Wicked Wednesday - Critiques (part 1): the beginning

In case you haven't heard yet, the lovely Cecilia Robert and I have revealed our surprise blogfest: MORE THAN JUST A KISS. Sign up and share with us a kissing scene. Along with two marvelous guest judges - Kyra Lennon and Laurelin Paige - we'll be judging the scenes and picking three to win. We will then critique a kissing scene from your latest WIP.

No one does a critique the same way. There are those that pick up on details that others do not, and critics that manage to find plot holes where everything seemed tied together so nicely. Some have a system and order to their critique, and others just dive right in with everything. This is why it's important to have more than one critique partner.

I've learned a lot from my critique partners and from critiquing other writers' stories. I have a system of sorts. I always read it first as a reader. Just for the pure enjoyment of the tale. That way I won't get distracted by the story as I'm critiquing.

The first thing I keep in mind when I'm starting a critique is the specific genre. All romances must have the relationship central to the plot. I'm going to use various sub-genres of romance as examples:

Paranormal romance - must have elements of the paranormal central to the plot

Romantic suspense - the mystery must drive the plot along with the romance

Historical romance - the accuracy of the historical setting and how it affects the romance

Contemporary romance - the romance and how it's affected by the other modern issues the author weaves into the plot

The genre identifies your target audience. You don't need to stick to a specific formula, but if the story is lacking in the key elements of its intended genre, it will fail. If I'm critiquing a romantic suspense, and the mystery limps along as a subplot, I'm going to suggest ways to bring it to the forefront, make it stronger, and integrate it into the central plot. In another manuscript, the mystery of how the hero traveled back in time might not be as important as what's happening in the time period he did end up in, and I won't suggest spending time on something that's mysterious yet not integral to the central plot.

Over the next month, I'll be talking about various parts of my critiquing process. Please feel free to tell us how you go about critiquing in the comment section below. I'd love to hear if you have any tips or tricks!

How do you begin the critiquing process?

Teaser Tuesday with Revenge of the Witch

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This MG book was recommended to me by Clare Dugmore. She knows me so well. I love it so far! REVENGE OF THE WITCH is the first book in Joseph Delaney's dark fantasy series called the Wardstone Chronicles. A great young protagonist and some magnificent world building. So much to explore.

Here's your teaser:
What harm could it do just to give her three cakes? A bit of comfort from her family against the cold and damp, that's all it was. (page 144)

Maguire's Corner Review

Blurb:
Coffee shop owner Maggie Maguire doesn’t trust the new police chief her father hired to protect Maguire’s Corner. He’s a stranger, cold, bossy and annoyingly handsome. But, Maggie’s witnessed a serious crime and now someone’s trying to kill her. The man that aggravates her most might be the only one that can help her.

Police Chief Jack Munro likes his new job and his new town, and unfortunately he also likes the stubborn but beautiful town sweetheart. His self-imposed hands-off Maggie policy is about to be put to the ultimate test when he must keep her close to protect her while he tracks down a ruthless killer.

Determined to ignore Jack’s charms, Maggie attempts to help him unravel the mystery but when their lives hang in the balance she must decide how much she’s willing to risk to save the man she suddenly can’t resist.

My review:
Maggie Maguire lives in the quaint little town of Maguire's Corner along with her great big extended family. She's ticked that her father chose out-of-towner Jack Munro to be the police chief instead of her brother, but when she witnesses a crime and becomes a target herself, she has to work with Jack and begins to see him in a new light. As much as she tries to resist his charm, Maggie's attitude toward him begins to change. Yet as the killer closes in on her, it might be too late for her to discover if she could have anything more with Jack.

A wonderfully written romantic suspense with a cast of lovable characters. The reader is pulled in right off with a 911 call and tension-filled chase. There's mystery, danger, and a sizzling spark to start a new romance. From there on out, it's an entertaining roller coaster ride of ups and downs along with a couple of loops and corkscrews. I was on the edge of my seat through the end.

What won me over were the characters. Maggie is a smart, loyal, and independent coffee shop owner with a stubborn streak. She's the sort of person I'd want as my sister. Most of her family lives in Maguire's Corner. I loved seeing Maggie's playful banter with her brother and how her cousins were her best friends. Her mom is sensible and fun. Aunts and uncles are all a big part of her life. Jack might be the outsider, but he's just as fiercely loyal as the rest of them. And he's dang sexy too! Each character has their own bright personality and were so well written that I felt I knew them as if I were Maguire too.

MAGUIRE'S CORNER is Heather M. Gardner's debut novel. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good suspense and romance. I can't wait to read more in the future from Heather.

Author Bio:
Contemporary Romance Author * Chocolate Enthusiast * Coffee Junkie * Cat Addict * Book Hoarder * Fluent in Sarcasm * Supporter of Zombie Equal Rights. 

Stalk Heather here: Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Google+ * Goodreads 

Friday Five for July 26, 2013

1. Thank you so much again to all my awesome hosts and everyone who joined me for THE GHOST blog tour last week. It was so much fun, and the book has gotten a great reception. The winners for the tour's giveaway are at the bottom of this post.

2. Cecilia Robert and I announced the MORE THAN JUST A KISS blogfest! We're joined by two other lovely romance writers, Kyra Lennon and Laurelin Paige. We want to read your kissing scenes. Sweet, fiery, sizzling, awkward, and mind-blowing. We want to read them all. Not only will we be sharing some scenes, but we're offering prizes. We'll judge the posts and pick three winners to receive a critique. Plus, there are bonus prizes! Romance ebooks galore!

3. I was so excited to win a contest on FB from MG fantasy author Jessica Day George. She asked people to suggest names for her MC's new baby griffin in her next book, and she picked mine. Woot! I suggested Lorcan which means little and fierce. If that isn't awesome enough, she's sending me a surprise in the mail. If you're a Harry Potter fan, you'll love Jessica's books.

4. It's been a week of ups and downs with the boy. He had fun blueberry picking on the weekend, but now doesn't want anything to do with the berries. He did great the last few days of swim lessons last week, but he doesn't want to jump off little drops on land. As some of you heard on FB, we now have to start patch therapy with his turned eye. He has to wear a patch over his good eye for two hours every day. That's actually going quite well so far. He's been very cooperative, thankfully. Oh the multiple personalities of toddlers!

5. I've been working on the cover for the 13th Floor collection. Am I getting anywhere? Maybe. I don't know. I'm seeing how well my Photoshop skills can improve. I've already learned some new tricks. I'm designing some little graphics for the interior that I do like, though.

And now the winners of THE GHOST giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations to the winners!

Emails have already been sent.

Nether Fire cover reveal

Blurb:
After being gravely wounded by her little sister, Ava awakes in Arcadia, the City of Angels, and it isn't so welcoming. She is, after all, Lucifer's Angel of Death, and she has only one mission: open the portal between Arcadia and the Nether World allowing Lucifer's army to penetrate the gilded walls of Heaven. Too bad Arcadia has other plans. Before she has the chance to set Lucifer's plot in motion, they send her and Devon hurtling back to Earth. Now, stripped of their powers, the two must put aside their differences and race against time to save Christa's soul and the shattered remains of Mankind. If they fail, darkness will rule their two worlds and obliterate what is left of Earth. If they succeed, Ava could still lose everything. 

Including herself.

Author Bio: Bonnie Rae spent her early childhood in the sunny state of California. At the time, she was an only child with a very large imagination. Thanks to her Grandmother, the love of reading books started at a very young age. Every walk to the grocery store meant an ice cream cone and a new Little Golden Book. Through books, Bonnie learned you could be transported into other worlds. The addiction was instant.

At age eleven, her grandparents gave her E.B. White's Charlotte's Web for her birthday. Even though she was completely grossed out when it came to spiders (and still is), Charlotte's Web fascinated her. A spider that was able to weave words and befriend a pig? Bonnie then realized not only could books provide imaginary worlds, they confirmed anything was possible. She might have only been eleven, but she knew writing was what she wanted to do.

She started her first set of novels at the age of sixteen and has been writing ever since.

Bonnie currently lives in California with her wonderful husband and two very spoiled cats.

You can find Bonnie at her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

Join me for a review of Bonnie's first book in the Nether trilogy, NETHER BOUND, on August 5th!

Wicked Wednesday - the pros and cons of writing a paranormal romance series

Many of the paranormal romance books you see out there are series. Readers love them, and the demand for them is high. Yet before you dive in and start writing your own series, there are a few things you need to consider.

PROS:

* Readers love them. Their demand for more is fed.

* You have plenty of time for world building and to develop characters. You'll spend so much time with them, you'll know them very well.

* If readers love your first book, it paves the way for great sales in the future with the rest of the series.

CONS:

* Readers might love them, but a series is harder to sell to a publisher.

* You'll spend so much time with your characters, you might get sick of them. Usually it takes years to write a series. Years where you are stuck with these characters that you may grow bored or frustrated with. Things might start to feel stale.

* If readers hate your first book, the rest of your series will bomb.

Here are four tips to help make your series a success:

* Avoid cliches and formulas. Keep each book fresh. Don't be afraid to try something new or show a different side to your characters.

* Make sure each book can stand alone and connect to the series.

* Up the ante in each book. Your characters must continue to grow. Their challenges must get harder in each book.

* The couple might get together in the first book, but that isn't the end of the relationship. There are many stages and challenges to each relationship. Don't let the romance die.

My favorite paranormal romance series and an excellent example of how how to write a series: The Fever series by Karen Marie Moning.

In your opinion, what makes a series good? What are your favorite paranormal romance series?

Teaser Tuesday with Gameboard of the Gods

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I've been waiting a while to get my hands on GAMEBOARD OF THE GODS by Richelle Mead, and it hasn't disappointed me. In fact, it's fast becoming one of my favorite books of all time. Yes, it's that amazing. Exceptional worldbuilding and characterization. A futuristic dark fantasy with a beautiful and slowly unfurling supernatural aspect.

Here's your teaser: 
A haughty, lethal bodyguard. An assignment involving shadowy phantoms. This homecoming was starting to accrue a hefty price tag.
You still want to pay it? asked Horatio.
Absolutely. (page 61) 

Don't forget to enter THE GHOST giveaway for a chance to win all of the books in my 13th Floor series!

Halo of the Nephilim blog tour - guest post on writing and a giveaway

DINA RAE ON WRITING

The writing process is like life - parts are easy, difficult, filled with emotion, or just plain hard work.  It's also an addiction.  Once you find out that you can write a book, you also find out that you can write another book. 

I've only been an author for one and half years.  I really don't have much to say on this topic.  But I will say this - when I am not writing, I feel like I am missing something, almost empty.  This is something that I hope to do forever.  I also write my own blog (http://dinaraeswritestuff.blogspot.com).  I love reviewing, interviewing, or just plain ol' writing about things that I am interested in.  I get to write something short and without it being a project.  

 

I also believe that reading has to be a big part of the writing process.  Before becoming an author, I'd read a book and love/like/hate it without knowing why.  Now, that I am an author, I can articulate what made a book great or not so great.  These kinds of critiques are like gleaning the dos and don'ts of the craft.

Title:  Halo Of The Nephilim 

Author:  Dina Rae 

Genre: Paranormal Fiction/Horror

Series:  Follows Halo of the Damned 

Number of Pages: 244

Publisher: Eternal Press 

Formats available: E-book

Purchase links: Amazon * B&N

Can a fallen angel, his band of broken souls, and nephilim children change the world?

 

Armaros the Cursed, Satan’s favorite of the Fallen, falls once again after breaking the rules.  Fearing an eternity of punishment, he desperately attempts to save himself by sending a bird to his island.  The SOS message is received by his beloved congregation.  Can these loyal worshipers rescue him from the pit?

Halo of the Nephilim is the sequel to Halo of the Damned.  The story begins with Armaros’ arrest. Declared dead, his only known surviving daughter, Joanna Easterhouse, proves her relation and inherits everything.  She catapults her career from an entry-level advertising assistant to the head of Armaros’ advertising empire.  She should be on top of the world, but knows everything good must come to an end.

Joanna’s sister, Kim Easterhouse, marries Sean Slattery.  Joanna generously includes them as key players in her advertising chain.  They, too, have much to smile about, but a string of events leads them back to old family secrets.

Wickedness looms over the Easterhouse family once more, forcing them into an unlikely showdown filled with page-turning excitement.  Like Halo of the Damned, Halo of the Nephilim is filled with conspiracy and angel lore taken directly from scripture and other ancient writings.  More mind control themes top off this tale of doom.  Dina Rae delivers the darkness in the most entertaining light.

Author Bio:
Dina Rae is a new author that is here to stay. As a former teacher, she brings an academic element to her work. Her research on the Yezidi religion and love of art inspired her story telling for Halo of the Damned. Her second novel, The Last Degree, is a fictionalized account of the Freemason's role in the New World Order. Dina's grandfather was the Most Worshipful of his lodge. The subject has always held a personal interest. Her latest novel, Bad Juju, is about an old Haitian bokor who mentors two teens in the dark arts. A unique blend of horror, romance, and literary fiction meant for adults and mature teens.
 
Dina lives with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs outside of Chicago. She is an avid reader, tennis player, movie buff, and self-proclaimed expert on conspiracy theories. She has appeared in several literary blogs, newspapers, e-zines, and radio shows as a guest.

Where to find Dina: Website * Facebook * Twitter 

Halo of the Nephilim, sequel to Halo of the Damned (60 reviews, 4.3 avg. on Goodreads), has just been released and now available through major book distributors. Enter to win prizes for all angel and demon lovers.

4 Custom t-shirts

1 Victoria Secret Tote Bag

angel ornament, fashion scarf, winged trinket bowl, wing earrings

angel ornament, silver winged turquoise necklace

angel food mold, angel brooch, angel ornament, angel winged earrings

a Rafflecopter giveaway

More Than Just A Kiss blogfest and The 13th Floor collection poll results

“A kiss, when all is said, what is it? 'Tis a secret told to the mouth instead of to the ear.” ~ Edmond Rostand 

The wonderful Cecilia Robert and I would like to invite you to the MORE THAN JUST A KISS blogfest!

Sweet, sizzling, fiery, awkward, mind-blowing. We want to read your kissing scenes.

The rules are simple:

1. Sign up on the linky list and post the badge on your blog.

2. On one of the days of the week of September 9th, post a kissing scene on your blog. It can be either fiction or non-fiction.

3. Please do not exceed 250 words.

4. This is a blogfest, so visit the other participants and have fun!

But wait! This is more than a blogfest.

We're offering prizes!

The scenes will be judged by these amazing romance authors: Cecilia Robert, Laurelin Paige, Kyra Lennon, and Christine Rains. (Hey, that's me!) We will choose three posts to win these awesome prizes.

Prize 1 - A critique of a kissing/intimate scene from your WIP (not exceeding ten pages). Critiques will be done by Cecilia Robert, Kyra Lennon, and Christine Rains.

Prize 2 - A critique of a kissing/intimate scene from your WIP (not exceeding five pages). This critique will be done by Laurelin Paige and Christine.

Prize 3 - A critique of a kissing/intimate scene from your WIP (not exceeding one page). This critique will be done by Cecilia and Christine.

BONUS PRIZES:
Cecilia, Kyra, Laurelin, and I will each choose one of our favorites to give out some fantastic ebooks.
Cecilia – TRULY MADLY DEEPLY YOU and REAPER'S NOVICE.
Kyra - IF I LET YOU GO
Laurelin - FIXED ON YOU
Christine – All six volumes of the 13th Floor series.

Sign up at the bottom of this post!

 Now on to the 13th Floor tenant poll!

Thank you to everyone who voted. It was very clear that each of my readers have their favorite characters, but the majority of you voted for a new tenant just moving in!

I already have my character and a story idea. A character unexpected considering I had tenants I already considered for this series standing by. I do hope you'll be as enchanted by her as I am.

I've been making progress on the cover for the collection. So many designs and none of them fit. I think I'm close to finding the right one now. I hope! *knocks on wood*

Don't forget to enter the HUGE giveaway at A Buckeye Girl Reads. You could win the entire 13th Floor series!

And in case you weren't able to keep up with the tour this week, here's the list of my marvelous hosts!

July 13 - TF Walsh and M. Pepper Langlinais
July 14 - Kyra Lennon and Aubrie Dionne
July 15 - Nutschell and Heather Holden
July 16 - Carolyn Brown, Nick Wilford, and Graeme Ing
July 17 - Cherie Reich, Heather M. Gardner, and M.J. Field 

July 18 - Colette Chmiel and Clare Dugmore  

Don't forget to sign up for the blogfest! 

Final day of The Ghost blog tour

It's the final day of the tour!
Thank you so very much to all my marvelous hosts and to all of my awesome readers.

Today I'm giving back to you.
You can enter to win the entire 13th Floor series.
There won't be one winner.
Nor will there be two.
There will be three lucky winners!

Join me at Colette Chmiel's review blog and enter the grand giveaway.
Find out the 13 worst places to haunt and let me know where you'd hate to be stuck as a ghost.

Don't forget to pop over to Clare Dugmore's blog where we'll be talking about ghosts. I love our chats, and we're interested to know what you believe.

Today's tidbit: This past year I've wrapped myself in the 13th Floor series. I was happy to be done, but now, I'm finding that my muse is creating prequels and sequels. I don't think either of us really want to let go, but we need to move on to a new project.

Don't forget to answer the poll question I posted last week on my blog about whose origin story you'd like me to write about for the 13th Floor collection. I'll have the results for you tomorrow!

I'm also going to reveal the surprise Cecilia Robert and I have lined up tomorrow. It will be a fabulous Friday!

Day five of The Ghost blog tour and Taking Time excerpt and giveaway

Thank you for joining me on day five of my tour.
 Don't forget to answer the poll I posted last week on my blog.
Whose origin short story would you like to see in the 13th Floor collection?

It's a big day today with three fabulous hosts.

Join me at Cherie Reich's blog for Chiharo and Jeremy's first kiss.

Heather M. Gardner has written her own post about the 13th Floor novellas. Find out what a reader thinks about the series.

My ultimate dream is to have Joss Whedon make my series into a TV show. I've shared a few casting ideas with you at M.J. Fifield's.

Today's tidbit: I dedicated the book to Cherie's mom. When I was discussing the concept of the series with Cherie, I had the six tenants already planned out. Cherie mentioned my idea to her mom, and her mom said the series needed a ghost. She was absolutely right. THE GHOST wouldn't have been written without her suggestion

 

 

Book blurb:

Science fiction stories of time and space...

The future of humanity must be decided in Next Phase. Winning the Planetary Lottery is not as lucky as it first seems in Schrodinger's Gamble. An apocalypse and its aftermath threaten to tear one couple apart in Daiker's Children. In Life As I Know It a reclusive man finds both his heart and home invaded during an alien harvest. In Taking Time a demon seeking shelter on a distant planet finds himself facing a very different kind of demon, after answering a frontier settlement's plea for help.

Stories range from flash fiction to novelette in length.

Excerpt from Daiker’s Children

I picked up the heavy bundle of survival rations left for me in the exit corridor, took one last look at the door to The Facility through which one kind of future was offered, and then walked out into the yellow-tinged atmosphere of Southern England. The aliens’ offer of a safe living environment and human facsimiles stopped being an option the moment I learnt Jen had not made it to their facility. I had to find her even if it cost my life. She was my world, and a world without her was not one I wanted to live in.

During the days of alien-enforced quarantine–I have no idea how long it lasted because there were no clocks to tell the time or date–I forgot just how acrid Earth’s atmosphere had become. The toxic air outside the facility scratched my lungs like cats clawing sharp talons down my windpipe. My breathing slowed and became more laboured. I could hear myself starting to wheeze. As my eyes burned and watered and my vision deteriorated, I dropped my heavy backpack on the ground and pulled out the gasmask they gave me. A few fumbling seconds later, the clear plastic mask covered my nose and mouth, and cool, clean air refreshed me. Within seconds, my breathing returned to normal though the mask could not remove my memory of devastation’s stink–the sweet scent of burned bodies and a burnt-out civilisation.

I found it hard to believe there was ever a world, a safe world, as I gazed in horror at the toxic wasteland before me. A sea of atomic destruction blinked back. Nothing remained standing or intact except for the ruins of Exeter in the distance. I’d allowed myself to bask in a happy kind of naivety, ignorant of the destructive power our governments and military harboured. Now I faced the consequences. I vowed never to be so naive or stupid again. To find her meant questioning everything. 

BUY TAKING TIME NOW AT AMAZON AND AMAZON UK

Author bio: A life-long addiction to reading science fiction and horror meant writing was the logical outlet for Ellie Garratt’s passions. She is a reader, writer, blogger, Trekkie, and would happily die to be an extra in The Walking Dead. Her short stories have been published in anthologies and online. Passing Time: Nine Short Tales of the Strange and Macabre was published in March 2013 and contains nine previously published stories. Taking Time and Other Science Fiction Stories is her second short story collection. 

Great stalking places:

Website | Amazon | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

Ellie's having a fantastic giveaway! Win one of two $25.00 (£15) Amazon gift cards and a character named after you in an upcoming novella. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Day four of The Ghost blog tour and Homecoming cover reveal

It's day four of the tour, and I have three fantastic writers hosting me today.

I'm sending one of my ghosts, Jeremy Emerson, to Carolyn Brown's blog to chat with you.
I told him to watch his mouth and behave himself. That guy rarely listens to me, though!

It's the final post in my villains series. Find out what horrifying thing goes bump in the night in THE GHOST over at Nick Wilford's blog.

Join me for another great excerpt at Graeme Ing's blog.
It includes my comments on my own writing.

Today's tidbit: I don't like to have any of my key characters unnamed in my books, but the monster in THE GHOST has no name. You can't see or hear it, but if you feel it, I fear for your soul. I didn't plan on having the monster evolve this way, but it's creepy and works very well with a story that features ghosts.

Now on to Cecilia Robert's beautifully stunning cover reveal!

Blurb:

Five years ago, twenty-three-year-old panther shifter Sera Czedar left her home and her newly mated groom in a humiliating position after a mating ceremony gone wrong. She built a new life for herself in Varselles, the City of Outcasts where shifters exiled from their clans in the Seven Kingdoms can go for sanctuary.

Five years ago, panther shifter Levian Grayson was abandoned on the bonding bed by his bride, Sera. After years of tracking her, he arrives in Varselles, intent on staking his claim on her once and for all, even if it means hauling  his slippery woman over his shoulder just to make sure that happens. 

Sera has always known her homecoming would eventually catch up with her one day. The one thing she can’t bear to do is hurt Levian, which will happen as soon as he finds out the reason she left him. Is she ready to take that path? Most of all, will Levian still want her when the truth comes out?

Book Title: Homecoming (A Cloaked Devices short story)

Expected release date: October 2013

Genre:  Steampunk paranormal romance

Age group: +17 appropriate due to language and mature content

Cover done by: Ravven

Mark it to read on Goodreads.

Visit Cecilia at her blog and tell her how awesome her new cover is!

Come back here on Friday. Cecilia and I have some big news for you!

Day three of The Ghost blog tour, Cloaked in Fur cover reveal, and W4WS Event for July 2013

Is it day three of the tour already?

There's lots of fun to be had, but don't forget to buy your copy of THE GHOST.

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Smashwords

Also, don't forget to answer the 13th Floor series poll about whose origin story you'd like to see in the collection!

I have two amazing hosts who have been generous enough to lend me their blogs today.

It's the final book of the series. How do I get this one right?

Pick up a few tips on Nutschell's blog.

You love the tenants of the 13th Floor,

but there could have been a different cast of characters.

Find out who didn't make the cut on Heather Holden's blog.

Today's tidbit: I've been really nervous about THE GHOST being the last book of the series. My CPs and beta reader loved it, but I'm anxiously waiting to hear what readers think. Did I give them an ending that emotionally touched them? Was it satisfying?

Now onto T.F. Walsh's awesome cover reveal!

Blurb:
As a moonwulf, Daciana never expected to fall in love with a human. Hell, she never imagined that she’d abandon her pack, endanger everyone around her, and break the worst rule possible. But she did.

A rogue werewolf is killing Daciana’s friends, and she sets on capturing the creature. She’ll do whatever it takes to stop the beast. The police and her boyfriend, Inspector Connell Lonescu, are starting to question her involvement in the murders, which is endangering the pack’s secret existence. But when the pack alpha kidnaps Connell, revealing the awful truth about the creature and its connection to the pack, Daciana must choose between saving the man she loves and saving her pack family from certain death.

Paranormal suspense with strong romance.

Publisher: Crimson Romance

To be released August 5, 2013.

Pre-order it on Amazon.

About the Author
T.F. Walsh emigrated from Romania to Australia at the age of eight and now lives in a regional city south of Sydney with her husband. Growing up hearing dark fairytales, she's always had a passion for reading and writing horror, paranormal romance, urban fantasy and young adult stories. She balances all the dark with light fluffy stuff like baking and traveling.

Author Links

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Pinterest * Goodreads

Welcome to the July 2013 W4WS event! I'm honored to co-host this event with three talented writers, Mary Pax, C.M. Brown, and Stephen Tremp.  The mission of this group is simple: we have a spotlighted author(s) that we strive to help bring awareness of their book(s) to tens of thousands of new people, increase the sales of their book(s), drive new traffic to their blogs and increase followers, and create verbal and viral buzz.
 
We've made this simple and fast. It's as easy as a tweet or a RT, and sharing a status on Facebook. Go to the writer's blog and copy a tweet or RT from the posts with the tag #W4WS. The W4WS Facebook page will have all the updates and links for you.
 
To join the W4WS event, click here for the linky list. It will only take a minute of your time, and you'll have talented writers take a step closer to their dreams. 

Catherine Stine writes fiction for kids, teens, and new adults. Her newest book RUBY'S FIRE has a fabulous cover and a great hook. You can find Catherine on her blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

Brinda Berry is the author of YA books, THE WAITING BOOTH and WHISPER OF MEMORY. Be prepared for a wild ride when you pick up one of her books! You can find Brinda on her site, Facebook, and Twitter.

Day two of The Ghost blog tour

Another fantastic day of THE GHOST tour.
It is the final book in the series. If you haven't read any of them yet, you can get the first book, THE MARQUIS free on Amazon and Smashwords.

I have two more wonderful hosts lined up for today.

I'll be continuing my series on character romance with Kyra Lennon.
Do you think a sweet ghost can make it work with a vengeful one?

Read an awesome excerpt from THE GHOST
on Aubrie Dionne's blog.

Today's tidbit: I never expected Chiharo and the romance in this book to become so sweet. I wanted her to be more calculating, and the romance to be hotter. Yet who am I to tell my characters how to live their lives, or rather, their deaths?!

Day One of The Ghost blog tour

It's here! It's here!
The final book of the 13th Floor series.
I can't believe it. It's been a wild ride. I loved writing this series, and I really hope every one of you gets a chance to read it.

Get your copy of THE GHOST now!
Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Smashwords

There are two awesome stops on this the first day of my tour.

Join me at TF Walsh's blog for the final post in my supernatural creatures series. Can you guess what I'll be talking about this time?

Then come on over to M. Pepper Langlinais' blog. M shares with us her own ghostly experiences. Have you ever seen a ghost?

Today's tidbit: Chiharo's voice didn't come to me right away. I knew exactly how I wanted to start her story, and she sounded stiff and formal. Wooden. Yet when her voice did come, it was sweet and smart, and it surprised me with how powerful it became in my head. 

Don't forget to answer the poll about whose origin story you'd like to read in the 13th Floor series collection.

Friday Five for July 12, 2013

1. ONE day until THE GHOST blog tour begins. I'm so excited! The final book in the 13th Floor series is already available on all the purchase sites. ( Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Smashwords ) There will be a huge giveaway on the final day. You can enter for a chance to win the entire series.

2. Don't forget to have your say on what short story should be included in the 13th Floor collection. So far, it looks like the majority of people want to see someone new moving in. Oh the possibilities! I have lots of ideas, but none specific yet. The pantser in me loves it!

3. I received three amazing reviews this week from Night Owl Reviews for THE DRAGONSLAYER, THE HARBINGER, and THE ORACLE AND THE VAMPIRE. All of them received 4.5 stars. They're top picks! THE MARQUIS was also one of their top picks. The reviewer compared me to Sherrilyn Kenyon and Christine Feehan. Whoa. I'm still blushing. I sent them THE GHOST for review. Hopefully they'll love it just as much.

4. I survived the first week of parent and tot swim lessons. It's amazing to see how much a child can improve in just four days. My son has gained a lot of confidence, and getting splashed in the face isn't the end of the world for him any more. My top goal for the lessons is to get him to dunk his head. We're a few steps closer.

5. I have a question for all the parents out there. Have you ever taken your children to a sensory sensitive showing at the cinema? I knew they existed, but I recently learned our town has an AMC theater that participates in it. There's a showing this Saturday morning. I don't know if my son would sit through a whole movie, but just the experience might be fun. He definitely does not like loud noises, and the theaters have gotten too loud for me over the years too. I'm happy to just watch movies at home. (Did you see Sharknado last night?!) The TVs these days are big enough! Yet I have very good memories of going to the theater as a kid. I'd like him to have them too.

Have a great weekend! I'll be back tomorrow to start THE GHOST tour. Woot!

Get hooked on POP TRAVEL!

Blurb:
In 2080, technology has gone too far for J. L. Cooper. He is happily hidden in his simple, secluded life as a private detective in a small town, far from any pop travel laser teleportation stations. Until he takes on a client who insists pop travel made his fiancé disappear.

When Cooper investigates, he finds evidence of pop travel's deadly flaw, sparking a series of murders, attempts on his life, and threats to his brother. He’d like to pass off the evidence but knows he’s being watched and can’t trust anyone. And who would believe him?

The only way he can save his brother is to fool his observers while looking for a way to expose the problem. He decides to go to the source and confront the Creator of pop travel. On his way, Cooper meets Southern siren, Geri Harper (an undercover FBI agent) who tags along despite his protests. When they reach the Creator, he has plans of his own and leads them on a wild detour.

BUY IT NOW ON AMAZON

Author bio:
Tara Tyler started out as a math teacher. After having a hand in everything from waitressing to rocket engineering and living up and down the Eastern US, she finally found some roots, writing and teaching in Ohio with her three active boys and Coach Husband. In addition to her novels, she has published short stories and poetry in Science Fiction, Fantasy, Thriller, and Humor. So many stories to tell!

Stalk Tara on her blog, Facebook, and Twitter!

Wicked Wednesday - you decide who's going to be in the 13th Floor collection new short story

Only three more days until the official release of the final book in the 13th Floor series, THE GHOST. I'm excited and anxious, and I'm already thinking about putting together a collection. I haven't found a cover I want for it yet. I might not have it ready to reveal after THE GHOST blog tour. It has to be perfect, though. I'm not going to settle for anything less than what blows me away.

Along with all the novellas, I'm going to include a short story in the collection. Originally, I was going to write about how Kiral came to live on the 13th floor. Yet the story isn't sticking with me as something spectacular. I want to captivate my readers rather than give them a few interesting facts.

Should I do another tenant's? Marc's or Stefanie's? Readers already know how Meira, Harriet, and Chiharo came to be on the 13th floor. I could also do a tenant that lived there in the past. Or even one that's just moving in. Lots of possibilities.

I'm going to let my readers decide. Who do you want to read about? This short story will appear in the 13th Floor collection. (I'm tentatively setting the release date for September 13th.)

Please let me know your choice by answering this poll or leaving a comment below. I'll be running this poll through to the 19th when I'll be announcing the results. (I tried out a new poll widget. Hopefully it works!)

Whose story would you like to see in the 13th Floor collection?
	Marc's
	Stefanie's
	Xan's
	Kiral's
	A tenant from the past
	A new tenant just moving in
pollcode.com free polls