Thursday, March 31, 2016

#Excerpt: EOLYN by Karin Rita Gastreich

  Excerpt: Corey’s Circle

Renate made Eolyn suffer more than the others, with constant rebukes and scoldings. This was the way of things for any new member of the Circle, but in Eolyn’s case the challenge was multiplied by the girl’s utter lack of experience. Corey would no doubt get an earful about it this evening, but Renate had no grounds for complaint. She had brought this upon herself.

“Have you gone completely mad?” Renate had cried, bursting into Corey’s tent the day after he hired Eolyn. “Putting that girl in your magic show?”

“I’ve been seeking an assistant for some time,” Corey had replied evenly.

“She’ll be on the pyre within a week, and the rest of us may very well burn with her.”

“She will not do any magic.”

“Even the illusion of magic could—”

“She will not perform any illusions.”

“Curse you, Corey! I am so weary of the risks you take.”

“You are free to withdraw from the Circle any time you please, Renate.”

Renate had set her lips in a thin line. Corey knew well the terror he invoked whenever he suggested she leave. Nothing waited for Renate outside of the Circle, save solitude and fear, the unending torment of all her ghosts from the past.

Renate’s tone softened. “Corey, please. She’s just a child. Don’t make her your toy in this.”

Toy? Was that what Renate thought?

“I can’t imagine what you expect to gain from this folly,” Renate insisted, “but that girl, that beautiful, innocent girl, could lose her life. Is that a fair price for your amusement?”

Corey could not very well argue with that.

Well, he could, but why upset Renate more than necessary?



BLURB:

In a land ravaged by civil war, the Mage King Kedehen initiates a ruthless purge of the magas. Eolyn, last daughter of the magas and sole heiress to their forbidden craft, seeks refuge in the South Woods.

When she meets the mysterious Akmael, heir to the throne of this violent realm, she embarks on a path of hope, seduction, betrayal, and war. Desire draws Eolyn toward Akmael’s dark embrace, but fate binds her to Corey of East Selen, a cunning mage whose ambition challenges the limits of love and loyalty.

Can she trust either man?

Hunted in a realm of powerful wizards and brutal deceptions, Eolyn must find her own path to freedom or she will burn on the pyre.

"Vigorously told deceptions and battle scenes, with a romantic thread." -Publishers Weekly

Amazon:


AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Karin Rita Gastreich writes stories of ordinary women and the extraordinary paths they choose. She lives in Kansas City, Missouri, where she is part of the biology faculty at Avila University. An ecologist by vocation, Karin has wandered forests and wildlands for over twenty years. Her past times include camping, hiking, music, and flamenco dance. In addition to The Silver Web trilogy, Karin has published short stories in World Jumping, Zahir, Adventures for the Average Woman, and 69 Flavors of Paranoia. She is a recipient of the Spring 2011 Andrews Forest Writer’s Residency.

Twitter: @EolynChronicles



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Wednesday, March 30, 2016

#Excerpt: WAY TO GO Series by Mandy Colton


Excerpt One from Way to Go:

I was dreaming about Gremlins, an old movie I’d watched years ago as a kid. The little critters in the movie were really cute, until they got wet and then multiplied and wreaked havoc. Somehow they’d gotten in my head and dragged a hot tub in with them, having some twisted version of a frat party. That’s when my dream turned into a nightmare—fur balls popped as the creatures multiplied, wiggling and wallering around squealing. All the bouncing around and commotion started to nauseate me. My subconscious pleaded with me to wake up and just make it stop.

When I finally opened one eye and turned to look at the clock, a line of drool followed me. I smacked at my lips, grimacing at the strange taste in my mouth, and looked down at my pillow. Yuck. I seriously slobbered in my sleep?

Nice, Lane. Can’t wait to look in the mirror.

I swiped my hand across my mouth and slowly opened the other eye. Looking down, I waited a few seconds for my vision to clear. No nightgown. Drooling and naked. Not good signs. Blinking a few times, I looked around the room.

Agh, shit!

I closed my eyes and declared in my head that I was still having a nightmare. I would open them again and just be curiously sitting here naked with a hangover. That’s all. One, two, three…

I opened one eye. Aww, fuck—I mean, fudge. What did I do? Uhn…probably did just that.

There was a man in my bed.    
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Way to Go: Veronica Lane works in the travel industry in her dream job when she experiences a hellish travel day ending in the loss of her job and stranded far from home. To make the situation even worse, she drowns her sorrows in the hotel bar, and wakes the next morning to a big surprise.

Gathering up the remains of her dignity along with her travel bags, she returns to her hometown in Peachtree City, Georgia. A community similar to a progressive Mayberry, except with golf cart paths and carts. A lot of them. Her family is kooky. The parents are sexually free and liberal, her brother is a golf cart cop with more good looks and brawn than brains. Her grandparents, one from each side, live in the same retirement community and maintain a constant battle while entertaining the other senior citizens. The Grandmother on her dad's side is stuck in the 1960’s, and the Grandfather on her mother's side served in WWII and thinks that the Japanese are still trying to kill him.

She calls inquiring about a job in the newspaper, a group escort for a small tour company in Atlanta. She is hired immediately and leaves the next day with her first group to Jamaica. First, she meets a handsome pilot with the charter airline they use, and then there is one unusual group participant that doesn’t seem to belong. He leaves the group for periods of time and when things happen, he uses MacGyver like skills to get them out of the situations. She is aggravated and knows something is fishy and the bad thing is, the man is very charismatic and she’s not just a little attracted to him.

Upon their return, she finds out that the man is friends with her rather unconventional boss and after a second unusual group excursion to Puerto Rico; she knows for sure that the little tour company in Atlanta is not really what it seems on the outside. When the truth is revealed, she finds herself unintentionally dropped into a new career that she can't exactly add to her resume.

Veronica finds herself in uncomfortable and hilarious situations, surrounded by crazy tour participants, family, friends, neighbors, and pets. After a long dry spell, she finds that there is suddenly an overabundance of romance, drama, and intrigue in her life. Her life is now a sometimes very bumpy, yet exciting ride.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Mandy Colton is from Louisville, KY, and lives a very quiet life with her husband and teenage son. She’s a fan of romance, fun adventure stories, and some occasional sci-fi or paranormal thrown in. Veronica Lane and the idea for her adventures came from her own experiences and career working in the travel industry.

She claims that working in the travel business could be horribly stressful but was equally laugh-out-loud funny at times. She enjoyed many priceless and comical experiences with groups, friends, and peers. Even her clients shared humorous adventures of their own. Her opinion is that there just are no better stories than those that involve true life.

Subscribe for notifications on future new releases! http://www.mandycoltonfiction.com


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Monday, March 28, 2016

Interview with Marc Alan Edelheit, THE TIGER'S FATE


How would you describe your Fantasy series?
This is hardcore Military Fantasy done with historical accuracy. Think Imperial Rome meets Epic Fantasy on another world.

A nobleman from an infamous family, imperial legionary officer, fighter and a right proper
bastard of a man… Captain Ben Stiger finds himself reassigned from a crack legion to the rebellion simmering in the South. Placed in command of a truly terrible company, the 85th Imperial Foot, he is unknowingly sent on a suicide mission to resupply an isolated outpost, the garrison of Vrell. Along the way he must rebuild his new company, gain the respect of the men he leads, survive an assassination attempt, fight bandits, rebels, and an agent of an evil god. His companions on this journey of discovery and adventure are one of the few remaining elven rangers and a paladin on a quest for the High Father.

The hero, Captain Ben Stiger, has to come up with practical solutions of his own. His companion, Eli, is one of the last elven rangers. The first book Stiger’s Tigers picks up in the middle of their adventures. Both are thrown into the deep end that sets them off on quite an adventure that neither the audience nor they can predict where it will take them. Lots of really cool twists and turns along the way!

I took great pains to give the imperial legions in the series a ring of authenticity in that they fight and act like those of Rome. Much of what you find was what it was like in the ancient world, with some magic and other races tossed in.

How many books do you plan on having in this series?
There are currently five books planned for this series. Book 3 is expected out in June. I also plan on writing a prequel and an off shoot book/series involving some of the other characters.

Do you plan on writing anything but Fantasy?
Yes. My next project will be a Science Fiction series. No spoilers though. I hope to deliver the first book between books three and four.

In both Stiger's Tigers and The Tiger we learn more and more about Stiger’s background in one bit at a time throughout the story. Why did you decide to start the series in the middle of Stiger’s and Eli’s adventures?
Early on I wrestled with this. I could have very easily done a data dump and spent several paragraphs on his background, but I felt and bet that by having it come out one little nugget at a time, this approach would have a more profound effect upon the reader. As I started to write the story, I intentionally made the decision to keep Stiger’s background limited, as I wanted the story more focused on him as an individual and developing character. This was an intentional technique/approach that I felt would create a sense of mystery on Stiger’s part that would enhance his appeal to the reader as they worked to put the puzzle pieces of his character together.

Stiger’s personal puzzle is far from complete.

It is clear you were inspired by Rome and the Roman Army? Was it mostly the military organization or also other aspects of Imperial Rome that were important for you?
It was a mixture of both. The Mal'Zeelan military and other social organizations are very similar to Roman ones. There is a definite point where that stops though. The empire in the books is certainly similar to Rome but is also intentionally not Rome. It is important for readers to understand that the story is set in a different world. I wanted the empire to be a believable entity, which is why I modeled it on Rome and her legions. That also allows me to add in a level of detail that you do not normally see in a Fantasy series, such as equipment, arms, how the legionaries live, train, fighting styles, etc.

Many of the norms in the books are based upon ancient norms… acceptable behaviors for the times. What would be considered normal in the ancient world would be thought of as barbaric and inhumane today… such as the torturing of prisoners for information and then executing them, or taking prisoners so they can be sold as slaves for monetary gain. Gladiatorial fights, labor, etc.

I’ve received a number of emails from fans who say they find it hard to identify with Stiger’s empire as being the good guys. This is because they are applying modern day norms to an ancient world mindset. Some of the things ancient cultures did to their neighbors would be considered war crimes or crimes against humanity in today’s world. When studying history you have to understand that ancient peoples thought differently than we do today. It is no different in Stiger's world and the reader is thrown into the middle of it.

I took this approach for a very specific reason. Over the years, I’ve read a number of fantasy books where the hero does everything “right” in that the decision making process has to be “good” in relation to what the reader would consider acceptable behavior in our modern day world. This has always bothered me. So, I specifically set about avoiding that pitfall. Once you dispense with modern day norms, it opens up all kinds of interesting possibilities for both the storyline and the characters. It also makes the story much more interesting to readers. I feel that the realism is one of the reasons why people feel so drawn to the story, while others love it, but have problems identifying Stiger's empire as the good guys. Besides... who is to say they are? The Carthaginians and many other nation states certainly did not feel the Romans were the good guys.

How much research did you do?
A lot.  I spent months researching Imperial Rome and the ancient world before I even began writing. This involved reading hundreds of books and making pages of notes on details. I even paid attention to the small ones. I wanted to describe what it was like to be on an ancient battlefield and have it ring of authenticity. I had questions… “What was it like to be in the ranks?”  “What was the daily life of a legionary like?” To answer those questions and many more, it required a lot of study.
When you read you should learn something… it makes the story much more enjoyable, so I set about showing my readers what it was like to serve in the legions.

Your cover art is very cool, but the first two book covers look like more like roman historical fiction as opposed to Fantasy. Why?
My goal in writing this series was to do something different and break the Fantasy model. So, I set about writing a non-traditional fantasy series. The first few covers had to set the tone for the series, as Stiger is slowly ripped from the normal/mundane world that he knows and understands, one filled by legionary life and service to the empire into one peopled with strange races, creatures, gods and magic. So it was important to me to have a very unique cover.

Perhaps it was a mistake to not include more fantasy in the first two covers... though the first two books have been so well received that looking back I would not want to change it.
My cover artist, Gianpiero Mangialardi is a real genius. He’s done some amazing work for me… some of which have yet to see.

Check out the cover for Book 3, which has yet to be released. This book has Stiger thrown into the deep end of the fantasy pool and the cover reflects it.

Do you write full time or part time?
I like to think of this as a hobby.  I have a full time job as an executive in the healthcare industry and a family with three little girls. My wife, on the other hand thinks I write full time. :P I get home from work, play with my girls, have some family time… and when everyone goes off to bed, that’s my time to write. I spend about 3-5 hours a night writing. The key is being consistent and staying with it. That’s how you finish books. One day I hope to take writing full time… where it becomes my sole occupation and I can dedicate more time to it. Writing is my passion.

When did you first start writing Stiger’s Tigers?
I began working on the series back in 2013/14. From the beginning I intended to write a multi-book fantasy epic. I mapped out where I wanted to go, developed a backstory and came up with a very detailed outline.

I wrote the first draft of Stiger's Tigers in three weeks and then spent the next year editing/improving the manuscript to its final form. The Tiger was started in April of 15 and published December 1st 2015. I was working on it right up until the second week of November.

I have just finished with the first draft of The Tiger's Fate. It took me six weeks to write and now I am working on improving it. Having a detailed outline to work from really helps you crank out the chapters. Making it readable, consistent and smooth is the hard part... that literally takes hours and hours of additional work. Luckily I have a great support team with my agent, beta readers and editorial team. That said... it is a lot of work to bring a book from conception to publication. After a book goes to publish, all I want to do is sleep for the next week. :p

What has been most surprising to you?
The fan response has been the most surprising thing to me. The response to the series has been both amazing and humbling. I wrote Stiger’s Tigers to simply see if I could. You spend all this time writing and working… wondering if people will like your work and when it is published you are putting yourself out there for the ultimate critique. There was absolutely no expectation on my part that Stiger’s Tigers would become a bestseller. When I published Stiger’s Tigers, I felt people would think it was a good book and then suddenly I found myself getting compared to George Martin, Simon Scarrow and Bernard Cornwell. WOW! Fans began emailing, messaging me on Facebook and calling me at work. It’s pretty cool because they love the characters and the story. It’s been an awesome experience. The reviews on amazon have been great too. I read every review, even the critical ones. It is important to me.

To my fans… all I can say is thank you for reading my work. Each review motivates me to work harder.

Are reviews helpful? Do you read them?
Oh, yes absolutely. There is a lot of really great feedback in many reviews which can help make you a better writer. The reader gets to tell you what they liked and sometimes hated. I feel it is important to read all of them, even the negative and off the wall ones… which sometimes leave you wondering… “Did they actually read my book?”

It can be tough taking some of the feedback, but as an author you have to do it. If the reader has taken the time to buy, read and then post a review, well then it is worth my time to read it. I appreciate every review and at times I feel like I work for reviews. They help to motivate me to write.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Never give up!  Keep at it and get some professional help. There are a lot of good developmental editors out there.  Seek one out who can help you bring your work to the next level.

What do you do for fun?
I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling and doing outdoor things like hiking, and kayaking. I am a voracious reader… for both pleasure and work. When I am not writing, I can devour 4-5 books a week. I am also an avid video gamer and actively play World of Tanks, World of Warships and Armored Warfare.

How can readers discover more about you and you work?
Website: www.maenovels.com
Facebook: Marc Alan Edelheit Author
Twitter: @MarcEdelheit
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Marc-Alan-Edelheit/e/B00WNMAX2S/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13708274.Marc_Alan_Edelheit



Friday, March 25, 2016

SNEAK Peek: SAY SOMETHING by T.A. Roth


Say Something…
T.A. Roth
(Speak #1)
Publication date: March 25th 2015
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Twenty–two-year-old Ari Munoz prefers to keep men at an arm’s length. So when her best friend Vonne guilts her into going to a frat party, she couldn’t think of a worse way to spend her night. That’s until she sparks the interest of love’em and leave’em Ben Rodriguez. She knows she shouldn’t trust him, but the electricity she feels when they lock eyes is something she’s never felt before.

Twenty-two-year-old Ben Rodriguez has it all, and his senior year marks the beginning of even bigger things to come. He’s a football star, fraternity president, and his endless pick of beauties makes him the envy of all of his frat brothers. So why is a pair of long legs and hazel eyes making him want to throw out his rules?
Ari has her secrets.
Ben has his rules.
What happens when both your pasts threaten your future?
Say Something…

*This novel contains adult themes and language. 18+ please. This is book one in a series and contains a cliffhanger.

SNEAK PEEK:
Every word is a whisper across my lips. I want him to kiss me so bad. I even start to chant it like a mantra. Repeating the words over and over in my head. kiss me . . . kiss me . . . kiss me. . . 


All it would take is a small tilt of my head. The closer he gets to the end of the song the more desperate I become. F*ck it! I tilt my head up unable to resist any longer and bring his juicy bottom lip into my mouth. I gently suck and he releases a moan that I feel vibrate throughout every inch of my body. His right hand slides up the back of my neck and he fists a handful of my hair. He gently pulls away and holds my stare, his golden brown eyes to my hazel green. His breath is coming out in quick pants. He looks like he’s fighting himself to make a decision. 

I’m blinking quickly, saying a silent prayer that he doesn’t make the wrong one.



Author Bio:
T.A. Roth is a wife and mother of two funny and crazy kids. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she couldn't imagine living anywhere else. When she's not beautifying clients as a stylist/make-up artist at her day job you can find her reading, fangirling her favorite authors, or singing along to the radio.

After getting the opportunity to read the debut novel of a then client now friend something clicked. Her "what the hell" attitude kicked in and a year later, here we are.
Say Something... A new adult romance is her debut novel.


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Thursday, March 24, 2016

Interview with April Ryder, SKID MARKS AND THE SELBY SLAMMERS


Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?
Skid Marks and the Selby Slammers is a Fun BBW roller derby romance. After being dumped by her live-in boyfriend for a blonde stick insect and a job in Wellington, Hayley is tricked into trying out for the local roller derby team—the Selby Slammers. At the tryouts, hilarity ensues when she leaves her mark on not only the rink, but some of the hunky men from the inline hockey team who practice on the next rink over.

Meanwhile, Hayley attempts to pick up what's left of her (love) life but is thwarted at every turn by three men: 1) the surprise return of her ex, 2) Jake, the hunky hockey player, and 3) continually running into Rick the 'Dick' who may or may not have a crazy underwear fetish! All three seem to be conspiring against her, taking turns causing unexpected problems in her new and very hectic (love) life.

Skid Marks is part of a series, how many books will be in total?
For the serial there will be 8 installments, although at this stage I intend for the eighth to be novel-length. There will be three novelized books: Skid Marks and the Selby Slammers, Skid Marks and the Auckland Assassins and the eighth installment. And don’t forget the bonus stories, three short stories that are set during Christmas. They’re more focused on Hayley and her whacky family than they are on roller derby.

What’s with the BBW?
Big Beautiful Women. Since I am one and they say to write what you know, I decided to go with it. I keep it vague as to how big they are so that any woman who might consider themselves a little curvier than average can relate.

Do you have a favorite character?
Hayley, hands down. She is the most lively character I have ever written! Even I don’t know what she’s going to do, say or think until it happens. She’s easily relatable and I really feel for her when life kicks her when she’s down. I’m also a little envious over the action she gets. Who wouldn’t want multiple hot men chasing after them?

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?
I mentioned above that Hayley is a force of her own but you’ll be surprised to learn that I actually do outline. Obviously it’s not set in stone and it’s more of a guideline for getting from A to B, but I do like to know where the story is going and what happens in between. I like to bullet point my ideas and move them around into an order that looks good. When Hayley is added into the mix things get a bit wonky. She usually follows the plan but then she might suddenly mention she wants to take someone right there on the table and next thing I know they’re in the bathroom of an Irish pub and going at it like rabbits! It’s like herding cats. Also, if I waited for the muse I’d never get anything written. Unless of course your muse turns up with a gun and points it at your head…

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?
I think I need there to be noise but I can’t stand writing when other people are around. So I have to be totally alone. Music is good but I also have an mp3 that is just the sound of rain falling. I put it on loop and listen to it with noise-cancelling headphones. The walls in my office are paper thin and the idiot in the next one can be loud. At the moment my process is headphones on, sit on a bean bag and write the scene. Get up have a break, then do it all over again. Sometimes I’ve had to lock the door to my office and take my pants off—summer just ended her and it’s been crazy hot. You have to be comfortable in order to write.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your books?
I’m impatient. If a book is finished I get it edited and organise the cover. I want it published now. Even when I put a book up on pre-order it’s only for a couple of weeks. So it really comes down to having full control of everything. Getting all of the money also helps!

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?
Yes. All of my books are edited by the same editor. I look forward to making her LOL and when she leaves comments about how jealous she is that such and such is done in New Zealand—where I live—and not in America.
A quick note: Skid Marks and the Selby Slammers is set in New Zealand so therefore the book is in New Zealand English so please don’t think I—and my editor—can’t spell when you see: colour, favour, arse.

Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer… dogs or cats? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or Tea? Talk or Text? Day or Night?
Dogs or cats: Definitely cats. I currently timeshare the neighbour’s cat as our landlord will not let us have one. Mickey—the cat—is super friendly but a little dim. I’m going to write him into the Skid Marks series!

Chocolate of vanilla: While I do like some chocolate I am a fan of vanilla bean ice cream and vanilla milkshakes, so I have to go with vanilla.

Coffee or tea: I do not like coffee or tea. If I need a hot drink it’s hot chocolate for me. Cold drinks are usually Coke or the occasional chocolate milk.

Talk or text: If it’s going to be a long conversation then talk, text is for short snippets of info being passed along. My dad, however, tries to text everything. I end up calling him otherwise he’ll keep texting well into the night.

Day or night: Hmm…this is a tough one. You wouldn’t think so but it is. While I like to get things done during the day and eating, I do like sleep. I’m going with night because sleeping wins every time.

What’s next for you?
More books! Seriously, I have it all planned out. Release at least one book a month so I can save enough money to buy a house and get a cat. The end goal here is to get a cat. Well, that and earn enough money for my husband to leave his job and come work for me. I don’t want to do house work or garden, he can do it!

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Interview with Angie M Brashears, BECOMING BLUE


Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?
It is a series. I usually describe it as a Fat girl’s fantasy. But it’s more than that. Every girl should have an opportunity to feel sexy, wanted, pampered. Blue, is a lonely lady, making therapist’s appointments, and attending Weight Watcher’s meetings just to be around people. All she has is her cat and a crummy apartment. Why shouldn’t great things happen to her for a change? Friends, a stalkery love interest, great house, high paying job, a clothier and a beauty parlor in the basement. Every woman’s dream right? But as you see, not every tasty treat is for eating.

Book 2 in The Chubby Chasers, Inc. Series, Blue, Light and Dark, is about independence, choosing your own path in life. There are two endings, a HEA and a DEA, so you can choose the ending, reading one or the other, or both. I’m very proud of the series, I’ve never read anything like it. Not every leading lady in romance needs to be a waif. I’m giving love to the big girls.

Do you have a favorite character?
It’s gotta be Javi. He’s a mix of sexy and crazy that’s challenging to write. Readers reacted to him like I did. With a mix of love and hate. I ended up changing Book 2 of The Chubby Chasers, Inc. Series, Blue, Light and Dark, to give his point of view, as well as Blue’s. Something I didn’t see coming when I first started on this journey.

Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?
Yes, Sasha was going to be a bit part. But I really enjoyed writing her character. The sass, the one-liners, just everything about her is so amplified that I found myself writing her into scenes with the main character Blue. At first, Sasha was going to be the bait to “get” Blue, but she evolved into more of a friend, with her own life, opinions and love interest.

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?
I wanted to do what I wanted to do. I’ve got a touch of OCD and wanted to be involved in the entire process from start to finish. I thought why not? And wrote my story. I did a lot of research about editing, formatting, promoting and cover design and hired the best team to give my story the very best chance at being successful. When I first started, I thought you write a good story, put in on Amazon KDP, and presto! Everyone reads it, lol, I’ve learned a lot. I’m still learning.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?
Not so much a critique group, but my teenaged daughter is my toughest critic. She doesn’t pull any punches, and being her mom doesn’t count for anything when she’s going through my books. I find that I write to please myself, so I take any critiques with a grain of salt.

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?
When I write, I do so in a continuous flow, not stopping to go back and fix anything. It helps me write faster, and I feel like it gives the story better flow. During the first phase, I wear my headphones to block out noise, but write in silence. When I’m done, and go back through to edit, I do listen to mood setting music. It’s edited a bunch by me, before I even let anyone read it.
I like to write outside unless it’s raining. I have my own writing spot in my backyard that helps get me going. I know when I’m in this space, writing’s taking place.

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?
Of course. My story is very important to me, and I wanted to give my book the best possible chance at success. I went through a few of my favorite books, that I thought were well written and read the credits in the back. That’s how I chose my editor, Aquila Editing, and my formatter, Tugboat Design. Working with these professionals was the best money I spent. They knew I had training wheels on, and helped avoid a few pitfalls along the way. Their help was invaluable.

Besides writing, do you have any other passions?
I’m kind of a Renaissance woman. I’m an ER nurse, in a busy Los Angeles Trauma Center, and do a lot of different things to decompress after work. I build furniture, out of wood. I built my writing table. One thing about me is that if I can make it, instead of buying it, that’s what I do. I also make really cute scrub tops for work, with matching scrunchies. I’ve got Walking Dead scrubs, Ninja Turtles, Star Wars, and even Keep Calm and Eat Bacon scrub tops. So I guess my passion is bringing a smile to my patient’s faces, when they’re having a very bad day. 
I love to cook, swim, hike, and feed my giant koi fish.
I’m passionate about books, I’m a voracious reader, and will read anything, from Stephen King to Pepper Winters.

Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer – dogs or cats? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or Tea? Talk or Text? Day or Night?
Dogs for sure…
With my hiking/swimming buddy, Chewy. He’s always up for any of my shenanigans.
Anything chocolate, at any time of the day, I can never have enough chocolate in my life.
I’m a big coffee drinker, a fun fact, I work 7p-7a, so I’m one of those people that drink coffee before going to sleep.

I love to talk, especially when my friends and I get to laughing, there’s nothing like making your friends laugh so hard they cry. You don’t get that in a text.

I’m a night owl. I prefer the night shift, and even when I’m not working at the hospital, I’m up late. People say they don’t know how I work the night shift, well, I don’t know how they get up at the crack of dawn! My husband is a morning person, and we get along just fine, as long as he keeps his happy thoughts to himself until I’ve had a chance to wake up.

What’s next for you?
The Chubby Chasers, Inc. Series continues! I’m working on Book 3, about halfway through now. I’ve got a short story, that I’m transitioning into a standalone book, Love Box. That should keep me busy for a while. I’ve got a signing in June, in Rancho Cucamonga, CA so I now they’ll both be done by then…hopefully!
Just enjoying life, family, working, writing, and reading.


Book & Author Details:
Becoming Blue by Angie M. Brashears
Publication date: January 15th 2016
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance

Synopsis:
Every single thing I’ve been taught not to do…I just did.
Talk to a stranger? Check
Get in a car with a stranger? Check
Go to a second location? Check
Go into a stranger’s house? Check
Take candy from a stranger? Check
If this is a kidnapping, it’s the kindest one I’ve ever heard of.
I’m living a fat girl fantasy. Snatched from a Weight Watcher meeting by a powdered-donut eating stranger, was by far the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me. Who knew I didn’t need to make appointments or attend meetings to have someone to talk to. A Friend. Two Friends. A dark, intense stranger. Secrets.
Everything I ever wanted, and something’s I didn’t. Not every tasty treat is for eating.
To each his own….right?


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AUTHOR BIO:
Angie M Brashears is a lover of everything books.  When not writing, she's reading anything she can get her hands on. She grew up in Southern California, and loves the mountains, hiking with her dogs, the beach, and of course, Disneyland! She loves music, and loves singing along to the radio, loud and off-key, performing for anyone unlucky enough to be in the passenger seat.

 Angie loves dark and twisted, which she refers to as Dark Ever After books, but is known to read an occasional HEA story as well. When she's not writing, she working, saving lives.  A busy Trauma ER nurse for over twenty years, she gets enough reality in her life, and is always looking for a story to take her away from the harsh reality of Emergency Nursing.

If there's football on, she sure to have a huge party going on to cheer her team on...Go Patriots!

As a new author, she'd love to hear from you!


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