That time of year #Writerslife #Survey

What time of year? You know, the holidays are coming up! It's a busy season for all, including writers. I've always wanted to do a holiday themed anthology, but just like fashion, you have to have it ready six months ahead of the season!

Nov/Dec Writer's Life Survey... (and my answers)

1) Have you ever written/submitted/published a holiday story? Details?

I did one last year for Geekdom House "A Super Christmas" I'd like to do more, but like my Xmas shopping, I usually wait until the last minute... I started a cozy Christmas mystery about Cooper and Geri going up to visit his parents, but it sits unfinished. One of these days!

2) Have you ever been a part of/wanted to do an anthology? If so, how many? And How was your experience?

I've been a part of a few anthologies. And I've been rejected for a few too - ouch, but it doesn't stop me from submitting! I like writing short stories and an anthology has a bigger readership with multiple authors' fan bases!

3) What is your preferred length of a novel - to read and/or write? Shorter, Medium, or Looong?

I like shorter and medium, but will do long if I love it (Game of Thrones)

4) When is your favorite time to read?

Whenever I can! I steal spare moments all the time, especially when waiting.

5) Want to share a line from something you're working on? A teaser or quote? Or even an inspirational phrase? We could use something intriguing or uplifting!

Since the release of CRADLE ROCK is right around the corner, here's a quote from it...

"Girls can't resist the urge to fix things. Especially boys."

Bonus Question: Give us a book recommendation (not your own, cheesy!) - a gift we can give each other (and to another author!)

My Book Recommendation is The Totem Series by Christine Rains
These three shapeshifting sisters are as fierce as their polar bear alter egos. They are determined to save their kind by finding missing Totem pieces, no matter the dangerous legends and magic surrounding them nor the mysterious, evil shifter competing for its control.

These are the first three novellas in the series that are out so far...

Each book focuses on a different sister with distinct, clashing personalities. And besides helping their kind, they have to deal with relationship problems. It can be hazardous when mixing duty and pleasure.

Here's the links - Totem 1 - Dark Dawning, Totem 2 - Silent Whispers, Totem 3 - Cloak of Snow

Have a scrumptious Thanksgiving and get hopping on the shopping!
Looking forward to your responses!

A new way to travel!

G'day Mates!

I'm not sure if that phrase applies only to Australia, but I'm whisking you all away to New Zealand!! My awesome, funny, photo-journalist friend Rhonda Albom has put her skills and eye for beautiful shots to work for her. I've always admired her photography from far away lands and entertaining, informative stories to accompany the eye-catching sights. Now I'm excited to help give her a shout as she releases a new interactive, travel guide book! Check it!

Choose A Way Auckland is an interactive city guide by local travel writer and photographer Rhonda Albom. She shares firsthand the best that the city has to offer while you make all the decisions.

Unlike traditional guidebooks, now you can build your day as you go. Choose from three options, enjoy the activity, and then choose from three more.The choices will keep your day flowing, allowing you a worry free Auckland adventure as you discover the highlights of the city, along with the offbeat, hidden treasures.

In addition to a succinct description, each option includes a photo, the address, GPS coordinates, a link to Google Maps, and easy-to-follow directions that have been tried and tested. Use it on your smartphone or tablet to make choices on-the-go, or plan ahead on your laptop.

It’s not just for visitors, Aucklanders love it too.

Rhonda Albom is a travel photographer, freelance writer and award winning blogger at Albom Adventures. Living in Auckland since 2003, Rhonda writes about her travels in New Zealand and around the world. Collectively, with her husband and her two teenage girls, they have been to 48 countries in five continents. Rhonda homeschools her girls, is on a women’s yacht racing team, leads a Girl Guide group, and and enjoys a good cup of coffee.

Links:
Amazon -- Barnes and Noble -- Kobo Books
Apple Books (US) -- Apple Books (NZ)

For PDF
Publisher's Page

So excited for her! And she's also participating in the A to Z challenge - give her a visit!

#Writing is Life

There is SO MUCH going on this week! Meme Blog Hop, Release Day, and IWSG!

First I want to thank all the participants in advance for joining our MEME BLOG HOP!

Here are a few I came up with...

(All you need to make a meme is a picture and a few words of lightness or encouragement - put them together in Paint or I used Powerpoint. There's also a meme app.)

Stop by my most awesome co-hostesses - Christine Rains, C. Lee McKenzie - and those on the list below for some further wonderful wittiness!


I also hope these memes are encouraging for IWSG day! Here's my contribution...

Some say "Life's not a sprint, it's a marathon."
I say, "Life's a never-ending obstacle course!"

Does anyone else feel pressure to show others that writing isn't just a hobby? Lately I've been submitting short stories, hoping to prove my writing is "worth" something and help pay bills... But these bits and pieces take time away from my novels, which I feel I need to continue to put out there, too!

I'm also scheduling more appearances to drum up business - marketing is an incredible time drain. I've got so many different projects going on at the same time, it's hard to prioritize and can get very stressful (and makes me grouchy) Sometimes I just feel lost.

I guess the key is to concentrate on one thing at a time. I hate to break it to you, but science has proven that multi-tasking is FICTION. Our brains can only truly concentrate on one thing at a time. Though it may seem like multi-tasking, it's just doing successive things quickly.

Another way I help myself is to make deadlines. I like deadlines, they're just more concrete goals. I prioritize my stuff and set soft dates to try and get them done by.
>>Try to work on WIP 1 hour a day (finish the dang thing so I can start editing!)
>>Blog posts have their own deadlines, so I do them. And try to visit!
>>Submissions have deadlines too - but if I don't finish those, there are plenty more, so I'm working on building up a file of ready-to-submit stories.

How do you keep your head above water??


And lastly -

JOLISSA IS AVAILABLE TODAY!!

JOLISSA - An Anti-Princess Story,

with ongoing video storybook

A trouble-making maiden, a clumsy out-of-work squire, a loyal puppy, and a talking goat go on a quest - What could go wrong?

I didn't plan a big launch day or tour or anything, but I want to say a huge THANKS to Susan Gourley-Kelley and MJ Fifield for volunteering to help spread the word! We'll see how this self-publishing goes. And the next story in my Unconventional Princesses series (of course it's a series), TWO PRINCESSES, is somewhere on my extensive TO DO LIST...

Have a positive and productive week!

The road not taken, for a reason

It's THE UNDEAD ROAD!
Today I'm happy to welcome my friend and space knight, David P. King. I hope you enjoy this little interview I was able to talk him into...

Q: How did The Undead Road come to fruition?
A: I’ve always wanted to write my own zombie story, but it wasn’t until I saw the first episode of The Walking Dead when it finally clicked. This book is also semi-autobiographical, meaning it’s based on how my twisted mind thought about things and perceived the world when I was 15.

My boys LOVE the walking dead, and I have no idea why... but you will totally relate to them!
Q: What are your thoughts on the new trends in publishing?
A: It’s a complicated shift from what I expected when I first set out to publish in the 90s. Self-publishing makes it easier for authors to get their work out without a gatekeeper holding them back. When I couldn’t get traditional publishers to sign this book, “self-publish” was shouted at me from all angles. I figured if my traditional efforts didn’t pan out, why not self-publish?

It's a whole new world - and seems even more competitive than ever!
Q: Do your undead characters resemble anyone you know?
A: A friend of mine won a Zombify Me! contest a while ago. She’s a zombie in the book! Look for Ilima Todd within the pages. And if you’re not nice to me, you’ll get undead soon enough.

That's awesome Ilima is an immortalized zombie! Ha!
Q: Can you share a short section of The Undead that you particularly enjoyed writing (nothing gross please!)?
A:
       Her oncoming baseball bat made me stumble back. My voice caught in my throat as the dog joined in with a bark. This girl was quick! I reached for my .45, but before I could grab the handle, she had me pinned, ready to splatter my brains.
       I closed my eyes, expecting her blow. Nothing happened. I blinked my eyes open. The girl was standing right over me, and she smiled a smile that I would never forget.
      “Now we’re even.”

Ooo - great sneak peek! Wicked smile =)
Q: And finally, how's it going? I hope all is well on the home front! Any good news to share (besides your latest book!)?
A: Truth be told, I’m currently unemployed. I was laid off before the holidays. While I am seeking new work, my writing is the only source of income I have (not much, but better than $0). I’m still writing and looking forward to the writing conference scene this year, and hoping upon hope that I will find a new job to support my family. Please share this book with all you know!

That last question was asked a while ago. I feel bad for nosing in expecting innocent happy stuff. But I'm also glad he shared his struggles because now we can help him by spreading the news about his awesome books. And hopefully it will just be a temporary setback or lead him to something better!

It was so nice to have David over here - it's been too long. And now, here are some details about his fabulous book. The cover is sensational and the story is to die for - poor choice of words? Regardless - check it out!

The Undead Road, My Zombie Summer: Part One
by David Powers King
Publisher: Dashboard Books / CreateSpace
Ebook Release: January 2st, 2016
Paperback: January 26th, 2016
Cover by Steven Novak
Edited by Reece Hanzon

Nothing brings the family together like a zombie apocalypse …

Fifteen-year-old Jeremy Barnes would rather watch a zombie movie than shoot a real one, but he has no choice if his family wants to survive the end of the world. Their plan? Drive across the infected United States to a cabin in the Colorado Rockies without a scratch, but their trip takes a complicated detour in the middle of Nebraska when they find Kaylynn, a girl who can handle a baseball bat better than Jeremy can hold a .45 Berretta. And when they stumble into a sanctuary, Jeremy soon learns that Kaylynn is stronger than she looks—a deadly secret lies inside her.

After the radio picks up a distress call from Kansas City about a possible cure, Jeremy’s parents go with a team to investigate. They never return. The only way to find their parents is for Jeremy and his sister Jewel to rely on a dangerous girl who might just turn on them at any moment.

Don't wait! Get yours TODAY!

Amazon -- Amazon.CA -- Amazon.UK -- Amazon.AU -- CreateSpace -- Kindle Store

AND HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN HELP SOME MORE!

ENTER THIS EASY CONTEST!

Visit davidpowersking.com and leave and comment and/or tweet about The Undead Road (at least once) for a chance to win a free ebook. One out of every 10 comments and tweets is a winner!

"Nothing brings the family together like a #zombie #apocalypse..." amzn.to/1RT8xly #99c #kindle! @DavidPowersKing

About the Author:
David Powers King was born in beautiful downtown Burbank, California where his love for film inspired him to be a writer. He is the co-author of the YA fantasy novel WOVEN, published by Scholastic. An avid fan of science fiction and fantasy, David also has a soft spot for zombies and the paranormal. He currently lives deep in the mountain West with his wife and three children.

Blog -- Facebook -- Twitter -- Goodreads -- Newsletter

And don't forget to join Christine Rains, C Lee McKenzie and I for our uplifting MEME BLOGHOP, February 29 - March 4 ...

Tis the Season for Wishes

Are you keeping up with everything this season?

You'd think after so many Christmases I'd have this stuff down. But no, it always seems to creep up on me. But part of that is because I refuse to start doing most of my Christmas stuff until after Thanksgiving. I rebel against trampling my November holiday! And I'm happy to say I finally got my decorations up this weekend - can you believe I was the last one on the block!

I also had a very festive event this weekend. The Hamilton Christmas Gift Show - it was a blast! I got to meet some very sweet people and I sold a bunch of books. But my favorite part was meeting a new fan. A girl from one of the other booths bought BBF for her twelve-year-old brother on Friday. Then on Saturday the boy and his dad came to the event and stopped by to tell me how much he was enjoying the book. And before we packed up, they came back and bought Pop Travel too! It was awesome! Such a warm fuzzy feeling!! I just wish I'd remembered to take some pics...

Now here's some more exciting news and A Writer's Wish List by Tyrean Martinson!

The Battle 

May Be Lost

Because of a Family Secret.

With distracting attention from a prince and her mentors both in harm's way, will Clara be able to trust her team with her family secret as they race to fight the Dark Sisterhood on their terms?

CHAMPION'S DESTINY is the third book in The Champion Trilogy by Tyrean Martinson, a Christian Fantasy series with a strong female heroine and an epic cast of allies and villains.

Clara’s destiny is more complicated than she imagined.

NOW AVAILABLE for PRE-ORDER

Kindle - Smashwords 

Author Links:

Blog - Twitter - Facebook - Amazon - Pinterest

And here is

A Writer’s Wish(ful Thinking) List by Tyrean Martinson

I wish:

1. My friends and family network would have all I need for proofreaders, every time I need proofreaders.
2. These teachers, semi-professional editors, and extremely dedicated family fans were readily available - but it doesn’t work when they are all busy, sick, or overwhelmed with other projects.
3. My proofreading family and friends will work for gift cards, dinner, and a bottle of wine. Again, this worked the first few times around, but won’t work always, in all circumstances.
4. My book would be so perfectly awesome after three content edits and a simple proofread that it wouldn’t need any more changes. You can laugh with me, now. I don’t think I’ve ever received this wish.
5. One of my proofreaders would find any timeline issues between books 1, 2, and 3. SCORE! An unexpected proofreader - my dad who reads three to four books a week – found a timeline error. It didn’t feel like a score at the time. I mean, it was late in the game. I expected to have my book out soon. He found a timeline error that no one else saw. So, I delayed my release date to give my book a thorough run-through one more time.
6. My book will be fun and meaningful to read. The referee is still out on this last wishful thinking wish, but I can still hope.

I think we're all with you on these, Tyrean! Beta readers, Critique Partners and Proofreaders are the best people in the world! Congrats to Tyrean - I hope her series reaches many young readers because I know they will love it!


What would you add to your publishing Wish List?

I now pronounce you dead

Big news for two of my friends today - Elsie Elmore and Carol Kilgore

First, I interviewed my CQ buddy Elsie and she wrote this sweet intro for it...

Tara and I met several months ago through the online writing community; and it really is a community, isn’t it? I was excited for her release of Broken Branch Falls, an MG fantasy through Curiosity Quills. She was also super helpful with my rafflecopter questions. She’s quite in-the-know.

So anyway, Tara, thank you so much for inviting me to your blog for this grand interview during my release tour for The Undead. I’m strapping on my seatbelt now… Okay, let’s do this.

What is your favorite pizza topping? 
People, prepare…. what I’m going to share is often not a crowd pleaser… my favorite pizza topping is… fresh mushrooms. Are those oohs or ughs I hear? Fresh mushrooms add a layer of savory flavor to whatever they’re paired with… especially sausage, but can perfectly dress up a cheese pizza. Canned mushrooms, however, need not apply.
Hey - I like mushrooms! I thought you were going to say anchovies!

In the future, no one has dull hair – what color would you like to dye yours?
I’d love to say red because it’s my favorite color, but I couldn’t pull off red. I’d have to go with a rich chestnut brown... you know, with the light undertones.
Not bright enough, toots! At least have some sparkly glitter in it!

Where is your favorite place to vacation? 
I think instead of a favorite place, I have a favorite group to vacation with… and that’s my family. We’ve had awesome times at the beach, at the mountains, and on road trips to other states. So I’m less about the destination and more about the journey.
Good answer - the company you keep can make or break the vacation no matter where you go!

What's your favorite song to sing in the shower? 
Ha! I sound like hyena during puberty when I sing so I typically don’t sing in the shower or ever. It’s sort of a public service thing. However, in the privacy of my car, I will sing the first few lines of Fancy by Iggy Azalea when it comes on the radio. Jimmy Fallon has forever made this a “stuck-in-my-head” kind of song. Thanks, Jimmy.
I love Jimmy Fallon. He got All About that Bass stuck in my head!

What's your favorite adjective?
Awesome question. My favorite adjective is… WONKY. It’s like this subtle little word that can mean something is slightly wrong or majorly messed up, depending on use. Yep, no doubt. Wonky. (And I have been known to stretch that into WONKIFIED when the proper situation presents itself.)
A good choice, love the sound of it. Lately I've been using FLIPPIN, but I don't know if that counts as an adjective.

Briefly describe a typical day as a teenage grim reaper.
The daily routine of a grim reaper depends mostly on the territory they’ve been assigned. More populated places have more people, which means death lurks around the corner. In smaller cities, like Martin where Eric has been sent, a dwindling population means less work so there’s time to kill. 
Grim reapers receive their assignments on their phones. When a face pops up, so does a time frame and a location. They have to find their target and touch them to initiate the process of death. Once they’re marked, they’re easier for death to find them. And he always does.

With a deadly touch, mingling with humans can be extremely tricky for grim reapers, so most don’t. They’ve learned to exist in the fringes of life and keep a low profile. Eric isn’t like most grim reapers. He tends to push his luck and his boundaries. His current assignment has offered him access to his one passion and weakness, music. He figures a way to incorporate joining a band into his job so he spends some of his free time doing what he loves and what’s forbidden… play music.

COOL!

And that leads us to the purchase info for THE UNDEAD by Elsie Elmore!!

Amazon US  ==  Amazon UK  ==  B&N

Plus a couple of GIVEAWAYS!

Rafflecopter  ==  Goodreads

Now, it's Carol's turn...

SECRETS OF HONOR by Carol Kilgore - out now!

By the end of a long evening working as a special set of eyes for the presidential security detail, all Kat Marengo wants is to kick off her shoes and stash two not-really-stolen rings in a secure spot. Plus, maybe sleep with Dave Krizak. No, make that definitely sleep with Dave Krizak. The next morning, she wishes her new top priorities were so simple.

As an operative for a covert agency buried in the depths of the Department of Homeland Security, Kat is asked to participate in a matter of life or death—locate a kidnapped girl believed to be held in Corpus Christi, Texas. Since the person doing the asking is the wife of the president and the girl is the daughter of the first lady’s dearest friend, it’s hard to say no.

Kat and Dave quickly learn the real stakes are higher than they or the first lady believed and will require more than any of them bargained for.

The kicker? They have twenty-four hours to find the girl—or the matter of life or death will become more than a possibility.

PURCHASE LINKS

Kindle  ~~  Paperback

Carol sees mystery and subterfuge everywhere. And she’s a sucker for a good love story—especially ones with humor and mystery. Crime Fiction with a Kiss gives her the latitude to mix and match throughout the broad mystery and romance genres. Having flexibility makes her heart happy.

You can connect with Carol and her books here:

Under the Tiki Hut blog ~ Website with Monthly Contest

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon

And once again, don't forget to click a shelfie selfie for our contest!

My desk shelfie - back by request - I have books spread
 all over the house, so this is the best I have for now...
I'll put up my Selfie Shelfie next week!

Check out the entries we have so far!

Ellie Garrett
L. Diane Wolfe
Gina Stoneheart
Stephen Tremp
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Tyrean Martinson
Tami Aschenbrenner

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And I can't believe it's already time to go to the Ohio River Festival of Books this weekend! Anyone in the Huntington, WV area, please come see us! Very excited to hang out with Elizabeth Seckman and Carrie Bulter!! Wish us luck!

support fest!

New year, new releases, new fests!
Here are some fun, educational, and profitable for you blogfests coming up!

First, there's an awesome event coming up on Monday 1/20

What Works - Online Marketing Symposium

A blogfest with information you can use! Hosted by Arlee Bird, Yolanda Renee, Jeremy Hawkins, and Alex J. Cavanaugh.

In this fest, authors will share what has worked and what hasn't to help us all get better at promoting our books, and ourselves. Join in, even if you haven't tried anything, you might have an idea to share! And it's not just for books - it can be anything, like business, or non-profit events, too. It's tough getting the word out! I hope to see you at the first ever Online Marketing Symposium – sign up here!



In honor of the quickly approaching Valentine's day, Unicorn Bell, a fantastic writer's critique site, is sponsoring a Meet n' Greet Blogfest called Love Is In The Air, January 20 -24th. Hosted by Charity Bradford, published author and UB moderator.

It's a celebration of that little thing called love. Be it steamy or sweet, puppy, kitty, teen, aggravating, first kiss or final goodbye, let your scene tug at our heartstrings. Share your lovey dovey moment on January 20th!





Friend and fellow CQer, Jamie Ayres 2nd book, 18 TRUTHS, releases January 28th. She's having a blogtour and blog hop titled What's Your Truths? from Jan. 21st-March 4th. There will be tons of giveaways! It's a fabulous YA series and I'm happy to offer prizes and host her as part of her blog tour later this month (1/31)!





Crystal Collier is another friend with a release about to pop! MOONLESS is coming out February 10. It's a YA historical paranormal. And on that special day, she is hosting a Moonless Release Blogfest along with PK Hrezo, Tammy Theriault and Michael Di Gesu.

Their blog hop question for you is this: If you lived in a society where arranged marriages were a la mode, who would you beg your parents to set you up with? (Literary characters and celebrities welcomed.) Who and why? 

Reach for your dream in twenty fourteen!

Happy new year, everyone!

Have you made your resolutions?
Uh, I didn't even get Christmas cards out this year, so I'm not bothering with resolutions... My attitude this year - Do what needs doing and try my best with the rest. I have so much to do, if I get half of it done, I'm happy!

And I don't know if you noticed, but I'm changing my blog this year. When I started it four years ago, I was new to writing, looking for advice, and journaling about the things I learned. Now that I'm published - still feels funny to say that! I'd like to help others with the hardest part of being an author, promotion!

I already have some authors lined up this month and beyond! I'm very excited about it! And I'm asking them for more than just a link & a blurb, so people won't get bored and say, I've seen that all over already... Gotta keep it fresh!

I'm open to cover reveals, launch tours, release announcements, guest posts, etc - if you loved a book and want to rave about it, I'll post your reviews, too. All within reason.

Just send me an email: taratylertalks => at => gmail dot com
and we'll talk!

(ps - don't forget the first IWSG meeting of the year is Wednesday, 1/8/14! you can also follow for more encouragement on facebook!)

Is this for REALz?!

Pinch me!!
Okay, that's enough.

This is it! At long last, my release day has finally arrived!

Source

Can I get a WOOT, WOOT!

I have links!!

Mini Blurb:

In a futuristic cat-and-mouse game, hard-boiled detective J.L. Cooper is chased across the world using Pop Travel teleportation, which has a deadly flaw he is determined to expose.

Pop Travel is available here, so far:
Amazon

Thanks for all your support and encouragement!

Now, to kick off my Six Month Pop Travel Blog Tour!

Each month I will be Popping around to three or four blogs for interviews or guest posts and giving away a copy of the book and a QV bracelet and other surprise stuff. I hope you will join me! And as I visit other blogs, I will give a little highlight of them here. Aww!

To get the transmission party started, I will be popping over to visit...

Nicki Elson!!

Nicki was one of my first bloggy friends. I loved her first book, Three Daves - about 80s college romance! Her latest book is called Divine Temptation - wicked good!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The final countdown

Well, the first countdown of many, I hope! But you're singing that song in your head now - it's great accompanying music!

I am going with a July 7 release date, so I am starting my countdown today! If it changes, I will just keep counting down and it will be a nice surprise when it POPS out! ha ha ha

6 days until Pop Travel is released!!!

Can't believe it! I am also venturing into Rafflecopter territory... At the end of each month during my 6 month blog tour, I will give away stuff! This month, I am giving away a GC, a book, and a bracelet (like the ones pictured Friday)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Let's see how this goes!!Ah!

And let's not forget our IWSG session on Wednesday with Alex!

Happy, happy July!

Yay for Heather!

I just bought this, because I can!
So excited for Heather!
She barely had time to come to grips with her book being picked up by a publisher and now it's out!!

MAGUIRE'S CORNER in one sentence -
Maggie finds herself in a murder case that lands her in the arms of the handsome, new Police Chief, Jack, who must find the killer before the killer finds them.

Here's how!

All Romance Publishing page

Amazon, Goodreads, and paperbacks soon to follow! But I couldn't wait!

Spread the news, would ya!


PS - the THRILL OF IT ALL BLOGFEST does NOT have to be sci fi - it's any thrills you want to talk about! Sorry if that was unclear! We love thrills of ALL KINDS!! And don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions!

Bleah!

I saw a couple of doozies recently, but then I couldn't think of any more. Leave it to Wikipedia to have an extensive list! And I found some really good remakes too! So they aren't all bad!

Here are my top worst remakes:

Invasion of the Body Snatchers - original rocks
War of the Worlds - sorry, it was only ok.
Footloose - really? unnecessary
Godzilla - needed to leave well enough alone, terrible job
The Karate Kid - Ralph Macchio cannot be replaced
Miracle on 34th Street - neither can Natalie Wood
Money Pit - didn't know it was a remake, should not have been made

Total Recall - GONG!
Snow White and the Huntsman - just too much dramatics, so much about it was wrong

Stop with the Spidermans already

So there you go! My favorite remakes I love to hate!

And the remakes I love is a shorter list...
Oceans 11
You've Got Mail
and
The Longest Yard

This blogfest was brought to you by
Alex, Stephen Tremp, Livia Peterson, and Al Diaz. Thanks, guys!


And I also wanted to give a shout to Christine!
Her latest 13th floor novella was released on Monday. If you haven't tried her series, you really must! Quick, thrilling reads, full of paranormal romantic goodness!

Harriet and Kiral's story is here! A fierce romance!

You can buy THE ORACLE & THE VAMPIRE at:

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Smashwords

rooooaaaarrrr!

In like a lion, right?
Welcome to Kick Start March!
Here are just a few happenings this month.

• TODAY IS THE DAY! Nick Wilford's OVERCOMING ADVERSITY ANTHOLOGY for ANDREW releases today!

A collection of seventy moving and uplifting original pieces - real life, flash fiction, and poetry - about battling against the odds and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit. The contributors include Amazon bestselling authors Alex J. Cavanaugh and Kyra Lennon, and the cream of upcoming talent.

The anthology is part of a fundraising effort to send the editor's stepson, Andrew McNaughton, to a specialist college in England. Andrew has cerebral palsy, and is a remarkable young man with a promising future. However, the free further education options offered in his own country of Scotland will not challenge him and allow him to progress. In order to access the education he deserves, Andrew will have to pay exorbitant fees, thus creating a situation of discrimination.

Help us get Andrew to college by buying a book that runs the full gamut of human emotions, ultimately leaving you inspired and glad to be alive. Whatever struggles you are going through, our sincere hope is that this book will help.

Purchase links: Amazon UK |  Amazon US | Smashwords | Goodreads

• Don't forget the Insecure Writers Support Group is Wednesday! See you there, right? 
• March 15, your favorite Irish Hawaiian, Mark Koopmans is hosting his annual green celebration
• And March 18 we will share our top ten movies for Alex's Countdown blogfest!

• On March 21, Mina Lobo and David Macaulay are hosting a bloghop to get us hyped up for the A to Z called THE BIG REVEAL - got a theme? Share it!

• The ladies at Falling for Fiction are playing matchmakers again! If you're looking for a CP or beta reader, head over there and fill out their form and they will help you find a match March 25-29

So are you ready for A to Z? Got a theme? Later this month I will offer some tips for maximizing this wonderful opportunity! Hope everyone is ready for some March Madness - even if it doesn't involve college hoops!

TT Talks to Charity!

Fasten your seat belts and get comfortable for your space flight to join the audience of that outer world, renowned, intergalactic talk show, Tara Tyler Talks, on planet Tartylak! Never heard of it? You must be from Earth.

Now look out the portal! There's today's famous world hopping guest, Charity, in her sporty new space cruiser.

Okay, folks. We're here. Take your seats and enjoy the show!

Welcome, everyone! Please give a warm welcome to my fabulous guest, Charity Bradford! *applause*

So nice of you to come, Charity. I am so excited to read your book, THE MAGIC WAKES! You know, I have an aunt who visited Sendek last spring. What's it like?

It’s my ideal world. The people of Sendek have made great strides in technology while also protecting their environment. This means beautiful modern cities with a futuristic look, but also vast areas of wilderness, forests, mountains, rivers and valleys. There are oceans as well, but I’ve not made it to the coast yet. Sendek is a world filled with light. There are two suns and three moons. Luckily the suns are fairly close to each other allowing them to rise and set within seconds or up to an hour of each other depending on the time of year.   

One of my favorite things about living on Sendek are the fully computerized houses. No one cooks anymore, food is ordered from the metabolizers. And they have the best medical care, though Talia has never needed any. If only they would look outward and put their science into exploring space.

You had me at "no one cooks!" Sounds heavenly! But poor Talia, she's the only one who knows about the imminent invasion. What can you tell us about the aliens who want to take over? Are they magical?

*shudders* The Dragumon embody all my worst nightmares. Tall, powerful, scaly, and they don’t care about the sanctity of life unless it’s theirs. They’ve been wandering in space for several hundred years trying to get home to Sendek.

Yeah, you heard me right. They were conceived on Sendek long ago by a mage and his best friend, who happened to be a dragon. I really think they meant to help men, but it didn’t turn out so well. The creatures had to be sent away and all the dragon-kin abandoned Sendek too.

I’m not sure, but I think some of these creatures had magical powers before leaving the planet. They’ve forgotten how to use them though because they’ve not needed them. Who needs magic when you can crush human skulls with your bare hands?  

Scary! So the people might have time, if they get their act together! You got the scoop on the invasion from Talia, a scientist, right? Will she ever come to grips with her extra abilities?

Don’t tell Talia I’m sharing her secrets, okay? It’s hard to gain her trust and I’d like to keep her talking to me. Talia is a scientist, but she only went into that field of study so she could find the facts to back up her dreams. They’re prophetic, but who would believe in something like that? She’s had them since birth, and let me tell you, they sure leave their mark on her—in more ways than one. I don’t think she even knows all that she can do yet.

Or she doesn't want to admit it! And she has a connection with a Major Landry Sutton. What is his job? How did these two meet? Is he a hunk or what?

*fans self* Honey, I’d take him home. The way those clear blue eyes contrast with that black hair. And when he wears the Royalist uniform! Give me a minute.

Okay, let’s see. Major Sutton is pretty young for his rank, but he’s really dedicated to the royal family. They are his family after all. He doesn’t seem to take much time for relationships, pity. However, he’s been spending a lot of time thinking about Talia. They met at the SEF, the Space Exploration Foundation, where Talia works. When I asked Landry about it, he just said she was under investigation. Right, like she has time to join a political terrorist group!  

Now besides covering Talia's story, you participate in other activities. How do you give birth to a novel? and does it hurt?

Sometimes it hurts a lot! More so when you do it on your own. I’ve found that birthing a novel is different for everyone, but one thing is always true—talking about it helps. My good friend Elizabeth Poole and I started this meme in 2011 for Nanowrimo. We decided to bring it back at the end of 2012 with a broader purpose to include anyone and everyone. Every Thursday we post our writing goals and report on how we did with the previous set of goals. It doesn’t matter what stage of the process you’re in, everyone can play. We support and cheer each other on.

What a wonderful venture! Lastly, I'm curious. What happens when you ring a Unicorn's Bell?

Amazing things happen. You learn to see your writing through the eyes of a reader. At Unicorn Bell our goal is simple: Give back to the writing community by providing a safe place to test writing.

When I was sending query letters out, I dreamed of a place to chat with other writers and get their advice… And found it! Carol Coffelt, aka Huntress, came up with this great idea and invited me to join her. I was honored. All seven of us “ladies of the bell”, as I like to label us, are on the same journey as our readers. We hope that by sharing our experiences and providing critiques in small bite-sizes, we can encourage other writers to keep trying. Never give up, and never surrender!

Beautiful sentiment! I think I've heard it echoed in the galaxies somewhere... Thank you so much for taking the time to sit and chat with us, Charity! And thank you, studio audience, for taking the trip light years away to be here! Safe travels home, everyone!

Here are the details for
THE MAGIC WAKES by Charity Bradford

Talia has a secret 

that could save her world, 

yet rip it apart. 

Only she can decide

if the price is worth it.

Scientist Talia Zaryn never considered her childish nightmares of an alien invasion and  her death to be real and always kept them secret. But when her mirror image reveals the face of her dreams, she fears they are prophetic. Talia must prove that life exists beyond their planet, Sendek, and hopes her people will prepare to fight.

Major Landry Sutton is looking for a traitor. His ability to sense emotions convinces him Talia is that traitor until a touch sizzles between them. In an instant their minds are connected and they can communicate telepathically. Just as the two begin to trust each other, the invading force arrives.

Talia and Landry must uncover the secrets of Sendek’s past if they hope to defeat these terrifying creatures. And Talia is the key—if only she can learn to trust the magic coursing through her veins.

Trailer                         Amazon                  Goodreads

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you need this book!

Heck, I need this book!

L. Diane Wolfe, the Spunkmaster, is ready to help us promote our novels! (Twitter, Facebook)

Publishing and promoting made simple!

This book walks you through the steps of identifying markets, budgeting, building an online presence, and generating publicity. Get the whole story on:
• Traditional & Self publishing
• Print and e-book setup, formatting, and distribution
• Finding your target audience
• Generating reviews and media interest
• Networking and developing an online presence
• Promotional materials and appearances

Give your writing the best chance for success!

How To Publish and Promote Your Book Now!

Available February 5, 2012

$14.95 Trade paperback ISBN 978-0-9827139-5-2

$4.95 Ebook ISBN 978-0-9827139-9-0

Barnes & Noble         Amazon         Amazon Kindle

It's also the first Wednesday of the month, so for my Insecure Writers Support Group entry, I'm going to see how I've done on accomplishing January's goals...

  ü  Created Facebook author page!

  ü  Cut back on blogging, but my posts have grown in size…hmm (this is a perfect example)

  ü  Got my Broken Branch Falls edits done and sent to CPs and already got some great feedback!

  ü  Finished reading a book

  ü  Made at least 3 healthy dinners and drank a bottle of water a day +

Still in progress…

  è Patience. And when you ask for patience, you get opportunities to practice it, like waiting for editing and cover samples. Waiting, always waiting (use voice of Roz from Monsters, Inc)

  è Goodreads author page – will make when my book is closer

  è Bed by 11 worked for a couple of weeks, need to try again

  è Since I met the other healthy goals, I’m bumping them up to 4 healthy meals and 2 bottles of water

And one more thing. I promised Elizabeth I would continue this Blog Chain, so here is a quick look at...
1. What is the working title of your current or next book? Next book - SIMULATION
2. Where did you get the idea for that book? I’ve heard you need to keep the books coming, so I took the droids from the first novel (POP TRAVEL) and highlighted them in this one.
3. What is the genre of the book? Techno Thriller – Futuristic Sci Fi
4. If you could pick actors to play the lead characters in your story, who would you pick? How awesome would that be! Originally I chose Leonardo DiCaprio, Reese Witherspoon, and Aziz Ansari for POP TRAVEL.
5. How would you describe your book in one sentence? A scorned campaign manager creates the perfect candidate and only Cooper and Geri can expose he is really a Simulation – a clone droid.
6. How will your book be published--submitted through the traditional route to a traditional publisher, or will you be handling it yourself through indie publishing methods? Traditional! It worked the first time! Thank you, CURIOSITY QUILLS!
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of this book? Still in the development phase, going to use the Nano format – 1 month (possibly 2)
8. What other books within your genre are similar to yours? Michael Crichton is my inspiration, the techno thriller king! I’d say a futuristic Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
9. Who or what inspired you to write this book? My nephew was so excited to read POP TRAVEL and said he would like to read more. He really got me going on this sequel.
10. What about your book will pique the reader's interest? It’s fast paced and exciting. Plus the relationship between Cooper and Geri is full of tension – will they ever get together??

Next week the chain continues with the incomparable, incorrigible Peggy Eddleman!!

The secret to fame

isn't a one hit wonder.

It's sequel success!

for Sensational Haiku Wednesday - follow

So how are your 2013 goals coming along?   And how do you feel about sequels?

Extra! Extra!

(stay in paper boy character and continue reading these headlines!)

Lisa Regan Book Launch Today!

a spine tingling mystery!

Nancy Thompson's Mistaken on W4W!

a totally twisty thriller!

W4W = Writers 4 Writers and it is finally open!

This wonderful concept was invented by Stephen Tremp, Mary Pax, C.M. Brown, and Christine Rains. They had the genius idea to
• Help writers bring awareness of their books
• Drive new traffic to their blog and increase following
• Create verbal and viral buzz.

How do they intend to do this you ask?
Every month, one to three spotlighted authors will choose a social media and on the selected day, the authors will post pre-written Tweets on their blogs.  At your convenience, simply copy and paste Tweets into Twitter. Or go to #W4WS on Twitter and Retweet other Tweets.

And for Facebook, the authors will also post an image of their book along with a short blurb and a link to Kindle on their blog. We help each other by sharing the link with FB friends and Writers' Groups.

That’s an incredibly large new audiences the author could not reach on their own.  Imagine a hundred bloggers over a few days Tweeting and sharing links for new books and reaching thousands of new people! Sounds exciting! Can't wait to see how it goes for Nancy!

Nicely Naughty

Good Monday to you! and Happy December!

I just had to participate in this silly blog hop - "And you are...?" hosted by Emily and Tammy - it's a hoot! Here are the questions...

1. How many speeding tickets have you gotten?

4, 2 in Florida and 2 in Georgia...ah well, I like to go fast.

2. Can you pitch a tent?

sure, I'm mechanically inclined =)

3. What was your worst vacation ever?

first son's first birthday in Disney World, we had no idea why his fever wouldn't go down and he was so cranky until we took him to urgent care. Ear infections in both ears - we spent the majority of the vacation in our room...

4. What was the last thing you bought over $100?

I don't usually spend that much, my computer I guess

5. We're handing you the keys to what?

Time machine!!!!! (can't believe I let that typo go all day yesterday!)

6. What was the last meal you cooked that made even you sick?

I experiment a bunch and usually like what I make, but I remember once I didn't only I can't remember what it was...

7. Fill in the blank: Oh my gosh! Becky, look at her butt! It is so big. She looks like  ____?

she likes cheesecake (not good at fat jokes...)

8. What was your first car?

from my parents - 78 blue Celica, bought on my own - 90 blue Celica

9. Your best friend falls and gets hurt. Do you ask if he/she's okay or laugh first?

if it's not too serious, then I laugh while I ask...

10. What's the worst song ever?

Baby, Baby, Baby by Justin Beiber


And to be extra nice, I want to announce the launch of MAKE BELIEVE - a collection of enchanting and exciting fantasy stories by J.A. Belfield, Jennifer M. Eaton, J. Keller Ford, Terri Rochenske, Kelly Said, and Lynda R. Young!


Kelly is one witty ninja

&

Lynda has some great writing posts on her popular blog!

Purchase info can be found on their publisher's website:

J Taylor Publishing

Fore!

That means, look out!

First, I hope everyone got stuffed last week in the US. And I missed y'all! I did get a bunch of editing done, though. And to everyone doing NANO - keep writing! You're in the home stretch!!!

Now here are some Author Adz!

The astounding Stephen Tremp has a special announcement this week! Make sure you stop by!

Also this week is super sweet & speedy Kyra Lennon's  Blindsided Blog Tour thru Dec 7 - That picture is so cozy and cute!

Make Believe - a beauty of a book collaboration by some of my friends and some of yours, launches Dec 3

Writers 4 Writers opens Dec 6! hosts: Stephen Tremp, Mary Pax, C.M. Brown, and Christine Rains 

Kelley Lynn is revealing the cover of her much anticipated Fracture of Stone Dec 11!

Christine is having a blog tour for her scary creative series 13th Floor, 1301 is Dec 13-20. Go visit her for details and if you'd like to be a stop. And if not this month, she has more coming Jan 13 and Feb 13! These characters put a modern twist on paranormal classics!

And if you are looking for a blogfest to participate in, several festive fests are coming up in Dec - see my side bar =) Must xmas shop and edit now! I feel very bah humbuggish this year. Not in the mood to decorate or shop or wrap...maybe because the kids are getting older. How bout you? In the holiday mood yet? Got any suggestions? And how behind/caught up are you? Less than a month to go!