the authors who submit their covers
and make this a special place to share!
To see YOUR cover here visit my
UnCover Monthly
page for detailed instructions.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Tuesday Round-Up welcomes Barbara Barrett with Keeping it Casual #mfrwauthor #romance
Osiyo~
Welcome one and all! Grab a beverage of choice, something sweet and sinful. 😉 Take a comfy seat for another, or a first, spin in the Round Pen.
I’m thrilled to welcome my talented guest today, Barbara Barrett, who is sharing Keeping It Casual with us!
Please show Barbara some real Ranch love!
Before I get to the questions, please, tell us a bit about you.
Thank you, Calisa, for the warm welcome to the Ranch.
A little bit about me. I lived most of my life in Iowa, and since I’ve retired, I now spend my winters in Florida just outside the Disney Parks and my summers in Iowa. I started my college career majoring in anthropology, but when I realized I’d have to do field work to gain higher degrees in this area—you know, tents, bugs, no air conditioning, no Diet Coke—I switched my major to American History. My plan was to teach at the community college level once I received my Masters Degree, but when I could only get hired on a part-time basis, I took a job in human resources management with Iowa State government, although we called it Personnel Administration back then. My husband and I were both floor counselors in the dorm system our senior year in college. I met him in sensitivity training. The class focused on non-verbal communication. The thought freaked my future husband, so he spent his time making faces. Needless to say, I wasn’t impressed at that point. It took running into him a few more times to convince me this was the guy for me. We now have two grown children and eight grandchildren.
When I’m not working in my lovely new office upstairs, my writing area is my easy chair in the living room. What does your writing space look like?
My writing space is my own private retreat in both locations. Both are comfy with either a loveseat or sofa for relaxing when breaks are needed. The walls of both are filled with pictures and items that are special to me. Framed photos of three of my favorite authors, Nora Roberts, Linda Howard and Janet Evanovich, stare down at me and provide motivation in my Florida office. I gaze out on six palm trees in the courtyard below. In Iowa, I look out on a boulevard. All day I see people walking their dogs, parents and grandparents with strollers and kids and adults on bikes, roller skates and skateboards. I love to watch all the activity. Some of the teapots and teacups I’ve collected over the years adorn two sets of wall shelves. Since it is just my husband and me, I enjoy long periods of uninterrupted writing time, which I cherish. But if I have to, I can be mobile with my writing space, since I use a laptop.
For a lot of writers it’s a life-altering event coming up with titles and character names. Others it comes as naturally as breathing. Which is it for you?
Most of my books have experienced more than one title prior to publication. I needed to get into the book, maybe even finish the first draft, before the essence I wanted to convey in the title came to me. I struggled naming the first book in my “Sullivan’s Creek” series. It features two architects with very different approaches to design who are forced to work together. At first, I focused too much on their occupation; I kept trying to find catchy ways to use “Blueprint.” Finally, I realized what really brings them together is the Salsa dancing class they teach together so they can learn more about their target audience, baby boomers. Once I came up with Saved by the Salsa, I’d set my course for the next two books in the series. I had my two titles before I had any stories for them. Tough Enough to Tango was released last year and Not Your Mama’s Mambo should be released later this year. But here’s a caveat: as much as I love those titles, finding covers has been a challenge.
My latest release, Keeping It Casual, just came to me, because that’s the whole point of the story, until the H/H realize what they have with each other is much more than casual. It was originally going to be titled The Escape Clause, because the first book in the series was titled The Sleepover Clause and I wanted “clause” to be in each title. But that just didn’t work for the second book. I wanted something “sexy” but not overtly sensational. After much thought, I finally arrived at Seduction on Wheels rather than The Travel Clause. I probably agonized over that one and Salsa the most.
What advice would you offer aspiring and new writers?
From others, never stop learning. With yourself, never stop analyzing your own work.
I recently attended a Michael Hauge workshop at the RWA Annual Conference in San Diego. I’ve heard him speak before on more than one occasion, but this time his words and writing advice struck me differently because I had more writing experience under my belt. When I returned home, I reread my current work in progress and, thanks to his class, realized why this manuscript wasn’t resonating with me. I didn’t need to rewrite the story, but I did need to add more depth to my characters. His advice was invaluable.
The constant shift of the industry makes me often scratch my head and ask ‘what next?’ So, what do you think it takes to be a successful author at the moment?
Don’t I wish I knew, but I’ll give this a shot. First, every writer needs to determine for herself what “success” means to her: having a bestseller, making lots of money, getting published, seeing your name online somewhere. I’m still at the point in my career when a heartfelt fan letter is much appreciated. I don’t need to know that I changed someone’s life, but it’s wonderful to learn that for the space of time it took them to read one of my books, they learned something or applied something I wrote to their own life or, and this is my favorite, I made them laugh.
I write because I have to write…for myself. It gives me great joy to bring my imagination to life on the computer screen. Every book is a journey that starts with a protagonist desiring something they don’t have or cannot do without overcoming what at the start appears to be an insurmountable challenge, and it’s up to me to guide them to a satisfactory end.
Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry- dead or alive- and why?
For romance novels, I wish I would have had the opportunity to meet Kathleen Woodiwiss. I never imagined myself writing a romance novel until I read Shana and then The Flame and the Flower. Yes, she wrote of damsels in distress who needed the strong alpha male to help them save themselves, but she also conveyed deep emotion that touched the heart and made you want to root for the heroine up until the last page. And to be frank, her sex scenes struck another kind of note that made you keep reading long after midnight.
For mystery novels, I would have liked to meet Dame Agatha Christie. Where Woodiwiss focused on emotion, Christie highlighted the cerebral. Figuring out whodunit before the end of one of her mysteries was a favorite pastime, because her heroes, Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, in particular, used their “little gray cells” to discern motive and then apply it to means and opportunity to solve the case. I’m more a fan of the mystery than the suspense or thriller.
It’s time for some fun! I’ll ask the questions and you answer them in one word. 😆
Favorite animal? cat
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? spring
Favorite food? pizza
Well done! J So let’s share a bit.
What are you working on now?
Not Your Mama’s Mambo is currently in galley stage and hopefully will be out before Christmas because it ends on that holiday. I’m also working on a new series, yet to be named, that features different types of cable interest shows.
What are you sharing today?
Today I’m sharing from Keeping It Casual.
Talent manager Alex Appleby needs Geoff McKenna’s help. Her vicious client is threatening the reputation of Alex’s television-star father if Alex can’t convince her stepsister to go along with the client’s demand. Alex turns to Geoff to make the case to her sister.
Geoff has his own proposition for Alex. Thus far, his case of multiple sclerosis has been mild, but he’s unsure of his future. When his girlfriend pushes for a stronger commitment, he enlists Alex as his new pretend love interest so his girlfriend will break things off.
When they discover they actually are attracted to each other, they agree to keep things casual, since Alex is only in town briefly and Geoff isn’t interested in anything serious. But fate intervenes as their feelings deepen. Alex must decide whether to relocate to Iowa from LA, and Geoff must place faith in his future.
Excerpt:
Around a hundred miles, he turned onto I-29 to go north.
He pulled off at the first exit and headed for a fast food place. This had been fun. Best time he’d had in days. He sat back and slapped his thighs.
Alex returned an “I-told-you-so” look.
In response, without giving it further thought, he gripped her shoulders, brought her toward him, and kissed her.
When he released her, she breathed out, “That was unexpected.”
“For me, too. But not at all unpleasant.”
She remained only inches away, her breath grazing his face. Her eyes didn’t leave his. Without uttering a word, she invited him to return to the scene of the crime. So he did. Big time.
When she didn’t back away, he increased the pressure on her mouth, drew her closer, his arms encasing her, his right hand massaging her back. His left hand remained at her waist, awaiting its destination.
Though spontaneous—yeah, there’d been some kind of vibes going on since Pella, but it wasn’t like they’d been flirting or engaged in more serous sexual byplay—neither seemed shocked nor turned off by their actions. It was like they’d both been waiting for some sign from the other since the day they first met.
When had he last made out in a car? Not since college. Maybe even high school. Forgotten how the intimacy of front seat lip lock could give a guy such guilty pleasure. Could send his insides into overdrive, even in broad daylight.
Broad daylight. Right. Get control of yourself, man.
Where can we find you and your books?
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2aXZvG9 (This is new and could use your likes.)
Twitter: http://twitter.com/bbarrettbooks
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/barbarabarrett7/
Buylinks:
The Wild Rose Press (paperback)
Amazon (digital) Amazon (paperback)
Where will you be next?
August 31, www.zarawestsuspense.com/blog
September 9, Nancy Fraser Blog, “Reading Other Genres”
September 12, Burlington Community Library, 3-4 p.m.
November 17, Authors Bare All, www.casimclean.com
Here’s a question from me to your readers: For a romance novel (steamy but not high heat) what grabs your attention on the cover that gets you to read the book?
Thank you so much for playing along, Barbara! Wishing you much luck with your book and writing. I hope you’ll come visit again one day.
Dodadagohvi~
Tuesday Round Up Presents~ A Unique Love: SEISMIC CRIMES by Chrys Fey #mfrwauthor #hurricaneromance
Osiyo~
I have my friend Chrys Fey back to tell us about her newest book release. I can’t wait to get this series when my budget allows some new books. 😀
Welcome Chrys!
Thanks for inviting me back, Calisa! I’ll jump right in.
SEISMIC CRIMES by Chrys Fey
My characters in the Disaster Crimes Series have a unique love. They didn’t know each other in high school or hate each other when they first met. Oh, no. Donovan was a suspected murderer, and Beth couldn’t decide if he was guilty or not. And they fell in love in the unlikeliest, strangest way: during a hurricane and while trying to prove Donovan’s innocence. When you go out on a limb for someone and do what you never thought you would, you are in love and the biggest form of love possible.
Beth loves Donovan despite his title of a suspected murderer, despite the fact that he could be convicted, and despite being possibly named an accomplice to a crime. The love they share is selfless. It doesn’t care about their circumstances. And neither do they.
Beth and Donovan are willing to fight, kill, and die for each other. No disaster can keep them apart. No criminal can destroy them. In a way, their love is indestructible. It’s their love that gets them through the danger I throw at them. And everything they go through only makes their bond greater, stronger, purer.
Beth’s Unique Love:
- Beth goes undercover to help Donovan prove his innocence.
- She washes his hair in the shower when he’s injured.
- She kisses Donovan in the exact spot where he had his first kiss so her kiss in that place will be the only one he’ll remember.
Donovan’s Unique Love:
- Donovan tells his mom that Beth saved his life.
- He covers a dead snake because he knows Beth is terrified of them.
- He gives Beth a bracelet with a charm that symbolizes how they fell in love.
EXCERPT:
Resigned to her battered looks, she finished washing her hands and rejoined Donovan in the front of the department. She lowered herself into the chair beside him, her muscles sighing when the cushions molded to her aching back. She angled her body toward him. “Aside from not being able to do anything about Buck at the moment, what do we do now?”
“We?” Donovan tilted his head at her. “You don’t need to be a part of this anymore, Beth. You’re off the hook…if you want to be.”
She looked at him, not believing he could dismiss her so easily, especially after their intimacy. If she were a logical woman, his words would relieve her. She’d cut all ties and forget about everything that happened, but she couldn’t do that. She was changed forever by Hurricane Sabrina. Her life was changed forever by the man in front of her. “Donovan, this isn’t over yet. Not by a long shot. I’m in it to the end.”
Donovan took her hand, rubbed her knuckles with the pad of his thumb. “Thank you.”
A happy warmth spread through her at the sweet contact. “So, what do we do now?”
***
BLURB:
An Internal Affairs Investigator was murdered and his brother, Donovan Goldwyn, was framed. Now Donovan is desperate to prove his innocence. And the one person who can do that is the woman who saved him from a deadly hurricane—Beth Kennedy. From the moment their fates intertwined, passion consumed him. He wants her in his arms. More, he wants her by his side in his darkest moments.
Beth Kennedy may not know everything about Donovan, but she can’t deny what she feels for him. It’s her love for him that pushes her to do whatever she has to do to help him get justice, including putting herself in a criminal’s crosshairs.
When a tip reveals the killer’s location, they travel to California, but then an earthquake of catastrophic proportions separates them. As aftershocks roll the land, Beth and Donovan have to endure dangerous conditions while trying to find their way back to one another. Will they reunite and find the killer, or will they lose everything?
Digital:
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B01CRJSPIU
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seismic-crimes-chrys-fey/1123508790?ean=2940158028380
KOBO: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/seismic-crimes
The Wild Rose Press:
http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/3804-seismic-crimes.html
Print:
Amazon: http://amzn.com/1509207252
The Wild Rose Press:
http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/paperback-books/3838-seismic-crimes-paperback.html
BIO:
Chrys Fey is the author of Hurricane Crimes, Book One in the Disaster Crimes series, as well as these releases from The Wild Rose Press: 30 Seconds, Ghost of Death, and Witch of Death. She is an administrator for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group and creates their monthly newsletter.
Fey lives in Florida and is always on the lookout for hurricanes. She has four adopted cats who keep her entertained with their antics, and three nephews who keep her entertained with their antics. You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and through her blog, Write with Fey. She loves to get to know her readers!
AUTHOR LINKS:
Website: www.ChrysFey.com
Blog: www.writewithfey.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/chrysfey
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrysFey
Thank you for visiting, Chrys! Please leave comments to say hi, folks.
Dodadagohvi~
Calisa Rhose presents~ Tuesday Round-Up featuring Amber Daulton #mfrw #guestauthor #freebook
Osiyo~
Welcome one and all! Grab a beverage of choice, something sweet and sinful. 😉 Take a comfy seat for another, or maybe it’s your first first, spin in the Round Pen.
I’m thrilled to welcome my wonderfully talented guest today, Amber Daulton, who is sharing her book Timeless Beginnings with us!
Please show Amber some real Ranch love!
Before I get to the nosy part of this interview, tell us a bit about you.
AD: For me, writing is the fruit to happiness. I try to live my life by that one belief but I’m not normally so Zen. I’m a fan of contemporary, paranormal and historical romance novels alike and I can’t get enough of feisty heroines and alpha heroes. My mind is a wonderland of adventure, laughter and awesome ways of kicking a guy when he’s down. I probably wouldn’t be too sane without my computer and notebooks. What can I do when there are people jabbering away in my head and it’s hard to shut them up? Write! Nothing else works.
CR: Okay, here we go! Although I have an awesome office upstairs that hubby created for me last winter, my favorite writing area is a super comfy chair in the corner of my living room. What does your writing space look like?
AD: I have an awesome office. Bookshelves cover every wall and I have cute little decorations like stuffed animals, shiny wall hangings and butterflies everywhere. My professional-looking stained desk somehow became horribly scratched up a few years ago when my husband and I moved to our new house so my hubby sanded it down and I painted it an off-white color and drew ivy and flowers all over the legs. It’s very whimsical now and fits great with my frou-frou decorations.
CR: I love the sound of your office and the desk is adorable! I can see why you love it.
For a lot of writers it’s a life-altering event coming up with titles and character names. Others it comes as naturally as breathing. Which is it for you?
AD: Deciding on titles is a slight hassle (I usually pick titles with double meanings or a play on words) but coming up with names is such a chore. The names have to fit with the characters I see in my mind perfectly or I can’t use them. I usually choose the names based on their personality, physical characteristics, family dynamics/heritage, the time period of the novel or just what I find sexy! I’m very picky (especially with the heroine and hero) and I sometimes spend hours, if not days, just scouring through baby name books and websites for the best names.
CR: What advice would you offer aspiring and new writers?
AD: Make friends with other authors and readers via social media. Don’t be shy. Start a blog even if you aren’t published and join blog tours. A tour is a great way to get a free ebook as long as you write a review and post it on your blog. The author’s readers will then come to your blog to read the review. They’ll see YOUR name. And that’s what you want. To get your name out there.
Just keep trying. I know it sounds cliché but there’s nothing else to do. If you don’t try, you won’t succeed. Period. Keep your hopes high, take rejection letters in stride and if a publisher or editor gives you feedback on why he/she rejected your work, listen to their feedback. They know what they’re talking about.
CR: The constant shift of the industry makes me often scratch my head and ask ‘what next?’ So, what do you think it takes to be a successful author at the moment?
AD: The publishing world is in an uproar and I doubt it will smooth out anytime soon. To be successful, you need to know your audience and market your genre to those people. A reader who loves paranormal romance probably won’t be interested in a historical novel and vise-versa. You gotta do a ton of promoting, whether you pick the free options or the ones that cost a fee. Most publishers offer very little assistance so the responsibility falls to the author. It can be a nightmare but it’s something we authors have to deal with and struggle through. After all, if the reader doesn’t know your name, he or she won’t buy your book.
CR: Great answer, Amber. So, who would you like to meet in the publishing industry- dead or alive- and why?
AD: I’d love to meet a few of my favorite authors. Sherrilyn Kenyon and Christine Feehan are the first ones that come to mind.
CR: It’s time to get personal. Bwahaha. LOL I’ll ask some questions and you answer them in one word. 😆
Favorite animal? – Cat
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? – Fall
Favorite food? – Chinese
CR: Okay, love this. Well done! 🙂
What are you working on now?
AD: I’m in the process of editing the fourth book in my Arresting Onyx series. The sexy, dirty-talking contemporary romance series will span five books with a standalone HEA for each rough-and-tumble hero and their spunky heroines. The first book is out on call and I hope to have it picked up soon.
After I finish Arresting Onyx, I plan to edit a set of currently unpublished vampire novels. My poor vamps need a grueling overhaul but I’m looking forward to the task ahead.
CR: What are you sharing today?
Timeless Beginnings
Blurb
Leonora Harris fled her newly-wedded husband’s home in Georgian England, 1725, and took shelter in a cave during a rainstorm. She woke up in a cold, barren land and a handsome stranger with a mechanical carriage offered her shelter.
Undercover American operative Rodger Ramsey never expected to find a runaway bride in the magnificent Salar de Uyuni. Assigned to Bolivia to investigate Communist activities, he just wrapped up his two-year mission in 1963 and followed his heart to the salt flats one last time.
Sparks flew and attraction sizzled. The lost, stubborn woman kicked his protective instincts into overdrive. Rodger took her home with him, determined to help her before he returned to the States, and Leonora flourished under his guidance. Their hearts intertwined. He wanted her, needed her, but could he truly love a woman who believed she jumped two hundred years in time?
Will they find a way to stay together, despite the obstacles between them, or will Leonora survive in this strange new world alone?
(Author’s Note – Timeless Beginnings is a standalone prequel to Timeless Honor, another time travel story that came out last year. The books don’t need to be read back-to-back in order to enjoy or understand them.)
Excerpt
“I’ll do or say whatever you wish, illegal or not.” Leonora steeled her spine as the words tore up her throat. “I thought you trusted me. What can I do to earn it?”
Rodger ate up the distance between them with three long strides and shackled her wrist in his large hand like a manacle. She stumbled toward him. Tension permeated the air around him in waves of red-hot heat.
“Have you heard of the CIA, Leonora? The Central Intelligence Agency?”
“No, I have no idea what that is.”
“What can you tell me about the communist activities and alliances in this country?”
“Nothing. I don’t know. What kind of questions are these? What are you talking about?”
His head tilted to one side and his lips thinned. Rodger stared at her with a long, hard gaze even as she squirmed, the steel in her spine gone. Stress lined his face and the tendon in his neck throbbed against his skin like a tic. Minutes passed, or maybe just seconds, and air whizzed out through his nostrils. The anger in his face seemed to drain and he somehow looked older.
“How can this be? You told me the truth about everything.” He stepped back and stroked his fingers up her arm. “Though you squirmed under my gaze, you did so after you answered me and only because I intimidated you. You didn’t once respond with a typical facial or verbal nuance to indicate you lied. I feel the truth of your words in my gut and in my soul.”
“I haven’t once lied to you.”
“I just—I don’t understand. This is so unbelievable. I wish you could provide me with some kind of undeniable proof you’re from the past.”
“As do I, Rodger.”
“If we do this, you’ll stay with me until I decide otherwise. I’ll protect you. I’ll kiss you and touch you. You should know that right away. I respect you, Leonora, but I’m not a strong enough man to deny my desire for you indefinitely. I won’t bear my frustration and keep my distance anymore. Do you understand what I mean? I need to lay with you, again and again, with no regrets. Do you accept those terms?”
Rich honey poured into his every word, every syllable, and wrapped around her like a sweet promise. Blood thundered in Leonora’s ears and her lungs expanded with air to the point they might burst. The longing in his eyes scorched her.
Caught like a fly in a spider’s web, she nodded, her voice gone.
“Tell me, dearest. I need to hear the words.”
“Yes. Yes, I accept.”
***
Where can we find your books?
You can find Timeless Beginnings here:
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Timeless-Beginnings-Amber-Daulton-ebook/dp/B01IYI0AJK#nav-subnav
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1124169996?ean=9781535362054
Goodreads – www.goodreads.com/book/show/30638898-timeless-beginnings
I also have eight other stories currently available. They can be found on Amazon, B&N, ARe, Smashwords and Kobo and range between sweet (no sex/sex behind closed doors/mild petting) to spicy (explicit scenes with dirty language).
If you’re interested in the sweet variety, check out: Forever Winter (historical), Lightning over Bennett Ranch (western) and Cinderella’s Enchanted Night (cont. romance with a magical twist).
Or the spicy: A Hero’s Heart (romantic-suspense), Mistletoe in the City (new adult), Timeless Honor (time travel), My Valentine Adventure (cont. romance), and Calla’s Summer Fantasy (erotic ménage à trois).
Also, check out the Cinderella Treasure Trove. It’s FREE on Amazon and at other retailers. Last year, 15 romance authors, including myself, formed the Glass Slipper Sisters and we produced an excerpt book to showcase snippets of our Cinderella-themed stories. Recipes and party ideas are also part of the freebie.
Where will you be next?
I love to hear from readers, so please feel free to follow or contact me below:
Blogsite – http://amberdaultonauthor.blogspot.com/
Facebook Author Page – www.facebook.com/amber.daulton.author
Twitter – https://twitter.com/AmberDaulton1
Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/amberdaulton5/
Goodreads – http://goodreads.com/author/show/6624921.Amber_Daulton
Amazon Author Page – http://amzn.to/14JoZff
LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/pub/amber-daulton/87/538/368
Google Plus – plus.google.com/u/0/110099048961325762869/about/p/pub
I’d love to give a free ecopy of Timeless Beginnings to one lucky commenter.
Question: Timeless Beginnings is a time-travel/historical/contemporary romance book. Whew! What a mouthful! Do you prefer to read books that fit into one single genre or into multiples?
Thank you so much for playing along, Amber! Wishing you much luck with your book and writing. I hope you’ll come visit again one day.
Dodadagohvi~
In lieu of Friday Fanfare ~ Marwell Hall #MSKaye #mfrwauthor
Osiyo~
Aside from today being my brother’s birthday (Happy Birthday Little Bro!), I present a special Friday post. Please, welcome my guest, M.S. Kaye! This paranormal author is on a Haunted Blog Tour for her:
Born from Death series
Ghost stories—what better inspiration for character names can there be? Follow this tour to find the background for the character names of the Born from Death series.
Marwell Hall
Former “friend” of Archer Lane, Marwell is now the leader of Archer’s gang. With inspiration from Soll, a sadistic spirit, Marwell gave the gang the name Phasmatis Nex (ghost of death). After killing an innocent in book 1, Marwell manages to survive. Will he live to the end of book 2?
The inspiration of the name:
“Marwell Hall was built in the early 14th century (around 1320) by Walter Woodlock, a relative of the Bishop of Winchester. Over the centuries many alterations have been made, but the original medieval hall remains as the core of the building.
“In the mid 1500s ownership passed to the Seymour family. Henry VIII is said to have been a frequent visitor. Local legend likes us to believe that he and his third wife, Jane Seymour, were married here.
“When we investigate Marwell Hall Ghosts, there are many stories of ghostly happenings in and around the Hall. Probably the most famous is the story of the ‘Mistletoe Bride’. On her wedding day, while playing hide and seek with her groom and guests, the bride hid in an oak chest in a remote corner of the hall. She was unable to get out of the self-locking chest. The groom and guests searched high and low, but her cries were not heard and her remains were found many years later. It is the wedding guests who can be heard frantically rushing around the corridors searching for the missing bride.” ~www.frightnights.co.uk
Book 2 of the Born from Death series
The only emotion Ilona can muster is anger for the death of her mother. Barely engaged in life, she focuses all of her energy on finding and punishing her mother’s killer.
Since Ilona can see ghosts, Archer has to find unique ways to hide while watching over her. When Ilona is in danger of being mauled by a dog, he desperately tries something that shouldn’t be possible. And yet he succeeds. This is just the beginning of his discovery of who—what—he truly is.
Lettie continues to interact with Ilona, her one friend, even when a Messenger warns her. Eventually, Lettie remembers the ancient connection Archer and Ilona share, as well as her part in the punishment Archer bore as a result of that connection.
Awaken from Death
Sneak Peek at Awaken from Death:
The blond boy didn’t walk up to a urinal or into one of the stalls, or even up to the mirror. He stood in the middle of the room.
Invisible, Lettie watched curiously.
Something moved backward away from him. Out of him.
She recognized Archer’s shiny black hair and strong frame even before she could see his face.
She gasped. But ghosts can’t inhabit people.
The blond boy shook his head and looked around. “Fuck.”
“I’m sorry,” Archer murmured so the boy wouldn’t hear.
Lettie stared at both of them.
The blond boy turned, leaned his hands on the counter, and looked at himself in the mirror…not the way people usually looked at themselves. It was more like he was trying to see something more than was in the reflection.
Archer watched him, as if waiting for him to see something.
Then Lettie understood. Archer hadn’t merely inhabited the boy—he’d possessed him. But there were only a couple ways that’d be possible—if he were half ghost, or if he…
A memory struck Lettie like a horse galloping across a battlefield. An ancient memory. Lettie had been around since the beginning of time on Earth, but most of those thousands of years she let slink around the crevices of her mind. It was mostly just walking the bridge with the newly deceased. There were a few memories, though, that burned into her every time she let herself pull them forward. And burned was precisely the right word.
She knew—or rather, remembered—why Archer would never leave Ilona.
***
Amazon ~ Barnes&Noble ~ Publisher (all formats) ~ Smashwords ~ Goodreads
Strong as Death
Book 1 in the Born from Death Series
Ilona runs from her sheltering mother in order to find the truth, why she’s seeing people who are invisible to everyone else. A mysterious boy named Archer guides her through Brooklyn and introduces her to Hendrick, the man who claims to be her father—though he died in 1890. Ilona must discover not only what she must do to rid the city of Soll, a sadistic and powerful spirit, but also what it means to be half ghost. She proves what her mother told her—love is stronger than death.
Publisher (all formats) ~ Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Smashwords
Author Bio:
M.S. Kaye has several published books under her black belt. A transplant from Ohio, she resides with her husband Corey in Jacksonville, Florida, where she tries not to melt in the sun. Find suspense and the unusual at www.BooksByMSK.com.
Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Google+ ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ TSU ~ Pinterest ~ LinkedIn
What a thrilling series this sounds like, M.S! Thanks for being my special guest today. I wish you tons of sales and much luck with this series. I hope you–my visitors–will have a blast checking out some of these other authors’ links where M.S. is hopping to and from. 🙂 Thank you for your friendly support!
10/1/15 – Anna Durand – haunted blog tour Hendrick
10/5/15 – Colleen Laughlin – haunted blog tour Estes
10/6/15 – JM Maurer – haunted blog tour Mary
10/8/15 – Judy Reynolds – haunted blog tour
10/9/15 – Calisa Selfridge – haunted blog tour Marwell Hall
10/14/15 – Rachael Kosinski – haunted blog tour Balete
10/16/15 – Jessica Cale – haunted blog tour Casper
10/19/15 – James DiBenedetto – haunted blog tour Turner Ingersoll
10/22/15 – Kimbra Kasch – haunted blog tour Kate Morgan
10/24/15 – Angela Scavone – haunted blog tour Dorothy Walpole
10/27/15 – Helena Fairfax – haunted blog tour Archer Lane
10/29/16 – Alisha Robinson – haunted blog tour Mr. Clifton
10/30/15 Tina Gayle – haunted blog tour non-ghost
10/31/15 – Rosanna Leo – haunted blog tour Ilona Raynham
Dodadagohvi~
I write contemporary and paranormal romance, with sensuality as the key ingredient and spice for kick.
Pen of The Dreamer 