Books – Page 13 – Ruff Drafts

Have you Read Allie Kincheloe’s Garden Falls Novel, Clandestine?

Posted on June 3, 2016June 3, 2016 by Debbie

Clandestine: A Garden Falls Novel

Allie Kincheloe

Blurb:

Finding himself in Claire’s bed wearing nothing but a Zorro mask wasn’t exactly how Zane planned his Halloween. It was a certainty his sister’s best friend would lose her mind when she realized what they’d done. Having been secretly in love with Claire for years, Zane has no choice but to hide his identity. But he can’t just walk away…

Claire knew waking up naked and alone was just a part of a one-night stand. So she wasn’t too upset to find her mystery man had bounced sometime during the night. But when she finds his mask and a note, she can’t help but be intrigued. A few corny poems later, Claire starts a hunt to discover the identity of the mysterious “Z”. His demanding, yet sincere, persistence arouses not only her desire to recapture the magic they had shared on Halloween, but stirs up hidden desires she’s held on to for years.

When her best friend’s brother suddenly ups his flirting game, Claire is caught somewhere between her clandestine admirer and the man she knows she can’t have. Will she choose the secretive “Z” who won’t even tell her his name, or risk her relationship with her best friend and take a chance on Zane?

Excerpt 1:

Turning into the packed parking lot at Garden, Claire stomped the brakes and winced. Her car screeched to a stop, the bumper mere inches from Dracula and Medusa. The kissing couple didn’t seem to notice their near brush with death. If they did, it didn’t bother them enough to interrupt their embrace, anyway. With an exasperated shake of her head, Claire eased her car around them, glancing toward the front of the building as she crept slowly by. The line of people went from the double front doors, all the way around the side under the big stained glass windows. Of course it would, every adult in town under thirty was inside the club—or wanted to be. She finally found an empty spot at the back of the lot. A sports car was straddling the line, but it left just enough space for Claire to squeeze her little compact car in between it and the red Ford truck on the left. The Richland Construction sign on the door of the big truck made her sigh.

Shit. The last thing she wanted to deal with tonight was Zane freaking Richmond. The big goof had made it his life’s mission to make her smile for years. But lately? Oh, lately, he’d taken it a step further and the teasing had taken on more of a flirty tone. And now her heart went crazy every time he smiled her direction. Which happened way more than she wanted to admit. If he wasn’t her best friend’s brother, maybe… But after all that she and Talia had been through, endangering their friendship all for an uncertain relationship with Zane wasn’t something she was willing to chance.

It was just one night. She could ignore him for one night.

Even if he flirted? No… Some things just weren’t worth the risk. And despite how much that little dimple when he laughed begged her to kiss it, or how her heart fluttered whenever their hands brushed, she couldn’t give in to the temptation of Zane.

With a fortifying breath, Claire stepped out of her car. She pulled the rest of her costume from the back seat. Huge wings. Tonight, she was an angel. The snowy white feathers weighed heavily on her back. But with her mask and wings firmly in place, she strode up to the worn brick building. Zane Richmond wasn’t going to keep her from this party. Not tonight. Halloween was her favorite holiday and she’d be damned if she let his presence stop her.

She got in line behind a pair of ninjas and crept slowly toward the entrance, inch by inch. The slow moving line gave her too much time to worry. It would be a miracle if she was able to find her friends in the crowded club. At least she’d be able to find Sean. Even if he was in costume, the massive bartender her best friend had just married would be easy to find. And he’d be able to point Talia out.

A shiver coursed down her spine as the cool autumn breeze picked up. The angel costume really needed more fabric to be appropriate for this weather. She rubbed her hands over her bare arms, trying to warm the chilled flesh. She almost reneged on her promise to show up tonight when the line stopped moving for a minute. With the sun high in the sky today, the air had warmed to the mid-fifties. But now that it had eased below the horizon, those warmer temperatures were falling fast. She didn’t recognize the bouncer, but the jerk laughed at her chattering teeth when she finally made it to the door. She showed him ID and got the 21+ stamp on her hand.

Oh she definitely planned to have a few drinks tonight. This week had been damn ridiculous at work. They’d lost three patients due to various complications and her stress level had reached its max. She was so ready for some alcohol and a little relaxation. A few drinks, maybe some dancing where she could get close to a hot guy for a bit.

Slipping her ID inside the tiny pocket she’d sewn on her costume, she fought a shiver as her body tried to adjust to the temperature difference. Ten feet inside the club Peter Pan asked her to dance. She eyed him carefully. He was kinda cute. Glancing down, she vetoed that. Nope. Not nearly enough in those tights to tempt her. She gave him a soft smile and let him down easy. “Sorry, Pete. I’m an angel, not a fairy. Keep looking, you’ll find your Tinkerbell.”

Excerpt 2:

The loud blare of a train whistle pulled Zane from the depths of sleep. Why was there a train? Where the hell was he? There weren’t any trains near the lake. His Zorro mask blocked one eye. Tugging it up, he blinked a few times until his eyes adjusted to the dim light. A four poster bed? Satin sheets and pillows, a sweet perfume lingering in the air. Not his apartment.

Silky, long hair splayed across his bare chest. A soft arm lay across his stomach. Feathers tickled his arm. Feathers?

Damn.

He’d went home with Claire. Not just went home with her, but went to bed with her. That was her arm. Her naked body pressed so temptingly against his side. The feathers from her angel costume bent around his arm. And damn, she felt just as amazing as he’d dreamed she would.

She’d hate him when she woke up and discovered him in her bed.

He gulped down a ball of dread when that little speck of consciousness dropped into active thought. No way would she be cool with this. Not even a little bit. His heart and mind raced while he tried to come up with a plan that didn’t end with Claire castrating him. She’d made it clear how little she cared for him, repeatedly.

He wasn’t even sure why she seemed to hate him so much. Back when they were teenagers, she’d followed him around like a lost puppy for about a year. And even the year she’d half-lived with Talia they’d been cool. But it seemed like the more he tried to make her like him, the less she did.

And finding out they’d had a drunken one-night-stand? Yeah. No. He liked his balls just where they were. Firmly attached to his body.

Excerpt 3:

“Talia! Come in, how are you feeling?” Her best friend gave her a quick hug before coming inside.

“I’m good. I wanted to see if you wanted to come with me to Garden? Hang out for a bit?” Talia sat and propped her swollen feet up on the coffee table. “How you been? I’m sorry I didn’t make it out to the costume party. This pregnancy is kicking my butt.” She rubbed her belly with a soft smile on her face.

“I have to be at work early in the morning. I do need to run by Garden though. I…” Claire trailed off giggling. “Oh, I have to tell you. I have a secret admirer!”

“What?”

“Okay, so since you totally bailed on me for the Halloween party, I went alone. I mean, that costume was too fine and too expensive to waste, right?” Claire paused only for a second before continuing, “So… I’m standing there at the bar and this guy walks up and asks me to dance. And he’s totally hot, so I’m like okay. And so we dance. And drink. And dance. And kiss—oh my God, can he kiss. And well, the details get a bit fuzzy, but I uh… brought him home with me.”

“That’s a one night stand, not a secret admirer.” Talia nudged her.

“I know that.” Claire nudged back, but gentler. “When I woke up, he was gone.”

“So romantic… Never understood the whole hit it and quit it thing?”

“But he didn’t! Well, I guess kinda… but he went and got me flowers. And left me a note that’s signed Z for Zorro. And then a poem on my car, and a poem beneath the door.” Claire jumped up and ran to her bedroom to get the other notes.

When she came back, she dropped them in Talia’s lap. “See, look. How sweet is that? I have to write my next note and leave it at Garden.”

Talia read the notes, with Claire watching her face the entire time. There was a hint of confusion, then something that Claire thought might be anger, before Talia’s face softened into a smile.

“So, Z, huh? What are you saying back to him?” Talia raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t know. Pretty sure I sounded ignorant in my first note.” Laying her head on Talia’s shoulder, Claire asked, “Can you help me come up with something?”

“I suppose.” Her doubtful tone made Claire sit up and look at her.

“What’s that supposed to mean? You found love in an unconventional way. Who’s to say I can’t. Something about this guy…” Claire flipped her hair back. She searched for the words to explain how Z made her feel. How even his note made her feel.

“Okay, I’ll help you. But keep it G-rated, alright?” Talia shook her head. “Sean has made me more willing to try some things, but this is a line I won’t cross. And if you all get more X-rated than the whisker burn, I don’t want to read them.”

“Why not?” Claire poked Talia’s belly. “Baby stole your sex drive?”

“Hush. My sex drive is just fine. I just don’t need to hear about yours right now. Unless you want to hear about just how good Sean is with his—”

“Got it!” Laughing, Claire grabbed the stationery. “So… what do I say to Z?”

“Aren’t you going to try to figure out who he is?”

“Pretty sure it’s a guy who works at the hospital. I think he’s an anesthesiologist.” After a lot of thought, she could only think of one guy who might be romantic enough to pull this sort of seduction off.

Talia shook her head. “I wouldn’t get too attached to that idea, if I were you.”

Claire met her friend’s gaze. “Do you know something I don’t?”

“Nope. I wasn’t even there to see Zorro, remember? Don’t know anything about him except he had a scratchy beard.” Something about the expression on her face said Talia knew more than she was saying.

Book Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FRLGMDU

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1114610877

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/clandestine-allie-kincheloe/1123809833?ean=2940153243436

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/clandestine-24

Author Links:

Author website: www.alliekincheloe.com

Twitter: @allie_kincheloe

Authors, Books, Limitless Publishing

Have you Read J.A. Kerr’s Erotic Suspense Braille Club Series?

Posted on June 2, 2016 by Debbie

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Gabriella Ballantyne’s marriage is in trouble…

Her husband Max has grown cold, and Gabriella seeks out the Braille Club and its decadent delights in an effort to reawaken their hearts and strengthen their marriage. But when she presents him with his own membership card, she sees only revulsion in his eyes. Gabriella must use everything she’s learned from the club in a last-ditch effort to reconnect with Max and resurrect their love.

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Ford Munroe will help bring the Braille Club to a whole new level…

Tasked with developing new technologies to enhance the club’s erotic pleasures, Ford enlists engineer Esme MacDonald to assist him. As they test the devices, the attraction between them intensifies, delighting Ford but leaving Esme perplexed about her sexuality. Her revelation rocks Ford—is Esme really interested in him, or only the Braille Club?

☆҉☆҉☆Book 3 coming soon…

Simon Lawrence will stop at nothing to satisfy his desires…

But his wife has other plans. Tess is tired of her husband’s infidelity and resorts to blackmail to stop him, but Simon won’t let his new woman of interest slip through his fingers. Distraught, Tess will be stop at nothing to protect her secret. How far will she go to save her husband…from himself.

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Authors, Books, Limitless Publishing

Have you Read Rosa Sophia’s Suspenseful Paranormal Romance, Meet Me in the Rose Garden?

Posted on June 1, 2016 by Debbie

Meet Me In the Garden by Rosa Sophia

#ParanormalRomance #RomanticSuspense #Romance #TeamLimitless

#OneClick #Kindle Buy on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1TLR1hw

#Synopsis

Memories of another life, and the garden where it all began, keep Amalie Jarvis awake at night.

A columnist for a popular magazine, she attends a function in Palm Beach at the famous Breakers Hotel, only to cross paths with graphic designer Ian Gardner—who appears to hold the key to her visions. The more time they spend together, the more Amalie realizes how much she wants to be with him. And how much she fears admitting that she loves him.

Ian can’t remember the past, but he is drawn to Amalie with an intense passion he’s never felt before.

Many moons ago, they met in a garden. Different names, different faces—but their souls were still the same. Unable to resist her, Ian falls deeply in love. He remains by her side as she battles severe facial pain, not knowing what it is or if it could kill her. Frightened for her, he swears his adoration without ever speaking the words.

But their devotion has dangers, and they’re about to be faced by hazards neither of them could have foreseen…

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Limitless Publishing

Publication Date: January 20, 2015

Buy on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1TLR1hw

About the Author

Rosa Sophia lives in South Florida in a cottage by the sea. She is an automotive technician, crazy cat lady, and member of the Editorial Freelancers Association. She is the author of numerous novels including Meet Me In the Garden, Over the Ivy Wall, Orion Cross My Sky, and The House Guest.

Visit Rosa:

Blog: www.backwordswriter.com

Website: www.authorrosasophia.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/editing.by.rosa.sophia

A Stone's Throw, Authors, blog challenge, Books, Characters, Cloudy Rainbow

#LifeBooksWriting Blog Challenge: How I Create Characters

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Debbie

This week’s blog challenge is called character inspiration. Sophia Valentine of Lifestyle and Literature created this challenge (see graphic for topics and dates if you have a blog and would like to participate. If you’re a reader, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the posts from the great participating authors).

The characters I feature in my books are fictionalized composites of people I know or have known. The main character usually shares some of my personality or background. For instance, in “A Stone’s Throw,” Alicia Fairmont is a librarian like I am. Although my husband is still alive, thank God, Alicia is a widow. Her marriage was quite different from mine, as her husband kept his past secret. When she searches for his family that she has never met, she ends up meeting and falling in love with John McKinney, the publisher of a small town newspaper. John’s character is mostly imaginary. His occupation and interest in journalism and novel writing is another aspect of my personal experience. I worked as Features editor on my college newspaper and also edited and published my library school newsletter before writing articles, short stories and novels.

John’s father, 80-year old Mac, is another central character in my book. He is a librarian and previous library director at the Cobble Cove Library in upstate New York. One memorable characteristic of Mac is his love of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. When I worked part-time in the special collections department of my college library, I worked with an older gentleman who ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every day. I gave Mac this similar quirk and also his propensity for creative quotes. The tagline of the book, which comes from one of Mac’s sayings is, “Things happen for a reason.”

Sheila, the current library director and a close friend of Mac and John is not based on anyone I’ve worked for. She’s a complex character who is difficult to know initially. As the story unfolds, we learn her hard exterior was built after the tragic loss of her young husband to a brain aneurysm that left her to raise her daughter alone.

There are many other characters in the book including Alicia’s best friend, Abigail Nostran, known as Gilly, who worked with her part-time as a clerk at their library on Long Island. Gilly has three sons and is a very down-to-earth person who likes to wear sweatshirts and casual clothing. She loves to bake and, despite a messy divorce, is a positive person who enjoys talking about the opposite sex. I based Gilly on several women I’ve known throughout my life. I also had a friend at my library who worked as a clerk.

Dora, the innkeeper, who Alicia first meets when coming to Cobble Cove, shares some similarities with Gilly. She has never married and, during the course of the book, develops a love interest in someone. An older woman who runs a bed and breakfast in a small town, she’s a bit wary about new guests. As she gets to know Alicia, she becomes friendlier. Her interests also include baking as well as gardening and making the inn’s bath soaps and lotions.

Two other characters that play important roles in my book, although they aren’t human, are the library Siamese cat, Sneaky, and Mac and John’s golden retriever, Fido. The cat is based on my own Siamese cat, Oliver, who is older than Sneaky. The dog is also based on some dogs I grew up with and those I’ve read about in books.

For more information about my characters, you can read “Interview with My Characters” and/or “Celebrating Christmas with My Characters” both on this blog.

The sequel to “A Stone’s Throw” will feature several new characters. Without giving the story away, some will be college-age and others children. I base the kids on my own daughter when she was the age of the characters. One young girl who plays a big role in the book, Angelina, suffers from leukemia. Her character is based on my niece who underwent a bone marrow transplant ten years ago at the age of 12 and is now completely recovered with a baby daughter.

The new book that I am currently writing with totally different characters, features themes of alcoholism. mental illness, and infertility. The main character, Sarah Lloyd, is a children’s book illustrator this time instead of a librarian. She is having problems conceiving which causes stress on her marriage. I have a familiarity with this topic because it took me many years and some fertility treatments to conceive my daughter. Sarah’s mother, Jennifer Brewster, is the alcoholic in the book. While my experience with this topic is limited, I used my knowledge of alcoholic characters I’ve read about and seen portrayed on television. Without revealing the plot or other characters because the book is only in a draft stage, I will say my characters are different from those of “A Stone’s Throw” and my first self-published novel, “Cloudy Rainbow,” although there are some similarities.

I believe most authors put some of themselves in their main characters as well as other aspects of their personalities in non-leading characters. I’ve also found that, once you name a character and begin to feature that person in your book, they start taking on characteristics and motivations that often surprise you.

In case the descriptions of my characters have interested you, you might consider joining my mailing list for updates on my books and monthly contests for prizes at https://debbiedelouise.wordpress.com (just complete the pop-up newsletter form and confirm through the email you are sent). The next newsletter will be out on June 1st where I’ll be announcing the June contest and awarding the May prize.

Authors, Books

Have You Read Fallback by Lori Whitwam?

Posted on May 22, 2016May 22, 2016 by Debbie

From @limitlessbooks! FALLBACK by @ripleygold is LIVE!

FALLBACK (The Dead Survive Book 2) by Lori Whitwam is available for purchase on Amazon!

► #oneclick →→ http://amzn.to/1NicBG5

► Publisher: Limitless Publishing ~ #TeamLimitless

►►► SYNOPSIS ◄◄◄

After being rescued from a brutal band of marauders, Ellen Hale rebuilt her life in the fortified neighborhood that became her home. A heartbreaking decision and devastating loss pushed her to become a fierce fighter, because weakness only got you and those you loved killed.

Now her community is facing a deadly threat, and Ellen has another choice to make.

Ellen volunteers as a member of fallback team three, tasked with establishing a temporary refuge for their citizens in the event their community is overrun by the enemy. As the danger intensifies, she and her adopted sister, Melissa, set off with the rest of their team on the road trip from hell.

Their mission is cloaked in secrecy, but suspicions of a traitor arise.

Something is affecting the zombies’ migration patterns, and when blacksmith Tyler Garrett is discovered trapped in a farmhouse, the team refuses to trust him. But Ellen believes his story, and it’s not just because of his rugged, blond good looks and soft-spoken manner—his skills can greatly benefit their team.

As the team struggles to reach the fallback, previously secure locations are overrun, and their chances of success seem remote. With the likelihood of a traitor nearly certain, and the lives of everyone she loves at risk, Ellen must figure out who to trust before the traitor—or the zombies—destroy them all.

Is there a spy among the fallback team,

or is there another threat lurking in the Kentucky hills?

►►► Meet the author: LORI WHITWAM ◄◄◄

Lori spent her early years reading books in a tree in northern West Virginia. The 1980s and 90s found her and her husband moving around the Midwest, mainly because it was easier to move than clean the apartment. After seventeen frigid years in Minnesota, she fled to coastal North Carolina in 2013. She will never leave, and if you try to make her, she will hurt you.

She has worked in public libraries, written advertising copy for wastewater treatment equipment, and managed a holistic veterinary clinic. Her current day job, conducted from her World Headquarters and Petting Zoo (her couch) is as the Managing Editor for Limitless Publishing, as well as editing for a select group of indie authors.

Her dogs are a big part of her life, and she has served or held offices in Golden Retriever and Great Pyrenees rescues, a humane society, a county kennel club, and her own chapter of Therapy Dogs International.

She has been a columnist and feature writer for auto racing and pet publications, and won the Dog Writers Association of America’s Maxwell Award for a series of humor essays.

Parents of a grown son, Lori and her husband were high school sweethearts, and he manages to love her in spite of herself. Some of his duties include making sure she always has fresh coffee and safe tires, trying to teach her to use coupons, and convincing the state police to spring her from house arrest in her hotel room in time for a very important concert. That last one only happened once—so far—but she still really, really appreciates it.

You can find her online at http://www.loriwhitwam.com.

Her Facebook author page is http://www.facebook.com/loriauthor

Also on sale a limited time, the first book in the series:

Lori Whitwam – The Dead Survive

It should be easy to tell who the monsters are in the middle of a global zombie pandemic…

The blank-eyed swarms of animated corpses who want to gnaw on your flesh. Well, those are the obvious choice, of course.

In reality, though, it’s not always that simple.

In the early days of the global zombie pandemic, Ellen Hale learned a brutal lesson. While trying to survive the hordes of zombies, Ellen was abducted by a band of marauders and subjected to abuse almost beyond her ability to endure.

She is broken both mentally and physically, and fears she is on the verge of becoming a monster herself…

Until she is rescued by a growing band of survivors and given a second chance.

Ellen is taken to “The Compound.” Where she meets ex-convict, Quinn.

He’s everything she’d ever been taught to fear, but his presence is the only thing that makes her feel safe.

Will she be able to look past his rough exterior and learn to trust him? Or will the memory of the men who subjected her to such sadistic horrors ruin her chance at a new life?

Tag Line:

Sometimes the shambling animated corpses aren’t the worst things out there. Sometimes the monsters are human…

Authors, blog challenge, Books

#LifeBooksWriting Blog Challenge: 6 Marketing Tips

Posted on May 20, 2016 by Debbie

This week’s blog challenge is about marketing tips. Sophia Valentine of Lifestyle and Literature created this challenge (see graphic for topics and dates if you have a blog and would like to participate. If you’re a reader, I’m sure you’ll enjoy learning about some of the great participating authors).

I don’t have many book marketing tips I can recommend and hope to learn something from others taking this challenge, but here are six things I’ve done that seemed to help my sales of “A Stone’s Throw,”so far:

I spoke to the editor of my local paper about my book before it first came out, and she interviewed me and published an article the week of its release.
Since I’m a librarian, I sent a press release to the Nassau County Library Association, and they featured me and my book in their monthly newsletter. This can work for anyone who is a member of any association or group that publishes a newsletter which features member news.
I contacted book blogs for reviews and interviews. See my Media page for those that featured me.
I organized a Thanksreader’s Facebook party around the time of my release. Since my book came out around Thanksgiving, I used a theme of a virtual feast at which each author taking over brought a “dish” as well as giveaways. The dishes often included recipes and yummy photos.
I signed up for a release blitz with Book Enthusiast Promotions.
I created teasers using Canva.com with scenes from my book, as well as review quotes that I used on Facebook posts and Twitter tweets.In addition to these marketing tips, there are some things I tried that weren’t productive for me but that doesn’t mean they won’t be productive for you. These included posting in FB groups, taking out Facebook ads, and holding Goodreads and Facebook giveaways. While these didn’t result in much sales for me, I may not have promoted them properly. You might have totally different results. The main thing is to try many avenues to reach your target market — both online and through personal appearances, signings, etc. It’s a tough market, but if your books are good, you don’t give up, and you keep writing, you will be noticed, build a fan base, and eventually earn some profit from your hard work.

Authors, blog challenge, Books

#LifeBooksWriting Blog Challenge: My Bookshelf/Latest Reads

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Debbie

This week’s blog challenge is on the topic of My Bookshelf/Latest Reads. Sophia Valentine of Lifestyle and Literature created this challenge (see graphic for topics and dates if you have a blog and would like to participate. If you’re a reader, I’m sure you’ll enjoy learning about some of the great participating authors).

I actually have several bookshelves in my home. What do you expect from a librarian who is also an author? Even though I borrow many books from the library, I have a large collection of my own. My bed’s headboard actually holds some paperbacks, and there’s room in my bureau’s shelves. I also decorate my bookcases with knick knacks and curios, most of them cat-related.

Of course, my own books, Cloudy Rainbow and a Stone’s Throw, have prominent spots on my bedroom bookshelf as well as the Cat Crimes in Time anthology in which my short mystery, Stitches in Time, appears.

My bookshelves are not limited to the space in my house. I also have a virtual bookshelf on my Kindle Fire with many books waiting to be read including ebooks by fellow Limitless Publishing authors.

Since I write for and edit my library’s Staff Picks newsletter, I need to review at least one book a month, and I usually try to review two. I used to be a much more voracious reader, but my reading time is limited by the hours I spend writing and promoting my own books. Occasionally, I ask my cat, Oliver, for help choosing what to read next from my huge TBR pile. My latest choices are pictured below. I just began “House of Dreams” by Kate Lord Brown, one of my newest favorite authors. Her previous book, The Perfume Garden, was a page-turner.

If you’re interested in learning more about me and my books, I’d love to connect with you on the following sites:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.delouise.author/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Deblibrarian

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2750133.Debbie_De_Louise

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Debbie-De-Louise/e/B0144ZGXPW/

Website/Blog/Newsletter Sign-Up: https://debbiedelouise.wordpress.com

Authors, blog challenge, Books

#LifeBooksWriting Blog Challenge: My Writing Room

Posted on May 6, 2016 by Debbie

I’m very excited to participate in the blog challenge Sophia Valentine of Lifestyle and Literature created (see graphic for topics and dates if you have a blog and would like to participate. If you’re a reader, I’m sure you’ll enjoy learning about some of the great participating authors).

My Writing Room is the first subject of this new blog challenge, and I find it challenging indeed because I don’t have a writing room at this point or beautiful photos to share with you of to-die-for offices or dens that some other authors do. I get up at 5 a.m. each morning to write (a little later on weekends or when I’m off from work). My computer is set up on my kitchen table which is good access so I can have my coffee and eat breakfast as I write (although I do get crumbs in the keyboard sometimes that frustrates my husband to no end).

The other place I do a lot of writing, if only mental writing, is in my bed at night curled up around my Siamese cat Oliver (which also irritates my husband). I mull over the next scene of my book in my sleep and, when I wake up, I am ready to write. Occasionally, my other cat, Stripey, lends me a paw typing on his laptop.

One day I may have an official office with windows all around overlooking a beautiful garden or the seashore.

For now, until my book “A Stone’s Throw” or one of my forthcoming ones becomes a bestseller, I am typing at the table like a starving artist literally because while food is within my reach, I’m still trying to stay on my diet. On the other hand, when I get a touch of writer’s block, a handy piece of dark chocolate always seems to do the trick to help get the words flowing again.

If I did have a writing room, it would be a cross between a library and a peaceful retreat. I’d move the Kittendales calendar featuring hunky men holding kittens from my bedroom to feature on one of the walls, and my books (the current two I’ve published and the next 100 I have in my mind and plan to write when I have time) will fill several bookcases along with my favorite authors, Nora Roberts, Mary Higgins Clark, Jodi Picoult, and Sandra Brown. The only problem is with all the bookcases and the calendar, I wouldn’t have much room for windows, and I’d have to have at least one with a window seat where my cats could sit while I composed my masterpieces and looked out at the flowers or the sea.

Instead of filling this blog post with photos of my writing room, I’ve filled it with photos of my dream writing rooms. If you’d like to support this starving writer so she can afford a writing room of her own, please order my book through any of the following links. I’d also love you to connect with me on the social media sites listed after.

Buy links for A STONE’S THROW:

Amazon U.S.: KINDLE: http://amzn.to/1MjaJgN

Amazon Australia: http://bit.ly/1Sdh82D

Amazon Canada: http://amzn.to/1SdheHi

Amazon U.K.: http://amzn.to/1QutXBW

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1nQPyv4

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1KGYHep

Also available on iTunes and Ingram

Connect with me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.delouise.author/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Deblibrarian

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2750133.Debbie_De_Louise

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Debbie-De-Louise/e/B0144ZGXPW/

Website/Blog/Newsletter Sign-Up: https://debbiedelouise.wordpress.com

Author Spotlight, Authors, Books, New Releases

Author Spotlight A.K. Morgen

Posted on May 4, 2016 by Debbie

Welcome to the Library Lounge where I interview fellow authors. Today, I am chatting with Ayden K. Morgen aka A.K. Morgen from Little Rock, Arkansas.

Thanks for joining me, Ayden. Please have a seat and make yourself comfortable.

How long have you been publishing and what titles have you published? Have you self-published any titles or published with another publisher? Please give details.

Close woman portrait with the world reflected in her eyes.

The first title I published with Limitless Publishing in March of 2016, STRICKEN (The War Scrolls #1), is actually my seventh full-length novel. I’m also published with Curiosity Quills Press, Enchanted Publications, and Cobblestone Press. All Over You, my latest release, is my eighth title.

That’s great. I understand that All Over You is releasing today. Can you tell us a little bit about it as well as what genre you write and your other books?

I write romance as well as fantasy with strong romantic elements. All Over You is a New Adult romance, featuring Ivy Kendall and Cameron Lewis. Ivy is a kindergarten teacher who finds her life unraveling around her when a catfish steals her identity and lures a college student into an online relationship and, ultimately, to his death. Cameron (Cam), a San Francisco detective, has to help her clear her name…and convince her that giving him a chance won’t drag him down with her. That’s easier said than done when Fake Ivy has made sure that the real Ivy looks guilty! The book is a very steamy standalone companion to the All Falls Down duo.

In addition to All Over You, I also have Rapture coming out later this year, which will complete the Teplo Trilogy. FLAME, the third book in a New Adult urban fantasy series centered around Norse mythology, will release early next year, followed by the second book in the War Scrolls series.

Sounds great. How would you describe your goals as a writer? What do you hope to achieve in the next few years? What are you planning to do to reach these goals?

My goal as a writer is to spread a little love and share the things that matter to me. I work in the Criminal Justice/Social Services fields, so a lot of my novels feature characters in the same fields…law enforcement officers, federal agents, and even those accused of a or victimized by crime. Others deal with the mythology I grew up devouring. I love getting to share those perspectives and stories with readers while giving them a well-earned HEA! Ultimately, I would love to write full-time, and am working toward that goal every day through writing and author branding.

I also feature characters that are either librarians, researchers, or authors, as I am in my novels. It’s interestintg that you mention mythology because I loved reading them as a child, too, but haven’t included them in any of my books. Like you, I would love to work full-time in the future.

What type of reader are you hoping to attract? Who do you believe would be most interested in reading your books?

Readers who love romance, heat, suspense, and HEAs are sure to find something they enjoy in my fictional worlds. So are those who love a little angst, flawed characters, and a dose of reality. I don’t shy away from putting characters into tough situations and letting them find their way together. That’s part of what love and relationships are all about, right?

Exactly. You sure have your target audience pegged.

What advice would you give other authors or those still trying to get published?

Don’t give up! There will always be someone out there who doesn’t like what you write or how you write it. That’s perfectly fine, because there will also always be those out there who love what you have to say and how you say it. I’ve had people tell me that they hated X, and then had others come along immediately after and tell me that’s exactly what they loved about the story. Rejection and bad reviews are inevitable, so don’t let them discourage you.

I agree completely. Persistance is an important trait for an author. You need to have faith in yourself and your writing and, as you said, realize that not everyone will love it but that’s the way it is with every book.

What particular challenges and struggles did you face before first becoming published?

Quite honestly, I didn’t ever plan to publish. My mom badgered me into it, and I had a very different experience than most. I sent out my first query in late 2011, and 3 months later, I had my first contract offer, followed by another soon thereafter. That’s not the norm, so I always kind of feel like I lucked into publishing initially. I’ve put in a lot of hard work and sleepless nights since, but yeah, I definitely got lucky to begin with!

Yes, that’s unusual. I think I became published rather quickly myself once I started concentrating on submitting material, although I’d had a few rejections but nothing close to what some authors receive.

Have you taken any writing or publishing classes? If so, please provide information about them and if you feel they helped you further your professional skills.

I took a creative writing course as a kid, and various lit courses in high school, but I haven’t taken any classes since. I did help TA College Composition I and II in college and grad school, so that helped strengthen my knowledge of the technical and mechanical side of writing, I think.

What hobbies and interests do you have besides writing?

I’m a huge hockey fan, especially when it comes to the Chicago Blackhawks. Hockey season is a little frightening around my house…there’s a lot of screaming at the television and dancing involved. I’m also a big fan of mythology, ballet, action movies, and causing mischief. I also work as a 911 Dispatcher for my county, so I don’t have a lot of free time between my two careers, but when I do, I spend as much as possible just hanging out with my husband of twelve years and my family and friends.

What do you like most and least about being an author? What is your toughest challenge?

I love inspiring others and telling the stories that rattle around in my brain. Knowing that my words have helped someone else through a difficult situation or time is so rewarding. I love that! My least favorite part of being an author is how much work goes into things like marketing and branding and the whole business side of things. I spend as much time on those responsibilities as I do writing…it can be pretty exhausting!

I hear you. I feel the same way. Marketing and promoting are so important, and yet authors are usually not experienced with them and prefer to write which is just as important.

Can you please list your social media links, website, blog, etc. so readers can connect with you.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/akmorgen

Facebook: http://facebook.com/akmorgen1

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/A.K.-Morgen/e/B0097AUQAS

Website/Blog: http://aydenmorgen/com/blog

Thanks so much for the interview, Ayden, and very best luck with your new release and the books that follow.

Books, Cover Reveal

Cover Reveal: Red Night by RK Close

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Debbie

RED NIGHT by RK Close

The Vampire Files Trilogy, #1

Paranormal Romance

Release Date: May 10, 2016

Publisher: Limitless Publishing

Cover Designer: Deranged Doctor Designs

— SYNOPSIS —

For five hundred years I have feasted on the blood of the innocent.

For centuries I have seduced beautiful victims into my bed.

And all this time, I have never gone without…

I am Zachariah…

While enduring endless days as an immortal, only one urge soothes my savage need.

Blood.

I have consumed countless humans—I have witnessed mountains of corpses piled beneath my feet. But none more significant than the woman I once loved.

My heart was not the only one she captured, but it would be the last…

An inferior creature turned her heart against me—Adam. Such a pathetic identity to be named after the original creation of God, and always besting me in life. But in death—I am king.

I am far more treacherous.

I should be feared.

I demand to be remembered.

And I am, for being known as the immortal who slayed the woman we both loved, and my rampage continues…

Now in the scorching desert, I find prey well worth the chase…

Samantha.

And my interest in this mortal runs deep. Adam has pursued me over the globe in search of revenge—but his own weaknesses have made him vulnerable. He’s taken to the striking mortal, which means only one thing.

She will be my next target.

But this time, not for the taste of blood. I will take her as my own mate, and neither Adam, or anyone else, will stop me…

— MEET THE AUTHOR OF RED NIGHT! —

Hello! I’m RK Close, author of the ‘Vampire Files Trilogy’. ‘Red Night’ is the first book in the series. I write paranormal-romance & urban-fantasy with a hint of darkness and a dash of humor. Creating characters that my readers will fear, fall in love with, despise or cheer for, is what I love most about writing.

Ann Rice gets all the credit for my vampire addiction which started in my early twenties. Like so many others, I fell in love with her vampires first.

Originally from Kentucky, I’ve lived most of my life in Arizona where I met and married my true love. We were late to the game so we knocked out three ankle-biters in quick succession. We often joke that parenthood saved us from ourselves. Now we need to be saved from parenthood. *just kidding* We love our darling spawn.

When I’m not writing, I’m taking care of a busy family, dragging my butt to CrossFit, thinking about my stories or spending time with family and friends. My dream is to sell enough books to hire someone to clean our house and cook our meals. Okay, maybe that’s my family’s dream. I tend to get a little obsessed when I write.

Truthfully, I would love the opportunity to pull you into my world of strong independent females, mysterious vampires, noble hunters, hungry werewolves and seductive yet deadly fae. If you like paranormal-romance in a modern-urban setting with plenty of romantic tension, mystery and suspense, then my novels were written for you.

CONNECT WITH RK CLOSE:

Limitless Publishing: http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/rk-close/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rkclose/

Website: http://www.rkclosebooks.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RCKClose