Summer Heat and A Whole Lot of Great Authors You Should Be Reading

So a month or so ago, I was asked if I wanted to participate in a book event on Facebook. Let me first tell you that if you're an author, these are great to not only participate in but to gain new friends and fans. I did it because I love meeting new authors and new people. Plus, Tina Donahue is awesome and I adore her. So back to Summer Heat. I had such a great time with these ladies and all the guests who showed up  that I felt like I just had to share the fun with all of you out there in Blog Land and Readersville. Everyone started out by posting their books, links, and everything that had to do with their books and them being an author. Then the real fun started. I am talking about contests and games that went as mild as "Guess the Song That Plays at Your Funeral" to pictures of some serious man candy with suggestive captions to "Name that Penis!" Okay maybe it wasn't "Name that Penis" but I am sure Cynthia Knoble and Michelle Roth are totally going to steal that. Some of them had me laughing until I cried and my own son looked at me as if I had sprouted a second head and that was only day 1. Summer Heat finishes up tonight so I hope you guys who read this decide to stop by while you've got some free time.




           So to all my new found author friends and sisters of the pen, I am showcasing everyone that has participated so far. This is quite a list and I am urging EVERYONE to put these ladies and their books on your TBR lists. They are truly PHENOMENAL!



       1. Our lovely hostess with the mostess, Tina Donahue: Tina writes Erotic Contemporary and Erotic Paranormal. She has a the Outlaw Realm Series that is definitely a panty scorcher. Here's her author bio: I’m an award-winning, bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Kensington, Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, Siren Publishing, Booktrope, Luminosity, and indie. Yay! Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised my work, and trust me, I’m forever grateful for that. I’ve had my books reach finals in the EPIC competition, one title was named Book of the Year at a review site, and others have won awards in RWA-sponsored contests. I’m actually featured in the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Talk about feeling like a freaking star. Before my writing career, I was the editor of an award–winning Midwestern newspaper and worked in Story Direction for a Hollywood production company. Outside of being an admitted and unrepentant chocoholic, I’ve flown a single-engine plane (scary stuff), rewired an old house using an electricity for dummies book, and have been known to moan like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally whenever I eat anything Mexican or Italian. Yeah, I like to eat (burp).

 

Tina's Links

Tina Donahue Offical Website *Official Tina Donahue Facebook Fan Page* Tina Donahue Twitter

 

Tina Donahue Amazon Page

 

 

 

 

 

2. Cynthia Knoble-Cynthia Knoble is wickedly delicious when it comes to her books and sense of humor. I am going to paste her official author blurb about her: Although I am a newly published author, I have written my entire life. In addition to my two currently available novels, a third novel and a series of erotic shorts will be published very shortly. A lover of all things creepy and scary, paranormal elements abound in my stories. I also love to draw, paint and cook. In fact, I am a trained chef but now I devote my energies to writing full-time. I am  also the mother of two sons and I live with them, a dog and a cat in southern Ontario, Canada.  Cynthia's writing genre is romance but her books range from sweet romance to erotic.

 

 

 

 



Cynthia's Links:

 

Cynthia Knoble Official Website* Cynthia Knoble on Facebook * Cynthia Knoble's Official Amazon Page

 

 

 

3. Michelle Roth- Now let me tell you about Michelle Roth, she is killing it with her Transfigured Series. However, she hits a home run with her Contemporary romances as well. Michelle Roth is definitely becoming a force to be reckoned with. I personally just read her first paranormal romance and all I can say is "GIMME MORE GIMME MORE!"

 

Here's her titles including her first paranormal romance (welcome to the club Michelle).

 

 

Michelle Roth's Links:

 

Michelle Roth's Official Website * Michelle Roth's Facebook Page * Find Michelle Roth Books at Bookstrand

 

 

 





4. Mardi Maxwell- Here's a little about Mardi:
I love the quirky and the unique. I believe in UFOs, ghosts, and that we have a moon station on the dark side of the moon. lol I have a wonderful son and DIL who have been kind enough (after much badgering and hinting around) to give me three lovely grandchildren. I'm a very young grandma ;-)
I've loved reading since I was a little girl although just about every book I ever read I rewrote in my mind. After a while I decided to just start writing my own books. My best friend dared me to send one in, so I did and to my surprise it was accepted.
I love books that make you laugh, cry, sit on the edge of your chair in fear that the couple won't work it out, and then finally cheer for them when they do. I'm a true believer in a happy ending and won't read a book or watch a movie that ends any other way.
I write every day but I always find time to spend with my family and friends as well as my hobbies (cooking, gardening, traveling, and ceramics).
My personal motto is "Regret is a wasted emotion." Live well and happy reading.

Mardi's genre is erotic paranormal BDSM style. Forget the Fifty club and join Club Mardi's Dom's Club of Mystique and Zarronian Warriors Series

Here are Mardi's Books:

 

 

Mardi Maxwell's Links

 

Mardi Maxwell's Official Website *Mardi Maxwell's Facebook Page *Mardi Maxwell's Twitter

 

Mardi Maxwell's Amazon Page

 

 

 

5. DeCota Jaymes-DeCota Jaymes is published through JK Publishing. She is a new author and she mixes her paranormal with some hawt erotica. In her own words, this is her author bio: I started writing as a hobby. I didn't know that I would actually enjoy it until my friend read some of my work and loved it.... I hope to make this a well deserved creative breakthrough for myself. I never was creative in the crafting area, but words are easier to manipulate. They are your thoughts, feelings, and your life all in one package. Most of my writings have bits from my past. Some are little things that would never really matter to some; others are life changing and I make it to where it has a happy ending. Not everyone gets one of those and not many situations warrant them either. My extreme case of sarcasm and odd humor make it even more interesting.



 

Here is her latest release:

 

 

 

 

DeCota A. Jaymes can be found here:

 

DeCota A. Jaymes Facebook Author Page

 

 

6. Emma Anderson-Emma Anderson is a six title author and she is definitely a fine asset to club Paranormal Romance genre. Here is an excerpt from the first leg of the Summer Heat book event from last night in her own words: These voices belong to our many characters, and when I say constant I mean it. Mine especially like talking to me just as I’m about to go to sleep, which is helpful for someone who was a light sleeper before my boys were born, and now barely gets two hours before waking up again. (Note my boys are now ...7 and 9, so I have no idea what my body/mind is playing at not letting me have a decent night’s sleep).
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Emma Anderson. I currently have six romances books out on the shelves of Amazon, Bookstrand, Kobo,….. Well you get the idea! And another one due to be released in the next few weeks. So far they are all paranormal. My romantic mind likes to see the creatures of nightmares having their own HEA. 

 

 

Emma Anderson's Current Titles:

 

 





Emma Anderson's Links:

 

Emma Anderson's Amazon Page * Bookstrand for Emma's Books  * Emma Anderson's Facebook Page *The Official Blog of Emma Anderson

 

7. Sara Anderson- I am Sara Anderson. I am an author published through Siren Bookstrand. I have 4 published books with one releasing on February 11t through Siren. I have been married for 20 years.
We have three children together: a son and two daughters. We live in rural southern Missouri. It is beautiful here with the gentle rolling hills and green rural acreage. There are cows everywhere since this area has two of the top beef producing counties in the state. Cowboys are easy to find here, and country music is the default music of every grocery store and gas station. Sara Anderson mixes her writing  paranormal romance with spellbinding characters. Her utterly sinful series, Warriors of Dareen  is a must read! 

 

Sara Anderson's Latest Releases:

 

 

Sara's Links

 

Sara Anderson's Amazon Page  * Sara Anderson's Official Facebook Page

 

 

 

 

I am sure I am missing a few but I will most definitely post those tonight and don't forget to stop by the Summer Heat Book Event on Facebook!

 

Summer Heat Book Event on Facebook

 





NaNoWriMo Versus WRITER'S BLOCK

     You are traveling through another dimension or world. Perhaps

you're on Route 66 or you're atop the Eiffel Tower in France, but a

wondrous journey into the unknown  or rather the story that you've

been playing inside your head since last November.

       NaNoWriMo is here yet again, and  you've been feverishly

typing away, possessed beyond sight and the speed of sound when


suddenly, you're mind goes blank and you come to a grinding halt.


                                             You dear friend,
    
                           have entered the Writer's Block Zone!

                           (psst, this is where you cue the music)



Is this you?

 

                 Are you about to pull your hair out or throw in the towel? There is nothing more heart wrenching, more evil, or more of a butt kicker than Writer's Block. It's okay, take a breath-we've all been there and you know what, you'll have it a hundred or more times during your writing career. I've been known to get it while filling out Christmas cards. If you're stuck in the Writer's Block Zone, first take a few breaths and save what you got and turn off the computer, lap top, or Ipad. Don't look at me like I've went stark raving mad, do it. Then I want you to step away and say to yourself, "I AM NOT A FAILURE! THE STORY IS IN ME, AND I WILL WRITE IT." You're still itching to get back to being frustrated and looking at that screen aren't you? Hair trigger maybe? WALK AWAY!!!  To quote that little lady from the movie, Poltergeist, "Now clear your minds. It knows what scares you. It has from the very beginning. Don't give it any help, it knows too much already." 

 

                 Writer's Block is no more than stress and it's not the end of your writing career or the nail in the coffin for your book or NaNoWriMo submission. It means you need a break and the more you let frustration and anxiety in-the more you're going to help your Writer's Block to stay. There are literally hundreds of ways and claims to get over Writer's Block. For all of you NaNo's out there, here is the top 20 ways from a past guide I got in 2010.

 

                                    

1. Don’t start with a blank page. Write a quick outline. Jot down a few notes. Write down that one, great quote you were planning to use. Presto — no more blank page.
2. Read more widely. Create an RSS dashboard of top bloggers in your niche, sign up for a SmartBrief or two, or get a Google Alert on some of your key words. Read more newspapers. Read books. Read, read, read.
3. Write what you feel like writing. If you have a terrific itch to write one particular idea, then write that one right now. The more you go with your creative flow and write what you’re inspired to write, the easier it will be beat writer’s block.
4. Start anywhere. Many writers sit staring at their screens because they’re obsessed with writing the first line of a piece first. Forget all about that. If you know how it will end, write that now. If it has bullet points, go ahead and write those first, if that would be easy. Once you jot down the part that’s coming naturally to you, the rest will start to flow.
5. Use your lifeline. That’s right, phone a friend, just like on the reality shows. Then, tell your friend about the topic you’re trying to write. As in all conversations, you will tend to naturally mention the most interesting points first. When you hang up, your piece is outlined and ready to go.
6. Don’t edit while you write. When you’re writing, just let those creative juices flow along. Don’t spoil the magic by stopping to fiddle with a word here or cut a line there.
7. Create an ‘idiot’s outline.’ If you have a lot of research, interviews and other material to organize, go through all your resources and simply listing each source. Then, next to the source, write the most important point or two they make. Now all you have to do is place the points into a logical order, and you’ve got a rough outline.
8. Write without notes or quotes. Here’s the opposite approach for a piece with lots of interviews, statistics and research — simply put all your paperwork aside. Now, write the story. Resist the urge to look up factoids or exact quotes. Leave blanks or notes to check details as you go, but keep moving forward. At the end, go back and fact-check.
9. Write something else. Write a shopping list, or a letter to a friend. Once the fingers are moving, it’ll be easier to get the piece you were stuck on rolling.
10. Review your past writing. Whenever I was really intimidated by a writing assignment, I used to get out my writing portfolio and look through it. When you read your successful previous work, it reminds you that you are a strong writer, and you can do this.
11. Free associate. If you feel disorganized, just go with that — start writing random thoughts about your topic. Then, sort through your brainstorms for lines you want in your piece.
12. Do a mind map. Get off the computer and make a visual drawing of your topic’s ideas and how they relate to each other. Soon, you’ll not just have ideas for your current post, but ideas on how that one might lead to related, future posts.
13. Set a timer. Use the Pomodoro technique and set a timer for 25 minutes. Now, you have to work on your assignment until the timer goes. You can’t do anything else. That’ll get boring fast, and you’ll start to write. Try it if you don’t believe me.
14. Create a deadline. The problem with our own writing is no ‘boss’ is standing over us insisting we get the writing done by a specific time. So create a deadline calendar of when your posts must be completed. Then, allow no recreation time until the deadline is met.
15. Reduce noise. Are you trying to write with the TV or radio running in the background? That extra stimulus may prevent you from focusing on the writing. They say our brains really can’t multi-task.
16. Turn off the Internet. Do you find yourself playing Bejeweled or checking Twitter when it’s writing time? Write on a pad of paper instead, or use programs such as Anti-Social or Freedom to disable social media or Internet access until you’re done writing.
17. Try a writing prompt. If you can’t get the juices flowing, do a writing exercise — writing prompts are available on sites such as Creative Copy Challenge.
18. Do more research. Sometimes, nothing’s coming out because a nagging voice in the back of your head says you don’t really know enough about your topic. If that’s so, do a bit more research and then return to writing.
19. Change your location. Move to your deck, a coffeeshop, a friend’s back bedroom, a co-working office space…wherever you don’t usually write. See if inspiration hits.
20. Take a break. Take a half-hour break. Take a walk. Take a bath. Take a nap. Do a headstand — get some blood flowing to the brain again. Then, come back ready to have at it.

PHEW!!! That's a lot to think about isn't it?

         If none of that appeals to you, at least do numbers 16 and 20 as soon as you conclude reading


this blog if you are suffering with the big WB. Now these are a few things that I do.

1. I rest my brain. That could mean simply lying down and taking a nap-which if you're home is like mine and occupied with children-naps are like unicorns; rare and mythical. So, try taking a soak (don't forget to bring the radio so you can tune out the myriad of knocks and bathroom interruptions. You could also try going to your room or curling up in a chair with a good book that is a total 360 degrees from what you are writing or pop in a good movie. 
2. Nothing says Craft/Hobby time like Writer's Block. After I've had a good rest, I either turn to t baking or crafting. Not only does cooking/baking and crafting distract from where your writing left off, but it exercise both physical and sensory. I don't know about you but a double chocolate fudge Hawaiian Brownie sounds like a great way to jump back into writing.
3. Use your Phone-A-Friend lifeline. Any good friend will know that if you are calling them during the NaNoWriMo month of November, that it's game time and you've been given a time out while the field is being re-prepped. I usually turn to my author friends or fellow NaNo's. They give great support but are going to talk about something other than what you're writing about. They're going to listen to you vent and keep you from assassinating your main character and burning the castle down. Your friends will be there to keep you from having a Carrie White at the Prom moment. Author/writer friends have been there! Network. This should be the only time you are back on the computer and it is strictly for using "The Buddy System". My friend Denyse Bridger, who is an accomplished award winning author is the cute version of Mickey Goldmill, who's there with a bucket of water to throw on me and slap if I need it. Believe me, I've had to have a few slaps during Writer's Block hysterics. I have a lot of other great friends too that are my little cheer leading section.
4. Get out of the house if you can. Take in a dinner and a show or go do something that will keep you active. Me, I love going to the movies or simply just taking a walk.

When I've completed all these and I feel recharged and ready to go, I grab a notepad or composition notebook and just do some free writing. It doesn't always make sense but it gives my brain a jump start. The key gets turned in the ignition and I'm up and writing again. 

 

 

So have you ever had Writer's Block and survived? Tell me how you did it or if you're struggling-share your experience in the comments below!

 

YOU CAN DO IT! DON'T STOP!

                                  







This Writer's Angst

Yesterday I got an email from the publisher of my book, Renegade Night. As many of you know I've not been too happy with them and yesterday just cranked my anger at them another notch. Publish America is doing away with its discounts. No longer will authors be able to get discounts should they decide to buy their own books which by the way is the only people they seem to be pitching books to. To even have my book at any of their so-called "events", I have to buy copies. I only get a basic 10 percent discount per book I order. That would not be so bad if my book was at an affordable price. My book is not even in hard cover, but in soft cover. My book when it started was 25.99 plus tax. Of course I contacted all sorts of bookstores and many of them were glad to have a local author but unless I consigned copies, the stores would not carry my book because the price points were so high. As of January this year my book went all the way to 35.99 plus tax and shipping costs. I've tried to pass along the discounts to people who were interested and not one person could utilize those discounts. I am very VERY VERY grateful to each and every one who has purchased a copy, however I am so disappointed that the price points are still not affordable and are still high. I checked with other soft cover books that exceed the pages of my book and 96 percent of them are all considerably lower and by independent new authors as well as widely known ones. So now they are discontinuing discounts all together and not lowering the price of books. I don't know what to do at this point. I still try to advertise on here, my facebook and myspace pages, and even through my own website, but it's hard especially with today's economy for me to morally ask people to purchase a soft cover book at 35.99 plus tax and shipping. I find it morally and ethically wrong for Publish America to pitch my book to me to buy(which books I buy of my own I don't get royalties on and I've not seen one dime off any of the books that have been purchased so far)for Publish America to have at these events. Over half the events I have researched to find Publish America is not even a vendor or a part of. Publish America has a legal team and many people have tried to sue them to only be defeated. I was naieve when I signed my contract and I thought even if it was a lousy deal the price points would still be affordable. So I am here to tell anyone who is wanting to write and have their works published DO NOT GO THROUGH PUBLISH AMERICA! There are many more author mills(publishers who utilize practices like Publish America that try to make money off the author instead of trying to market the books to the mass market) out there. Please go to http://writersbeware.com because they have lists of these so called author mill publishers and Publish America is listed. I didn't know that then but I know that now and I want to pass along that information to all of you who might read this. Spread the word! These people are cons and frauds. They will take your work-edited by you and then they copy and paste it to a standard word document and then do a general spell check and not even care that sometimes spell and document check creates more errors. Then they will give you a half ass book cover art that is not original that is just basically from a catalog of clip art and then boost the price so high that no one really is going to buy the book, they will tell you they are going to send press releases to your local media which they do not, and you are going to have a next to impossible time getting book stores as well as libraries to carry your work because of the price. You are the one they are going to pitch the book to and getting customer service help via the publishing department is like trying to get water from a rock. I've tried, I wouldn't say this just to be disgruntled over the lack of sales-I'm telling you this because it's been my experience. I have saved every email from them and none of them is how to get my book out there unless I buy copies of my own book. No other legit publisher does this. They want to make money and whether they are an E-publisher or a book publisher they are going to circulate your book. That is one reason why it is so hard to find a literary agent or legit publisher because they are going to do what it takes to get your book out there and on shelves or computer screens. They are going to be there with you through every step of the way and are not going to ask you to buy your own book because they know that is not your job it's their job as publishers. I don't know how to get the ball rolling on getting these parasites out of a job, and I've written to Maryland's Attorney General, Govenor, and Better Buisness Bureau to have it fall on deaf ears. I am not going to give up but that's where I'm at with my book. So my plan is to keep on writing and creating and hopefully one day get picked up by a legit publisher/or literary agent. They are out there and they want your submissions but you have to be good! You have to have that spark that when an editor looks at your work, they are enveloped in your story within the first few pages. It's got to be something unique and something they know they can market. That's why it's so hard to get published. Many best selling authors will tell you that it took them years and alot of hard work. I'm willing to do the hard work and take the time but I'm not wasting no more time with Publish America and other author mills. I'm not going to let something that I've poured my blood,sweat, and tears and have this happen twice. You should not let it happen even once! I still refuse to self-publish my work because I want the prestige of being chosen by a legit publisher/agent, but if self publishing is right for you, then do it! It may mean you have to do most of the leg work yourself but self publish with a place like Lulu publishing that is not going to cost you out of pocket. Know the genre your writing for. I write paranormal romance but I also write other things such as poetry(Which I'm not having published), children's stories, contemporary literature, and whatever else comes into my mind. I feel like I'm a painter and some days I'm painting landscapes and other days I'm like Dali; a surrealist. Somedays I feel a bit Rembrant and then there are times when Van Gough, Picasso, or even Warhol. It just depends on what picture comes into my mind at the time. I am no where near Dickens, Bronte, Kenyon, or Poe but I think I'm going to get there. I get an idea or inspiration for a story, it plays in my mind like a slow reel movie before I put it to paper or my canvas. I do alot of erasing and painting over and by the time its done, I have to stand back and look at it to make sure that the words I've painted flow and create the story that's in my mind. Writing for me is a passion-it's something that was always very private and it takes alot for me to entrust someone else to see it, but in the end I have to like what I've written. If I wouldn't read it, I know no one else would. I am my own worst critic. So when you read Renegade Night or anything else I've written and put out there, you should know that it has came from the very depths of my soul and I've put 100% into it. You may not like it and that's okay, but you will know that I've put everything I have and more into it. So to have some place like Publish America basically rip it to shreds, it's like driving a knife into my heart and I don't want that to happen to anyone. So for my fellow aspiring writers, and those crazy people out there like me that has this driving ambition, never give up and never surrender but be wary of who you choose to take the reigns of your dream. So keep writing,drawing, painting or whatever it is that is in your soul to do! Just beware of those leeches out there that lie in wait to bastardize your hard work.

Great and Fantastic Read

Again Im going to do some advertising. I just got Lover Mine by J R Ward yesterday and it has been really really hard to put it down! I mean it! I think that this one might be her best book out of the series yet! I mean I don't see how True Blood(and I loooove True Blood the show)has HBO to make a series out of it and here J R Ward doesn't have squat for her Black Dagger Brotherhood! I mean these books are so much more than just a "romance"! I mean you have a total and complete story here-a world here that deserves either a TV series or a movie at the very least! It's a full on action that even Rambo would be proud to read let alone watch. I sooo love the Twilight Saga-it will always have a soft part of my heart but OMG THE BLACK DAGGER SERIES SOOOO TRUMPS THE CULLENS! Seriously even our favorite, Underworld and Blade Trilogy. They are THAT DAYAM GOOD! It reminds me of my own writing in the sense that I WANT to be able to tell a story that good! I want to make my characters come to life with a vengence and create a world for them. J R Ward and authors like Sherrilyn Kenyon,Laura Adrian,Lynsay Sands, and others deserve your respect and hommage so reguardless of what genre of books you love to read, make sure you patronize not only your local book stores, online stores like Amazon, but your favorite writers as well!