Gearing Up

Hey guys! Whassup?

I’ve been gearing up for this year’s Penned Con. Sadly, I won’t have book 2  of the Valkyrie’s series done in time. Darn it!

I’ve been working a lot on the day job,  got my office decorated finally. I”ll bet you haven’t seen another mortgage loan officer’s office like mine!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purple walls- what are you going to do with that? It wasn’t my choice of colors, but I worked with what I was given. this has become my place of solitude to write uninterrupted.

I’d like to say I had a completed project to share with everyone,  but I don’t.  I have been organizing my files,  going through duplicate files, making print copies of each story so that I had a reference point, and writing out my main storyline and plot points.

In Kiss of the Dragon, for instance,  I pantsed that one. It didn’t have a viable plot, other than romance, but they meet they fall in love,  they work their way towards the big deed isn’t exactly a plot, now is it?  In the meantime,  there are five different things going on in their world that involve them.  I had to sort it out to make sense inside my head before continuing. The first book, which I wrote during Nano many years back,  I wrote over 100K.  Sadly,  much of that will either go into other books of that series or it will be thrown in the virtual trash bin.  I have four or maybe even five books planned for that series.  It’s just a matter of whether the mage parts can be included into the other books or not. Which, is why I was working on writing out my plot points.

For those who have followed me for a long time, you know that I have multiple projects in the incomplete file. I’ve really been trying to focus on just one at a time like my friend Vicki Locey has advised. If I could get to where I can crank out the writing at even half the pace she does,  I might stand a chance to get all of my books completed!

In the meantime, I’ve been packing and decluttering my home. So far this month, I’ve removed over 300 items, whether it has gone in the trash, recycling, or to charity. It’s liberating, but man I got a lot more to do in the dungeon, errr basement.

So, aside from all of that,  I’ve been gearing up for Penned.  I wanted to share over the next few days some of the past interviews I’ve done with attending authors.

The first one,  Mr. Rick Miles, organizer of the event. (This one is from 2016 – my God, I was huge!!!)

Next, is AnnaLise Grant, author of the Lake, the only book I have read of hers yet.  I have others,  I just haven’t read them yet.

I surprised Nikki Jefford,  she  commented that she almost came downstairs early in her pjs,  but she was glad that she got clothes on when I surprised her.

She looks completely together to me! So last year,  I made an invitation to the Penned Con group and was overwhelmed with responses.  Sadly, I greatly overestimated my energy level and was unable to get to everyone that I had signed up to do an interview.  Please don’t hate me guys  – I blame cancer! Yes, I’m pulling the cancer card on that one, because I was drained after treatments.

But here are a few from Penned Con 2017.  First. Laura Hawk!!

IF you are into military romance, have I got the author for you!  Meet Shannon Nemecheck!

Well, that’s all you’re getting for today,  I have to get back to work on these darned edits, which will require more coffee.

Y’all have a great day and come back to find out who else I’ve interviewed tomorrow. Or the net tomorrow, we’ll see how it goes.

Write on my friends, write on!

Meet the author: Maggie Adams

At Penned Con, I  had the chance to interview in person a few of the authors. Seriously, I  had scheduled a LOT more than I was able to do – my bad!  I greatly overestimated my energy levels!

One of the authors I was able to catch up with was Maggie Adams, as she was right across the aisle from me. Last year, this wonderful lady helped me to set up.  I was in a panic, frazzled, didn’t know what to do and she stepped in and helped me get things arranged. Thank you for that, Maggie!!

 

Maggie Adams is an Amazon Best Selling romance author. Her first book in the Tempered Steel Series, Whistlin’ Dixie, debuted in Amazon’s Top 100 for Women’s Fiction, humor, in November 2014. Since then, she has consistently made the Amazon bestseller 5-star list with her Tempered Steel Series. Her series has launched the tiny town of Grafton, Illinois, into International recognition with sales in Mexico, Ireland, Scotland, Australia and the UK.

She also writes erotica (Lustful Trilogy), paranormal romance (The Leathers Series), young adult romance (Sweet Tea Sisters), and women’s fiction (Minx).

Maggie’s books can be found on eBook and paperback at these links:

https://goo.gl/M53YYo – Whistlin’ Dixie, Book One in the Tempered Steel Series

https://goo.gl/MJAtRg – Leather and Lace, book two

https://goo.gl/5cbIQ5 – Something’s Gotta Give, book three

https://goo.gl/2zAsQt – Getting Lucky, A Tempered Steel Novella

https://goo.gl/FDHvaF – Love, Marriage & Mayhem, book four

https://goo.gl/D39MfT – Forged in Fire, book five

https://goo.gl/Fa5YF3 – Cold as Ice, book six

https://goo.gl/8gh5Ms – The Tempered Steel Series, Books 1-3

https://goo.gl/ekWrgF – Lustful Letters

https://goo.gl/j7yUPc – The Tempered Steel Series, Books 4-6

https://goo.gl/RrHuRZ – Lustful Lies, book two of the Lustful Trilogy

http://www.maggieadamsbooks.com  – website

https://www.facebook.com/maggieadamsbooks – book page

https://www.facebook.com/groups/maggiesminxes -fan club page

https://www.amazon.com/author/maggieadams – author page
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9867300.Maggie_Adams – Goodreads

https://twitter.com/AuthrMaggieAdms – twitter

https://www.pinterest.com/maggiesminxes/- Pinterest

https://www.instagram.com/maggieadamsbooks/ – Instagram

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-adams-006a8b142/ – LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leather-bound-press-3a8809128 – LinkedIn Publishing Company

https://www.facebook.com/leatherboundpress/ – FB Publishing Page

Whistlin’ Dixie

A man on a mission….

Mackenzie Coalson was determined to rebuild his hometown after a devastating flood left it in ruins. He has no time for a relationship and all the romantic junk that goes with it. He has a vandal to catch and no sweet smelling bundle of femininity is going to sway him.

A woman protecting her family….

Dixie Harris charged into the county sheriff’s office with a sassy sway and a smart mouth, eager to give the sheriff, and anyone else, a piece of her mind. When she locks horns with the devil himself, in the form of Mac Coalson, she quickly learns he has a temper to rival hers, even if he’s the living epitome of her sexual fantasies.

When the two unite to catch a potential murderer, it’s in everyone’s best interest to keep it, “business only”. But that’s hard to do when their combined attraction is volatile enough to burn down the town.

https://www.amazon.com/Whistlin-Dixie-Tempered-Steel-Book-ebook/dp/B00PKEQU4G – eBook

https://www.amazon.com/Whistlin-Dixie-Tempered-Steel-1/dp/1503228088 – Paperback

https://www.amazon.com/Whistlin-Dixie-Tempered-Steel-Book/dp/B071ZT6X36 – audio

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/whistlin-dixie-maggie-adams/1120811922?ean=2940152277173

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1017188679

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/whistlin-dixie-1

https://www.scribd.com/book/270868862/Whistlin-Dixie-A-Tempered-Steel-Novel-1

http://www.inktera.com/store/title/b75e7806-ddd0-492e-90e9-e8f52f84a8b7

https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=1165299

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/514528

LEATHER AND LACE

Sam Coalson, ex-Navy Seal, has returned to Grafton for the wedding of his brother. After being run out of town fifteen years ago for a crime he didn’t commit, he’s determined to claim what is rightfully his and take on anyone crazy enough to try and stop him.

Angel Devereaux is smart, sexy and definitely on Sam’s blacklist. After siding with Sam’s enemy fifteen years ago, Angel can’t help but wonder what if….what if Sam had never left? What if he could forgive her now? She had her reasons, but he won’t listen. So enough with words, sometimes action is exactly what’s called for.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TVASI1S – ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Leather-Lace-Tempered-Steel-2/dp/1508558620 – paperback

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/leather-and-lace-maggie-adams/1122718449?ean=2940152729245

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1047544579

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/leather-and-lace-12

https://www.scribd.com/book/283907754/Leather-and-Lace-A-Tempered-Steel-Novel-2

http://www.inktera.com/store/title/53a82fab-eb8c-4714-a4de-91ff674823ea

https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=1173744

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/581261

Something’s Gotta Give

Chance Coalson loves women. And they love him. Young or old, no woman is immune to his charm.

Except one.

Georgia Haines is the only female volunteer firefighter in Grafton. She’s had a crush on Chance Coalson since he offered her his handkerchief at her momma’s funeral. But she’s smart enough to know that it takes a special woman to tame a charmer like Chance, and there’s nothing particularly special about her.

When fire breaks out at the Coalson’s construction business and Chance is trapped inside, Georgia braves the flames to save him, only to discover her “crush” has morphed into love.  And she’s helpless to hide her desire.

Chance awakens to find an angel breathing life into his lungs with a kiss. The woman he wanted more than any other was the one who paid the “Casanova of the County” no mind.

So how does a man with a bad reputation convince a shy firefighter that he’s worth taking a chance on love?

By fighting fire with fire…

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YWEK4KQ – ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Somethings-Gotta-Tempered-Steel-Novel/dp/1514659190 – paperback

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/somethings-gotta-give-maggie-adams/1122231120?ean=2940152688993

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1044524338

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/something-s-gotta-give-10

https://www.scribd.com/book/283053296/Something-s-Gotta-Give-A-Tempered-Steel-Novel-3

http://www.inktera.com/store/title/02b01f9c-d0c7-4dd8-aed3-b3485b36c23d

https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=1173699

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/581271

Getting Lucky

Lawrence “Lucky” Coalson is on the track of the arsonist that torched his older brother’s construction company. The clues have led him to the Mississippi Flame Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Taking a job as a bouncer there, he hopes to find a connection to the vandalism or even the arsonist. What he finds is a blonde bombshell in a bit of trouble, so like the alpha male he is, Lucky comes to the rescue. But like a magician’s trick, not everything is as it appears.
Can Lucky discern the difference between lust and love when what happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas? And is the Coalson family prepared to face the consequences of his actions?

https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Lucky-Maggie-Adams-ebook/dp/B014JLZTFG

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/getting-lucky-maggie-adams/1122731957?ean=2940152737455

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/getting-lucky-31

https://www.scribd.com/book/283217153/Getting-Lucky

http://www.inktera.com/store/title/e470b010-1721-4c1b-bdc3-3432abf833ae

https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=1165146

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/581464

Love, Marriage & Mayhem

His brothers tease that he’s the “Sensitive”‘ one— Brandon Coalson has a huge heart and a tender touch with those that need saving. He thought it a weakness. He will see it as a gift when he meets shy and frightened Anna Meeks.

Anna has a secret that keeps her from encouraging Brandon’s thoughtful advances. He lifts her to heaven during the day, but she goes home to hell at night. Can she trust this gentle giant with her life and the lives of those she loves?

When tragedy strikes the Coalson family, can Brandon and his brothers save the company they’ve worked so hard to build? Or will he be forced to sacrifice Anna when she’s caught in the crosshairs of a psychopath’s revenge?

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Marriage-Mayhem-Tempered-Steel-ebook/dp/B016J9WLUC – ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Marriage-Mayhem-Tempered-Steel/dp/1519625316 – paperback

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-marriage-mayhem-maggie-adams/1123082752?ean=2940152785982

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1089174879

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-marriage-mayhem

https://www.scribd.com/book/301452291/Love-Marriage-Mayhem-A-Tempered-Steel-Novel-4

http://www.inktera.com/store/title/3e0c8609-5cc7-4881-af68-42e7a665b9b3

https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=1173705

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/635891

Forged in Fire

“Lady, if I were you, I’d get the hell away from here ‘cause when I make it up this hill, I’m gonna be looking for you.” Lucky Coalson’s luck has run out. His ex-wife turned out to be a con artist; his business is in a shambles, and he’s been tossed into a muddy river by a smart assed feminist with a chip on her shoulder. Things couldn’t get much worse…or so he thought.

When Lucky’s accused of murdering his ex-wife, the Coalson family enlists the help of a private investigator to gather the clues necessary to prove his innocence. Little did they know that Renee Morgan is the same woman that sent Lucky scrambling up a sodden river bank at the height of a storm.

The two square off immediately, but Renee’s admiration of the Coalson family, despite her dislike of Lucky, is the deciding factor in her acceptance of the job. And although Lucky bristles every time she speaks, he grudgingly respects her intelligence and savvy skills as a private investigator.

As the hunt for the killer escalates, the two find they are not the only ones looking for the mysterious assassin. And the other people are more than willing to take out anyone that gets in their way, including those that Lucky and Renee hold dear to their hearts.

In a moment of passion that rocks them to the core, they realize their love may be forged in fire, but both have been badly burned by past lovers, and too stubborn to admit the truth. Can they find a way around their fears, or will Lucky’s ex-wife continue to plague him from the grave?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HOGHT4C – ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Forged-Fire-Tempered-Steel-5/dp/1532744722 – paperback

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forged-in-fire-maggie-adams/1124034269?ean=2940153351971

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1129001448

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/forged-in-fire-10

https://www.scribd.com/book/316984155/Forged-in-Fire-A-Tempered-Steel-Novel-5

http://www.inktera.com/store/title/03262bfa-f49d-4295-8206-5113386ab41c

https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=1544652

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/647432

Cold as Ice

He wants her to be his lover…she wants to be his forever.

Nick Coalson is abrasive, arrogant, and an absolute dynamo in the bedroom. Problem is, he knows it.

Rebecca Morgan is sweet, shy, and immensely attracted to Nick, but he’s trouble in tight jeans and she knows it.

When Nick Coalson saves Rebecca Morgan from an assassin’s bullet, he sets his sights on the shy partner of a detective agency. But he mistakes her kindness for weakness and learns the hard way that although she may seem submissive, she’s a voluptuous bundle of intelligence and determination.

Rebecca tries to hide her feelings for Nick because he’s the kind of man that makes a smart girl do stupid things. After a sensual encounter, Nick grows distant, stating he wants a lover, not a wife. Rebecca realizes she’s going to need to keep her wits about her if she wants Nick forever because it’s too easy to lose herself to his dominant personality.

When a stranger offers to help her win Nick, she accepts although she wonders what’s in it for him.  But Nick thinks it’s too late for his love when he witnesses a tender moment between Rebecca and another man.  His head tells him to step aside, but his heart aches for her tender touch.

And as the killer closes in on the Coalson family, Nick wonders if it will be too late to save not only their love, but their very lives?

https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Ice-Tempered-Steel-Book-ebook/dp/B01N9YK2KT – ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Tempered-Steel-Maggie-Adams/dp/1544071159 – paperback

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cold-as-ice-maggie-adams/1125895673?ean=2940154271964

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/cold-as-ice-24

https://www.scribd.com/book/340963036/Cold-as-Ice-A-Tempered-Steel-Novel-6

http://www.inktera.com/store/title/3d3a4d80-38ba-432f-89c0-123673b9ebe6

https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=2038544

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/723097

 The Lustful Trilogy, an erotic journey…

 Lustful Letters

https://www.amazon.com/Lustful-Letters-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B01NBE5TGF – ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Lustful-Letters-Trilogy-Maggie-Adams/dp/1519099533 – paperback

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lustful-letters-maggie-adams/1125283120?ean=2940153486932

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/lustful-letters

http://www.inktera.com/store/title/4521411b-71c3-42f4-bcc1-4ea6ed48c7b8

https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=1834189

When the picture-perfect wife of a prominent local businessman decides to let loose of her inhibitions, she begins a journey into the darker art of romance and sexual gratification. Through online chats and fetish forums, she explores the world of kink, from Dominance and submission to BDSM. Sensory deprivation, wax, fire, rope and knife play are ideas waiting to be experienced.  Then there’s the relationships with Daddy/littles, Master/slave, primal, puppy play, hedonists, and leather families.

She yearns to explore, and yet, fears the loss of her vanilla world, for once seen, it can never be unseen. Her solution is to conduct dalliances online, but it soon becomes apparent that this will not satisfy her cravings. So, she must choose to continue in cyberspace or take the leap and truly begin to live the life her body, and her heart, desires.

But not every kinkster is a good soul, and she learns the hard way that trust can be misplaced, the mind can be twisted, and those that seek the darker passions may have their own psychotic agendas.  Just like Alice’s Wonderland, nothing is as it appears and what’s right is wrong and what is perceived as pain is, in fact, Nirvana.

 

Book Two, Lustful Lies

https://www.books2read.com/u/4AwR5J

https://www.amazon.com/Lustful-Lies-Book-Two-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0754LV5TN

 In the beginning, it was good…

That’s how I look back on this time in my life. In my sexual prime, a widow escaping the mundane, seeking the darker art of romance. Romance? Ha! It was an obsession, a compulsion to discover the sensual being hidden for so many years.

I was a fool.

I ran rampant with the fever of sexual discovery, from submission to Dominance, edge play to slavery, I was willing to try it all. I would seek out willing participants in debauchery from online sex sites to chat forums. It didn’t matter. It was safe to play online, to meet in groups of like-minded people intent on pleasure.

Or so I thought.

When drugs and alcohol make the mind blurry and the hands unsteady, someone could get hurt. When the highs of pleasure can go no higher, when slavery and edge play take on dangerous thrills for the Dominant and frightening scenarios for the submissive, it is time to safeword out. So, I did.

But no one listened.

Now I must live with the consequences. I must decide to run away or face the challenge before me. I must discern the truth from the Lustful Lies.

IF you like romance with an erotic edge or straight up erotica, Maggie is your gal! Go check them out!

Write on my friends, write on!

Thank you Maggie for being my guest today!

 

Meet the author – Char Webster

My guest today is Char Webster. First, my apologies for not connecting at Penned Con and secondly thank you for agreeing to be interviewed.

Tell me a little bit about yourself and where you are from.

Southern New Jersey, is where I was raised in a very suburban town and neighborhood. I was always active, loving to ride my bike everywhere and for hours. The TV was never an interest and it still isn’t. There are so many shows that I have heard about but have never seen. (I am maybe the only person alive who has never watched Seinfeld.)

My day job (Marketing and Strategic Planning) is very demanding, but I like it. I get to work on all kinds of different projects and every day is something different.

I spend as much time as I can with my adorable niece, Briella, who is 18 months old. She has discovered a love for shoes and I have completely indulged that because her Aunt Char LOVES shoes too! It’s one of my favorite things to shop for.

I’m really close with my family and I’m thankful that most of us live in the same area. Holidays are usually at my house and I wouldn’t change that. I love the happy chaos.

Family is very important to me. This past year, I was made acutely aware of what is important. What genre do you write?

YA/NA Paranormal (Urban Fantasy) Romantic Suspense

What genre do you read? Which do you read the most?

I love paranormal, fantasy, urban fantasy, mythology, and sci-fi. Lately, I have been hooked on shifter books and vampires.

Who are your favorite authors – can include Indy authors.

Traditionally Published Authors I Love: JK Rowling, Cassandra Clare, Rick Riordan, Matthew Reilly and James Rollins (I could go on)

Indie Authors I LOVE: Ednah Walters, Melissa Haag, Teresa Gabelman, Erica Stevens, St Bende, Jaymin Eve, Cameo Renea, Alyssa Rose Ivy, Quinn Loftis, Breda K Davies, and so many more. There is not enough room here!

My oldest daughter absolutely adores Rick Riordan and Quinn Loftis! What do you value most in a friend?

Loyalty and a great sense of humor. Both are really important.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

I have always had so many different stories in my head and it’s just now that I am writing about some of them. My mom used to tell us incredible stories she would make up before we went to bed and I always looked forward to hearing about the next adventure the three little girls would go on.

I did that for my girls as well. I started off reading books to them,  then we moved to me making up stories. I remember one about a snake in a pillowcase that they asked me to repeat multiple times. Tell us a little about your latest book.

I am writing the fourth and final book in the Gifted Series. These books focus on a group of people who have special powers or abilities. The main character, Kate, grew up away from that society, not having any idea of her origins. She helps a couple of kids from foster care and they literally drag her into a world of kidnapping, danger, and evil.

Are you a pantser or plotter, or a plontser?

I have no idea what this is.

LOL. I guess I wasn’t too clear on my made-up words.  A pantser is an author who writes by the seat of their pants.  A plotter is someone who outlines their story whether it is a basic rough outline – beginning, middle end, or nine plot points or a detailed outline with subsets. A plontser is a combination of the two.  What’s next for you?

After the final book in the gifted Series is completed. I have an idea for two different series. The first will be about elemental magic users that are disappearing and the second is about shapeshifters. I can’t wait to start them both.

Oh, those sound amazing! I love those type of stories. What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Playing with my niece, shopping with my mom and sisters, trying out new restaurants and hanging out with my friends.

What is your work area like? (desk or work at a table or on the sofa, tidy or untidy, OCD organized, chaos, perfectly decorated, a niche carved out in a closet, etc. )

I sit on my couch with a tall glass of iced tea next to me and my laptop on my crisscrossed legs with the TV tuned to a music channel (usually country). Once in a while, I will have a Hallmark Channel movie on. I love romantic comedies.

What is your ideal getaway vacation?

I love finding new places to explore. There is always something cool to do and to see just about everywhere I go. I am not very good with sitting still, so I don’t last very long on the beach.

Do you ever use real people as a basis for your characters?

All the time. No one person is an exact character, but everyone around me has contributed to a character trait. My sister Kelly is a Guidance Counselor which is the job of my main character, Kate. Kelly is also an amazing listener and gives great advice, so I wrote those traits for Kate. My sister, Chrisie, was an English Professor when I started the series, so Kate’s best friend, Cindy, teaches English. Cindy talks very fast, is really strong and doesn’t realize it, and is tall and willowy, which are all things that remind me of Chrisie. I’ve borrowed lots of traits from the guy in my life for my characters, Nick, Robert, Jason, and Ryan.

What is your favorite food?

This is a tough one for me because I LOVE food. French Fries, Pizza, and bagels (especially breakfast sandwiches) are a few of my favorites. I really love breakfast too. That is my favorite meal of the day.

Do you snack while you write or is food off limits in the office area?

I usually don’t snack because once I start writing, I get in a groove and I don’t want to mess with that.

If I give you a story prompt,  could you write a flash fiction piece of 1000 words or less?

YES! That sounds like fun!

Awesome! PM me on Facebook and I will give you a prompt for my flash fiction challenge for December/January!

Char Webster is the best-selling author of young adult/new adult paranormal/urban fantasy romantic suspense books that create a world where people can escape reality for a little while.

Reading and getting lost in a story have always been Char Webster’s favorite things to do. She has also had a love for writing, which led her to her daytime career in public relations and marketing. After years of writing for others, Char decided to write something for herself.

Char Webster loves living in South Jersey because she feels like it is in the center of everything.

Social Media Links

Facebook:   www.facebook.com/CharWebsterAuthor

Facebook group:   www.facebook.com/groups/GiftedSociety

Twitter:   www.twitter.com/JustaGirlinSJ

Instagram:   www.instagram.com/char.webster

Goodreads:   https://www.goodreads.com/CharWebsterAuthor

Amazon:   https://www.amazon.com/Char-Webster/e/B017GPYNN6

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/char-webster

Experiments, A Gifted Series Prequel

(short story)

Amazon: http://goo.gl/WpqUhF

B&N: http://goo.gl/PQQCcK

iBooks: https://itun.es/us/IPwifb.l

Kobo: http://goo.gl/PnSXdF

The Gifted Society, a race of people with special abilities, lives among humans. They have survived for thousands of years by hiding their special powers from the world.

Now, someone is trying to manipulate human DNA to create the gene mutation that triggers these abilities. Nick, Robert, Jason and Ryan, newly graduated from the Gifted Society’s Elite Academy, are tasked with stopping whoever is behind these experiments.

Will the guys succeed with their first assignment? Will they be able to stop the experiments? Discover the beginnings of the Gift Series in this prequel novelette.

Discovery, Book One of the Gifted Series

#Romance  *  #Suspense  *  #Mystery  *  #Intrigue

Buy Now for Free!

Amazon: https://goo.gl/NEvb5F

Barnes & Noble: https://goo.gl/uOdgXW

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/discovery-43

iBooks: https://itun.es/us/9nI6-.l

Hunted by evil.

Hidden from birth.

Knowing nothing of her powerful origins, twenty-three-year-old Kate Sutton believes her life is perfectly normal and is looking forward to a quiet relaxing summer.

Her life dramatically changes when she’s asked to help three troubled kids in the foster care system. Strange things begin to happen, and Kate discovers that her foster kids are not quite who she had thought and that neither is she.

Suddenly, Kate is thrust into a world where people have powers and she and the kids are being stalked. Now, she must learn who she really is and keep the kids safe before it’s too late.

A hot guy keeps showing up everywhere she goes, but is he there to help her or turn her and the kids over to the ones searching for them?

Discover the danger of being Gifted. #GiftedSeries * #Free

#Romance * #Suspense * #Mystery * #Paranormal

Blurb:

Hunted by evil. Hidden from birth. Knowing nothing of her powerful origins, Kate believes she’s ordinary, but her life dramatically changes when she helps three troubled kids. Suddenly, Kate is thrust into a world where people have powers and she and the kids are being stalked. With the help of a mysterious guy she doesn’t know if she can trust, Kate must uncover her past to keep everyone safe. Discover the dangers of being Gifted.

 

Exploration, Book Two of the Gifted Series

#Romance  *  #Suspense  *  #Mystery  *  #Intrigue

On Kindle Unlimited Until Dec 24, 2017

Amazon: https://goo.gl/KlhRcm

What does it mean to be Gifted? And just how dangerous can it be?

When Nick took off to track down a kidnapper and killer, he left Kate alone to deal with her new life. Thrown into a world she knew nothing about, Kate must piece together information from the past and discover her role in the events that have begun to unfold.

Will history repeat itself? Will Kate be able to protect the kids and herself from the forces who want to use them to unlock a power that could destroy everything?

Transformation, Book Three of the Gifted Series

Power is shifting. Control of the Gifted Society is in jeopardy. Will Kate and her friends be ready?

Kate Sutton has learned that being Gifted is extremely dangerous. New revelations put her life at even greater risk. People are after Kate for her abilities and will stop at nothing to control or destroy her.

Nick, Robert, Jason, and Ryan are trying to figure out all of the different players and what each of them is after. Will they discover the truth before it’s too late to help Kate?

#Romance  *  #Suspense  *  #Mystery  *  #Intrigue

On Kindle Unlimited Until Dec 24, 2017

Amazon: http://goo.gl/nNrmrZ

Stubborn Souls, A Runes Universe Novella

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2onXYd5

Valkyrie Aria was sure of three things: she is one of the best soul reapers there is, she gets cranky when her assignments take her too far from the beach, and she hates Damian with a fiery passion that will last throughout time.

Grimnir Damian has done some stupid things in his long life, but the worst by far was leaving his soul mate, Aria, at the altar all those years ago. Six hundred years later, they can’t be within a mile of each other or sparks will fly, and not the good kind.

Now, the man responsible for making Damian walk out on their marriage has escaped from an Asgardian prison, and the Valkyrie Council is forcing Aria and Damian to team up to capture him.

Can they put their differences aside long enough to save the nine realms?

Part of Ednah Walters’ Runes Universe

Mini Description:

Aria and Damian have hated each other for centuries. Can they put their differences aside long enough to work together to save the nine realms?

Acceptance: Book Four of the Gifted Series

Coming Winter 2017-18

An ancient, evil family line is seeking to restore their powers that had been taken away thousands of years ago to protect the world. Kate Sutton and her adopted kids are caught in the middle.

Will she take her place with the Gifted Society and accept her destiny or will she cause the destruction of them all?

Find out in the conclusion of the Gifted Series.

 

Those should keep you busy for a while! I am very curious to read Stubborn Souls myself! In fact, I’m going to go get me a copy now!

Write on my friends, write on!

 

Meet the Author: Candace Carrabus

I got the chance at Penned Con 2017 to interview the lovely Candace Carrabus to talk about her latest book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Candace was in the same group as I was for an authorgraph card, the prize being a basket of books from each of the authors participating. What better prize for book lovers, right? It was a such a joy to speak with Candace! At the awards ceremony, we sat near each other and had the opportunity to talk a little more. I’m looking forward to seeing her at Penned again, and perhaps some other signing events. Since I got sidetracked during our interview, and didn’t actually let Candace talk about her book as much,  here’s a bit more information for your pleasure.

Run Out, Dream Horse Mystery #2

by Candace Carrabus

Viola Parker might be one of the best show-jumper riders around, but her attitude just landed her out of work. Again. Now, all that’s between her and a surprise trust fund is keeping a job for one full year by the time she’s 30. But between the ghost horse visiting Vi’s dreams and the dead bodies piling up, the question isn’t whether she can keep her mouth shut long enough to earn a reference, but whether she’ll live long enough to get it.

Blurb:

Keeping a job for one year shouldn’t be so hard…

Vi’s sworn off whipped cream, her favorite bra is strung on a tomato plant, and ghost horse Wastrel has galloped back into her nights. When her estranged parents land on the farm’s doorstep with suitcases full of nothing, tempers flare and secrets emerge. Fearing her boss/lover, Malcolm will lose his patience, Vi does her best to keep her grandfather out of the gun safe and her dog out of his garden. Curbing a lifetime of anger to endure her parents’ mystifying visit is the least of her problems. A furtive stranger is stalking them, and he’ll stop at nothing to execute his long-awaited revenge.

Vi can barely resist the urge to RUN OUT.

Will she survive a scorching summer of tomatoes, tango, and terror?

Witty, crisp dialogue and plenty of twists and turns will keep you guessing right to the very end of this thrilling and emotional sequel to On the Buckle.

Released September 8^th

 

Buy Links:

Books2Read – https://www.books2read.com/u/mqpvrv

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0757328GQ

 

Excerpt:

Certain men should be required to wear a sports bra when riding.

That’s what I was thinking as I boosted an overweight guy onto Fawn, a stout quarter horse mare who could carry him without straining anything. Although she did let out a little grunt of protest when he plopped onto the saddle. His parts bounced recklessly. And by parts, I mean man boobs. Moobs.

I’d read a recent study that said riders could throw their horse’s balance out of whack if they didn’t wear the right undergarments.

I couldn’t unsee the moobs, but I could ignore them as I mounted my horse—correct undergarments in place—and set off for the relative cool of the woods. Here it was, late August in Missouri and there was no sign of the heat letting up or rain coming down.

Unfortunately, there was no sign Winterlight Farm would discontinue public riding anytime soon, either.

BONUS Excerpt:

It was when I stepped down into the aisle that a loud boom ricocheted through the barn. Horses in the field jumped, lifted their heads and looked toward the house. Zoe came through the tack room door.

“Was that—”

“I think—”

The sound had been both familiar and foreign. But my brain was catching up fast.

Again, a crack bent the air, sending a tremor through me. A couple of the horses bucked and took off.

“Shit,” I said, starting to run. “Those are gunshots.”

I ran. Ran like the devil himself had a bead on me.

Which someone had, once, not long ago, someone evil. But that time, I’d been on a horse. A very fast horse.

Oh god oh god oh god.

Again, I found myself running straight at my fear instead of disappearing in my preferred direction—away.

Wishing I had four legs, I forced more power into the two, sprinted up the driveway, pounded across the porch, and tore the screen door off one hinge getting inside.

Needed to breathe. Not picture the images rushing my brain.

No one in the front room.

Sliding down the slick old hardwood of the hallway on the soles of my riding boots, I careened into the kitchen.

There, my parents sat at the table, each reading a section of the days-old local weekly paper. My father wore glasses.

No blood.

Had they killed Giacomo and stashed the body? If so, they were mighty quick.

Author Bio:

Candace Carrabus is a multi-published author of fantasy, contemporary mystery, and metaphysical fiction. Most of her stories feature women of a certain age <cough> because, well, women of a certain age like to have adventures, too, right?

She’s written stories and ridden horses–simultaneously–for as long as she can remember. Now, she shares a farm in Missouri with her husband and daughter, two dogs, three cats, two feisty goats, a gentle alpaca, and a guard llama. Her horse wasn’t interested in sharing his pasture with those critters, so he lives at a horse farm.

Not surprisingly, Candace’s stories are often infused with the mystery and spirituality horses have brought to her life. Come along for the ride!

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCandaceCarrabus/

Twitter – @CandaceCarrabus

Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/authorcandace/

Website – http://candacecarrabus.com

 

OTHER BOOKS BY Candace Carrabus:

On the Buckle, Dream Horse Mystery #1

Raver, The Horsecaller: Book One

The Roar of Smoke, A Book of the Meldborn (Horsecaller YA spinoff)

The Man, The Dog, His Owner & Her Lover

The Good Horse, The Bad Man & The Ugly Woman

 

Please leave a comment to show Candace your love and support! I am going to get my copy of this book now because I love a good mystery!  Thank you for being my guest today Candace and I hope to see you again soon.

Write on my friends, write on!

Interview with Jolele Buccheit

My guest today is Jolene Buccheit. I wasn’t able to connect with Jolene at Penned, except just a few times in passing. I’m telling you, it was a madhouse – but in a good way!

Tell me a little bit about yourself and where you are from.

My name is Jolene Buchheit, pronounced like Boo-Kite. Born, raised, and currently living in Iowa. My passion outside of reading and writing books is working with teenagers, which I do at one of the local high schools. My favorite color is royal blue, like my hair and my two favorite sports’ teams: Chicago Cubs and Kentucky Wildcats. I do not like long walks on the beach because it hurts my feet, but I love the sound of the ocean. Also, is it just me or does the sea have healing powers? Yeah, I thought so.

 Yes! YES, absolutely Yes, the sea has healing powers!  We got to go on vacation to the gulf the week prior to Penned, I was looking forward to it since April, when I thought I might never see the ocean again.  Yeah, I know, overactive imagination. What genre do you write?

All of my currently published material is young adult. The Charmed Trials series is Greek-mythology inspired urban fantasy. I also have a standalone that is young adult contemporary. However, I have several works in progress that are adult women’s fiction which might be classified as fantasy and romantic comedy contemporary.

Those sound fascinating, I am going to add those to my toberead list! I love stories about mythology. What genre do you read? Which do you read the most?

I read all fictional genres. Lately, I’ve been reading a lot of romantic comedies and sports romances as I’m working on a combination of the two.

Who are your favorite authors –  can include Independent authors?

I read everything by my friend Emily Cyr, she makes me laugh and swoon. I love Meghan Quinn and Quinn Loftis, who crack me up as well. Jennifer L. Armentrout is my writing hero. Her books are exactly the kind of stories I love to read and aspire to write. Others I won’t miss include: Cassie Clare, Wendy Higgins, A. D. Ryan, Komali da Silva, and Angie Thomas.

This one isn’t writing related necessarily,  but I think it tells more about who you are. What do you value most in a friend?

Dependability. I don’t mean showing up on time, I mean being there emotionally. I love checking in with my best friends every day and when they have something hard to face, lending my support. I value the friends in my life who do the same.

I will have to agree with that. Having recently gone through some tough times, I found out who is dependable, who really cares, and who is a friend collector that doesn’t really care.  Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

I work in a high school with teenagers all around me. For my young adult books, the authenticity of the teens’ interactions is because I witness it every day. For my adult books, the things my coworkers and friends talk about spark ideas for “what if” situations in my more mature writing. I don’t know if I am surrounded by funnier people in general or if my humor filter works stronger to help me find the most hilarious way of telling a story. But, oh, how I love to laugh and hear others laugh as well.

Tell us a little about your latest book.

Right now, I am working on a romantic comedy about a clumsy girl who is accidentally tripped at a hockey game and ends up spilling beer all over the guy in front of her, who turns out to be an unbelievably attractive man who handles it far too well for the circumstances.   

Are you a pantser or plotter, or a plontser?

Pantser. I usually write with a loose idea of how the story goes, but nobody would call it a plot. Working on a co-written project has helped me see why plotters do it their way, but I still prefer for the story to be developed in a more organic way.

What’s next for you?

I’ve completed an adult fantasy novel with two of my best friends. That’s being considered by an agent at the moment, so hopefully that will be my next release. For my solo projects, book three in the Charmed Trials series should be out in the spring.

12.What is your work area like? (desk or work at table or on sofa, tidy or untidy, OCD organized, chaos, perfectly decorated, a niche carved out in a closet, etc.)

As I type, I am half reclined on my couch with Oaty (our dog) lying on my feet and Monte (one of our cats) upset with me because I won’t let him on my lap. The glare is real, y’all.

What is your ideal getaway vacation?

Beach, sun, and books with the husband by my side to remind me to eat and help me apply sunscreen. Plus, he’s my favorite friend and not hard to look at. XOXO *cues* “Awww.”

 I knew it would be something beachy! What is your favorite food?

Not gonna lie here and say it’s a spinach salad with mandarin oranges and sunflower seeds, though I do eat that several times a week for lunch. It’s pizza, okay? Papa John’s pizza to be specific, with beef, mushrooms, and pineapple. Don’t at me. LOL

What food do you dislike?

Oh man, I love food. You know what I don’t like too much of in my food, onions. I don’t hate them, but I hate when people use it in such a way that it hijacks the taste of anything else instead of simply adding flavor. However, I will order Hardee’s onion rings every time I go there. So who knows what’s going on with my taste buds??

IKR? It seemingly doesn’t make sense but I agree. I don’t like onion in a lot of things, but on occasion I do enjoy onion rings. Seriously, sometimes onions make me absolutely ill and it’s a gamble when I opt to get an order. If I give you a story prompt, could you write a flash fiction piece of 1000 words or less? Probably, as long as there wasn’t a time limit.

Great! Then I am going to PM you with a story prompt and give you a date for a future post.  In December and January I plan to share some flash fiction pieces.

Thank you for being such a wonderful guest Jolene! Check out her book below, be sure to follow her links!

Trial by Charm

blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Julia Wright doesn’t understand her friends’ obsession with boys. She’s never even had a crush, and proudly maintains her composure no matter who is in her presence. In fact, the hotter a guy is to her friends, the more annoying he seems to Julia. When she is blackmailed into being the manager of the men’s swim team, she finds herself face to face with the worst of them all.
Team Captain Vander Thelxinoe is the typical self-assured jock, with a not-so-typical ability to change people’s minds at will. It’s a talent he uses often to get what he wants—only his charms don’t work on Julia. Now he’s anxious to figure out why, and the closer he tries to get, the more desperate she is to stay away—especially when he somehow awakens a side of her she never knew existed.
Their unexpected friendship puts Julia in the middle of a quest she doesn’t quite understand. As her familiar world begins to unravel around her, Julia must partner with the one person who knows how to push her buttons—and in doing so, discovers the unbelievable truth about who she really is.
Can Julia and Vander survive the trial set before them, or will they fall to a more terrifying fate?

Excerpt:

I study his profile. His chiseled jaw and dark, floppy hair are like something out of a magazine advertisement. His eyes, too—they aren’t dark to match his hair, like mine—they are parts of green and blue, much like the painting of the sea in the other room.

“Who painted that piece above the couch in there?”

He shrugs, not answering me in any concrete way. Then he shifts his weight from one foot to the other and his awkwardness makes it clear to me.

“You did it, didn’t you? You’re a painter.”

He shrugs again. I hop down from my stool to go take another look at the painting. The artist must have signed it, and I will get my answer that way.

I go down the hall, past the bathroom, the stairs, and the front door until I’m standing in the parlor, looking at Vander, who is blocking the painting from my view. He must have gone through the dining room next to the kitchen to end up in here before me. He’s staring at me and chewing on his lip while flexing and balling his hands. He’s more nervous than I have ever seen him—not before a swim meet, not in class when he didn’t know an answer, not when he told me how he felt in the bathroom a little bit ago.

This is where his heart lies, in this painting of this island.

I try to look around him, and he leans over.

“Don’t.” He is stern, but gentle. He clears his throat. “Please don’t touch it. You will want to, but don’t.”

He’s right. I do want to touch it; I want to climb inside of it. I’m seeing it, and somehow it’s seeing me, and it’s making me feel pulled apart. I want to dive into the waters, to swim to that far-off land, and I also want to turn the boat around and sail as far and as quickly as I can in the opposite direction. Meanwhile, the light from the sun is dimming, laughing at me for thinking I can have any control here.

I want in!

Vander grabs both of my arms, which are currently outstretched toward the painting. My knees are on the seat of the couch, and I don’t even remember moving forward. His voice startles me. “You can’t.”

I blink hard and turn to look him fully in the face. “I can’t what?”

“You can’t go there, and you can’t go away from there. It’s just a painting.” Was I talking out loud, or can he read my mind? How does he know what I was thinking? I let him lead me through the dining room, back into the kitchen, where the timer is going off. I shake my head to let loose the feelings that painting stirred in me.

“It’s more than that, and you know it. How?” I don’t even have to finish the sentence. He knows exactly what I’m asking.

 

Author Bio:

At work, Jolene spends her days in high school classrooms and hallways harvesting material for her Young Adult novels. She is always willing to discuss vital issues like which is the best peanut butter to buy or whether Katniss should have ended up with Gale or Peeta. Personally, she is committed to helping teenagers become independent adults and helping them find a way to focus on the positive especially when life gets hard. At home, Jolene loves to cuddle with her husband, two kids, three cats, and a dog—sometimes all at once—while reading Young Adult books or repeatedly watching movies based on them.

Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D25M7B4
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trial-by-charm-…/1123544097…
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1094129293

Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeeJolene

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_JoleneBuchheit/

 

 

Thank you Jolene for sharing with my readers today! Go check out her books! Leave Jolene a comment below.

What do you guys think,  does the flash fiction share sound appealing? I’ve done them before and thought they went over well. A bit of free reading!

Write on my friends, write on!

Meet the author: George Sirois

I first met George online about six years ago. I don’t even remember how we crossed each other’s paths,  but we’ve been Facebook friends ever since.  I read his first book Excelsior , which was very good! I later discovered that he was a fellow St. Louisan.

This year at Penned Con was the first time we had met in person!

You may have to turn the volume up!

From Parts Unknown

 

 

 

www.HesGotIt.con
Facebook.com/excelsiorbooks
Twitter.com/georgesirois
Instagram.com/georgesirois

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author Bio:

George Sirois has yearned to be a storyteller all his life, no matter the medium. That drive first led him to drawing his own characters while in grade school, and then – when his skills never advanced beyond the most primitive sketches – writing about them in various short stories and screenplays – before moving on to novels such as “Excelsior,” its sequel “Ever Upward: Part Two in The Excelsior Journey,” and the five-part serial “From Parts Unknown.” He is currently at work plotting “Greater Glory: Part Three in The Excelsior Journey,” and he has several other stories in the pipeline that fit into his “science-fiction for the young adult reader” niche.

While evolving as a writer, including an eight-year-long stint writing weekly movie news reports and opinion columns for the successful pop culture website 411Mania.com, George has also been evolving as a voice talent. He caught the acting bug at only four years old while performing in a short play in Poughkeepsie, NY. Two years later, he had his first taste of voiceover work, when he narrated a short story for his former preschool teacher, as well as several storybooks for his cousin who was recovering from cancer surgery. He went on to study Theatre in Godwin High School in Richmond, Virginia, and earn his BA in Theatre Arts (studying acting and writing) from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City.

George, his wife, and their two dogs now happily call St. Louis, Missouri their home. In his spare time, George is an avid cinephile, a collector of film scores, and a lifelong fan of the New York Giants. He enjoys West Coast Swing dancing and teaches beginner classes for the St. Louis Rebels West Coast Swing Dance Club (stlrebels.com). He is a regular contributor to Write Pack Radio (windingtrailsmedia.com) and was named President of the Missouri Writers Guild in May 2017.

Be sure to check out his books and if you need your book narrated, drop him a line.

Leave a comment for George below!  Thank you, George, for being such a wonderful guest and it was great to finally meet you in person!

Write on my friends, write on!

Meet the author: Rachel Jones

 My guest today is Rachel  Jones, a romance author. I got to meet Rachel at Penned Con 2017,  her table was directly across the aisle from me. Such a pleasant, lovely woman!  I am just now starting on this book, but so far I love it!  I’m not a super fast reader, but I’m on chapter 5 since this past weekend.

TO DANCE ONE MORE DAY

 Tagline: 

A broken ballerina repaired by the love of a trauma surgeon.

 

Blurb:

Jillian Russell, a promising prima ballerina, suffers the loss of her dance career. Redirecting her life, she opens the North Carolina Ballet Company.

Trauma surgeon, Alan Armstrong relocates to Charlotte, North Carolina for a fresh start. A supporter of the arts, Alan finds himself on the board of Jillian’s ballet company.

It is not long before they are romantically drawn to one another. When Alan discovers Jillian has been misdiagnosed, he tells her she must decide between their love and a performance career in ballet.

 

Excerpt:

Jillian lingered behind, thinking about her students. This was the best group of seven-year-olds she had taught since opening the school. She enjoyed teaching all ages but this group was the highlight of her week. Sighing, she wondered if maybe it had something to do with the fact Lily would have been seven this year. Brushing the thought away, she moved to the piano and focused her attention on arranging the music for the dance company’s rehearsal the next night.

Her school of ballet was impressive but her dance company was her crowning glory. Expanding her lungs to their fullest she exhaled, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. The North Carolina Ballet Company, now in its fifth year of existence, continued to experience growing pains and would for several years to come. As they grew in number they also grew in depth and dimension, becoming a cohesive group of artists excited to tell many stories through dance.  Their progress was measured by the reputation they enjoyed for offering professional performances to the surrounding communities.

“You have a good looking group of ballerinas, Jilly,” remarked David as he crossed the studio floor, followed by Alan.

The familiar voice brought a smile to her face. She had met David soon after moving to Charlotte when she was searching for a financial advisor. They had spent a lot of time together working on the financial end of setting up her school. When she took the plunge a year later, with David’s encouragement, and started the North Carolina Ballet Company, he was her biggest fan. Feeling she could trust him with her life, she was grateful he had accepted her invitation to be a part of the company’s initial board of directors.

Turning around at the sound of the tenor voice her eyes darted from her friend to the familiar form standing beside him. Her smile disappeared.

“You!” Jillian took a step back. “What are you doing here?”

“What’s wrong?” David’s gaze bounced back and forth between his friends. “Do you two know each other?”

Her eyes remained fixed on the doctor as if she were seeing him for the first time. He was tall, about six feet she estimated, with thick brown hair and he had the most gorgeous, deep-set brown eyes. It was like looking into pools of chocolate and she was finding it hard not to stare.  She shifted her gaze to her friend.  “I recall seeing him at the hospital, after the explosion.”

“Oh, come on, Ms. Russell. I performed the surgery on your shoulder and I was your doctor for two days—until you fired me. And all you have to say is, ‘I recall seeing you’?”

“If memory serves it was a day and a half. And I’d prefer not talking about anything having to do with the explosion if you don’t mind.”

“I see. Well, I hope your recovery is going well.”

“Yes, it is thank you.”

 

Buy Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Dance-One-More-Day-ebook/dp/B00L2EASUU/

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-dance-one-more-day-rachel-jones/1119742718?ean=2940149747580

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/449309

https://store.kobobooks.com/search?Query=to+dance+one+more+day

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/to-dance-one-more-day/id890645465?mt=11

 

Book Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJc_RH2wOYRFyUsVUyfaRtA/videos

 

Author Bio:

Award-winning author Rachel Jones is a Labor & Delivery RN by night and a writer by day. Her love of reading romance novels prompted her at age fifty-seven to write her first contemporary romance manuscript. She loves composing stories about strong women and sweet romance. Her books reflect her love of the performing arts. Her twenty-eight-year career in healthcare has influenced the threads of medical drama woven into her storylines.

When she’s not working or writing, Rachel loves traveling, sewing and making music. She lives in Kennesaw, Georgia her husband of thirty-nine years. They have three grown children and one spoiled Labrador retriever. Rachel is a member of Georgia Romance Writers, Georgia Writers Association, Heart of Dixie Romance Writers, and is a PAN member of Romance Writers of America.

Social Media:

http://rachelwjones.com

https://www.facebook.com/RachelJonesAuthor/?ref=hl

https://twitter.com/rjonesauthor

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8336834.Rachel_Jones

http://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Jones/e/B00L2HSGZQ/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

https://twitter.com/MegWelchDendlerhttps://www.pinterest.com/rjoneswriter/

Please leave a comment for Rachel!

Thank you, Rachel, for being such a lovely guest. Be sure to check out her links and get your copy of this heartwarming book!

Write on my friends, write on!

Meet the author: Meg Welch Dendler

Greetings! Last year during Penned Con I did a few impromptu interviews with fellow authors. It was such a big hit that many authors signed up this year. Sadly, between not feeling great and a  tighter schedule, I didn’t manage to catch everyone in person.  However, most of the authors have agreed to an online interview to make up for it.

Penned Con 2017 was an amazing time! I made assumptions based on last year, which I should not have.  For one,  my name is a little better known now and I had a lot more traffic to my table –  YAY! For another thing, between the residual effects of cancer treatment and a tighter schedule overall at Penned, it was harder to connect with other authors.  I was able to catch up with a few. I didn’t even get a chance to peruse other author tables!  That part I didn’t like. The hubby was happy though, I didn’t break the bank buying books this time.  I have a meager selection of books that I purchased and traded for.

My guest today is one of those authors I was looking forward to chatting with because she resides in a town in Arkansas that holds special meaning to my family and me. Please give a warm welcome to  Meg Welch Dendler!

Tell me a little bit about yourself and where you are from.

I was born in Houston, but my family soon moved to Champaign, Illinois. From there we spent over 20 years in the Detroit, Michigan, area, where I was married and had two daughters. My family moved back to Houston in 2008 and then we came to Arkansas in 2012. I was a preschool, elementary, and middle-school teacher for many years and am certified in Arkansas, though I’m officially retired as a teacher. I’ve been writing for many, many years, and I loved doing interview pieces and movie reviews. Along with my writing, I work as an editor for Pen-L Publishing and for other indie authors. Just a couple of weeks ago, we moved to Springdale, Arkansas, with our four cats and dog, Max.

2. I’ll have to pick your brain on that aspect, how to juggle the editing and writing.  It seems if I get enough editing jobs to cover the costs for publishing books, then I don’t have the time I’d like to publish the books! We may have to skype over coffee! What genre do you write?

I have written for magazines and websites for over 20 years and done non-fiction and informational writing and interviews, but nearly all of my published books—the Cats in the Mirror series and two companion dog books, along with the new “Bianca” series—are for middle-grade readers. “At the Corner of Magnetic and Main” is a women’s fiction novel, but I’m afraid it gets lost in the shuffle at book events. That makes me sad because I really love that book. I’m currently working on two more books in the alien rescue cat series, a second book in the new “Bianca” series, and a memoir of our time running a guesthouse in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. For me, it’s more about the story. I follow it where it goes and figure out what audience it is for, but I do have a love for writing for kids.

3. That is so cool!  It’s amazing how similar our paths have been.  I used to write an opinion column and have written several personal experience pieces as well as humor for magazines. I for one would love to read “At the Corner of Magnetic and Main”! What genre do you read? Which do you read the most?

I read all kinds of books, both indie and big best-sellers. I try to read some award winners every year and the ones that everyone is talking about (or making movies of), but I also read other kidlit writers and love to support indie authors who take their publishing seriously. Connecting with them on Facebook and at live events helps me to learn about their books and goals. Currently, I am reading the Outlander series. This is an epic task to take on! Each book is massive and fantastic and amazing. I tend to take a break between them with something lighter. The library is my friend! Overall, I’m also a big fan of Anne McCaffrey, Sharon Creech, and now Liane Moriarty. “Big Little Lies” kept me up way past my bedtime, and I’d already watched the mini-series and knew how it all turned out. Amazing writing. That’s what I look for the most. It helps me be a better writer, though admittedly sometimes makes me wonder why I bother at all when such fabulousness is already out there.

4. OMG! My Soul Sister!  I loved, loved, LOVED Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. Yes, they are massive.  I’ve read every one!  Also a big fan of Anne McCaffrey!  And in answer to that last statement – because the world needs the stories that are inside of YOU! Are you a pantser or plotter, or a plontser?

I guess I’ll have to go with plonster. I usually know that A, F, J, L, Q, and Z are going to happen when I really sit down to write a book or story, but I don’t know how one will lead to the other. I definitely don’t have it all planned out from A-Z before I start. What I normally do is write the parts I know, then I fill in the rest. Things will morph and change along the way, you have to allow for that, but Z (the end of the book) usually stays the same.

5. That’s kind of how I do it, kind of.  I’ve tried my hand at pantsing – NANOWRIMO 2011 and ended up with an unfinished book of 130K. Won NANO, but didn’t finish the book.  So I went back to work on it,  ended up somewhere near 250K, and decided that this should be a series.  BTW this is my Dragon series,  The NANO book was Kiss of the Dragon and will eventually come up again on the todo list. OVer the years,  I’ve gone over to the other ditch and back to somewhere between the ditches.  What is your work area like? (desk or work at table or on sofa, tidy or untidy, OCD organized, chaos, perfectly decorated, a niche carved out in a closet, etc.)

I work at my desktop computer at my grandfather’s wood desk. It is very old and massive and antique and has all these nifty pull-out shelves and cool things they used to design desks with. It is tidy-ish. There are usually piles and folders and such, but I know what it all is. I’m big on slips of paper that I make notes on and tuck into manila folders. I collect small Disney plush toys, and there are over 100 of them watching me work. Since we just moved, my office is currently a mess of boxes and clutter. It is about half the size of what I had before, but I like the cozy feel. My Disney friends are getting anxious about being in attic mode and want me to get things together quickly. My husband thinks it is weird that I want my back to the window since my old office was in a basement with no window at all, but I know I’ll just be distracted if I can see the neighbors or birds and such. I need a blank wall in front of me. No music. No distraction. I could never write in a public space like I know other writers love to do. The cats and dog are happy to sleep scattered around the office and not disrupt much, so they are allowed to hang out. I edit in the same space, so I’m there several hours a day. You have to make that area one that makes you happy and comfortable. You need to want to be there.

6. I am envying your office and the description of the antique desk requires a photo. Do you ever use real people as a basis for your characters?

Absolutely and unabashedly. My cat/dog books are full of my own family and pets, though as it has evolved I have added fictional characters as well. I’m even in there. “At the Corner of Magnetic and Main” is 99% fiction, but some of the characters were inspired by real people in the real town and I own up to it. That is going to get trickier as I work on the guesthouse memoir because a lot of it is not flattering to the people involved. I’m still working through how I’ll handle that. Sounds like a task for NaNoWriMo this year. Just start getting those words down and see what comes of it.

7. OOH! Sounds like the memoir piece could be a scandalous tell all! Reminiscent of ‘Murder She Wrote!’ Do you snack while you write or is food off limits in the office area?

When I really need to pound things out for a deadline, either writing or editing, I do use little treats to keep me going. M&Ms are great for that. Reward yourself with one every 15 minutes or X amount of words. Whatever the goal is. Sometimes I’ll work through lunch, so there’s that. Otherwise, no food. Some hot tea or a glass of water is about it. Maybe a Coke if I need bolstering around 3:00 pm. I can’t stand coffee (gasp, I know), so I have to figure out alternatives for the writer life. M&Ms work well, but they are hard on what little waistline I have. Mostly, no food in the office area.

8. I  won’t hold it against you for not liking coffee. I have all sorts of friends and believe it or not, some of them don’t drink coffee. So I guess my invite above should be to skype over a Coke, not coffee! What’s next for you?

The next few months are mostly focused on the release of my next book, “Bianca: The Brave Frail and Delicate Princess,” on December 1. This book is very special to me since it started out as a picture book in 5^th grade. It has gone round and round and taken different forms over the years. Picture books have changed a great deal in the last decade and it became clear that Bianca had more to say as a middle-grade novel than in picture book format. After extensive rewrites, I love how it all developed. For the last several months, my writing critique group has gone over every page of it, five pages at a time, and I’m so grateful for that resource. Even though I hire an editor, she mostly just does line edits for me. Having a critique group of honest (HONEST!) beta readers is invaluable. I’m kicking it up a notch with this one and doing the full pre-release gauntlet of Kirkus and magazine reviews and the whole nine yards. New England Children’s Book Review was very generous with their kind words and listed “Bianca” as a favorite, and Kirkus used lovely phrases like “spry and charming” and praised my “exquisitely characterized animals,” so I am over the moon so far. I still have to figure out formatting a hardcover version with Ingram Spark, a whole new enterprise, and start setting up reviewers and bloggers. That should keep me more than busy.

Well, anytime you need a blogger to promote,  give me a holler! I work for books! Thank you for taking time to answer my questions today and I may have questions for you about middle-grade books!

Be sure to check out Meg’s books below and follow the links!

Meg Welch Dendler

Best-Selling and Award-Winning Author of the Cats in the Mirror Series:

• Why Kimba Saved The World
• Vacation Hiro
• Miss Fatty Cat’s Revenge
• Slinky Steps Out
• and the companion books
• Max’s Wild Night
• Dottie’s Daring Day
• From Serenity Mountain Publishing

 

At the Corner of Magnetic and Main

Pen-L Publishing

Author Bio:

“Meg Dendler has considered herself a writer since she won a picture book contest in 5th grade and entertained her classmates with ongoing sequels for the rest of the year. Beginning serious work as a freelancer in the ’90s while teaching elementary and middle school, Meg has over one hundred articles in print, including interviews with Kirk Douglas, Sylvester Stallone, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. She has won contests with her short stories and poetry, along with multiple international awards for her best-selling “Cats in the Mirror” alien rescue cat children’s book series. Meg is an editor with Pen-L Publishing and also does editing work for independent and self-publishing authors.

Meg and her family (including four cats and her dog, Max) live in Arkansas. Visit her at www.megdendler.com for more information about upcoming books and events and all of Meg’s social media links. You can also follow Kimba on Facebook and Twitter.”

Member of Cat Writers’ Association, SCBWI, and the Ozark Writers League

www.megdendler.com

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Links for Meg Welch Dendler:

Web site: Megdendler

Blog:  megdendler

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Facebook: MegDendlerAuthor & KimbaBabyCat  (Kimba fan page)

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LinkedIn: Meg Dendler

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https://www.instagram.com/megdendler/

Books:

“Bianca: The Brave Frail and Delicate Princess” (pre-order link)

 

“At the Corner of Magnetic and Main”

Please leave a comment to show Meg your love! Thank you for being my guest today.

Write on my friends, write on!

Interview with Nikki Jefford

While I was at Penned Con 2016,  I got the opportunity to talk with and  interview a few authors live, one on one..  OK,  so I fangirled a lot as well. What can I say?

Nikki Jefford is one of those authors. I took a big breath, exhaled loudly,  then quickly approached her to do an interview.  She was such an amazing sport, and I know I cut into her set up time.

Sorry Nikki! I had only read the first  of her books but was already in love with this character and series. I was so nervous however,  that I forgot to get her to autograph a print copy for me. Next time Nikki, don’t let me forget!

You can tell I was nervous,  I was tongue tied, which is rare for me.

I first saw a post on Facebook in the Penned Con group from Nikki back in April I think. She posted a release for her latest book, True North (Aurora Sky, Vampire Hunter book 6) and I had never heard of it before that time. It piqued  my curiosity so I went over to Amazon and immediately got book 1,  because I can’t jump into a series on book 6 that’s just crazy. I’m currently on book 3.

I talk way too much when I am nervous and Nikki was great about it. *facepalm*

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nikki Jefford is the author of the Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter series and Spellbound Trilogy. She is a third-generation Alaskan now living in the Pacific Northwest with her French husband and their Westie, Cosmo. When she’s not reading or writing she enjoys taking long walks and motorcycling. Lifelong nature and animal lover with a fondness for hot chocolate, tea, wine, and baked goods.

Find out more at Nikki’s website at: http://www.nikkijefford.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiJefford

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikkijefford/

Go check  out her latest book. Better yet,  get the series!

Write on my friends, write on!

Ellie

Interview with Amy Hale

While I was at Penned Con 2016,  I got the opportunity to talk with and actually interview a few authors.  OK,  so I fangirled a lot as well. What can I say?

(You may have to turn the volume up,  I haven’t figured everything out yet.)

Letters From Jayson by Amy Hale

Jayson wants a quiet place to finish his current project. With one missed deadline behind him, he doesn’t have time for distractions and interruptions.

When Lindsey temporarily moves into a beach house owned by her best friend’s fiancé, she finds that it’s already occupied… by Jayson. To him, she’s a nuisance and a distraction from his work. To her, he’s a conceited and bossy obstacle. Both annoyed at this unavoidable situation, they agree to make the most of their predicament and try to co-exist in peace until their work is done. But Lindsey and Jayson quickly learn there is a fine line between love and hate. Is it really possible to love someone that makes you so crazy? Blurb:

Lindsey is ready for a change.

Shallow relationships and a dead end job have left her longing for more, so when a rare, but difficult opportunity presents itself for a promotion and temporary change of scenery, she jumps at the chance to try something new.

Letters From Jayson is a heartfelt comedy about finding love and forgiveness in the midst of chaos.

Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Letters-Jayson-Amy-Hale-ebook/dp/B01J2EPZR2/

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/letters-from-jayson-amy-hale/1123885820

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/letters-from-jayson/id1120781774

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/letters-from-jayson

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/640719

Excerpt:

An hour later, Lindsey retied her sarong around her waist and slowly made her way back to the house. She smiled as she walked, taking note of every detail she passed. The sand, the rocks, plant life—everything felt perfect. And the solitude was amazing. Not a sound outside of nature could be heard. The waves crashing softly were the perfect background music to start her new adventure. She pulled open the French doors and stepped inside the cottage. Then she froze in place. She heard humming. Masculine humming. It was coming from the vicinity of the kitchen.

At that moment, a man walked through the doorway with a knife in one hand. His piercing blue eyes met hers, and he stopped in his tracks. She let out a scream and grabbed the nearest thing she could find, which turned out to be a small potted plant. Lifting it over her head, she flung it at the intruder. He ducked just as it smashed against the wall next to him.

  “Get out,” she screamed. “Get out. Get out. Get out.”

“Lady. Hold up a minute,” the stranger yelled back. He quickly glanced at the remnants of the plant, disapproval on his face.

“I’m going to call the cops. I’ll have you put away for life. Get out of this house, you sicko.” She ran for the bed-room that she’d left her bags in, hoping she could shut him out and get to her cell phone.

He got there first and blocked the door. “Calm down.”

“Calm down?” she screeched as her eyes jumped from his to the knife still in his hand. She backed up as she blindly searched for something else to throw at him, and her hand landed on a small glass paperweight. She lobbed it at him, and his reflexes weren’t quite quick enough. It nailed him in the chest.

“Argh … Dammit! Stop throwing things at me.” He rubbed the spot where she’d hit him.

“If you think you can just waltz in here and … and … assault me, I’ll have you know that I will not go down without a fight.” Her tone was full of determination, but she was sure he could see the fear in her eyes.

“What are you talking about?” He held up his hands and only then seemed to realize he was holding a large kitchen knife. He looked back at her. “I’m gonna put the knife down and we will talk like rational adults, okay?”

She backed away from him several more steps before swallowing and giving him a reluctant nod.

He placed the knife on the table to his left, keeping his eyes on her the whole time. “Now, why are you yelling at me like a deranged banshee?”

“Why am I …” His description set her teeth on edge and her anger flared. “Listen, Bucko, I’m not an easy target, so don’t think you can smooth talk me or trick me into letting my guard down. And insulting me sure as hell won’t get you anywhere.”

He put his hands on his hips and raised one perfect eyebrow. “You listen, sweet cheeks, your virtue is safe. I don’t have to resort to forcing a woman if I’m in need of intimate company.” He took a moment to admire her red bikini and see-through sarong. “I mean, you’re hot and all, but don’t flatter yourself.”

She opened her mouth for a witty retort, but all that escaped was air. For a moment, she was actually speech-less, and that didn’t happen often. That moment quickly passed. “Why did you have a knife?”

He looked at her like she was an idiot. “To cut my sandwich.” He pointed to the coffee table in the middle of the room. A blue plate sat on one edge of the table—a large sandwich and a handful of chips covered most of the surface. An open beer bottle was nearby.

“A sandwich?” She was really confused. Why would a guy break in and make a sandwich? She looked him over then, really taking notice of him. She amended that thought—Why would a guy break in and make a sandwich, wearing nothing but lounge pants? He wasn’t just any guy, either, he might have easily been the most attractive man she’d ever set eyes on. He looked to be a few inches taller than her and was muscular everywhere. Not bodybuilder, vein-popping huge, but more like lean cut and definition that spoke of a man who took good care of himself. His face was classically handsome, with an angled jawline and rugged features, yet there was also something about him that made her think of that adorable boy she’d had a crush on in fourth grade. Maybe it was the bright-blue eyes, or the spiky but messy hair. Or it could have been that impish grin that told her he knew just what she was thinking. Damn, he caught me checking him out.

She shook off those thoughts and glared at him. Typical. Handsome and full of himself. Before she could fire off her next set of questions, he pinned her with a hard look.

“Now that we’ve established that the only thing I planned to murder is a hoagie, maybe you can explain to me what you are doing?”

She pulled herself to her full height and looked him in the eye. “I don’t owe you an explanation for anything.”

“Since you are in my house, uninvited, I might add, I’d say you do.”

Author Bio:

Amy Hale is an author, mother, and wife living in Illinois. She started her writing career in 2003 with non-fiction and educational pieces, but decided to take the leap to fiction in 2014. She’s always plotting new projects and writing down crazy ideas. She’s a hopeless romantic and adores all the various ways a love story can be told. Amy also loves mystery, humor, suspense, and other action-filled stories, so her goal is to blend the action with romance and keep you on your toes.
Her husband and kids are the center of her universe, although her cat believes otherwise. She also loves reading, music, and photography. When she’s not writing or reading, Amy can be found watching MST3K movies with her kids, or enjoying the scenery fly by from the back of her husband’s motorcycle.

 

Social Media:

Website: http://www.authoramyhale.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authoramyhale

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authoramyhale/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoramyhale/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChcgDFwggfO6NziPrGtLzHg

Go check  out her latest book, and maybe take a gander at  her others!

Write on my freinds, write on!

Ellie