Friday, February 28, 2014

Interview with Cristin Harber


CristinHarber_SavageSecrets_1400px Caterina Cruz has no home. No loyalties. No objection to exacting torturous revenge. Her life’s mission is to destroy the terrorist who murdered her family. Then she steps into an elaborate game of charades alongside a Titan Group operative posing as an arms dealer—and her newlywed husband. The sexy distraction may be more than she can handle. Attacked with a psychedelic drug weeks before, Rocco Savage is plagued with hallucinations that threaten his new rank as Titan’s second-in-command. No one knows and he wants to keep it that way.

Throwing him further off his game, he now has a wife with her own secrets he can’t crack and an agenda he can’t control. Their mission—an elaborate deception of heated glances and passionate kisses—spins out of control. With Rocco's mind already compromised, can he keep his secret and his distance? And with Caterina's tragic past controlling her every move, can she keep the con up long enough to secure her revenge? Or will both go down in flames?  
*************


Buy links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ILWA6WG/ref=twoen-20
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/savage-secrets

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?
Savage Secrets is the 6th title in the Titan series though each book can be read as a standalone. Rocco Savage and Caterina Cruz partner to take down a terrorist, but each have their own reasons for wanting to succeed. Rocco needs to prove that he was the right choice for a promotion within Titan. Caterina needs to avenge her family’s massacre. Both have internal demons that bring them to the point of disaster.

Do you have a favorite character?
I’ve loved Cash Garrison in every book. But, I have to admit, that Rocco Savage has stolen my heart. It surprised me. I love all my characters, hero, heroine, and secondary, but Cash has always had a special place for some reason. But Cash being Cash has graciously stepped aside to let his buddy rock out the top spot. So, I adore Rocco for no other reason than Roc loves Cat in a deep, intense way, flaws and all.

Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?
Brock was always supposed to be a minor character. But then he went and did something crazy in book #3, Westin’s Chase. I had to write his novella. It’s called Gambled. And I still get tons of emails about him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he keeps showing up in a major way as the series progresses. But then again, IDK. Brock’s always pulling fast ones on me.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?
I like the control aspect. Before I decided to publish, I was waiting for others, on their schedules. When someone left a job, I was left dangling. When someone went on vacation, my career was put on hold. It didn’t work for me. Then I started to study the industry and watch some good friends with bad deals. It made my heart hurt for them. So while I was mulling all these things over, I went to the RWA conference, took the self-publishing track and it rocked my world. I highly suggest buying and listening to the recordings. They aren’t cheap, but I attribute much of my success to strategies and tactics I picked up in those workshops.

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?
Ha. I’d love to outline. I’ve tried. But it turns into a joke. I’m an absolute fly by the seat of my pants pantser. I tried an outline (again) recently. It literally read: birthday party, pool scene, love, sex, dark moment. That’s not an outline. That’s a shopping list of plot points.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?
Yes, I hire an editorial team. I’ve learned a lot since the first book was edited. But now, I’m most comfortable with a process of crit partners, beta readers, an editor and a proofreader.

What have you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?
Smile and ignore the one star reviews. I’d say don’t read any of them, but really? Who’s going to do that when you first start? My favorite one star review bashes one of my favorite sentences EVER. So it’s all in the eye of the beholder.

Also, don’t forget this is a business. Write content. Don’t shy away from advertising. But don’t spend money you don’t have with a survival plan.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?
Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBook, Google Play, and All Romance

Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?
Yes, it’s easy to fall into the easy trap of FB and twitter. Character interviews and take overs are time consuming. They have their benefits, but moderation is key. Leading up to the Savage Secrets release, the only writing I’ve done is promo. I love it and it is worth it, but it certainly doesn’t write the next book.

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?
Know your business, understand the industry. It’s hard to stay afloat on every topic, all the time, but it’s worth your time to know what’s happening out there. Also, forget about marketing and social media. The return on your investment of time isn’t worth it unless you have three or more books to sell. Instead, write. Write, write, write. Content is king. But, make sure the content is well-structured and well-edited.

What’s next for you?
Sweet Girl is the prequel to Garrison’s Creed. Then after that I’m writing Roman and Parker’s books. 

Savage Secrets Banner

Book Tour Blast: FATHOMS OF FORGIVENESS by Nadia Scrieva

Book Blurb:
Meet the brave and fearless Visola; a woman unlike any you've ever encountered. Her wit and humor take her through the darkest of dangers with a smile always on her face--and her smile only grows larger as the odds become more impossible. With no concern for her own safety, Visola dives headfirst into the throes of battle to protect the people and country she loves, even if it means facing her worst enemy--the one man who can get inside her head and break her down like no other: her own husband...       

There is no divorce in the undersea kingdom of Adlivun. Marriage is a bond that lasts until death--even if death comes in several centuries, and your spouse happens to become a ruthless, vicious adversary. This is the conflict that General Visola Ramaris faces when she learns that the mighty Vachlan is behind the attacks on her kingdom. She has sworn to protect Adlivun with her life, but long ago, she also swore to love and honor her husband...

Visola must choose whether she will destroy Vachlan once and for all, or attempt the hardest thing conceivable: communication. After two hundred years of desertion, she knows she can never forgive him. When he threatens the person dearest to her, she must take action. Confronting Vachlan on enemy territory would be nothing short of suicide. She knows that if she falls into his custody, the deranged mercenary would relish torturing her and making her lose her own sanity.

Princess Aazuria forbids Visola from taking matters into her own hands. She will do anything it takes to protect her friend from the man who wants to crush her. Alas, Visola is a crazy, uncontrollable warrior with the blood of Vikings in her veins. Why would she ever consider doing the safe and predictable thing?

Amazon buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Fathoms-Forgiveness-Sacred-Breath-Book-ebook/dp/B007KWTTXK/ref=twoen-20



Author bio:
Nadia Scrieva lives in Toronto, Canada with no husband, no kids, and no pets. She does own a very attractive houseplant which she occasionally remembers to water between her all-consuming writing marathons.

www.NadiaScrieva.com
www.facebook.com/NadiaFans







Thursday, February 27, 2014

#SALE for ONLY .99: SHATTERED WORLDS Boxed Set


Limited Time only!
Special sale price of only $0.99! Together these books have over 650 five star reviews!

Read these bestselling tales of survival against the odds, dark worlds, dystopian regimes and heroic rebels.

Shattered Worlds features six full-length novels from bestselling authors. Immerse yourself in post-apocalyptic civilizations and bleak near-futures where hope still lives.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Elle Casey – Apocalypsis Book 1: Kahayatle

My name's Bryn Mathis. I'm seventeen years old, and I live in a neighborhood outside of Orlando, Florida. I live alone because my dad died almost a year ago, along with all the other adults in the world. I'm almost out of food and the gangs of kids that roam around my town are getting more vicious by the day. It's time for me to leave and find another place to live ... a place where I can find food and shelter ... a place where they won't be able to find me. Alone, it might have been possible; but now I've got company. I'm worried that I don't have what it takes to get from here to my final destination. And I have no idea what might be waiting for me when I get there.

**May not be suitable for younger, middle grade readers.** 
Book & Author Details: 
Shattered Worlds by Boxed Set
Publication date: February 26th 2014
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult
 

Synopsis:
Read these bestselling tales of survival against the odds, dark worlds, dystopian regimes and heroic rebels.

Shattered Worlds features six full-length novels from bestselling authors. Immerse yourself in post-apocalyptic civilizations and bleak near-futures where hope still lives.

Featured authors and books are:

Elle Casey: Apocalypsis
Shalini Boland: Outside
Zoe Cannon: The Torturer’s Daughter
Scott Cramer: Night of the Purple Moon
Sarah Dalton: The Blemished
Katie French: The Breeders
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20662080-shattered-worlds
Purchase:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Shattered-Worlds-Six-Dystopian-Novels-ebook/dp/B00IJYIFG0 Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shattered-worlds-scott-cramer/1118715578?ean=2940148119333&itm=1&usri=2940148119333 
Kobo:  http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/shattered-worlds-1
Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/410597

 

About the Authors:

Elle Casey
Elle Casey is a full-time writer of New Adult and Young Adult titles in several genres, including romance, urban fantasy, sci-fi dystopian, and action-adventure. She's an American girl who's been living in southern France with her husband and three children since 2010. She loves chatting with her readers, so feel free to drop her a line.
You can find her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ellecaseytheauthor or on her website: www.ElleCasey.com.

Shalini Boland
Shalini lives in Dorset, England with her husband and two noisy boys. Before children, she was signed to Universal Music as a singer songwriter. Now, writing novels has hijacked her life and she is usually to be found with a laptop welded to her fingers and the house in a permanent state of neglect. Find Shalini at: http://www.shaliniboland.co.uk

Zoe Cannon
Zoe Cannon writes about the things that fascinate her: outsiders, societies no sane person would want to live in, questions with no easy answers, and the inner workings of the mind. If she couldn't be a writer, she would probably be a psychologist, a penniless philosopher, or a hermit in a cave somewhere. While she'll read anything that isn't nailed down, she considers herself a YA reader and writer at heart. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and a giant teddy bear of a dog, and spends entirely too much time on the internet. Find Zoe at: http://www.zoecannon.com

Scott Cramer
Scott Cramer has written feature articles for national magazines, covered school committee meetings for a local newspaper, published haiku and poetry, optioned a screenplay, and worked in high-tech marketing communications. His pursuit of a good story has put him behind the stick of an F-18, flying a Navy Blue Angels' fighter jet, and he has trekked through the Peruvian mountains in search of an ancient Quechua festival featuring a condor. Scott and his wife have two daughters and reside outside Lowell, Massachusetts (birthplace of Jack Kerouac) in an empty nest/zoo/suburban farm/art studio with too many surfboards in the garage. Find Scott at: http://www.facebook.com/authorscottcramer

Sarah Dalton
Sarah grew up in the middle of nowhere in the countryside of Derbyshire and as a result has an over-active imagination. She has been an avid reader for most of her life, taking inspiration from the stories she read as a child, and the novels she devoured as an adult.

She is the author of the popular YA dystopia series 'Blemished' and the gothic novella 'My Daylight Monsters'. She is currently working on a YA Fantasy series titled 'White Hart'. Find Sarah at: http://sarahdaltonbooks.com/

Katie French
Katie French imagined herself an author when her poem caught the eye of her second grade teacher. In middle school she spent her free time locked in her room, writing her first young adult novel. Though her social life suffered, her love for literature thrived. She studied English at Eastern Michigan University, where she veered from writing and earned an education degree. She spent nine years teaching high school English. Currently she is a school counselor, doing a job that is both one of the hardest things she's ever done and the most rewarding. In her free time she writes, reads great books and takes care of her two beautiful and crazy children. She is a contributor and co-creator of Underground Book Reviews, a website dedicated to erasing the boundaries between traditional and non-traditional publishing. She lives in Michigan with her husband and two children. You can find her at www.katiefrenchbooks.com.
a Rafflecopter giveaway



 

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

The Story Behind HEADMASTER'S WIFE by Thomas Christopher Greene


 The Headmaster's Wife is a significant departure from my other work. At Morrow, the branding of my career was based largely on becoming, as one editor put it, Nick Sparks for the Volvo set.
I was writing full time then and there was pressure to produce books that fit this model. In 2007, the year my last book was published, I began an effort to save a historic college campus and three nationally acclaimed MFA programs and create a new college. This effort was successful and today Vermont College of Fine Arts is widely recognized as one of the leading graduate institutions in the arts in the country. My position as the founder and the president gives me a wider platform than I have ever had for my work in the past. Because of the nature of the job, I was able to take a deep breath and reconsider my literary career and the kind of work I wanted to do.
In 2009, my wife Tia became pregnant with our second child. A routine ultrasound in her 23rd week of pregnancy changed everything. The placenta had attached in a difficult place and somehow had created a leak of amniotic fluid. We were told Tia would not leave the hospital until the baby was born and that could happen any day. The challenge was to hang on as long as possible to give the baby a reasonable chance of survival. Tia was on bed rest in the hospital for three weeks while I ran a college and took care of our three year old at home. Our daughter, Jane, was born at the gestational age of 26 weeks, and weighed one pound 14 ounces. She was immediately put on machines to help her breathe. We began our vigil.

For the next six months my wife and I took turns living in the hospital. I spent day after day next to Jane, reading to her, talking to her, and she was a miracle. She grew. She learned to smile. She had warm brown eyes and my face. But her lungs were in tough shape. The same machines that had saved her were ironically killing her as she developed BPD, a lung disease that comes from prematurity. But even with her on the machines we could hold her and there were days when it didn't seem like she was going to make it, and then days when we had conversations with doctors about what it would be like when we got home. How this would all be a bad memory, a story we could tell about this tough little baby who fought like hell to live. It was during this time that I began the book that would become The Headmaster’s Wife. I wrote next to her bed in the NICU and for the first time I felt like I was writing honestly, though I don't know how to explain that fully. I wasn't writing with an audience in mind, or anything like that--I was simply going deep into the mind of my characters and I was writing this book for Jane. I was writing what I felt as a father. Eventually we made the difficult decision to transfer Jane from Dartmouth Hitchcock in New Hampshire to Children's Hospital in Boston where one of the leading specialists in lung issues resides. Jane lived one more month and died peacefully in her mother's arms. There is no way to describe what it's like to lose a child and I could not in normal ways –except that this book became a response to her life and our grief.
 
People cautioned us after Jane’s death that these things can tear apart a marriage. 

We had been an amazing team for six months – My wife taking care of Jane, learning everything she could, doing everything she could to make her life seem normal. I was the tireless advocate, reading the New England Journal of Medicine and everything I could get my hands on. Becoming the first parent in the 30-year history of the NICU at Dartmouth to run the weekly Doctor's meetings. After Jane’s death we were in a fog for six months. We knew someday we would come out of it and we were determined to stay together--which we have. But I began to ask the question: what if we fell apart? I began to rewrite the book with this question in mind. When I finished this novel, I knew I had something very different than my previous work. It required a different approach to my literary career. I replaced my long time agent Nick Ellison who had a more straight commercial focus with Marly Rusoff. This book is five years in the making. It will be dedicated to Jane and all the nurses at Dartmouth Hitchcock who became part of our family.
 
ADVANCE PRAISE FOR THE HEADMASTER’S WIFE


Booklist

 “Greene (Mirror Lake; Envious Moon) has created a brilliant, harrowing novel depicting the spectacular unraveling of a once distinguished and proudly successful man. He has also conceived one of the most convincingly drawn unreliable narrators that readers may ever meet, a character recalling the creations of Edgar Allan Poe…Essential for fans of literary fiction.”
Library Journal

“The book is, at its core, a trenchant examination of one family’s terrible loss and how the aftermath of tragedy can make or break a person’s soul.”
Publishers Weekly

“…this is a moving testament to the vicissitudes of love and loss, regret and hope.”
Kirkus Reviews

“A truly remarkable novel, I read the second half of The Headmaster’s Wife with my mouth open my jaw having dropped at the end of the first half.  Thomas Christopher Greene knows how to hook a reader and land him.”   
Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire Falls

“An accomplished and artful storyteller, Greene has surprises in store as he unspools
a plot that becomes as poignant as it is unpredictable.”
Wally Lamb, New York Times bestselling author of The Hour I First Believed

“I devoured this book.  Both psychologically complex and wickedly fast-paced.”
Julianna Baggott, New York Times bestselling author of Pure

Author bio:
Thomas Christopher Greene was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts. Tom has worked in a staple factory; as an oyster shucker; a speechwriter and spokesperson for a presidential campaign; the director of public affairs for two colleges; and as a professor of writing and literature. In 2006, Tom founded the Vermont College of Fine Arts, a top New England arts college, making him the youngest college president in America at that time. The Headmaster's Wife is Tom's fourth novel.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

#New Releases: THEA ATKINSON, VALMORE DANIELS, DEAN BRECKENRIDGE, JM PIERCE


We all have our favorite authors, but have you read any of these authors? These are some of the best stories I've read and they all have new releases this month. I've done reviews on many of their books which you can read in the right sidebar under 'My Reviews.' So in no particular order, take a look at these fabulous new releases:


DEAN BRECKENBRIDGE:

Book Blurb:
Wolf's friend Gordy needs help. He's being blackmailed for a 25-year-old murder that he claims he didn't commit. But somebody else insists he did, and they're going to murder his son in reprisal. Wolf races to stop the mayhem only to learn that his friend hasn't told him the whole truth. And the lies could get him killed.

Wolf returns in this follow-up to THE KILL FEVER, THE DARK and THE RED RUBY KILL that will leave you breathless.


Kill Fever: Wolf Series #1
The Dark: Wolf Series #2
The Ruby Red Kill: Wolf Series #3


VALMORE DANIELS:

Book Blurb:
My name is Serena Rogers. After escaping from a juvenile detention center, all I wanted was to get as far away from home as I could and never look back. 

Everything changed when I uncovered the dark secret that's been haunting my family since before I was born. 

I am not who I thought I was. 

When I encounter an army of revolutionaries, I am faced with an impossible choice: fight them and risk the lives of everyone I love, or join them and lose my soul. 


FALLEN ANGEL series:
Angel Fire: The First Book of Fallen Angels

Angel's Breath: The Second Book Of Fallen Angels

Earth Angel: The Third Book Of Fallen Angels

THEA ATKINSON:

Chrysalis (Theta Waves: Episode 4)
She has the power to change the world; he was born to destroy it.

Theda wakes from her torturous session with the beast to discover she has been institutionalized by Ezekiel. He says it's to keep her safe, but she's been through his versions of safety before, and just barely lived. Now the beast has her where he wants her and offers her his freedom in exchange for information—information Theda suspects she will have to die to protect — even from the pale rider.


Theta Waves series:
Phoenix: Theta Waves Episode #1

Dragon: Theta Waves Episode #2

Agni: Theta Waves Episode #3

J.M. PIERCE

Axiom Theory: Book Four of the Shadow Series
Book Blurb:
Hidden in New Mexico’s Black Mountains, Test struggles to find the peace that his haunted past prevents. Though Alyssa and Cliff stand with him, and though he’s blanketed by the serenity and tranquility of the forest, he cannot quell the inner turmoil that plagues him.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, the last of the Reapers are plotting to avenge the death of their master. Woefully out-numbered and hoping to even the odds, Casper and Ashley have stolen a biological weapon unlike the world has ever seen. Their mission: mold the weapon for their purpose and eliminate Test along with the remainder of the rogue Shadows that side with him.


SHADOW SERIES:
Failing Test: Book 1
A Shadow’s Light: Book 2
The Reverence of One: Book Three
http://www.amazon.com/The-Reverence-One-Shadow-Series-ebook/dp/B0089DN6VU/ref=twoen-20