Celebrating the WLC - Uniting a Literary Cafe with Christine Cunningham

Guest Post by author Christine Cunningham

Tweet Queen for the WLC

I am a firm believer of everything happens for a reason.  It’s a fun practice to retrace my steps when I notice something wonderful happen in my life. Meeting Melissa Foster is one of those “wonderful happenings.”  As a new author, likes on my Facebook fan page were seriously lacking. Melissa posted a link to the WoMen’s Literary Café on my fan page one day and invited me to connect with other authors. It was almost an afterthought when I accepted her offer. After that choice life was a whirlwind of activity and excitement! Melissa started a Facebook group of the most fun and thoughtful group of people I have ever encountered. We constantly bantered, encouraged, and sympathized with each other. Through this group I had my first interview as an author, the thrill of having a wider fan base with increased book sales, and friendships that have brightened my life. Dazzling ideas and cross promotion opportunities are now a near daily occurrence. The premise of “together we succeed” permeates everything that WLC stands for. Not only giving back and helping others, but doing so with the highest standard of integrity. The growth I have experienced with WLC is incredible. I now hold the position of WLC Tweet Queen. Actually, I write gratitude tweets for the awesome bloggers that are key to the success of WLC. I accepted this position so I can continue to help grow this wonderful community. My hat is off to Melissa for daring to dream big and inviting me to experience the magnificence that she attracts.

And it started with the simple clicking of a mouse.

Cheers!

Christine Cunningham

Author Christine Cunningham
blog: http://bit.ly/o41IIO
 

Thank you Christine for your guest post today! You do more then just give us tweets for gratitude, you yourself are gratitude and it shines in everything you do and everyone you touch.  Thank you for all the hard work you do for the WLC and for the friendship you give out so freely!  You are a true blessing!!  ~ Stacy

To learn more about WoMen’s Literary Café 
(hosting both men and women), please visit:

www.womenslitcafe.com

AUTHOR Promotions: http://womensliterarycafe.com/content/winter-events-authors

READER Events: http://womensliterarycafe.com/content/winter-events-readers

JOIN OUR TEAM: http://womensliterarycafe.com/content/support-wlc-authors

Uniting a Literary Community, by Melissa Foster

Uniting a Literary Community, by Melissa Foster
 

The literary world is evolving faster than we can count the books. There are pricing wars and marketing races, heck, there are even battling promotional sites. How can a book gain attention and how can readers see through the smoke and mirrors? Before you throw your hands up in the air and walk away, read on. There is hope.

Literary communities have been around forever, from book clubs to formal associations. Times have changed, and groups are clamoring to keep up. I have to admit, when I first thought about launching the WoMen’s Literary Café (WLC), it was solely with the purpose of helping authors learn to cross-promote. It quickly became evident that the literary world needed much, much more. With the help of many authors and bloggers, I can proudly say that you’ve asked, and we’re delivering.

The focus of WLC will always be to promote great literature, that’s a given, but it has grown into an all-inclusive community. We’re not only promoting the books our authors write, but we’re promoting the readers, reviewers, and bloggers who are enjoying them. We’re bringing together the building blocks of grass-roots marketing. We’re not touting sales and claiming extraordinary reaches or percentages of our members. The proof in in the pudding. Just ask our members, they’ll tell you why we’re different.

Marketing is not a one-time effort. Listing your book for 99-cents and slapping it on a website promotion does not mean that you will have extraordinary sales. Heck, for some categories on Amazon, it takes as little as four book sales in an hour to increase your sales ranking tens of thousands. You won’t see false hype from WLC. We believe that marketing is an ongoing process of exposure, and that 99 cents is a promotional price, not a price to live with forever.  Our members and volunteers are seeing the value of pricing books for what they’re worth, and guess what—they’re making sales, and doing more than just breaking even with their higher sales prices.  They have a chance to turn their love of writing into a career. We’re not gauging the readers. Professionally edited, professionally covered, and most importantly, professionally written books, need not be given away. The price of $2.99 is less than a cup of coffee, and gives far longer enjoyment. If you don’t value your work, how can a reader?

Sustainable marketing is what WLC strives to create. In January our members can look forward to our new Author-Blogger Connection program, offering year-round connections with the blogging community for blog tours, reviews, interviews, and more. We will host review weeks, new releases, author spotlights, and many more ongoing promotions without waving a desperate flag. Authors can talk shop in our Author Forums, and share tips and tricks, and connect with readers in our Reader Forums.

Our readers will enjoy not one but two free ebooks on Fridays, one-on-one interaction with authors in our Reader Forums, easy to navigate promotions, new releases the first week of each and every month, new books to review, and above all else, a supportive and interactive community where readers matter. We bring our readers into the fold, making them part of our community teams.

Writing is not a competitive sport, neither is blogging or reviewing. There is room for everyone to succeed and now there is a venue to bring us all together. If you value your writing, and as a reader, you value quality books and an environment where you’re not separated by groups, but rather open to chat with everyone, then WLC is the place for you.

We’re a pay-it-forward community. We give more to our supporters and our authors then they could ask for, and all we ask in return is that they pay-it-forward to the next person in line who asks for help. Make a difference, join WLC.

To learn more about WoMen’s Literary Café (hosting both men and women), please visit:

www.womenslitcafe.com

AUTHOR Promotions: http://womensliterarycafe.com/content/winter-events-authors

READER Events: http://womensliterarycafe.com/content/winter-events-readers

JOIN OUR TEAM: http://womensliterarycafe.com/content/support-wlc-authors

Melissa Foster is the award-winning author of three International bestselling novels, Megan's Way, Chasing Amanda, and Come Back to Me. She has also been published in Indie Chicks, and anthology. She is the founder of the Women's Nest, a social and support community for women, and the WoMen's Literary Cafe, a cross-promotional site for authors, reviewers, bloggers, and readers. Melissa is currently collaborating in the film production of Megan's Way, and hard at work on her next novel. 

Melissa hosts an annual Aspiring Authors contest for children, she's written for Calgary's Child Magazine and Women Business Owners Magazine, and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC.

There are a whole lot of ways to connect with Melissa.  

Here are some of them! 

Website: http://www.MelissaFoster.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Melissa-Foster/240064542695303

Twitter: @Melissa_Foster

Facebook Melissa Foster : http://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterBooks

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3023973.Melissa_Foster

The Women’s Nest{My social network for women): http://www.TheWomensNest.com

WoMen’s Literary Café, Where readers and author unite! http://www.womenslitcafe.com

My Events Calendar: http://www.melissafoster.com/content/melissas-2011-events

TeaserTrain Thursday - Howard Hopkin's The Chloe Files #1: Ashes to Ashes

TeaserTrain Thursday 

Author Howard Hopkins

 

The Chloe Files #1: Ashes to Ashes Teaser:

My name is Chloe Everson. I’m blonde, 5’6” and, um, thirty-something. Oh, and please don’t judge me, but I’m also a stripper at the Red Lagoon, at least I was until a few weeks ago before...well, that’s a story I can get into later. Most of the other girls call them­selves exotic dancers, like it makes taking off your clothes in front of a bunch of drunken idiots classier somehow. But I am a stripper. There’s an art to it, like those burlesque girls in the old days. 

I never had a lot of control over what happened in my life. In fact, most of the time I just felt like everything was sweeping me along in a rush of black water. But stripping gives me some sense of control. I know exactly what I am doing and what I can make my audience do. Anyone who gets out of line, well, Arly takes care of them.

And I know what you’re thinking: I’m one of “those” girls. Well, I’m not. It goes no farther than the dancing and never has. I have never crossed that line and I wouldn’t. I just spend a lot of time naked and I don’t mind that. Guys don’t seem to mind, either, but it’s strictly look, don’t touch.

I hope what I’ve told you won’t make you think less of me. I ended up on my own early, and had to survive somehow. I had no real skills other than dancing and I made enough money to give me some sense of power over the things in my life I might not have had otherwise.

I’ve been through a lot over the past few months, especially back around Christmas when that whole Sisters of the Snake thing was go­ing on. You can read about that in GRIMM. It’s now a matter of re­cord since Arly decided to hire that author to report the things we’ve seen and experienced. I mean, who would believe it if we didn’t make sure the public was able to read about it? Arly didn’t even believe in the supernatural before Angelique Ficatier and her witches came into our lives.

Me, I just write things down in my journal. I’m doing that now, sit­ting here in my condo, with the boxes I’ve packed piled all around me (I had plans, you know, ones that now...) I was hoping maybe someday I would be able to show it to my children, let them see what a fire­cracker their mother was in her day. Sounds silly, doesn’t it? Like one of those old movies I like to watch. The kind where the heroes always win and the guy gets the girl and everything turns out happily ever af­ter.

But life is not always like that and I’m afraid maybe this time I’ve lost again, lost someone who means more to me than anything in the world. I’ve lost a lot in my life. My parents were killed when I was seven and I was sent to various foster homes. My sister...I lost her, too. I haven’t been able to find her since the day I saw a couple drive off with her and leave me behind. Arly was helping me look for her, but I already tried everything I could think of. Still, I cling to a little hope that someday...

Well, anyway, I guess that’s enough about me for now, because what’s more important is that I am worried. Sorry, no, I’m not just worried. I’m scared out of my wits. Because after what happened with the Sisters of the Snake I know there are things in this world that crawl out of the darkness and into our lives. Terrible things. Inhuman things. And I’m afraid something like that has happened again. To Arly.

He disappeared about a week ago. I’ve been looking everywhere, trying everything I could think of. But I’m not the detective. Arly is. He’s the one who knows how to find people. I talked to his friend, Detective Sturdevant, about it and he’s helping but hasn’t come up with any leads yet. I can tell he’s worried too, because before Angelique Ficatier he didn’t believe in any of that ghost and demon stuff, either. I think he does now, but he’s afraid to admit it. I can’t say I blame him.

Oh, dammit, it’s starting to rain. I can see the water streaking down the slider doors that lead to the patio. I hate rain. It just makes every­thing more depressing right now. Makes me more afraid and more lonely and I feel like I’m just going to come apart if I don’t do some­thing, find some clue to what happened to him.

Even though it’s raining I am thinking of driving over to Arly’s cottage to look around. I’ve been there already a few times and found nothing, but just being in his house makes me feel a little bit closer to him, so maybe I’ll try again.

What else can I do?

Website: 

http://www.howardhopkins.com/

Character Interview: Ava Arden star of Ava a Priyas Novel

Please welcome character 

Ava Arden 

to our blog today!

She is the star of the book Ava 

that has just been released! 

We got a chance to talk to her while 

her creator Ashley Barron was busy.  

Ava - Welcome!!  Tell us about yourself and the book you star in!!!

I never planned for my life to be an open book. 

lol... do we ever plan for that to happen? 

It’s not that I’m overly private, not particularly; it’s simply that, right from the first page, I’m in trouble. Only, I don’t know it. My best friends, the Priyas (a nickname we gave ourselves as children), are a constant distraction. The return of Kader Thornton, the love of my life, the one who got away, isn’t helping me focus on what’s happening right in front of me, either. It takes the death of someone close to me to focus attention on the dangers waiting for me. 

That sounds very ominous. 

Between my company, my family, Kader, and the Priyas, I have resources—plenty of them. But digging for truth in a city where secrets act as currency, and money is the source of all power, is dangerous business. You’d think I would know this already, having lived in Washington, D.C., all of my life. I didn’t, not to the full extent, not until the night I disappeared.

Wow.... you totally have my attention with that!

Ava, let me ask you a few questions.

We all want to be different, so what is the one thing you wish your creator had done differently with you?

I wish Ashley had made my life as smooth on the inside as it appears on the outside. If you gave me only a passing glance, you’d think, “Well, Ava Arden has always had it easy.” In some ways, I have. Happy childhood, amazing friends, great education, travel, running own my company. 

I feel a but coming on....

But love? Love is never easy. Never simple. 

That is very true, it's not. 

People I know always expect me to be good at it, at love, because I’m talented in business, or because my family is active in our community, or because I’m always out on the social scene. Don’t be fooled. I am stricken with fear at the thought of forever.  Ashley knew this – I couldn’t hide it from her – and she used it to put me through my paces on the road to Happily Ever After.

Ava if you could have added something to the story, and your creator would have let you, what would that have been?

This one is easy. I would have made myself a composite of all the Priyas. I would have had Bonner’s moonbeam blond hair, Cary's unrelenting discipline, Devon’s grace under pressure, Eden’s ability to forgive, Fallon’s power over the media, Helaina’s army of unsurpassed chefs and hot waiters, India’s…  Well, you get the idea.

lol... Yeah I think I do. 

Instead, I have knees that tremble around Kader Thornton. I’m tall and a little clumsy. I have absolutely no fashion sense, I can’t cook and, somehow, I ended up tangled in the tightly woven web of deceit we call politics. 

Oh, politics can seriously be a downfall! 

Ashley says that a person’s life can only ever become as good as it has ever been bad. She forced me to stand toe-to-toe, eyeball-to-eyeball with betrayal. It was horrible; I’ve never felt such pain. She knows that only the ugliest of roads lead to Paradise. She said to me, right at the beginning, "You can walk or I can pull you." I took every step myself. It might have something to do with the fact that, at the end of chapter one, Kader Thornton steps back into my view.

What do you love best about yourself? What do you like least?

Least? I might be a touch more vain than Ashley imagined me to be. Least. Okay… I would say it is my unwillingness to admit when I am wrong. I just don’t ever want to be wrong, not about anything important. Too often, I’ll hold onto hope or give someone the benefit of the doubt until I am pressed so hard against a wall that even my breath leaves an imprint.

That is a pretty potent statement. 

What do I like best about myself? That question is much harder. Do I have any lifelines left, Stacy? Can I phone a friend?

lol... nope.. this one is all you! 

Just kidding. So, it would be this: I’m trustworthy. Only the love of my family, and the love of the Priyas, matters more to me in this world than being worthy of a person's trust. Although, I suppose those are two sides of the same coin, love and trust.  

That is a great think to like about yourself! 

What part of the book was the hardest for you and your creator to work through?

You think I’m going to say dangling from that cliff…but I’m not. The hardest part was remembering how to give and receive love—Kader's, in particular—without conditions or suspicions.

Ashley is so certain that when a person reaches the end of the book, the last page proclaims: You have reached Happily Ever After. Me? Not so much. I needed a lot of convincing just to consider the possibility of Happily Ever After. We went a few rounds over Kader Thornton’s role in my life, Ashley and I did. In fact, our “tug-of-war” plays out over the pages of the book. 

A tug-of-war over a man!  Love it! 

Is there a sequel for this book? If so, what do you want to accomplish in the next book.  

In AVA, I’m not just telling my story, I’m the opening book in the story of the Priyas. Bonner is up next, and I’m relieved to turn things over to her. She’s a journalist, and she’s very picky about how I phrase everything. She’s also in love with my brother, Locke, and has been since…forever. Talk about complicated! She’ll have the chance to tell you, herself, in BONNER, coming in 2012.

That sounds great - I look forward to it!

I do have to say that the hardest part about being AVA, the first book in the Priya series, is that I know everything that is going to happen. I know what is coming for my best friends, even when they don’t.  There will be chapters in their lives—in all of our lives—that I wish I could delete from Ashley’s hard drive. But I cannot.

That would be hard, knowing all of that. 

Pain, hardship, even sadness, these are essential components of a happy life. Sounds a little backwards, I know, but it is true. We’re a feisty, fun-loving, curious, romantically challenged lot, the Priyas. Between us, we’ve got a wine-maker (Jilla), a songbird born to a legendary artist (Lyric), an A-List Hollywood star (Westyn), an artist whose paintings will steal your tears (Paige), a… Well, each Priya is eager to tell her own story, so I’ll stop dropping hints about their lives and simply tell you, dear reader, that I hope we meet again on the pages of AVA.

 Ava - what a pleasure it has been to have your join us!  I am personally looking forward to reading your life story and learning more about the Priyas. Thank you so much for coming!

If you would like to purchase AVA, 

you can do so here: 

http://blog.thepriyas.com

Amazon:

 

To find out more about Ashely Barron, the creator:

Ashley's Blog

Twitter: @dcPriya

Facebook

Website:  

The Priyas website coming end of 2011

Google+

Make sure to visit our blog on January 12th, when we give you a sneak peak of Ava on TeaserTrain Thursday!

Character Interview: Will Harmon with Come the Shadows

Please welcome character 
Will Harmon 
to our blog today!

Will is the star of a series written by Wendy Young. 

Will tell my readers about yourself and the books you star in: 

My name is Will Harmon and I am a Police Officer living in the small town of Campbell Creek, on the North Carolina coast. I’ve lived here all my life and been on the force for 25 years. I have 4 kids and my wife is trying to get a 5^th out of me. 

You and I have something in common, the police force, not the 4 kids!  lol...

Our town is pretty quiet, or it was. At the beginning of Come the Shadows, bones were found in my dad’s old factory on the north side of town. That was a bit of a shock, let me tell you. We don’t get a lot of bodies around here and no one has been murdered in seventeen years. Can’t count on anything but change, though, so I guess it had to happen eventually.

Surprising how big a deal it is to happen in a quiet town. I know.. I work for one myself. 

Thing is, it’s not the only thing going on around here. The Sheriff isn’t acting right and, brother-in-law or not, I don’t trust him. Out-of-towners are also buying up a lot of land. Doesn’t make much sense to me. People around here are running away from this dying town as fast as their legs will carry them – why’s anyone want to come here?

Sounds like something else is going on.

I’ve got other things to deal with too. We have a new guy on the force, from up north. He’s an alright kid, I guess, but we don’t have a lot in common. He and his wife moved in two doors down. I’m not so sure I like having him and my sister in the same room either. They seem to like each other a little too much. Jessa’s…. Jessa. Wherever she goes, trouble follows. She’s just been appointed Medical Examiner and I’m not sure she’s suited for the job. 

Like I said – trouble.

lol... Now I read the first book you are in, she was a handful, but I thought she was great.  

Will let me ask you a few questions....

We all want to be different, so what is the one thing you wish your creator had done differently with you?

I’m not too happy with change and I’d probably just like to be left alone. I liked life before the bones were found. Things are too complicated now. I’m approaching 50 but now I have a small kid and a murder to solve…. not really where I want to be. I think we should have a little talk about leaving a man in peace.

Awww.. come on now.  We all know that cops like things to get stirred up once in a while. lol...

If you could have added something to the story, and your creator would have let you, what would that have been?

I’d have kept my wife out of everything. She’s strong, and she can handle herself pretty well, but I’m not sure I can handle her running all over the place trying to fix things and putting herself in danger. 

Personally, I thought that showed a lot about your relationship and how strong of a woman she was. You're wife is awesome! 

What do you love best about yourself?

I love my faith and my family. Those are the two most important things to me. 

What about the least?

Least? Well, I’m a bit stubborn and I don’t like liars. Cross me and it’s hard to cross back. Then again, I don’t think I ever cut out anyone who didn’t deserve it so maybe that’s not such a bad thing after all.

Being stubborn in our line of work is part of the job. 

What part of the book was the hardest for you and your creator to work through? 

I can’t really say. Things seem to flow pretty well. I’m an easy-going guy. I didn’t give her much trouble.

Rare for a man, oopppss did I say that out loud?  lol... Just kidding. 

I hear that the sequel to your story just came out, tell us a bit about that one, I haven't read it yet. 

Yeah, this story isn’t over yet and I’m just finding out how far it’s going to go. This whole thing continues in Red Sky Warning, which is out now, and another follow-up is in the works. Apparently there’s a lot I don’t know yet. I hope that one day I’m left alone to live in peace, as a man should. 

I’ll get it sorted. I always do. But first, I’m going to go get me a slice of pie at Sarah Carter’s Corner Pie Shop in town. If anyone needs me they know where to find me.

Yep, I sure do know!  Thank you Will for coming to speak with us today.  I look forward to reading Red Sky Warning, it's already on my kindle!  

If you'd like to Purchase Come the Shadows or 

Red Sky Warning you can find them here: 

Or if you are a Nook User - you can find them here:

Come the Shadows

Red Sky Warning

If you want to connect with the author, you can find Wendy Young here:

Wendy's Blog

Wendy on Twitter

Wendy on Facebook

Goodreads Author Page:

Google +

The Holiday Siren's Event Team - Thanks you all!

The Authors of the Holiday Siren's Event

wish to thank you all for a wonderful time these last 12 days! 

We sure hope that you enjoyed visiting our blog and that you found some great books to read for yourself and to giveaway as gifts this Holiday Season.

Now while we did do this event to the them of Christmas, using the 12 days of Christmas, Crime Fighter Style we do understand that there are so many other faiths, and holidays that are celebrated at this time of year besides Christmas.  We mean no disrespect to any of you and hope that your holiday season is as wonderful, happy and loving as it can be! 

Our event couldn't have been as wonderful as it was if it wasn't for the guest authors that signed up to be a part of this - so let me thank them first... (also note, if you click on their name - it will take you back to their featured page and you can read their interview and see more about their book)

D.L. Sparks - you rock lady!!!  Thank you for the video blogs you put up taking about us!  I loved having you a part of this and hope that Between Friends is a huge hit for you once it reaches the market!  

Michael Lorde - you have been behind the scenes doing so much - not only for our group, but for the troops and many others.  Thank you for all that you have done!  You are an inspiration!

Wendy Cartmell - You are a blessing!  To have jumped in to the event when we were so close to it really moving forward - you will never know how much I appreciate that!

David Anderson - I am wishing you the absolute best this holiday season and I want to thank you for all that you have done!  Your friendship and support have been awesome - thank you!

JJ Toner - It has been a pleasure to have your in the group! You have been a constant in the group and all of your help and encouragement has meant alot. 

R.S. Guthrie - Where is MAC?  huh????  You are an incredible friend and I am so glad that you took part in the event!  I know you think I am a FHA - and I take that as a compliment!  Rock on my man... Papa Roach is singing Forever to me right now... Thank you! 

Gary King - Thank you Gary for the time you put into the event and for the writing that you do! I am honored that you joined us! 

Suzie Ivy - What can I say to one of my closest friends! You are just like me - and I am so blessed to have you in my life!! Thank you for coming up with the idea of the 12 Days of Christmas Crime Fighter Style - it was awesome!  Stay Safe... Always... Your sister in blue.

Derek Blass - While I am not "normally" friends with attorneys, I gotta say - you're a cool dude!  It has been an awesome pleasure to have you here in the group! Thank you for being here!

I also can't forget my friends who offered up space on their blogs to do author interviews! 
To see the interviews in case you missed them, click on the date

Author Christine Cunningham hosted:

mungoisischristine.blogspot.com/

JJ Toner: December 2nd, 2011
David Anderson: December 7th, 2011

Author Emerald Barnes hosted:

http://ebarnes23.wordpress.com/
Michael Lorde: December 4th, 2011
Rob Guthrie: December 8th, 2011 
Suzie Ivy: December 9th, 2011

Author Wendy Young

http://wendylyoung.wordpress.com/
Wendy Cartmell: December 5th, 2011
Gary C. King: December 12th, 2011 

Author Kaira Rouda

http://www.kairarouda.com/blog/
D.L. Sparks: December 11th, 2011

and a Very Special Thank You to:

Author T.M. Souders who featured each of our authors on the Cheap Daily Kindle page! 
http://cheapkindledaily.wordpress.com/author/tmsouders/ 

Thank you Notes from the authors:

I would first like to thank Stacy! You have been an incredible inspiration during the Holiday Sirens event. Thank you for the endless time you’ve put in to make this a success. For all the Holiday Sirens authors, WOW what a ride. Thank you and it’s been wonderful getting to know you! Emerald Barnes, I so appreciate the wonderful interview you provided me. I hope we will be working together in the future. T.M. Sounders and Cheap Kindle Daily, thank you for highlighting my book and publicizing the Holiday Sirens. To everyone who bought Bad Luck Cadet THANK YOU! Bad Luck Officer is on its way.

Merry Christmas,

Suzie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
I'd like to thank you, Stacy, for initiating Holiday Sirens, and for all the hard work you put into it. I'd also like to thank the other 8 members for tweeting each day. For me, the results were not immediately fantastic, but I'm sure the process will have brought my name to the attention of a lot of potential customers for future books. Maybe you'd think about including me if you decide to run another of these promotions in the future.

JJ Toner

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

David Anderson, author of An Indecent Death, would like to thank all the many people who helped make the Holiday Sirens event a big success. Specifically he would like to mention Christine Cunningham for taking the time to interview him on her blog, T.M. Souders for featuring him on her website, the other members of Holiday Sirens for their support and encouragement, and most of all, Stacy Eaton, for her tireless efforts on his behalf. Where would we all have been without her? Many thanks.

David Anderson 

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

Four years ago, I started writing with the hope that just one person would like my book.  With 40 amazing reviews, and daily support, this journey has been remarkable! Thanks to all that purchased Enemy in Blue, without you there is NOTHING!

Derek Blass 

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

 I want to thank Author Stacy Eaton for hosting all of us 'crime authors' for this month's Holiday Sirens.  I can only imagine the time she has devoted to this event.  It was so much fun to be a part of it and to meet and work with all the great authors in this group.  I feel I've made some lifelong friends here.  I'd also like to thank Tia Souders, Emerald Barnes, the other authors in Holiday Sirens, and everyone else who's had a hand in 'Holiday Sirens'.  It's wonderful to belong to such a supportive group of people.  To all of my readers out there, thank you so much for your support in purchasing Blind Veil.  I hope you thoroughly enjoy my novel.  I'm working hard on the second book due out in 2012, so keep an eye out for it.  

Michael Lorde

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I want to thank God, my parents, the producers who believed in me...wait, wrong speech. In all seriousness, this whole wonderful event is the brainchild of one lovely, talented writer and dedicated cop: Stacy Eaton (whose blood DEFINITELY runs blue)! Thank you so much, lady! You made the holidays that much better for all of us, and the extra miles you walk for your fellow indie writers do not go unnoticed. YOU ROCK!

Big gratitude to T.M. Souders, who featured each of us on her Cheap Kindle Daily page..wow, how cool was that? You are the best, Tia!

On a personal note, I owe major cyber-hugs to Em Barnes for once again making me look good on her amazing blog! Seriously one of the best blog hosts I know.

Lastly, none of us would be anywhere without our dear readers. I am so grateful for each and every one of you...we write because YOU READ! What a great team we make. THANK YOU!

R. S. Guthrie

Happy Holidays from all of us here at the Holiday Siren's Event to all of you and your families! 
Please be safe, DO NOT drink and drive - be thankful for all that you have and tell someone you love them.

Holiday Sirens brings you "My Blood Runs Blue" series by Stacy Eaton

Welcome To Holiday Sirens

Celebrating December 23th 

My Blood Runs Blue
& Blue Blood for Life

written by Stacy Eaton

 For those of you who are just joining us, Holiday Siren's is an event taking place between December 13th and December 24rd. We are sharing some great crime novels with you that were written by law enforcement officers, people who worked around the trade or people who just did some awesome research!  Make sure to join us each day to see the featured book and the featured author! 

You write a crime novel - is your writing from experiences that you have had or did you just totally come up with the plot out of the blue?

Some of the things that happen in my stories are similar to what I have seen in real life on the job. Now don't get ahead of yourself.. I'm not saying I work with real vampires, well some of the guys I work with might be, but I have no actual proof, lol....  While I don't write about any "real" event in exact detail, I do bring bits and pieces of incidents into my book to make them more 'alive' and 'real'.

What is your experience if you have it? 

I have worked as a police officer for over 11 years in a small township in Southeastern Pennsylvania. In my stories, I write about the characters living in Fawn Hollow Township, and where I work resembles that area very closely.  It was easy to use what was around me to enhance the story. 

Two years ago, I worked hard and went through a year long training that was several days a month to obtain my Crime Scene Investigator certification.  After receiving the state certification, I took a very intense test through the International Association of Identification (IAI) that allows me to carry the title, Crime Scene Investigator, Level 1.  It is something I am very proud of. 

I love the forensic part of my job and while I don't use to much of that in my current series, you will see more of that from me in the future with other novels I am currently working on.

How did you develop your characters for this story? Are they people you know, maybe yourself?

Officer Kristin Greene is the main character in both of these books, she's me. There is nothing else to say about it.  She is driven and controlling and well... that's me.  Many of the other characters are based off of people I know and work with.  Alexander and Julian are a mixture of people, so don't ask who they are... I won't tell! lol...  Mick in the book is my real life partner, he's an awesome guy and I love working with him.  I can't say that the bad guys in my books are people I know personally, made a mixture of people I have met through my life that are evil in some way, maybe not. 

How long did you work on this novel before you published it? 

My Blood Runs Blue was actually written in 9 weeks.  It took me several months to get it edited and formatted.  I sat down to write it in October 2010 and it hit the market on April 5, 2011.  Blue Blood for Life only took me about 11 weeks to write and was published on September 30th of this year.

Have you written other crime novels? If so what are they? If not, do you have plans to?

These two books were my first two books written.  I have several other novels that I am working on: 

Of course the first one is the third book in the series, it will be released in 2012.

Whether I'll Live or Die is one that I am working on hard right now.  It is a book that is about Domestic Violence and it is seen through the eyes of a victim and through the eyes of the law. This will be released early 2012.

Liveon is a contemporary romance that take a Detective undercover to protect a movie star that has had his life threatened.  This one is kind of on the back burner while I work on some of my other ones. I am hoping to release it in 2012, but I can't be sure. 

Blue Haze is a huge project I am working on with another author, John Walker.  It is a dark and gritty series that deals with Addictions of all types.  Book 1, is in the writing stages and we hope to have it out in 2012. The female lead is a detective, while the male lead is an x-cop.  It is a very intense novel.

Mismatched is a new series I am working on.  It is only in it's planning stages, but it will be along the Paranormal/Urban Fantasy route like my current series.  Again taking place in the law enforcement world.

Using a character from your book 
Please tell me about your book 

My name is Julian Hutchinson and I work for the VMF (Vampire Military Force).  My boss is Alexander Armstrong and while at one time we were best friends, events from our past have torn us apart.  It makes it difficult some times because Alex is the Master of the VMF, so I have to take orders from him. 

Our job is to protect vampires and humans from vampires that turn against them all.  For thirty five years Alex and I have been working on a case to catch Damon, a vampire that wants to end our existence for selfish reasons. For all these years he has evaded our grasp, but things are about to change. 

When we learn of a new young female being killed, I am sent to Fawn Hollow Township to see if it could be Damon doing the killing.  Little did I know that something else that has haunted me those last thirty five years would come face to face with me. 

When my path crosses with Officer Kristin Greene, Alexander and I once again find ourselves at odds with each other, her and our feelings. Memories from the past are pulled up and we are all torn by what we should have done, what we can do and what we will do in our futures. 

Our story is filled with twists and turns and up until the very end, none of knew what Kristin would really decide and why. 

Story Blurb from back of book: 

My Blood Runs Blue: 
“I’m still a cop, and my blood runs blue.”

Officer Kristin Greene has always felt that something was missing from her life. Although her job with the Fawn Hollow Township Police Department keeps her busy, she still feels like there is something else out there for her. She soon finds herself investigating a homicide where a young woman has had her throat ripped out. As she begins to dig for the answers, she finds herself thrown into a world she didn’t know ever existed. When the two strong and silent men walk into her life, she finds herself being pulled into a love triangle that has been going on longer than she has been alive. Who are they and why do they keep calling her Calista? Join Kristin as she fights to learn the truth about the recent murder, the two seductive men who have entered into her life and the real truth about herself.

Blue Blood for Life: 
“You belong to me… for life…”

After a month off, Kristin comes back to work happier then she’s been in a long time. Her new status in life has her solving crimes faster and better than she ever could before. When Alex goes missing, Kristin finds she finally has to reveal the secrets of her life to her friends. Will they be able to stand beside her after they learn all that she has hidden from them? Julian and Gabe stand beside her faithfully as they try to locate Alex. They are surpirsed to find Trent already in Fawn Hollow, but know that Trent may be the only one to do what Alex has asked them to do. As one more choice is taken away from Kristin, she attempts to make the best of it, but finds herself drawn to Trent in a way Julian and Alexander could never compare to. Trent goes to work with Kristin to keep her safe but will he be able to handle all that her police world entails? Can he handle the side of her that she reveals, the one that Alex and Julian know nothing about? When Kristin and Trent uncover the connection between her job and the kidnapping, they are finally able to put the pieces together, but can they get to Alex fast enough? Will Kristin be able to handle rescuing Alex and all that she learns in the process? Join Kristin, Julian, Trent and Alexander as they dive into a new mystery that will have you turning the pages quickly to find out who is responsible and how Kristin’s life is forever changed once again.

Author Bio:

My life is a busy one and that is for certain!

Currently I work full time as a Police Officer for a small township is Southeastern Pennsylvania. While my current position is that of a patrol officer, I spend a lot of my time doing investigations and crime scene processing. Forensics is something I love and I take my job seriously.

I am also a wife to a Police Officer and with our constant schedules life can get very hectic in our home. I have been blessed with two children, a son who is currently in the United States Navy and I am very proud of him for what he is doing and for putting serving his Country. My daughter is a priceless princess who loves to help me market my books to teachers and other parents while she is at school and church.

When I am not working the job that currently pays all the bills I work on my business. Yes, I have my own business too.

I have two Shiloh Shepherd dogs, Garda and Callie. They are a bit different than the standard German Shepherds most people are use to. They are larger and less aggressive and they have more fur! Man do they have fur!!! Garda has a face that resembles a wolf, which makes me love him even more. (You can see by my photo that I wear a wolf pendant). Garda actually means "The Guardian" in Irish. It is also the name of the Irish Police. Rather fitting for our family of officers don't you think?

In my spare time... I write.

Where to purchase the books:

Amazon US

or

Amazon UK


Amazon US

or 

Amazon UK

For more information please visit her website:

Website 

This book is for mature audiences and does contain adult material which can include profanity, sexual content and violence.

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