10 Questions and More with Author Karen Vaughan

~ Rachel Rueben ~ 2 Comments

Today on the Fantastic Blog Hop Tour we have a regular on board, Karen Vaughan.  Author of Dead Comic Standing, Over Her Dead Body and Daytona Dead and new pod caster on the Red River Writers Network.  Let’s see if we can find out a little more about this very talented woman.

1073283_10151707685041668_1316799290_o1. Are you a fan of the genre that you write in?

Karen: Yes I grew up reading Hardy boys and Nancy Drew. I love light mystery like what I write and romantic suspense along with thrillers and crime drama.

2. Are you a pen and paper author or do you use a computer to write?

Karen: I go from whats in my head to the laptop. However there are times I do take notes and add them to the story.

3. If you couldn’t write what would you be doing instead?

Karen: Welfare bum with tin cup? No I would probably do some kind of work to help the less fortunate.

4. What about this business surprised you the most?

Karen: How much the authors support each other. I thought it would be more cut-throat and competitive.

5. Do you blog?

Karen: Yes, not religiously but when an idea comes to mind I do blog about it.

6. Are you on social media?

Karen: Do you enjoy it? Yes I live on Facebook, the others not so much.

7. The house is on fire, which do you save, your laptop or your book collection?

Karen: Laptop—I can find other books later

8. The publishing industry is changing, do you think this is good or bad time for authors?

Karen: Yes good for independent authors to forge their own path and not depend on the big houses. We do have to do our own marketing but there is the opportunity to learn so much.

9. How do you promote your books?

Karen: Social media like facebook and Goodreads and word of mouth. I also hired the services of a publicist for 2 months and it’s been helpful.

10. Your editor says you have to kill a character, which one would get the ax? 

Karen: Maybe Gibbons that would create a conflict for Laura as they were good friends and to have to get used to a new detective who might not be so nice.

Daytona Dead Character Interview:

Front cover of daytona deadCHAT WITH DAVE MEECHAM

The cub reporter  for The Daytona Beach News journal Callie Springford sits down with convicted police officer to get the straight skinny on what went down during the Killer T. Ford Roadkill rampage.

WHY ARE YOU IN JAIL?

I let my brother in-law Killer T. Ford talk me into being his eyes and ears at the police station. I was privy to a lot of info that I should have told my supervisors about with regards to his involvement in the identity theft ring and the hit and runs.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO COME CLEAN?

My wife Annabelle made me see that her brother Duane aka Killer T. was nothing but trouble and he could very easily drag me down the same dark path to hell that he was going on. I decided my life with her was more important than keeping that spoiled little prima donna happy. I had tremendous guilt over the whole break in thing at the Fitz hotel room, getting Rueben to nail Cronk, and getting the kid killed by that bastard.  I might be doing time here but I can stand a bit taller having down the right thing.

WHAT WAS YOUR CAREER BEFORE THAT? I was a desk clerk at the local police station as I had been demoted from my job in Forensics up in Dade County.

ARE YOU EASILY INFLUENCED BY OTHERS?

Unfortunately I would have to say yes. Killer T kind of bullied me into doing a lot of dirty things including trashing that nice couples room.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING IN YOUR LIFE WHAT WOULD IT BE? Not be such a wuss.

COUNTRY MUSIC OR ROCK?  Depends on my mood I like either

DO YOU HAVE A NICK NAME? At work they called me Barney Fife now the guys in here call me Dead Meat

FAVORITE COLOUR? Definitely not orange.   Hey do you think this jumpsuit makes me look fat?

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN YOU GET OUT?  I am taking computer courses so maybe I can get a job at Best Buy when I get out.

DO YOU HAVE REGRETS?  Yes definitely and if I could I would undo all the things I did to hurt innocent people I would do it in a minute.

IF YOU COULD GIVE A ROOKIE COP ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WHAT WOULD IT BE? Stick with your principles and don’t let the lure of easy money make you do stupid things.

Author Bio

About Karen Vaughan:Author Karen Vaughan

Karen Vaughan lives in Peterborough Ontario with her husband Jim and a four legged off spring named Sugar. She is the mom of a 22 year old daughter and four grown step children and a 2 1/2 year old grandson named Ike. DEAD COMIC STANDING is her second novel. Her first novel DEAD ON ARRIVAL garnered praise from friends, family and online gamers.  She also enjoys doing crafts and other hobbies. Her latest book is called OVER HER DEAD BODY is the second book to DEAD ON ARRIVAL. DAYTONA DEAD is the third in that series which is soon to be released.

Going Retro with Juli Page Morgan

~ Rachel Rueben ~ 2 Comments

Today on the Fantastic Blog Hop Tour we have Juli Page Morgan romance author of Athena’s Daughter and Crimson and Clover.

1. Are you a fan of the genre that you write in? Oh, absolutely! I’ve been a reader of romances since I was a young teenager.

59117_10153086899660637_258432797_n2. Are you a pen and paper author or do you use a computer to write? I’m a computer girl, even though sometimes I have a hate/hate relationship with MS Word.

3. If you couldn’t write what would you be doing instead? I’d probably try to figure out how to start my own online radio station. I miss that biz more than I thought I would. If money was no object, I’d buy old, historic houses and restore them.

4. What about this business surprised you the most? How fast everything moves now! Just five years ago it tended to take at least a year if not longer for a publisher to get a book out once the contract was signed. My first book came out less than four months after my publisher offered me a contract!

5. Do you blog? Twice a week at www.julipagemorgan.com. Come on by and check it out!

6. Are you on social media? Do you enjoy it? I’m on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/JuliPageMorganAuthor) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/julipagemorgan) and I really do enjoy them! I will say that I’m more active on Facebook, but when I take the time to devote to Twitter, I love it, too!

7. The house is on fire, which do you save, your laptop or your book collection? My laptop! All the books I’ve written and am currently writing are on it, along with lots and lots of pictures. I can always replace my books, though I’d hate to lose my tattered, well-read favorites.

8. The publishing industry is changing, do you think this is good or bad time for authors? I think it’s a good time for authors because there are so many choices now that we didn’t have before. My first book was traditionally published through Crimson Romance, and I self-published my second. Both avenues have been really great, and I value the experience I’ve gained from each. Also, there is so much information now on the web about how to successfully pitch to editors, how to find critique groups, online classes, etc., things that were out of reach for writers either financially or location-wise before. Plus it’s so much easier to interact with readers now, and I love that!

9. How do you promote your books? I pretty much stick to my website for promotion, though I will post about my books occasionally on my FB author page. If I get a good review I’ll link to it on Twitter, but I try not to spam my followers with advertising.

10. Your editor says you have to kill a character, which one would get the ax? Adam Greene in Crimson and Clover. I love him, but he was a real twit when Katie and Jay got together.

946700_10153086904605637_1946542852_nUnder Katie Scott’s flower child exterior beats the heart of June Cleaver. Though she digs her bellbottoms and love beads, she longs for the idyllic family life she was denied as a child.

Laughed out of San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury after the Summer of Love for believing rock ‘n roll and white picket fences can coexist she decides to try her luck in the bohemian neighborhood of Ladbroke Grove in London.

When she discovers her new friend Adam is starting a band with Jay Carey, she’s ecstatic. She’d admired the British guitar god from afar for years, and when she and Jay finally meet the attraction between them is instantaneous. 

But life with a rock ‘n roll star doesn’t lend itself well to white picket fences. And when Katie tells Jay the secret she’s carried for two years it may end the dream before it begins.

Author Bio

521883_10153086911790637_1146588630_nJuli Page Morgan is a former rock ‘n roll radio announcer who had the great luck to meet and interview lots of bands over the years. During those interviews she heard lots of interesting stories, but it was when the microphone was turned off and they were just hanging out that she heard – and saw – the really juicy stuff! Incorporating these revelations in her books (with names and locations changed to protect the innocent, and often the not-so-innocent!) lets her remember those wonderful people that briefly rocked through her life, and to take her readers on a hard rocking journey full of love, music and happy endings while giving a “backstage peek” at some of the things that really happened.  Her Romances that Rock™ include Crimson and Clover published by Crimson Romance, and Athena’s Daughter from Carey On Publishing.

Juli lives in Arkansas with her husband. When she’s not writing, she’s recording voiceovers for television commercials, remodeling her old house,  and trying to convince her husband the world won’t come to an end if the television is turned off.  She also listens to a lot of music at maximum volume and has never met a speed limit she didn’t exceed.  Juli’s an unapologetic lover of rock ‘n roll, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, and French onion dip, not necessarily in that order.

Visit Juli at her website www.julipagemorgan.com!

Meet The Amazing Ruth Davis Hays

~ Rachel Rueben ~ 4 Comments

fantastic blog hop bus

Today on our tour, we meet Ruth Davis Hays an author whom I’ve actually become a fan of.  If you want to check out some of her work you can here.  Her books The Convergence and The Dawnstone Tales are from the Jorthus Series and can be found on Amazon and at her website.

Convergence The Jorthus Tales by Ruth Davis Hays1. Are you a fan of the genre that you write in? I do enjoy fantasy/sci-fi movies and books. They can be either brain candy or poignant allegory.

2. Are you a pen and paper author or do you use a computer to write? I use both. It depends on where I am when the idea strikes. Occasionally, I end up scribbling on napkins.

3. If you couldn’t write, what would you be doing instead? I also enjoy designing costumes, especially historical ones.

4. What about this business surprised you the most? How difficult it is to summarize my stories.

5. Do you blog? Not on a regular basis, although I know that I should.

6. Are you on social media? Do you enjoy it? I enjoy Facebook, but Twitter eludes me.

7. The house is on fire, which do you save, your laptop or your book collection? I would probably grab my laptop because my book collection can be replaced.

8. The publishing industry is changing, do you think this is a good or bad time for authors? While it is easier to get ideas out to the public through self publishing, it is harder to be taken seriously if you do utilize this path. It seems that the need for brick and mortar stores is shrinking, as is the demand for physical books. Ebooks can be handy, but it is hard to replace the thrill of seeing or smelling a printed page with your words on it.

9. How do you promote your books? I have a difficult time with self promotion, but blog interviews, such as this, help.

10. Your editor says you have to kill a character, which one would get the ax? All of them! (maniacal laughter) Is that over the top? To answer that with more seriousness, I would say that it would depend on if I needed the character for the storyline’s advancement. If I can transfer their job to another character, then almost any of them would be ax fodder.

Excerpt from Translations from Jorthus:  The Excursion – by Ruth Davis Hays

 

Excursion The Jorthus Tales By Ruth Davis HaysDharromar laid back, staring at the ceiling, feeling Lylith’s warm, smooth body next to him and cursed himself. He had surrendered to her every whim and curiosity. And, in doing so, had lost himself in the passion. At one point, he almost told her the truth of why he was here with her. That would have been a costly mistake.

The woman had taken him by surprise with her intensity and her unselfish, unconditional acceptance. He had never in his life felt as he had with her. She made his heart tremble.

Their lovemaking had been so intense that tears stung him and he was left feeling shocked, empty. But, it was a pleasurable emptiness, not the coldness that he was used to feeling.

He stretched out his long body, hearing a few snaps and pops. The trust he saw in her eyes told him what he needed to know. If he kept her as contented as a fat cat, she would follow him anywhere.

This job might prove easier than I had originally thought. Definitely more pleasurable.

Putting on his most tender smile, he rolled to face Lylith. The blanket draped teasingly over her curvaceous figure. He could not rip his eyes from her. Her face rested in gentle happiness, a slight smile on her lips. Reaching over, he touched the wild flame of her hair as the morning sun made it dance with life. Her eyes opened slowly, revealing the lavender orbs beneath dark lashes. Her smile warmed him.

“You didn’t tell me you were virgin.” He scolded in a gentle tone. “I would have been gentler with you had I known.”

“I didn’t think it important.” Lylith purred. “I’m happy with the result, aren’t you?”

“Very happy, love.” He ran his hand softly down her pale arm. His eye followed the movement, noting the absurd contrast of his dark gray nails against her creamy skin.

“What is that on your arm?” she asked with all the innocence of a child.

Ruth Davis Hays Convergence
By Khanada Taylor

He glanced at the light blue-green markings on his right forearm. “It’s a tattoo. Have you never seen one before?”

“No.” She watched it with sleepy fascination. “I’d never even seen a man’s body before either. Do most men have tattoos?”

“I suppose some do. It’s usually a symbol of something that they don’t want to forget.”

“Mmm.” She closed her eyes and smiled. That seemed to satisfy her, and she did not ask anything more of his guild symbol. Her mind drifted onto other topics.

She was quietly musing on something when he suddenly asked her, “Why did you choose me?”

“Hmm?” Lylith roused herself from her thoughts. “Choose you?”

A half smile played across his face. “Yes. Usually when a woman chooses to open herself to a man in such a private fashion for the first time, there is a reason… sometimes a very special reason that she picks him.”

Lylith shrugged and smiled shyly at him. “I liked your eyes.”

That was all she had to offer and he nodded, willing to accept that simple of a reason…

Bio:

601975_4804071394339_927906416_nRuth Davis Hays has been a stay-at-home mom, a writer, a costumer, and a data entry clerk. Not all at the same time, of course.

A Florida native, she was born in Jacksonville and graduated with a BA from Florida State University, School of Theatre. Having a love of fantasy from an early age, she took inspiration from anywhere; staring at a picture, the clouds in the sky, or walking down her grandmother’s driveway. Studying theatre and humanities since high school, she and her friend Khanada would write short stories to entertain each other.

When she moved to Orlando with her husband, Ruth worked in the Costuming Department at Universal Orlando for four years before leaving to work as a data entry operator with Harcourt Publishing. Deciding to stay at home with her new son, she freelanced on a research project for Wizards of the Coast. Later, helping on independent films such as The Last Will and Legend of the Red Reaper, she had the fun of being an extra as well as stretching her artistic wings behind the scenes. She was allowed to design and create individual costumes for some of the lead characters on the upcoming Legend of the Red Reaper (and got to die in it, too!).

During all these adventures, she spent her spare time writing a few more adventures down and produced two fantasy novels based on fictional worlds that had infected her brain in college. The series, Translations from Jorthus, is her chosen place for mental vacations. She tries to visit there as often as she can; bringing back tidbits that may entertain the hearts of others. Her books, The Dawnstone Tale and The Convergence, introduce the readers to an idyllic world of elemental magic and fairytale creatures, then plunges them into bigotry, betrayals, and war. Just an average, relaxing afternoon, right?  The third book in the cycle, The Excursion is in post-production and number four, The Illusion where many loose ends get tied up and gagged, will be done (hopefully) later this year.

Follow her on Facebook and WordPress.

 

10 Questions with Kristen Duvall

~ Rachel Rueben ~ 6 Comments

fantastic blog hop busToday on the Fantastic Blog Hop Tour I am putting Kristen Duvall in spotlight and discuss all things writerly.  It’s a word, look it up! ;P

1. Are you a fan of the genre that you write in?

Of course. I only write the types of things I enjoy to read as well. I write science fiction, dark fantasy, horror and speculative fiction and that’s what I write as well.

2. Are you a pen and paper author or do you use a computer to write?

Computer all the way. Though sometimes when I’m not near my computer, I type it up on my phone. I’ve written entire short stories this way.

3. If you couldn’t write what would you be doing instead?

Something with animals, which I hope to do anyway. I prefer to work alone or with animals, not so much with other people.

4. What about this business surprised you the most?

I’m blown away by the support and love I’ve received from the indie author community. It’s been great networking with other writers, everyone is so helpful.

5. Do you blog?

I do. I’ve been blogging for well over 10 years via Livejournal. I have a public blog on my website, but I’ve been neglecting it lately in order to finish my book.

6. Are you on social media? Do you enjoy it?

I’m all over social media. I love it. Since I discovered the internet as a teen, I’ve always loved how you can connect with people all over the world. I’m way more social online than I am in real life and I’ve made long-lasting friendships and partnerships this way.

7. The house is on fire, which do you save, your laptop or your book collection?

My laptop, but only because all my writing and photos are on there. I’d lose so many stories because I suck at backing things up. I’d love my novel. I couldn’t imagine how hard that would be.

8. The publishing industry is changing, do you think this is good or bad time for authors?

I think it’s a great time for authors. I love how self-publishing is being taken more seriously and I think this is wonderful for authors who are talented, but who were otherwise overlooked by the traditional publishing houses for silly reasons.

9. How do you promote your books?

I have a website, a Twitter, a FB page and I post free snippets and stories on my blog, Smashwords and WattPad with links to my page and eventually links to where you can buy my books. I give away free samples of my work with the hopes that people will enjoy it and buy my book when it comes out. I also try to engage my followers, getting to know them and sharing interesting things other than just my book. I feel like you’re more likely to get people to buy your book if you post interesting things they like to read, not just “buy my book” all day, everyday

10. Your editor says you have to kill a character, which one would get the ax?

The question would make more sense if worded this way “your editor says you mustn’t kill all your characters, which one gets to survive?” Only partially kidding. I’m brutal to my characters. No one is safe in the stories I write.

About Femmes du Chaos

They messed with the wrong girl this time.

581682_703574739633_1216564877_nFrom heroes to villains, Femmes du Chaos sets out to show the world what the fairer sex is really made of. You’ll meet women of all ages and from many different walks of life… Warriors and schoolgirls, side-by-side in one place. One thing connects them all, and that is their ambition. Whether they use their ambition for good or evil, well that’s for them to decide. Gritty, fantastical and sometimes uncomfortable to read, Femmes du Chaos is a tour de force that holds nothing back. There will be violence and there will be blood. Some will survive and come out stronger in the end… And some will let the darkness consume them. After all, no two girls are ever alike.

Here are a few of the femmes you’ll meet in this thrilling collection:

Sylvia: The bounty hunter with a dark past who is hellbent on revenge. When the justice system fails her, she sets out to correct their mistakes.

Layla: The ballerina who wants to be a star who’s spent her life being overshadowed and under-appreciated. What happens when she stumbles across magic that makes her sister the star she’s longed to be for so long? Let’s just say, you’ve never seen sibling rivalry like this before.

Daphne and Delia: Identical twins who share a painful secret. Confined to a lab and tortured in the name of science for most of their lives, they managed to escape once. But when their past catches up them, can they escape from it again? There may only be one way out and these are girls who are willing to do anything to stop their torment. And I do mean anything.

Mikayla: When a curse falls upon their town and the children end up dying left and right, it appears that Mikayla is next. Except, there’s one thing that no one, not even her family saw coming… Mikayla is too smart for her own good and knows how to make a deal with the devil.

Liz: A servant girl forced to work for the upper class people living in a dystopian future. All she wants is an education and the chance to better herself. In a world where she’s not allowed to read a book without fear of death, she breaks all the rules. Until she comes face to face with the punishment awaiting those who disobey, that is…

Mallory: A young girl who can see the future in her dreams. She’s saved lives in the past, and her dreams are warning her to not return to the world they all left behind. Faced with starvation, no one wants to believe her about the multitude of horrors that wait for them above. After all, monsters don’t exist… Or do they?

Melody: A girl who knows nothing but religious fanaticism. Her father and her sisters are the only people she’s ever known. But what happens to the “mothers”, those who are chosen to sacrifice for the greater good of the family? Melody needs to find out and stop it, or else she may just be the next to go.

Snippets:

A Fate Worse Than Death

Lisette was pulled to the edge of the pool first. Gag firmly placed in her mouth, her eyes were wide with fear as tears fell in thick droplets onto her favorite dress, the pink one with white lace at the collar. Lisette struggled as the guard effortlessly shackled her feet to the large weight. Kicking and squirming, she fought for her life, but her slight frame was no match for the strength of the guards.

The mechanism was as cruel as it was simple in design. Lisette’s feet were chained to the weights on a platform that would drop out from under her, dragging her down into the murky depths of the pool below. Chains were attached to both sides of the weight, and on a whim, the executioner could shorten or prolong a prisoner’s life for the pleasure of the crowd by simply raising or lowering the weight.

“Two minutes. I give her two minutes unless old Ira decides to have some fun with her,” The guards wagered amongst themselves as the one beside Meredith winked in her direction.

Bonnie and Clyde

The dream was always the same.

A single yelp of pain that forever echoed in Sylvia’s ears. A streak of crimson where Bonnie had tried crawling for help; help that didn’t arrive soon enough. Even in the dream, it never did.

Bonnie was dead. Murdered.

Sylvia woke up drenched in sweat, just as she had that hot July morning when she’d heard the awful cry followed by peals of drunken laughter.

She’d tried to chase the bastards down, but the cops had gotten to them first. They were lucky.

Two years in prison. Two measly years was all they’d served.

Author Bio:

531779_703574445223_1838153192_nKristen Duvall is a writer of tales both real and make believe. Originally a Midwestern girl, she now resides in Southern California with her boyfriend, her Great Dane and a her rescued calico kitty. She dabbles in horror, science fiction, fantasy, young adult and speculative fiction. Femmes du Chaos is her first foray into publishing her own work, but she has one YA novel and a novella completed and ready to be edited. She also owns a small publishing company called Fey Publishing where she publishes other people’s work because while it’s a lot of work, there’s nothing she’d rather be doing with her life.

The release of Femmes du Chaos has been delayed a little, but currently it’s expected to be finished at the end of August or early September 2013.

To keep up to date on Kristen and to read more of her work, please follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

Picking the Brains of Crimson Kildare and Kat Marlow

~ Rachel Rueben ~ 2 Comments

fantastic blog hop bus

Beep, beep, we’re on to the next stop and today we’re picking up Crimson Kildare and Kat Marlow; authors, co-conspirators and friends.

1. Are you a fan of the genre that you write in?

Crimson: Absolutely!

Kat: I’m more of a sci-fi than a fantasy fan, but the answer would be yes.

 

2. Are you a pen and paper author or do you use a computer to write?

Crimson: Computer!

Kat: Some of both. I usually write long-hand, but editing can be really hard that way. I’ve KMfound it much easier to write on the computer.

3. If you couldn’t write what would you be doing instead?

Crimson: If I weren’t writing it would mean I was still acting, so that’s what I’d be doing.

Kat: Probably be stuck in a retail or admin job while taking college courses. I might still take a college course or two in the future. You’re never too old to be educated!

4. What about this business surprised you the most?

Crimson: Well I’m still learning this business, but I think just the amount of work it is off the page.

Kat: Yeah, I would also say the amount of work. I really respect the working authors out there, because I’ve realized how truly dedicated to their craft they are!

5. Do you blog?

Together: We do. www.thrutheglass.net Please come over and check it out! (grins)

6. Are you on social media? Do you enjoy it?

Crimson: Yes I am and for the most part I do. I especially love twitter. @cassygirlyeah
Kat: Yes I am, and I also enjoy it for the most part. Twitter’s really fun, and my handle there is @jedikat71 (it’s not under my pen name, just so you know).

7. The house is on fire, which do you save, your laptop or your book collection?

Crimson: As much as it pains me to say it, my laptop. My laptop has all my unfinished work on it, that material is irreplaceable. On the other hand if my books burn I can get new ones.

8. The publishing industry is changing, do you think this is good or bad time for authors?

Crimson: I think it can be a good and a bad time for authors, depending on a number of different factors, not the least of which is sheer dumb luck. However we do have an exciting new opportunity here to help shape the way the world will view writing, writers and the publishing world as a whole and how that will all work in the future. That’s worth some hassle, struggle and patience.

Kat: It’s good for authors since more and more of them are self-publishing. I’m more worriedCMK about the industry itself, because they seem to be more focused on selling books than on promoting well-written material. Having authors go from writing fanfic to publishing bestsellers has been a double-edged sword. Although it gives more opportunities to such authors, I fear that what’s been selling well doesn’t represent the really great writers that are out there. I hope the next bestseller to evolve from a fan-fic will be a well-written one, and then people will begin to realize that not all fan-fic writers are a bunch of hacks and internet trolls.

Crimson: I couldn’t agree more!

9.     How do you promote your books?

Crimson: Through twitter, FB, Live Journal, Dreamwidth and word of mouth at the moment; as well as cooperation with other writers, such as with this blog hop.

Kat: We’re also posting our current book chapter-by-chapter on www.thrutheglass.net

10.Your editor says you have to kill a character, which one would get the ax?

Crimson: If we’re talking about having too many minor, background characters? I’d pick the one that was needed the least and reassign whatever little thing they did to another character. If, on the other hand we’re talking about one of the main characters? I’d ax the editor and get another. Although at the moment I am our editor.

Kat: Yeah, what she said! (laughs)

Wyveria Cover 1

Author Bios

Crimson M. Kildare and Kat Marlow are good friends who decided to take their friendship and their creative camaraderie and turn it into a fabulous writing partnership.

Kat lives in a beautiful little town in one of those picturesque American coastal states. She is a lover of films, t.v., books, music and comedy as well as football and baseball. She especially loves sci-fi and like so many of us has a special place in her heart for Star Wars and Star Trek. She is a proud geek and collector of sci-fi toys and memorabilia. Her professional dreams, aside from the success of her books is to get a job writing in Hollywood for, tv., films or comic books! She has a truly stellar personality, warm, funny, kind hearted and honest. She’s the best friend you could hope for and a great partner.

Crimson lives in one of those picturesque Midwestern American states in the suburb of a large city. Like Kat she’s over 21 and ready to meet life head on.  She lives with her family, sans pets due to the terror of allergies. She’s also a lover of books, films, t.v., music, art and especially sci-fi fantasy, adventure and romance. Her first favorite book was Alice in Wonderland, her first favorite film was The Wizard of Oz, her first favorite song was Afternoon Delight by  Starland Vocal Band and her current favorite is In The Mood as made famous by Glen Miller, although she also favors versions done by the Puppini Sisters and Brian Setzer and his Orchestra.

These women are eclectic and unpredictable and full of excitement for their future.

Crimson Kildare and Kat Marlow can be found on http://www.thrutheglass.net where their book in The Wyverian Wilds is being shared with the world.  To get a glimpse of their work, check a character interview they shared here on Derailed Thoughts called, “The New London Gazette: Wyverian Lord Thwarts Plot and Discovers Iceman!“

In Today’s Spotlight Dellani Oakes

~ Rachel Rueben ~ 8 Comments

The Fantastic Blog Hop Tour bus is moving along and it’s making a stop in Florida (again) to pick up a woman who is responsible for encouraging my writing addiction.  I’m talking about none other than Dellani Oakes.

Dellani Oakes is an author, blogger and a Red River Writers pocaster.  Her latest sci-fi book Shakazhan is available at Second Wind Publishing.  She took time from her hectic schedule to speak with us and participate in the 10 Questions segment.

Indian Summer1. Are you a fan of the genre that you write in? Surprisingly, I am – to an extent. I write romance and I get burned out on the books where the two leading characters argue throughout the majority of the book. I want my characters to get along, fall in love, have some hot sex and fight the bad guys together. What an unusual concept!

2. Are you a pen and paper author or do you use a computer to write? Some of both, actually. If I have to go to an appointment, I take a notebook and pen. It’s impossible to find a spot to set up a laptop and I can’t type while balancing it on my lap. (I think the name laptop is a misnomer, by the way)

3. If you couldn’t write what would you be doing instead? If I’m not writing, I’m reading or watching Netflix. I watch WAY too many movies and TV shows when I get bored. I hibernate in the summer because I can’t stand the heat – brilliant of me to live in Florida! I love to cook, though I hate planning meals, and I love digging around doing research for my books.

4. What about this business surprised you the most? I would have to say the amount of marketing shocked me. I’m not good at talking myself up, but if I don’t, I don’t sell books. It took me a very long time to hit on an approach I can handle. It takes far more time than I like, but if I don’t do it, no one else will.

5. Do you blog? I do indeed! I have Writer’s Sanctuary – where I am hosting my guests for Fantastic Blog Hop. http://writersanctuary.blogspot.com/ I also have http://dellanioakes.wordpress.com/

6. Are you on social media? Do you enjoy it? I am on Facebook and always welcome new friends and fans https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dellani-Oakes/98897574794 I enjoy my time there and count it towards my marketing time. A wise author friend told me once that “You don’t market your books, you market yourself”. In other words, you reach out, get to know people and treat them as friends, not customers. People are far more likely to buy a new book a friend wrote than that of a complete stranger. Be friendly, genuine and honest. It takes time, but it will pay off in the long run.

7. The house is on fire, which do you save, your laptop or your Lone Wolfbook collection? Neither. I would save my flashdrives. All my books are on them. If my computer melted or my books went up in smoke, I can replace them. If I lost my flashdrive, I might as well die because my books would die with them.

8. The publishing industry is changing, do you think this is good or bad time for authors? In some ways, it’s great! There are opportunities for authors to publish their own work. However, there are so many other books out there, it makes it much harder to get recognition and build a following.

9. How do you promote your books? I do two shows month on Blog Talk Radio: Dellani’s Tea Time – every 2nd Monday and What’s Write for Me every 4th Wednesday. I chat with other authors about their work, giving each of us a bit of exposure. I have my blogs where I post fairly regularly. In addition to the two above, I have Dellani’s Choice which is my review site. http://dellanischoice.wordpress.com/ I also post the 17th of every month on my publisher’s website: http://secondwindpub.wordpress.com/ In addition to all this, I am on Facebook, getting to know people and posting about my shows & books. The main thing that seems to have made a bigger difference, is Twitter. With the help of a buffer program, I can schedule my tweets for select hours during the day. I have also been able to link my blog posts so that they show up automatically on other sites. That has been a godsend and I wish it had been around 5 years ago when I started!

10. Your editor says you have to kill a character, which one would get the ax? Hmm…. If we’re talking about a main character, I’d have to create one with the editor’s name and brutally murder it. Not that any of my editors would do that – they are wonderful people. If they actually suggested that, there would have to be a really good reason. If it worked for the betterment of the book, I would do it – crying the entire time.

Excerpt from Shakazhan

Shakazhan By Dellani Oakes
Picking up where Lone Wolf ends, Shakazhan follows the further adventures of Wil VanLipsig and Matilda Dulac. Having chased the evil John Riley to a far off planet known as Iyundo, they find themselves once more confronted with a problem of John’s making. However, this time they have powerful allies – the Kindred. These people put them in touch with a race of sentient ships. In the following excerpt, Wil and Matilda meet their ship for the first time.
       The cavern they entered dwarfed the other one. The ships inside were enormous. Flotilla and Hannibal could fit in there easily with room to spare. The design was unlike anything Wil had ever seen. The ships were shaped like horizontal teardrops, the narrow end foremost and the full end aft. The colors ranged from dull gray to a lustrous blue. The hulls shifted color as they walked by, particularly if Wil and Matilda spoke or touched them.
Wil laid his hand on one. It throbbed like a gigantic heart. To their right, a green light flashed rapidly, accompanied with odd, piercing, urgent sounds. The High Elder motioned them to follow. It took several minutes, but soon they were close enough to see blue and red and amber yellow had joined the display.
“Wil, I think it’s singing to us! Listen!” Matilda approached, mesmerized.
The ship was a deep, rich peacock blue. Larger than those below, it dwarfed any ship Wil had seen. Even the huge Guild ore transports weren’t this big. He felt like an ant in comparison.
Reaching up to the ship, Matilda’s hand smoothed the side. “It is singing!”
The tune changed when she touched it. Removing her hand, she heard the sounds modulate yet again. She stroked the hull of the ship, the colors shifted, altered and realigned themselves following the movement of her hand. A contented purr vibrated under her palm.
“Wil, it’s alive! Feel it!”
She grabbed his hand before he could pull away. Their two left hands brushed the hull together, hers atop his. The skin of the ship glowed a vibrant red, changing gradually to orange, flickered to dark yellow, settling to blue again.
Wil laid both his hands beside each other, leaning against the ship, placing his cheek to the side. As he moved back from it, the imprint of the outline of his face and hands remained for a moment, gradually receding.
“By God, Matilda, you’re right!”
The smiles of Felix and the High Elder confirmed their suspicions.
“I’ve heard legends of ships like this, but never expected to see one! This is incredible!”
Grabbing Matilda’s hand, Wil dragged her around the side of the ship, looking for an opening. About twenty feet from the point, a doorway appeared where none had been before. Steps descended, the ship molding them from its skin, forming depressions for their feet. They entered excitedly. Moments later, Felix, The High Elder and Aisulov joined them.
The sight greeting their eyes was one they hardly expected. The inside was ultra high tech, the instrumentation so advanced, they could only imagine what most of it was. The consoles had an Art Nouveau feel, with flowing lines and organic shapes. Here too, the colors melded and shifted.
“She’s beautiful!” Matilda’s eyes glowed happily as she walked around.

Bio

Dellani OakesWhen she moved to Florida, Dellani Oakes had no idea the history was so rich and fascinating. Visiting St. Augustine for the first time, she felt the allure of the country’s oldest city. She decided then to write a story based there. It wasn’t until nearly twelve years later that Indian Summer took its final form.
Dellani is a happily married mother of four, substitute teacher and former English teacher. When she isn’t being one of the above, she is an avid writer, spending every possible moment immersed in her other worlds.
She has also written a series of futuristic romance novels, contemporary romances and short stories. Dellani’s interests include reading, going to the beach, listening to all kinds of music and cooking.

 

The Birth of a Legend: Yes, We Ride Again

~ Rachel Rueben ~ 2 Comments

fantastic blog hop bus

Birth of a Legend

By Dellani Oakes: Bus Driver

The Fantastic Blog Hop was born out of desperation in March of 2013. A few broke authors got together and decided to try their hands at organizing a blog tour for themselves. And so the Fantastic Blog Hop came to be. We began our maiden voyage in April of 2013.

Never let it be said that we didn’t know what we were doing. (We didn’t, but never let it be said!) We jumped in with both feet, only to sink into the muck up to our necks. We’re still digging our way out.

The hop was fun and moderately successful, so we thought we’d try it again, only this time with a bigger group. In addition to our first Fantastic Blog Hoppers: Rachel Rueben, Karen Vaughan, Ruth Davis Hays, Crimson Kildare, Kat Marlow & Dellani Oakes, we’ve added Juli Page Morgan, Stephanie Hussey, Kristen Duvall & Karina Gioertz.

We’re having fun getting to know one another and we hope you’ll enjoy getting to know us too. The big, yellow bus is gassed up and ready to roam. The tour starts on August 15th. Be watching for messages about the Fantastic Blog Hop and catch a ride on the big, yellow bus as we travel North America.

 

For Fleet: The White Aura by Felicia Tatum

~ Rachel Rueben ~ Leave a comment

This is for book of the week on Passionate about Books.

The White AuraHow do you live with the gut clenching truth that the one you love will die if you meet them? Twenty year old sorcerer Scott Tabors is learning how. After seeing seventeen year old Olivia Whitehead outside of a coffee shop, his heart will never be the same. He longs for her, he wants her, and he knows she will be his. They are heart mates. …but due to a curse on his family, he can’t meet her. Not yet. So for now, he visits her in her dreams. Her dreams where he can tell her everything but his name.

Olivia Whitehead is a typical junior in high school. She and her best friend are having the time of their lives, but she can’t help but notice the changes happening to her. Especially the changes in her heart after she begins dreaming about a mysterious dark haired young man. But what will happen when the school heartthrob decides he wants Olivia? Will she realize the dream man is real or will she move on?

Excerpt:

My reflection was much calmer than my inside. I was an absolute wreck inside, worried and scared about the events that would happen tonight at the dance. Wearing black dress pants and a white buttoned shirt, I looked dressed up enough to blend in if I had to go in the building for any reason. My pockets were loaded with stunning charms that would stun the attacker if I threw them at him. I had a knife in my back pocket, big enough to do damage if needed. I didn’t want this fight to become that violent, but I was prepared to protect Livvie if I had to.

Mark had similar charms and weapons to guard himself with. I had given them to him after he had left school. Grandma and Sadie were prepared with spells they had memorized. Immobilizing spells, memory erasing spells (for the dance goers), slumber charms, and they had found a few control spells that would be handy if we needed the crowd to leave without putting up a fight. Overall, I felt that we were well prepared. I couldn’t help the sinking feeling in the pit of stomach, a feeling that told me The Crimson Calamitous was much stronger and this may all be for naught.

Banner

Giveaway on the Passionate about books page!

2 sets of magnets for The White Aura and The Vessel

2 ecopies of The Vessel

The White Aura will be on sale for 1.99 May 27-31 at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.

Also…a sneak peak at Felecia’s new Romance, Mangled Hearts: Francesca and Cade

I’d watched her every day since school began. She moved with grace and confidence, yet I could see hurt behind her eyes when she surveyed her surroundings. I didn’t know who would want to hurt a beautiful creature like her, but it angered me. A lot. I watched her from a distance for as long as I could, until the longing in my heart to hear her voice speaking to me was too much.

               I knew it was stupid and reckless to bring myself into her life. I was the worst kind of guy for her, into all the wrong things, but something about her made me want to be…more. The first time I saw her beautiful face was during lunch. She was stuck in a little hole in the wall, her nose deep into a book. Her dark blonde hair fell around her face, and she absent mindedly pushed it behind her ear, not once looking up from her book. People walked around her, came close to stepping on her, completely ignored her…and all I could do was stare. I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Two weeks after that, I’d followed her bus to the next bus stop. I prayed to be the one driving her home someday soon.

               As I approached, she hadn’t moved. She leaned back against the bench, her eyes furiously devouring the book she gripped. After I finally got her attention, my heart had almost stopped when her deep, rich brown eyes looked into mine. Her voice sounded like it came from heaven, her words singing a song to my heart. I laid a hand on her leg, the sparks shooting straight into my soul.

9 years prior-October

               I’d followed her to the bus stop every day since then. The week after our first meeting, I’d gotten the nerve to meet her at her locker. She was bent in, rummaging through her belongings, when I slid up and relaxed behind the door. I heard her groan as a book fell to the floor. I scooped in to pick it up, smiling at her as I handed it over. Her eyes widened as she whispered my name.

               “Francesca.”

               “Cade…you never talk to me in school,” she accused me.

               It stung. It was true. I didn’t want my friends getting the wrong idea or anyone saying things to her about how screwed up I was. It was selfish, and it appeared to hurt her.

               “I’m sorry. I didn’t know if you wanted to…” I admitted, taking her book bag from her.

               “What are you doing?” she questioned, eyeing my hand.

               “Walking you to class?”

               Her eyes stared down, and a small smile curved on her gorgeous face. She peered up at me, her lashes dark and framing her eyes perfectly. My breath caught when she did that. She walked around me, turning a few steps away to make sure I followed.

               “Of course I want to. We’re friends, right?” she said, sauntering off.

               Her voice hummed in my mind, sending smoke signals to my heart. I think I would have followed her anywhere. I’d walk off a cliff if it’s where she led.

Author Bio:

Felicia TatumFelicia Tatum was born and raised in Tennessee. She always loved reading, and at the age of twelve began writing. Her passion for creating stories grew and in May 2012, she finally wrote her first novel, The White Aura.

She still lives in Tennessee with her daughter and her kitty. She loves cooking and books. Animals are some of her best friends. She watches a lot of Disney channel and often dreams up new book ideas. She’s currently writing the second book in series, as well as a romance novel. Her dream is to write as many book as possible while entertaining as many people as possible.

Author Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/feliciatatumwriter

Twitter: www.twitter.com/sassybrunette55

Website: www.feliciatatum.com

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! By Mo Willems

~ Rachel Rueben ~ 1 Comment

Dont Let The Pigeon Drive The BusWhat do you get when you add one bus and a very determined pigeon? You get Mo Willems’ Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!  An interactive children’s book that was awarded a Caldecott honor. In this story, readers will be asked to interact aloud and answer whether or not they think the pigeon ought to drive the bus.

Readers will have to endure the pigeon’s repeated attempts as he makes promises, begs and even pleads with the audience to just let him drive.

In this story, Mo Willems, has perfectly captured childish resolve through this strong willed and downright bratty bird.

This book is part of a series of books; Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late, The Pigeon Wants a Puppy, and The Pigeon Finds a Hotdog.  In addition to this series, author Mo Willems has a website: http://www.mowillems.com/ where children and adults can visit for games and activities.  You can even catch the pigeon Tweeting on Twitter (no pun, I swear!) at: @The_Pigeon.

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the bus is a story for those 2 to 8 years of age.  This book easily makes the five star mark for its creativity and charismatic story telling.  ★★★★★

Boo’s Bad Day by Penny Lockwood: A Review

~ Rachel Rueben ~ 3 Comments

Boo's Bad Day by Penny Lockwood & Deborah C. JohnsonI’ll admit it, I’m an adult and I still read children’s books.  Sure, I pretend that I do so for research purposes, but it’s not true, not by a long shot!  Children’s books take me back to that simpler time before the world got complicated.  You know the time before we had bills, responsibilities, and worries.  I recently had the privilege to review Penny Lockwood’s newest children’s book, “Boo’s Bad Day” a story about taking on more than you can handle.

Boo is an adorable house kitten who’s never ventured outside before.  Even though Boo believes he’s ready to take on the world, he is forbidden to leave the house by his humans.  And with good reason, because the second he decides to disobey, he finds himself in big trouble.

Boo’s Bad Day is a great bed time story for parents to read to their little ones, and even for beginning readers.  The message within the book is timeless and realistic making it a perfect teaching tool about rules and their purpose in keeping children and “kittens” safe.  The illustrations by Deborah C. Johnson capture Boo’s personality as well as his misadventure perfectly.  I highly recommend this book and give it 5 stars ★★★★★

Boo’s Bad Day is available at 4RV Publishing, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.