Posted in contest, excerpt, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Spotlight on January 31, 2016

Dragon book cover

Synopsis

The Dragon Of The Month Club is the exciting first installment in a new book series that tells the story of Ayana Fall and Tyler Travers, two best friends who stumble across an extraordinarily magical book and soon find themselves enrolled as members of a very special and exclusive club – The Dragon of the Month Club.

On the thirteenth of every month a new dragon conjuring spell is revealed and the two friends attempt to summon the latest Dragon of the Month. The varieties are almost endless: Air Dragons, Paper Dragons, Fog Dragons, Waterfall Dragons, Rock Dragons, Tree Dragons – not to mention special bonus dragons for all the major holidays, including a particularly prickly Holly Dragon for Christmas.

But one day when a conjuring spell somehow goes wrong Ayana and Tyler find themselves unexpectedly drawn into a fantastical world of adventure based on the various books scattered all across Tyler’s messy bedroom. Travelling from one book-inspired world to the next with nothing to rely on but their wits and a cast of strange and exotic dragons at their disposal they must try to somehow find their way home again.

Drawing inspiration from some of literature’s most memorable stories – from 19th century German folktales to the streets of Sherlock Holmes’s London – the adventures of Ayana and Tyler bring these classic stories to life in delightfully strange and unexpected ways. Filled with fascinating detail and non-stop action these books will spark the imaginations of readers of all ages to inspire a life-long love of reading and seeking out books that are just a little bit off the beaten track.

goodreads-badge-add-plus

amazon buybn buy

Praise for The Dragon of the Month Club

“No other book bonds together so many stories in such a fashion that is actually readable and enjoyable at the same time. With the title being The Dragon of the Month Club, many might think this is a book strictly about magic and dragons, yet you will find that what’s inside this book will leave you awe struck.” – Red City Reviews

“Iain Reading has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I started reading his Kitty Hawk books and now I’m introduced to a fantastical world. This is the type of book I would have spent hours in my room, wishing I could slip into the pages and have an adventure.” – Sandra Stiles

“The Dragon of the Month Club is a very enjoyable read. I’m a grown adult and I enjoyed it. It reminded me of a Harry Potter meets Goosebumps (the part where the books come alive) meets Sherlock Holmes. I found the book to be engaging and kept me wanting to read on. This is a wonderful series for any young reader.” – sgebhard

Excerpt

“I hate her, Tyler,” Ayana said. “I HATE her!”

On this second last syllable, Ayana kicked at the opposite shelves with the heel of her shoe, making the wooden frame shudder and some of the books rattle around. One particular book—a small, thin one high up on the very top shelf—tipped forward as if in slow motion until it was hanging precariously at an impossible angle, almost as if it was levitating, before tumbling end over end to the floor.

Tyler tried to catch it but he was too slow, and instead it crashed into the stack of papers, scattering them slightly, before it fell flat on its back, right side up right in front of them.

how to conjure

your very own dragon

in six easy steps

…read the front cover of THE BOOK in bright yellow letters against a wavy blue background.

Tyler frowned and Ayana stopped crying for a moment. They both stared at THE BOOK with wide-open eyes, neither of them quite able to believe what they were seeing.

“How to conjure a dragon?” Ayana asked, kneeling forward to grab THE BOOK.

Tyler crawled next to her as she opened the front cover.

THE BOOK was very thin—more like a pamphlet, really— with no table of contents, no copyright page, no dedication page. There wasn’t even an indication of who the author might be. It just went straight into the first chapter, which was entitled:

the water dragon

“A water dragon?” Tyler read over Ayana’s warm shoulder.

Underneath the chapter title was a brief list of the various characteristics of the water dragon.

category: lesser dragon

difficulty: medium

classification: common

Below that was a basic introduction and explanation of the dragon followed by some advice to those who might want to conjure one:

this spell is a relatively simple one, but be forewarned that the water dragon is a damp and clumsy creature, prone to making messes and causing trouble. It is recommended to have plenty of towels at hand when undertaking this conjuring.

Underneath this brief introduction was a list of materials needed to actually conjure the dragon.

required material(s): water, towels (optional)

And last but not least came the instructions, six simple steps to conjuring your very own dragon. Tyler could hardly believe what he was reading. The steps were so simple. Just a series of strangely specific hand gestures performed by two people simultaneously. The instructions even had little helpful sketches to help you understand what to do.

It reminded Tyler of IKEA assembly instructions when his parents bought new furniture and let him put it together for them. But that was furniture made of wood and fabric and those little IKEA screws that needed a special tool to screw them in. This was supposed to be a dragon, whatever that meant. How could such simplistic instructions possibly result in assembling anything, much less an actual dragon?

“We have to try this!” Ayana said excitedly.

Contest

There is an ongoing contest for readers to win a one-of-a-kind hardcover version of The Dragon of the Month Club with their artwork as the cover.

“Draw a picture! Write a story! Take a photograph! Bake some cookies! Mold a dragon out of clay! Knit one out of yarn! Make one out of LEGO! Whatever you want! Just let your imagination run wild because anything goes – the more creative the better! Send your dragon in and then on the 13th day of every month one entry will be chosen at random and featured on the official Dragon Of The Month Club website. Each month’s lucky winner will also receive a free one-of-a-kind personalized hard-cover edition of The Dragon Of The Month Club book featuring their winning artwork (or other creative content) on the cover or inside the book itself,” says Iain.

To learn more, go to http://www.dragonofthemonthclub.com/

About the Author

Iain Reading is passionate about Root Beer, music, and writing. He is Canadian, but currently resides in the Netherlands working for the United Nations.

Iain writes middle grade and young adult books. His published works include the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series, The Wizards of Waterfire Series, and the dragon of the month club.

Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Amazon

 | 
Comments Off on Spotlight – Dragon of the Month Club by Iain Reading #middlegradefantasy @kittyhawkworld #contest
Posted in excerpt, Fantasy, paranormal, romance, Young Adult on January 30, 2016

Thirst cover

Thirst book title

Synopsis

~ Kira Sutherland ~

After a near fatal accident (and getting cheated on by her ‘boyfriend’), and beating up the lead cheerleader (with whom the boyfriend cheated…), and being labeled as having ‘issues’ in her school because she, uhm, sees ghosts, Kira is left with two choices:

  1. Continue her ‘therapy’ (where she’s told the ghost is a hallucination and also gets her legs ogled too often…)

Or

  1. Go to Starkfield Academy, a boarding school for “Crazies and Convicts” (as the social media sites call them.)

She chooses the latter…

~ Cory Rand ~

Cory Rand has not had an easy life. His mother died in a car accident when he was twelve, and so did his mother’s best friend…sort of. You see, Janice made a promise to take care of Cory just before she died, and so she lingers. Undead. A ghost that watches out for him.

Brought up in an abusive home, Cory quickly falls into a life of disreputable behavior. After his third offense (which was prompted by a girl, as usual – he has a weakness) he’s left with two choices:

  1. Be tried as an adult and share a cell with a guy named Bubba (he thinks…)

Or

  1. Go to Starkfield Academy, which Cory is pretty sure is run by vampires. But, hey, at least he’ll get an education.

He chooses the latter…

It’s at Starkfield that Kira meets Cory Rand, a boy with an insatiable Rage who sees ghosts, too. As well as other things, other things from his past, things that confuse him, things like fire and witches and demons.

Things he’s always ignored.

Until now.

goodreads-badge-add-plus

Amazon US & Amazon UK

Thirst banner

Excerpt

PROLOGUE

The Puppy Eyes

My life was perfect.

I had the perfect shoes and the perfect friends and I lived in the perfect house. My nails were perfect and my hair was perfect (except on Sundays, it was always windy on Sundays) and I had the perfect clothes. My lips were a perfect red and my hair perfectly straight. My eyeshadow was perfect, my hips were…okay, and my waist…well…also okay. Nothing was wrong in my life.

But then there was Jack.

Jack was a problem.

He needed to go. I mean, when you’re dead, you’re dead! I had told him this endlessly. Somehow, Jack didn’t get it. I mean, I felt sorry for the guy. Sure. Being stuck between this life and the next. But just because I found him, does that mean I needed to keep him?

I think not!

Sadly, when Jack got that look in his eyes, that weary, almost teary (if his tear-ducts worked) look, I melted. I just couldn’t send him away. Not even Jack knew where he would go after he died.

Would he, like, die? As in — dead, nada, kaput, finito, gone, no more? Bye bye, sayonara, ciao, hasta la vista baby and all that?

I couldn’t have that on my conscience. No way.

I lay on my bed, wondering what to do about him. “Jaaaaaaack,” I hollered.

“Jaaaaaaack!”

Still no answer.

“Jack!”

Jack…materialized.

His eyes rolled down to the ground. He was making those puppy eyes again. “Jack, I told you not to do that. I told you not to play on my sympathies.”

His puppy eyes became worse.

His skin was gray and, well, dead.

“Oh, brother,” I said. “I have to do something about you. If mom finds out I have another ‘imaginary friend’ — at my age — well, I’d die of embarrassment. But, like, really die. Not like you.” I wondered about this. Would I die? Was Jack a freak accident, or did all people live on like him? Think of the cemeteries…

The idea excited me somewhat.

What would you have me do, Miss Kira?

“Knock off the Miss Kira crap. I told you it’s just Kira.”

Yes, Miss Kira.

The dead. There’s just no reasoning.

“Fine, Miss Kira it is then.” Rover barked like a lunatic in the garden. No one else might be able to see Jack, but I was sure my dog could.

“I have to do something about this,” I mumbled.

About the Author

R P Channing started writing three years ago, but never published anything even after churning out over a million words of fiction. Thirst: Blood of my Blood is the first book he dared to publish. When asked why, he said, “Because it’s the first thing I wrote that my wife actually enjoyed reading.” When not hammering away (most literally) at his keyboard, he can be found buried in a book, reading anything from romance to horror to young adult to non-fiction to comedy.

Website * Twitter * Amazon

$20 Amazon Gift Voucher Giveaway

At the back of the book there is a giveaway link. Once the book hits fifty reviews on Amazon, one of those reviewers will win a $20 (US Dollars) Amazon Gift Voucher!

 | 
Comments Off on Spotlight – Thirst by R P Channing @rpchanning #paranormalromance #yaromance
Posted in Book Release, excerpt, Giveaway, Historical, romance on January 29, 2016

A Lady's Guide (How to Wed a Warrior) graphic

How to Wed a Warrior cover

How to Wed a Warrior by Christy English

Broadswords and Ballrooms, Book 2
ISBN: 9781492612902
Release Date: February 2, 2016
Genre: Historical  Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Synopsis

He’s the scourge of the Season…

Reasons to quit London:

  1. It’s not the Highlands.
  2. It will never be the Highlands.
  3. It’s full of the bloody English.

When his wild spitfire of a sister makes a scene by drawing a claymore in Hyde Park, Highlander Robert Waters knows something must be done. To forestall the inevitable scandal, he hires widowed Prudence Whittaker to teach his sister how to be a lady—never expecting to find unbridled passion beneath the clever Englishwoman’s prim exterior.

Mrs. Whittaker is a fraud. Born Lady Prudence Farthington, daughter of the ruined earl of Lynwood, she’s never even been married. In order to make her way in the world, she has to rely on her wits and a web of lies…lies a sexy Highlander is all too close to unraveling.

He swears he will possess her; she vows he will do nothing of the sort. Yet as passions heat, Prudence comes to realize the illicit pleasure that can be had in going toe-to-toe with a Scot.

goodreads-badge-add-plus

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Apple * BAM * !ndigo * Indie Bound

Excerpt

Robert’s eyes gleamed with mischief—and with something else, something darker, and a bit alarming. Pru’s stomach jumped at the sight of that heat, and a delicious shiver coursed through her.

When he spoke again, his voice was thick with the music of his homeland, and with something else. “Well, now, and don’t I love a woman with a backbone.”

“I’m sure you do. Now leave this room and go find one.”

“Aye,” he said, moving closer to her. She straightened her shoulders, and sniffed. His smile was infectious, and she had to work very hard not to give in and smile back.

“I do love a sniffing woman. A woman who knows her own mind, and isn’t shy about telling the world.”

“That is very edifying. I am sure there are many such women outside these four walls. Again, Mr. Waters, I bid you good day.”

Robert laughed and shook his head, stepping even closer until he was standing a mere two feet from her.

She took in the warm scent of cedar, and a hint of something else, some spice that was all Robert Waters and little else. She was sure that if he stood so close for much longer, she would lose the ability to speak at all.

“But you see, Mrs. Prudence, that’s the trouble. There are very few women beyond these four walls that speak their minds to a man and damn the consequences.”

“Honesty is its own reward.” Her heart thudded so hard that the pulse in her throat leaped. His eyes seemed to follow it, and then move up the line of her jaw, to her cheekbones, to her eyes.

“I wonder if it might reward me,” he said.

He closed the distance between them, and kissed her.

She had been kissed before, of course. She had been a debutante during the Peninsular War, when everyone thought that the young men around them were surely going to die. She had almost been engaged, and her swain had kissed her on the garden steps of her father’s house in the moonlight, so many years ago now that it seemed to have happened to another woman altogether. But this kiss was different, because Robert Waters offered it.

Pru shocked herself by accepting it for what it was—a warm touch in a world that was often very cold indeed.

She found herself pressed against him in the next instant. His hands did not come down on her. He did not touch her waist or her shoulders, but held his hands aloft, as if she kept him at gunpoint. She did not think of what that meant, but simply moved against him, taking in the heat of his body with her own. If only she might close the door and ignore her life and future and simply have him there in that lovely, overly luxurious room.

She felt his tongue on her lips, and she opened her mouth to his coaxing. He tasted of warm honey from breakfast. He tasted of man, and in some strange, indefinable way, of home.

He still had not touched her but to place his lips on hers. He withdrew his tongue, and then his mouth, and then stepped back, so that she was left alone, grasping at nothing.

How to Wed a Warrior graphic

A Lady’s Guide to Proper (Mis)Behavior

by Mrs. Prudence Whittaker on Proper Ton Etiquette (with additions by Miss Mary Elizabeth Waters)

“A lady does not indulge in drinking spirits.” —Mrs. Prudence

“A lady drinks whatever she pleases, and a Highland lady always drinks a bit of the whisky.” —Mary Elizabeth

About the Author

 

Ever since Christy English picked up a fake sword in stage combat class at the age of fourteen, she has lived vicariously through the sword-wielding women of her imagination. A banker by day and a writer by night, she loves to eat chocolate, drink too many soft drinks, and walk the mountain trails of her home in North Carolina.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

 

 

 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 | 
Comments Off on Spotlight & #Giveaway – How to Wed a Warrior by Christy English @ChristyEnglish @SourcebooksCasa #historicalromance
Posted in Cover Reveal, Giveaway, Historical, romance on January 29, 2016

Coming soon from USA Today Bestselling Author Rachael Anderson

The Fall of Lord Drayson

Who is he really? A high and mighty Lord, or a lowly servant?

When Colin Cavendish, the new earl of Drayson, informs Lucy Beresford that she and her mother have two months to vacate the house they’ve called home for the past two years, Lucy is fit to be tied.They have no money, no relations they can turn to for help, and nowhere to go. How dare the earl break the promise his father had made to the Beresfords without so much as a twinge of conscience?

Mere hours later, Lucy discovers the earl unconscious and injured in the middle of the road. Grudgingly, she takes him into her home to tend to his wounds, but when he awakens with no recollection of who he is, Lucy seizes the opportunity to teach a much-needed lesson in humility. Pushing her own twinge of conscience aside, she informs the earl of Drayson that he is nothing more than a mere servant. Her servant, in fact.

And thus begins the charming tale of a pompous lord and an impetuous young woman, caught together in a web so tangled that it begs the question: Will they ever get out?

The Fall of Lord Drayson

Coming late-summer 2016

add to goodreads

RachaelAbout the Author

A USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can’t sing, doesn’t dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

 

 

 

 

Cover Reveal Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Code or Paypal Cash

Ends 2/17/16

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 | 
Comments Off on Cover Reveal & #Giveaway – The Fall of Lord Drayson by Rachael Anderson @RachaelReneeAnd
Posted in Romantic Suspense, Spotlight on January 28, 2016

hidden threat banner

hidden thread cover

Hidden Threat (Hidden Threat #1) by Sherri Hayes

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: January 28, 2016

Synopsis

Cali Stanton has one goal in life, being a doctor. She has spent the last two years helping the less fortunate in Africa. It’s a job she loves and intends to do for the foreseeable future. That is until she receives a call from her father saying he’s been injured and needs her back in Chicago. Less than a week later she finds herself behind her father’s desk at Stanton Enterprises, running the family business…something she never wanted to do. But how could she say no to her father when he insists that she is the only one he can trust?

Matthew Andersen and his brother, Jason, have spent the last two years managing security at Stanton Enterprises. However, someone is determined to take down the company and with it its acting CEO, Cali Stanton.

Cali and Matthew must work together to find out who is behind the threats to not only the company but to Cali herself while they fight their growing attraction for each other. Can they figure out the hidden threat before it’s too late?

goodreads-badge-add-plus

Amazon * iBooks * Kobo * ARe

Excerpt

“Thank you for coming with me. I don’t know if I would have been able to do what you did.” Matthew smirked, trying to lighten the mood. “At least, not with the same results.”

Cali blushed and Matthew almost lost it. He wanted to touch her, to crush her body against his and kiss her within an inch of her life.

Instead, he backed toward the elevators. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She grinned and began walking to her car.

He hesitated, then shook his head and continued toward the elevator.

As he waited for the elevator to reach him, he heard an engine rev. A small smile pulled at his lips as he thought of Cali heading home.

The elevator dinged right as a squeal of tires caught his attention. He whirled around in time to see a dark blue sedan he didn’t recognize speed up the exit ramp.

His heart pounded in his chest as he took off at a full-out run.

Cali.

Read Chapter 1

About the Author

sherri hayesSherri spent most of her childhood detesting English class. It was one of her least favorite subjects because she never seemed to fit into the standard mold. She wasn’t good at spelling, or following grammar rules, and outlines made her head spin. For that reason, Sherri never imagined becoming an author.

At the age of thirty, all of that changed. After getting frustrated with the direction a television show was taking two of its characters, Sherri decided to try her hand at writing an alternate ending, and give the characters their happily ever after. By the time the story finished, it was one of the top ten read stories on the site, and her readers were encouraging her to write more.

Nearly eight years later, Sherri is the author of eight full-length novels, and two short stories. Writing has become a creative outlet that allows her to explore a wide range of emotions, while having fun taking her characters through all the twists and turns she can create.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

 

 

 

 | 
Comments Off on Spotlight – Hidden Threat by Sherri Hayes @Sherri_Hayes #romanticsuspense
Posted in excerpt, Giveaway, romance, Spotlight, Texas on January 28, 2016

by break of day

Title: By Break of Day
Author: M.L. Buchman
Series: The Night Stalkers, #7
Pubdate: February 2, 2016
ISBN: 9781492621560

Synopsis

NAME: Kara Moretti
RANK: Captain of the Army’s stealthiest remote piloted aircraft (Don’t call it a drone)
MISSION: To be the eyes of the team

NAME: Justin “The Cowboy” Roberts
RANK: Captain of the Army’s most powerful helicopter
MISSION: To redeem the past, at any cost

They Put Life, Limb, and Heart on the Line

Two new captains join The Night Stalkers with two different strategies in life, love, and combat. When Brooklyn-raised Kara joins the crew, she knows one thing as an absolute truth: to stay safe, keep everything and everyone at a distance. Born in Texas, Justin knows only one honorable way to make up for losing his first crew to a suicide bomber: he flies with all his heart. When Kara and Justin collide on a top secret mission deep in the Israeli desert, then the battle truly begins.

goodreads-badge-add-plus

Amazon * Apple * BAM * B&N * Chapters * Indiebound * Kobo

Exclusive Excerpt

A Note from M.L. Buchman

Captain Justin Roberts of Texas flies a massive Chinook helicopter and every time he gets near drone pilot Captain Kara Moretti of Brooklyn, his brain becomes a fairly useless item. This is the first scene in the book where they are physically together rather than talking by radio. They’ve met before, but this is one of the first times that he’s managed to speak to her rationally…mostly.

***

“Hey, Captain Roberts.”

He must be losing his tracking skills to let Kara come up on him without him noticing. “Howdy yourself, Captain Moretti.” He should have expected it. She was always doing that to him, sliding in under his radar even when he was watching out for her rather than momentarily lost at sea.

And this time it was predictable. All the commanders and lead pilots were headed toward the same room for debriefing. The Navy Lieutenant Commander of the Peleliu had established an office in the base of the communications superstructure that towered a half-dozen stories above the vast deck. Four tiers of flight ready rooms, command-control spaces, and flight control tower topped by great towers adorned like overladen Christmas trees with antennas, radomes, and other sensing equipment.

“‘Howdy’?” She looked up at him sidelong from most of a foot down—though no man would be fool enough to call her petite, unless he was looking for a black eye.

He could never tell when she was teasing or getting all…New York. Well, he had his pride and responded with a “Yep!”

“Do people actually speak like that where you come from?”

“A’ course! In Amarillo we speak like Americans, not Yankees.”

“Gimme a frickin’ break, Cowboy. If all Americans sounded like you, the rest of the world would need translators so that the translators could understand them.”

He reached for the heavy, soundproof door that led into the communications structure, like Pa had raised him, but she beat him to it as if it was some sort of a competition.

The movement placed them so close that his nose was practically buried in the back of her hair. Closest together they’d been in two months aboard.

SOAR’s customers, especially the edgy ones like Delta and SEAL, grew longer hair or beards to blend in with crowds. Only in the 5D did command allow quite so much imitation of their customers. His short hair was the exception rather than the rule.

And Kara Moretti’s was a downright sin in the other direction. Most of the women let their hair grow down to their shoulders, which was nice to look at. He’d always had a weak spot for longer hair.

But because Kara flew in a box and didn’t have to worry about harness restraints and other hair catchers, she’d let her dark brown hair, with just a hint of gold, flow down to the middle of her back. On a military woman it was stunning, evocative, and made him want to dive his hands into it.

She smelled of…not New York. And for certain not hot helmets and battle sweat. Kara Moretti’s hair smelled of—she’d hate the allusion—his favorite mare’s mane after a long run on a cool fall day. All the promises of a filly now full grown and just filled with life.

As he’d noted earlier, the woman was just killing him.

About the Author

M. L. Buchman has over 35 novels and an ever-expanding flock of short stories in print. His military romantic suspense books have been named Barnes & Noble and NPR “Top 5 of the year,” Booklist “Top 10 of the Year,” and RT “Top 10 Romantic Suspense of the Year.” In addition to romantic suspense, he also writes contemporaries, thrillers, and fantasy and science fiction.

In among his career as a corporate project manager he has: rebuilt and single-handed a fifty-foot sailboat, both flown and jumped out of airplanes, designed and built two houses, and bicycled solo around the world.

He is now a full-time writer, living on the Oregon Coast with his beloved wife. He is constantly amazed at what you can do with a degree in Geophysics.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted in fiction, Guest Post, romance on January 27, 2016

pinnacle lust banner

pinnacle lust cover

Synopsis

In a Tel-Aviv hospital during Operation Desert Storm, Sharon Lapidot, a beautiful young nurse, is having an affair with a married doctor.

Sharon’s colorful and exciting life is ultimately destroyed by powerful and eroding mistakes. But her courage and wisdom lead her to an unregretful commitment.

Vividly told, this compelling journey of love and lust, honor and betrayal, loss and redemption, will move you — and perhaps even change you.

goodreads-badge-add-plus

Author websiteAmazonBarnes&NobleApple iBookstoreKobo

Thoughts from the Author

How Effective Is Social Media To Promote Your Book

Ahhh, the writer’s life. We’ve all imagined how the greatest writers of our time complete their projects. I envision them escaping to a house on the beach to watch a glorious sunrise as they type away, taking breaks to be inspired as they walk along the sands.

Even when I first had the desire to write, I could see myself rising in the morning and writing for a few hours, fully inspired by the story I held tight in my chest. After getting a few pages of copy, the day would be my own, and I could have fun doing the things I wanted to do.

Alas, dreams rarely match reality. As evidenced by Stephen King who wrote Carrie in the laundry room of his apartment on a manual typewriter balanced on his lap. He supplemented his income at the time with a dirty job doing laundry for restaurants and hotels. Of course now he has the luxury of time in the way that I’d imagined it. But the time it takes to get to that point isn’t all sunsets and roses.

With the changing face of publishing, the writer’s job is evolving as well. Some of the tasks of being an author have surprised me. When I saw myself writing books, I imagined finishing a book, giving myself a much needed rest, then diving into writing the next book. I never imagined the process would have me marketing and promoting the book as well.

But as I learn more about sharing my story with the world, one thing has crept into my life that I never anticipated enjoying as much as I do—using social media. Back when I wrote my very first story, Facebook and Twitter weren’t even companies. Now they are two of the major tools an author can use to connect with readers and fans.

While social media offers hundreds of thousands of different channels, I feel the two biggest opportunities for an anthor lie with Twitter and Facebook. Why? Because that’s where readers hangout. That’s where I find a lot of my information in today’s world, and I know that’s how a lot of my readers find theirs as well. So why fight the system. Why not join it instead?

The key to being successful on social media is to remember it’s all about sharing, not selling. If you’re an author, of course you want people to buy your book. But there are so many books released today with new publishing programs all the time. You cannot stand out in the sea of titles just by promoting. In order for you to connect with your reader, you want people to see who you are, to be able to get into your mind and find out the secrets behind your book. Find out the secrets that allow you to write the way you do. And you can do that in so many ways.

Take, for example, my recent blogs about my favorite holiday dinner recipes. I shared with you my love for cooking and eating beautiful food. Something that shines through in my writing as well.

The experiences I share are a part of who I am. Will I use them to sway the way I write when writing one of my next Pinnacle books? Maybe.

Yet the fun of it comes from being able to share all of those experiences with you. To give you, my readers, a taste of what I use every day to influence my writing.

Does social media work? Is it an effective way to promote a book? I would argue it’s more effective as a way to promote an author. Because as we build a relationship with the people we enjoy reading, we want more. When they release a new book, we want to read it. Because we’ve developed a relationship with that person over time, and we’re ready to continue the relationship, through the stories that they share.

That’s how you sell books. That’s how you become better as a writer.

About the Author

Michelle-Dim-St-Pierre-AuthorMichelle Dim-St. Pierre was born in Tel-Aviv, Israel, where she spent more than half of her life before relocating to the United States.

She lived through four wars and served in the Israel Defense Forces for two years. Unlike her first year of service in an armored division in the Golan Heights, she spent her second year serving in the medical corps where she interacted directly with the injured soldiers of the Peace of Galilee war and their families. This interaction, along with the exposure to the hospital atmosphere, fascinated Michelle and further touched her heart.

After graduating from nursing school with a BS in Nursing in Tel-Aviv, she practiced internationally for 32 years in various positions in the surgical field and quickly advanced into health care administration. During her career she worked in the Operating Room, Recovery Room, and CCU – along with many other duties.

Writing was Michelle’s outlet at first, but it soon became her passion. Recently she left nursing and became a full-time writer. Her international background, along with her military and nursing experience is always at the tip of her pen. Her first novel, Pinnacle Lust, starts the Pinnacle trilogy.

Michelle is a world traveler who enjoys cooking epicurean food and creating original recipes.

Webpage * Blog * Facebook * Twitter

 

 

Posted in Giveaway, Historical, mystery, Spotlight on January 27, 2016

proell banner

a deadly truth

 

Historical Romantic Mystery
Date Published: 5/25/2015

Synopsis

When Doyle Flanagan finds two strangers in his library—one dead and the other the beautiful but meddlesome Cady Delafield, his life begins to unravel as all clues point to him for the murder. As the sexual tension sizzles and Victorian conventions crumble, Cady risks job, reputation and family ties to help him clear his name. But even as his life hangs in the balance, his passion for her drives him on, but will the truth about him be the one thing to scare her away?
goodreads-badge-add-plus

a burning truth

Historical Romantic Mystery
Date Published: 5/25/2015

Synopsis

In 1881, the air in Chicago is rife with worker discontent, yet business titan Doyle Flanagan is hopeful for the future. He looks forward to a lifetime of peaceful bliss with Cady Delafield and leaving the wretched past behind. But his life is once again thrown into disarray when his office is vandalized and the night watchman viciously murdered. Clues lead to a powerful organized labor movement. Targeted in the press as anti-labor and with a big rally staged next door to his offices, Doyle must uncover the culprits before his wedding plans and his livelihood go up in smoke.
Plagued by memories of four brutal deaths, school director Cady Delafield is determined to drive the recent tragedies from her mind and enjoy being courted.  Although his commanding personality threatens to overshadow her, Doyle Flanagan is the most dynamic man she’s ever met. When another tragedy unfolds placing him at the center, she takes action—action that could shatter her future dreams.
 goodreads-badge-add-plus

a wicket truth

 

Historical Romantic Mystery
Date Published: 9/27/2015

Synopsis

The wedding date is set, and life is magical for Doyle Flanagan and Cady Delafield. Honor bound to repay an old debt, Doyle agrees to help an old friend find her sister. As he searches for the girl, painful memories surface, stunning Cady when she discovers facts about Doyle’s hidden past.
In spite of incredible odds, Cady and Doyle’s love has flourished. But in the midst of a life threatening accident, murder, and Doyle’s secrets, their wedding date and happiness are in jeopardy. Mired in tragedy, can they overcome the turmoil with a fateful decision that changes their future forever?
goodreads-badge-add-plus

 

About the Author

joyce proellJoyce grew up in Minnesota and attended college and grad school in Chicago. After working in mental health, she retired at a young age to write full-time. Her first book, Eliza, was published in 2012. The Cady Delafield mystery series followed next with A Deadly Truth, A Burning Truth and the last, A Wicked Truth published in September, 2015. When she isn’t writing mysteries or historical romances, she loves to swim, walk and is a crossword puzzle fanatic. She and her husband live in Florida and Minnesota, in her very own little house on the prairie.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Publisher * Kobo

Giveaway

One ebook each of: A Deadly Truth, A Burning Truth and A Wicked Truth
 | 
Comments Off on Spotlight & #Giveaway – the Truth series by Joyce Proell #historical #mystery @jproell1
Posted in 3 paws, Review, romance on January 26, 2016

Synopsis

Her life had never been a fairy tale. Adopted at birth, Isabella never felt like she fit in. All she ever wanted was a happy family and a love of her own. When she suddenly became a single mother of two, her life changed for the worst until she ran into a handsome stranger.

A billionaire playboy, Gabriel had lived a charmed life. Never one to settle down, he didn’t understand why he was drawn to this woman he knew his father would never accept. Still, one date leads to another and suddenly he had the life he never knew he always wanted.

Together, their life was perfect, until the lies were exposed. Then, their happily ever after couldn’t be further away.

goodreads-badge-add-plus

Review

I’m just eh on this book. It wasn’t bad but just didn’t seem believable. And of course Gabriel was a bit controlling – whether he realized it or not. I do think that he and Isabella brought out the best in each other but I don’t think I felt a connection to either character.

I liked some of the friends better than these two. Jessie was fun, Brad was solid and even Matty was endearing when we got to see a bit more of him near the end.

I did like that they didn’t have sex until married but they did almost everything else and it was a bit more graphic than I was expecting.

We give it 3 paws.  You may like the book more than I did since everyone has different tastes.

pawprintpawprintpawprint

 | 
Comments Off on Review – First A Dream by Emma Nichols @EmmasErotica #romance
Posted in 5 paws, Cozy, Monday, mystery, Review on January 25, 2016

bubblegum blonde

Synopsis

From author Anne Snow comes a brand new series about a not-so-dumb blonde who has her hands full…

“Expect the unexpected” has been Barb Jackson’s motto ever since the day she became a private investigator. But when a blast from the past in the form of her cheating ex-boyfriend shows up in her office and begs her to help him clear his name in an ongoing murder investigation, she fears this time she might have bitten off more than she can chew. But as Barb reluctantly takes the case, she uncovers deadly secrets and it becomes obvious someone is now out to get her. Suddenly Barb finds herself in a race against the clock to clear her ex’s name and keep herself alive. And to make matters worse, hunky homicide detective Tyler Black is nipping at her heels—in more ways than one! If anyone can get to the bottom of this mystery it’s Barb…if she can keep herself alive.

The Barb Jackson Mysteries:
Bubblegum Blonde (book #1)
Blondes’ Night Out (short story in the “Killer Beach Reads” collection)
The Blonde Before Christmas (holiday short story)

goodreads-badge-add-plus

Review

Sometimes you never know with a new series (or even new author to you) but this book had me laughing from the beginning to the end, while trying to determine who was the killer. (side note, no one anywhere on my radar). It didn’t hurt that there were 3 hunky men intertwined in the story…too bad there are no pictures!

This is a book to take a chance on, you just might find a new author you like.

We give it 5 paws up!

pawprintpawprintpawprintpawprintpawprint

 | 
Comments Off on #MysteryMonday – Bubblegum Blonde by Anna Snow @AnnaSnow_Author #5paws #cozy