An interview with Justin Bienvenue

Today on ARCBookBlog I have Justin Bienvenue, who has agreed to answer a few questions for me, first, though, here’s his bio so you can get to know him

Justin Bienvenue

Unique Writer, Living Poet and Determined Author by day and night, I have always been told I have a way with words and very vivid imagination. I thought If I could take my creativity and combine it with my new love and appreciation for poetry. that the possibilities could be endless. I took a Creative Writing class in high school which was very helpful to my writing.

I am a passionate poet and proud author of five books. When I’m not writing or reading books I’m usually promoting them. I run a blog on Tumblr called IAT: Indie Author Tactics where I feature fellow indies by interview, guest post or cover reveal. I also run a blog on Goodreads on several of the horror groups called “Hundred Year Old Horror” where I talk about classic books and authors of centuries past.

When I’m not doing anything book related my interests usually include watching sports (Football, Baseball and Basketball), learning about History, Ufology, Egyptology, The Wild West as well as the bizarre and things unexplained.

And now it’s on to the interview

Me – What inspired you to write your most recent book?

JB – Well the book is a sequel to my first which is a book of horror poems. I wanted to go back to where it all started, and I wanted to reclaim what the first book never got. I was inspired by the first book’s failures and the fact that I still had a ton of ideas for horror poems. Horror is at an all-time high right now, so between that and the personal aspect and knowing I still had plenty of horror poems left in the tank I’d be foolish not to be so inspired.

Me – Are your characters based on people you know?

JB – No. I don’t base characters off people I know because then I have the memory of that person forever in my character and that’s not always a good case. If any character is based off anyone it’s myself, the sides to me I don’t show or don’t show much. I’m not totally apposed to basing a character off someone I know but as of right now I haven’t done it.

Me – Do you get ideas for books from things you see or experience, or do they just pop into your mind?

JB – Both. I stress this anytime I’m asked. I get ideas from when I’m out and about and from what I take in, see and hear around me. To me, nature and everyday life may seem simple but sometimes you can take the simplest things and they make for some great ideas and concepts. Also my mind is thinking up ideas 24/7, it’s like a part of my brain is a story idea machine pumping in ideas and filtering some out. If it’s a solid idea my brain says, “Hey boss check out this idea, we think you may like this!” So I say okay brain, hmm that sounds good! Then I got over and write it down or make a mental note of it. So yeah, I get inspired by both.

Me – What genres do you write? Are they what you want to write? (I’ve always wanted to write fantasy, but crime and sci-fi are the genres I feel comfortable with, and where my ideas fit)

JB – I write, Horror, Poetry, Westerns and Crime. Yes they are what I want to write. I like to consider myself a genre experimenter, I’ll take a shot at any genre if I have a good enough idea for it. The genres above are the ones I write the most in and am most comfortable in writing but I’d take a shot at a romance novel or Fantasy Dystopia if I came up with a great enough idea. I think it’s good to experiment with ideas because you never know who may like something and you appeal to certain fans of certain genres.

Me – Which of your characters is your favourite?

JB – One of my two bad guys, Javier “Bones” Jones or Shin Shaojin. I can’t really choose. I made them both ruthless cold-hearted bastards and I know that’s odd to like but I feel I made them so evil because I felt like a reader can really appreciate that and it’s what they want. They want a villain they can hate and love at the same time. I enjoyed creating them, giving them their background and making them as gritty and unsophisticated as possible.

Me – Do you know where your stories are going to finish when you start?

JB – Not always. Obviously I have a clear direction in mind and I build off it and if it sounds good I keep at it. Sometimes a finish will pop into mind when I’m writing while other times I get to the end and have no clue how to end it. It really depends on how much idea and thought I’ve put into it and the development to which the story is going. I feel the biggest challenge when not coming up with an idea until the end is I want to have a reasonable, justifiable ending and I don’t want to just end it abruptly without any real thought. I appreciate good endings that make sense so with readers it’s no different, I want to give them the same thing I want in a story, a solid ending everyone can enjoy.

Me – What’s the weirdest thing you’ve had to research or make up for a book?

JB – Well for my book Opium Warfare I needed to do research on opium and I wanted to know all aspects of it so that included how many people use it today and how many people used it back in 1920. It may not seem like weird but it was to me, just looking into how many people did drugs seems a bit weird to me. Also, I looked up a woman who was killed by a serial killer for a horror poem, again it felt weird looking into but I wanted the poem to be as real and accurate as possible.

Me – If your book were to be adapted, would you prefer it to be a film, TV series or stage play?

JB – For my Western and Crime thriller I’d want them to be films. For my Horror Poetry books I’d want them to be series which would be fitting considering there’s many different poems of horror so they could all make for episodes for a television series.

Me – Would you ever permit/license the characters/world you have created for fan-fiction?

JB – I don’t know, I’ve never thought of this at all. I really don’t know.

Me – Do you write series or stand-alone books?

JB – Stand-alone books. I did write a sequel to The Macabre Masterpiece but I don’t consider it a series. I just prefer to write stand-alone books although for my next book I will be starting on my very first series.

Me – And now a couple of slightly more fun questions

Tea/Coffee or Hot Chocolate?

Tea and Hot Chocolate, I’ve never drank coffee in my entire life.

Summer or Winter?

Summer

Lazing by the pool or activity holiday?

Activity holiday

Up early or up late?

Up late

Fast food or fancy restaurant?

Yes lol

Dress up or dress down?

Dress up

Watch a film or read a book?

Watch a film

Classical music or pop?

Classical music

Now the interview is done, here’s Justin’s book

The Macabre Masterpiece: Repressed Carnage

There are some horror’s in this world that have no motive or reason other than to scare. These things tend to be the most horrific of all because they have no agenda, no filter and only wish to inflict as much fear into a person as possible. You’re about to take a trip to five places most do not wish to go but horror lovers dream of experiencing. Make your way down to a crypt where the horror’s may seem old but they’re as fresh as can be. Next make your way out to the cemetery and get a feel of how all that’s supposed to be in eternal slumber is alive and animated. Then go inside to visit the morgue and get to know some of horror’s most vile and sinister anomalies. Next take a journey to an asylum where more than just the insane call home. Finally, make one last stop at a crematorium and witness all that remains and how it does not wish to burn. Be on high alert and make sure to take it all in and remember that the true carnage lies within you…

Buy the book here

 

Pre-order for just 99c

After discussing the question of how to develop interest in a pre-order title for someone who is still in the early stages of their writing career, I was given the following advice

Make the book 99c/99p during the pre-order period, and let the world know that the book is at a special price prior to release, make sure you also tell them how much the book will be after release.

This advice is obviously based on the notion that most people like to get a bargain, especially when they know how much they’re saving, and how much time they have in which to make that saving. It’s a simple concept but it’s one that didn’t occur to me until it was pointed out, of course, I’m not marketing savvy so that might be why.

Okay, since I’ve now been hit over the head with what I should have already known, I have reduced the price of my upcoming novel, Written In Blood; you can now get my serial-killer thriller for just 99c/99p if you buy it in the next 23 days, on 1st April it will go up to its full price of $3.99.

Let me just repeat that

99c/99p

That’s the bargain price you can get Written in Blood for until the end of March. If you don’t get it before then you’ll have to pay the full price of

$3.99

If you’re interested in buying the book, and so far I’ve had people from North America, South America and Europe taking advantage of my generosity, you can get it at the following link

Written In Blood for the Kindle

An Interview With Ember Raine Winters

Today on ARCBookBlog we have Ember Raine Winters, who has agreed to be interviewed by me, before we get to the questions, though, this is what Ember has to say about herself.

Ember Raine Winters went to community college to study political science and philosophy. She is currently taking classes to get her BS in business majoring in Sports management. She is an avid reader who enjoys fantasy and science fiction with a little romance thrown in as well. She loves writing Science Fiction, mainly dystopian, but is trying her hand in Fantasy as well.

Now it’s time for a few questions.

Me – What inspired you to write your most recent book?

ERW – My most recent book Beautiful Delusions was a labor of love. I saw a decided lack of heroines in romance who suffered from PTSD and since it is a cause extremely close to my heart, I decided to write just that.

Me – Are your characters based on people you know?

ERW – The main character Kaylee and her sister-in-law Tara are loosely based on me and my sister-in-law. We both went through similar situations and have a kind of vulgar sense of humor! *chuckles* Everyone else are made up characters.

Me – Do you get ideas for books from things you see or experience, or do they just pop into your mind?

ERW – Many of my ideas are from things I see or stuff I hear on the news. A lot of Beautiful Delusions came from some of my own experiences.

Me – What genres do you write? Are they what you want to write? (I’ve always wanted to write fantasy, but crime and sci-fi are the genres I feel comfortable with, and where my ideas fit)

ERW – So far, I have written YA Dystopian and Romantic Suspense. They are genres that I want to write. I love writing more action packed stories. I eventually want to write some fantasy. I think it will be fun. It will probably be fantasy romance though.

Me – Which of your characters is your favourite?

ERW – By far, my favorite character is Trey. He is a supporting character in Beautiful Delusions but will eventually get his own book. He is the ultra-cocky, egomaniac and he is hilarious. He acts like a caveman and an overgrown child at the same time.

Me – Do you know where your stories are going to finish when you start?

ERW – Not at all! *laughs* I have no idea what is going to happen until I get there. My characters don’t give me that information. HAHA!

Me – What’s the weirdest thing you’ve had to research or make up for a book?

ERW – The weirdest thing for me was probably having to research how long it takes for someone to bleed to death when they get shot in the femoral artery. It was extremely unnerving.

Me – If your book were to be adapted, would you prefer it to be a film, TV series or stage play?

ERW – I think if it was my choice I would say a movie. I don’t think it would make a good stage play.

Me – Would you ever permit/license the characters/world you have created for fan-fiction?

ERW – I think fanfiction would be the ultimate honor. To know that people like my stories and characters enough to write their own? I would absolutely love that.

And now a couple of slightly more fun questions

1 – Tea/Coffee or Hot Chocolate?

I’m really not into any of them. My vice is Diet Pepsi.

2 – Up early or up late?

Late. I am a night owl.

3 – Fast food or fancy restaurant?

Neither? I like more basic restaurants not so much fancy but also not fast food. Unless, it’s Taco Bell. I love Taco Bell!

4 – Dress up or dress down?

Dress down

5 – Watch a film or read a book?

Read a book

6 – Classical music or pop?

Pop

Beautiful Delusions (Pride and Honor Book 1)

Kaylee
One night . . .

One terrible accident . . .
That was all it took to turn my entire life upside-down. My PTSD is worse than ever. The terror I thought I left in my past is back, and this time I might not survive the horrors he promises to bring.

An old friend, Griffin, my best friend at one time bulldozes his way back into my life. He has the power to consume me. I want him… and that is terrifying. Can he actually protect me from the evil that wants to tear me apart?

Griffin
Fifteen years . . .

That’s how long I have let the guilt eat me alive for hurting her with my words the way I did. I never thought I would get the chance to atone for my sins. Now that I do, I will stop at nothing to help her, save her . . . keep her.

The only thing I want, apart from Kaylee in my bed, is to protect her from the monster who wants to destroy her.

Get your copy here 

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http://emberrainewintersbookblog.wordpress.com

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15140261.Ember_Raine_Winters

Win a copy of Dangerous Victor

Do you like romance, I know there’s a lot of you out there that do, well here’s a great opportunity for you, my Goodreads friend Aislinn Kearns is running a giveaway for her most recent release, Dangerous Victor, which is part of her Soldiering on series.

There are 2 copies available to win, and you can try for your copy by entering at the following link

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d04251231652/

Even if romance isn’t your thing, you could help Aislinn by letting your friends who do like it about the competition

Dangerous Victor

Aislinn Kearns

 

 

Radha Iyer knows there’s something terribly wrong happening at the casino she manages. Her staff are acting cagey, the finances don’t add up, and then her Head of Security is found murdered in his own home. She’s out of her depth and desperate for help.

Zack Walker has kept to himself since the day an IED left him permanently scarred. When Radha calls Soldiering On for help, his degree in math makes him the obvious choice to go undercover as the new Head of Security to help her discover what’s going on and who’s responsible.

But the conspiracy they uncover goes deeper than either of them could have imagined. When their investigation is compromised, it puts them both in mortal peril and on the run. With nowhere to turn they must rely on each other, but danger and betrayal lurk in every shadow…

 

Tips from Rohvannyn Shaw

Today on ARCBookblog we have Rohvannyn Shaw, who aside from having an awesome-sounding name is the author of 7 books, with more to come. She is here to tell us a little about herself and her latest release – Self-Publishing Made Easy

First, a little about Rohvannyn

Rohvannyn Shaw has been an avid reader for all but two years of her life.

Raised by two writers, a love of literacy permeated her childhood. With this background, it was inevitable that she would eventually turn her hand to the family trade.

Apart from paying the bills by working in a call center, she is also an artist and illustrator, and happily soaks up the Arizona heat with her partner.

She is currently owned by a fluffy calico.

Her art can be seen at http://www.rohvannynshaw.com.

Join her on her blog: http://mind-flight.org.

Released less than a fortnight ago is Self-Publishing Made Easy, the title seems self-explanatory by here is a bit about the book in case you need some help in deciding whether to buy it.

Self-Publishing Made Easy

Tips for Self Publishing

Here are some hard-won lessons I’ve learned and want to share with you. They will make your life much easier! Some of these points are also mentioned elsewhere in this book, but are included here for emphasis and convenience.

Price your e-book fairly low. Remember that you don’t have to do any work at all when you sell one.

Be aware of current costs of books and don’t price too much below or above the going rate. Above the normal and people won’t pay, below and they’ll say “what’s wrong with it?”

Use a beta reader. The more eyes, the better. You will ALWAYS find something that needs fixing.

Listen to your editor. Whether you agree or disagree, think about it and really consider the advice. Feedback is a gift.

When formatting, use full justification when you write. If the print lines up nicely on both sides of the page, it will give a cleaner, neater look.

When submitting your work, pay attention to the final size of the page and pick a font size that will be readable. Also, pick a font that is easy on the eyes, such as Times New Roman.

A common size for books is six inches by nine, though smaller is fine too. When setting up your pages, pick the size in the beginning so you don’t have to make a lot of changes later.

Use good word processing software so you can make your work look its best, such as Libre Office. That’s free to anyone with an internet connection.

If you are designing your own cover, avoid clutter and make sure you use an image that is high enough resolution to look good in printing. The company you are working with will tell you the minimum resolution required for images, but it’s commonly 300 dots per inch. Lower resolution is fine for eBook covers, because they will only be seen on screens.

Don’t forget to leave room for the barcode and ISBN on the back of your book, if you design that space in, it will look much more finished.

Write what you love, write what you know, and never ever write something you don’t know about without expert help. That is, talk it over with someone who knows the subject and then listen to what they have to say!

If you write what you don’t know, research, research, research. Use a checklist to make sure you don’t forget any details.

In writing, as in life, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

And finally, don’t pay for any services unless you know exactly what you are getting!

You can purchase the book at Amazon, iBooks, and all other good ebook retailers.

Purchase links for the book can be found here

An interview with Jennifer Peacock-Smith

Today on ARCBookblog we Jennifer Peacock-Smith, the latest in the series of interviews I have been running. Before we get to the interview, here is Jennifer’s bio from Amazon.

Jennifer Peacock-Smith is an emerging memoirist who writes on her experiences, struggles and triumphs through a difficult but colorful life so far. She shares her time between her homelands of South Africa and Australia when she is not traveling with her husband in all corners of the globe.

Despite a painful and crippling genetic condition she is very active in the writing community. She writes for a number of blogs as well as the world wide publication The Mighty, on Chronic Illness and other topics.

And now it’s time for a few questions so we can get to know Jennifer a little better

Me – Is writing a full-time occupation, or do you have a job that keeps you from it?

Jennifer – I am very spoiled to be able to write full time. I still have things to do, life is so bad at getting in the way, especially when I don’t want it to, but I do get to write on average 3-5 days a week.

Me – What aspect of publishing do you find the easiest?

Jennifer – Oh this is an interesting question. I don’t think that any of it is easy. The biggest thing to get in the way of my writing is publishing and promoting. If anything is easy then it is some of the relationships that I have built along the way. Being in a community of readers, writers (or both) make what could very well be a very lonely process, way more inspiring, encouraging, and enriching. I have to be careful that I don’t put my publishing community before real people sometimes!

Me – What do you find the most difficult?

Jennifer – Advertising myself and my book is awful. Thankfully the response has been wonderful and it is selling itself, but I am not used to self promotion and it feels somehow wrong.

Me – What is your perfect writing environment.

Jennifer – I have to spend much of my life in bed due to health limitations, but I have learnt to make myself quite comfortable despite the pain and I have a little four legged companion who wags her tail madly when it is a writing day. So my bed, my baby and complete silence are the perfect environment for me. I travel a lot with my husband’s work so often those beds are in hotel rooms around the world. Those always make great writing environments as well.

Me – Do you have a process you follow when writing a book?

Jennifer – I would have said no, but in fact it turns out that I think I do. I am a memoirist so I don’t have to think hard to come up with material. I just write and it flows (when it does. When it doesn’t then there is no point in me writing and I give it a break). But when I am on a roll I just write, write and write some more. I get the first draft done in a very short period of time. I like it to be raw and real and to let the words fly. Then I have the tedious task of thinking about it and unpacking it. I am dyslexic and autocorrect hates me, so editing is awful for me!

Me – Would you rather be critically successful or financially successful?

Jennifer – The former for sure. Not because I am generous or kind, but because I have had my voice squashed for so long that my primary reason for writing is to get my voice out there and help others who are struggling with similar issues. But of course the money doesn’t hurt either 🙂

Me – If you could pick 1 celebrity to read your book and give an opinion on it, who would it be?

Jennifer – Oh wow, I am not big on celebrities. But Mary Karr is a well known memoirist who is also a Poet. She is my memoir hero in many ways, although I am yet to read any of her book I’m ashamed to say. But I would love her to read (and love) my books!

Me – Do you find it easy to avoid being distracted when you sit down to write?

Jennifer – It depends on what I am doing. When I am on the first draft and I am on a roll, nothing can stop me. But when I am editing then anything can distract me and usually does.

Me – If you have published already, what has been the most successful technique/site/opportunity for you in terms of getting either exposure or sales?

Jennifer – I published my first book in January, and it has done well so far. Of course I still have a long way to go. The book is on my journey with Anxiety and how I beat it. It is a very practical book and is a so easy to read. So people from all kinds of places and backgrounds are reading it. Life Line have shown an interest and have asked me to share my techniques with some of the counsellors. So that is turning out to be one of my successful techniques. I also blog (a lot) so that is a great way to get word out there as well.

Me – Last but not least, and something a little fun, what is your favourite animal, and why?

Jennifer – I was born in South Africa and elephants have always been my favorite animal. I can never get enough of them and my absolutely favorite place to write, which I have the privilege of doing from time to time, is from a big white hotel bed, with wild elephants out the window. 

JPeaSmith@kingsroadchronicles.com

Where I hang out: Blog | The Mighty | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon

@JPeaSmith

An Interview with Kay MacLeod

Welcome to ARCBookblog Kay, it’s so nice to have you here, joining me for an interview, first of all, before we get to the questions, why don’t you tell me and my readers a little about yourself.

Kay – Confession time, I’m a fantasy addict! For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved the concept of magical worlds. I was the kid with dragons doodled around the edge of her school work, the one with her head constantly buried in a book. As a teen, I shunned partying to play Magic the Gathering and DM Dungeons and Dragons games.

Through the years, I’ve always made up stories and took characters on amazing adventures, in the privacy of my own mind. Now I want to share them with other people.

I live with my husband and cat in Nottinghamshire in England. When I’m not writing (or planning something I’m writing) I’m usually working, reading, playing bass for my church’s worship team, playing computer games (World of Warcraft, Dragon Age, Pokemon, Minecraft) or drinking tea.

Okay, now that we know you’re an Englander, just like me, let’s get to some questions.

Me – Is writing a full-time occupation, or do you have a job that keeps you from it?

Kay – I wish! I would absolutely love to be able to spend all day writing, and that is my ultimate goal. I’ve only released one book so far, and I know it will take time to get to the point where I can support myself with my writing. I can’t wait until I’m one of those irritating people that gets to do a job they enjoy.

Me – What aspect of publishing do you find the easiest?

Kay – Coming up with ideas. My mind is constantly churning with new characters, plot twists, worlds and settings. I’m on the second book of my first series, which I think will be four books long, and I already have plans for a prequel, about eight short stories, a different series of six books, a spin off from that series with the main character’s cousin and rough ideas for another four or five things I want to work on…

I even have big ideas for events or promotions (check out the Indie Advent Calendar I ran over Christmas  http://kaymacleodbooks.com/indie-advent-calendar/) I just love creating things, it’s only a problem because I never seem to have enough time to do everything I want to.

Me – What do you find the most difficult?

Kay – I think a lot of authors find promotion hard, I’m no exception, we tend to be introverts so talking about myself is always a challenge. I’ve found that I don’t mind discussing my characters or story though, it makes my day when someone talks to me about what they’ve read and start telling me their theories of what will happen later in the series. Then I find not giving away spoilers with my expressions really difficult!

Me – What is your perfect writing environment.

Kay – There has to be a cup of tea. Though that’s true for most things I do… I generally write from my office when I’m on my own, I prefer quiet and a good chunk of time so I can get into a flow. I especially like taking a week off work so I can just attach myself to the keyboard and let myself run away into the story, even with a full day to write I can sometimes still be there at 1am if I’m really feeling it.

Me – Do you have a process you follow when writing a book?

Kay – I plan well, and I really enjoy it. I use Evernote for keeping everything on track (including my life) I have character bios, maps, timelines, outlines and random ideas I may use at some point. I write out everything I want to happen during the whole book, shift it around if I need to, then bullet point each individual plot point. I like to leave my chapters with a hook into the next one so I decide where each chapter will end and have a loose idea of what will happen in it- even if it’s just a sentence or two.

I also have a list of things I want to develop in each character and ideas for dialogue or points that don’t need to happen at specific times so that I can fit them in wherever they feel right as I write. I never cling too tightly to anything I’ve plotted though, I end up revising my chapter placements a lot as I get into the story and have even changed huge chunks of original material when I’ve found something that will work better.

Me – Would you rather be critically successful or financially successful?

Kay – Financial success would be wasted on me, I’d still mooch around in a hoodie and jeans, still hate wearing jewellery and I wouldn’t be able to tell you the difference between an expensive car or a rubbish one! If I had enough to live comfortably on and spoil my husband now and again it would be enough for me. I remember a while ago before I was anywhere close to finishing Heirs of Power I heard something being described as ‘critically acclaimed’ and thinking, ‘one day my work’s going to be critically acclaimed.’

Me – If you could pick 1 celebrity to read your book and give an opinion on it, who would it be?

Kay – I don’t really…celebrity. I’m terrible at knowing who people are or what they are famous for. There are a few bands and actors I like but I’ve never been into celebrity culture. I think I’d have to say Peter Jackson then, if he likes it he can promise me that he won’t let the film adaptation be disappointing!

Me – Do you find it easy to avoid being distracted when you sit down to write?

Kay – I have good days and bad days. There have been days that I started in the morning, forgot to eat lunch and realised I’m supposed to be going out that evening and have an hour to get ready. Then there are the times when I just wonder what my word count is and then what that makes my average chapter length, or what my sales look like today, or I get side-tracked into researching new ways to say things or describe a colour.

The main thing that never fails to take my attention is my cat, he’s too adorable to ignore and he usually ends up laid across my left arm or shoulder while I work. It slows down my typing but I always feel better with him helping out.

Me – If you have published already, what has been the most successful technique/site/opportunity for you in terms of getting either exposure or sales?

Kay – Goodreads, for sure. It has such a wealth of opportunities and information for writers of all kinds. I’ve made some great friends on there, gotten reviews, done giveaways, promoted my events, even gotten interviews 😉

The groups on the site have been so helpful to me, there are some really amazing people on there, with much more knowledge and experience than me. Even a lot of the things I’ve done outside of Goodreads is because I learnt how to do them on there. I highly recommend it, for readers and bloggers too, come and say hi to me when you get on!

Me – Last but not least, and something a little fun, what is your favourite animal, and why?

Kay – I adore most animals, so I’m going to cheat and say my favourite domesticated animal is my tuxedo cat, Kai. He’s the cutest little thing ever, he’s four but I think he’ll be like a kitten forever, he’s so small with huge eyes and a bigger personality.

My favourite wild animal is a cheetah. They are perfection. Such beautiful and immaculately designed creatures, I love their sleek look, their incredible sprint and their fluffy babies.

If you’d like to know more about Kay, just follow the links below.

http://kaymacleodbooks.com/

Goodreads

Amazon Author Page

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Heirs of Power

After stumbling upon an otherworldly ritual, Kitty Fairlow discovers that her own incredible hunting skills are not merely due to a lifetime of training. She has been gifted powers from an ancient spirit, passed down by her father. She is a Constellation.
And she’s not the only one.
A new generation of heroes have each inherited unique abilities in order to prevent the corruption of their world by the Tenebri, a race that thrives on life energy. Kitty, along with a high-born dancer and a snarky juggler, must find their allies before the Tenebri army picks them off.
With the powerful enemy emerging, can the Constellations gather in time to put an end to the threat for good, or will their foe succeed and wreak the same destruction they have unleashed on their own world?

If you like this you can buy the book at Amazon

 

 

It’s coming – April 1st is the day

Okay everyone, this s**t is getting real; I have an awesome cover, some fabulous bookmarks (who doesn’t like a good bookmark) and I’m halfway through the editing. It’s time to announce the release date for my next novel, and that date is

April 1st

Written In Blood is not a part of my Inspector Stone series, book 2 of which will be coming later in the year, but it is set in a village a little outside of Branton, where Inspector Stone works, and the sequel, A Bloody Rewrite (a little play on words for my writer friends) will feature characters from the series, and maybe even Inspector Stone himself, you’ll have to wait and see.

Here for your enjoyment is the cover and blurb for my upcoming release –

A peaceful village torn apart by murder.

In the small, close-knit village of Oakhurst, residents aren’t willing to believe that one of their own might be a brutal killer.

So when young women begin to die – their bodies found with accusatory words carved onto their skin – suspicion falls on the newcomer to the village. Charming Zack Wild, author of violent crime novels and possessor of a dark history, seems like a perfect suspect.

As they investigate, Sergeant Mitchell and Constable Turner are increasingly unwilling to believe that someone they know could be responsible for such heinous crimes. But will this affect their judgement, allowing the real killer to escape?

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You will be able to pre-order Written In Blood from March, and the book will then be available from April 1st.

An interview with Groovy Lee

Today I have Groovy Lee on ARCBookblog, a lady who gives me TV envy, because my big screen clearly isn’t big enough. Before I get too upset about that, here’s Groovy to tell us all a bit about herself.

I was born in the deep south where the number four has two syllables. I somehow did not acquire that distinct Southern accent, but I am accustomed to expressions of “Yall”, “Ain’t”, and when I’m really mad–“Ain’t gonna!”.

I’m also addicted to bottled tea and cooking shows; I crochet and collect crystal. My best friend and Queen is my daughter who gets a foot massage from me after a long day:)

My most favorite time of the year is tennis season. When the French Open, Wimbledon, and The US Open are airing, you can look for me, but you won’t find me. Unless you know where my 53″ television set is. Even then approach me with all the care you would a Grizzly–exactly, you wouldn’t! My daughter is prohibited from communicating with me unless it’s a code 10 emergency; And even then I’ll direct her to the neighbor for help–just kidding, she knows how to dial 911

I write Romantic/Suspense, Suspense, and wholesome, passionate Romances that deal with matters of the heart. No sexually graphic stories or one night stands. I write about love, not lust. If my stories bring a smile to just one person’s heart, then I’ve done my job. That’s what it’s all about.

One of my books, Cause She’s A Good Girl, was featured on a popular Nashville Morning Show, Talk of The Town, and given a highly recommended by BookWoman. I’m still smiling at that:)

Thanks to all of you who have added me to their list of authors they are fans of. I’m so honored! And I love when people friend me:) I’m not a big fan of Facebook or Twitter, but I invite you all to email me with your suggestions or questions.

You can contact me here on Goodreads or atreyhu@att.net.

Thank you for your time and Good Reading!

http://www.groovylee.com/

Now that we have the bio portion of this interview out of the way, it’s time for the questions.

Me – Is writing a full-time occupation, or do you have a job that keeps you from it?

Groovy – I’m so blessed to be able to write full-time.

Me – What aspect of publishing do you find the easiest?

Groovy – Pushing that button that turns your manuscript into a bona-fide book. Everything else is hard work, but a joy.

Me – What do you find the most difficult?

Groovy – I’m sure I’m giving the same answer as everyone else, but it’s the promoting part I find the hardest. I’m an introvert. Selling my work or me as an author is not easy. I wish there was a red button to push where all of your fans were waiting. Wishful thinking—right?

Me – What is your perfect writing environment.

Groovy – When I’m beginning a story on paper, it’s upstairs on my bed while Perry Mason is on TV; when it’s time to work in front of my computer, it’s when no one is home and there’s quiet.

Me – Do you have a process you follow when writing a book?

Groovy – Not really. I just write down what my characters tell me to.

Me – Would you rather be critically successful or financially successful?

Groovy – That’s a good question. I think critically successful. I want the whole world to love reading my books. The financial success will come automatically when they purchase them.

Me – If you could pick 1 celebrity to read your book and give an opinion on it, who would it be?

Groovy – At first it was Prince. But now that he’s no longer with us, it’s Oprah. Because if she likes it, so will her millions of followers.

Me – Do you find it easy to avoid being distracted when you sit down to write?

Groovy – It depends on what stage of writing I’m in. If it’s the beginning stage, no; but if I’m trying to edit, yes. I need quiet to get the flow of the story and make sure the scenes are coming together.

Me – If you have published already, what has been the most successful technique/site/opportunity for you in terms of getting either exposure or sales?

Groovy – So far for me, it’s Goodreads. I’m active on a lot of forums, and my books get a lot of exposure there.

Me – Last but not least, and something a little fun, what is your favourite animal, and why?

Groovy – Let’s see—Dogs are extremely smart and loyal; horses are THE most beautiful animals; there’s a Hawk that flies around my house, and he’s absolutely breath-taking; Animal Kingdom is one of my favorite shows. Each species come in all sorts of colors and sizes, so I can’t pick a favorite, sorry.

If you’d like to know more about Groovy you can check out the following links

Website

Goodreads

Facebook

Amazon Author Page

A Body Resurrected

Sixteen year-old Mira is an Egyptian girl who lives a quiet life in her small village in Lower Egypt 3303 B.C.E. But two visitors from the planet Aut are about to change that. The first “flying metal” that whips across the sky carries a murderous plague by the name of Demen. The second one that follows, brings a bounty-hunter named Weir. Against her father’s wishes, Mira becomes Weir’s accomplice in his mission to apprehend Demen before another woman dies by his hands.

But there’s a problem: Demen is now a powerful Pharaoh in the city of Sharkura. Will apprehending him cost Weir and Mira their lives?
Almay, California, USA, twenty-first century:

Tina Leggs oversees the artifacts and exhibits of the Graham-Arlee museum. She has no idea that the mummy exhibit that’s drawing huge crowds, is the same Demen that her ancestor, Mira, bravely faced centuries ago.

Demen is no longer a powerful Pharaoh. Now, he’s nothing more than a museum exhibit since he was discovered in the Valley of the Kings. But a rare occurrence will give him life once more. And his desire to kill the misery known as woman is as strong as ever.

Enter Q, a second bounty-hunter sent from Aut to capture him. Like Mira, Tina has been cast into the role of ally to this handsome visitor. Amid the destruction Demen is causing, and the risk to their lives to stop him, they realize their deep love for one another.

But, will she leave her family on Earth for the sake of that love?

Amazon

 

An Interview With Louann Carroll

Joining me today on ARCBookblog is Louann Carroll, an interesting lady with several books to her name who has agreed to answer some questions so we can all get to know her a little better. First though, here is what Louann says about herself.

Louann Carroll is a Native Californian living in the Sierra Nevada foothills with her husband, Dennis.

Mother to three children, she is an avid rock, fossil, and gem hunter who enjoys sharing her finds with family and friends. She is a student of alternative religion, archaeology, anthropology, and paleontology.

After leaving her position as C.E.O. in the Bay Area, she has pursued her writing career with much success. Winner of the 2010 Crescent Moon Press award for best novel, she has gone on to write radio talk shows and articles on adoption.

She is the author of the Gemini series including Gemini Rising, The Light and the Flame (coming soon) A Shadow of Time, a paranormal romance, Shadowlands, a prequel, Journeys, The Adventure of Leaf, and numerous children’s stories.

You can reach Ms. Carroll at:

Twitter

Facebook

Email – carroll.louann@yahoo.com

Website

Amazon

Goodreads

And now it’s time for the questions, I hope you like what Louann has to say

Me – Is writing a full-time occupation, or do you have a job that keeps you from it?

Louann – Writing is always a full time occupation. I have a day job, but writing is always on my mind. Every spare moment I have I either work on a blog or an article or a manuscript. If I’m not working on my writing, I am filled with guilt because there is so much I have to say. Of course, that is not to say everyone wants to hear what I have to say. It is just that I am driven to say it regardless. I am sure I drive my family and friends nuts

Me – What aspect of publishing do you find the easiest?

Louann – Writing is the easiest. I love to write. Stuff flows from my fingertips. I also like the sound of the keyboard when I type. It is like music to me.

Me – What do you find the most difficult?

Louann – Marketing, editing, anything that resembles work. Writing is not work to me. It’s the stuff that goes with it.

Me – What is your perfect writing environment.

Louann – I can write with stuff happening in the background but I prefer quiet. I can get lost in my thoughts and I like it there.

Me – Do you have a process you follow when writing a book?

Louann – My life would be so much easier if I had a process. My muse lets me see into the next chapter but that’s it. I am also a social journalist for Blasting News. When I get upset and need to vent they let me do some commentary. My blog is like that too, but fiction? I have to wait and the wait kills me. I even had a temper tantrum and refused to write. It didn’t do me any good. I just felt guilty and had to wait for the muse to take me where it willed.

Me – Would you rather be critically successful or financially successful?

Louann – I really don’t care about being critically successful so I guess financially successful. My goal is to give people what I call mind candy, a place to get away from the real world for a little while. If I can do that I consider myself successful.

Me – If you could pick 1 celebrity to read your book and give an opinion on it, who would it be?

Louann – Anne Rice. She let me post A Shadow of Time on her website and I nearly died.

Me – Do you find it easy to avoid being distracted when you sit down to write?

Louann – I find it easy, my husband not so much. He thinks I am ignoring him.

Me – If you have published already, what has been the most successful technique/site/opportunity for you in terms of getting either exposure or sales?

Louann – Making connections with other writers, authors and readers-networking so-to-speak. Also, Twitter has been great. I also belong to Triberr which is a blog platform where we tweet our blogs for each other. Right now I have a reach of over 500,000 people by using Triberr. I really recommend it. Just go to triberr.com and you can pick the groups that fit your genre, start blogging and you are off and running.

Me – Last but not least, and something a little fun, what is your favourite animal, and why?

Louann – My little Agatha. She’s a purebred Fox Terrier who was rescued from a puppy mill. She’d lived in a cage for 7 years and had little human contact except when breeding. It was like her eyes met mine and we both fell in love. Because she lived in a cage, when she gets happy she walks in circles the exact dimension of her kennel. Even though I’ve had her 2 years now, she still runs in circles when she’s happy. Omg she is so cute.

Innocent Blood

They call him the Pope on Dope.

Danny Fisk has a secret no one outside his family would believe.

Danny sees things others can’t: like ghosts and the future. In his teens, he used drugs to escape his gifts, but with help from his family, Danny cleaned up his life. For fifteen years, he lived the American Dream. He had a loving wife, kids, a great job, and proud parents.

That ended when renewed pressure from his abilities drove him back to drug abuse. Now, Danny’s on a mission to save as many as he can from the streets that would destroy them all.

Pursued by corrupt cops, drug cartels and his own inner demons, Danny must find a way to survive his gifts. If not, he’ll continue a downward spiral that could cost him the lives of those he’s trying to save.

As well as his own.

If you like the sound of this, you can buy it on Amazon