Tour + Review + Guest Post: Red Carpet Day Job by @TashCotter

Red Carpet Day Job by Tasha Cotter

Genres: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

[Goodreads | Amazon]

Most residents of New York City don’t have to wrestle
their skirts from beneath roosting chickens, or clean
egg yolk off their stilettos each day before work. But Sophie Waldrop does, thanks to the organic egg business her boyfriend Scott runs from their 5th floor walk-up. Though they were high school sweethearts, nothing can make up for Scott’s inattention now. Finally, Sophie works up the courage to send him and his chickens packing.

Then Sophie’s boss introduces her to Nick Jackson, the hottest up-and-coming actor in Hollywood. When Nick asks her to go to a red carpet awards show with him, Sophie can’t believe her luck. She never expected to meet Nick, let alone like him. And she certainly never expected him to like her, too.

When her dream job lands in her lap, Sophie rejoices that her hard work has finally paid off. But she soon finds out that being a busy agent to the stars is nothing compared to being Nick Jackson's new girlfriend. Tabloid tell-alls, Nick’s hectic schedule, persistent leading ladies, and Sophie’s own promotion and career ambitions further complicate their fairy-tale romance.

Can Sophie and Nick make their love last, or will their relationship be more like the paparazzi’s camera flashes—fast, bright, and fading?

   Sometimes you just have to indulge in a sweet romance that'll sweep you away, and Red Carpet Day Job is just that! There's enough humor to keep it lighthearted, and I loved the way this book made me feel. It's a guilty pleasure read that I couldn't say no to!

  Tasha Cotter writes in such a way that you can't help but be swept up in the story. The descriptions are vivid and instantly put you alongside the characters. Speaking of characters, oh my gosh! They all felt so real and authentic. And they'll keep you guessing! I loved getting to know all of them, but enjoyed Sophie so much. She's the type of girl I wanna have a glass wine and chat with!

  Red Carpet Day Job is the romantic adventure you've been waiting for, love addicts! Read it for yourself and find out if you're Team Nick or Team Scott. Either way, you'll fall in love with Red Carpet Day Job!

**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.

Top 10 Movies by Tasha Cotter

First! A word of caution on this list!

I don’t actually watch a LOT of movies! I’m more of a Hulu/ sitcom binge watcher (I’m a long-time devotee of shows like 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, and The West Wing) BUT I’m gonna give this my best shot. Here we go…

The Talented Mr. Ripley -- This is hands-down one of the best movies, ever. I’m dead serious. The casting is perfect: Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Matt Damon. Based on the Patricia Highsmith novel, the movie takes place in New York and Italy. It’s gorgeous to watch and I absolutely love watching Ripley turn and turn until he becomes this murderous monster, no longer recognizable to anyone. Not even himself.

Little Women -- Because I’m a die-hard fan of the book, it was only natural that I would fall in love with the movie -- and nothing beats the Winona Ryder version, btw. In my mind, Jo March will always look like Winona Ryder and Laurie will always be Christian Bale. This movie brought the book to life in such a great way for me.

Christmas Vacation -- This movie is something my family watches Every. Single. Christmas. At least once. Some people like Will Ferrell’s Elf, some are all about It’s a Wonderful Life….I’ve always loved this movie. I like to laugh, what can I say? Chevy Chase is at his best. My favorite character? Cousin Eddie, of course.

The Royal Tenenbaums -- This movie took a while to grow on me, but the more I see it, the more I love it. I just love Wes Anderson movies, in general (it was hard not to include Moonrise Kingdom on this list). There’s something about his use of color and cinematography that just appeals to me. I love the narrative of this movie and I came to adore these characters. Anderson infuses them with whimsy and comedic charm. I can’t resist.

Amelie -- I immediately loved this movie when it was first assigned to me in a college french class. I think I was spellbound by the bright colors, dazzling cinematography, but more than anything, by the narrative. It’s the story of a woman who ultimately decides to do something daring with her unremarkable life. What’s the movie about? It’s about how life will surprise you. It’s about destiny. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Montmartre is the setting for such a dream-like story.

High Fidelity -- I’m a big Nick Hornby fan and so when I found out about this movie, I had to see it right away -- I loved the book. I thought John Cusack was the perfect Rob Gordon. He’s an underdog. He’s an anti-hero. I loved how the story follows a guy who was obsessed by music and how he’s writing about his top 5 break-ups (including the one in-progress). And then there’s Jack Black! Is there anything better than when Jack Black performs on stage? I don’t think so.

Lost in Translation -- I knew this movie was special the first time I saw it. I generally really, really like Sofia Coppola movies. They’re artistic. They’re gorgeous. And they also go deep within whatever world they’re inhabiting (and BONUS: there’s usually a terrific soundtrack). For me, the magic of this movie is in the casting: Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray are perfect together, set adrift in their own lives, finding themselves there and not there, together, in Tokyo.

Jurassic Park -- I was only nine years old when this movie came out, but it changed my life. It really, really did. I saw it multiple times in the theatre and then begged my parents to let me get the VHS. I was always a science nerd in school. I shopped at the Discovery Channel store. (I actually owned a t-shirt displaying the cats of North America, for some reason.) I took all the high level science courses in school. So this movie kind of ruled my life. I wanted to be Sam Neill, digging up dinosaur bones in some far off place.

When Harry Met Sally... -- Because I love to laugh and because I’m a sucker for a good love story, this movie just clicked with me. Billy Crystal is phenomenal and I love the way he makes Meg Ryan laugh in the movie. You can just see over the course of time they stay with each other. They never forget. Their story is so good and so funny. And when I first saw it, it was an unusual story. Not the kind of love story I was used to seeing. And I liked that. The movie takes a long view of love. (Isn’t Nora Ephron an absolute genius?)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind -- This is a more complicated pick for me. I’m including it on this list because it shook me up when I first saw it. I was twenty years old and with a group of my best friends. This movie made me feel something I hadn’t in a long time. It’s hard to say what that was, exactly, but the movie made me feel. It made me cry. And think. And laugh. I can’t really even watch the movie again because of how powerful it was for me. But I listen to the soundtrack (Jon Brion -- another creative genius) all the time and when I do, I’m twenty again, sitting in that dark theatre with my very best friends and we’re all young and in love with life and trying to grow up and figuring out how to do that.

We sat in comfortable silence, lost in our own thoughts. The splash of the water in the fountain echoed off of the buildings around us. The steady hum of traffic and the occasional toot of a horn in the distance added its own music to the night. It was beautiful. Tiny fairy lights that had been strung on the trees sparkled against the skyscraper backdrop.

Nick looked so sexy, so at ease, sitting beside me. I fished out my phone and snapped a picture of him. He arched a brow.
“I just wanted something to remember this moment by,” I shrugged.
“How about a better picture then?”
I thumbed open the photo gallery, and clicked on the picture I’d just taken. “Nope. This one’s perfect.” And it was. He looked relaxed, comfortable. Not posed or stiff as he often looked in movie posters.
“Well, I think I should have one of you too, then. Smile, Sophie.”
I faced him, a genuine smile curving my lips. It had been so long since I’d felt this happy—too long. And it had also been too long since I’d visited this place. It used to be my favorite place in the city. When had I stopped coming?
“Penny for your thoughts.”
“I was just thinking how much I love it here.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my pulse point. “I usually don’t, but tonight I do. Must be the company I’m keeping.” He picked up my hand and squeezed gently. “Tell me something more.”
“I used to dream of living here in the Big Apple, doing my dream job―a talent agent to the stars.” I leaned my head on his shoulder. “I pictured what it would be like.”
“And what did you see?” He pressed a kiss to my temple.
“It looked a lot like this, right now. Sitting under the stars, happy at the end of the day.” I peeked up at him. “I’ll never think of Union Square the same again. It’ll always be special, because of you.”
He pointed at the fountain. “You know, a very famous couple once jumped in there?”
“Really? Who?”
Nick got up and walked toward the fountain. “Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald. They were the stars of their day, you know. The King and Queen of New York. They did it just for the hell of it. Isn’t that incredible?”
“It is. But I don’t believe you.” I lingered on the bench for a moment, enjoying the night, and then followed him to the edge of the fountain. Nick crossed his heart. “It’s the truth. I swear.”
“I don’t know. It sounds like you’re making it up.”
“Maybe I should push you in. Create our own moment so some future couple can argue about it. It could be like that scene from The Princess Diaries 2.”
“Maybe you should. But, if I were reenacting that scene, I’d do it a bit differently.”
“Oh, yeah? What would you do?”
I grinned and set my hands on his shoulders. “This.”
I shoved him backward, and he bumped into the low edge of the fountain. He reached for me, but I danced away. He lost his balance and fell into the fountain with a loud splash.
He stood, water streaming over him. His almost-transparent shirt revealed a six-pack that most guys would kill for. Heat rushed over my skin, burning away the chill of the night air.
“You do realize you’re going to pay for that, right?”
“Yeah. I certainly hope I do.”

Tasha Cotter is the author of That Bird Your Heart (Finishing Line Press) and Some Churches (Gold Wake Press). A graduate of the University of Kentucky and the Bluegrass Writers Studio, her work has appeared in or is forthcoming in NANO Fiction, Verse Daily, The Rumpus, and elsewhere. You can find her online at www.tashacotter.com or on twitter @TashCotter.

Tour: Southern Fried Wiccan by S.P. Sipal @HP4Writers

Southern Fried Wiccan by S.P. Sipal

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance

[Goodreads | Amazon]

Cilla Swaney is thrilled to return stateside, where she
can hang up her military-brat boots for good. Finally,
she’ll be free to explore her own interests—magick and Wicca. But when she arrives at her grandma’s farm, Cilla discovers that life in the South isn’t quite what she expected. At least while country hopping, she never had to drink G-ma’s crazy fermented concoctions, attend church youth group, make co-op deliveries...or share her locker with a snake-loving, fire-lighting, grimoire-stealing Goth girl…

…Who later invites her to a coven that Cilla’s not sure she has the guts to attend. But then Emilio, the dark-haired hottie from her charter school, shows up and awakens her inner goddess. Finally, Cilla starts believing in her ability to conjure magick. Until…

…All Hades breaks loose. A prank goes wrong during their high school production of Macbeth, and although it seems Emilio is to blame, Cilla and Goth pay the price. Will Cilla be able to keep the boy, her coven, and the trust of her family? Or will this Southern Wiccan get battered and fried?

The Southern Fried Wiccan's Top Ten YA Reads

by S.P. Sipal

The books we read and love affect us throughout our lives, but perhaps more deeply and long-lasting when we are young. There are stories I read years ago that I still remember clearly today because they both touched my heart and steered me toward my future. So my list of top YA includes not only books I've read recently, but books I devoured when I was a teen and still have not forgotten.

Here they are, in no particular order, my favorite YA reads:

Compulsion by Martina Boone – As a Southerner, this story reminded me a lot of the spooky tales my grandfather used to tell my dad, and my dad passed on to me, of strange lights that rose from an old graveyard and floated over the peanut field beside my great-grandfather's farm house. Or of the voices speaking to my great-grandfather from natural springs and hollow logs, spirits telling him where to find old family treasure buried during the Civil War era. (Which I'm still looking for!) I'm looking forward to Boone's next book of the trilogy, Persuasion, which I've been lucky enough to have a sneak peek of.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare – In the days when I was a teen (and I won't say how long ago that was!) YA was not a thing yet. We did have a few, but most of us just went from children's books direct to historical romance novels. I think I remember The Witch of Blackbird Pond fondly because it was a bridge between the two. I loved the history (loved the witch element even then), the brave and compassionate character of Kit, and the forbidden romance between her and Nat.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – I'm always fascinated when an author can take an ancient myth and reinterpret it for today…or, in Collin's case, the future. It was the character of Katniss whom I found particularly appealing…how she could take such an awful situation she was thrust into and still be true to herself.

His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman – To be honest, Pullman's trilogy is a little darker than I like most of my reads. I think what drew me to this series was the depth of his meaning and his twists of theology. Plus, his world building was deeply inspired.

Soul Crossed by Lisa Gail Green – I love it when an author can take two polarized characters, with a true conflict between them, and still draw them together in a way that makes sense. Green did this with Josh and Grace. This book was at times quite chilling and dark, especially with the "soul" they were both fighting to attain, but always engrossing. Loved the high stakes and how Green envisioned her angels and demons.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott – I loved Jo, just loved her. I don't think a character had quite captivated me as much since I'd graduated from the Little House books. Jo's passion for reading and her tomboy personality are probably what I identified so much with. We love to see ourselves in the characters we read.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine – I loved the whimsy of this book. And the theme of obedience being a curse was wonderful. Plus Levine's twists on certain fairy tale and adventure tropes made this a delightful read for me.

Forever by Judy Blume – I include this iconic book mostly because of certain awkward memories associated with it…memories I can now laugh at. I'll never forget how it was surreptitiously passed around under desks when I was in seventh grade with certain pages dog-eared. I also vividly remember a guy I liked laughing at me when my face turned bright red from reading those pages. The perils of a pale complexion!

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg -- I know this is technically probably more MG than YA, but I have to include it in my list because it was one of my favorite books of all time when I was younger. I read this book over and over. I think it was the exquisite combination of mystery and adventure that drew me in, coupled with two kids taking care of themselves alone. I loved the details. I still remember Claudia and Jamie fishing for coins in the museum's fountains and crouching on toilets to stay out of view of the night guards.

Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling – The Harry Potter series tops my collection of best-loved books. Besides the actual books themselves, I loved not only being a part of the generation who got to experience the magic and mystery of these books as they were released, but especially having experienced it with my children. They grew up with the feel that a book release was a rock-star event and that debating the mysteries of a book and predicting the next was how things should be. I'll always be thankful for that. Of the seven books, I'd say Goblet of Fire was my favorite.

How many of my favorite books have you read? I'd be very curious what your reaction to them was as we always experience a story in such a unique, personal way.

Born and raised in North Carolina, Susan Sipal had to travel halfway across the world and return home to embrace her father and grandfather's penchant for telling a tall tale. After having lived with her husband in his homeland of Turkey for many years, she suddenly saw the world with new eyes and had to write about it.

Perhaps it was the emptiness of the Library of Celsus at Ephesus that cried out to be refilled, or the myths surrounding the ancient Temple of Artemis, but she's been writing stories filled with myth and mystery ever since. She can't wait to share Southern Fried Wiccan with readers in March 2015.

[Website | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter]

Tour & Giveaway: Faery Marked by Mary Waibel

What Inspires Me

Guest Post by Mary Waibel

marywaibel.blogspot.com

Thanks, Kristen for hosting me for my Faery Marked blog tour, and for letting me guest post on the blog!

Artwork by Lee Smith

I’ve often been asked what inspires my writing. While I’ve found gorgeous pictures that have made me want to use them in my setting, I can honestly say that I’m most often inspired by music.

I am constantly listening to music, whether actively listening and singing along, or just letting it play in the background while I write, do housework, or sit on the deck with friends and family.

My playlists range from Gregorian chant to heavy metal rock, but my favorite songs are ones that tell a story. I love it when I’m listening to the lyrics and my imagination takes over and plays a mini-movie in my mind.

Daniel Maclise [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

One of my favorite groups to listen to for inspiration is BLACKMORE’S NIGHT. They really fuel my creative juices on the fantasy front. Must have something to do with the Renaissance Faire vibe of some of their songs. The mood they set works wonders while I’m twisting fairy tales into something new.

Village on the Sand, Peasant’s Promise, Written in the Stars, Hanging Tree, and Ghost of a Rose all paint vivid scenes in my mind. One day, I’d like to take one of these scenes and turn it into a story that I hope will do its inspiration justice.

For my contemporary works, I listen to more modern music. Groups like Coldplay, Nickelback, Evanescence, Breaking Benjamin, Kamelot, Avantastia, and Metallica litter my playlists.

Do you find inspiration in music? If so, what artists inspire you and why?

Book Blurb:

When Callie Rycroft wakes to find purple flames flickering on the ceiling, she believes she’s still dreaming. But soon she’s forced to accept that she has magic―a special magic that grants her entrance into the Faery Realm.

For centuries humans have been banned from Faery, but dangerous times call for dangerous measures. Declared Champion by the Faery Queen, Callie is assigned a Guardian, and tasked with finding the Cordial―a magical elixir needed to keep the portal to the Faery realm a secret from humans.

The upside? Reece Michaels, the boy she's been crushing on for years, is her Guardian. Callie hopes that, by spending time with Reece, he'll start to see her as more than just his best friend's sister.

The downside? She's in a race not only against time, but against another Champion, and a rogue Guardian―a Guardian who stands to threaten her developing relationship with Reece.

Magic, mistaken identities, and hidden agendas are the least of Callie's worries when she learns that the Cordial requires a sacrifice. Will Callie be willing to risk everything―even Reece―to complete her task as Champion? Or will she let the portal open, and doom both realms?

Available at AMAZON

  Mary Waibel kept me up all night with this book! Whenever I started Faery Marked, I immediately got lost in the world of Callie. The way that the author introduces the reader to the world in this book is so immersive. You can't help but be swept away by the vivid descriptions and wonderful writing.

  Callie was a great main character. I really enjoyed following along for her, and it was so easy to root for her. There are a lot of unknowns and suspense with this book and the author does such a fantastic job at pacing to keep you turning pages. I was smitten with Reese from the beginning, and I loved learning more about him as the story went on.

  Honestly I cannot wait until the next book in this series! Faery Marked definitely has me hooked, and Mary Waibel cannot deliver soon enough! Fantasy fans will fall in love with this wonderfully crafted book!

**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.

Win a signed copy of Faery Marked and other swag. Details HERE. Don’t miss out on this LIMITED TIME OFFER!!!

About the Author:
YA author Mary Waibel’s love for fairytales and happy-ever fill the pages of her works. Whether penning stories in a medieval setting or a modern day school, magic and romance weave their way inside every tale.

Strong female characters use both brain and brawn to save the day and win the heart of their men. Mary enjoys connecting with her readers through her website: marywaibel.blogspot.com

#IndieFallFest: Amy Dunne

I am over the moon excited to share the wonderful Amy Dunne for Indie Fall Fest today!

Don't forget to stop by the kick-off post and enter the huge giveaway!

On Kira Adams' blog today, she's featuring Kai Strand!

Describe Season’s Meetings, your upcoming release, in one word.
Festive.

Do you have any favorite LGBT books that you’d like to tell us about?
There are so many incredible LBGT books it’s almost impossible to answer this question. However, I will certainly give it a go.
Curious Wine by Katherine V. Forrest was the first LGBT book I ever read. It blew my mind. For the first time, I felt truly represented in a story. My thoughts, fears, dreams, and feelings were all shared by the two main characters. This book gave me the courage to accept who I was and go out and live the life I wanted.
Pretty much everything by Gill McKnight! I love Gill’s work. To be able to write humor and make people laugh out loud is a gift. If I had to choose my absolute favorite stories by Gill, I’d go with The Garoul Series. Werewolves, romance, tension, and laughter. I’ve reread the whole series many times and know I will return to them again and again.
KE Payne has written a number of awesome lesbian YA books. Some of her books are truly hilarious and deal with the trial and tribulations of accepting your sexuality and experiencing first love. 365 Days and Another 365 Days are definitely worth checking out, regardless of your age. Juliann Rich’s debut YA novel, Caught In The Crossfire is the first in a trilogy. I read this book in one sitting. I was hooked. It deals with realising sexuality, experiencing first love, while struggling to deal with intense pressures from religion, family, and peers. I grew up in a religious household and went to Catholic schools, so Jonathan’s journey was something I could relate to. Jonathan’s struggle to reconcile his faith with his newly discovered sexuality deeply resonated with me. I’d heartily recommend this book to everyone and anyone.
Justine Saracen writes fantastic historic LGBTQ novels. I’m a huge fan and eagerly read every new release. One of my favorites is, Sarah, Son Of God. This was the first novel that I read which starred a transgendered protagonist. The story was so good, I can still remember it now and it’s been years since I read it. If you’re a fan of Dan Brown’s work, then you’ll adore Justine’s novels.
Finally, other authors you should totally check out are: Radclyffe, Gerri Hill, Georgia Beers, Sarah Waters, and Kim Baldwin.

Do you think your degrees in philosophy and psychology influence your writing?
I think they do influence my writing. I’ve always joked that I chose the two opposite subjects to study at university. In philosophy, you question everything, all of the time. There’s never one absolute definitive answer. Psychology is a science and therefore, everything is scrutinized and tried to be proven through scientific studies. I like the juxtaposition.

I invest a lot of time in writing in depth profiles of each character. This is where the psychology comes in handy. I want to know their background, what makes them tick, their thoughts, hopes, dreams, and faults. It’s through this process that they become real in their own right. In my debut novel Secret Lies I addressed the issues of self-harm and abuse. From my experience of working with vulnerable young people, I went on to research each topic in depth. I wanted to know how it would affect someone (although it’s important to state that everyone’s experience is totally unique to them). I learnt about the professional help available and where this help can be accessed. The most important thing to me was that under no circumstances did either topic come across as gratuitous. They weren’t included just to add a shock factor, they were included to raise awareness and perhaps offer solace and help to those who are experiencing similar situations.
Bizarrely, with Season’s Meetings, I’ve had feedback from a few people that claim the main character, Catherine, is very similar to me. Upon reflection, there are a number of similarities but it was never my intention. Although, I suppose my subconscious may have had a different intention altogether.
The philosophy side is usually helpful when deciding on the storyline and the setting. I argue with myself back and forth until I finally decide upon what I believe is the best course of action. With Secret Lies, I found myself continually questioning if everything was happening in the right way. I didn’t want the story to be too dark and gritty, but at the same time I wanted it to feel realistic. With both novels, I found myself obsessing about even the tiniest aspects of the story and setting, and would usually decide on something when I was just on the brink of falling to sleep and then have to get up. It could be the most obscure thing, like a drink or meal they’d eaten, or a turn of phrase they’d spoken.
My third novel, The Renegade is speculative / dystopian fiction. After the Red Death epidemic destroys most of the human population, only a few survivors remain. The story explores the interaction of a few of these survivors. The philosophy is really coming into it’s own with this story and setting. There’s politics, ethics, religion, sociology, psychology, technology, and morality all being explored. It’s fascinating, but also exhausting. On occasions, I wonder if I’ve taken on too much. I worry about what readers will think. What if my ideas differ so differently from their beliefs of what would happen? I have to remind myself that as much as I want to, I simply can’t please all of the people, all of the time. I just hope the majority will enjoy the story, setting, and characters as I’ve come to see them.

Where did your inspiration for Season’s Meetings come from?

Last October, my wife and I were discussing plans for Christmas. We’re both huge fans of the holiday and encourage the other to get overly excited. (We’re so bad, we could give a six year with sugar coursing through their veins, a run for their money on Christmas Eve.) We start a countdown from October, eagerly waiting for December 1st, so we can decorate, listen to Christmas songs, watch Christmas films, and wear our favorite Christmas jumpers. While discussing our plans, it got me thinking about how much I’d love to write a festively fun Christmas story. My wife encouraged me, like always, and I came up with the characters, setting, and storyline. Bold Strokes Books sent me a contact and then the writing began.

As soon as December came along, we decorated the house and ourselves with festive paraphernalia. We spent hours putting up the Christmas tree and decorating it, until it was perfect. In the past our furbabies have shown interest of a destructive nature in both the tree and the decorations. Since we got Kimmy, our little cairn terrier, we’d had to cordon off the tree with a dog and cat proof metal fence—which does hinder the view somewhat. Last year, Kimmy and the cats showed absolutely no interest whatsoever. They all completely ignored it. In our naivety, we were fooled by their cuteness and lack of interest. Don’t get me wrong, we still put a barricade up to keep Kimmy out of that room when unsupervised—we’re not that silly. The next morning, I came downstairs to discover Kimmy had taken full advantage of her ninety minute window of unsupervised opportunity. She’d opened the

barricade—we still have no idea of how, and she set to work on destroying the tree. She didn’t even go for the cheap baubles we’d deliberately put at the bottom on the off chance she did get near it. Oh no. Kimmy apparently has expensive taste in decoration, just like her mummies—taste, being the literal word.
All of this got me thinking, and inspired me to add Kimmy and her naughty ways to the story. It was as if the missing piece of the puzzle had finally been found. The story flowed and within three months the novel was finished. Not only is Kimmy included in the story, she also stars on the stunningly beautiful cover.
It’s turned out better than I ever dreamed. It made a nice change to write something that is lighthearted, festive, and fun. Don’t get me wrong—I love Secret Lies, but this shows a different side to my writing repertoire. And that’s what inspired Season’s Meetings.

Coffee or tea?
Coffee. Always coffee. Even thought it goes against my Irish and English heritage.

Your partner and you both love Dolly Parton! Because I live in the same place that Dolly calls home, I have to ask. What’s your favorite Dolly song and/or movie?
You do? Awesome! My wife and I hope to one day make it to Dollywood. It’s on our bucket list. Well, as with the favorite books question previously mentioned, I could go on and on. I have yet to hear a song sang by Dolly or watch a film starring Dolly that I haven’t loved. That said, I love the song “Think About Love” because we danced to it, as our first dance at our wedding. (I also can’t wait for December so we can listen to Dolly’s Home for Christmas Album). As for a film, it has to be 9 to 5. I can’t even count how many times I’ve seen it.

What’s up next for you?
Season’s Meetings is due for release from Bold Strokes Books this December coming! I’m really excited about its release and can’t wait for people to read it. My wife and I are also officially on countdown to Christmas. We’ll soon be donning our favorite Christmas jumpers, decorating the house and tree, all whilst battling to keep the furbabies safely at bay.

As for writing, I’m in the process of writing The Renegade which is tentatively due for release in 2015 by Bold Strokes Books. It’s by far the most challenging story I’ve written so far, but I’m loving the experience. After that, I have a few ideas hounding me that I need to take a look at. I’m hoping there’s going to be another YA novel on the horizon sooner rather than later. So, watch this space.

Thank you so much for involving me in the Author Q&A session. As always, it’s been a pleasure.

My Tips About Writing and Publishing

by Amy Dunne

It’s an absolute pleasure to be invited to take part in the Indie Fall Fest. I’d like to thank Kristen and Krista for all of their hard work, time, and effort. You’re both awesome.

I chose to write this blog about tips and advice I’d like to give to any aspiring writers, as I know they would have helped me back when I started. My debut novel, SECRET LIES was published last December and won a Golden Crown 2014 Literary Award in the YA category. My second novel, SEASON’S MEETINGS is due for release this December coming. I’m still fairly new to writing myself, but it means everything I’ve learnt is still fresh in my mind and I still empathize with writers who want to get their debut novel written and published. So, here are my tips:

1). Enjoy writing your novel. I know it sounds obvious, but from my experience I now know that writing the first draft is the fun part of the process. It’s at this time that you can get to know the characters and the storyline. You can play about, swap, and change things, and find out what works for you. It might help in these early stages to write an in-depth story arc and character profiles: including physical descriptions, personality traits, their psychology, their back story, and how they develop during the story. I now do these for all characters, including secondary characters. It ensures I never have to worry about describing the wrong physical feature (hair or eye colour) and I know what their purpose is in the story.

2). Don’t give up. Again, I know this sounds obvious. Throughout the process of writing your novel and getting it published, you’re going to go through some very tough times. No matter how thick your skin is, you’re going to experience times where you doubt your ability to write and wish you’d never even started on this journey in the first place. This is perfectly normal. Not everyone can write a novel and get it published. Why? Because it takes a great deal of hard work, dedication, determination, reflection, and a willingness to learn, improve, and accept constructive criticism. Basically, it’s not easy. It’s okay to feel frustrated and overwhelmed at times, but the true sign that you’re meant to be a writer is if you persevere. I tried to give up countless times, but something inside me refused to admit defeat. It was like the more I got turned down, rejected, pushed away, or overwhelmed, the more adamant I became that I was going to continue and prove to everyone (myself included) that I would be successful. Please don’t get me wrong, I cried many times, swore, took myself off to bed to sulk, declared I was never going to write another sodding word, ever, again…then a little while later, I sat back in my chair, opened up the manuscript, and tentatively began typing once more. So, perhaps the most important tip of all is quite simply to not give up.

3). Beta / Alpha Readers. When your first draft is complete and you’ve completed the editing to as far as you personally can, then is the time to find beta / alpha readers. These are readers who will read your manuscript and give you constructive feedback to help improve the story, characters, and additional editing (spelling and grammar) you may have missed. It’s advisable for you to have two beta readers. **They must NOT be family or friends.** No matter how much your family and friends claim that they’ll be unbiased, they’re already invested, because they don’t want to hurt your feelings. Having impartial beta readers mean that they’re more likely to be honest, perhaps brutally so. You don’t have to follow all of their advice, just use your own judgment. As these readers are giving up their free time to help you, it’s important to be polite throughout your communication with them. It’s also customary to give them a signed copy of the published novel.

4). Research. There are two things that every writer needs to research. The first is the genre that you’re writing. The second is the publishing house you want to work with. You need to do your homework. When researching the genre of your novel, see what titles are popular and read them. Do you think your novel brings something new and exciting to the genre? Does it fit in well with the other titles? Make sure your story and characters aren’t uncannily similar. Who is the publisher?
This brings us on to researching the publishing house. This is very important. There is nothing worse than an author submitting their manuscript to a publisher who doesn’t even publish that genre or age range of books. It shows that you haven’t taken the time to read their guidelines and gives a very poor first impression of both yourself and your manuscript. A few other tips:

A). Don’t sent a generic group e-mail to different publishing houses. This indicates that you’re lazy. You need to write a strong submission letter: discusses the synopsis of your novel, introduce yourself, explains why you’d aspire to submit to them, and be humble—under no circumstances should you claim that “this is the best book you’ll ever read and if you don’t publish it you’re making a big mistake.” You’ll come across as an arrogant arse. No matter how great your writing is, you’re going to need to improve and develop, just like every other writer on the face of this earth. Explain that you’re prepared to work hard, develop, and take on board constructive criticism.

B). Check the publisher’s website for submission guidelines and information. Follow these exactly. By doing exactly as they’ve asked, you’re showing that you’re prepared to take the time to follow their rules. If there aren’t any submission guidelines, check other publishing sites, and use their advice.

C). Be patient. If they say it might take them 14 weeks to get back to you, unfortunately, you have to wait. Don’t keep sending e-mails or harassing them. If the date they’ve given you has passed, only then, should you send a polite e-mail inquiring. This is a difficult time. I’ve never known a period of time go so slowly. I didn’t hear back until spot on 14 weeks to the day. I admit that patience is not one of my virtues. I don’t think I’ve ever checked my e-mails so many times a day. It’s a waiting game.

5). Rejection. It happens. How do I know? Because it happened to me three times. It was gutting and I pretty much did exactly the same things I described in #2. DO NOT send the publisher an e-mail explaining that they are wrong to reject your masterpiece and that they will one day regret it. DO send a polite e-mail in response, thanking them for their time, and asking for constructive feedback. There’s no guarantee that you’ll get a response and that’s life. But if like me, you do get a response, take their comments under serious consideration. Will what they suggest dramatically change the story for better or worse? Are you prepared to make the changes suggested? If you are, go ahead and get on with it. Once you’re completed the edits, send a resubmission request, asking if they would be interested in reviewing your manuscript since you’ve made the relevant changes that they kindly suggested. If they accept, send it, and wait. If they decline, thank them, and look for another suitable publishing house to contact. My debut novel, Secret Lies was accepted upon its resubmission and that made everything worth it.

6). Editing. If your novel is accepted for publication the next stage is going to be hard work. Prepare yourself. I was fortunate in that I got to work with two editors on each of my novels (three editors in total). All three are incredible women and have helped me improve my craft of writing. I owe them a great deal. But it didn’t stop the process from being a tadd soul-destroying . You’ve slaved over this manuscript for months (years in my case) and then the edits begin and you realise just how much of what you’ve written is wrong. I’m still getting things wrong but fortunately, my editors have the patience of saints. Maybe I’m a masochist—but I quite like doing edits. I enjoy learning new things and I get a thrill from watching as my manuscript transforms into the best possible version of the story. The editing is then followed by cover and page proofs. I’ll admit that I was previously very naive about the publishing process and just how many people are involved. It really is a honour to be a part of the Bold Strokes Books family and have so many people contribute to help make each of my books the best it can be.

7). Self-publishing. I’ll be honest, my knowledge of self-publishing is extremely limited. There are a number of great websites and blogs that offer advice. There are also many LGBTQ authors who are self-published and I simply adore their novels. I’d always had my heart set on joining BSB, but if that had failed, self-publishing is something I would have seriously considered. The major flaw would have come from a personal level—I’m a complete technophobe. Those people who are technologically savvy would probably do just fine. The biggest issues I’ve heard from readers with regards to self-published books are issues with the formatting and edits (spelling and grammar). I would advise that no matter how hard you’ve worked on the edits, please, employ an editor to work on your manuscript. They’re trained to spot spelling and grammar mistakes, and know about character development and the story arc. It may be costly, but that last thing you want is for your novel to be riddled with simple mistakes. Readers are paying money and they expect a certain quality in the novels they purchase.

Right, I’ve gone on far too long already. I hope my tips have helped and I wish you all happy writing and reading. Please remember…enjoy writing and never, ever, give up. There’s nothing quite like holding the first copy of your novel. It’s amazing.

Amy was raised in Derbyshire, England. She attended Keele University and graduated in 2007 with a BSc in Philosophy and Psychology. After graduating she worked for a while with vulnerable young people. Her debut YA novel, Secret Lies won a Golden Crown Literary award in 2014. She is married to her beautiful wife, Lou. They share a love of Dolly Parton, have two gorgeous cats, and a very mischievous little dog.

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#IndieFallFest: Rue

Today's Indie Fall Fest post is all about Rue! Enjoy!

Don't forget to drop by the kick-off post to enter our huge giveaway!

On Kira Adams' blog, she's hosting Katherine Over today!

by Zané Sachs (with suggestions from Sadie the Sadist)

Hi, Rue. You seem to have no last name, so I assume you’re hiding for some reason … Have you committed a felony, are you being stalked, or are you just shy?
If I sold a book every time someone asked me that question… The totally boring answer is that “Rue” is my full, legal name.

You majored in journalism, but now you write fiction. What made you switch? I find it easier to tell the truth when I write fiction … is that your experience?
I chose Journalism because I like researching and writing. I switched because I finally came to a place in my life where I could use those skills to write my own stories, rather than just complete assignments or projects. I like fiction that begins with a seed of truth. I love placing my characters in real geographical locations and letting their stories grow.

I noticed you moved seventeen times before you finished high school. How did that affect your life and your writing?
Moving so much definitely had pros and cons. The upside was getting to see so much of the country, but the downside was the lack of long-term friendships. My writing reflects my love of travel and new experiences. My life reflects my sincere appreciation for true friends.

Growing up, you spent a lot of time in church, and you write about life after religion. What gifts did you receive from your upbringing, and how was it a curse?
The biggest gift I received was the time to observe people. I collected so many tiny bits of data for future use in my writing. To this day I love people watching almost as much as chocolate!

Fiction writers are told to use our five senses. What sense do you find easiest to use, and which sense is most difficult to bring into a story?
I find visuals to be the easiest for me. I can describe a place or person with visual language that will make you feel like you’ve been there or met the person. The most difficult sense to work into story, for me, is smell. I notice smell, and certain scents can definitely trigger memories, but it is not my go-to descriptor.

If you could live at any other time, past or future, when would it be—and why?
As a woman, I can honestly say I would never want to live in the past. It seems like a romantic idea, at first, but then I think about the complete lack of freedom and independence—no thanks! So, I guess I would pick the future, by default. I want to believe that things will continue to get better.

How much of your novel, It’s Not My Favorite, is based on your own life? Do you have a sister? If so, how does she feel about the story? How about your parents?
I would have to go back to the “seeds of truth” statement for this answer. “It’s Not My Favorite” is not based on my life, but I did take experiences I had, and stories I heard, and put those seeds into the characters. I have three siblings and they all enjoyed the book.

It’s Not My Favorite is book one of a series. Can you tell us about the next book?
In Book two of the Lake Effect Series, the Hutchinson sisters are out of the frying pan and into the fire—just like their mother always threatened!
Gwenn is floating in the dreamy, fragile glow of her new relationship with wealthy artist, Daniel Gregory, when a blast from her past makes a triumphant return. Sure he ran out on her over a decade ago, but can she turn her back on a war hero?
Rachel is on the brink of having everything she ever dreamed of, but that’s not how things work out for Hutchinson girls. Her rock-star girlfriend is leaving for a lengthy tour and something is afoot at the bakery. The righteous hand of her mother, Shirley, can orchestrate tribulations from halfway across town.
The sisters think they can run away from their troubles, on a quick trip to the heart of Mexico, when an unexpected phone call shatters that illusion.
Filled with intriguing characters, plenty of steamy romance and a few plots twists, “My Favorite Second Chance,” will have you flushed with anticipation, blinking back a few tears, and laughing out loud.

Ever Feel Like You Are One Dumbass Away From Completely Losing It?

by Rue

That moment when you finish writing a book is transcendent. It only lasts a split second, but for that second all is right with the world. A tsunami of self-doubt and an avalanche of second-guessing immediately follow this feeling of perfection.

If you can project yourself into that frame of mind, you might also be able to imagine that it would be a bad time to encounter incompetence. In that fragile state of mind I am sure you would prefer interacting with people who take pride in their job, people who go the extra mile—people who know their ass from a hole in the ground.

I was not so fortunate.

After finishing the manuscript for “My Favorite Second Chance,” Book 2 in The Lake Effect Series, I had the terrible misfortune of encountering a few people who fell a good distance below the “A” for effort bar.

I am admittedly old-school when it comes to galleys for my beta readers. I must have hard copies. I do. Yes, it is archaic, but it is a fact. I like paper and red pens. This disorder requires me to utilize a copy center to duplicate and bind the manuscripts for delivery.

Gone are the days of pride in workmanship. If you were hired simply because you were the only one that passed the drug test—that does not inspire great confidence.

I walk in with my original manuscript. I am anxious, sweaty and suspicious. It is more stressful than leaving my firstborn at daycare for the first time. (Mommy loves you sweetie, I’m just saying it is difficult.)

Problem Number 1: Long line. The person at the front of the line is someone I don’t want to talk to right now. I have to busy myself with other items to avoid detection.

Problem Number 2: The copy clerk cannot perform mathematical calculations. I have 303 single-sided originals that I want copied to double-sided and spiral bound. (I know, but I like it!)

“My largest binding only takes 200 pages.”

“Yes. There are 303 copied to roughly 152. It will fit.”

Long pause. “It will be tight.”

“But it will fit.”

Problem Number 3: I purchased red pens and 10x13 envelopes, for the reader packets. The problem occurred at checkout. Please keep in mind I am purchasing two items, I am anxious and I do not want to make a new friend.

“Did you find everything OK?”

I would like to reply that if I did not find everything “OK” I would be asking how to locate the missing item, NOT checking out. I persevere toward courtesy. “Yes, thank you.”

Helpful checkout clerk, with strange hair ties, looks out the front window of the store. “Oh pick that up. Did you see that? His dog did his business right there and he didn’t clean it up.”

Alert the media. I definitely want to see fresh dog poop right now. I hold my tongue and ready my debit card for swiping.

“Not yet, I have to get all this in there first.”

All TWO of my items? How will you manage? I remain silent.

The machine displays the phrase, “Slide Card.”

“You can slide your card now.”

Now? Are you sure? If only I could read. Still keeping it all in my head.

Somehow I exit without murdering a single soul.

I return at the appointed time to collect my copy order.

Problem Number 4: The project is not ready. Let’s review the process. Lay pages in tray, press single-sided to double-sided picture, enter number of copies and press “Start.” Walk away. Apparently there was some grave error in the copying process and the middle section did not get copied double-sided and now the pages will not fit in the binding.

“She told you it would be tight, right?”

“Yes.” Seething venom boils in my veins.

“Can you come back in an hour, right before closing?”

“Of course. I do need them today.”

Now I am imagining an entire black market manuscript duplication ring. They are purposely delaying the project so they can make extra copies to send to their Book Dealer. I am physically sick to my stomach.

I return home and avoid sharp objects.

The alarm beeps and I race to the car to return to the scene of my torment.

“Oh, thanks for coming back.”

Did he somehow imagine, after our previous conversation, I would NOT come back?

“We have those books ready for you right here.”

He retrieves what can only be described as a large Happy Meal box, and deposits it on the counter.

I have to ask, “What happened to the pages that were copied incorrectly, the one-sided pages?”

“Oh we shredded those. It was easier to re-copy them.”

Doubt tugs at my heart. I wonder if the Book Dealer is watching me. “Oh good.”

The clerk extracts one book. “There, all double-sided. And it fit much better, too.”

Shocking.

He rings up my order, does not tell me to slide my card and I figure out how to pay—all by myself.

I open the Happy Meal box and I do not see my original manuscript. Panic seizes my brain. “Where is the original?”

“I think we were binding the original.”

“No. The original was one-sided, so that doesn’t make any SENSE.”

He searches the counters while I mentally restrain myself from leaping over the barrier and up-ending every trashcan in the copy center.

“Oh, here it is. She left it by the copy machine.”

Again, shocking.

I think I was only one quarter of a dumbass away from completely losing it—on this day.

Rue graduated from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, with a degree in Journalism. Her intimate knowledge of the Midwestern United States, the inordinate amount of time she spent in its churches' pews and her unique parentage make her an expert on life after religion. Having moved 17 times by the time she graduated from high school Rue has seen more than her share of the Great Plains. She never stayed in one place long enough to make lasting human friends. Her best friends were all characters from her beloved books; and the love of reading led to a lifelong passion for writing.

[Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest]

#IndieFallFest: Sarah Buhl

Let's give a warm #IndieFallFest welcome to Sarah Buhl, my author of the day!

Don't forget to drop by the kick-off post and enter our huge giveaway!

On Kira Adams' blog today, she's hosting Claudia Brevis!

by Breigh Forstner

Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.
I always wanted to write and finally decided to just do it the end of 2012. My first book, “penance.” published May 2014. I write a combination of literary fiction, new adult, contemporary romance, dystopian, and paranormal.

Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.
On November 11, the second in the Bohme series will be released. It is called “dissonance.” I am now working on my dystopian novel which I hope to have finished and released by April 2015.

Are you a mom (or parent)?
Yes.

If yes do you find it hard to juggle writing and parenting?
No. My daughter is a very self sufficient nine year old. She is also one of my best friends.

Have you ever based your book or characters on actual events or people from your own life?
Loosely, but nothing exactly. There are many traits in my characters that are from people in my real life. Especially the friends and family in the Bohme series—the dynamics between the characters are found in many of my relationships.

Is there a theme or message in your work that you would like readers to connect to?
I think in each of my books, the driving theme is discovering who you are as a person. It is more the individual realization than the relationship with others. But in that, you discover a deeper connection with others, because you know yourself.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
That I don’t believe in romance in the traditional sense.

When you’re not writing what do you do? Do you have any hobbies or guilty pleasures?
I play a lot of video games and I read. I also watch a hell of a lot of television. I am obsessed with IMDB and anything dealing with science fiction and fantasy.

Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?
I admire several stories and authors, but I would not wish to write what they created. Every author writes the story they are meant to write.

Is there a genre(s) that you’d like to write that you haven’t tackled yet?
Yes. Fantasy. I would love to do that.

Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?
I can’t say his name. But there is a character in my dystopian series that I just love, mainly because I love his name.

If this book is part of a series…what is the next book? Any details you can share?
dissonance. Is the second book and is released November 11. The third book in that series will be out next year. Dissonance is Blake’s book and for readers who have read penance, the first in the series, they will be interested in knowing that you get to see a different side of Wynn. It is interesting to see him from his best friend’s eyes in dissonance.

What is next for you? Do you have any scheduled upcoming releases or works in progress?
Dystopian is in progress. Dissonance releases on November 11

What book are you reading now?
I am reading Redemption, the final book in the Enigma Black Trilogy as well as The Fiery Cross (Fifth Outlander book), and I also have some mythology and palm reading books I have been reading.

What is in your to read pile?
Every Vonnegut, Orwell, Lovecraft, Rice, and King book I have not yet read. The rest of the Outlander series. And Fahrenheit 451 a few dozen more times.

​What Makes You Feel Alive?

by Sarah Buhl

In my newest book, dissonance., every chapter begins with a question. Each of the questions are ones I think every one of us can relate to, but there is one in particular that I like to ask people when we are in the “deeper” conversations. That question is—what makes you feel alive?

I had never thought to ask myself that before I took up writing. I spent most of my time doing nothing. I enjoyed reading of course—that took up much of my time. But I wasn’t doing anything. I wasn’t tapping into my own creativity and I was drowning in it.

Penance., my first book, was therapeutic for me. I took the time to write and to put to paper, two characters that helped me through some of the hardest things in my life to get through. I came out better on the other end for it. It was an amazing experience—finding my passion. What started as just a, “Can I do it?” Then became, “Yes I can do it and I will do it again.” Those two opposing voices war in all of us, and I finally decided to listen to the second one.

​ I found what it was that made me feel alive.

Now, I find myself asking that same questions of others. I have many friends in my life that are similar to those in the Bohme series. Their personalities permeate the pages of the series and I am thankful they don’t always look at me as crazy when I ask that question. Not many people want to ask themselves that.

Finding out and discovering what you are meant to do, isn’t all sunshine and roses. It is pretty hard at times too. But in the end, it is entirely worth it, because you come out better for it on the other side.

One of my favorite things in life is seeing someone walk along the path they are meant to walk on. The way I see it, there are two voices that try to gain the upper hand in each of us. Whichever of the voices we choose to feed is the deciding factor on how we live our lives. (Or how we lack in living our lives.) The day to day of life can be brutal. I know. We get lost in the time that passes each day and we forget that this is a cherished moment. Every moment in life is to be cherished.

Like I said previously, two years ago I had the epiphany—I was alive. It sounds kind of crazy, I know. Even reading it sounds crazy to me. But I realized, I was alive and I was supposed to be doing something. I couldn’t sit back and let life happen anymore. I had to grab onto it.

So I sat my happy butt at the computer and I just started typing. I didn’t decide to write a book because I wanted to be the next great author. No I wrote for the pure joy of it. I wrote for the pure joy of words. I still write for that very reason. I love words. I love stories. I love characters. I began to write for the same reason that I love to read—meeting fictional characters that help me understand my own thoughts better.

When I was caught up in the writing, I found myself several times asking, “What if no one likes it?” Then I decided you know what, that doesn’t matter. If I like it and I know I wrote the story I needed to write, then that is what matters. Then the further into my journey I went, the more I understood myself, and those around me. I was doing what I was meant to do and I never felt more alive.

​ I’ve witnessed the same thing happen when musicians take the stage. The person could be the most anti-social, quiet person in conversation, but you put them on stage, and they are in their element. To me that is beauty and that is life. They come alive on stage.

When an artist sits at the easel and begins to paint—deep in their element—deep in their creativity and passion, you can feel it in the air. Creativity and passion are beautiful things and it’s a privilege to hear about it happening with others and to witness it happening.

I even witness the same thing when my husband talks his nerdy, computer shop with his friends. They get to talking about RAM and processor speed and then the terms I do not understand at all—and it is pretty cool. It is amazing to see how the human mind works and devours knowledge and creativity.

Believing in ourselves is the greatest achievement we can have as human beings.

I say that because that is the first step in doing what you need to do—believing you can. It's also the most difficult. I'm not going to lie. The other voice always steps in and makes you question everything.

It doesn’t matter what it is you need to do—as long as you do it. Just taking the little steps toward it, you will start to see things come into alignment in your life. I know I sound like a motivational speaker right now, but f$*k it. I want people to find their voice and their passion.

If it is music, writing, gardening, dancing, showing horses, counseling others, painting, taking photographs, it doesn’t matter what it is—as long as you believe in yourself and you just take the first step.

I know it’s scary as hell—stepping into oblivion and throwing caution to the wind.

But…

You can do it, I know you can.

Imagine your life is now a book. In 100 words write the blurb for it. 

On the shelf, books are one dimensional as only the spines and titles are visible. This is the same with people. We only see the surface and base it off that. She writes. She watches TV. She listens to music. She reads. This is the story of one girl who chose to look past the surface and find the story within.

Sarah Buhl. Sci-fi expert. Self-professed TV and IMDB guru. Gamer. Dreamer. Mother. Wife. Friend. Author of novels.

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