Things That Amaze Me Lately

Time is a rare commodity these days, but despite all the cuckoo-crazy-cakes responsibilities I've taken on, I sit here amazed at how great life really is.

Some things that amaze me lately:

• How much can be accomplished in one measly weekend, day, hour, and minute.
• How time with people whose brains work like mine can re-energize and renew my passion for creative writing.
• How tasty Irish Cream can be.
• How generous people can be with their time and information.

Turns out, USA Today Bestselling Author, Liliana Hart's visit to The Kentucky Romance Writers of America, Spring Into Writing workshop, was the most amazing of all.  Sometimes it makes all the difference when someone who has gone before in something and is highly successful takes the time to lead the way for the rest of us.  She truly is "paying it forward."

Check out the work of this popular author.  Two of her books are listed here, and you'll find a complete list at her website when you click on her name above.

http://www.amazon.com/Whiskey-Rebellion-Liliana-Hart/dp/147007169X

WHISKEY REBELLION: AN ADDISON HOLMES MYSTERY My name is Addison Holmes, and I teach history at James Madison High School in Whiskey Bayou, Georgia. You might be under the assumption that my life went to the dogs when my fiancé left me at the altar for the home economics teacher, or when I got notice that my apartment building was going to be condemned, or even when I was desperate enough to strip to my unmentionables to earn some extra cash. The truth is that I'm pretty much used to disasters following me around on a daily basis, but I could have gone without finding my principal dead in the parking lot of a seedy gentlemen's club. After the initial shock of finding my first dead body, which included throwing back shots of Jack Daniels like it was water, I decided to take stock of my life. I was in a desperate situation and if the school board ever found out I'd been a stripper, even a bad stripper, I'd be jobless as well as fiancé-less and homeless. Fortunately, I had a friend who felt sorry enough for me to give me a job doing some surveillance work at her detective agency. Not to mention the fact that I was now able to stick my nose into other people's business for a good cause, find a murderer, and pick up helpful tips from an incredibly attractive detective. Come check out my story and be thankful your life is relatively normal. Other Full-Length Titles by Liliana Hart DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS CATCH ME IF YOU CAN ALL ABOUT EVE PARADISE DISGUISED What readers are saying: Romancing the Book – “An entertaining, fun read.” Romanceaholic Book Review – “This book is hysterical. It’s a true comedy of errors…A perfect summer read… lighthearted and funny” Reader review at Barnes & Noble - ”I haven’t read a book this funny since the first few Janet Evanovich books… A definite recommendation for everyone.”

http://www.amazon.com/Erotic-Romance-Mackenzie-Family-ebook/dp/B005C5YZ86

In this novella, bad boy, Dane MacKenzie, is coming home to Surrender, Montana. It’s been ten years since he left the woman he loved behind to make a name for himself, and now he’s bound and determined to claim her once and for all.

But Charlotte Munroe has no desire to welcome home the Prodigal Son with a fatted calf. The bitterness of Dane’s betrayal runs deep, and she has no plans of letting him back into her life. Especially since she’s trying to protect the son Dane isn’t aware exists from heartbreak, since she’s sure he’s only going to walk out of their lives again.

USA Today Bestselling Author Liliana Hart is Headed to Kentucky!

Kentucky Romance Writers

2013 Spring into Writing Workshop, Saturday, March 16^th, 9am-4pm


With USA Today Bestselling Author 
Liliana Hart

Liliana Hart spent five years teaching music in the public education system. She molded America’s youth, busted kids for smoking pot in the restrooms, and broke up illicit affairs behind the stage on a regular basis, so she finally decided to hang up her hat and let someone else have all the fun. (Liliana’s Addison Holmes Mystery Series, about a small town teacher who gets into a whole lot of trouble, is somewhat autobiographical, but she won’t confess to which parts).

Liliana’s books have won awards such as: The Daphne Du Maurier, The Suzannah, The Linda Howard Award of Excellence, The Maggie, and many others. A recent USA Today Bestselling author, her affiliations include Romance Writers of America and Mystery Writers of America.

Liliana loves to cook, and is addicted to reading, Internet Boggle, kickboxing, and Bones. She lives in a big, rambling house in Texas with a couple of cats to keep her company and she loves to present about the writing life.

-  Liliana Hart Will Present On--

Getting Started in Self-publishing

The Roll/Role of an Agent (going it alone or with help)

Author Branding and Covers

Marketing 101

Algorithms

The Worth of an Author

____________________________________

Where:  Hyatt Place Conference Room

2001 Bryant Rd.

Lexington, Ky 40509

859-296-0091

Directions and Rates- Phone: +1 859 296 0091

Time:  9am-4pm, with lunch break 12-1

Cost for the Saturday event is $25 for KYRW members and $40 for non-members. (Does not include lunch.)

Hosted by The Kentucky Romance Writers. Please visit our website: www.kentuckyromancewriters.com or contact

KYRW Pres. Cherie Marks at authorcheriemarks@gmail.com

Please Welcome Amy Durham!

Today, I am excited to have an exceptional author (and very good friend), Amy Durham, on the blog.  She was nice enough to answer a few questions for me and to share all the juicy details on her latest release.

So, let's get right to it.


AMY: Thanks Cherie, for inviting me to come hang out with you! I really appreciate the chance to interact with your readers and promote my latest release, ONCE AND FOR ALL! 


CHERIE: Which comes first for you—plot or characters?

AMY: Usually, the characters and some kind of event or scene comes first. I find that if the characters “flesh themselves out” for me, the plot will follow smoothly after that.


CHERIE: What aspect of writing comes easy to you? What is difficult?

AMY: The initial plotting and characterizations come easy. I enjoy the rush of the beginning of the book! I’m never short on ideas! The most challenging is just finding the time to really dig in and write. I teach full time, and I have 3 kids of my own, so sometimes I have to wait until summer break to get large chunks of writing done. However, I do write in smaller batches regularly.

CHERIE: Who are some of your must-read authors and why?

AMY: Rachel Vincent, because I LOVE her “Soul Screamer” series. Nyrae Dawn, Tiffany King, and Jessica Sorenson for gritty stories that carry important messages.
Where in the world would you want to visit (all in the name of research, of course) and why?

Ireland and Scotland. There is a something deep inside me that longs – almost physically – to see these places! I’d love to set a story – or many stories – in those places someday! 

CHERIE: What did you enjoy most about writing your latest work?

AMY: I enjoyed exploring the idea of “class-jumping” in high school. I remember how scandalous it was in high school when a “popular” boy dated a girl a class or two below him, or when a “popular” girl befriended another girl who didn’t run in the same circles. Others, from both “classes” aren’t quick to accept those scenarios, and, as we all know, kids can sometimes be cruel. I wanted to create a story where a popular boy and unpopular girl fell for each other, feared the ramifications of their peers, but ultimately decided their love was worth it.

CHERIE: Can you talk about what you are working on now?

AMY: I’m working on another young adult paranormal romance. ONCE AND FOR ALL, which just released, is book 2 in the Sky Cove Series. (ONCE AGAIN is book 1.) I’m taking a break from Sky Cove for a bit and writing a book called “Dusk”, another young adult paranormal romance. The paranormal element is different. Rather than reincarnation, the characters encounter a fellow high school student who is human, but with a few…. “extra abilities”!

CHERIE: Favorite movie and why?

AMY: I have several, and, as you might expect, they are all romantic stories! “When Harry Met Sally” is my absolute fave, but “Notting Hill”, “The Sound of Music”, and “P.S. I Love You” all follow pretty closely behind! I also adore the movie “Once”. It’s an independent Irish film with GREAT music! 

CHERIE: What can you tell us about Once and For All?

Book Blurb:

What happens when 180 pounds of football star collides with 105 pounds of art geek?  

An ancient curse springs to life, of course.

Phoebe Campbell is anything but popular. Todd Miller is the epitome of the high school jock. Their socially opposite worlds collide when they are paired to work together on a project for art class. Attempting to cooperate for the sake of their assignment, Todd and Phoebe begin to look past preconceived notions and see each other for who they truly are. As genuine feelings begin to develop between them, they find themselves plagued by dangerous shape-shifting episodes and unexplained telepathic connections.

In order to stop the mysterious occurrences, Phoebe and Todd are forced into a mission to uncover the truth. In their quest, they discover unsettling stories that hint at a previous existence, and also clues to an ancient curse that has never been broken.

Can they learn to love each other despite the typical high school social expectations? And will their love be the key that breaks the ancient curse once and for all?

Find ONCE AND FOR ALL at:

AMAZON

B&N

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS

SMASHWORDS

KOBO

Contact Amy online:

amybdurham@gmail.com

www.amydurham.com

www.facebook.com/AuthorAmyDurham

www.twitter.com/Amy_Durham

Wisteria Book Blast

Wisteria by Bisi Leyton:

Sixteen year old Wisteria Kuti has two options—track the infected around the Isle of Smythe or leave the only known safe haven and face a world infested with flesh eating biters. But even with well-armed trackers, things go wrong and Wisteria ends up alone facing certain death, until she is rescued by the mysterious Bach. Uninfected, Bach is able to survive among the hordes of living dead.

Eighteen year old Bach, from a race known as The Family, has no interest in human affairs. He was sent here to complete his Great Walk and return home as a man—as a Sen Son. The Family regard humans as Dirt People, but Bach is drawn to this Terran girl, whom he has never seen before, but somehow knows.

Hunted by flesh eaters, cannibals, and the mysterious blood thirsty group called Red Phoenix, Wisteria and Bach make their way back to the Isle of Smythe, a community built on secrets and lies.

Praise for Wisteria:

“I love the buildup of this story, getting to know the characters and watching their connection grow. I had no idea which way the story was headed and I was kept in suspense right up to the very end! It has plenty of action and a fascinating plot and I can’t wait to see what Bisi Leyton has for us next!!” 

~ Naomi Hop 

“There are a lot of great things in this book, so much more than zombies and a struggle for survival. At it’s base core it is about star-crossed lovers, literally and the supporting characters roles… Ms. Leyton brings to Wisteria a mixture of science fiction, fantasy, dystopic world with a twist to the paranormal romance angle!”

~ Cabin Goddess

“The book was full of nonstop action from the beginning until the end, and I did not put it down until I had finished it. I loved the book.” 

~Author Monique Morgan

Purchase:

Lulu * Amazon * Smashwords

Book Trailer:





Audiobook Excerpt: 

Author Bisi Leyton:

Bisi Leyton was born in East London in 1978. She grew up in London, Nigeria and the States, listening to the stories life and love from aunts, cousins and big sisters.

She lives in London, but has worked around Europe including France, Germany, Ireland, Belgium and the Czech Republic. She has a fondness for reading graphic novels.

Links

Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

Blog Tour Now Through January 25th

Tour Schedule

Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 1/27/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Might as Well Make a Few Resolutions

Call it a fad, call it peer pressure, call it being responsible...whatever you call it, I'm breaking my resolution to never make resolutions and...well...resolving to accomplish a few things this year.  Nothing fancy, just gonna try to accomplish a little here and there.  2013 is shaping up to be my lucky year, so here are my 2013 resolutions that will get me started:

1.  Blog regularly, and to that end, make Saturday my day to get blogposts written and scheduled.
2.  Journal at least five times a week so that I have something to blog about.
3.  Carry my journal with me everywhere because my brain doesn't have an on/off switch, more's the pity.
4.  Finish my current projects--two full-length YA's and a fantasy romance novella by the end of July.
5.  Write one hour, five days a week, about 1000 words a day.
6.  Schedule four fun, interesting, and informative writing meetings for KYRW for 2013 (somehow they got into their minds I could be the president of the organization)
7.  Don't get discouraged.  When things don't go as planned, pick up and keep moving forward.
8.  Continue to explore options.  Both trad and self-pub are viable in today's market.
9.  Marketing will be a tool, not an obsession.  I will interact with my social media about thirty minutes five days a week and most of that will be actual interaction.
10. I will read six books this year, at least three outside of my genre of choice.

So there it is.  My plan for 2013.  Nothing about working out or eating more nutritionally.  Just highly-motivating, ambitious goals of heart-nudging greatness-unearthed.

Join me if you'd like.  Comment on some thangs you're planning to do to change your life into a rhythmic swirl of awesomeness this year.

Happy Reading and Writing!

C. C. Marks

Holiday Gifts of Love Blog Hop

Top Ten Reasons I Love The Christmas Season

We're hopping, peeps!  It's holiday time, and for me and mine, that means time to celebrate one of the holiest Christian holidays--Christmas!  So many things I love about this time of year, so I wanted to share my Top Ten Reasons I Love the Christmas Season.  I hope you can totally relate.

10. The goofy kid in the holiday school program who waves and shouts at his or her family and sings loudly off key the whole time. (Yeah, it's usually mine.)

9.   The growing (and lovable) mish-mash of kid-made ornaments decorating my once gold and silver Christmas tree.

8.   "O Holy Night," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Jingle Bell Rock," and "Breath of Heaven"--the songs I crank and belt out anytime they play on the all-Christmas-all-the-time radio.

7.   Despite the holiday stress, despite the crazy to-do lists, despite the increased traffic...everywhere, people still seem to be at their happiest.

6.   Light displays give my kiddos free entertainment with every street we turn onto.

5.   People actually invite me to parties!

4.   Finally getting to see family that all my early fond memories surround.

3.   Fooooood! Need I say more?

2.   No school for the holidays! (Can you tell I'm a teacher?)  And more time for denting the TBR pile!

1.   The reason behind the season--my Lord and Savior--Jesus Christ.  May I never forget this.

There you go.  Leave me a comment about your favorite part of the holidays for a chance to win a $10.00 gift card to the e-tailer of your choice.  You must comment to be entered into the grand prize drawings.  Don't forget to leave your e-mail address.
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And don't forget to keep hoppin' through to the other sites for more chances to win.  You can find them here:  http://carrieannbloghops.blogspot.com/

There are THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times, including this one!

Now what are those prizes?

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $200 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

Happy Reading and Writing!



Charlie hides her true identity inside a community made up only of males, but her presence places everyone around her in danger. This community is surrounded by Draghoul, once-human creatures bent on infecting others. Left with no other choice but to remain, she fears her secret will be discovered, and she’ll be thrown to the creatures she dreads. Yet, the longer she stays with these survivors, the less benevolent they appear. 

In this new and dangerous version of the world, where the friend beside you might be an enemy and an enemy might be your only friend, seventeen-year-old Charlie protects her baby sister and herself from grotesque monsters outside the community as well as human ones inside. Will the truth she discovers about her protectors save her or ultimately doom her to a fate worse than death?

This is the first full-length novel in the Mercy Series.

C. C. Marks

View From the Grown-Up Table

Okay, so I'm old enough to know better, right?  Believe me, my butt sits squarely at the grown-up table.  No doubt about it.  Yet, so often I find myself cleaning up childish messes of my own making.

The latest one was losing my wallet--complete with credit cards, driver's license, and insurance cards.  With the attention span of a gnat's twitchy minuscule brain, I dropped it in a parking lot next to my car and drove off none the wiser.  Didn't even notice it was gone until later that evening--not because I needed to buy anything, but because I swear I have a guardian angel who whispers in my ear when something's not quite right.  After an exhaustive search of the usual places, I called the gas station, which was my only stop that morning, and asked if they'd found a wallet.  I felt like such a goof just asking, but was even more disappointed to hear that no lost wallets had turned up.

Now, I really panicked.  I called my bank to put a hold on my debit/credit card and cancelled my other credit cards immediately.  Fortunately, there hadn't been any activity on any of them all day.  That meant one of two things.  Either A. it was just somewhere I hadn't looked yet or B. someone had figured out they weren't going to get far with the maxed-out credit cards in my wallet.  Of course, they were more than welcome to pay some down while they had them in their possession.  I might have even bought them something nice if they had.

Alas, still no clues as to where it could possibly be.  So, I re-ordered insurance cards and prepped myself to file a police report.  After all, that would be the grown-up thing to do.

However, my super-secret guardian angel seemed to be telling me to wait, and so I figured if it still hadn't turned up by the end of the week, I'd file the report and cross my fingers no one tried to pretend to be me--poor fool that they'd be.

The next morning, I stopped at the same gas station, cash in hand this time, gathered a few items and went to pay.  The cashier looked nice enough, so I swallowed my pride and asked, "Did anyone, by chance, turn in a wallet recently?"

He glanced below the counter and asked, "What color?"

Oh, my hopes soared as I said, "Pink, with flowers."

"Yeah, this one?"

And you know what?  It was my wallet.  Aaaaah!  Needless to say, I gushed profusely about how he'd made my day and how beyond happy I was now.

Of course, it wasn't all rainbows and unicorns.  I still have to wait for all my cancelled cards to be re-issued in seven to ten business days.  But life is good again, and though I still feel very much like a *cough*-year-old child playing grown-up most days, I guess I don't have to worry about anyone else doing a better job of being me now that I have my identity back.

Anyway, one of these days, I might actually grow up.  Until then, happy reading and writing.

C. C. Marks