Friday, February 3, 2012

Character Interview Taci Andrews from Deadly Reunion


Please welcome character 
Taci Andrews
to our blog today!
She is the star of the book Deadly Reunion
Created by Amy Manemann

So readers... I read this book and I loved it.  Loved the style, loved the story and I wanted you all to hear a bit about the character.  So please say hello to my guest today!

My name is Taci Andrews. I’m an investigative reporter for the Riverdale Times in Riverdale Iowa and my somewhat normal (albeit solitary and somewhat pathetic) life has suddenly become more complicated than a single bag of double stuffed Oreos can handle. 

I love that you are a double stuffed Oreo girl!  What happens in your story Taci?

After my counterpart at the Times, Richard Owens (aka the snake) disappears while working a missing child feature I get thrown into the story of my career. 

I agree with your nickname for him, he was a snake! 
What should have been a highlight for me quickly goes south when I realize my career busting story is centered around Jason and Valerie McAllister, two vile people from my high school days I would rather avoid like the plague. Nicknamed Barbie and Ken for their perfection they gave it their best effort to make my life miserable in high school and the thought of cozying up to them for a feature story is leaving a bad taste in my mouth. 

Oh I know people like that too. 

Speaking of which I just received an invitation to my fifteen year high school reunion and Valerie’s in charge this year. My week just keeps getting better. 

School Reunions are horrible! 

To regroup I meet my best friends, Annie Brown and Melanie Hastings for lunch at our favorite haunt, Milroy’s. It’s Thursday. A day for coworker bashing, gossip and fun girl time, which gets interrupted when a blast from our past, former classmate fireman Tony Parsons, shows up.

Yummy... Tony.... I meant the food. Yeah.. that's it. 

To say Parsons and I were friends in school would be stretching it. In third grade he looked up my skirt during our Christmas Pageant and told everyone about my little pony underwear; I gave him a black eye. In ninth grade I actually let him put his hand up my shirt, which he then turned around and told everyone my actual cup size. So I gave him another black eye. 

I love that!  You go girl! 
I have to admit the grown up version of Parsons is definitely sexier than the adolescent version but it’s yet another complication I don’t need right now. Apparently he doesn’t hone in on my desire to avoid him because shortly after running into him the man begins to pop up everywhere I go. I can’t deny that he actually makes for a nice distraction and the dimples that appear in his cheeks make my stomach do flip flops, but I get the feeling he doesn’t think I’m capable of handling any trouble I run in to. 

He's just being a man - they don't think we can handle anything. Fools! 

OK, in truth he might have a point. After all someone did put a slashed up mannequin with a picture of my face attached to it in my apartment as a warning. 

That was very strange. 
And we did find out there were traces of an explosive found on the mannequin. Plus I did sort of receiving a threatening phone call. But seriously, was it really necessary to camp out on my living room couch or follow me to the Laundromat? Sure the man made one helluva breakfast and gave good tips on fabric softener but I somehow doubted the sexy fireman with deep blue bedroom eyes was in it for the long haul. 

Nice thought though, huh? 

Against my libido’s better judgment I better stick to the facts and focus on my story, because with my tingling spidey senses I have a feeling this is the biggest story to be uncovered in Riverdale, Iowa.
So far.

Very intriguing Taci... Very intriguing.  Let me ask you a few questions...

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

Bigger boobs, definitely. Just kidding. I’d probably say I wish I could live in a fancier apartment building or at least drive a rockin’ cool car like Gavyn Davis. Seriously, how fair is it that he drives a Beamer while I have a crappy Honda Civic?

lol....  Too funny! 

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

Definitely a few more steamy scenes with Parsons. What can I say, the man is hot!

Oh I agree!  I'd like a few more scenes with him too! 

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

What I love best about myself is that I’m my own person. I’m not afraid to speak my mind and do what needs to be done. What I like least would probably be my big mouth. I tend to have “blurt disease” and my mouth gets me in trouble from time to time. 

lol... Blurt Disease.... that is hysterical!  

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

Well in case you didn’t notice it took the entire book for me to come to terms with attending my high school reunion, so I would say that was probably the hardest obstacle we overcame. Getting blown up was way easier.

I might have to agree with you on that.  The through of attending my own reunion gives me the hives! 

Now I believe there is a sequel, that is it about? 

Of course there’s a sequel, how else are you going to find out what happens with me and Parsons? In the next book I’m hoping we can come to terms with the fireworks that seem to ignite between us and I think my creator has a few more surprises in store for everyone. 

Oh man!! Are you done with that book yet?  Cuz I really want another Tony fix!!! If you decide you don't want him - send him my way please! 

Taci - Thank you so much for joining up today!  So glad you could be here to talk about Deadly Reunion!  I loved the book and I hope others take the time to check it out!  

To Purchase Deadly Reunion: 





To find out more about the Creator, 
Amy Manemann 
you can check out the following links:



Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Shawn Marvel joins us for Writer Wednesday!

 It's Writer Wednesday and we are happy to have 
Shawn Marvel
here with us today!

Welcome!! 
Tell us a bit about yourself:

Do you work or go to school when you are not writing? 

When I started writing I was going to school but I stopped when the curriculum got a bit too hard to balance with my writing. As an Army wife I’ve been a bit uprooted in the last few months, having moved from Germany to New York, and writing has been a bit of a project in itself. But I’ve been looking for a job and a boost for writing equally since arriving in New York. Hopefully I find both! I feel that working  or taking classes gives me a break, something to pull me away and keep me thinking about different things. If I’m not doing something else I’m bound to get writer’s block sooner or later! 

What is your favorite thing to do when you aren’t writing?

I enjoy an array of things, I guess it depends on the situation. On a regular day I enjoy reading or taking walks. I enjoy interior design and little projects that I kind of make up as I go. For example, right now I’m refurbishing some black picture frames with scrapbook paper to make them more interesting. I like to be creative or active if I can. Up in New York we’re pretty far away from everything so it’s the simple things really.

What is your favorite color? Why?

My favorite color is green, as a twin my parents dressed my sister and I in different colors to make it easier. She wore colors like red and pink, I wore green and blue. I like pink now a lot more than I used to but there’s something about green. Sage, light green, different shades. In fact, I have a pretty interesting story about the color green. My family; my parents, my sister, and me were at the beach when we were about five years old and Erika ran up ahead on the board walk and came back with a red shovel. It was a little damaged but she was so excited that she’d found it. I was pretty upset of course and declared that I was going to find a green one. My parents knew that by the end of our trip to the beach that they’d need to get me a shovel, otherwise they’d never hear the end of it. So we continued along and made our way down to the beach. A while later I ran up ahead and returned to my family with a big grin on my face and a green shovel in my hand. My parents were freaked out-like they had some kind of voodoo child. It’s a story that’s kind of stuck to me. I have “green shovel moments” now and then where I find money somewhere or other strange things. I guess it’s a color that’s come to define me in some strange way.

What is your favorite season? Why?

I was born in July so I guess I’ve always loved summer best. I’m from New Jersey so we get all four seasons but summer is just refreshing and it feels slower somehow. I don’t rush inside because it’s cold; I linger under the summer sun. People seem happier in the summer time too.

If you could live anyplace on earth, where would it be? Why?

I would love to live in Venice. During my husband’s deployment to Iraq we drove down from our home in Germany and spent a week in Northern Italy and one of our first stops was Venice. It was breathtaking. The atmosphere, the colors, the buildings and architecture.  There are just no words!

If you could have any car, what would it be? 

I would have the 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback. I actually incorporated that car in my latest novel, The Wanderer. But really, any American muscle car as long as it was the body style I liked. The camero, mustang, challenger, charger, I like them all. I’ve incorporate a few of them in my books actually, it’s a way of being able to have my dream cars without spending the money!


Tell us about your writing:

How long have your been writing? Was it a dream, a goal or is it just a hobby? 

I’ve always loved to write but I really started to take it seriously four years ago when my husband enlisted in the Army. It was around then that I’d started reading—it took me a while to pick up the interest in reading. My sister and I both started writing our own books and helped one another as we went. Once my husband deployed I started writing Volition, my first published novel. From there I wrote its sequel, Severance and then shortly after publishing Volition I wrote The Wanderer. Writing was never really a dream, it ended up being a form of emotional distraction. I’d always enjoyed it, like I said, but I never imagined getting this far.

How many hours a day do you devote to writing? Do you have a set routine or do you write when the mood strikes?

I don’t devote a certain amount of time. I’ve tried that but I’m not very good at keeping a regiment. Sometimes inspiration strikes when I least expect it, like at one in the morning. Some days I don’t write at all. Other days I write for hours. Though I do hope to try and set up a schedule of some kind once things settle down here.

Is there some place special you like to be when you write? 

I used to write at our kitchen table in Germany but now the only furniture we have is a bed. It’s not my desired writing spot. I would prefer a table top or desk. The keep is that I don’t strain my back by hunching or slouching. I’ve had to take a few days off on occasion because I wasn’t sitting the right way.

Is there anything out of the norm about your writing style?

I only use two fingers to type, like JRR Tolkien. I took a typing class in school but I just type faster this way and I never really picked up the proper way to type. I’m a lefty, you might blame that. Some people might argue that it’s not very fast but I wrote The Wanderer in only two months, so it’s not too bad all things considered!

Do you listen to music or do you need a quiet place to write? 

I use music to help inspire certain scenes or help provide inspiration while I’m away from the computer and brainstorming, but I can’t fully concentrate if I’m listening to music while writing. I’ll play a little then stop and write and go like that until the music has provided what inspiration I want.

Tell us about your book:


What is the name of your latest novel, and is it part of a series or a stand alone novel?

My latest novel is called, The Wanderer. It’s stand alone novel about a former Army soldier. He packs up his motorcycle and heads across country in the hopes of finding answers and closing up a few battle wounds if he can help it. He’s never been attached and has always been a loner in life. But when he meets Max Abrams he is faced with a fierceness he’s never been up against before. A woman who doesn’t try to change him or hold him back. A woman who cares for him and loves him for who he is. This, he finds, is even scarier than the women in his past who wanted to change him. In the book Landon meets a collection of people and shares his story while finding his way and realizing that he can only run for so long.

Where did the idea come from?  

It sounds shallow but I really just loved the idea of a man in uniform on a motorcycle and wanted to write a story about it. I knew that he needed to be retired and that all he had in life was going to be his bike, the open road, and his battle scars. From there I needed to find a girl who could handle all of that and from there I had to figure out what their story would be.

Your other work:

Do you have any upcoming projects in the works or other books that have been published?

My first series, Volition and Severance fall under the YA Paranormal genre. They were published about a year ago. I’m still not sure if I’ll be writing a third book but I won’t be unless I decide on a flawless plot that blows the other two out of the water. Until then it’s just the two books.


Where can readers connect with you?




Where can we buy your books?









Friday, January 27, 2012

Carolyn Arnold talks about Uniting the WLC Community


 

Guest post from author Carolyn Arnold

Member of the WLC
A toast to new friends


The first time I heard of The WoMen’s Literary Cafe dates back months ago, and I had conversed with Melissa Foster on Twitter occasionally.  However, it was Andy Holloman who approached me about a book launch slated for December.

I had run into Andy on Twitter and Facebook, but when he said “please call me to discuss the details” I was a little taken back.  Before this event, my conversing with my fellow authors was limited to written forms of communication–Twitter, Facebook and emails.  I wasn’t sure why he couldn’t share the details of this launch over email.  But Andy was persistent.  He emailed me again a while after the first mention of it and said if I wanted to be involved with the Mystery Launch I needed to let him know right away.  I was thinking at the time, who is this guy?

So I DM’d Melissa Foster on Twitter and mentioned Andy’s invite.  She told me I was definitely welcome to join the launch and then told me I’d have to call her to go over the details.  Another phone call?  I guess when I spend a lot of my work day on the phone, I’m not a fan of it after hours.  But I called her, and I’m glad I did.

As self-published or indie authors we have to stand out among the thousands of books available out there.  We need to take advantage of all the exposure we can get and utilize these platforms.  After speaking to Melissa, I knew I wanted in on this.  I also loved her expressions of authors needing to support their fellow authors as I subscribe to the same belief.  In fact, we need each other to succeed.

The group of us worked together, behind the scenes as it were, to organize the event.  We set up daily documents of things we wanted tweeted.  It was exhausting for me, not only did I have the responsibilities assigned due to the launch, but I had just come off a new release of my own and had another scheduled for around the time the launch was to go live.  But every day, I faithfully grabbed their tweets and shared them with my followers, and they in turn shared mine.  We became interwoven, almost dare I say a type of family, during the approximate month before the launch.

Although the launch came to an end December 15th, the friendships we made during this time remain strong today.  Despite all the hard work we put into spreading the word, none of us wanted to put the support of each other behind us.  We still converse on a daily basis and support each other’s works. 

And you may ask: did I learn anything from this event?  Let’s suffice it to say I have grown, and evolution to an author is critical.


www.carolynarnold.net
“We need each other to succeed.”

Carolyn ~ It was great getting to know you during the Launch! So glad you were a part of it and that you continue to be a part of the WLC!  Thank you!    ~ Stacy

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



Thursday, January 26, 2012

Tonya Kappes talks about Uniting the WLC Community


 
Guest post from author Tonya Kappes

Elite Blogger & Member of the WLC

A few months ago, I was excited when I was picked to join an exclusive group of authors to help participate in the launch of MelissaFoster’s novel, "Come Back To Me".


It was unlike any launch I had ever seen. Melissa didn’t really want to promote her release as much as she wanted to give back to the authors participating. It was one of the most unselfish author moves I’d ever seen since writing. 


Instantly, I knew I wanted to be a part of this group and Melissa Foster’s idea of The WoMen’s Literary Café. I felt good about writing, the positive energy, and the new author friends I was connecting with. We tweeted each other, cheered each other, boo hooed  with each other, and became a tight-knit group. 

There are so many blogs out there that claim to “pay it forward” or promote authors, but there always seemed to be a catch. Not with The WoMen’s Literary Café. WLC is a gathering place for every single industry official including the reader. 


It doesn’t matter what road to publishing the author has taken, self-publishing or publishing house or both, everyone is welcome at WLC. Everyone matters! 


That is truly paying it forward in a positive way. There is nothing negative about the WLC. You can participate as much as you want and give back as much as you want. I wanted to give back because it makes me feel good. I love helping authors out on what has and hasn’t worked for me. 


I’ve sold over 19,000 books in the last five months, so I like to think I know something about marketing and promoting my novels. I even co-authored a craft book, The Tricked-Out Toolbox (available January 2012), and was honored when Melissa asked me to be a member of the elite blogging group and blog about marketing and promoting. 


It’s a perfect way for me to give back to the literary world. I love my readers so much, and have gotten a lot of love from them by marketing and promoting effectively, that I’m striving to let every author experience what I have experienced. 


Thank you Melissa Foster and WLC for allowing me to truly give back.

 

Tonya ~ You are always such a sweetheart! It has been a great pleasure working with you and now Elite Blogging with you!  So glad you are part of the WLC!  Thank you!    ~ Stacy

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




Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Keith Weaver talks about Uniting the WLC Community


 
Guest post from author Keith Weaver

Member of the WLC

So, I am pleased to present this guest post today to celebrate not myself or my work, but rather the support of the Women’s Literary Café.  The WLC was the brainchild of author Melissa Foster.  I followed Melissa on Twitter for some time, but never really had any interactions with her.  Then one day I saw her tweet about looking for authors to join a launch party of her new book, “Come Back toMe.”  I was thrilled to join the group and be a part of something like that.


I was and still am relatively new to the author game.  I haven’t been around that long or had a lot of exposure to marketing and social media.  After seeing Melissa tweet about the WLC many times, I finally got up the nerve to send her a message and ask her what I thought was probably a silly question, “Is the WLC for women only?”  Her kind and pleasant response was of course not, come aboard.  Naturally, I did and the rest is history.


The Women’s Literary Café is more than just a site that promotes authors and books.  There are a lot of things going on behind the scenes.  The authors are constantly talking and discussing topics in forums, and always looking for that next great event.  If you visit the site, you can see that they offer many promotions for authors, bloggers and readers alike, it truly is the playground of the literary world!


My personal experiences with the group have been amazing to say the least!  I have gotten to know so many great people through the network, and it has grown into the biggest support group you could even imagine.  For example, pretend you have something important you want to tweet out to your followers, now imagine dozens of others tweeting that same thing out for you to 10’s of thousands of followers!!!  I recently decided to try my hand at the KDP Select program to see how that works.  I ran my first free book promotion recently, and my fantasy novel which hasn’t been out long or gained a lot of exposure yet hit #8 on the top 100 free epic fantasy books on Amazon due to the support of this network.  I could go on and on with numbers, but I think the point has been made.


Maybe the best thing about the WLC is the friendships that have been made there.  It’s about more than just supporting the works of others, but rather also just supporting others.  I was able to attend a book signing and meet someone from the WLC that lived close to me; it was a great experience and was absolutely my pleasure to do.  We talk freely almost daily about many things; personal lives, celebrating triumphs or even lending supporting ears and voices to someone in need.  So when I say support group, I pretty much hit the mark with that statement. 


Last but not least, the WLC is a group that conducts itself with dignity and ethics.  The WLC is about honest promoting and connecting with readers on a more personal level.  The members of this group are terrific, and you couldn’t ask for a better bunch.  They also handle things internally, so you won’t see any nonsense when you visit the WLC, just the celebration of books and those who love them!


Now that you’ve heard all of that, come on over and visit, you won’t be disappointed I can attest to that!

 Author Keith Weaver

Keith ~ I wonderful post! I am so glad that you have gotten so much out of the WLC, and like you I treasure those friendships greatly! You are always there to lend and hand and put your 2 cents in about something - Thank you!    ~ Stacy

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




Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Karen Baney talks about Uniting the WLC Community

 

Guest post from author Karen Baney

Member of the WLC


WLC Testimonial

Just before I met Melissa Foster online, I was beginning to figure out a few things on how to better market my novels.  Twitter and blogging were new to me, but things were starting to click.

Then, I met Melissa.  I think I contacted her about doing some inexpensive advertising on one of the websites she manages.  I finally had some money—not much, just some—coming in from my book sales, so I thought it was about time to pay for something.

Next thing I knew, everything changes.  With a simple little question from her (would you like to be in my book launch promotion?), my marketing world expanded tenfold.

During the month leading up to the launch, I learned a ton.  Melissa hosted a video chat where she talked about her experiences with marketing.  What worked for her.  What didn’t.  She also shared information with us on a group forum.

What I appreciated the most was that Melissa and the WLC fostered a sense of community and knowledge sharing among the participating authors.  I learned from other authors and I got share about the things that working for me.  For the first time since I started this writing journey, I finally had a sounding board of other authors to bounce ideas off of.

Then I started giving back.  I started blogging about some of the things I was learning.  One article I wrote (How To Double Your Sales), which detailed my experience for the two months prior to the launch and the month during the launch, caught the attention of a lot of authors.  People were asking me questions.  Crazy!  But, I was happy to share.

Not only did I gain a ton of exposure through WLC and increased sales (245%), but I also made friendships and became a part of a community of authors who love helping others.  It has been a wonderful experience—one that I encourage all authors to consider.
 
 Author Karen Baney
www.karenbaney.com

Karen ~ I too find it amazing when people come to me and ask questions and want help - but that is what the WLC is all about - helping others.  So glad you are part of our group! Thank you for all that you have done - keep passing it on!  Thank you!    ~ Stacy

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

Monday, January 23, 2012

Character Interview: Stuart Fairchild from Vision


Please welcome character 
Stuart Fairchild
to our blog today!
He is the star of the book Vision
Created by Beth Elisa Harris

I don't generally allow the Creator's here for the interviews, but well.... She was rather pushy about it, so I let her stay on one condition, she was not allowed to interrupt, We will see how that goes.

Welcome Stuart!  Please do us a favor and tell us a bit about your story. 

Vision is about the love of my life, or I should say, lifetimes (but that is all the spoiler I will provide), Layla Stone. I am Stuart Fairchild, and have loved Layla for hundreds of years.

Stuart that makes you very old. What about Layla?

Layla is what we call “Clear.” That is to say, she can read thoughts and predict events. This is not the hocus pocus nonsense you often hear of, this is a genuine, authentic gift passed down through the maternal side of her family. 

Wow... It comes from the Maternal side, huh! 

It is rare, and there are not many like her alive. The problem is, very bad people seek her skills, too, only for the wrong reasons – world domination comes to mind. 

That's not good, no wonder she needs a guardian! 

As her destined Guardian, it is my duty to keep her safe, although this presents challenges considering she is not only independent and stubborn, she is impossibly distracted by the changes in her life.

You do know Stuart, that I have read this story you are in, and you are right, she is rather stubborn, I have to agree. 

Still, I have and will follow her to the earth-ends and back. And while she doesn’t remember everything now, somewhere inside her is the place where our love began, in another time when life was less complicated…yet more brutal. That brutality took her from me once. It won’t again.

Yes, you do your best! 

She doesn’t know everything yet, and will not in this first installation of her story. It will take three volumes to document such a monumental task. 

Three!  Awesome! 

You will see, I am sometimes remarkably useful as a Guardian, but always fully, irrevocably declared in my love for her. Layla doesn’t fully understand this yet, nor does she understand the extent of tactics I will use in her defense, but in time, she will know all truths. Because nothing can be kept from a Clear.


Very nice Stuart, now... answer a few questions for me. 

We all want to be different, so what is the one thing you wish your creator had done differently with you? Well, to be quite honest, she describes the events and my part in them with remarkable accuracy. There was no time to learn all there is to know about me, hence the series. She portrays me with a somewhat dark mystique. I find that rather amusing since I don’t fancy myself too much one way or the other.


Oh, yes she does portray you that way. 

If you could have added something to the story, and your creator would have let you, what would that have been?
I wish I had trusted my instinct to return to Layla’s room…the night…the night they took her…I can’t talk about it easily, sorry. I wonder why Layla was able to convince me she was ok, when nothing could be further from the truth.

She is a very strong young woman, I was not surprised she kept that from you. 

What do you love best about yourself? What do you like least?
I suppose now I love the fact that I’m dark and mysterious *laughs* - seriously, I love being tuned in to Layla. Our ability to communicate without words is savagely sexy. I am privileged to have that connection to her. The thing I like least is that my past, the time spent waiting for her to return, is filled with secrets that will hurt her deeply. I also loathe that I don’t have the heart to tell her anything at this point.


Oh Stuart... Now you have me wondering what you were up to.

What part of the book was the hardest for you and your creator to work through? 
Well, I am quite particular about how things should be presented and said. I was very certain about how I wanted things worded 

Beth interjects: “You were insistent, Stuart. I think that’s a better word. You would make we wake up at night and make notes on my tablet. Brute!”

So, you see first hand how we banter. But, in the end, wasn’t I almost always right? 

*Beth nods then blushes*

Well, that’s settled! Honestly, I was relentless, making changes after we went to print and such. We have a better working relationship now I am happy to say!


Did she really just call you a Brute? (I whisper to Stuart and we both chuckle).

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

Yes, so we have talked sequels – the next installation is Soul Herder (Vision #2) out later this year. Vision tells the beginning, but Soul Herder delves into the danger, loss and pain of Layla’s journey. It is difficult to discuss, because I’ve lived it, but let’s just say Layla’s life changes forever…and so does she.

Wow Stuart, that last sentence is very intense!  I can't wait till it comes out.  I mentioned earlier that I really enjoyed this book.  It is a great Young Adult Paranormal novel. 

Thank you so much for coming to talk to me today, and Beth, thank you for coming too!


Watch the Video Trailer!

To Purchase Vision: 




BarnesandNoble.com
Amazon UK
Amazon.Germany
Amazon.France
Amazon.Italy
Amazon.Spain

To Reach the creator: 
Beth Elisa Harris
 Blog

Twitter:
@Bethelisaharris

Facebook


Goodreads