Writing Innovations

Bloodbreeders Series: Living in Darkness and The Revenge, and a Recipe by Author Robin Renee Ray

2012-03-06T01:09:00.000-05:00

Robin shares her favorite recipe of Mozzarella Stuffed Meat Loaf with us at the Recipe Corner on Author Favorites http://writinginnovations.blogspot.com/p/authors-favorite-recipes.html

Multi-genre Author Robin Renee Ray

~ Biography ~

I began writing four and a half years ago, six months after thebirth of my first grand baby. I was there holding my daughter's hand whenthat tiny little girl was born. I bent down when they laid her on hermommy’s belly and kissed her little mouth, knowing that she had just changed mylife in more ways than can ever be explained in words. I took a fewtablets to my stomping grounds in Burkett, Texas, and began scribbling outmy first novel. I had no clue how to type, spell, and had very littleknowledge of proper grammar, but four months later, I had a complete novel; thebeginning of a five book series, that is now one book away from being complete. I have since learned a bit about the skills of a writer and nowhave 15 books under my belt. Dark Knight of the Skye was myfirst book in print, but the seventh novel that I wrote. I had the besttime studying the way of the Scottish world, and an even better time writingthe words of the main character, Danny Gilmore. Many of my reads are fromthe paranormal world, flowing from vampires to werewolves, right into thestrange world of the doppleganger. Dark Knight not only has my love ofvampires and werewolves, but shows my twisted and warped love of blood, gut,and gore.

I think since I have become a writer that one ofmy main goals is to become the next female version of the late, great AlfredHitchcock. I wrote a book of short horror stories thinking of him,because to me, there will never be anyone that thought anywhere near the way hedid when it came to true horror. I just think he was a little loopy, butwho am I to talk? I’m just a long haired tree hugger, who plays inhaunted houses and the oldest, scariest cemeteries that I can find..lol.

Bloodbreeders: Living in Darkness

On Amazon, Smashwords, and in Print

Not once in her life did farm girl Renee Crocker,imagine she would encounter a world found only in the minds of myth-seekingmen. Although the things they sought were not always unheard of in the 1930’sin other parts of the world, life was just too harsh in the small Texascommunity, to pay mind to anything other than raising a healthy crop to ensurethe survival of one’s family. But late one evening during supper, a strangercomes knocking on the door of the Crocker family farm house and is invitedinside.

It doesn’t take long for Renee to discover a great number of thingsthat people in her neck of the woods couldn’t even contemplate. The dark ofnight takes on a whole new meaning, and the once vulnerable young country womanfinds herself struggling to survive in a world that demands she live forever indarkness.

Bloodbreeders: The Revenge

On Amazon, Smashwords and coming soon in Print

Renee thought she had gone through the worse nightmare that any being could possibly dream up; little did she know that her adventure had just begun. Her intentions were to go back to Cuba and fulfill a promise made to the two that helped her escape the unbelievable hell that had become her life from the days of loving care back on the farm.

What she finds changes her destiny and places her path on one that was only found in the mind and tales of the ancient profits. Of course, the question remains, will she be able to fulfill the needs that have taken hold of what little heart she had left? Can the faith of a country girl with the help of those who would follow her into hell itself be enough, or will they find themselves in a situation that they cannot get out of?

Look for: Seeking Others - later this year and Lies Beneath London and The Elders in the future!

You can find Robin on her Web site, her Blog, Facebook, Facebook Fan page and Twitter.

Robin's books on Amazon and Smashwords

Be careful as you trudge over to grab Robin's recipe because you have to go through this cemetery first!

Book Bash - 3 Days Only - Engagement from Scratch by Danny Iny

2012-03-02T00:49:00.000-05:00

YAY! I've been waiting for today for what seems like an eternity! I so can't wait to get my hands on this book! Danny Iny even took time out of his busy schedule to chat with me, so stay for the interview before you race off to buy the book okay?

Danny Iny has been an entrepreneur for longer than
his entire adult life. He quit school when he was fifteen
to start his first business, and has been doing it ever since.

Along the way he ran the Montreal Marathon, got an MBA, and married the most wonderful woman in the world. He's also worked with companies of all sizes,
from the very huge (Nokia, Google) to small businesses and entrepreneurs who are just getting started.

These days, he is a prolific blogger and teacher in theFirepole Marketing training program, and enjoys
working one-on-one with client businesses to improve their marketing and make more money.

He's also the author of a book about effective communication in writing, university guest lecturer,
and the CEO of a start-up company called Bowl of Goals.

Despite being called the Freddy Krueger of Blogging for being seemingly everywhere in the blogosphere, Danny is a super-friendly guy who makes a point of responding to every email and message - so go ahead and follow him on Twitter @DannyIny, or just send him an email, and say hello!

Hi Danny, and welcome to Writing Innovations. I read in your bio that you quit school at the age of 15 to start your own business. What made you decide to do this? I have teens at home and the only thing on their minds is sports, not starting a business.

DI: It was a long time ago, but I just remember feeling bored out of my mind at school; they were teaching stuff that was mostly arbitrary, largely irrelevant, and teaching it to a class full of kids that weren’t interested at all. Not the best environment for learning! So I decided to strike out on my own, as it were, and do something more meaningful and productive with my time than alternate between vegetating in classes and skipping school to watch television and go to the gym. I don’t recommend it for everyone (it takes a very specific sort of personality for it to fit), but for me, it was the best decision I ever made.

What made you so sure that becoming an entrepreneur would be so successful, or were you just going on a dream?

DI: It really wasn’t that structured; it’s not like I made this big decision that “I’m quitting school to become an entrepreneur” – I was only 15 at the time. It was more like “here’s something I can do that’s better than school”, and one project led to another, which led to another, which led to another. It wasn’t until my early 20s that I really started to think of myself as an entrepreneur, by which time I had been doing it for close to a decade, and by that point I just couldn’t see myself ever going back (it’s still weird for me to think sometimes that for a lot of people, “9 to 5” isn’t just an expression)!

What got you interested in blogging?

DI: The short answer is that it’s where our audience was hanging out. The long answer takes a bit of back-story; Firepole Marketing started with our training content, and when it was done, we went looking for a way that made sense for us to get the word out about it, and that was really the start of my audience-building learning curve. I did a lot of exploring, and eventually it clicked that blogging was the way to go for us.

You co-wrote the book, Engagement from Scratch!, why don't you tell us a little bit about that?

DI: Well, as I was climbing that learning curve, I did a lot of reading, studying, researching, trial-and-error... you name it, and I did it. And along the way, I noticed that a lot of the stuff out there about “audience building” was really about “audience growing” – in other words, it all seemed to assume that you already had some kind of audience to work with. So... where does that leave the blogger who only has three subscribers: them, their mother, and their other email address? I gradually came to figure out at least part of how it works, and I felt that there was a need for a book that would share with everyone how to do it for themselves.

How did that idea turn into Engagement from Scratch!, which is a co-authored book?

DI: Well, I started to plan the book, and then I noticed something funny; there were some very successful people out there who were doing things very differently from what I was doing. They were seeing good results, so they couldn’t be wrong. But I was seeing good results, too, so I couldn’t be wrong, either. That’s when I realized that this isn’t a “single solution” sort of problem. Rather, it’s a “many paths up the mountain” sort of situation, and the only way that I could do it justice was to bring on all these other people to share their perspectives as well.

And what’s the key takeaway that you learned from all these people (without giving away too much of the book)?

DI: Hmmm... it’s hard to sum it all up, because the perspectives are so diverse, but I can point you to three main themes. The first is that you have to know and love your audience. If you don’t, then you aren’t going to stick with it. Second, you’ve got to create valuable stuff. “Epic shit”, as one of my co-authors puts it. And third, you have to get to work. No ifs, ands, or buts about it – it’s a lot of work, and the best time to start is right now.

What is the most common mistake people make when deciding to build a blogging community of their own?

DI: Probably not thinking through their plans. I mean, sure, everyone wants to create a big blog and be wonderfully successful, but what does that really mean? How does that look? How are you actually going to make all that money with your blog about knick-knacks or whatever? People should really spend more time at the outset figuring out what they really want their endgame to look like. It’ll save them a lot of time, a lot of work, and a lot of heartache along the way.

You also run Firepole Marketing...What services do you offer?

DI: Firepole Marketing is mostly free information. We cater to small business owners and entrepreneurs in the 0-10 employee range (which includes many bloggers), and teach them about marketing that actually works, that actually gets results, without the hype, or the “five steps to world domination with Twitter” nonsense that the internet seems to be full of these days. Just real-live, rock-solid marketing that gets results.

Talking about marketing, without giving too much away from your book, what is one piece of marketing advice you can offer to those just starting out?

DI: Figure out what’s broken before you start fixing things willy-nilly. In other words, figure out what the steps are from where you are to where you want to be, and find obstacle that’s keeping you from getting there. Get help isolating the problem if you have to, but isolate the problem, and only start fixing things once you know what you need to fix. It kills me to see businesses waste time and money that they don’t have trying to fix things that aren’t even really broken!

You've accomplished so much, what is next for Danny Iny?

DI: I’m flattered, but really, on the scale of human achievement, I haven’t done anything yet that would get me into the history books. That’s okay, though, I’ve still got time. The big plans are too big to share just yet, but there’s a lot of cool stuff coming up in the near-term, including some really great free stuff at Firepole Marketing, and a couple of new books that are in works.

Where can readers find you?

DI: The best place would be Firepole Marketing. Just head on over, sign up for our free video series, and if anyone wants to reach out to me, they should just reply to any email they get in that series, and it’ll go straight to my inbox. And I answer all of my email in 24 hours – try me!

Danny, thank you for taking time to chat with us today. For those of you interested in buying Danny's book, Engagement from Scratch!, today is your lucky day. We are celebrating Danny's book with a book bash, and from March 2 – 4, you can pick up your own copy at Amazon.com for just $0.99.

We wish you much success in the future Danny.

The Writing Innovations Team

If you're looking to build a blog community or engage your audience over and over again, then this is the book for you! Danny Iny lays out a solid blue print for you to follow.

"After reading the book, I felt as though I had had direct access to some of the best minds in marketing, blogging, copywriting and business. The contributors to the book seemed to answer my questions preemptively - I feel infinitely more prepared now as a business owner, having read Engagement from Scratch, than I did prior. A must-read for anyone looking to gain traction in any industry." -Ruth Zive

New Release Today & Guest Post - Hunter Moon by Cait Lavender

2012-03-01T02:18:00.000-05:00

Bawling cattle tore Shelby Flint from her bed. With lawyer fees to pay in her struggle to keep her ranch from the clutches of her greedy cousins, she couldn’t afford the loss of even one calf. When she sees a large wolf circling her cows, she aims and fires. While the wolf escapes, Shelby can’t seem to get away from her troubles when a marijuana grower sets up shop on her land, sabotaging her property and eventually coming after her. Adding to that, a handsome game warden is poking his nose into her business and working his way underneath her skin. Shelby will have to fight harder than she ever fought before to keep from losing heart and everything she ever loved.

We are so excited to announce the new release of Hunter Moon by Cait Lavender. The book sounds amazing and I know I will be getting my hands on it! Cait has offered us a wonderful post on Excitement of a Newly Published Novel. So without further ado....Welcome Cait and take it away!

Ladies & Gentlemen, I present you with Cait Lavender!

My stomach is in knots and it’s getting late but I’m not going to bed until I can’t keep my eyes open any longer. When I started writing, the idea of actually becoming published seemed so very far into the future, almost impossible. With each word down and each contact made, the release day grew closer and closer. The wonderful people in my writing group pushed, encouraged and coaxed me to this point and I’m forever grateful, because now I’m published!

My poor F5 button. At this point in time I’m sure it’s wailing in agony after being pushed over and over again, but I simply can’t help myself! I’ve been constantly checking and re-checking my sales, giggling with glee each time the numbers change. After a year of trials, anguish, frustration and spurts of inspiration I’ve finally completed my first full-length novel and today it’s been released out into the world. Is this how parents feel when they send their child to school the first day?

My child, my baby, my book is now floating around freely. Anyone can read it and that is daunting. Until today, only a handful of people have read my book. I’ve poured my heart, soul and personality into the words on each page and now I have to sit back and hope that it will be well-received. If it isn’t? I can only assume it will wound me as deeply as if someone told me my baby girl is ugly. How dare you!

I know I have to get thick skin to continue on in this business without curling into a ball and sobbing after each negative review. Either that or hope that my book is so brilliant that it’ll never receive any negativity (ha!). But for now, I’m reveling in the afterglow of clicking that “Submit” button and feeling the same sense of accomplishment I had after I had my daughter. My baby is out there now, I’ve done all I can, and now I’ll just have to sit back and see how it does. Be kind!

I love it and it is exciting to have a new release. The worst part is waiting on it lol. Congratulations Cait!

Cait Lavender is a twenty five year old wife and stay at home mother of one in Central California. Living on a cattle ranch and raising her daughter doesn’t afford her much leisure time, but when she has a spare minute or two she loves riding horses, baking and reading everything she can get her hands on. She grew up loving the written word and creative writing and finally decided to work on her dream of becoming a published author.

She has a short story, Cowboy Moon, and a full-length novel, Hunter Moon, both available on Smashwords, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. She’d love to hear from you on her Facebook author page, @caitlavender on Twitter or on her blog...

www.caitlavender.com

Barnes and Noble

Smashwords

Meet Dawne Prochilo, Author and Blogger! She shares a recipe and her new release.

2012-02-28T19:20:00.002-05:00

Dawne Prochilo shares her favorite recipe Pasta Tuna Salad on Author Favorites at the Recipe Corner http://writinginnovations.blogspot.com/p/authors-favorite-recipes.html

Before you head over there, read about Dawne and check out her new release Callie's Way: The V.W. Club, Book 1.

BIO:

I'm a freelance writer for a newspaper, I write web content, am an online journalist and the administrative editor of the WM Connection Freelance Writers website and a contributing editor for the WM Connection Review.

I live in a small town of maybe 600 people. I have 3 kids. In April 2012, I will be a grandma!

I'm sarcastic, independent, intelligent (I have papers to prove it), roll my eyes way too many times in a day, am a real blonde, patient and would do anything for those that I love.

I love hazelnut coffee, Mountain Dew, my Jack Russell Terrier, Eddie, my family and White Zinfandel. In no particular order.

I hate peas and carrots, wet socks, liars and fake people.

Dawne has a heart of gold and loves to help her fellow authors, and chat with fans. Hence her twitter handle @goldendawne1 - or maybe it's the golden hair? Dawne was also nominated in the Sex Expert category for the Xcite Books 2012 Awards!

Divorcee and owner of the VW Club, Callie Ludington isthrough with men and their selfish ways. She wants someone in her life butshe's not sure she can handle the egotistical men surrounding her. She needssomeone different. Someone who appreciates her and what she has to offer. Herfellow VW Club friends are always asking her for dating advice but she cannever heed her own words. So when she turns to Sammi, a VW Club server, Calliegets more than she bargained for. Their privates chats turn into more thantalk.

Can Callie fight the urges she has towards Sammi? And what happens when Sammigives Callie an indication of interest?

Purchase links:

Dawne on Amazon

Secret Cravings Publishing

Now go check out her delicious recipe http://writinginnovations.blogspot.com/p/authors-favorite-recipes.html

A Recipe and a New Release! Jean Joachim shares both

2012-02-26T20:11:00.000-05:00

Jean Joachim is an author, married, amother of two boys and owner of a rescued pug named Homer. She lives in NewYork City. Her latest contemporary romance, Nowand Forever 2, the Book of Danny (sequel to Now and Forever 1, a Love Story) has been released by SecretCravings Publishing. Her works include, SunnyDays, Moonlit Nights, a sweet contemporary romance and its sequel April’s Kiss in the Moonlight, the NewYork Nights novels series including, “TheMarriage List” and “Champagne for Christmas”.She also has seven non-fiction books published. Her bestselling activity booksare frequently in the top 25 on Amazon. Jean has been writing non-fiction forover fifteen years and fiction for two. Her review column, "Movie Choicesfor Kids" has been syndicated in weekly and parenting newspapers and onwebsites for the past eleven years.

Check out Jean's recipe for Chicken Marian on the Recipe Corner: Author Favorites http://writinginnovations.blogspot.com/p/authors-favorite-recipes.html and her new release NOW AND FOREVER 2, THE BOOK OF DANNY below.

Blurb

DannyMaine, leaves the Army after becoming an expert sharp shooter, killer andwomanizer. He gets a job teaching English at Kensington State University wherehe strives to have a normal life.There, he meets Eliza Baines, a beautiful widow, and issmitten immediately. Danny struggles to overcome post-traumatic stress syndromeand make a new life when his drunken and abusive father is released from prisonand seeks him out. Struggling to leave his horrific past behind, Danny attemptsto forge a new path that includes love, success, friends and having his ownfamily but dark forces and emotional obstacles block his way. The Book of Dannyis a poignant story of love, loss and ultimate triumph that will touch yourheart.

Buy Links:

Amazon

B&N

All Romance

Secret Cravings Publishing

Jean's Web site, Blog. Follow Jean on Twitter @JeanJoachim and on Facebook.

Her books on Amazon

Blogger to Bestseller

2012-02-24T15:31:00.001-05:00

Image from http://readinnwritin.blogspot.com

Blogger to Bestseller: when Blogs become Books

It’s not uncommon these days to see your favorite blog turn into a bestseller, available in every bookstore. It’s an interesting way of becoming a bestselling author sometimes unintentionally and as blogs are theoretically just online diaries, blogs that become books are just like diaries and memoirs before them. Some of the most interesting and timely works of the present day have come from blogs, showing the intricacies of modern society and providing contemporary accounts of just how life really is for everyday people. So when settling down on your sectional sofa with your laptop, planning your next blog post, think about how you could be the next big thing, if you’ve got the skills and the stories to deserve it.

Waiter Rant

One of the most well known and popular blog-based books is Steve Dublanica’s Waiter Rant, a candid and near unbelievable account of life as a waiter. Telling the world the deep, dark secrets of the diner in his hugely successful blog, the next big step for Dublanica was to publish his hilariously funny anecdotes in a book. He did this accordingly in 2009 and has gone on to write further accounts. Industries such as catering and hospitality lend themselves to being published because of the deep dark secrets behind the scenes, that only the staff can know of, and Dublanica has become a spokesperson and representative for the millions of waiters across the States.

Julie and Julia

Pipping even Dublanica’s efforts is the Hollywood block busting Julie and Julia, which it’s hard to believe began as a humble blog project from young New York resident Julie Powel. Her blog went from strength to strength as she attempted to cook every recipe in the esteemed Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cookery and in 2005, Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 recipes 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen was published and a mere four years later, it hit our screens.

Crazy Aunt Purl

Appealing to all kinds of folk out there, Crazy Aunt Purl’s book Drunk, Divorced and Covered in Cat Hair was much awaited before its release in 2007. The online persona of Laurie Perry, a thirty-something divorcee living with her three cats, Crazy Aunt Purl’s blog was an instant hit, drawing in readers for all over the country interested in seeing what mishap occurred next. There’s a morbid curiosity in us all which means we just can’t help look forward to the next time something goes wrong for Purl. A lot of readers can relate to Purl’s lifestyle and the ability to build empathy and rapport is another key quality for creating a blog that performs well when turned into a book.

Humor and Interest

Scores of books that you receive as gifts, humorous jokes and coffee table talking points first entered the world through the blog. The hilarious named and popular Stuff White People Like by Christian Lander sits in bookcases across America. Another book which should be on every girl’s dresser is Daily Candy a to Z: an Insider’s Guide to the Sweet Life, from the blog of the same name, offering up top tips city-by-city on what to do, what to wear and why. Some bloggers even publish their books under their blog name such as Look at My Striped Shirt: Confessions of the People you Love to Hate by The Phat Phree. This technique forever immortalises the blog in print as well as online.

What about me?

Electronic books have made publishing much more accessible and so as the eBook has grown in popularity, so has the number of blogs available through your eReading device. If you’ve got a blog with a decent following and are interested in self publishing, there’s no reason not to. You could further your readership, make a little revenue and keep your followers and fans thoroughly entertained. Publishing via Kindle or other platforms is relatively straightforward and if you have an interesting story to tell, are keeping tabs on your employer from behind the scenes or are just hugely entertaining you’re bound to have some success.

With self publishing becoming increasingly popular and easy to do, there’s bound to be an influx of blogs being turned into books. Whether they’re all of the quality of those mentioned is another thing but if you think you’ve got what it takes as a writer then it’s worth giving it a shot.

Favorite Author Recipe - Jodi Olson and Her New Release

2012-02-21T12:46:00.000-05:00

Jodi Olson tantalizes us today with a Veggie Soup recipe and her latest book Road to Desire, Desire Series 1. Jodi's veggie soup is another one of those recipes where everything goes in the crock pot and you walk away. Very nice for busy authors; gives us more time to write. And Readers, this recipe gives you more time to settle down on the sofa and curl up with a good book! You can find the recipe on Author Favorites at the Recipe Corner: http://writinginnovations.blogspot.com/p/authors-favorite-recipes.html

Jodi Olson is a published author of erotica (including menage), contemporary and historical romance. She absolutely loves cowboys and now writes about them too. Jodi also loves hearing from her fans.

Matthew had a fantasy about submitting to his wife Samantha; to be Her adoring and worshipful slave, doing Her bidding, suffering Her torments and pleasures. What will happen when this hunky construction worker gets his wish, when he is forced to his knees and used as a sex toy? It’s a kinky affair when a loving couple starts down the Road to Desire.

BookStrand

Amazon

All Romance

You can find Jody online at her Web site, her Blog, Amazon Author page, on Facebook and Facebook Fan page

Don't forget to check out Jodi's recipe! http://writinginnovations.blogspot.com/p/authors-favorite-recipes.html

Favorite Author Recipe - Elle D. Hayes and Her New Release

2012-02-18T13:45:00.000-05:00

We have Elle D. Hayes sharing her favorite recipe and new release with us today. You can find the recipe on Author Favorites at the Recipe Corner http://writinginnovations.blogspot.com/p/authors-favorite-recipes.html

First a bit about Elle:

Elle D. Hayes was born to write. An unapologetic dreamer, she has created characters and their unique worlds for as long as she can remember. By day she is a not-so-mild-mannered
executive assistant, but by night she is a fierce keyboard warrior hoping to one day be crowned Queen of Erotic Romance. It makes for rough mornings filled with lots of caffeine, but she swears it's worth it.

Elle lives with her basketball loving husband and superstar daughter. When not writing she enjoys reading, watching basketball and shopping until she drops.

Her latest release is an interracial romance called Negotiating Love from the SWAT Officer series. It is available on Beautiful Trouble Publishing and Amazon.

EXCERPT:
      Just thinking about her brought images of her smooth milk chocolate skin and sparkling brown eyes to mind. His hand itched to feel her hair clutched in his fist as he took her from behind. He loved the feel of the braids and twists she always wore. And that ass! His head throbbed at the thought of another man touching her.
      He dropped his bag on the ground next to the wall and opened it to dig around for his gloves. Once he had them on he stood and began working the bag. He’d worked up a really good sweat when Mace joined him.
      “Hey,” Mace said as he moved to stand behind the bag and hold it steady.
      “Hey,” Jay replied before resuming his workout.
      “I’m willing to bet that this poor innocent bag didn’t do anything to you, so you wanna tell me who it is you’re really beating the hell out of right now?”
      Jay didn’t answer at first, but then he dropped his fists and sighed. “Myself,” he finally admitted.
     “Okay. Wanna talk about it?”
     “Not really.”
     “Can I take a stab at it?”
   “Can I stop you?” Jay snapped. Then added, “It won’t do any good. You don’t have a clue how much I’ve screwed up.”
     “Maybe not, but I’m willing to bet three months pay it all revolves around one sexy ADA you’ve been pretending to not give a damn about.”
     “How the hell did you pick up on that?” Jay questioned angrily.
     “Come on, man. You two can’t stop watching each other whenever you’re in the same room. And you almost ripped Gunnar a new one when he made that comment about her ass a few months back.”
     Jay clenched his jaw at the memory. Gunnar Stephensen was a fellow SWAT officer and a world class womanizer. Had it not been for the intervention of the rest of the team, he would have taken the man’s head off when he wondered aloud what it would be like to hold Tonia’s hips and watch her ass while fucking her from behind. Jay groaned out loud when he realized how much that show of possessiveness must have told his teammates.

You can find Elle on Facebook, her Blog and on her Amazon Author Page.

Elle is sharing a slow cooker dish; http://writinginnovations.blogspot.com/p/authors-favorite-recipes.html

Bon Appetit!

Chatting with Author Cindi Maciolek - Divatiel: Reflections of a birds companion

2012-02-17T00:02:00.000-05:00

Today we welcome author Cindi Maciolek who's stopping in on her virtual book tour with Divatiel:Reflections of a birds companion. Welcome to Writing Innovations Cindi, it's so nice to have you with us today.

WI: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I started writing at a very early age, around four-years-old. Words fascinated me! I would practice my letters every day and make things up in my head. Then, I’d ask family members how to spell the words. I particularly liked rhyming, and still do today.

WI: What inspired you to pen this particular novel/book?

Divatiel: Reflections of a bird’s companion was a book years in the making. I was gifted with a loving little cockatiel over 17 years ago. I learned so much about having a pet, about taking care of a bird and about myself that I wanted to share that story with others. I don’t think people really realize just how intelligent a little cockatiel can be. I certainly didn’t. I’d share stories about her with others, and time and time again I was encouraged to write a book about her. So, I finally did!

WI: What road blocks did you come across while writing this story?

I originally thought this would be a very short book, a collection of stories about my bird’s adventures, organized by category. When I sent it out for comments, everyone suggested I write it as a complete story, from the first time we met until she departed for that big open sky. I’m glad I changed it because I’m much happier the way it is now, but it did require a lot more writing and editing, which ultimately added over a year to the production schedule.

WI: What do you do if a story just doesn't seem to flow the way you were hoping it would?

It depends. I tend to know the opening, the ending and a few twists and turns in between, but I generally let the story tell me where it wants to go. So, I write in a flurry for a few chapters, then step away to analyze where I’ve been compared to where I need to go. If stepping away doesn’t help, I’ll reread what I’ve already written, sometimes from the beginning, and hopefully that will identify what’s tripping me up. I always keep a file of notes, so reading through the notes can help. Or, I send it out for comments and listen to what my inner circle has to say. If all else fails, I’ll play solitaire or avalanche to put my mind in a different space.

WI: What has been the hardest thing about marketing this story?

This particular book is non-fiction, and many people assume that it’s aimed just at bird lovers. In actuality, any animal lover could identify with the love between owner and pet, and the way a pet can take over the household. So, getting people to understand that has been the hardest part.

WI: What is one thing you wished you knew before, that you now know about marketing?

I don’t think anyone would be surprised to hear that it takes a lot of time to market anything, whether it be a new company or a new book. Particularly in this day and age, there are so many options for promotion, but everything takes time. It takes commitment. It’s not something new, but sometimes when you’re in the throes of it, you try to remind yourself that writing the book was sometimes the easy part!

WI: What is one piece of advice that you received to help your writing that you still carry with you today?

Just do it! If you’re a writer, then write. Don’t talk about what you want to write, write it!

WI: Tell us what a day in your writing life is like, do you have any writing quirks?

I write all day, but not necessarily on my favorite personal projects! Let’s see…there are emails, queries, brochures, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, proposals, marketing plans – did I leave anything out?

I tend to be a night owl, so I do a lot of writing at night, but I do enjoy jumping out of bed and finishing up a chapter first thing in the morning. It sets a great tone of accomplishment for the day.

As for quirks, I read aloud when I edit. If something doesn’t read aloud properly, it won’t be good on paper. I also act out the different characters when I’m writing fiction. It helps me to bring the story to life and envision what it will be like on the big screen someday!

WI: Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?

I quite like writing fiction, more than I ever thought I would. I enjoy crafting the dialog in particular. My goal is to keep writing until well past the ripe old age of 142.

WI: Are you currently working on any new projects?

I’m currently working on a business book that’s aimed at people who are interested in starting a company, or the owners of a small company. My other favorite project is a novel that I love, love, love! Hopefully, both will be out within the next year.

WI: Do you have any upcoming events or special news you would like to share with our readers?

Giveaway

I’ll be giving away one signed copy of Divatiel: Reflections of a bird’s companion to one lucky person who is new to my Facebook follow list between now and the end of the book tour on March 12^th. I’ll post the winner to my Facebook page on March 17^th.

WI: Where can readers find you?

All the latest and greatest is on my website at www.cindimaciolek.com, or on Twitter @cindimaciolek, and Facebook Cindi Maciolek-Writer. Details on Divatiel are at www.divatiel.com or on Twitter @Divatiel.

WI: Where can your book be purchased?

Divatiel: Reflections of a bird’s companion is available for Kindle and Nook on Amazon and Barnes and Noble respectively. For readers who prefer a printed copy, they can go to www.divatiel.com/shop.

We want to thank you for taking time to chat with us today and offering your writing & marketing experiences. We wish you much success in the future.

The Writing Innovations Team

Can four ounces of feathers and personality change a person’s life?

She can if she’s the Divatiel!

Cindi was looking for a roommate, and finally settled on a fine-feathered friend who was a gift from a co-worker. What she got was a loving, intelligent, fun, free-spirited, demanding – Jaké.

After recovering from illness that put her near death’s door, Jaké healed and was let out of the cage so she could spread her wings. She lived her life with gusto. Jaké took risks, used her intelligence to her advantage and loved unconditionally. She took charge, not only over her surroundings but over her owner as well. Luckily, she had a cooperative Mommy in Cindi.

Not only was she demanding, Jaké did things some humans have never done. She flew on an airplane several times, went on numerous road trips and ate fresh vegetables daily.

Jaké lived a very long life and had many adventures along the way, most of which are captured in this book.

Jaké was first a gift to William, then a gift to Cindi, and now a gift to the world.
Divatiel: Reflections of a bird’s companion will tug at your heart strings and bring a smile to any animal lover.

Follow Cindi's Tour HERE

Happy Valentine's Day - Favorite Recipe from Author Michele Hope

2012-02-14T16:52:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Michele Hope is here today to share her recipe for "Slutty Brownies". LOL Gotta love her. She states they are sinfully delicious and to die for! Ummm sounds like a story line we used in Break Up Pudding. The 'to die for' part.

Michele was very busy publishing this last year with Rebel Ink Press. Michele and her husband collaborate on their erotic stories. Another couple writing together. Michael and Michele live on a bayou in Louisiana. When they take a break from writing, Michele fishes and creates jewelry, and Michael paints. A very talented man he is too. You can see Michael's art on his web site. Michele's jewelry web site.

Here's a bit about Michele.

Seven years ago, Michele Hope had become accustomed to midwestern winters and scraping ice off her windshield. Then one day a Southern boy, possessed of good looks and entirely too much charm, fell out of the sky like a piece of space junk - smack dab in the middle of her life. He swept her away to Louisiana and a warmer climate, where she resides beside a sleepy and peaceful bayou. Surrounded by wildflowers, animal companions and her Southern man, she writes, fishes, contemplates and occasionally goes to town. A girl has to dress-up and wear heels from time to time you know.

Here's the recipe and a photo. They do look delicious!

Slutty Brownies
Yield: 1 9x9 brownie pan
Serving Size: 10 brownies per recipe

Ingredients
For the Brownie layer:10 tbsp unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups white sugar
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1/2 cup AP flour
For the Oreo layer:
1 package of Oreo (regular stuffed or double stuffed)
For the Cookie Dough layer:
1 cup unsalted butter (at room temp)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cup AP flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions
For the Brownie layer:
In a medium sauce pan, melt the butter over medium high heat. Add the sugar and cocoa powder once the butter is melted. Whisk to combine and remove from heat. Add the salt, vanilla and eggs and continuously whisk until the eggs are combined. Add the flour and continue to mix. Set batter aside.
For the Cookie Dough layer:
Cream together the butter and sugars in a mixer. Add the eggs and vanilla, making sure to scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl. Add the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder and mix on low until everything is incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips. Set dough aside.

Assembly:Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
Line the bottom of a 9x9 baking pan with tin foil and then spray the tin foil with a layer of baking spray.
Layer 1/2 of the cookie dough on the bottom of a 9x9 baking pan, pressing down to form the bottom of the slutty brownies. Reserve the remaining cookie dough to be used to make cookies later in the day.
Layer as many oreos that will fit on top of the cookie dough. No need to overlap. One single layer will do.
Pour the brownie batter on top of the oreo layer and make sure it's evenly layers on top.
Bake for 30-35 minutes. Test with a knife to see if the center is done. If the knife comes out clean, let the brownies rest before serving. If the knife comes out with batter still on it, allow the brownies to bake about 5 minutes more.
Serve with ice cream :)

Michele has a new release coming out with Rebel Ink Press soon: Vantage Points. Here's little snippet from Michele:
I can tell you that my pretty chatelaine and her hunky husband work their magique on an altogether willing young life guard . . . in the night splendors of a grande Ozark hotel. Clue: It's where gangsters used play.

Service Rendered was released Oct 2011. You can find it on Amazon.

Blurb:
A handsome, charming and adventurous young couple depart their plantation home for an evening of elegant partying. Our prettiest of Southern belles has given thoughtful consideration not only to her evening's ensemble, but to the many possibilities the very evening may hold. After arriving at the grand antebellum home for a charity ball, the evening progresses with friendly, warm and gracious hospitality. Our lovely chatelaine decides to heat up the night, first with an unexpected flirtatious encounter in the lady's room with an equally beautiful woman. Suddenly needy, she finds her handsome and commanding husband at the bar and insists on playtime. Their moment leads to seduction and a guest room with an antique vanity . . . all with a young bartender in tow.

Robusto on Amazon She with the Most...Wins on Amazon

I told you she's been busy! You can find Michele on Facebook. She loves to hear from fans. Michael has aFacebook where you can see really good photos of his art.

See All Author Favorite Recipes at Recipe Corner

Self Publishing Error Number 1

2012-02-13T04:23:00.002-05:00

Most authors, especially newbies, don't understand what the number one thing is that can set them back from moving forward and getting great reviews. It won't matter if you have a great story, but the number one mistake that most self publishing authors make - Editing.

If you produce a poorly edited book, you might as well just toss your book in the garbage disposal.

Being an Indie Author is hard, but being a self published Indie Author is even harder. Readers and reviewers alike like to read a well tuned book. If you hand your book over and it consistently has errors, graphical or punctual, you're losing out. You'll be lucky if the reader gets past the first chapter.

This is where research comes in very handy. If you're just writing your book and haven't even been published yet, it will do you some good to hop on the good ol' internet, pull up your handy dandy search engine, which is probably Google, but maybe you might use Bing, and type in Editing Services. You'd be amazed at how many freelance editors there are, and it would be wise to click on the links to find one that can suit your needs and your budget.

Many editors, especially the good ones, will often offer a free page or two of editing to show they know what they're doing. Take them up on it. They want to prove to you they have your back, and the only way to know for sure if they have your back is to try them on for size.

If you look up in my right sidebar here, you'll find AllWrite? - a writing service without even having to open another tab to start your search. If you're unsure still, even after searching? Well, how about when we talked about Building a Solid Reader Base. Remember? I said that while you're writing you should start searching for friends in the same genre, or other author friends period? Don't be afraid to ask your new found friends if they can refer you to a good editor. I can without a doubt tell you, they're going to say "Sure. Try this one."

The point is, don't be afraid to tap into your resources to help yourself in the future. Don't commit self publishing suicide, but help yourself become the next bestseller. Edit that book.

What else can you do to help with your editing process?

Easy. Have others read your work, they often will catch your mistakes and let you know. Step away from your writing once you feel it's complete. After about a month, give or take, re-read it yourself. I can guarantee you will stumble upon, (no pun intended), a few mistakes and you'll be asking yourself, "What was I thinking?"

After your friends have read it, and you have read it, send it on over to your editor for a professional edit. Once the editing is done, you can go ahead and self publish, get your book into those reviewers hands, and work your way up that ranking scale to become the next Bestseller on Amazon.

Margaret West - Author of Abigail Cottage

Editors:

Bylines by Jo - www.bylinesbyjo.com

Sharon at AllWrite? - http://www.sharonbenjamin.co.uk/

Keidi at The Word Queen - www.wordqueen.com

Thersa Cole - http://fadeintofantasy.com

Pauline - http://paulinenolet.com

2012-02-06T08:11:00.000-05:00

Join the Blitz!

For TODAY ONLY, when you purchase Light Under the House by Aaron Drew for just $.99 onAmazon.com, with your proof of purchase, Aaron will gift you another book of your choice valued at the same price of $.99, (exluding Erotica). That's 2 books for the price of 1! So jump on the bandwagon and go get yourself some awesome books!

Send Proof of Purchase to bkwalkerbooks@comcast.net with your Amazon receipt and the book of your choice (title and link) and preferred email. Once it's been verified, Aaron will gift you your book and send you a personal note of thanks.

Can the Worst of Times Make for the Best of Lines? Guest Post by Aaron L

I think I heard somewhere that life is pain. I beg to differ. Life is the ability to survive the pain.
When I began my journey into creating my novel Light Under the House, I only had a germ of a plot and not much else. I was a college drop out at the time and didn't have much going for me. I had also sown a lot of seeds into endeavors that turned out to be useless. I had a mountain of wasted opportunity and regrets piled up. I wasn't a trained expert in any field. What did I know? Then again, I did know a few things I knew about rejection. I knew about the loss of friendship. I knew about living with frustration, anger, and fear. I knew those things. I knew I had a story to tell.

So I asked myself, what does it look like to overcome the wounds I've been dealt? What does it look likeil and come back again? What does faith in action look like? As I started to ask myself these questions, the novel grew and so did I. In the process I learned some key things:

If you want to challenge the reader, you have to challenge yourself. Light Under the House is a novel about character. I knew I wanted to be better. A better brother, son, friend, a better man. If I didn't find it challenging, I was certain no one else would.
Don't be afraid to be open and generous. I've learned not be afraid to talk about issues through my story and its characters that are personal me and my struggles. Our scars are just proof that we're still alive; we can show them.
Everyone has a strength; let yours shine. Don't get me wrong; it's not all pain. I've lived a very blessed life. While it was true that I didn't have any technical expertise, I did have life experience. By the time fifteen I had lived in numerous places in the U.S. and abroad. I had been around the world. I had diverse experiences to draw upon in dealing with people and life. It also helped to hone a unique perspective. What are your strengths?
So can the worst of times make for the best of lines? I think it can. If not, I'm sure I'll survive it.

Aaron L might be a newcomer to the creation of fiction but is not one when it comes to the arts and all things creative. Growing up in places from Seattle to South Africa, he spent a lot of his time drawing. Aaron always knew that his future lay in a creative field. In 2010, he graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in graphic design. Although the usual application of this degree is in the creation of different types of art and design, Aaron chose instead to focus his creative skills on the task of storytelling. He lives near Chicago, Illinois.

http://www.amazon.com/Light-Under-the-House-ebook/dp/B0060C2O92

Aaron L
kuumbacandle@hotmail.com
Creator of the upcoming book "The Light Under the House"

Aaron L might be a newcomer to the creation of fiction but is not one when it comes to the arts and all things creative. Growing up in places from Seattle to South Africa, he spent a lot of his time drawing. Aaron always knew that his future lay in a creative field. In 2010, he graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in graphic design. Although the usual application of this degree is in the creation of different types of art and design, Aaron chose instead to focus his creative skills on the task of storytelling. He lives near Chicago, Illinois.

See his website at www.lightunderthehouse.com

Sponsors:

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For The Love of Reading!
Walker's Muse
Immortality and Beyond

Trailer Promo - Marooned in Miami by Sandra Bunino & Kindle Contest

2012-02-03T00:01:00.000-05:00

Have you been Marooned lately? As part of the Marooned in Miami virtual book tour, we are pleased to present you with a close up look at the book trailer, created by BK Walker's Cafe'. I hope you enjoy it and you can also be entered to win a brand new Kindle at the end of Sandra's tour by leaving a comment here today. Let us know what you think of the trailer, about the book, and what you would do with a brand new Kindle if you should win! (don't forget to include your email address)

You can gain more entries by leaving a comment at any of Sandra's posts - Follow her tour HERE.

Enjoy!

We are ready to hear your thoughts!

Thanks for stopping in today and good luck on the Kindle Contest.

Interview with Kat Jorgensen - Your Eight O'Clock is Dead

2012-01-26T13:30:00.000-05:00

We're excited to have the chance to chat with a wonderful author - Kat Jorgensen. I hope you will enjoy getting to know her as much as I have.

A notorious daydreamer, Kat knew it was only a matter of time before she became a writer. She learned to read by age four and had her first library card before her fifth birthday. To this day, she can lose herself for hours among the books at her local library or neighborhood bookstore. Ebooks and online ordering have made it really easy for her to keep her To Be Read pile from ever going down. A native of Richmond, Virginia, Kat is married with children and has a cranky tuxedo cat named Ben.

http://katjorgensen.com

WI: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always wanted to be a writer. My mom would read stories to me when I was too young to read myself, and I thought that whoever made those stories up had a great job. Then once I learned to read and write, I knew for sure that I wanted to be a writer. It is the best job.

WI: What inspired you to pen this particular novel/book?

I’d been writing suspense. Really dark books. Heck, I’d even scare myself sometimes. In 2006, my husband was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer and went through six surgeries. In 2008, I had endometrial cancer. I thought I was in the clear. But in 2009, I found a lump in my breast and was diagnosed with breast cancer. Phew! It was some scary, stressful times. Times I wouldn’t want to revisit ever.

Somewhere during all of that I decided I needed to laugh and have fun with my writing. My main character Becca came almost fully formed into my mind. Then I added in other characters to amuse me. Pretty soon, I had lots of notes and had to decide what to do with them. Romance? No. I love happy endings, but I’m not a straight romance writer. Suspense again? No, I’d had enough sad, bad, scary times in my own mind - and a writer lives in their mind when they’re writing. Murder? Hmmm...that was appealing. I’m always happy killing off people on paper.

And that’s how the opening scene of Your Eight O’Clock Is Dead came about. What would Becca do if she came to work and found a patient, er, client murdered in the waiting room? And I took off from there and just played. Well, it was hard work. But I let my imagination play and let the characters have free rein to do what they wanted to do. And kept writing and making notes for future books.

WI: What road blocks did you come across while writing this story?

Other than health issues, I really didn’t have any road blocks while I wrote this book. I always joke and say it practically wrote itself. It didn’t, of course. But of all of the books I’ve written, this one was the easiest. I think in part that’s because I did have previous books behind me - even if they’ll never see the light of day. I’d studied story structure. Things that I had to consciously think about in other books came very naturally to me in this story. The mechanics of writing didn’t get in my way, and I could concentrate on the story.

WI: What do you do if a story just doesn't seem to flow the way you were hoping it would?

I used to fight it. Seriously. I’d try to make it go in the direction I had planned. It was horrible. And it resulted in many rewrites. But then I learned to trust my instincts and that of my characters. When a story doesn’t flow how I have planned, I let the characters and/or the story take over. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by what happens when you just give in to the process.

WI: What has been the hardest thing about marketing this story?

Oh, I thought I was so prepared for the marketing aspect of publishing. I’d done book signings before with a non-fiction anthology and knew I could do that. I was comfortable speaking about my writing. But I was not prepared for how much the industry itself has changed with the advent of the e-readers and indie publishing. It takes a lot more effort on the writer’s part than it did before. You have to be willing to try different things to see what works and what doesn’t. I had a much larger learning curve than I was prepared for.

Also, I think humor is highly subjective. What I think is funny might not be funny to someone else. My goal is to entertain people, to take them away from their problems for just a bit and give them something to laugh over. If I do that, then I have succeeded. So I’ve had an interesting time marketing what I call “funny death.”

WI: What is one thing you wished you knew before, that you now know about marketing?

To have a clear cut marketing plan before you are published. I wish I’d known to do that. My approach has been more of a “let’s try that and that” approach. I won’t make that mistake again. I’m already planning my marketing for the next release.

WI: What is one piece of advice that you received to help your writing that you still carry with you today?

I’ve gotten great advice over the years. But I think the best piece of advice was to get the words down on the paper. You can edit anything, but you can’t edit a blank sheet of paper. That’s a very freeing concept. Many of us struggle with varying degrees of perfection. You have to lose that as a writer and be willing to write crap. Just get it down. Then you can fix it and make it pretty later. That’s the best advice I’ve ever received - and I can’t even attribute it to any one person since I’ve heard it from many people. Great advice.

WI: Tell us what a day in your writing life is like, do you have any writing quirks?

I used to be a night writer. I’d wait until everyone was in bed and then it was my time to sit and write. I’d stay up until the wee hours of the morning. Physically, I just can’t do that anymore. I’m freshest in the morning. So I get up and after I have my breakfast, I sit down and write. I set a page goal for myself each day and try hard to get that goal. Once I do, I’m free to do other things like catch up on Facebook and Twitter, answer reader mail, stay connected to other writers and keep up with industry news and happenings. I also love to take classes. My personal belief is that we can always learn something new to help us and add another tool to our writer’s toolkit. Once I’ve done all of this, I’m free to do whatever I want. Mostly that would be knitting. I’m an avid knitter and very active in knitting groups both locally and online. In fact, knitters have been a huge source of support for me both in my writing and personal life.

WI: Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?

I want to write 6-9 books in the River City Mystery series. I hope my writing will get stronger with each book I do and that I’ll build a solid readership. A lot of time writers operate in a vacuum. It’s nice to get feedback from readers. I enjoy that part quite a bit. I also have a women’s fiction novel in progress and another mystery series that I’d like to develop. I have no shortage of ideas, which is a good thing.

WI: Are you currently working on any new projects?

Currently, I’m writing the second book in the series, Your Time Is Up. After I get done with that, I have the third book all plotted out and will start on that one. In the meantime, I have ideas for books 4 and 5, and I’ll brainstorm them. I’m writing notes on the characters, the storylines and anything to do with the series. That all keeps me pretty busy.

WI: Do you have any upcoming events or special news you would like to share with our readers?

I was thrilled when a local book club picked Your Eight O’Clock Is Dead as their January read. They’ve asked me to participate in their meeting, and I’m thrilled to do it. It’ll be a first for me. I’m doing a virtual book tour right now and would love to have readers stop by. I’m giving a free book away at every stop. I’ve started a dedicated page on Facebook for anything related to my writing or to the series. And I’m looking forward to the publication of Your Time Is Up in the spring or early summer.

WI: Where can readers find you?

My website is http://katjorgensen.com/

I’m on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Kat-Jorgensen/236002929809168

and Twitter @katjorgensen

I’d love to connect with folks through any of these places.

WI: Where can your book be purchased?

It’s on Amazon

http://tinyurl.com/7lgmf4b

Barnes & Noble

http://tinyurl.com/7lq642u

and Smashwords

http://tinyurl.com/7j8voy6

Becca Reynolds is having a bad day. Her grandfather’s lecture (#405: Eat a Healthy Diet or Die Not Trying) makes her late for her job at Daley and Palmer, the psychiatrists' office where she works as the office manager—her title, not theirs. Then her sausage and egg breakfast biscuit creates an oil slick that takes out half her desk, along with that day’s patient files. But she knows the day has taken a really bad turn when she discovers the firm’s eight o’clock patient dead with Dr. Dick Daley’s letter opener opening the patient instead of the mail.

With the fledgling firm in danger of an early demise, Becca appoints herself the unofficial investigator since the police seem to be looking in all the wrong places and doing a half-assed job of solving the crime. She begins a journey to find the killer, keep the practice afloat and with it, her job. In the course of her interfere—er, investigation—she finds a virtual cast of characters who could have done it, including the fancy side piece of the murder victim, his wife, his business partner, and even his psychiatrist.

The case takes Becca from the sordid depths of the Russian mob, to the upscale West End of Richmond, Virginia (known locally as River City), and even to her own backyard. In the course of the story she finds herself in hot water, hot danger, and with dreams of hot men.

We want to thank you for taking time to chat with us today and offering your writing & marketing experiences. We wish you much success in the future.

VBT PIt Stop & Interview with Children's Picture Book Author Kiki Howell

2012-01-19T00:20:00.004-05:00

Welcome to Writing Innovations Kiki. We are so excited to chat about your new Children's Picture Book, What Are You Afraid Of? I think it's wonderful that you have taken that dive into a new genre, and to actually make a difference with what you chose to write about.

Kiki is on virtual book tour with the Virtual Book Tour Cafe', and you can view her entire schedule HERE. For every comment you leave for Kiki during her tour, you will be entered to win her Grand Prize Giveaway for a tote bag donned with her main characters, Drake & Zoe, filled with goodies.

Ever since she was young, Kiki Howell has loved to listen to a well-woven tale with real characters, inspired plots, and delightful resolutions. Kiki could spend hours lost in a book, and soon she knew that creating lives, loves, and losses with just words had to be the greatest thing that she could do. To that end, she pursued her study of literature and writing, earning a bachelor’s degree in English. She then followed in a Master’s program in Creative Writing.

www.kikihowell.com

WI: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Not sure really, but when I was very young I would find myself re-writing stories that I didn’t like the way they went. I started almost immediately dreaming of seeing my name on a cover of a book someday.

WI: What inspired you to pen this particular novel/book?

A lot of things actually. One, I was a child with a lot of fears, and I wanted a fun way to help children that are like I was. This became a more important goal once I read some research my husband was doing for his dissertation about how compassion lies largely on creativity, being able to put yourself into someone else’s shoes. My mind started going because I also knew that many easy fixes parents use for helping children overcome fears stifles that much needed creativity. So, I went to work researching better ways to deal with fears.

WI: How different is it writing a children’s book vs. your regular genre norm?

Incredibly different, watching every word, more like writing a poem than a story.

WI: What road blocks did you come across while writing this story?

Many!!! First I wanted a cute little monster, something pink and fuzzy, to make kids laugh to be the main character, but I ended up with a few illustrator issues. Then, being reminded of my one hundred pound dogs fear of children in costumes, I re-wrote the story to have my dogs as the main characters, but the photo shoot to illustrate the book photo realism was no easy task. I had fun, but the dogs may never forgive me *giggles*

WI: What do you do if a story just doesn't seem to flow the way you were hoping it would?

I have to step away from it for a while. How long really depends upon the story, how insistent it is in my head that I get back to it, and how soon a solution comes to me. I actually re-wrote “What Are You Afraid Of?” several times over the course of a couple of years.

WI: What has been the hardest thing about marketing this story?

I think it is the fact that the setting is Halloween. It makes it seem like a seasonal story. Yes, it does take place during Halloween since that was the time of the fear, but what is taught in it is really timeless and applies to any fears.

WI: What is one thing you wished you knew before, that you now know about marketing?

Actually, how great these virtual book tour companies are to work with. I hosted them for a long time before winning a tour for a novel I wrote. I was simply blown away by the response I got to that novel.

WI: What is one piece of advice that you received to help your writing that you still carry with you today?

To stop the critical voices in my head that worry if the story is marketable, what an editor will think, etc. The story needs to be mine to be good, as I want, or need I should say, it to be written.

WI: Tell us what a day in your writing life is like, do you have any writing quirks?

I need to know I have a big chunk of time to write before I can get started. Gratefully I do have that time when my kids are at school. Also, I can’t start another story until one is done.

WI: Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?

Hmmm, not sure. I have tried a lot of different genres, and many call me back to them for different reasons. So for the near future, I will remain a pretty diverse writer judging from the stories I have ideas for now.

WI: Are you currently working on any new projects?

I am currently in the editing stage of my first mainstream novel called “Hidden Salem” coming out in April this year from Mitchell-Morrison Publishing.

WI: Do you have any upcoming events or special news you would like to share with our readers?

There are still a lot of stops left on this tour, and a tour-wide giveaway. You can always check my events page, which is updated regularly with where I will be. http://www.kikihowell.com/2011/08/events.html

WI: Where can readers find you?

You can visit my website at http://www.kikihowell.com to see all my available titles! I am on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/kikihowell and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/KikiHowell

WI: Where can your book be purchased?

You can Purchase at Amazon or from the Publisher, Dancing With Bear

“Why does the night have to be so dark?” the big dog named Drake gave a low bark. Not everyone likes Halloween. In fact, the big dog named Drake is afraid of the costumes, the decorations, and the dark. He really only likes the candy his boy drops. Lucky for Drake, the old dog named Zoe is there to help him forget his fears with a fun game. Drake and Zoe can’t wait for you to play along.

We want to thank you for taking time to chat with us today and offering your writing & marketing experiences. We wish you much success in the future.

Building A Solid Reader Base

2012-01-18T23:21:00.002-05:00

The biggest concern authors have, no matter what publishing house they go through is "Will people like my book?". So how can you begin to build a reader base that will last through the times and have people anxiously waiting for the next great release?

Let's start from the beginning. When you start writing your book, what should you be doing? Talking. The more you talk about it, your plot, your characters, certain scenes, the more hype you will create.

Who do you talk to? Your facebook followers, twitter followers and the people in your author groups. Let them know you are writing, give them an idea of what you are writing about. As you get farther in your writing, you can introduce your characters. Give ideas of what they are like - sassy, badass, shy, sad, struggling with life, etc.

What should you say? Give one line quotes from your characters…

“You are a warrior, you just don’t know it yet.” (Immortyl Kisses: Warrior Rising)

“No wonder my brother is so taken with you. You are truly mouth watering.” (Night Secrets)

“The enemy of an enemy is my friend…right?” (Immortalis Hunters & Prey)

Where are you in your writing? Did you write 1000 words today? Are you on chapter 21? Are you almost finished?

Readers love to know how close you are to a release date. When you build up the excitement, they want to know when they can get their hands on the entire story. Let them know where you’re at.

These are just a couple of examples on what to post. The point is, use social networking to your benefit.

The more you let your future readers into your head, the bigger your reader base will become. If you write it, they will follow. The more you tease, the more word of mouth gets out and people will want to follow you to keep updated on when that awesome book is going to be released so they can get their hands on it.

What else can you do? Join author groups and find critique partners to help you with your writing to get it to its best possible shape. Find yourself some beta readers, let them read it and give you their feedback before it's released. The more you can get your book into readers hands, the better off you will be .

After you release your book...offer a giveaway to those that you have been chatting with about your book since you first started writing it. Word of mouth is a phenomenal thing.

So what else can you do to build your author platform? You can take your book on virtual tour. Readers always love to learn more about authors, and a virtual tour is a great way to do this through interviews and guest posts. Let your readers know you will be touring and where you will be appearing. They will be more than happy to give their support after all your hard work. Your beta readers can also help create hype by offering their thoughts on the book. It helps create excitement.

You can also try out this new service:

My good friend Rachel Thompson, author of A Walk in the Snark and Mancode:Exposed, has started this consulting business to help you get on a path to building that fantastic author platform. Give her an email and find out what she can do for you.

This is only a small part on what you can do to build that reader base. Just remember, the more people you can get your book in front of, the more your readers will become solid fans you can count on.

Ravencraft's Romance Realm: A New Romance Story - Rainie's Lake

2012-01-17T12:09:00.000-05:00

Ravencraft's Romance Realm: A New Romance Story - Rainie's Lake: Thank you for stopping in to check us out. Deanna here. Everyday we have a new post by one of us here at Ravencraft's Realm. I'...

VBT Pit Stop & Interview with Guy Magar - Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot

2012-01-16T16:38:00.000-05:00

BIO: With over 100 credits from shorts to TV shows to features, director Guy Magar’s behind-the-scenes filmmaking stories range from his first producer turning out to be a Mafia assassin, to shooting in Egypt for the original series Battlestar Galactica, to directing a grunting Mr. T on The A-Team, to almost decapitating a young Drew Barrymore, and to almost derailing James Cameron’s career (or at least slowing it down as he proved way too talented for anyone to alter his storied destiny.)

“Kiss me quick before I shoot has always been my welcoming catchphrase to my wife Jacqui whenever she visited on-set which was seemingly always just before I rolled cameras. This unconventional memoir is also about a deeper magic, the magic of finding a life partner and the magic of healing. Join me on a thrilling rollercoaster ride of realizing the dream of a Hollywood filmmaking career, of the intoxicating highs of finding true love, and of the sweet triumph of healing and survival.” Guy Magar Director/Writer/Producer, Founder of Action/Cut Filmmaking Seminars & Short Film Competition, RETRIBUTION, LOOKIN’ ITALIAN, STEPFATHER 3, CHILDREN OF THE CORN: REVELATION

TV: La Femme Nikita, Blue Thunder, Dark Avenger, Fortune Hunter, The A-Team, Young Riders.

WI: Please tell us a little about your book...
GM: Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot is a memoir about magic…the magic of living the great American dream, an immigrant’s dream to make movies in Hollywood, and also it’s about the magic of finding true love. This is an unconventional memoir as it deals with diverse topics of a wild and crazy filmmaking career, and of the joys of sharing great love. My goal was to write a reader-friendly memoir which includes hilarious stories with over a hundred photos. Since people love the movies and great love stories, my goal was to invite readers to a fun and informal read, to join me for a cappuccino while I engage them in this unique tale of my life journey. From the feedback and reviews to date, I’m delighted that it has worked: mission accomplished.

WI: What inspired you to share this story?
GM: After 25 years of a blissful marriage, out of the blue, my wife was diagnosed with leukemia. Cancer is a pretty daunting illness whenever it hits any family and it changed my life as I completely stopped all my film work and focused on educating myself on blood cancers. The medical journey to heal her was so amazing because it involved a cutting-edge clinical trial treatment for which I was so thankful that I wanted to share it with the world. When I started writing, it became a natural process to share my memoir and begin in Egypt from where my family immigrated to the USA and share the filmmaking dream that brought me to Hollywood. Sharing the film world and the love for my wife and her healing felt like a wonderful story of a rich journey I could share through a memoir.

WI: What is it you love about filmmaking?
GM: First and foremost, there is no other more magical form to tell a story than film. To be able to visually unfold a story complete with a soundtrack and great music? It doesn’t get better than that. Making film for me is like making magic and if you know how to use all the tools from cameras to editorial, then you have a magician’s toolbox to work with. The second reason is the thrill of guiding actors to great performances. What actors do as the characters inside those stories is a very special process. After thirty years working and directing actors, I still get goose-bumps when I watch a superb performance. The most recent work I admire is Michele Williams in My Week with Marilyn which should win her the Oscar in 2012.

WI: What do you consider a magic moment?
GM: It is a moment that transcends all cultural differences into a profound understanding of our humanity. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, at the very end of the movie when the Indian is inspired to go beyond any possible physical strength and picks up that gigantic marble water unit and throw it against a barred window to finally escape out of the mental institution: this is a magical moment everyone gets of an innate human thirst for freedom. In Chariots of Fire, when the priest runs the longer race he’s never run before because his usual shorter distance race is on a Sabbath, and in slow motion he throws his head back, the music swells, and his narration is, “Where does the power come from? God made me fast. And when I run, I feel his pleasure.” And of course he wins his Olympic race and it’s goose-bumps time. This is the power of a magical film moment of divine presence which transcends all faiths.

WI: How difficult is it to capture the right moment?
GM: Since I’m mentioning films that are quite old to recall examples which come to mind, that should tell you how infrequent and unique such magical moments are to capture. Great moments transcend all cultures and nationalities and divisions among us. They unite us in comprehension of our humanity. Such magical moments are difficult to capture…that’s why they’re magical.

WI: What feelings do you experience when shooting film scenes?
GM: Most of the time, you’re doing the best you can to visually interpret every scene the best possible creative way within a timeframe of a budget and schedule. You must have a real good understanding of editing because when you’re shooting, you’re providing the “shots” or the building blocks you will need in the editing room to put it all together and complete the scenes necessary to tell the story. If you don’t have all the shots you need, you have a major problem and you may have to go out and do some additional shooting which is expensive, or figure out some way around that scene including possibly deleting it from the movie if it doesn’t leave a large ugly hole in your narrative. So when you’re shooting, you have a focused purpose to get every shot you planned to make the scenes work and there is a great sense of accomplishment at the end of the day if you feel you got everything you need “in the can.” This is the responsibility of every director.

WI: What is your most favorite moment as a director?
GM: Like all directors, I have many favorite moments of my work. To have the privilege of being a professional director and go from show to show, from movie to movie, telling wonderful and amazing stories using the magic of film…well, it doesn’t get much better than that. Sometimes it’s during the first reading of a script when you discover the story for the first time and you start visualizing it. Sometimes the shooting itself is the best moment of a film if it is filled with unique and special magical moments you manage to capture on camera. And sometimes, the best is in the editing room where you put it all together. But I can tell you that on every single movie, one of the best moments is when you hear the music score come together and it elevates your film to new heights you never even imagined it could reach. There is nothing more magical in the arts than the marriage of film and music.

WI: Where was your most favorite place to "shoot"?
GM: For every scene, you hope to find the best possible location. When you are preparing a movie or TV show, you are spending most of your time searching for the best locations whether it is a restaurant, or school, or airport, or an apartment, or a forest, etc. Sometimes you never find the right place and you choose the best of what’s available. For me, the place that has such an abundance of great looking locations is Hawaii which I consider the paradise of the USA. You have difficulty choosing your shooting spots there because every angle looks fantastic. I’ve shot many shows on the islands and it was always a feast for the eyes, and the only place where I ever directed while I was barefoot and in swim trunks. I remember we shot in this incredibly lush valley just a week after Spielberg had shot there for Jurassic Park. Magic was in the air.

WI: What do you hope readers will take away from your book?
GM: If you love the movies and you have a romantic soul, this book is for you. The book is a celebration of the world of movies and TV shows, and takes the reader on this incredible journey of what it’s like to have a career as a director in Hollywood. It is also about finding and sharing true love and how special and precious it is when you’re lucky enough to get to experience it…and fight hard to keep it when a major illness strikes. It’s a book that celebrates life and hopefully will find its wide readership which is a challenging road for a self-published book.

WI: You speak about the love you have with your wife, and her fight with cancer. How is your wife today?
GM: I am delighted to report she is doing great and on April of 2012 we will celebrate her third year in complete remission. She’s in great health and doing all the things she did before her leukemia illness.

WI: What do you consider to be true love?
GM: When you find your soul mate...your life partner. Luck and destiny in finding that person plays a huge part like in everything else in life and I didn’t find mine till I was 34 which is considered late in the game. I believe true love begins when you meet a kind heart, a kind soul, that treats you with great nurturing tenderness, without being judgmental, and it blossoms into caring for that person more than you care for yourself. More than anything else, I believe when you meet your true love, you meet your best friend and partner for life.

WI: What does your wife think of your career?
GM: Jacqui has an artist’s heart and brings great style to the fashion world that she works in. So, it’s important for her that her life partner is also in the arts and she’s my best fan when it comes to my film career. She relates to my work ethic as a director - how I handle my productions and deal with my work in the film industry - and she loves the way I tell my stories. I believe very much in bringing my audiences into the world of my movies and TV work and provide them with the best entertainment experience I can accomplish as a filmmaker. She loves the movies so she’s quite partial to my films. When the lights go down, she’s always the most excited member of my audiences.

WI: Anything else you would like to share with our readers today?
GM: Though this is not a political book, the epilogue includes a call for all Americans to take responsibility and demand that our leaders are the brightest we can find. We do not want the decline of America to be about poor leadership. We want the best doctors to operate on us and the best pilots to fly our airplanes…so why not the brightest to lead us? Why is the bar so low when it comes to leadership? So, I call for an IQ test that all politicians must take and if they do not pass they cannot run no matter how wealthy they are or how big their egos are. We deserve great leaders and we should demand to have them. We should immediately get rid of senators who say their only goal is to make sure our president is not re-elected. If that hatred is the only focus of their legislative work instead of passing laws that are good for this country, then that senator needs to retire or be fired asap.

WI: Where may readers connect with you?
GM: Best way is through the book’s website at www.kissmequickbeforeishoot.com where they can also sign up for my entertainment blog which is all about movies, politics, and the book’s most fun excerpts.

WI: Where may readers purchase your book?
GM: In Los Angeles, it’s available at one of the best bookstores in the country which is Book Soup on Sunset Blvd. Both the paperback and the ebook is available at Amazon and also at Barnes & Noble online and the iStore and Sony stores. Readers should know that we are donating portions of our book revenues to the City of Hope Cancer Research where Jacqui was healed.

Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot is a memoir about magic...the magic of making movies and the magic of finding true love.

Movie lovers will discover what it would be like to work in the dream factory, to be a film director, to have an inside peek at Hollywood s inner workings making movies and TV shows. This memoir brings to life the many personalities and stars encountered, and tells the hilarious stories on the rocky road to Hollywood success.

With production work spanning over 100 credits from shorts to TV shows to feature films, Guy Magar s behind-the-scenes stories range from his first producer turning out to be a Mafia assassin, to shooting in Egypt for the original series Battlestar Galactica, to almost decapitating a young Drew Barrymore after ET, and to almost derailing James Cameron s career (or slowing it down as he proved way too talented for anyone to alter his storied destiny.) This memoir is about living the great American dream, an immigrant s dream to make movies in Hollywood.

” Kiss me quick before I shoot has been my welcoming catchphrase to my wife Jacqui whenever she visited on-set, seemingly always just before I rolled cameras.” And so this book is also about a deeper magic, the magic of finding a life partner.

Jacqui and I were married in a beautifully costumed Renaissance-themed wedding. I got to duel in a sword fight to win her hand against hooligans (stuntmen friends) who kidnapped her after she arrived by horse and buggy in front of 300 surprised guests. It was a magical wedding and my Errol Flynn life moment! Now, 28 years later, I am still head-over-heels in love with Jacqui.

But then, suddenly, Jacqui was diagnosed with leukemia. I immediately moved into the role of caregiver, and my entire 24-hour life focus became Jacqui s healing. We discovered the medical mecca of the City of Hope where we met a world-class gifted doctor who welcomed Jacqui to join their national stem cells trial. We locked up our house, boarded the dog, and moved in to start Jacqui s curative journey back to health.

DARE TO DREAM! As an immigrant I had Hollywood dreams to become a director and I did...I dreamed of finding true love and I did at 34...and when Jacqui got ill, I dreamed we would find a way to heal her, and we did. People love stories about making dreams come true. I dared to dream!

This passionate, life-celebrating memoir embraces both love and work within entertaining stories of what it s like to live this dream. Join me on a wild and thrilling rollercoaster ride of a Hollywood film career, of the intoxicating highs of finding and sharing true love, and of the sweet triumph of survival and healing…all rolled into one magical journey!

Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today Guy. It's been a most pleasant experience talking with a real, live director of film. Guy is currently on tour with the Virtual Book Tour Cafe'. You can view his schedule HERE and follow along to learn more about him. You can also see BK Walker's review of Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot, HERE.

VBT Pit Stop & Interview with Cesar - Book of Prophecies

2012-01-13T03:00:00.005-05:00

Cesar has a very experienced background in the spiritual world. He was brought up in a Christian family, but branched out from that base as he got older, seeking answers about the world around him, and the spiritual world around him. In his mid-twenties dramatic events occurred in his life which challenged his very existence, but he learned from these experienced and most of learned that how that life is not just in our own hands. Now Cesar is a firm believer that everyone has their own path to walk in life, and part of that walk is all about the choices that you make. Some people choose a good life and some a wicked life, but most of us live the life in the middle, influenced by the world around us and our own upbringing, Cesar understands that life is simply not black and white.

www.cesarprophecies.com

WI: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I think I was quite young when I realized that I enjoyed to write, however I became one of those people who always wanted to write a book but never seemed to put the time in to do it, well until now that is. Once I got into it, I found the actual writing experience quite relaxing in the same way that other people might listen to music or play their guitar.

WI: What inspired you to pen this particular novel/book?

Well I think that the area of prophecy has always interested me to some extent mainly because it is one of those phenomenons that very little is known about how they are conceived, and you often find that most people have opinions about the topic too. However I feel like I was led to write this book by a higher source.

WI: What road blocks did you come across while writing this story?

My biggest issue was time, whilst working on this book I felt like I needed to get it completed as soon as I could, during the whole process I was working in a part-time job which freed up the time needed to get the book finished.

WI: What do you do if a story just doesn't seem to flow the way you were hoping it would?

Well I find that when writing stories that you simply need to re-write plots or maybe adjust the personality of a character to make it so that the reader will be left on the edge of the seat, which is a hard task but not impossible.

WI: What has been the hardest thing about marketing this story?

The hardest thing was the simple fact that is does not contain any story, and some people may not even call it an easy read, but the book has a huge depth, in the cryptic words and images and codes that are throughout the book, which means that I have to aim it at readers who like to solve a mystery.

WI: What is one thing you wished you knew before, that you now know about marketing?

Well I won't say that I am a marketing expert, but what I have found is that time is the biggest key to get attention for your book, things don't happen overnight but slow steady progress on social networks and blogs can get you places.

WI: What is one piece of advice that you received to help your writing that you still carry with you today?

There is one piece of advice, although I do forget who said it and where it was said, but it was that when you finish a book that you should put it down for a while and not go near it, and then a month or so later, re-read it, then its like seeing it from a new perspective, kind of like what painters do with oil paintings.

WI: Tell us what a day in your writing life is like, do you have any writing quirks?

Well the time I spend writing is never the same, I may write in the afternoon or the middle of the night, and I may sit at my desktop and concentrate or sit with my laptop with the TV on in the background. But for this book music played a big role to my writing because I done a huge amount of meditation and I always have some sort of music in the background when I meditate.

WI: Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?

Well I am not quite sure where it will take me, I have many ideas floating around in my head, for example, at some point I would love to write a book about the full history of prophets throughout time. But I do like to dabble into different genres with my writing and I don't feel that any writer should only stick to one genre.

WI: Are you currently working on any new projects?

I have two other manuscripts that are very near completion, one is YA paranormal fiction, the other is a collection of spiritual poetry and prayer, and I have another further manuscript which is about half-way written and its a psychological thriller. But I do hope to return to writing another book of prophecies maybe later in the year.

WI: Do you have any upcoming events or special news you would like to share with our readers?

Well I am starting my Blog Tour which will be running for a month, but there will always be giveaways and other offers ongoing, I will keep my website updated with all special events.

WI: Where can readers find you?

Best place would be my website www.cesarprophecies.com , but people can also find me on social networks Facebook Twitter and Goodreads, I also have a blog where I examine prophets prophecies and ancient documents at www.cesarprophecies2012.blogspot.com

WI: Where can your book be purchased?

At all online bookstores such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble, either as paperback or ebook, and there is also a special edition available.

A collection of brand new Prophecies about the world, about the world's economy, about disasters and wars, about terrorist attacks and about survival itself

In this book Cesar takes prophecies to the next level. In the year where everyone will be hearing once again all about Nostradamus, a year in which the Galactic alignment will occur on the 21st of December, comes a Fantastic book which is sure to broaden the imagination of those who believe in prophecies

Today is the official release of Book of Prophecies. If you would like to purchase a copy and receive a 5% discount off your order visit https://www.createspace.com/3719608

and the discount code is :

7KMB3GSM

We want to thank you for taking time to chat with us today and offering your writing & marketing experiences. We wish you much success in the future.

Follow Cesar's tour HERE.

VBT Pit Stop & Interview with Karen Bell - Walking With Elephants

2012-01-11T15:34:00.000-05:00

Today we are pleased to welcome Karen Bell, with her novel Walking With Elephants. It is said that this title can be compared to Bridget Jones meets Emma Bombeck, but it's much more and I am very excited to have Karen with us today. Welcome Karen.

Walking with Elephants is Karen Bell’s first novel, although she is not new to writing. After earning a graduate degree in mass communication she spent 15 years as an editor and writer of business materials. She says, “Inspiration for this novel came from my direct contact with the joys of Corporate America and the balancing act that comes with being a working mother.” Currently, Ms. Bell resides in Ponte Vedra, Fl with her husband and photos of her children, granddaughters, and grandson who live everywhere BUT Ponte Vedra, Fl

www.karensbell.com

www.karensbell.com/blog1

WI: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

As a young woman. Writing always came easy to me and poetry writing as well. I started a novel when I was in my twenties but my children were young and I could not focus. But I always had the urge inside me. Felt a need to do it.

WI: What inspired you to pen this particular novel/book?

One day at work, I walked into the ladies room and there was a woman pumping her breast. Somewhere, right now, I thought to myself, there is a baby crying. It didn’t seem right to give up mothering to sit in a cubicle all day. I also experienced first hand how awful women are to each other in the workplace. There definitely needs to be changes in how we incorporate the blending of raising families and work and creating a camaraderie among women who work together.

WI: What road blocks did you come across while writing this story?
Carpooling, cleaning house, grocery shopping and cooking dinner were the most interruptive. I started this story several different times and it was when I wrote in the first person that I found my voice and it got easier. But it took ten years to finish this book.

WI: What do you do if a story just doesn't seem to flow the way you were hoping it would?

Nothing. I wait and it comes to me. In fact, my characters take on a life of their own and sometimes lead the story and tell me what’s next. Also when I am in the midst of writing, I am thinking about it all the time and the story comes to me in bits and pieces away from the computer. It’s a weird unstructured process of which I am just carried along and telling a story that seems to want to be told. That’s the fun of it for me. The hook.

WI: What has been the hardest thing about marketing this story?

Knowing where to market, the right place to spend time, energy, and cash. I’m always looking for some website that I can mention my book. I found a book club online and I kept suggesting my book as one of their monthly selections and low and behold it became this December’s selection. Being a pest sometimes works, LOL.

WI: What is one thing you wished you knew before, that you now know about marketing?

That I wish I had a publisher who had a budget for advertising and to get newspapers to write reviews. I sent every newspaper a query for a review and none responded except my paper here in Jacksonville. She gave me quite a good review.

WI: What is one piece of advice that you received to help your writing that you still carry with you today?

Just start writing anything and it will morph into a story. I took a class where the instructor told us to think about a naked light bulb hanging from the ceiling and then…go. My story morphed into a tale about two friends who flew small planes in the Alaska wilderness. I really did…go.

WI: Tell us what a day in your writing life is like, do you have any writing quirks?

My biggest obstacle to writing is…writing. Once I start I’m good. My third novel has a learning curve about Greek mythology and I am stuck because I think I should become an expert. It is a departure from my other two novels so it’s a little scary. I have to get inside the story, have it be a part of me so I am thinking about it all the time. Have a thought just pop into my head. I’m not there yet with my third novel. It is more of a chore right now. And I’ve been very distracted because my publisher closed and I had to learn how to be a publisher. I am also shopping my second novel, so my creative juices are on hold. But I don’t listen to music or anything. The story grabs me while I’m away from the computer and then I have to write down what came to me and that gets me to the computer and to write. I also rewrite all the time. Comb back through before I move on. Sometimes it’s necessary because if I stay away too long from the writing, I forget what I wrote and repeat myself.

WI: Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?

I hope I get traction with my second novel. I feel it is very, very good, but the process to get it published is painful. I don’t like it at all. I also am afraid of a success because right now writing is a calling but I have no deadlines except the aging process, LOL. It is my life’s dream to be taken seriously, to be considered talented. But I also have other interests and I do not want to be consumed by commercial success and having no personal life. Be careful what you wish for is the old adage.

WI: Are you currently working on any new projects?

Yes, I mentioned my third novel that will weave the goddess realm into our reality. And my second novel, Sunspots, is a paranormal romance of sorts. I think of myself as writer of magical realism with themes that circle around the empowerment of women.

WI: Do you have any upcoming events or special news you would like to share with our readers?

Well, on January 9, I will be a guest at a book club in Pompano Beach, to discuss my novel and sign some books. I hope to give away books on this tour at every stop.

WI: Where can readers find you?

I have a website at www.karensbell.com, and I write a blog at www.karensbell.com/blog1, and I have Facebook page www.facebook.com/pages/Walking-with-Elephants/128072693910419?sk=wall

WI: Where can your book be purchased?

Amazon, B&N.com, Smashwords, and just google it—it’s everywhere online both print and all eformats

Suze Hall is at a crossroads. Her nemesis at work, Wanda, has been promoted and now will be her boss. Her husband, Bob, is leaving her and the three kids for a six-month sabbatical down under. To top it off, her best friend, Marcia, is missing in action--playing footsie with some new boyfriend!

Adding to this disaster stew, David, the gorgeous hunk who broke her young-girl's heart has coincidentally popped back into her life and has something she desperately needs to keep her job.

Walking with Elephants, a lighthearted slice-of-life story, brings to the table the serious work/family issues facing women today. It explores the modern dichotomy of a workplace that is filled with homemakers who still must cook, clean, carpool on nights and weekends, shop for prom dresses, and "create" the holidays—such as Suze. But it also is filled with women who have the same drive as men, have no family responsibilities, and will do what ever it takes to get ahead.

So step into the shoes of Suze Hall and commiserate over workplace politics, titillate your sexual fantasies, ride the wave of a working mother, and fall-down laughing.

The cover is a symbol of the message of empowerment of women. The protagonist, Suze, writes and essay at the end of the novel suggesting a paradigm shift from the patriarchal societies that have been in place for centuries to a matriarchy, such as is found in nature. Like elephants, hence the title.

Reviewer said it's like Bridget Jones meets Erma Bombeck.

We want to thank you for taking time to chat with us today and offering your writing & marketing experiences. You can follow Karen's tour HERE for chances to win a copy of Walking With Elephants and let her know you stopped in today by leaving a comment.

We wish you much success in the future.

VBT Pit Stop with Adult Adventure and Children's Author Jimmy "J.D." Gordon - Dartboard

2012-01-09T01:21:00.000-05:00

Today we are pleased to chat with author Jimmy "J.D." Gordon. Jimmy has written several books in adult adventure and children's books. Welcome Jimmy and thanks for stopping in!

WI: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

First, never in my life did ever imagine that I would be writing books. I’d freak out when I would come across an essay question on a test instead of multiple choice. My parents never saw me do a lick of homework during high school. I made damn sure I had a study hall or two during my day just to take care of that sort of trivial activity. Heck, it took me ten years to get through junior college. Of course training for my fulltime gig with the fire department was almost a three year endeavor. I started writing as something as a result of a dare. Rewind about 12 years, I was working as professional fire/paramedic at the time. I fell off of a train and was to be away from work after the surgery. While paying my peers at the firehouse a visit they asked how I was going to use my time away, because healing up and therapy, that’s easy stuff right? Though I had always been an avid reader the thought of writing never even entered my mind. Nevertheless, the words I might write a book popped out. My wonderful shift mates didn’t think I could do it. I had to prove them wrong.

After that writing really turned into nothing more than a hobby really, until another injury came along. This is one which ended my career. I had a choice to make, find a new job or get a little more serious about writing. We have two kids and both were and are still rather young. My wife had always been the real money maker in our family, so, after some discussion we decided I would do the Mister Mom thing and write at the same time.

To answer the original question, I don’t feel there was an actual first time when I realized I wanted to be a writer. I think like most events and situations which come along in life, there is a certain evolution but if I had to pinpoint a specific time, it would have to be shortly after the fire department hit me with my pension papers and scooted me out the door. The odd thing is this, though I have now written six novels and I am working with two companies, with new stuff coming out, I still do not feel like a writer. I feel like some guy who just types stuff up and waits to see what happens next. Again, that whole deal with evolution.

WI: What inspired you to pen this particular novel/book?

I write in two genres now, adventure novels for adults and paranormal stories for middle school children. The current title, Dartboard, is one of the adventure stories. I can’t stomp on any sort of single issue which inspired the book. As with all of my adventure stuff the inspirations stem from multiple sources. First, all of my adult stuff, for now, is set in the Caribbean. There’s hefty amount humor, booze, a little drug use and a whole lot of bullets flying and bombs going off. I have to admit I’m somewhat of a parrothead, you’ll find the Caribbean influence along with the laid back lifestyle there. I’m also a big fan of adventure novels and that’s reflected in these stories. Dartboard is my fourth adventure story, the three prior to this are all centered around a fellow named Eddie Gilbert. Eddie is a firefighter from the Midwest and a somewhat reluctant hero. After three books I felt Eddie needed a rest. I have to admit much of me is in this Eddie guy. I wanted to try and tackle someone different, so Jimmy Quigley was born.

WI: What road blocks did you come across while writing this story?

Not many really, or not any that are beyond the typical writers block. I write fiction, so if I come across something tough to throw out there it’s easy to just make stuff up. For example, Dartboard starts off with an historical sequence set in the late 1700’s during the American Revolution. I wanted to use Key West in the opening scene so I just made the island a stop the British used to refit their ships on the way north to fight the Colonials. In actual history I don’t think the island was settled by Europeans until the 1800’s. That didn’t work for me so I changed it. I figure today’s news media changes history all the time, why can’t I?

WI: What do you do if a story just doesn't seem to flow the way you were hoping it would?

I just keep writing and worry about fixing it up later. Though there are time when the writer’s block hits pretty hard, I just set the thing aside and try not to think about it. It seems I have a tougher time breaking through if I constantly ponder it. I have a few projects I work on or tinker with while I’m dealing with the whole block thing. Eventually the idea comes, I may be working out, or driving somewhere but suddenly it will pop and I’ll jump back into it.

WI: What has been the hardest thing about marketing this story?

I’m not a very good marketier. Is that even a word? I’m not a very pushy guy. I think I’m getting better, we’ll see. It’s tough to get folks to shell out ten or fifteen dollars on a book from a relatively unknown fella like me. In the past I have hired those PR/ book marketing type of people to help out. They are just not worth the exorbitant fees they charge for their services. I think most of them know that but a new writer will try anything they can to get their book out there and I think many of these folks really take advantage of that. (Sorry PJ, if you read this, you do rock.)

WI: What is one thing you wished you knew before, that you now know about marketing?

Please refer to the previous question and answer. A writer really needs to learn how to push their own stuff, don’t rely on others even when you pay them. Watch your pennies when you do spend them and make sure you’re using those funds wisely. And this even goes for folks who work with a company that provides PR people. I’m fortunate there with one of my publishers. I have a PR person but they can only do so much and they’re usually swamped. It’s not a one on one, author/PR person type of relationship.

WI: What is one piece of advice that you received to help your writing that you still carry with you today?

Just keep writing, you’ll get there, seems every established writer I know has passed that along.

WI: Tell us what a day in your writing life is like, do you have any writing quirks?

I don’t really have any quirks. I basically write from one of two spots. My wife works from home quite a bit. On those days I’ll walk over to one of my favorite pubs and claim a corner, along with the occasional martini and gallons of coffee, or ice tea, depending on the season. And of course, that’s in between the Mister Mom stuff, fighting the battle of the bulge and taking care of stuff on the ‘honeydo’ list. The whole writing in two genres and for two different companies does, at times, well quite often actually, keeps me up until two in the morning depending on which projects are where and when I have to get them in.

Firefighter and paramedic-turned-author Jimmy (J.D.) Gordon was born and raised in Chicago where he developed a taste for the finer things that the Windy City has to offer - pan pizza, live blues and the Cubs.

Jimmy dropped into the world of literature, literally. After falling off a train and breaking his knee Jimmy had to spend quite a bit of time recuperating. While visiting the firehouse his peers asked what he planned to with all that time away. This when Jimmy said the words that he now claims to have changed his life. "I should write a book."
Despite some skepticism from his peers ("You don't even use punctuation on your run reports!"), he completed a novel, Island Bound, and made it a point to use punctuation throughout.

Another injury, sustained on the job, ended his career in the fire service. Aside from writing Gordon spends his Spring and Summer as an umpire for high school and youth baseball. He now lives with his wife and children in Glen Ellyn IL, a suburb of Chicago.

www.jimmygwrites.com

WI: Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?

Honestly, I try not to have any specific hopes. I plan to keep on writing and see where it takes me. All I can do is the best I can; whatever happens from there is out of my hands.

1776: An English payroll ship loses sight of its convoy and wrecks on the shoals of a small, remote Caribbean island during a terrible storm, marooning its crew and a small group of soldiers. After rescuing the gold and burying it on the island, they are overrun by a tribe of cannibals, leaving the treasure hidden... Today: Jimmy Quigley, a small town cop, inherits a boat and a treasure map from his Uncle Jackson, a renowned world explorer. He hooks up with Evelyn Quinn, who also received a small inheritance from his uncle. He heads to the Caribbean with Evelyn and her friend, Kristin, and his friend, Rick, for some fun in the sun and a possible treasure hunt. When the boat is ransacked by thieves not once, but twice, Jimmy wonders if his uncle's warning to watch his back has more to it than he first thought. With his friends' safety and the fate of the Lorraine gold in mind, Jimmy heads off into the biggest adventure of his life...

WI: Are you currently working on any new projects?

Of course, I just wrapped up the sequel to Kritterkreep. That’s one of the books for kids. The follow up is Field of Screams. I’ve been cleaning it up for a couple weeks now. I’ll be sending that along to the editor any day now. As for the adventure material, that’s in kind of a gray area at the moment. I have a couple options on my plate and I’m not sure which will pan out yet. We maybe reworking some of my older stuff, eventually I’ll write something new there, just not sure what yet. I have a few ideas but nothing solid. There’s one I’m leaning towards. It’s actually straying from the Caribbean background in favor of Chicago city streets and Lake Michigan. If I go that route that title will be A Wrigleyville Crime Story. So, there is new stuff coming I’m just not sure what. In the meantime I’m gearing up to start the next kids story, The Pumpkin Jamboree and the Legend of Stumpy Scout, yeah, long title but I kind of like it. At the same time I always have a few projects I play around with in between stuff, like a cookbook and a biography of my time living in the shadow of Wrigley field. Yup, I’m a Cubs fan. Hey, I root for the White Sox too. I’m also working on something about my time on the fire department. I have no timelines set to finish those, whatever happens happens. I’ll eventually get there.

WI: Do you have any upcoming events or special news you would like to share with our readers?

Not much at the moment and yet quite a bit, if that makes any sense. I have few book signings at alternative venues, meaning not in a bookstore. I always do a few giveaways on my own through my facebook page. I have a few radio spots coming up next month. Honestly, I’m glad you asked, I have to check my schedule. I post everything on Facebook, that comment leads into answering the next question……

WI: Where can readers find you?

I have a little home on the web….www.jimmygwrites.com

Or on Facebook, please folks, send me one of those friend requests, one can never have too many right? And you may just win one of those freebies I mentioned earlier.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1564797876&sk=info

WI: Where can your book be purchased?

With the demise of Borders pretty much online unless one lives in the Chicago area, then just visit your local bookstore, my stuff should be there, again, otherwise, all of the online venues.

We want to thank you for taking time to chat with us today and offering your writing & marketing experiences. We wish you much success in the future.

Thanks and thank you for having me!

Jimmy is currently on tour with the Virtual Book Tour Cafe'. You can view his schedule HERE and follow his tour to learn more about him and a chance to win some great prizes!

Christmas Cookie Recipe Week

2011-12-20T17:25:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited to have added a new contributor to our wonderful E-zine. I hope you will all welcome Brenda Woody, our new contributor to Recipe Corner. For the rest of the week, we will be posting Christmas Cookie Recipes for you all to enjoy, and all recipes can be found in our recipe tab.

Welcome Brenda and thank you so much for joining our team.

Hello! This is Brenda Woody, co-author and significant other with/to Steve Tindle. Steve and I write erotic romance and murder/suspense (under Louise James), and host with Bk's Virtual Book Tour Cafe. Well, I didn't think we had enough on our plate (LOL Steve rolled his eyes) when I decided to email Bk and ask how I could submit a recipe and then mentioned I wanted to host this Recipe Corner on this awesome site. So here I am! The rest of this week I'll feature Christmas recipes to help you plan your holiday meals. We all have family coming in or we're expected to bring along a dish to the N-Laws house. You'll find the recipes easy to make and the ingredients are probably already in your cubbards. So for the first recipe I've selected is Tea Balls. A very delicious dessert to go with coffee or hot tea. Enjoy!

TEA BALLS

Preparation 15 min.
Cooking 12 min.
Ready In 30 min.

Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
2 1/4 cups flour, all-purpose
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups powdered sugar sifted
3/4 cup walnuts chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Position rack in center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.
In a large bowl combine the butter with 1/2 cup of the confectioners sugar; beat with an electric mixture until fluffy, about 1 minute.
With a spoon, stir in the vanilla, flour, salt and walnuts to form a stiff dough.
Using about 2 teaspoons of dough for each cookie, shape half the dough by rolling between hands.
Place about 1 1/2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet and bake about 12 minutes, until just pale golden on the bottom.
Meanwhile, sift 1/2 cup of the remaining confectioner's sugar into a 13 by 9 inch pan.
As soon as cookies are removed from the oven, use a spatula to transfer them to the sugar, tossingthem around to coat; let the cookies cool completely in the sugar and then sift 1/4 cup more sugar over them to coat.
Repeat with the remaining cookie dough, using a cool baking sugar, divided as before, to coat.

Yields: 60 servings

Happy Holidays!

Interview with Best Selling Author Rachel Thompson

2011-12-15T08:07:00.002-05:00

I'm a chick who writes stuff that makes you laugh. My blog has been nominated for funniest blog this year. I've been told I write in the style of that Dickens guy. Kidding.

I'm a mom, a wife, and a recovering pharmaceuticals rep. It's been a long process but I'm doing okay, thanks.

I usually write about men (The Mancode), marriage, kids, being a mom, living in the OC (ya know--being a pale redhead living in a sea of blondes) and vodka. Not necessarily in that order depending on the day.

I also write occasionally about serious stuff, like the death of someone I once loved or lost love--so don't be shocked if you come visit and don't see the funny.

Don't come here looking to find advice about how to be sweet or nice. I'm pretty much allergic to both of those words.

If you want to learn how to find humor in everyday life, well, I'm really not your girl either. Mostly I just laugh at stuff and make up words (See "Refrigeratoritis and Manesia.") Yet somehow it all seems to work.

And don't call me cute. (Hint: babies and puppies are cute. Grown women are not.)

Hello Rachel and thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me today.

BK: When did you first start blogging?

RT: I started my first blog in 2008. It was mostly family stuff, pix of my kids. My reader (singular) was my mom. Once I found my voice, and social media, it kind of steamrolled from there.

BK: How did you come up with #Chickspeak vs. #Mancode?

RT: Well, Mancode really came first. My first post was really motivated by having dealt with eighteen years of empty toilet paper rolls. I married a good man. But eighteen years, people!

BK: I know there can be a lot of controversy surrounding your blog posts, how do you deal with it all?

RT: I’m thankful that what I’m writing about has elicited such an emotional reaction in some people, whether that’s positive or negative. It’s honestly good press for me since it gives people something to discuss. So I’m cool with it. It’s important not to take anything personally.

BK: What made you decide to put it all into a book?

RT: As I built up my Twitter and blog following, I discovered that the more Mancode posts I wrote, the more people wanted to read. When I started Chickspeak, that opened up a whole new audience. People really wanted more from me. So I took what I’d already written, added in about one-third new material, worked with an editor and proofread, formatter, graphic artist…

BK: Tell us a little bit about your books, A Walk In The Snark and Mancode: Exposed...

RT: My first book, A Walk In The Snark is a gathering of many of my most popular blog posts from my blog http://RachelintheOC.com plus original material written exclusively for the book-- it includes a smattering of related themes: Mancode, Chickspeak, love, parenting, and even some more poignant pieces about family, loss, and grief. The main theme is primarily humor.

My second book, The Mancode: Exposed, is of course, mostly about men. But it’s really more about how women deal with our guys, our reactions to them, seen through my looking glass of snark and sarcasm. I throw in sex and chocolate for good measure.

I break the book up into four sections: Anatomy & Physiology, Coitus & Communication, Chocolate Confessions, and DNA & Stereotypes. The last section was a lot of fun, mostly because it was my answer to the people who accused me of stereotyping men in the first book. I take real-life experiences and deconstruct them. I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried!

BK: How did it feel when your book hit #1 in Motherhood on Amazon?

RT: Beyond exciting!

BK: How did you get to #1, ~~twice,~~ over fifteen times?

RT: Lots of promotion! Mostly blog tours through the Indie Book Collective – we’ve always got SOMETHING going on. In addition, I’ve got a 24/7 presence on social media which is key, in my opinion: I interact daily on Twitter, Facebook, and my blog. I could be better on Goodreads and LinkedIn, but you have to pick your faves.

BK: Tell us one piece of advice you can give about relationships?

RT: Laugh. And never tell each other to shut up.

BK: What is one thing readers would be most surprised to know about you?

RT: Even though I took eight years of piano, I can still play almost any melody by ear.

BK: Where do you come up with it all?

RT: I live with a man. I interact daily with hundreds of men online. I was a pharma rep for fifteen years with primarily male doctors. I have lots of male friends. I have three brothers-in-law. And one Tasmanian ~~devil child~~ six-year-old son. Where don’t I come up with it all? #hehe

I read. I research. I love to put “easter eggs” in my blog posts and even my books – particularly pop culture references. Clever readers will have fun counting them up in my Mancode book.

BK Are you currently working on any new projects?

RT: Always. My brain never shuts off. My next book is for the guys. Chickspeak: Uncovered. I’ve written about it a bit in Snark and Mancode, but our guys really need help so I’m expanding on the topic. We women make no sense sometimes. Even we can’t figure us out. I feel sorry for men. #ahem #sometimes

BK: Where can readers find you?

RT: Anything RachelintheOC: Twitter @RachelintheOC Blog: RachelintheOC.com Email: RachelintheOC@gmail.com or my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ExposingTheMancode

BK: Anything else you'd like to share with us today?

RT: Big thanks to you, BK, for all you do for indie authors and your terrific support. You’re a jewel!

Thank you so much for being with us today Rachel. It's always a pleasure chatting with you.

With her trademark snarky humor and candor, Rachel whisks you into her caffeinated world where she deconstructs common phrases (I’m Fine) and makes up words (Refrigeratoritis) in order to help dudes understand chicks…and vice versa.

Rachel believes “Men are from Seinfeld, Women are from Friends” and so do her legions of fans. She dares to ask “why do men want to change the world but can’t change a roll of toilet paper?”

Drawing on her decades (dear god has it been that long?) marriage, friendships, and past relationships, Rachel’s specialty is observing male behavior and dissecting it with humor (Shopping in NOT a Verb). Think of her as the Scientist of Snark…without the ugly white labcoat of course. #asif

Is it possible to truly expose men?

Thompson explores controversial questions like:

Can we outrun our DNA?
Will we women always be slaves to our talkative nature (après sex)?
Will men never be free of the chains of emotional withholding?
Can we transfer man's paper towel changing abilities from garage to kitchen?

But more than that, it's about all the levels in which we communicate...viewed through Thompson's looking glass of humor and deconstructed with her special brand of snark.

Women see a man scratching his stuff and want to run away. Quickly. Men see a woman rearranging her breasts, he's mesmerized. Imagine that.

From December 12 - 24, you can snatch up these books for just $.99 while Rachel participates in the Indie Book Blowout! Opening day - Indie Book Blowout Begins

http://IndieBookBlowout.com & http://indiebookcollective.wordpress.com

Broods of Fenrir by Coral Moore

2011-12-01T16:43:00.000-05:00

Broods of Fenrir by Coral Moore
Published by Bared Teeth Publishing
Released: November 19, 2011
Available: Paperback & Kindle
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Shapeshifter Brand Geirson was raised to rule the Broods of Fenrir, but he refused his birthright. Instead, he killed their brutal leader–his own father–and walked away.

For hundreds of years he’s avoided brood society, until a werewolf kills an innocent human woman and Brand finds himself dragged back into the violent politics of the shapeshifters. When the two brood women who mean the most to him come under threat, he must take up the throne and risk becoming the kind of vicious bastard his father was, or let the broods descend further into chaos–taking the friend he swore to protect and his lover with them.

Contains Strong Language, Violence, and Sexual Situations.

Read an Excerpt

Prompted by a general interest in how life works, her undergraduate schooling was in biology. She follows science news and enjoys conversations about genetics and microbiology as much as those about vampires and werewolves. Coral writesspeculative fiction and is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Writing at Albertus Magnus College.

Currently she lives in Connecticut with the love of her life, who offers both encouragement and kicks in the tail when necessary. Also in residence are two mammals of the families Canidae and Felidae.

She released her first novel, Broods of Fenrir, in November 2011. Her next release, Elements of Rebellion, is due out in spring 2012.

Find Coral on the Web:

Location! Location! Location!

2011-11-21T12:45:00.000-05:00

The Word Queen

Bringing Books To Life

Writing, Publishing & Book Marketing

http://www.thewordqueen.com

info@thewordqueen.com

The key to writing a good setting is making it the base of the story. Setting is as important to your writing as plot, character and emotion. It is a part of all those things.

Creating the perfect setting for your novel is not as hard as you might think if you take the time to consider who is going to be living in it. The characters, action, and ultimately solution to your novel will determine the perfect setting for any novel. With some consideration to these important things, your setting will often create itself.

Setting is one of the easier things to create when writing a novel if for no other reason than half the creating is already done when you get to it. You already have the characters, and so you have a framework to build the setting around.

Check out these first three of ten tips for creating an inspiring setting:

1. Get To Know Your Setting

Whether your story is set in a university, London, or a posh restaurant, an interesting setting is critical to good storytelling. And there's no better way to make it compelling than to know it inside and out.

Spend some time checking out your setting, including the nooks and crannies and the history. To learn more about your setting ask it questions like: "How old are you?" "What kind of people come here?" "What are your biggest secrets?"

If you want to use a location in your novel that you have never visited, there are ways of collecting enough research to make it plausible. These include:

The internet

Tour guides, like the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide.

Brochures

Travel clubs

Interviewing people who have visited the locations you want to use

This may sound like cheating, but it is actually how many would-be authors find out about the destinations they use in their novels and there is nothing wrong with this practice as long as the information is accurate.

2. Let Your Characters Explore The Setting

If you're concerned that your book's characters will get bored of hanging out in just one setting, give them a secondary location. It's up to you to decide what places your characters hang out in deserve the most attention.

If you're unable to visit a secondary setting, research the location online, or at the local library. If the setting is fictional, dream up the look and feel of it in your mind; bring it to life in the same way as you do with your characters.

This is where good research comes in to the equation! You must establish the time period, the location, the customs, hardware, construction, instruments, and so on.

After you have thoroughly investigated your setting(s), you can then decide how your characters fit into this setting?

Most readers need enough details about the setting to know where the characters are, in what time period the story takes place and what the place looks like. If it takes place in a hairdressers, that's important for a reader to know. But unless the hairdressers has some unusual decorations, or it is in an unusual location, it's not necessary for the author to describe it. After all, hairdressers all look basically the same.

3. Use The Five Senses

There are more ways to get across a book's setting than by describing what everything looks like. Your reader has five senses, so it's important to engage them all.

Next time we'll look at the remaining seven of these amazing ten tips :)

Love & Light

Keidi Keating

The Word Queen xxx

http://www.TheWordQueen.com

Hunger Games - Official Movie Trailer

2011-11-14T11:07:00.000-05:00

The Hunger Games official movie trailer is here! Check this out...

New Release - Heart Desires by Becca Dale

2011-11-09T17:08:00.000-05:00

Heart Desires by Becca Dale

Published - November 11, 2011

http://beccadale.blogspot.com/

Devlynn Connors doesn’t trust her own ability to find a man who isn’t a control freak, but when she turns her future over to her friends and Madame Eve, she fears nothing will change.

When he flies to Las Vegas for a 1Night Stand hook-up. First Lieutenant Stephan Mallard isn’t looking for love. He’s looking to appease his sister’s fear that he will end up alone. A man can do anything for one night, right?

Can Madame Eve overcome misconceptions and misinformation or will Devlynn and the Lieutenant go home alone?

New Release Date for Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

2011-11-07T20:42:00.000-05:00

Release Date: *January 3, 2012*

Publisher's Summary: The third and final installment of the international bestselling Nightshade trilogy!

Calla has always welcomed war. But now that the final battle is upon her, there's more at stake than fighting. There's saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay's wrath. There's keeping Ansel safe, even if he's been branded a traitor. There's proving herself as the pack's alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers' magic once and for all. And then there's deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is. In this remarkable final installment of the Nightshade trilogy, international bestselling author Andrea Cremer crafts a dynamic novel with twists and turns that will keep you breathless until its final pages.

http://www.nightshadebook.com/

Who Will Calla Choose???

Watering the Seeds

2011-11-07T20:26:00.000-05:00

The Word Queen

Bringing Books To Life

Writing, Publishing & Book Marketing

http://www.thewordqueen.com

info@thewordqueen.com

Hello!

Today we're going to focus on watering your seeds, so you can watch your ideas thrive.

Now's the time to gather your list of ideas and decide which ones you would like to explore further. It's best not to pick a huge number at this stage, so whittle them down and select your three or four favourite. Try not to look at these ideas just from your own personal tastes. Remember that your idea has to possess a commercial edge to work well in the big wide world out there. Will it impress publishers and agents? Would you feel proud telling the biggest publishing companies about it, and feel confident it would work?

Here are some ways you can decide exactly which idea to go for, out of your three of four pre-selected ones.

Write A Press Release

Write a press release for each idea to check that the final book will sell well, even just as a concept. A press release is a one-page news story that elaborates on your book and proves that it is unique and worth looking at. Your press release gives your book a chance to get noticed. Any idea that can't stand out on a press release is too risky to follow up.

Ensure Your Idea Is Big Enough

By this I mean make sure that you can create enough gripping content to fill 250 - 500 pages, or however long you want your book to be. It's easier for experienced authors to work this out than new ones.

After you've completed the two steps above you should now have one glistening idea in your head, which is THE ONE; the idea which is going to lead you to produce a best-selling book.

As we're focusing on fiction books here, the next stage is to determine your characters. This is all part of the watering process, so that your idea grows and becomes stronger. Characters are what make a fiction book. They bring it to life and are the elements with which readers associate themselves the most. Sometimes they might see themselves in a particular character, or an element which is the same as their best friend.

Mentally focus on your idea as much as possible throughout each day. Think about it before you go to sleep at night and mull over it first thing in the morning. Focus is a remarkable thing. Think back to when you were a child. Did you ever play the game with the magnifying glass and the sun in the garden? When you held the magnifying glass so the sun reflected off it for a long enough period of time, the leaves underneath would start burning, right?

Well the same happens with our ideas and our focus. Focus on something for long enough and hard enough and doors open. In the case of a small idea, it then develops into a much bigger one with little or no effort on your part - all you need to do is hold it in your mind! Eventually your little idea sees will transform into a fully grown tree.

The Branches

The branches, or sub ideas of your main idea are just as important as thinking of the idea in the first place. Don't get lazy at this stage, as otherwise the rest of the process would have been a waste of your time. Sub ideas can hold the jewel to real success.

Repeat the brainstorming exercise in step one, but this time using the same process to find sub ideas. Write your main idea at the top of a sheet of paper and for twenty minutes or so write down all the related ideas you can think of. These sub ideas are what can eventually help to make up your storyline, plot and theme.

To Conclude

Your ideas will grow as and when you allow them to. Use the power of your mind to focus on your ideas and watch them branch into different directions.

Love & Light

Keidi Keating

The Word Queen xxx

http://www.TheWordQueen.com

Ideas Are In The Air -- Another Visit from The Word Queen

2011-11-03T12:26:00.002-04:00

Continuing on developing ideas for your book, here is Keidi with Ideas Are In The Air. Are you participating in Nano WriMo this month?

The Word Queen

Bringing Books To Life

Writing, Publishing & Book Marketing

http://www.thewordqueen.com

info@thewordqueen.com

Where do ideas come from? Some might say the sky, others the ether, and a fraction from our angels or spiritual guides. I like to think that ideas are in the air. They float around in their invisible form, waiting to land in the right mind; a mind which is ready and open to receive.

In a more general sense ideas stem from our inspiration.

According to the dictionary inspiration is 'a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul.'

Our inspiration tends to shine when we are relaxed, or zoned out of the task at hand. Perhaps your time is in the shower, brushing your teeth, on the verge of falling asleep, or driving along the motorway? It's different for everyone.

Take a moment to close your eyes and consider what you were doing when your biggest and best ideas came to you. Next time you're in that situation you will almost certainly expect to think of another idea and with that feeling of expectancy ideas will grow.

I tend to view ideas as seeds. First they are planted (that is when our minds are receptive to ideas), then they are watered and fed (that is us focussing on our ideas and giving them attention) and then they grow (that is us expanding and developing our ideas). Now the idea has transformed into a beautiful tree. The branches are sub-ideas leading off the main idea, the leaves are the idea details and the fruits are the results of those ideas.

Planting Our Idea Seed

One technique to planting an idea seed is via brainstorming, which I've described below:

Brainstorming - This involves letting your mind run away, as if you were completing a marathon. It's all about perseverance! The best method of brainstorming is to write down everything that enters your head, no matter how ridiculous it may seem. The key is to not stop for a breath. Just keep on running. If you stop and wonder if that idea you have just made a note of will really work then the flow of ideas will stop just as easily as they started. Try brainstorming first thing in the morning when your mind is emptier and fresher.

Some Brainstorming Dos & Don'ts...

DO use a new notebook and pen, or a tape recorder.

DON'T try to brainstorm when you are tired, hungry, stressed or ill.

DO make yourself comfortable before brainstorming. Find a quiet room, free of distractions.

DON'T worry if it seems you're writing down wild and crazy things. Remember not to stop and critique anything during a brainstorming session.

DO take regular breaks of ten to fifteen minutes.

Other techniques to planting ideas are through dreams and asking questions, which we'll explore in the next newsletter.

Love & Light

Keidi Keating

The Word Queen xxx

http://www.TheWordQueen.com

Techniques for Finding Ideas with The Word Queen

2011-11-02T12:23:00.000-04:00

I love all the advice Keidi has to offer. Since it's the start of Nano WriMo, I thought a visit from her would be a great help to you. So here is her guest post for Techniques for Finding Ideas. Be sure to visit her site for even more tips and tricks to writing!

The Word Queen

Bringing Books To Life

Writing, Publishing & Book Marketing

http://www.thewordqueen.com

info@thewordqueen.com

Our dreams are very insightful. Not only do they feed us relevant information about our current circumstances, but they are also an excellent source of ideas for books!

If you think you don't dream, then you are wrong. We all dream, it's just that some of us remember our dreams easier than others. Keep a notepad and pen by the side of your bed or under your pillow and as soon as you awaken (whatever the time) write down what you'd just been dreaming about. If you really can't remember that's ok too - just write down anything that's in your head.

Repeat this process every morning, or every time you awaken from a sleep, and you'll soon train yourself to remember your dreams far easier. That information can then be analysed and used to form storylines, characters and even settings.

For example, last night I dreamt about being trapped in a burning house with no hopes of escaping. I felt sure I was going to die, but then an angel came to my rescue and broke the window so that I could climb out and escape. I then found myself flying through the sky, which was ablaze with wonderful vibrant colours. It was magical.

How could I use this dream to create a story...? I could write a story about a girl who didn't believe in angels until one saved her life. Perhaps this angel becomes her best friend and they go for many adventures together. Ok, so this kind of content might be more suitable for a children's book, but it's still an idea, which came from just one dream!

Ask Questions

There are three parts to this technique.

Newspaper / internet articles! Take a recent newspaper and either tear out or circle in red ink the stories which catch your eye, concentrating mainly on the headline.

If you're more technologically minded then you might prefer to do the same but on the internet. Log on to a popular daily news service such as BBC or CNN and copy and paste the most interesting headlines into a word document.

Mull over these headlines for a while and then write down questions about each one as they occur to you. This is where your natural curiosity is exercised.
Then ask a few 'what if' questions about the headlines. What if this had happened at a different time? What if this took place in a different location? What if the story had ended differently or began differently?

Step Into An Alter Ego

This one is a bucket of fun! All you have to do is imagine being a particular author or creative person who you admire / respect hugely, then meditate for twenty minutes or so, pretending to be that person. Ideas will scurry towards you. But not just any ideas. The exact kind of ideas that your alter ego would come up with.

For example, recently I had just finished reading Stephen King's highly recommended book On Writing. My brain felt very much in tune with him, so I laid down on the sofa and let my mind drift for a short period. During that time I thought of no fewer than three brilliant novel ideas, each in the horror genre, despite the fact that I' never considered writing horror novels before! You can do the same with an author who writes the kind of books you aspire to write.

You - The best ideas begin with none other than yourself. There are various ways in which you can think of ideas in this way so let's take a look at each in turn:

What Are You Good At? We all have unique skills and talents so write a list of twenty of yours. They can stretch right back to when you were a child, all the way up until the here and now. Try not to strain your brain too hard and do include smaller talents too. For example, maybe you're really good at listening to people, or helping friends in need. They all count towards your list!

Your Past Experiences. What's happened to you throughout your life which is particularly interesting/funny or even scary? All our experiences, no matter how much they hurt at the time, can be used as ammunition for book ideas. In fact many of the bestselling books are about people's real life experiences. Some choose to write these as non-fiction books whereas others take these experiences and wrap them into a fictional storyline. Both ways work just as well. Examples of this method of finding ideas include if you have suffered from a particular illness, you've overcome a big challenge or you have succeeded at something others would find impossible. Try working backwards through your life from the present day to as far back as you can remember.

Your Knowledge. At school, what subjects did you shine at? What jobs have you held in the past, full and part time? What are your hobbies? Do you like horse riding? Yoga training? Cross stitch? Write another list encompassing all of the above.

What Do You Enjoy Most In Life? Your true passions are great to write about as you'll enjoy the process much more than writing about subjects you're not so fond of. Jamie Oliver loves cooking and he has written a number of books, sharing his recipes with the world. What love could you share with the world? Do you adore travelling, fashion, beauty, mechanics? Whatever you like rest assured that millions of others will love it too! Consider also the current trends. You can get an idea of these by using Google Trends, or by reading newspapers and the daily news headlines on Yahoo and other news services. If you feel that a particular trend would be old news before your book is released then write about old favourites like weight-loss, money and sex. Sex always sells. If you can incorporate a fresh twist on these topics, then you'll be on to a winner!

Your Challenges. At the time challenges in life never feel like opportunities. But they are the biggest ones that exist! What have you overcome or learnt that you could share with other people? Knowing that you are helping others via your books is an enlightening experience. List as many challenges you have faced in your life as you can possibly think of. The bigger and more terrifying at the time, the better! If you can't think of any of your own then list the challenges of friends and relatives.

There! Lots of seeds have already been sown. Now they need some food and water, better known as love and attention, which we'll explore next time!

Love & Light

Keidi Keating

The Word Queen xxx

http://www.TheWordQueen.com

November Blog of the Month - Chaos and Insanity

2011-11-02T01:49:00.000-04:00

www.chaosandinsanity.com

Coral Moore has always been the kind of girl who makes up stories. Fortunately, she never quite grew out of that. She writes because she loves to invent characters and the desire to find out what happens to her creations drives the tales she tells.
Prompted by a general interest in how life works, her undergraduate schooling was in biology. She follows science news and enjoys conversations about genetics and microbiology as much as those about vampires and werewolves. Coral writes speculative fiction and is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Writing at Albertus Magnus College.
She currently lives in Connecticut with the love of her life who offers both encouragement and kicks in the tail when necessary. Also in residence are two mammals of the families Canidae and Felidae.

Coral also hosts virtual book tours with author interviews and guest posts.