Happy Anniversary Tears in the Rubble!

Today I'm welcoming my dear friend and fellow author, Britni Hill, to share with you her novel Tears in the Rubble which is one year old today! Congratulations Britni!

Dreams really do come true…

April 17, 2013 marks a year of one of my dreams coming true.  I became a published author.  To celebrate I’m sharing my first novel, Tears in the Rubble, with you for 99 cents.  It and its follow up, From the Rubble will be on sale for three days (April 17^th, 18^th, and 19^th).

Can your first love be true unconditional love?

Layla Swanson grew up in the lazy, small town of Hollow Oaks and can’t wait to get out.  She has big dreams and big plans in the big city.  Layla has worked hard and her senior year is nearly at its end.  She can’t wait to go away to college.  And she’s one step closer to getting what she wants. Layla isn’t letting anyone get in her way. 

Taylor Scott may not be your typical country boy, but he doesn’t mind Hollow Oaks.  His dreams may not be marked on paper and set in stone, but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t have them. 

A chance meeting between the two childhood friends may have Layla second guessing her longtime plan. Their rekindled friendship is leading them down a path neither one could have foreseen.  But with Layla leaving for college, many challenges face them, especially when she so stubbornly sticks to her solo plan.

Is Taylor’s love enough to convince Layla to let him in?  Or when everything falls apart, will Layla run away?    

You can buy Tears in the Rubble and From the Rubble on Amazon.

To find out more about me visit my blog or like my Facebook fan page.  You can also follow me on Twitter

Thanks to Kate for having me today and helping me celebrate!!

Release Day & Author Interview : Lisa J. Hobman

Meet Lisa! She's got a new contemporary romance releasing today! 

Author, Lisa J. Hobman

 
Tell us a little about yourself...

Okay, where to start?  Well, I am a 40 year old mum of one.  I relocated to Scotland last year with my family and our two dogs.  I adore books and have a new found passion for reading since relocating!  I am crazy about music (I used to be a singer) and I love crafts too. 

Tell us about your debut novel (yay!)...

Bridge Over the Atlantic is a contemporary romance novel for readers of adult age and is set between Yorkshire and the Scottish Highlands mainly.  It tells the story of Mallory, a curvy girl who is quite unlucky in love.  The only serious relationship she's had was with a guy who loved his car more than her!  Not a great romance :-)  Things change rapidly for her as you will discover.

What was the querying/agent/publisher search process like for you?

It was quite stressful simply because I am a complete newbie!  I did a lot of internet searches and found places to submit to that way.  It was a learning curve, too.  The rejections were hard but I persevered and finally got my dream...a contract!!

Is there another genre you would like to try at some point?

I have given this a great deal of thought and to be honest I am a romantic at heart so I think I may stick with contemporary romance.  Although who knows as things pr0gress...never say never!

Do you have a writing ritual or a certain way you like to get ready to write?

Do you know what?  I think I must write most of the day!  I have a break to read at bedtime but my day is usually taken up with writing, writing, writing (and a bit of house cleaning in between...although not as much as I should do!)
 

Tell us about one of your characters you loved writing and why you are attached to them:

My absolute favourite character is Mallory.  I wanted to write a story about a curvy girl (being one myself) and wanted to show her insecurities but also her beauty.  She is a little crazy but very sweet, too. I think she is the kind of girl I could be friends with.  She has had a rough time but still puts others first.  

Was there ever a time you felt like giving up? If so, what changed?

I never wanted to give up as such but I did go through phases of doubting my abilities when I got a couple of rejections through.  I think what I tried to bear in mind is that publishers/lit agents get so many manuscripts a week that they can really only take on so many at one time.  Getting my contract was a huge boost and fueled the fire for more writing.  I think I will only give up now if I run out of ideas!

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

Stick with it.  Don't give up!  Get out there on social network sites and talk to people.  Listen to advice but most of all remember WHY you are writing.  For me writing is a passion - it's not about money - it's just about me doing something I love and hoping that others love what I write.  If that happens then you've achieved something amazing!

What are you working on now/what can we expect from you next?

Oooh, well my second novel goes off this week for consideration so I am very nervous right now!  I am hoping and praying that it's contracted.  I am working on two others right now also.  They are all stand alone novels and all contemporary romance.  I'm hoping to maybe try my hand at a series at some point too!  So hopefully I will have other books out there soon!

What is your current obsession (absolutely anything)?

Without a doubt it's writing!  I can't seem to stop!  And if I am not writing I usually have a book or my Kindle in my hand!

Readers can find more about Lisa on her website www.lisajhobman.co.uk , Twitter @LivingScottishD and Facebook 


And now a little bit about Bridge Over the Atlantic

Life can literally throw you off balance when you least expect it...

Mallory Westerman is a full-figured, successful, young business woman living in Yorkshire, England. Though very career minded, she is extremely self-conscious about her ample curves and so her love life tends to pay the price. Concentrating solely on her business, she has almost given up on finding someone to love.  That is until she literally trips into the arms of a stranger who becomes her Knight in shining armour.

The immediate sexual and romantic spark that blossoms into love and the events that follow, irrevocably change Mallory’s life-path and self-image forever, but only go to prove that the road to true love is never smooth and that things don’t always turn out how you expect…

Thanks for being here Lisa and congratulations on your release!!

What I've Been Reading

Recent Reads:
Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin

Fantastic book!! My warning would be don't read this book until you have time to devote to the entire series. I haven't yet indulged in More Tales of the City but I am dying to. This pesky TBR list is growing by the second. This book was an incredibly fast read and is a fun look at a group of misfits in 1970's San Fransisco.

In Flight and Mile High by RK Lilley

Books one of the three part series drew me in quick and had me clamoring for the second installment of this BDSM trilogy. But book two fell a little flat for me. I'm planning on finishing the series at some point but I am reading other books between now and then. These are quick reads for any erotic romance fan.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

No. Just...no.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

I'm still in the middle of this one and it is beyond amazing! I cannot wait to finish and discuss with my book club! There isn't much you can say about this book without giving things away so I'll just say this...READ IT!


Next up:

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

It's been recommended to me time and time again and I finally need to get my hands on it!

The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by JR Ward

I recently had the opportunity to go and see JR Ward speak in Ohio and it reminded my what a dummy I am for not staying caught up in the series. My plan is to go back and re-read the first six books and then get caught up to her newest release Lover at Last!

Good Girl Gone Bad

You know her. She's sweet and innocent and pure as fresh-fallen snow...until something happens. Maybe it's a man, maybe it's a trauma, maybe it's a wild party that finally sets her free but the point is she makes a switch that shocks everyone. The 'good girl' goes 'bad'. Sometimes it's only for a night, sometimes it's just to catch the eye a man. Other times she makes the full switch, leaving behind her girlish ways for that of the vixen. If you can't quite picture it here's some examples....

Sandy trades in her bobby socks for skin-tight leather pants and stiletto heels because she thinks Danny wants her to be more like the Pink Ladies.

"Tell me about it, stud."

Alison Vernon-Williams gets a taste of bad-boy Cry-Baby and realizes she's not a square at heart

Anastasia Steele loses her meek and mild temper when she is thrust into the world of BDSM by Mr. Grey. (You could say the same for a lot of female characters in the ever-popular genre right now. I would choose Bianca Karlsson's good-girl-turned-bad arc as my current favorite in the Up In The Air series)

Even Nina Jordan of The Low Notes let's Halloween turn her into a bit of a minx....

I guess I can't really put my finger on why I like the idea of the GGGB so much but something about it always gets me. I love the transformation. I love seeing a female character gain ultimate control of her life and more importantly her sexuality. The story I'm working on now (not Reckless Radiance, something else) is all about a young woman's sexual and emotional awakening. She isn't really a GGGB but she certainly starts to embrace the bad-girl over the good.

Strong, kick-ass females are probably my favorite kind of character but a close second is the good-girl-gone-bad. Because she learns just ho awesome she is and that she can grab hold of it for herself.

Release Day : The Bliss by Jennifer Murgia

I'm so thrilled to have YA author Jennifer Murgia on my blog today! See what she has to say about her Angel Star series and today's release, The Bliss...

Tell us a little about yourself, Jennifer...
I write Young Adult fiction and have a crazy, vivid imagination. I live in eastern Pennsylvania with my husband, two children and my cat, Oscar, who is really more like a third child. I also have a strange obsession with the smell of lemons . . . just saying.

author Jennifer Murgia

What was the querying/agent/publisher search process like for you?

I was very lucky to have my found my publisher, Lands Atlantic, without the help of an agent. It was one of those "in the right place at the right time" sort of scenarios. Ultimately, the sales of my first two books, Angel Star and Lemniscate, helped garner the interest of the agent representing me now -- the wonderful Amanda Luedeke of MacGregor Literary. The process of finding the best home for your work is one that requires patience and being thorough in your research. My agent/publisher search involved many hours of online homework to make sure I queried the right person, a very polished query letter via email, and then, weeks of waiting and trying not to check my email every day.

What inspired you to write the Angel Star series?

Angel Star is a story that hit me over the head one evening. It involved the notion of a conditional love shared between a girl and a boy, only it had a catch -- that the boy was someone she couldn't be with, but was a constant presence in her life.
It's a story of love and loyalty and holds a great deal of symbolism. I started writing its sequel, Lemniscate, the day I sent Angel Star off to my editor.

Tell us about your upcoming release The Bliss:


The Bliss was a fun book to write! It's a petite (no lie, it's very tiny) prequel to Angel Star, and a fun marketing boost for the first two books. I wanted to give readers a sense of what came before the original story, so it's told from Hadrian's point of view and recounts Lucifer's fall from Heaven.
A fun little tidbit: I held a character contest a while back and have included two brand new angels in the story! Can't wait to share them! 

Would you say you enjoy writing the paranormal genre best?

I do -- it fits me. I have a tendency to enjoy writing darker sides to people and love throwing in what could be considered as speculative.

Is there another genre you would like to try at some point?

Funny you should ask that. I currently have a Historical Fantasy on submission, and a Middle Grade novel brewing in the back of my head.

Do you have a writing ritual or a certain way you like to get ready to write?
I write as soon as my kids get off to school. I grab that last cup of coffee and seat myself at my laptop, which is often at the dining room table. Not very glamorous but it works for me.

Do you have a day job? If so, how do you find a balance between work and your writing career?

I'm a full time writer. Balancing work and family? That actually comes easy. I work while the rest of the clan is away and I'm off when they're home -- which includes weekends, unless I'm under a deadline crunch.

What is your current obsession (absolutely anything...aside from lemons of course)?

Coffee. Lots of it. And Dunkin Donuts Vanilla Chai.

Readers can find out more about Jennifer and where to purchase her novels at www.jennifermurgia.com, on Twitter and Facebook!

Thanks again for joining us Jennifer! And Happy Release Day!!!

First Glimpse : Reckless Radiance

Well here it is! Your first glimpse at what is almost finished and ready to submit, my new paranormal romance Reckless Radiance. Thanks to everyone who helped me reach my goal of 300 Facebook 'likes'. Now on to 400!! If you haven't already please like my author page on Facebook.
 

After losing her childhood love, Valerie Gilmore runs away from home for a fresh start but feels more alone than before until a mysterious stranger named Russell comes into her life and seems to see beyond her broken heart and into her very soul.

Note: this section has not been professionally edited and is subject to change in the final draft of the novel.

      The ceiling kept her attention and she let her thoughts continue to race. She thought of the moments leading up to the surprise of Russell being alive. She was terrified. Her stomach had been so twisted. She thought of every single day she’d spent with Henry and her stomach began to knot even more. Emotions fluttered inside of her and she let out a sniffle.

       She tried to muffle the sounds of her tears into her pillow. She tried to suppress all of the fear and anxiety that had been building inside of her. Russell shifted and suddenly he was standing next to her bed. She tried not to look up at him towering above her in the dark. Slowly, he pulled a corner of the covers back and climbed in next to her without saying a word. At first he was still, keeping his distance but remaining present. Tears rolled down her cheeks and onto the bed.

       Soon Russell’s hand reached out to smooth over her hair. He tenderly traced her tears away with his fingertip. For a moment it seemed suddenly brighter in the room. Valerie thought the water matting her eyelashes was letting the moonlight sparkle into her eyes. In a quiet moment with her new enigmatic ally, with his warmth near her and his gentle touch upon her face, she felt what she never thought she’d be able to feel on that horrifying day. Peace.

       Her eyes started to grow heavier as calm continued to wash over her. Thankful that sleep was on its way, a smile crept on her face and soon Russell’s fingers were sweeping over her cheek. Again there seemed to be a glimmer of brightness lighting up the room.

       “Russell?”

       “Yes,” he whispered.

       Her eyes sank shut and her voice came out as a breathy sigh. “What are you?”

       Twilight was upon her, she was on the verge of a dream but she heard his reply. She was sure she heard him clearly before she drifted off.

       “I’m yours.”

Reckless Radiance : Coming Soon!

Brenda Franklin : The Author Interview

What do I always say? Yay Twitter! Twitter has given me the opportunity to connect with some really cool authors and Brenda Franklin is one of them. As you know, I love me some vampires and Brenda just happens to have books about vampires! See what she had to say and be sure to check out all of her links below.

Available on Amazon for $0.99!

Tell us a little about yourself

I was born and raised in Louisiana, where I currently live with my loving family, a few cats, and plenty of wildlife running through the yard from time to time.

I am a fan of the paranormal community and believe in the supernatural having grown up with plenty of my own ghostly tales, which helped to contribute to my free short story, The Lady with Blue Lips on smashwords. I wrote my first horror story when I was in elementary. I think it must have freaked my mother out because the story disappeared shortly after I wrote it. Oh well, I went on discovering the world of vampires and have never looked back. 

Tell us about your series The Pulse Trilogy

The Pulse Trilogy is my Twilight. Haha it’s my story of a human and vampire love, but darker. It’s a journey of love, loss, and betrayal.

My leading characters, Elizabeth Parks (small business owner and woman with the ‘Pulse’ ability) and Virgil Hart (devilishly handsome and annoying vampire) endure the first two books trying to fend off Virgil’s brother from killing Elizabeth. SPOILER: By the end of the second book, Barely Beating, Virgil has accomplished just that, killing William and keeping Elizabeth safe. Of course, with the help of friends and family they can finally have a happily ever after as two-soon to be-vampires. Or can they? I guess we will find out in book three, Flat Line.

The Pulse Trilogy is on the lighter side of things. The other world of the vampires that you don’t see in this series is much darker and if you have followed the books so far, you may wonder what exactly Garrison and Andreal hunt? Or why Garrison is gone a lot? There is a lot more to the world than meets the eye and one day I plan to write a new series to show you just that, but until then I hope you enjoy my Pulse Trilogy as much as I have writing it!

Available on Amazon

What draws you to the paranormal genre? And more specifically vampires?

When I was younger, perhaps around the sixth grade range, my father had an old bookshelf in our living room. From top to bottom it was filled with combat related books, old westerns, a stack of magazines (I’m not sure he ever read them), several Dean Koontz (my sister’s favorites), a few Stephen King books, a book called, My Brother John, the Necromancer series by Brian Lumley, and a whole bunch of other things. But the one book I remember most was a book by Anne Rice (Howard Allen Frances O’Brien if you didn’t know). It was Interview with a Vampire. It was this book that introduced me into the world of vampires and I haven’t been the same since.

I think I fell in love with the romanticism behind being a vampire and the dark consequences that come with it. The struggle of drinking blood from humans, the sexual appeal of their perfect structures, and their ability to sustain their life. Of course I was still in the sixth grade and I have read many books since then, turning my writing in more of a lighter version than Anne Rice’s vampires, but I do have her to thank for giving me that push towards loving vampires. I guess I should also be thankful that my dad had a copy. God only knows what I might be writing now if I hadn’t of read that book. 

Who are some of your favorite vampires aside from your own, of course?

Some of my favorite vampires would have to be from the mind of author Lynsay Sand’s--who calls them Immortals. Her explanation, that they were once from Atlantis before the fall, is such a wonderful concept and can best explain why they are immortal, why they heal, why they are essentially what we call ‘vampires’. Not to mention that every one of them are downright sexy. I can’t keep myself away from re reading Vampire, Interrupted or Bite Me if You Can. Delicious!

Is there another genre you would like to try at some point?

I have many ideas always fluttering about my head and when I have finished The Pulse Trilogy book three, Flat Line, and placed the final touches on my 2012 NaNoWriMo book, Guardian, a Fated Pairing, I plan to step in the YA Genre with a new series. It’s going to be a busy year!

Do you have a writing ritual or a certain way you like to get ready to write?

I make playlists. I have to have a background noise of some kind. Not too over powering, but there. It’s like watching a movie. Try watching Twilight, Thor, Iron Man, or any movie without the music. The scenes don’t have the same sort of impact. So to get myself ready for a scene I have playlists ready to get my mind in motion. When my character needs a little pick me or is struggling internally I have been listening to Mumford and Sons. Just an example.

Routine: get up with Shawn in the morning around four, grab coffee, Dr. Pepper, or Cinnamon apple spiced tea, grab a snack, I always tie up my hair, struggle to find my glasses, turn on my music for a few minutes, and begin! 

Do you have a day job? If so, how do you find the balance between day job and your writing career?

I currently do not have a day job, but my sweet husband has filled that part allowing me the freedom to write. I don’t know what I would do without him.

What is your current obsession (absolutely anything)?

Current obsession? That’s such a hard one, so I came up with a short list of things I’m obsessed with at this very moment.

Food: Making lasagna. People: My husband, Shawn Franklin. Games: Borderlands 2 and Harvest Moon, A Knew Beginning. Books: The Love Lines Series by Diana Nixon. Social media: Facebook.

You can find more of Brenda on Facebook, Twitter, her blog, Amazon, Smashwords and her work is available on Amazon and Smashwords (Bonus: two free short stories are up on Smashwords!)

Thanks again for stopping by Brenda!!