Guest Post: "Great Romance Novels to Read this Summer" by Cassie Phillips @securethoughtsc

We're happy to host a great post by Cassie Phillips! Enjoy!

Great Romance Novels to Read this Summer

With the weather getting hot and sticky, it’s about time to make things even steamier with some romance novels. Whether you’re a lover of historical romance or more modern takes, this list has a little something for everyone. So pull up a chair, get comfortable and make sure to have a fan nearby to cool off while reading. 

Sleeping with the Boss

Marissa Clarke

Book one of the Anderson Brothers series introduces you to the middle brother, William Anderson, and the heroine Claire Maddox. Unlike many romance novels, their attraction is immediate, and they are very straightforward about it. What pulls them apart is the implication that Claire could potentially be a spy undercutting his family's business. Despite this lingering suspicion, sparks immediately fly between the two, and they can hardly keep their hands off each other. Clarke combines two lovably imperfect characters, a measure of humor and a hefty dose of sexually-tense scenes in the first book of the series. She also introduces the other two Anderson brothers, so you’ll want to pick up the other two books as well.

Everywhere and Every Way

Jennifer Probst

If you loved Probst's Marriage to a Billionaire novels, then you'll love her latest Billionaire Builders series. Of course, the best place to start is at the beginning. Here you'll follow red-hot contractor Caleb Pierce as he not only has to navigate through family business issues but relationship issues as well. 

The other point of view here is Morgan, a home designer who knows exactly what she wants in life and business. When these two collide during Morgan’s home renovation project, it’s not just work tension they both feel. As they begin working through their differences, they realize they have the foundation for a bond that can stand the tests of time. This story is more than just a simple romance though; it covers a wide range of themes such as acceptance, forgiveness and heartbreak.  

The Girl from Summer Hill

Jude Deveraux

If you’re a fan of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, then you'll love the first book in the Summer Hill series. This more modern take on the classic introduces Casey Reddick as the heroine. After escaping from the city and a horrible job and boyfriend, Casey finds herself at Summer Hill where she hopes to take a break from the stress of work. Almost immediately she finds a gorgeous, naked man on her front porch, Tate Landers. While initially resistant to his charms, eventually Casey starts falling for him during a theatrical production of Pride and Prejudice. That is until Tate’s devilishly handsome ex-brother-in-law lets it slip that Tate isn’t who he says he is. The plot of Pride and Prejudice plays in the theater and real life for Casey as she must decide who to believe. While it isn't necessarily a deep book, it's a perfect one to take with you on a day to the beach. 

S.E.C.R.E.T

L. Marie Adeline

Cassie Robichaurd lives her life on autopilot after the death of her husband. She's proficient as a waitress at Café Rose, and while she finds her boss attractive, she doesn't have the energy or courage to do anything about it. Then one day she finds a notebook left behind by a stranger. The contents within change her life forever and propels her on a sexual journey to free herself from her inhibitions. This is a great read for those looking for something a bit more erotic. Read as Cassie slowly breaks the chains holding her down and liberates herself from her own insecurities. More than just a book about sex, it’s a book about self-discovery and female empowerment.

Marrying Winterborne

Lisa Kleypas

Rhys Winterborne always gets what he wants, and Lady Helen Ravenel is no exception. The second he sets eyes on her, he immediately wants to take her as his wife. While Helen might seem quiet and timid on the outside, this demeanor belies a quiet strength. As the two slowly build up trust and love for each other, Helen must decide how to tell Rhys her darkest secret. This historical romance weaves together historical events and culture and excellent character development. It's a must-read for anyone who enjoys period romance. 

You can get all of these books as paperbacks or e-books. If you plan to buy a digital version, you might be limited by geo-restrictions or public WiFi dangers. Don’t let that stop you though! You can use a VPN to circumvent geo-restrictions and protect your personal details on public WiFi, allowing you to safely to download these books to your favorite e-reader.

Which one of these books do you plan to pick up? Have you read any of them previously? Let us know in the comments below.  

About the Author: Cassie is a lover of all things related to literature and technology. She hopes this list will encourage you to try out other genres within romance and access them even if you might be geo-restricted. 

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Thank you, Cassie!

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Review: "Duty and Desire" by Elise de Sallier @ESallier

Duty and Desire

reviewed by Camilla

Book 2 of The Hearts of Honour Series

by Elise de Sallier

NOW AVAILABLE!

Published by The Writers Coffee Shop

Genre: FICTION / Romance / Historical / Regency / Erotica 

ISBN e-book: 978-1-61213-383-6

Available from: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH

Review (by Camilla)

Duty and Desire, the second novel in the Hearts of Honour series, is interesting and captivating beyond the love story it tells. Here the author moves her focus on two secondary characters from the first book.

First of all, we are presented with a medical mystery, which is key to an unconventional romance: Jonathan Loring - a widowed and impoverished baron turned overseer - is desperate, because his little son, Peter, is very sick and the eminent physicians he has summoned. to his financial ruin -can’t do nothing. Bleeding and purging only seem to aggravate the boy’s condition. At the end of his tether, Jonathan finally decides to seek the help of Grace Daniels, the village’s midwife and herbalist. He thinks the worst of her “primitive” non scientific methods, and they had frequent spats in the past, but he has nobody else to recur to.

The illness that affects Peter (and his young aunt) is something modern readers might recognize, but surely unknown at the time. The fight to save the boy’s life creates a new understanding between the young father and the young midwife. Then friendship comes, then passion.
But… could they marry? No, they can’t.

Grace is the bastard daughter of a nobleman and till her father was alive she was raised as a lady, but on his death she was thrown out by his spiteful wife with not a penny to her name. Fortunately she was taken in by an old aunt, a midwife herself, and taught the trade. Now she is relatively well off, provided she stays single. Married women could not work at the time, particularly if married to a baron, however poor. Plus, she cares for her work, and would hate to stop helping the village’s people, who need her services.

As for Jonathan, he can’t marry, since his wages are too modest even to take care properly of his child, mother and sister. He certainly has not the means to raise a family of his own. He is a younger son and his elder brother has gambled their inheritance away. He is well respected, however, and has a title, therefore a rich wife could solve all his problems.

But he wants Grace and Grace wants him. Not unsurprisingly is Grace who comes out with an unconventional proposal. They can become lovers. Just that, provided nobody discovers them and they manage to prevent pregnancies, something Grace has some knowledge of, due to her profession.

Jonathan is too much of a gentleman to acquiesce immediately, but eventually the desire he has for her makes his defences collapse. So the arrangements starts, to their enormous satisfaction.
How it will work out is for the readers to discover, because things aren’t simple. Jonathan is not a master of deceit and a pretty girl with a good dowry has set her sights on him. And what is worse. Grace likes the girl and thinks she could be a good solution for her lover, one that everybody is encouraging. And, because she loves him so much, she starts thinking she should step aside and set him free…

Along with the romance, what makes this historical novel so deserving to be read, there is the description of society two centuries ago and of the non enviable condition of women. It was so unfair! Plus, the medical puzzle, which Grace has the good fortune to solve very soon, is really intriguing.

I sincerely recommend Duty and Desire to all readers.

 

About the Author

A great believer in living happily ever after, Elise de Sallier began her lifelong obsession with the romance and paranormal genres when she was far too young to be reading either. After more than thirty years of marriage to her very own romantic hero, she now knows great relationships don't just happen, they take work . . . which doesn't mean writing about them can't be a whole lot of fun!

While raising a family, Elise established a career as a counsellor and family therapist. Seeking an escape from the stresses of her work, she discovered the world of fan fiction, and her timid writer's muse made its voice heard. After 2.3 million hits, 20,000 reviews, and an e-mail from an acquisitions editor at The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House, her life found a new and fascinating direction.

Elise likes to see her characters grow, experience passion and adventure, tackle some difficult issues, and find lasting love . . . eventually.

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Celebrate Sci-Fy - Guestpost (Sebastian and the Afterlife)

Say NO to REALITY!

This May, TWCS is paying tribute to the SciFy genre in honour of the EPIC Star Wars series and LEGENDARY The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, amongst others...

BOOKS ON SALE FOR ONLY 99 PENNIES!

Sebastian and the Afterlife (by William j. Barry) - Guest Post

Sebastian, an average seventeen-year-old boy, has just paid this debt. He awakes in a surreal world somewhere between mortal life and the afterlife, where the Grim Reaper rules and his loyal agents maintain the law. But not all is peaceful in this mystical realm. Axis Red and his soul pirates threaten the future of all who dwell there.

Sebastian soon finds himself at Sapentia, a high school for the departed. There he makes new friends but longs for his lost love, Sarah, who is still alive in the mortal world. Some things are forbidden; some lines cannot be crossed. What will Sebastian risk to be close to Sarah again?

Continue the adventure with Sebastian and the Afterlife Book II - Agents of the Reaper.

How did your own personal beliefs affect your writing on the Afterlife? 

Did you model Sebastian after anyone or were you inspired by something/someone?

 I don’t think my personal beliefs played a huge role in writing about the afterlife. The process was more about starting with the story’s core concepts, and then letting my imagination loose to develop the universe around them. But I feel like my upbringing helped out a lot with the spiritual aspects of the story. 

As a kid I grew up in a very religious family. We were brought up to believe that even though you couldn't see them, angels and demons were all around us, manipulating the physical world. Growing up with these stories gave me some good footing when constructing a spirit world.

Something that had a direct influence on Sebastian and the Afterlife were some particular stories my mother told me when I was young. She said that on two separate occasions, that she had seen a shadow travel across a room when she was visiting someone that was about to die. Both people died shortly after she had seen this, and she was convinced that it was 'death' preparing to take the individual. Besides being struck by how eerie the stories were, I found it interesting that the 'death shadow' that she said to have seen, was not evil. It was simply there to do a job (collect a soul). When I was imagining the spirit world, I knew that I wanted to incorporate a character as iconic as the Grim Reaper, but I knew he wasn't going to be an evil being, but more like my mother had described, simply there to do a job.

Possession was also a concept that I was brought up with (though we were told it was by demons, not so much by departed spirits).  I used the concept of possession a lot in the series, especially in the first book. 

While I don’t really subscribe to a lot of the beliefs that I was raised with as a kid, I found them to be a great source to draw from when writing about the afterlife and a spiritual world. It definitely helped the process. 

Sebastian was very loosely based on a seventeen-year-old version of myself, polished up a bit, of course. There are some basic similarities between him and myself, like him playing soccer in high school, and things like that. But it was more about me thinking back to what it was like to be that age, and remembering my own insecurities and my wide-eyed naivety about life. Back when little things seemed like cataclysmic events. In a sense it was like imagining the high school me going on this adventure, and how I might of handled it. I’m sure I wouldn't have been as composed as Sebastian about the situation, but like I said, this is the polished up version. I feel most of the emotions he experienced are universal, so I hope that anyone could see themselves in his shoes.

 

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Writing Lab: "Five Things Writers Have to Learn to Do that Have Nothing to Do with Writing", by @TM_Franklin

T.M. Franklin is the author of Twelve, the action-packed conclusion to the MORE Trilogy.

Her subject for today's Writing Lab lesson is:

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Five Things Writers Have to Learn to Do that Have Nothing to Do with Writing

You’ve written the story, gone through the editing process, approved a gorgeous cover, and your release day is approaching. Now it’s time to sit back and wait for the sales numbers to roll in. Right?

Right. 

Or not.

It’s nice to think that if you write a great book, the audience will find it. There is some truth to that, of course. But most of us in the indie publishing world have had to learn along the way that there’s much more to publishing than writing and editing. In the years since MORE was published, I’ve had to learn a few things that actually have very little to do with writing – but have proven invaluable when it comes to marketing and promoting my books. Here, in no particular order, are five of them.

HTML – It’s Swell!

Okay, maybe “swell” is pushing it, but learning a little basic HTML coding is very useful. If you’re trying to work with bloggers on promotion, making things as easy as possible for them increases your chances of getting featured on their blog. And presenting your post in a ready-to-go HTML format, so they can just copy, paste, and post, does just that. 

You don’t have to be a computer whiz to do this. There are a number of free HTML converters available online. You just copy and paste your document, add your pictures (hosted on a site like Photobucket) and convert it into an HTML document. 

However, it does help to know a little about how HTML works.  For example, HTML tags normally come in pairs like <b> and </b>. The first tag in a pair is the start tag, the second tag is the end tag. The end tag is written like the start tag, but with a slash before the tag name. This particular pair of tags would put the text between the tags in bold font. 

So if you wrote this in HTML: <b> This text would be bold.</b>

It would appear like this: This text would be bold.

If you wrote this in HTML: <i>This text would be in italics.</i>

It would appear like this: This text would be in italics.

There’s a lot more to it than this, but again, Google is your friend. Search for basic HTML tags or even specifics like “HTML code for embedding video” and give it a try. 

Discounts & Distribution

There’s something so exciting about seeing your book on a bookstore shelf for the first time. But, as anyone who’s been in the business for a while can tell you, it’s easier said than done. I’ve been lucky enough to have a few local Barnes & Noble stores that are supportive of independent authors, but that’s the exception rather than the rule. Indie bookstores are often a better option, but there are some things that can help ease the way with them as well. The first is to work at building a relationship with indie store owners – stop by and chat, drop off an ARC or at least some bookmarks, talk to them about your books, etc. But really, we all have to remember that bookselling is a business, and bookstores are in it to make money, so in the end, it all comes down to whether your book will be profitable, and distribution plays a big part, as well.

For Barnes & Noble to carry your book, it first has to be in the Barnes and Noble system. There are a number of options for this – for example, Createspace offers Expanded Distribution, which includes availability on the B&N website. However, carrying the books in the brick and mortar store is an entirely different thing – and generally, it’s up to the store manager.

Most other bookstores require (or at least greatly favor) books that are available with a standard discount (generally 40%) and full returnability through a distributor like Ingram or, in my area, Partner’s West. The returnable option is key because it assures the bookstore owner that the books can be returned if they don’t sell.

This has been a challenge to indie and self-published authors in the past, but Ingram recently introduced IngramSpark, which offers these terms. Again, however, this only eases the way. It’s still up to the bookstore owner or manager to decide if your book is worth the time and money to stock.

Making the Sale

I can hear the protests already. “B-b-but I’m not a salesperson. I’m an artiste!” I’m afraid it’s true, though, authors have to learn to sell their books – whether online or at in-person events. To put it bluntly, most people will have never heard of you or your books, so if you want to sell any, you’ll have to be able to tell people about them.

Yes, it can be uncomfortable. But I’ll share a bit of advice my editor gave me at my first author event: Don’t think of it as selling yourself. Think about selling this great book that you read that you think other people might enjoy.

Get up out of the chair. Smile at people. Offer them a bookmark and ask them what kind of books they like to read. Listen. Then tell them about your book and hand them a copy so they can read the back or skim the first few pages. If you have a well-written blurb and compelling first scene, sometimes that will be enough to seal the deal.

Not always, of course. Sometimes people will hand it back and walk away. That’s the way it goes. But take heart – there’s another prospective reader just around the corner.

Argh! Here There Be Pirates!

This is probably the most frustrating, irritating, infuriating thing about being an author – the people who think it’s absolutely fine to offer pirated copies of your work for free, and the people who think it’s just as fine to download them.

It’s easy to get bogged down in it, to be honest. Some of these sites get taken down, only to be back up again under another URL within an hour. It’s like Hydra – cut off one head and two more pop up in its place. (Yes, I might have watched Captain America recently. Again.)

There is no winning with these people, so my advice is to try and keep it in perspective. When you find a piracy site, report it, send a DCMA takedown letter or ask your publisher to do so. You can even hire a service like Muso to track down the pirates for you. 

Then let it go. Get back to writing. You can spend all of your time searching for pirated copies of your work, but it’s just not worth it.

Some Readers Won’t Like Your Book

I’m afraid it’s true. We want everyone to love our stories, but guess what – it ain’t gonna happen. It might help to go check out the one-star reviews for J.K. Rowling. (Yes, they exist!)

We all like to read different things – and I know I’ve loved books my friends have hated and vice versa. It’s difficult to accept because writing is such a personal thing, but someone not liking your book is not a personal attack. It’s an opinion.

Another editor shared this advice with me: The people who hate your work are not your audience. The people who love it are.

So try to focus on that – and write your stories for them. Good luck!

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Thank you, TM Franklin! You gave us plenty of food for thought!

- Raum

As always, your comments are welcome. 

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Writing Lab: The Inspiration Behind "Anniversary Killer" by Alexandra Allred @alexandraallred

Anniversary Killer is a mystery/detective story, published by The Writers Coffee Shop. Alex Allred is ready to tell us more about the inspiration behind her new novel:

"Anniversary Killer was originally written almost two decades ago. I was living in Westerville, Ohio when an unusual crime occurred. Yes, just as the character Allie Lindell lives in Westerville, it is a real place with many duck crossings, a lot of rain and, on one fine day, a place of murder.

Like most of my neighbors, I was stunned to see the gorgeous home on the lake burning to the ground. In the days that followed, more and more details came out about the home owner and some rather curious facts about his past. Two things played into these happenings. First, I did know the family of the man whose home had burned down. I knew about a previous murder connected to that man, the crazy details of that murder, of gambling debt rumors, and of his love for his dog. Second, my father actually worked as an obituary writer. True to the character of Allie Lindell, I grew up reading and enjoying obituaries. Can you enjoy an obit? Yeah. In the sense of appreciating the accomplishments and history of another person’s life, there are some really interesting obituaries out there!

As I learned more and more about a business partner who was found murdered in a corn field next to set of burglar tools and wearing a ninja suit … well, come on! As a writer, there was that initial, “No way!” moment and then I knew what I needed to do. You can’t make this stuff up! While nuggets of truth were stolen from the headlines, Allie Lindell and her life as a frustrated (though happy) stay-at-home mom took over the storyline. To this day, Allie is one of my most favorite characters. She makes no pretenses about being brave, super athletic, or even terribly clever (which she is). Rather, she pokes fun at her unexplainable infatuation with death and murder, acknowledges her penchant for lying, and continuously wrestles with why she can’t just be content to sit and watch Disney reruns over and over again with her two young daughters. 

But excites me most about Allie’s character and what makes this a different kind of detective series is that Allie is gay. When I pulled this series out (and dusted it off), I asked The Writer’s Coffee Shop what they thought about making Allie gay. She would have the same relationship issues, same financial woes, and same mom guilt-trips as straight Allie only she just happens to be gay. I’m proud to say that everyone loved the idea. While Anniversary Killer is the third in the Allie Lindell series (check out Roadkill and Sweetbreath), we still had to go back through and change/tweak relationships. It’s no mystery to those who know me that much of Allie’s life is taken from my own, so it was funny when my husband learned he was now a lesbian. Yes, honey, and you’re far more agreeable now!

I’m also super pumped to tell you that the Allie Lindell series is in the “treatment” phase in L.A. for a possible run as a television detective series. There is a giant question mark hanging over it but it’s still hard for me to contain myself at the idea of Allie being on screen. With her sister, the policewoman, and her super K-9 dog (who secretly pacifies on a pillow at night); her sidekick and always the smart-ass, Sandy, a reporter for the Columbus Dispatch; and a nosey but lovable neighbor, it’s a fun cast. Allie’s partner, Rae Ann and her two daughters, Krissy and Kelli, “keep it real” with arguments and diaper changes. I will definitely keep you posted on whether it becomes a TV pilot but you can be sure more Allie stories are coming your way. Oh, and if you know of any really good obituaries … please send them my way."

Thank you, Alex!

ISBN e-book:  978-1-61213-262-4

Available from: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH

 Goodreads * Add to Want To Read List

Full Summary 

One o’clock and all’s . . . well, not so well, but what’s new in the world of Allie Lindell? Almost a year to the day, Mickey Callahan’s business partner was found dead from a single gunshot wound to the head and nothing but questions surrounding his murder. Now, Mickey is convinced that the same people are out to get him. After a sloppy kidnapping attempt, no one takes him seriously until the body count starts to grow. While the part-time sleuth and full-time mother of two had promised to stay away from murder and mayhem for a while, Allie can’t resist the mystery that practically ignites in her own backyard. The Allie Lindell saga returns with the third book in the series and more drama than ever as Allie continues to struggle to remember the love of her life and partner while trying to keep her head above water as she wades through the underworld of gambling, race horses, and murder.

Alexandra Allred is a former national and professional athlete turned adventure writer turned humorist and novelist. She’s often been called the next Erma Bombeck with a grudge. Her annual Christmas letters, which have frequently made the news, could make the Grinch weep with joy. For a taste of holiday glee, see http://www.allredgreetings.blogspot.com Allred is a writer of fiction and nonfiction alike, but is most proud of the Allie Lindell series. Several close friends from her sports background and personal life have been the source of inspiration for the books. And just like Allie Lindell, Allred grew up with a father who taught her the love of reading a good obituary column. Allred writes for Waxahachie Daily Light newspaper, continues to testify in Washington D.C. on behalf of children with asthma and our need for clean air, and she’s never too far from her gym in Midlothian, Texas. You can always drop her a note at www.alexandratheauthor.com.

Twitter * Facebook * Website * Blog

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"Another humorous Allie story, and it was nice to see her sister joining the gang."  - Andrea Goodreads Review

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Let's talk about "Exposure" by Morgan and Jennifer Locklear @MJLocklear

As Morgan and I have been promoting our debut novel, Exposure, we’re often asked how the idea for the book came about, so we thought we’d take the time to share that particular story here on MyReadingLounge…

THE PLOT BUNNY

One afternoon several years ago, I (Jennifer) was spending a day at home doing the laundry.

Laundry is never my favorite thing to do, but according to the rest of my family I have some talent for it so I own it.

Not surprisingly, my mind began to wander while I plodded through the chore. As I was trying to carry a particularly large and awkward load of clothing from the utility room, I began thinking about what I’d really like to do with the bundle of clothing obstructing my line of sight as I negotiated some stairs.

That’s when I suddenly pictured something fictional and specific in my mind’s eye. And as I folded, hung up and put away the clean laundry, I kept replaying that picture and adding more and more elements to it until an entire scene was completely formed in my imagination.

This is the occurrence commonly referred to in writing circles as the birth of a Plot Bunny.

I had the most basic beginnings of a story idea, and over a period of time I continued to let the idea grow.  I developed a main character, supporting characters, a partial story outline, a few conflicts and some (but not all) resolutions.

At the time I was allowing these ideas to multiply in my head,  I was in the middle of writing and posting another story online. It was my first attempt at sharing my fictional writing with a wider audience. I thought I was happy and content with posting the seven chapter short story and calling it good. When it was done, I’d planned on going back to editing work for my husband and a few author friends of mine and leave it at that.

I can’t tell you exactly what date the Plot Bunny formed or how long I kept developing the idea. I don’t remember going through any stages of denial, anger, bargaining or depression over a period of months, but I can tell you that I finally accepted the fact that the Plot Bunny wasn’t going to leave me alone.

I didn’t know exactly how big this housekeeping inspired Plot Bunny would ultimately be, but I knew it would be a lot more than seven chapters and would include a big cast of characters. I also knew I wasn’t yet ready to tackle writing a full-length work of fiction all on my own.

And yet the Plot Bunny continued to demand my attention.

Bastard.

One summer evening in 2011, my husband and I were enjoying a date night.  We were sitting in an ocean side lounge enjoying appetizers, cocktails and a gorgeous view of the ocean. It was a perfect evening out with my best friend in the world, and in a relaxed state of mind I let it slip that I was being stalked by a Plot Bunny. Morgan immediately took an interest and asked me to share the details with him.  

The more I shared with him, the more animated he became. I have to say there has been no one more enthusiastic or supportive than Morgan when it comes to my writing, and I wasn’t surprised at the end of my presentation when he told me I should pursue writing the story as soon as my other one was completed.

I told him no way was that going to happen.

He blinked and asked me why not. I responded by confessing that I didn’t feel ready to tackle it on my own. Being somewhat tipsy and sarcastic I asked if he wanted to help me write it.

So then he smiled and told me not to worry, he would.

I wasn’t expecting that.

But then again…

I’d been editing his stories for a couple of years by this point and he was helping to edit the short story I was working on. Many of my fears in trying to tame this raging Plot Bunny had to do with specific challenges that I knew Morgan would be able to work through.  He clearly liked my ideas and we both realized it would give Morgan and I an opportunity to write something a bit different than either of us were used to.

We were always talking about writing in one form or another, so why not try to work on it together?

Still tipsy (but no longer sarcastic), I accepted his offer with confidence.

The Plot Bunny no longer seemed so terrifying.  It just needed the two of us to manage it.

***

Exposure is available in both paperback and e-book:

• via Omnific Publishing http://omnificpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=index&zenid=0fc32a21eeb7c427874a7f33a99c1b8c
• Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_4_8?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=exposure+morgan+locklear&sprefix=exposure%2Cnull%2C1094
• AmazonUK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=exposure%20morgan%20locklear
• Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/exposure-morgan-locklear/1119637457?ean=2940149184828

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Experience Writing "Ready to Love Again" - by Annalyse Knight @annalyseknight

Annalyse Knight has kindly agreed to discuss her experience writing Ready to Love Again. 

"First, let me say that I never intended to publish this story. I started writing it as an escape from the drama happening in my personal life almost six years ago. Fortunately, I had three online friends who I bounced ideas off every day. We’d meet on Yahoo Messenger and chat about the next chapters each of us had to write. We’d visualize the next scene and play it out from start to finish. One person would make a suggestion and then the conversation would take off. Sometimes in silly, off-topic directions, but we’d always pull it together and come up with some fantastic ideas for each other. 

I posted the story online as I wrote and had an amazing response from my readers. The story related to so many people and in ways I never intended. To me, the story was my way of reconnecting with a place I loved and sharing what I loved with my readers. However, to my readers, the struggles of family life, single parenthood, divorce, raising children, blending families, and losing a loved one all seemed to hit each reader personally. They shared their stories of love, loss, child rearing and frustrations, which I held close to my heart as I wrote the story. 

Not all of my e-mails were filled with rainbows and kittens. I had many readers challenge the way some of my characters handled their situations. They made me think about what I wrote and so I constantly asked myself how I would react in a situation and if my characters would react the same way under their circumstances. I had one amazing reader, Sandra, who would psychoanalyze my characters to a point that made me think I really didn’t know them very well. She seemed to understand them perfectly and opened my eyes to where the story could go. In most instances, my readers’ comments gave me more conviction in my characters and their behaviors. With all of their suggestions and requests, the first draft of the story ended up being 268K words, which is over twice the regular word count for a romance novel. They definitely influenced the story. 

I eventually got to the point where I considered publishing the story. I rewrote it from the beginning because it was originally in first person, cut over fifty percent of unnecessary fluff and smut, and then submitted it to A Writers’ Collective to see if they’d accept it for a workshop. They did, thankfully. The workshop process was grueling even though I’d had plenty of critique writing online. There are not many things more personal than having a group of strangers rip your manuscript to shreds and then help you put it back together again. The group of ladies I had was amazing and showed me what it really takes to prepare a novel for publishing. In the end, the story that emerged was even better than the original version.

I can say that I feel truly blessed with the amazing friends I have gained along the way. My readers and workshop gals were awesome. I don’t think they realize how much they all inspired me."

Thank you, Annalyse!

About the Author Annalyse Knight is a recovering craft addict. She spent many years jumping from one hobby to another until she discovered that writing satisfied all her creative cravings. A stay-at-home mom, Annalyse raised her three children on California’s Monterey Peninsula. Although she and her family later moved to the Sacramento area, the beach, the quiet community, and the beauty of the California coast continue to inspire her writing. She spent several years writing with an online community, and she loved the direct interaction with her readers. Her online participation eventually led to her volunteer at The Writers’ Collective, an online writing workshop group founded to create a supportive community for writers. With her children almost grown, Annalyse decided to take her hobby to the next level and become a published author. Ready to Love Again is her first novel with The Writer’s Coffee Shop.

Twitter * Facebook * Website

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Writing Lab: Into the Mindset of...

Have you ever gotten into the mindset of a special character? What about getting into the mindset of a First Lady?

Venita Ellick did it in her novel The Reluctant First Lady. 

Here's her writing experience:

How do you get into the mindset of a First Lady?

"I didn’t find it hard. As I wrote the story, I closed my eyes and imagined how I would feel in each situation. I could see the scene in my mind, like a play, and I would write the feeling tone of what I felt in the dialogue. That’s really all a writer can do.  Create, imagine, decide how much of your own perspective, your bias, to include in the story.

Having been a working mom with many demands, tugs and pulls on my time from all of the factions of my life, it made it easy to imagine Ashley’s scenario".

Thanks, Venita!

Dear Readers and Writers, your comments are always welcome.  

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Let's talk about "Under These Restless Skies" by @lissabryan

Magic, love, and intrigue in the court of Henry VIII. Let's talk about this new novel.

Under These Restless Skies
by
Lissa Bryan

Published by The Writers Coffee Shop

Available from Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS

Summary: 

Will Somers has always thought himself unlovable. When he encounters a creature of myth and magic, he seizes the chance to finally have a wife and family of his own. Emma is a selkie—one of the immortal fae-folk of the sea—bound to Will by the magic of her kind, and eager to learn about life on land. She has to learn to adapt quickly to human customs, because Will is headed for the court of Henry VIII, to serve as the king’s fool. It’s a glittering, dangerous world, where a careless word can lead to the scaffold and the smallest of gestures is loaded with political implications. Anne Boleyn is charmed by Emma’s naïveté and soothing selkie magic and wants Emma for her own fool. Can Will protect his newfound love from the dangers that lurk in every shadow? Circa regna tonat: around the throne, the thunder rolls.

Giveaway! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Author Bio:

Lissa Bryan is an astronaut, renowned Kabuki actress, Olympic pole vault gold medallist, Iron Chef champion, and scientist, who recently discovered the cure for athlete’s foot...though only in her head. Real life isn’t so interesting, which is why she spends most of her time writing. 

Connect with Lissa Bryan on: 

Facebook, Twitter, Blog and Goodreads



Other novels by Lissa Bryan

• Ghostwriter
• The End of all Things

 

Short stories by Lissa Bryan

• Tales From The End    
• The Golden Arrow and The Butterfly

Coming soon: The Land of the Shadow 

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Writing Lab: a lesson from @TM_Franklin, author of "The Guardians"

Last week we talked about The Guardians, the new novel by T.M. Franklin.

Today T.M. Franklin will tell us more about

A Novel in 30 Days. Seriously?

November is wrapping up.  Tomorrow’s Thanksgiving, and then comes Black Friday—at least in the U.S. But did you know November is also NaNoWriMo month?

No? What is NaNoWriMo, you ask?

It stands for National Novel Writing Month, and it’s an annual writing project that brings together writers from all over the world. They gather in chat rooms, forums, and libraries, Twitter, Skype, and Facebook, encouraging each other in their endeavor to write a novel (or at least a good chunk of one) during the month of November. Fifty-thousand words in thirty days. That’s 1,667 words a day if you’re breaking it down. The NaNoWriMo website hooks you up with local writing sessions and even provides a word-count graph so you can keep track of whether or not you’re on track to finish the challenge.

A lot of people find the idea daunting—to write every single day, with a goal of just under seventeen-hundred words a day. It really helped me, though. To be accountable (even if it’s just to myself and my NaNo friends) to sit down and write every day helps keep me motivated and focused. It also taught me to write without editing, which is harder than it sounds. There’s always the temptation to go back and fix things as you’re writing along, but the idea of NaNoWriMo is to just keep writing.

You get the idea.

My first NaNoWriMo was in 2011, and I met the challenge that year, writing about two-thirds of my debut novel MORE during the month. I still had to finish it up in the following weeks and months, but it was published in October of 2012.  I didn’t do so well in NaNo 2012, mainly because I was promoting MORE at the time, but I still managed to write a good chunk of The Guardians during November.

And no, they don’t send you degrading e-mails or flog you on Facebook if you don’t meet the goal. You just have to go back in December and keep on writing.

MORE and The Guardians: Book 2 in the MORE Trilogy are now available!


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Thank you, T.M. Franklin!

T.M. Franklin started out her career writing non-fiction in a television newsroom. Graduating with a B.A. in Communications specializing in broadcast journalism and production, she worked for nine years as a major market television news producer, and garnered two regional Emmy Awards, before she resigned to be a full-time mom and part-time freelance writer. After writing and unsuccessfully querying a novel that she now admits, “is not that great,” she decided to follow the advice of one of the agents who turned her down—write some more and get better at it. Her first published novel, MORE, was born during National Novel Writing month, a challenge to write a novel in thirty days.

She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Mike, is mom to two boys, Justin and Ryan, and has an enormous black dog named Rocky who’s always lying nearby while she’s writing. Whether he’s soothed by the clicking of the computer keys or just waiting for someone to rub his belly is up for debate.

In addition to MORE and The Guardians, Franklin penned the Amazon best-selling short story, Window, as well as another short story, A Piece of Cake, which appears in the Romantic Interludes anthology.

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Mike Walker's "Gossip Game" Question - here's the solution!

Here's the solution to Mike Walker's "Gossip Game" question, posted on November 2:

The Question:

This star, who’s famous for playing a big-screen superhero, shocked cast and crew on the set of his latest flick when – after flubbing a line on-camera – he suddenly broke into ear-splitting barks and howls, like a wounded dog. Freaked by his batty behavior, everyone froze…but a moment later, our star calmly stepped back into character and nailed the scene. Later that day, after flubbing a line again, our star instantly started yipping and yowling like a werewolf in heat – then stopped abruptly, signaled for a retake and delivered his dialogue perfectly. And later, during a break, our star explained to his bewildered co-workers that his mad dog outbreaks are just his way of clearing his head.

So, Gossip Fans, who is our yipping, yowling star? Was it:

A)   Henry Cavill, (Superman)

B)   Chris Hemsworth, (Thor)

C)  Robert Downey Jr., (Iron Man)

D)  Val Kilmer, (Batman)

The Solution:

Val Kilmer

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Had you guessed it?

I hope you will enjoy Mike Walker's novel, Out For Blood.

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Writing Lab: "The Birth of a Book", by Suzy Duffy @suzyduffybooks

The idea for Newton Neighbors came about while I was writing Wellesley Wives.

I wasn’t really looking for a new storyline but that’s almost always when the best ideas are born. 

http://ph.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/books/detail/100

We’re new to the area, so we like to wander around and discover places. This particular evening my husband suggested a drive and we found ourselves going by a really beautiful lake just beside Newton town. I noticed the interior lights of the houses across the lake reflecting in the water and it gave the place a magical quality. I was hooked. I wanted to live “on the water.” Michael laughed at me and told me to sell a million more books. Oh. (Actually when you read Newton Neighbors, my reaction was pretty similar to Jessica’s when she first saw it.) 

Undeterred, soon after I did a little research on the web and discovered that the lake started life as Wiswall’s Pond. At least that’s what it was called during the colonial era. I’m quite sure local Indians had a different name for it before but alas, that’s lost. A man called Wiswall owned the pond so it was Wiswall’s pond - reasonable. Then the name was changed to Baptist Pond because it was used for Baptisms by the Newton Center Baptist Church - again reasonable. 

Then, in the nineteenth century the name was changed once more to Crystal Lake. (I wonder were the Baptists fed up.) Did the Crystal family own it now, I thought. Was it some new religion? Not exactly. The truth is winter ice was harvested by an Ice company and they decided that people would much rather have ice that came from a Crystal Lake than a place where heathens were bathed to be converted. I think this showed great marketing skills considering it was the 1800s but more than that, this little nugget of ice was like gold for me. 

I thought it was a hoot that they were coercing the poor ice drinkers of 1800 and we think big business today is the cause of all our problems. We’ve been manipulated for hundreds of years already! I heard for example that Santa Claus started life wearing green and white and it was Coca-Cola that changed him to red and white, to suit their logo. (Poor Mrs. Claus.) 

I let the idea rest until I finished up Wellesley Wives but pretty soon after I got cracking on my lovely lake story. I took the dog for walks around the lake, did a lot of driving to research the real names of the streets and when I couldn’t find a Crystal Lake Lane in reality, I was able to get started. 

The characters are not based on anybody I've met in Newton or women I know elsewhere. I think we all have a little Maria in us. That’s to say, we all have negative self image days. I don’t want to spoil the story, so I’ll just say the decisions she makes might be a bit unusual but Go Her. We all have to listen to our hearts and do what’s right for us and our loved ones. She did. It took guts but she called it right, I think. Of course there’s the other inner voice too... the “I want it now,” voice. Mine speaks to me loud and clear regularly – like the day I first saw the lake and wanted to move there. This is where the character Cathi comes in. We all know women who are chasing the dream but unfortunately they’re often chasing the wrong damn dream, hence the need for good friends. It’s our close pals who tell us when our radars are off and to have a re-think. 

Then there’s the folk who end up on the lake by pure chance, like Noreen who arrived before property bubbles had been invented. That’s just like real life too, no matter where we want to get to in our lives, there'll be folk there already. That’s not to say they’re luckier than us, they just have a different life path. Crystal Lake Lane proved a fabulous back drop to bring a crazy collection of people together, each with their own story and adventure to take. Mixing that with a lot of comedy and of course, cocktails has produced a great story. I sure had fun writing and researching it. You’re going to have to read it now and mail me with your opinion of ‘life on the lake’. Better again, like my page on Facebook and post your thoughts there. 

When you have a copy of Newton Neighbors, get yourself a nice quiet place to read and make sure you have a long cool drink for company. Just remember to ask where the ice came from! 

Enjoy. 

Lots of love, 

- Suzy Duffy

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Thank you, Suzy!

You can follow Suzy Duffy's work through these websites:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Suzyduffybooks1
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/suzyduffybooks 
• Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/suzyduffybooks/boards
• Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6420971.Suzy_Duffy
• Official Website: http://www.SuzyDuffyBooks.com

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Let's talk about the "Harry Potter" Saga

Over the last few months, I have had the pleasure to read the whole Harry Potter Saga, and even more than that I've had the wonderful opportunity to discuss the books with a few lovely friends. Their comments while I was reading have been a precious gift to me, and I can finally understand why they love the books so much.

Today SatinCoveredSteel and I are sharing our comments about the whole Saga. Warning: (some) spoilers ahead!

1. Mystery Writing

Raum: I love the way the author put so many hints in the books and used them to build such a complex and fascinating plot. So many times there were scenes that made perfect sense given the setting, but then they took on a new meaning as well, because they were preparing us readers for something different. E. g. Aragog had been mentioned in one of the first books, so when it died it wasn't strange for the readers. But the death and the "funeral" became very important given the things Harry got going to the funeral with Hagrid and Slughorn.

SatinCoveredSteel: This is something I love about JK Rowling's writing, too.  She works very much like a mystery writer, laying out many clues or situations that are only fully understood much later.  I love the how the seventh book in particular showed us a new side to so many things we thought we understood before.

A question for the readers: which is your favorite book in the Saga?

2. What changed during the Saga

Raum: I love that JK Rowling's writing style improved during the Saga. I think it takes courage and strength to always try to do better, and that shows in her writing.

SatinCoveredSteel: What I noticed was that I liked her plots better and better as the series progressed (although I think I enjoyed the 3rd and 4th books better than the 5th).  Generally, the books became more complex and interesting as they went along, and of course each one built on the existing complexity of the last one.  In addition, as the main characters grew up and dealt with more grown-up situations, it became more interesting in that way as well.

A question for the readers: which changes did you notice during the Saga?

3. Characters

Raum:  I love the care the author gave to all the characters. Each one has his/her flaws, and I really appreciate it. The Saga is not just Harry's story, but it's the story of all the people the author makes us love or hate or despise or pity. JK Rowling didn't create just a main character or an adventure; she created a new world. 

SatinCoveredSteel: She put gave years and years of her life to creating that world, and yes, it is a very full and interesting one.  There are many wonderful characters, some of them straightforward and others far more complex and at times hard to figure out.  For me, interesting characters are the most important ingredient of a good story.

A question for the readers: who is your favorite character and why?

4. Fanfiction?

Raum: The whole story is so well-crafted that, after reading it, I don't feel any need to read HP fanfics (let alone writing them!). I'm open to suggestions because...never say never, but so far I just want to reread what the author wrote. I wouldn't like to see a single detail changed, while in other fandoms I really enjoy AU fics, where the same characters have different backgrounds and adventures.

SatinCoveredSteel: Of course the first thing you want to do is reread it; I would too, if I'd just read all seven books in a row for the first time!  I've read a few short Harry Potter fanfics, but I never searched very seriously.  I'm sure there are some good quality ones out there...but like you, I haven't had much desire to read them.  I think you have a point that the story in the books is very tightly constructed and satisfying, but I think many people have written AU HP fics.  I know some people like to explore different character pairings, for example.  I'm sure there are fics elaborating upon things that happened in the canon Saga, as well. A Snape POV of certain parts of the story would be interesting, but it would have to be done well.  Same with Dumbledore, perhaps.  Something else I think could be interesting would be stories about what happens to the next generation of Potters and Weasleys—the kids we see at the end of the book.  

A question for the readers: which HP fanfics would you recommend?

5. Deep Meanings

Raum: I love the way the story can be read discovering so many layers. I think the last book is a great reflection about self-sacrifice (Harry), the complexity of every human being (Dumbledore), the way you can keep love going on even after the person you loved died (Severus). 

SatinCoveredSteel: I found Dumbledore's story fascinating, and we learn so much more about him in the seventh book.  Harry sees that everyone is fallible—even his hero—but of course he also sees that we can learn from our mistakes and become better people.  Both Dumbledore and Snape had to learn from some major mistakes in their lives.  

For me, Severus Snape was the most fascinating character in the Saga.

One of the main things I noticed throughout the books is the idea that appearances can be deceptive—don't judge a book by its cover.  Examples abound in the books.  Professor Quirrel, who seemed like a just a harmless teacher, but turned out to be helping Voldemort.  Mad-Eye Moody, who turned out to be Barty Crouch Jr. in disguise.  Scabbers, who seemed like just a hand-me-down pet rat, but was actually Peter Pettigrew, the man who betrayed Harry's Parents.  Sirius Black, who was believed by everyone to be that betrayer, but who had actually been framed by Pettigrew and wrongfully imprisoned all those years.  There are other examples, but those are the ones that come to mind.  Some characters are more straightforward, of course—for example, we pretty much knew what Bellatrix Lestrange was like from the first moment we saw her, and were never proven wrong.  

But I had a feeling that Rowling was playing with us when it came to Snape.  She usually showed a character's true colors over the course of one book (Sirius's arc in the third book, for example), but in Snape's case, she made us wait until the last book to show us what really happened.  One thing I never saw coming was his history with Lily, although when Harry saw the silver doe Patronus in the forest, I did wonder if that might have something to do with her (since James's was a stag).  I thought that was one of the most brilliant things in that book, and it's interesting to look back at the earlier books with that in mind.  For me, it's not simple...not at all.  Snape wanted to protect Harry for Lily's sake, but at the same time, he had to spend all those years watching over this boy who looked so much like James, but with Lily's eyes.  Harry is the reminder of the girl he lost, the girl he couldn't have...the girl who chose another.  I wonder how much of his poor treatment of Harry throughout the story was to hide his true mission, and how much was genuine dislike because of the boy's resemblance to his father?  I suspect it's some of both.  Perhaps Rowling leaves that as an open question for readers to decide.  

A question for the readers: which plot twist or which character surprised you more?

6. Humour

Raum: JK Rowling's humor was an elegant trait that made all the Saga even more enjoyable. It helped to break the tension, but it helped also to fall more and more in love with the characters. Fred and George are a great example of that. Even in the darkest moments, they kept their smile on their faces.

SatinCoveredSteel: Humor is another thing I feel is key to a good book—not always necessary, but it almost always helps.  With so much dark material, there needs to be something to break it up, to make us smile in the midst of it, and I think Rowling is wonderful at writing humor that appeals to a broad spectrum of people—both kids and adults. Fred and George were brilliant...but I'm still sad about Fred's death. The author clearly knows where to hit her readers where it hurts, doesn't she?

A question for the readers: which was the most funny or sad moment in the Saga?

7. Learning from the Saga

Raum: I think the Saga teaches us how our free choices are truly our most important talent. Intelligence, wealth, beauty... they matter, they all matter: the author doesn't deny it, because the characters wouldn't have been the same without their most important talents. But no talent is enough to grant you happiness. Everything depends on the choices you make. 

SatinCoveredSteel: You're right.  For example, Tom Riddle was an intelligent being with a natural talent for magic (and yes, a handsome face), but he lacked empathy for the people around him.  Whereas Bellatrix was a fiery villain who took pleasure in the pain of others, in comparison Voldemort almost seemed detached, uncaring, cold.  He could have been of great service to the world, but instead, he turned his natural talents to domination and destruction.  

Dumbledore and Grindelwald are another good example.  Dumbledore learned early in his life the pitfalls of thinking oneself superior, and he changed course, instead becoming a champion of Muggle-borns.  Grindelwald did not learn the same lesson.  Both men were similarly talented and intelligent, but one chose the path of light while the other chose darkness.  

I think if I had to name the single most important theme in the last book, it's the power of love.  Voldemort's failure to understand the human heart contributed to his downfall.  He didn't understand Snape's love for Lily—couldn't fathom the power of such a feeling—and so didn't see how Snape was working against him.  It had also proved his undoing on the night he killed Harry's parents, when Lily's love protected Harry from harm and his own attack rebounded upon him.  He overlooked that power, because he didn't understand it—didn't feel it for anyone himself.  And he failed to learn, because he made the same mistake again, on the night he tried to kill Harry in the woods (in the last book).  Once again, it was a mother's love for her son—Narcissa Malfoy's love for Draco—that brought about his ruin.  She lied to him, telling him Harry was dead, and that saved Harry's life again.  Her priorities had shifted, and she didn't care about the death eaters anymore; all she cared about was finding Draco and getting him to safety.  Voldemort didn't see this coming, because once again, he didn't understand her love.  It's one of my favorite things in the book, and the fact that it's one of Harry's enemies who is mirroring the actions of his own mother makes it all the more poignant for me.  It's like a perfect bookend for the saga.

A question for the readers: what have you learned from the Saga?

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