Beyond the Mind Maze

Category: Authors

  • On Sale: Nobody’s Fault by Terry Tyler

    Terry Tyler is an author, writer, blogger and also blogs for the UK Arts Directory. Her first book on Amazon, ‘You Wish‘, was the winner of the ‘Best Women’s Lit/Chick Lit’ category in the eFestival of Words 2013. That was followed by five more novels on Amazon: ‘Nobody’s Fault‘, ‘The Other Side‘ and ‘What It Takes‘ fall into the all encompassing contemporary drama genre, whereas ‘Dream On‘ and ‘Full Circle‘ are lighter and can be placed under the banner of rock fiction/romcom. Her short story collection, ‘Nine Lives’, covers all these and more, with some intriguing twists in the tales… Terry’s latest release, Kings & Queens, is a mirror of the story of the six wives of Henry VIII, taking it into the twentieth century! I’ve already snatched my copy!

    Throughout this week, “Nobody’s Fault” is 50% off at just 0.99c until Sunday, May 11! Don’t miss out!

     

    Book Blurb

    Nobody’s Fault is about a family break up, from the point of view of all the players. It’s also about tragedy, heartbreak, and secrecy…

    Adrienne is the love of Nick’s life. Nick is the love of hers. Six days after meeting her, Nick leaves home. He has no choice; they can’t live without each other.

    Nick’s wife Ria and eldest daughter Cat find various ways of working out their anger and resentment, while fifteen year old Tara is caught in the middle. And then there is Nick’s cousin Caroline, with her own axe to grind when it comes to marital affairs… When tragedy strikes, they are all looking for someone to blame.

    Lonely and trusting Sharon, seeking love and friendship on internet dating and social networking sites, has no suspicion of the part she plays in the drama – or that the people she meets in cyberspace might not be all that they seem…

    Purchase Links

    Amazon
    Amazon UK

    Author’s Links

    Blog
    UK Arts Directory Blog
    Twitter
    Facebook

  • New Release: The Perfect Spirit by Traci Hayden

    Last week, I did the Cover Reveal of Traci Hayden’s debut novel, The Perfect Spirit. The book is now available on Amazon and Smashwords, and I got myself a copy! All you need to know follows:
    Synopsis
    Twenty-eight year old writer, Vanessa Fortney, has travelled the world, living life to the fullest. When she comes home due to the unexpected death of her only blood relatives, she only has one regret; never finding a love that triumphs all others. In a beautiful valley in the Rocky Mountains, Nessa finds herself wondering about a mysterious stranger who saved her after a nearly disastrous car accident. The mystery that surrounds Daniel is quickly replaced by the increasing attraction Nessa feels for him.
    Will she find that love that transcends all love or will an unforeseen tragedy keep them apart?
    Excerpt

    “I lost both my parents as a child.”

    “How did they die?” Daniel asked softly.

    “Car accident, same as my great-aunt and uncle.”

    Daniel’s sharp intake of air was followed quickly by his next comment. “And you almost died in that car accident a few weeks ago. It seems fate is cruel.”

    Nessa realized he was right. Not so much about her dying, but the fact that fate seemed to repeat itself. “I didn’t almost die. The doctor said I was lucky.”

    “You were lucky because I was there. If I hadn’t been,” he argued, “who knows how long you would’ve been exposed. You could’ve died without me connecting with you.”

    “You are my savior, Daniel,” she whispered. “My beautiful angelic savior.”

    “You’re too sweet with your words, ma belle.”

    “It’s true, Daniel. I don’t know what it is about you, but I feel such a connection to you,” she admitted as she traced her finger across the back of his hand. “You’re always so cold.”

    Daniel guffawed. “Cold hands, warm heart.” He cupped her face, pulling her in close. “In this case, my heart flames for you.”

    Nessa’s body relaxed into his and he pulled her, comforter and all, onto his lap. He cradled her close to him, savoring their connection as much as she did.

    About the Author

    68f16-authorpicTraci Hayden is a proud mother of four beautiful girls and one adorable granddaughter. She has always had a passion for reading, but recently the obsession for writing has taken over.

    As a Nova Scotian native now living in British Columbia, Traci has traveled across Canada, fueling her imagination from coast to coast.

    Along with two dogs and one cat, Traci’s home is shared with her partner of 16 years. He is her rock and constant support.

    Traci loves all genres of writing, but currently is exploring the world of romance.

    Facebook  Twitter  Blog  Amazon  Smashwords

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    Giveaway
    There are over a dozen prizes being offered. All ebooks will be in the form
    of the winners choosing. Draw will be made on May 18th.

     

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

  • Marjory McGinn – WIP interview

    This week’s Q&A features Marjory McGinn, a Scottish-born journalist whose three years in the wild Mani region in southern Peloponnese during the economic crisis led to Things Can Only Get Feta, an inspiring travel memoir. Marjory’s love affair with Greece actually started in Australia through her friendship with Anna, a Greek girl, and continues to this day. As a Greek in love with my own country, shouldn’t I be super excited to have a chat with Marjory about her life and her work?

    After you read the Q&A, make sure you come back up here to link to MM Jaye’s Friends Write (my other blog) for a hilarious excerpt from Things Can Only Get Feta.

    Marjory welcome to my blog. We’d love to know a bit more about you and your interesting life.

    I think I’d describe myself as a fairly restless spirit who likes new experiences and challenges and that probably started as a child when my family migrated from Scotland to Australia where I was brought up. Aussies are adventurous and free-spirited and I am sure a lot of that rubbed off on me. As soon as kids leave school there, they tend to go on a big overseas trip which I did, too. I ended up in Athens teaching English for a year which is one of the reasons I developed a life-long love of Greece.

    Back in Australia, I started my career as a journalist on Sydney newspapers and I specialised in arts stories and celebrity profiles. Later I moved back to Scotland with my partner Jim and worked as a freelance feature writer for a few years before the travel bug hit again. In 2010, during a British recession, we decided to have an adventure in the remote Mani region of the southern Peloponnese, which inspired my non-fiction book Things Can Only Get Feta. We took our crazy terrier dog Wallace along as well and that certainly guaranteed a few memorable incidents.

    Could you give us an idea of what your current project involves?

    I am currently writing a kind of sequel to the first book, which was about our first year living in a hillside village in the Mani in 2010/11. We ended up staying in this region for three years, so the sequel charts the final two years with a nearby, but slightly different, location and many more adventures and dramas as the economic crisis intensified, and a few other elements as well.

    That should make a very interesting read! Are you happy with the pace of your work? Do you aim for a specific word count each day?

    We are in the southern Peloponnese again for a shorter adventure this time. I had already started the second book while back in Scotland and I am now slowly getting back into it again. When you’re writing a book about Greece, it helps to be here for sheer inspiration: olive trees, birds, the sea in the distance. I am very laid-back about word counts and don’t set a daily amount because once I am in the mood I can write fairly quickly.

    Plotter, pantser or both?

    Probably both. A non-fiction book needs a certain structure of course since it’s based on fact, but the rest of my book is narrative and involves experiences and the people I’ve met and I like that to be more unstructured, to flow just the way it wants to because even with a tight plot, as you know, elements pop into your head unbidden and you just can’t ignore them. A good travel memoir I think should read like a novel but be instructive and truthful at the same time, which is not always an easy thing to carry off.

    What’s your main enemy in getting that first draft finished?

    I think my main enemy here in Greece will be too many lovely distractions in the summer, like going to the beach, especially when it’s too hot to do anything else, and all the paniyiria in the villages in July and August which are always great fun.

    Have you experienced writer’s block and how do you overcome it?

    Having worked as a journalist most of my life, with tight deadlines, I have learnt to deal with blocks. I used to find that when my brain reached a dead end it was best was to walk away from the computer, walk around the newsroom, talk to people, and chill. Sometimes writers can try too hard to express themselves and that causes stress, and a block.  Sitting and staring at a blank screen doesn’t help either, so my second tip is, if you really can’t get going, start writing anything – a shopping list will do, or a daft poem, anything really just to get words on the screen/page. Before long the piece you’re supposed to be writing will come to you. The trick is to get a flow going.

    That indeed is an excellent tip! Could we take a look at your workspace?

    My workspace at the moment is the balcony on the house we are renting for the time being. It has a fantastic view over olive groves to Koroni harbour at the tip of the Messinian peninsula. I have my laptop on the balcony table, a few books and nothing much else. Probably the tidiest office I’ve had for a while. It’s so peaceful here that I can’t fail to be inspired to write but I find it’s best to do it early, or later in the afternoon because the blue sea keeps calling me away. The only other problem is that our dog Wallace keeps stealing my chair and wants to know what I’m writing about him this time!

    Wallace is plain adorable! I’m sure many readers will envy your view. Now your photo is “pinned” on my Featured Writers’ Workspace Board on Pinterest. How do you intent to celebrate writing “The End” on your first draft?

    I think I’ll be rushing down to the sea for a long swim and later a nice meal in one of the lovely tavernas that line the harbour front in Koroni and a nice jug of local wine of course. Bliss!

    Idyllic. Which editing process are you going to outsource and which are you confident enough to undertake yourself?

    I didn’t outsource anything the first time, apart from the manuscript being thoroughly edited by my publisher Bene Factum Publishing (www.bene-factum.co.uk) in London. I did get my partner Jim to read my manuscript several times before sending it to the publisher. Jim is also a journalist with great editing skills and I trust him absolutely with editing and rewrites when needed. He now has his own editing business for Indy authors and if I am allowed to share it with you, the website is www.ebooklover.co.uk

    That’s one of the main points of this column; sharing and promoting services useful for indie authors. Which social media are you more involved with and why?

    I favour Facebook and Twitter mainly. My publisher is a small independent publisher and although he has done an excellent job in marketing and promoting the book, I think these days it’s a good idea for authors to do some of the promotional work themselves if they can. I think it is expected really, so I put regular posts on my FB author page and some on my personal page as well. I also use Twitter a lot. It’s fun and I think it works better for writers and gets your message out to a lot more people that you didn’t previously know. The great thing about social media now is that apart from making new friends, writers can connect with a lot of other writers and the possibilities for promotion are endless.

    Is writing travel memoirs the genre you will brand yourself with?

    I have enjoyed this genre and it has been very satisfying writing about Greece, a subject close to my heart and I’m happy to say a lot of Greeks contacted me after the first book came out last year to say it was a positive story about Greece during the crisis and that means a lot to me. But after writing a second travel book, I think I’d like to try a novel this time. I already have a plot roughed out in my head and I think I will enjoy fiction this time and really letting my imagination take flight.

    Where can we find out more about you and your work.

    I have a website called Big Fat Greek Odyssey which was started when Jim and I went to Greece in 2010 with information about Greece and the book and where to buy it. I also write a regular blog there with a Greek theme.

    http://www.bigfatgreekodyssey.com

    My FB author page is http://www.facebook.com/ThingsCanOnlyGetFeta

    and my personal page is http://www.facebook.com/marjory.mcginn

    you can find me on Twitter @fatgreekodyssey

    Things Can Only Get Feta is available on Amazon in the UK

    And from May 1 the book is available on Amazon in North America

    The book is also available at Barnes and Noble in America

    and Longitude Books

    and in Greece at Evripidis bookstore in north Athens and through the Public website

    For more details on where to buy the book visit http://www.bigfatgreekodyssey.com/greek-book.html

    Thank you, Marjory! Getting to know you and your work has been a pleasure!

    Thanks Maria for this great opportunity to talk to you about my work, and good luck with your own as well. x

     

     

  • Legally Undead by Margo Bond Collins

    photo FRBTBadgeTemplate800_zps4e8966be.png
    Brought to you by the fabulous Wendy Ewurum and Fabulosity Reads Book Tours, this urban fantasy is about a bride to be who loses her groom by the … tooth of a vampire. And, in true scorned-bride form, she turns into a vampire slayer. Who’d blame her?

    Legally Undead, available May 27

    from World Weaver Press

    Book Blurb

    A reluctant vampire hunter, stalking New York City as only a scorned bride can.

    Elle Dupree has her life all figured out: first a wedding, then her Ph.D., then swank faculty parties where she’ll serve wine and cheese and introduce people to her husband the lawyer.

    But those plans disintegrate when she walks in on a vampire sucking the blood from her fiancé Greg. Horrified, she screams and runs–not away from the vampire, but toward it, brandishing a wooden letter opener.

    As she slams the improvised stake into the vampire’s heart, a team of black-clad men bursts into the apartment. Turning around to face them, Elle discovers that Greg’s body is gone—and her perfect life falls apart.

    About the Author

    Margo Bond Collins is the author of a number of novels, including Waking Up Dead, Fairy, Texas, and Legally Undead (forthcoming in 2014). She lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, and several spoiled pets. She teaches college-level English courses online, though writing fiction is her first love. She enjoys reading urban fantasy and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about vampires, ghosts, zombies, werewolves, and other monsters.

     

    Connect with Margo

    Pinterest

    Website

    Google+

    Amazon

    Amazon Author Page:

    GoodreadsAuthor Page:

    Facebook Author Page

    Twitter @MargoBondCollin

    Email: MargoBondCollins@gmail.com

    Be sure to add Legally Undead to your Goodreads bookshelves:

    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18366353-legally-undead

     

  • The Power of Six by Nicholas Rossis (Cover Reveal)

    Nicholas C. Rossis is an epic fantasy/sci-fi author. He has released two books in his “Pearseus” epic fantasy series: “Year 18: The Schism” and “The Rise of the Prince” which became an Amazon bestseller. Now, he’s treating his fans with six science fiction short stories that will whet our appetite for “Mad Water” the third book in the Pearseus series. “The Power of Six” will be available on Amazon on May 15. Don’t miss out on reading “Simulation Over”; an exciting complete story right from this anthology in MM Jaye’s friends write. 

     

    The Power of Six

    The Power of Six is an anthology of six short science fiction stories, originally written between July 2009 and March 2012.  Shortly afterwards, I started work on my first novel, Pearseus.  Although the stories seem to be concerned with various themes, there are certain passions that run through them, almost obsessively.  What is the nature of reality?  Is there more to the world than we can see?

    The first story, “Simulation Over”, is based on a dream I had, and deals with Descartes’ age-old question; how far can we trust our senses?  With technology progressing rapidly, the time can’t be far off when it will be practically impossible to tell apart sensory fact from simulation.  How will we be able to tell fantasy and reality apart?  The story was published by magazine 9 on October 17th, 2009.

    The second story, “For the Last Time”, is lighter in nature.  Another common theme, explored in depth in Pearseus, is that of the choices we make and their consequences.  The main character here makes one mistake after another.  As a result, he keeps getting in deeper and deeper trouble, until he realizes how happy he was before all this.  As the saying goes, “I’d like to be who I was before I became who I am”.

    The inspiration for the third story, “The Hand of God”, came while playing Starcraft™ (and getting pounded time after time in that final level).  It deals with that old question of the nature of reality – digital and corporeal.  What do the game characters do when we stop playing?

    The fourth story, “I Come in Peace” (from the common sci-fi first contact words) deals with a tortuous question: how far would man go to alleviate his loneliness?  In particular, a man experiencing what is possibly the worst kind of loneliness; that someone feels when surrounded by people?

    This story explores this basic human emotion – the need for companionship.  It won the SF competition titled Invasion and was published by Cube Publishing in the anthology of the same name.  Readers of Pearseus will certainly recognise here the birth of the Orbs.

    The fifth story, “A Fresh Start”, is, again, about choices – and a favourite question: if we were free to go anywhere in time and space, where would we choose to go?  And, once there, would we repeat the same mistakes, or make new ones?  What does a man really need to be happy?

    The sixth story, “The Sentry”, was inspired by Philip K. Dick’s first story, Roog.  Science fiction fans will surely recognize this nod to the old master.

    One common characteristic of all stories is a disdain for names, both for characters and places.  This is because of my conviction that names inevitably restrict the reader’s imagination.  We all carry deep in our psyche an image for all names and places and this will necessarily carry on to the story, limiting the possible projections we can perform.  I’d rather leave the canvas completely blank, so that readers can colour it any way they like.

    About the Author

    Nicholas Rossis was born in 1970 in Athens. Greece. He got his BSc in Engineering from the Technical Institute of Pireaus in 1995, before moving to Edinburgh, Scotland, where he received his PhD in Digital Architecture from the University of Edinburgh.

    In 1995 he founded Istomedia, a web design company that has created some 450 websites todate. He also taught various publishing courses at Napier University between 1997 and 2000.

    In 2000, he moved back to Greece where he has continued working as web designer and teaching design and publishing at various colleges and universities. He has written a score of children’s books, through Niditales, his ongoing collaboration with illustrator Dimitris Fousekis. He has also had numerous SF short stories published in Greek magazines and in Invasion, a SF anthology. Finally, he has written Pearseus, a SF novel.

    Nicholas lives in a forest outside Athens with his lovely wife Electra, beautiful dog and two remarkably silly cats.

    Author Links

    Blog: http://nicholasrossis.me
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nicholas_Rossis
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NicholasCRossis
    Site: http://www.nicholasrossis.com
    Pearseus Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Pearseus
    LinkedIn: http://gr.linkedin.com/pub/nicholas-rossis/0/b7b/122/ 
    Google+ http://google.com/+NicholasRossis

  • Effrosyni Moschoudi – WIP interview

    frosso pic1 (1)In this week’s WIP interview, I’m more than pleased to welcome author Effrosyni Moschoudi, as the timing is perfect to share exciting news: “The Lady of the Pier: The Ebb“, Effrosyni’s upcoming paranormal summer romance, has cleared Round 2 in Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Award contest and is now a quarter-finalist! And that’s on top of “The Necklace of Goddess Athena”, her debut fantasy novel, reaching Amazon’s #1 in Mythology and #2 in Fairy Tales! What a ride for an amazing new author!

    For an excerpt of the ABNA quarter-finalist, “The Lady of the Pier: The Ebb”, click here to go to my excerpts’ blog where my writer friends’ work is displayed better.

    Effrosyni, first of all, congratulations! Having read both of your novels, I must say it’s an honour well deserved. I’m sure my readers would love to know more about you. Could you tell us a few things about yourself?

    My pleasure! I was born and brought up in Athens, Greece. I hold a BSc in Computer Science and have worked in various companies for 20 years, mainly providing computer support and customer service. The credit crunch cost me my career but provided me also with the unique opportunity to dedicate extensive time to my writing; a favorite pastime that I’ve enjoyed since childhood. I reside in a quaint seaside town near Athens with my husband Andy. We have our own house there and it’s idyllic. We love the serenity of our surroundings, growing our own vegetables and having the beach so close to home.

    Idyllic, indeed! Could you give us an idea about what your current project involves?

    The Lady of the Pier is a paranormal romance that will be published as a duology. It is set in Brighton (England) in the 1930’s and in Corfu (Greece) in the 1980’s. It is about two girls who have never met but are connected in a mysterious way. As you mentioned, the first part (The Ebb) has made it as a quarter-finalist in the 2014 ABNA contest in the category Romance. A short excerpt is currently available on Amazon for a FREE download. Readers can have their say in the ABNA contest by reading and reviewing the excerpts from all the entries. Your readers are welcome to download the excerpt from my novel here. As I can’t obviously foretell what the outcome of the contest will be, I carry on with my plans as normal for the publication of The Ebb this summer. I have received detailed and extremely helpful feedback from my beta readers and I am currently editing the novel based on their advice. At the same time I am penning the concluding part (The Flow) although this is a very slow process. If all goes well, this will be published by the end of the year too. The Ebb is very close to my heart. Although it is a work of fiction, there are many autobiographical elements as I used to spend my summers at my grandparents’ house in Corfu as a young girl, just like my heroine Sofia in the book. If your readers wish to know more and to see pictures of the locales that inspired the story, they are welcome to read this post on my blog.

    I’m definitely encouraging all of you to use the above link, download and review Effrosyni’s excerpt. Let’s help a new author out! Are you happy with the pace of your work? Do you aim at a specific word count each day?

    No, I am afraid not. Since January, I have developed frozen shoulder and it has gradually allowed me to do less and less. As a result, to say that I am behind schedule with my writing at the moment would be a huge understatement. Luckily, I’m currently making progress with physiotherapy and hope that things will eventually go back to normal in the next few weeks. I’m determined to resume writing The Flow full time again when that happens.

    That’s unfortunate. I hope physio works for you sooner than expected. Are you a plotter, a pantser or both?

    A bit of both and it also depends greatly on what I am writing. If it is a short story, I usually have the whole thing crystal clear in my head before I even sit at my desk. With novels, it depends also whether it requires any research or not. Research occasionally results in changes on the storyline as to accommodate the actual facts. It has happened with the Lady of the Pier. With The Necklace of Goddess Athena, as the story didn’t portray any world events, I was free to change things as I went. There have been a lot of delightful surprises creeping up on me along the way with this novel and I think I enjoy this process better.

    What’s your worst enemy in getting that first draft finished?

    Distractions. I can be pretty disciplined if I decide it’s time to make progress with a book but for example, when it’s 47 degrees Celsius and the sea is shimmering in the distance, it’s hard to commit to writing indoors! Also, when my husband is at home, I find my writing goes out the window. I often make an effort to treat him with elaborate meals and cakes and we wind up watching DVDs lots too. We both love movies and British series and so, often when he is around, the day just flies by without me writing at all.

    Have you experienced “writer’s block” and how do you overcome it?

    Yes, of course I have but I don’t let it bother me. I choose never to chase inspiration with a bat. I accept that some days will be bad for writing so on these days I just let it go and go do something else. Usually the next day it flows effortlessly once again so I don’t get frustrated about it. It just is what it is. On the days when I can’t do any writing, I usually read a book or watch a movie or listen to music. Movies especially that are relevant to what I am writing tend to rouse feelings inside that facilitate the ‘un-blocking’ process – if such a thing indeed exists.

    Could we take a look at your workspace? Is there a particular place you find inspiring?

    I always write at my desk in my tiny study. I favor crammed spaces. I find they feel cozier and safer. I can relax there and let my mind wander. I couldn’t concentrate to write outdoors anywhere or even inside by a window, as I would get distracted. Therefore, my windowless study is the best place for me. I have placed some frames there for inspiration including pictures of The West Pier in Brighton as well as the book cover of my debut novel, The Necklace of Goddess Athena. I don’t have any children but I see my books as such. So, putting up the cover there would be the equivalent of putting up the pictures of my offspring. It reminds me who I work daily for. It keeps my mind focused and my eyes on the ball.

    I’m exactly like you! The more my eyes roam, the less my mind focuses. Now your photo is “pinned” on my Featured Writers’ Workspace Board on Pinterest. Apart from Word and Google, do you use any other writing or research tools and apps?

    I use only Word for writing at the moment but I do intend to look into some relevant programs in future, such as Scrivener. Also, I have recently discovered AutoCrit; a great editing tool for writers. As for research, Google is my main tool but I also read physical books relevant to the novels I write.

    How do you intend to celebrate writing “The End” on your draft?

    I intend to have the most gratifying annual holiday in Corfu ever. I have spent many summers there dreaming of writing about my beloved island one day. If all goes well, this summer I will return there feeling like I have finally fulfilled a promise of paramount importance to me. Writing The Lady of the Pier – The Ebb has felt like giving thanks for a wealth of happy childhood memories. It is also a tribute to my beloved granddad who passed away 4 years ago at the age of 97. My grandmother will turn 90 this year by the way. I visit her once or twice a year tops and to me she is as precious as all the diamonds in the world but sadly she refuses to leave her house in Corfu.

    That’s so sweet! Which book publishing processes are you going to outsource and which are you confident enough to undertake yourself?

    Being unemployed doesn’t allow me the luxury to employ professionals as much as I’d like to. Thankfully, my sister in law is a graphics designer and she makes the covers for my books free of charge. Also, I am very grateful for the precious feedback I have received from my beta readers on The Ebb.  I intend to polish the novel with a lot of dedication and care and hopefully, if I can’t afford an editor, the result will be satisfactory enough. I will probably have it formatted professionally though. I use Streetlight Graphics who are amazing. You actually feel like they care about your book as they work on it. Their prices are very sensible and their instructions for uploading the book are very detailed.

    Your blog is Effosyni’s Blog.Do you blog according to a specific branding idea, or will you also write about something that might catch your fancy?

    As my books are set in Greece, I see my country and anything about it as part of my branding. In this sense, among other things, I blog about my travels, Greek culture, customs and also Greek cuisine. I recently blogged for example about the unique Easter celebrations in Corfu and also showed my readers how to dye Easter eggs with organic ingredients. Other than anything Greek, I also blog about my writing, I offer tips for authors and often present other writers and their books.

    Lots to entice the reader there! Do you have any marketing tips or favorite promotional sites you’d like to share?

    I have lots! Let’s see: Animoto is a great free site for making 30 second book trailers. Socialoomph is the best site I’ve come across for scheduling tweets so that you can have a presence on Twitter every hour. There are numerous sites to list free books but I believe in the people behind the sites. The most helpful and professional services I have received came from Indie Author Land, EbookSoda, Choosy Bookworm and PeopleReads. To increase traffic to your blog, it makes sense to use a book tour organizer. I recommend Fabulosity Reads who commit to supporting their bloggers and offer great giveaways too. Last, if you want your marketing to work, be courteous and pay it forward. Don’t be competitive. Being part of the indie community is not a competition – think of it as a group hike. The more helpful, sincere and open you grow towards others as you go, the closer you are getting to success.

    Great suggestions! Thank you for sharing! Is fantasy/paranormal the genres you will brand yourself with or do you see yourself branching out in the future?

    I believe that an emerging writer should experiment and not stick to one genre. If you don’t try several ones, how do you know which one you are best on? I intend to have a go at children’s fiction and chick lit next, maybe a thriller later on too. I think this process keeps the writer on his toes and sufficiently mystified. I love exploring the new. Sticking to one genre would bore me stiff sooner or later – I know that for sure.

    Would you like to share with us links where we can find you and your work?

    Blog: http://www.effrosinimoss.wordpress.com

    FB Book page: https://www.facebook.com/Necklaceathena

    FB Book page: https://www.facebook.com/ladyofpier

    FB Author page https://www.facebook.com/authoreffrosyni

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/frostiemoss

    Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7362780.Effrosyni_Moschoudi

    Google + : https://plus.google.com/+EffrosyniMoschoudi

    LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/effrosyni-moschoudi/82/347/a01

    Links for The Necklace of Goddess Athena

    Amazon (US): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I5GXHCO

    Amazon (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00I5GXHCO

    Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHJcVuAkRV4

    Free excerpt download: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18718161-the-necklace-of-goddess-athena

    Thank you, Effrosyni, and best of luck with the sequel of The Lady of the Pier!

    Thank you very much for having me Maria. It’s been a pleasure!

     

  • The Perfect Spirit by Traci Hayden

    Traci Hayden’s debut novel will be available on Amazon on May 15. Here’s a glimpse of what’s to follow:

    Synopsis
    Twenty-year-old writer, Vanessa Fortney, has travelled the world, living life to the fullest. When she comes home due to the unexpected death of her only blood relatives, she only has one regret; never finding love that triumphs over all others. 
     
    In a beautiful valley in the Rocky Mountains, Nessa finds herself wondering about a mysterious stranger who saved her after a nearly disastrous car accident. The mystery that surrounds Daniel is quickly replaced by the increasing attraction Nessa feels for him.
     

    Will she find that love that transcends all love or will tragedy keep them apart?


    Excerpt
     
    Nessa’s body melted as his deep and lusty French accent washed over her, penetrating her deepest fantasies. “My name is…”
     
    “Vanessa. I know,”he answered. He stepped forward, pulling a gloved hand out from within his
    coat. “My name’s Daniel.”
    Nessa assumed that, since the town on the edge of the valley had a small gathering, her presence had been known within a few hours of her arrival. She looked down at his extended hand and contemplated taking it. When they touched, it was to be final. Her whispering dreams of him would become real. All her fleeting thoughts of him would be physical.
     
    Her drive to be captivated by him drove her tiny hand into his. A chill travelled down her arm as she realized how cold his hand was even through the leather glove. However, her hospitality and caring nature won out over everything else she was feeling.

    “Come     to the house. Sit by the fire and warm up. I’m sure Richard and Sylvia would like to thank you also.” Secretly, she wanted to keep him close to her.
     
    “I’m sorry, but I must decline.” His voice held a layer of regret. “I’m not comfortable around people. I’ve been alone for a long time.”
     
    Nessa bowed her head, hiding her disappointment. “Maybe we could just sit and talk for a bit then.”
     
    Daniel’s hand came to rest on her cheek. His thumb under her chin, tilted her face up till his beautiful eyes met hers again. “As much as I would love to…” He looked towards the horizon, the sun barely visible as it set, “I must leave.”
     
    The pang of disappointment stabbed Nessa’s heart as the profound sadness tore through her. She nodded, holding herself together. “I understand.”
     
    Daniel leaned in, breathing in her scent. “I missed this.” Nessa’s body reacted involuntarily. She reached up on her toes and brushed her cheek against his clean shaven face. The fragrance of jasmine and lavender imprinted in her mind.
     
    “Missed what?” Nessa asked, already knowing the answer, but relishing in the sound of his deep voice.
     
    “Your smell.” He whispered, leaning his face closer to hers. “I haven’t
    smelled the incense of lilacs in far too long.”
     
    The heat of her blush flamed bright against her skin. She needed to see
    him again. “Daniel…” His name tasted sweet on her lips, “…when can I see you again?”
     
    “Very soon, ma belle.” He breathed into her ear. “For now, remember me in your dreams.”
    About the Author

    Traci Hayden is a proud mother of four beautiful girls and one adorable graddaughter. She has always had a passion for reading, but recently the obsession for writing has taken over. As a Nova Scotian native now living in British Columbia, Traci has travelled across Canada, fuelling her imagination from coast to coast. Along with two dogs and one cat, Traci’s home is shared with her partner of 16 years. He is her rock and constant support. Traci loves all genres of writing, but currently is exploring the world of romance.


    Designer
    Links (Kari March)
     
    Author
    Links
    Coming
    May
    15, 2014

     

  • Choices by Sheila Bliss

    This guest post is brought to you by Fabulosity Reads Book Tours and the fabulous Wendy Ewurum!

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    CHOICES –  Guest Post by Sheila Bliss

    There were so many things I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to be a TV news anchorwoman, a fashion designer, a news journalist, a nurse, a teacher and a psychologist. That’s quite a variety. I wanted to make sure I had all the bases covered. I was also a voracious reader. My entire family was. Memories as a kid always involved a family member reading a book. My dad, my mom, and my older sisters. The best vacations also involved sharing our responses to whatever book one of us was reading at the time. My family instilled in me a huge love for reading. It was also my escape. My childhood was lonely at times and broken. Reading allowed me to escape the loneliness and I found solace reading about people who experienced a similar pain between the pages of a book. The words breathed life into these imaginary people that I wanted to be friends with, that I wanted for family. It also sparked a deep desire to create those same feelings of connection, relief and escapism for another person. Ultimately, I wanted to create and help people in the process. Teaching called the most to me at the time of college major declaration, though. My fear of failure was strong, so strong I allowed it to overshadow my desire. So, I went with door number two or six if you count all my other options. I could still be creative and I loved working with children, especially children in impoverished areas. Although if you talked to my family they would swear I became a teacher just so I could boss people around. In the fourteen years I taught, I felt restless, I still felt a deep yearning to explore something different. I’m a goal oriented person. I like challenges and I wanted to challenge myself to something bigger. I wasn’t getting any younger and I wanted to write.

    I always wrote something, really bad poetry, random thoughts, character names, gratitude journals, quotes, lesson plans, wish lists and ideas for novels. I started my very first scrapbook when Princess Diana and Prince Charles were married in 1981 at the age of thirteen. I cut out pictures and wrote my own bubble quotes for each picture. I was so proud of myself. I kept going from there, writing diary entries, taking creative writing classes whenever I could in high school and college, keeping journals that were cathartic and therapeutic during some dark days in my early twenties when I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder that was incredibly exhausting and as equally painful. I took a break from teaching sixth grade in West Philadelphia so I could figure out how to tackle this auto-immune disease, went back to school to procure my master’s degree and started my family. When my oldest who is now sixteen, was ready to begin school I went back to school with her and started teaching Kindergarten. I’ve been there ever since. I love teaching. I love Kindergartners. They are my absolute favorite, but my yearning and restlessness was increasing and suddenly my reading choices were changing as well. My girls started talking about this book Twilight. I had no idea what they were talking about and I insisted that I read it first before they did. I was hooked, but what interested me more than anything was Stephenie Meyer’s personal story about how she started. She inspired me to sit in my girl cave, as my husband has affectionately dubbed it, and write something more than lesson plans. She gave me the courage to put my ideas that gnawed at my brain on my computer screen and actually save it and then have the nerve to label it. It was reading Jamie McGuire’s personal story that gave me the balls to self-publish it. I never met Jamie. She wouldn’t know me from Eve, but her story, her advice she posts on her blog, inspired me to not be afraid. She held my hand even though she didn’t know it or me. For the first time in my life, I was truly going to live by my own personal mantra, feel the fear, but do it anyway. It was time for mommy to practice what she preached to her little people at home. It was time to go big or go home. The clock was ticking and it wasn’t the female one, it was the life one that kept chiming through the night, through the fog of my dreams.

    I started Choices in 2009. It’s taken me five years from beginning to the end product you’ve purchased on Amazon. I wrote during the summer months, during holidays, weekends, days off and sometimes these characters hijacked my sleep and I wrote all night and then taught all day. I’ve had some major bumps in the road, some huge failures and some huge successes writing this book. Some people are shocked at the subject matter because I’m a Kindergartner teacher, but honestly that’s not all I am. I am a creator. I wanted to write something outside my realm of knowledge. Some of my friends were shocked and couldn’t understand why I didn’t write a children’s book…um, because I didn’t want to. I wanted to write something real, something edgy, something dark, yet promising, hopeful. I wanted to write a big romance, but not a typical romance that’s sweet and neat. I wanted to write something gritty and real. I wanted to write a story about a strong woman who’s had some strong situations that forced her to feel out of control and her response to it. I wanted to write about a character that was forced to really examine her life. I wanted to write a story that forced this character to ask herself the question no one wants to ask themselves, am I happy or am I lying to myself and believing the lie? Am I just going through the motions? I wanted to write a story about how a woman doesn’t have to sacrifice everything about herself in order to save someone who isn’t interested in saving themselves. When is enough? When do you draw the line in the sand and say I need to take care of me now. Life is hard. Life gives you cards you don’t want. Life is unfair. Life is real. Life isn’t pretty sometimes, but it does give you choices. So, therefore, I give you Choices.

    Choices-SheilaBliss-600x900

    Book Blurb

    One never truly knows what goes on behind closed doors in a marriage. On the surface Laurel Brittingham’s life is idyllic but when you dive below the sparkling facade and submerge yourself within the murky, slimy sand at the bottom, life is never as it appears.

    Laurel is a devoted, loving and loyal wife and mother. She married her high school sweetheart and created three new young lives during her marriage to Paul, all the while denying and avoiding the role his demons played in their marriage. Laurel’s only saving support system, other than her three children is her rewarding career as a nurse and her three gal pals that she cherishes beyond words. Addictions, anger and emotional abuse are the cornerstone of her marriage until one day life presents an interesting choice.

    Laurel wasn’t looking for him, she wasn’t seeking him out. Laurel was loyal; for better or worse, weren’t just vows they were a way of life. Fate or destiny introduced a much younger man into her life; a much younger man who was also the son of a good friend. Brandon turned her world and her heart inside out and upside down. Their love was undeniable and soul mending.

    Unfortunately, everything has a price. Their relationship unravels a web of lies, betrayal, abduction and deceit. What Laurel doesn’t know is how close to home this ugly web of lies comes. Laurel begins to travel down a path of shocking truths with twists and surprises she never fathomed, even saving a soul she never thought possible. She’s forced to make choices that will affect her family, her friends, and her happiness, but more importantly may destroy the very life she holds dearest.

     

    About Sheila Bliss

    This independent author enjoys writing books about circumstances that shape a person’s life and that life is all about the choices we make.

    She hopes that you enjoy reading her first novel Choices as much as she’s enjoyed writing it!

     

    Get in touch

    https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSheilaBliss

    https://twitter.com/authorbliss

    http://authorsheilabliss.blogspot.com/

    Buy Link

    AMAZON

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

  • V-Card by Alicia Michaels

    If you enjoy reading New Adult romances but want to do without the interminable angst, don’t miss “V-Card”, Book 1 in Alicia Michaels’ Sharing Spaces series. The excerpt made me laugh out loud! Also, check out the giveaway below:

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    V-Card, Sharing Spaces Book 1

    by Alicia Michaels

    New Adult, Romance, Comedy

    April 20th, 2014

    Author’s Website | GoodReads

    Jennifer Nolan has been unlucky when it comes to love; even more unfortunate when it comes to sex. In fact, the twenty year-old college junior is about to enter her senior year still carrying her v-card. All she wants is to be with that special someone without it resulting in a trip to the emergency room, runaway office supplies, or being scarred for life by someone’s weird fetishes. With several botched attempts under her belt, she begins to fear she’ll end up a lonely spinster or a crazy cat lady.

    With only 60 days until her 21st birthday, Jennifer is determined to lose her virginity once and for all. Little does she know that her mission will lead her down a path toward love. She never expects that her mission will lead her to a discovery of what true womanhood is, and where true and lasting love begins.

    Excerpt

    My mission? To lose my stupid virginity by my twenty-first birthday … which is in two months. I can’t very well go into the next phase of adulthood with my v-card. How can I honestly call myself a ‘woman’ if I fidget, wheeze, and just about have a heart attack at even the thought of intimacy? Any guy I date is going to wonder what the hell is wrong with me.

    So, it’s happening. I’m not sure when, or with who—since I’m not dating anybody—but I’m determined not to see twenty-one without shedding that one last thing keeping me at girl-status.

    Drastic, much? I don’t think so. Maybe if you knew some of my history, you wouldn’t either. First, there was Jeremy …

    My first attempt was as seventeen years old, senior year. It was like something out of a cheesy movie, making out in the back of a car after Homecoming at Lookout Point. Okay, so the place isn’t called Lookout Point, but The Ridge is a cliff overlooking my small Texas hometown and people do go there to make out. Me and Jeremy had been dating for six months—a lifetime in TDT. That’s Teenage Dating Time, by the way.

    Anyway, things were getting pretty hot and heavy. The windows were steamed up and we had collapsed on to the backseat in a tangle of writhing arms and legs. Jeremy had me topless and was pretty much in teenage-dude heaven. I mean, I don’t want to brag or anything, but I’ve got some pretty nice boobs. Not too big or anything; average size, but almost the perfect shape and symmetry. Although, with the lack of finesse Jeremy showed in handling them, I doubt he would have cared if one was three sizes bigger than the other, or if my nipples were two different colors.

    That familiar tingle of horny teenage hormones was tearing me up inside, turning me into a panting, thoughtless animal. I guess that natural high was what made me bold enough to attempt my first B.J. I mean, how hard could it be? It’s not exactly rocket science.

    At least, I didn’t think it was. Apparently there is a science to it, especially when you wear braces. In my enthusiasm, I might have gone in a little too hard. I slipped, my face landed in his lap, and I almost unmanned him. To be fair, the wound was superficial, but there was so much blood you’d have thought someone was stabbed to death in the back of that car.

    After dropping Jeremy off at the emergency room, I pretty much ended our relationship by ignoring him until graduation. He didn’t seem to mind. After I mutilated his man-parts, I doubt he would have felt safe getting in the sack with me without some major life insurance.

    Let’s see, my next attempt came during my first semester of college, just a few months after my eighteenth birthday. Somehow, I managed to catch the eye of a teacher’s aide. He was a graduate student working on his Master’s in Education. While he was officially considered ‘faculty’, the age gap wasn’t that much and he was too gorgeous for me to be put off with teacher vibes. Slender with long legs and broad shoulders, ginger colored hair and green eyes peeking out from behind sleek, rectangular glasses. Alistair: even his name was sexy.

    We traded a lot of smoldering looks across the classroom. Those looks turned into short conversations in passing. Some flirtations where our hands touched as we exchanged papers. One of those hand-touching exchanges led to me being propelled into an empty classroom.

    Once again, the moment played out like something from a film. Alistair grabbed my ass and pulled me up against him, his lips crashing down over mine in a seductive move that left me swooning like an idiot. We tore at each other’s clothes, and as soon as he had my pants off, he lifted me and threw me onto a desk.

    And right onto a stapler.

    You’re probably thinking the two staples I took to my left butt cheek would have been enough to end it, but apparently I’m a glutton for punishment.

    “I’m okay, really,” I told him, pulling him in for a kiss.

    “Yeah?” he asked, his smile crooked and sexy as he swept the contents of the desk aside to avoid any more injuries. “I’ve wanted this forever,” he said, his mouth tracing a path from my neck and down to places that made my toes curl. My only response was a whimper, as I allowed him to lay me back, struck dumb by his sex appeal as he rested his weight over mine on the desk.

    This resulted in another trip to the E.R.

    Who’d have thought those classroom desks were so flimsy? It splintered as if it were made of matchsticks, dropping me to the floor, where I cracked the back of my head open on the tiles. A concussion and a few staples were enough to dampen that encounter. Luckily, Alistair did a good job covering up what we’d been about to do and no one was the wiser. When no one questioned his story about how he’d perched on top of the desk I’d been leaning against, causing it to collapse, we were in the clear. I probably could have had a chance with Alistair after that if I’d wanted it. Especially if the longing looks he threw my way were any indication. However, by then I was so freaked out about sex, I just couldn’t bring myself to allow him to get me alone. At the end of the semester, he graduated and I never saw him again.

    After that, I decided my first time was going to have to be more vanilla to avoid injury. Good ole missionary position, laying on a bed sex … that was the way to do it. My braces were long gone and office supplies couldn’t impale me.

    The chance came my sophomore year when I met Geoff, a moody, brooding art student. He was sexy in a less obvious way. Thin, long, and tall, with an ethereal face framed by inky black hair. He drew pictures of me and called me his muse. He was a total weirdo, but in an artsy sort of way. At least, I thought it was only in the artsy sort of way. He had me fooled for about four months and I thought I we were on our way to a long lasting relationship. That was before he got me half naked in his room and proceeded to try to tie me to the bed with a set of very scary looking leather straps. I don’t think I even bothered to get dressed before I ran, screaming for the hills.

    After that I pretty much gave up. There have been a few guys I was interested in, and even a couple of great first dates and kisses. Just a month ago, I went on a date with a guy from my Sociology class. He was cute, funny—and, most importantly—normal. Just the kind of guy I wouldn’t mind giving my virginity to. Unfortunately, when our kisses started to turn in to something more, the twitching and wheezing started and I panicked. If I’m not careful I’m going to develop a reputation for this crap.

    No, actually, I’m not.

    I’m not, because I’m determined to just power through and do it.

    The countdown is on.

    60 days.

    Oh God, I think I’m going to barf.


    Author Bio
     I began my writing career as an author of Fantasy and Science Fiction. My first books include The Lost Kingdom of Fallada Series and The Boinics Series.

    An army wife and a mother of three, my days are never dull and I never lack for anything to do. I love to cook, sew, and of course, read.

    I’m a believer in the written word and I love transporting people to different settings and allowing them to make friends with my characters.

    Links

    Website: http://www.fantasybyalicia.com

    V-Card Website: http://www.vcard-aliciamichaels.com

    Twitter: http://twitter.com/fantasybyalicia

    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fantasybyalicia

    GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6469080.Alicia_Michaels

    Amazon: http://amzn.com/e/B009CVNFXM

  • Love Sonnets? Now? (Change the question for an exclamation mark.)

    In this day and age, we are told to shirk conventionalism, seek originality, see life in its true colors and peel off all glossy veneer in search of the truth. Grit has been the new cool for some time now, and it is glorified in literature, even poetry (lose the constraints of rhyme; use free-verse). Until a few years ago, I consciously tried that angle. It was my dark phase: dark rock music, dark literature. Grit was the crux of it all.

    Then I became a mother. With Greece steeped in recession and all sorts of challenges surfacing out of nowhere, grit became too relevant, so obvious in life around me that I needed to retreat to something safer. Fast. A world I’d like my daughter to live in. Call it conventional, call it old-school or cliché, I immersed myself into reading and writing romance seeking the truth through the expression of love. Because when it comes down to that, no struggle for originality is needed other than the evocative manifestation of genuine emotion.

    In poetry, this is called a love sonnet. Its beauty, its message, is brought forward through a conventional structure (fourteen lines in iambic pentameter) but that only strengthens its effect. No room for originality there … or is there? In the case of Kevin M. Jackson’s collection of sonnets, there is. Because, when he started expressing his innermost feelings towards a girl through sonnets, he was only sixteen, and in true teenage form, the Shakespearean structure wasn’t challenging enough. So he created his own rhyme system—more challenging, equally evocative.

    Kevin has written over 170 sonnets, which he now decided to share with the public. He broke them down into four collections, the first of which he recently published on Amazon, entitled “For Life with Love”. From the first time a teenage boy’s heart flutters at the sight of a girl to the struggles of a committed relationship, the words flow effortlessly, beautifully, and the rhyme is not a constraint but a vehicle. Excitement, joy, doubt, fear, regret are all seeped in the kind of love that has the power to infuse even darkness with the glow of hope. Now tell me that this isn’t the outlook we all need in our lives, no matter what we’re after, or how we’ve decided to go about achieving it.

    “For Life with Love: The Sonnet Collection Book 1” reached No. 3 in its category on Amazon last month and was listed under “Hot New Releases” in poetry.

    You can download it here: “For Life with Love: The Sonnet Collection Book 1” by Kevin M. Jackson