Kirstin Battestella

Good Morning.
Its freezing today, but my virtual lounge is warm, thanks to the company of the lovely Kirstin Battestella. She's here today to kick start the christmas month with her new vampy book. AND for a Christmas treat I will give a present for the best comment.


Hi Kirstin. I hear you have another fabbo book out. So spill the beans about it. I can't wait.

Hi Margaret. When we last spoke in the summer, my new series with Muse It Up Fate and Fangs: Tales from the Vampire Family was just beginning with Love: Ann and the Viking. We’re all the way up to Book 5 now in the collection hosted by Professor James. Lust: James at the Sundowner is out this month! After all the Punishment with Lilith, Struggle with Elizabeth, and Debauchery from Victoria, it is going to be nice to let some of the men of The Vampire Family have the speakeasy spotlight. Here’s our Blurb from Muse It Up:
The Sundowner offers steamy Welshire vampires Jessica, Pamela, and Slava for underground vampire sex and biting fetishes in this mid-century tale from Professor James. Victoria’s twin brother James, however, is content with his gig as piano player at the club owned by their brother Stephen. James’ own love Catrina is the alluring singer at The Sundowner, but can he keep his longtime vampire companion away from the tempting, exciting young clientele?
I really love the juicy mix of vampires and dark underbelly amid the fifties timescape. We often think 1955 was so ideal and happy and Leave It to Beaver with the wives at home in pearls and big skirts making meatloaf with 2.5 kids and a dog. But obviously, such is not the life for The Vampire Family. Much as James might not like the system, he’s still deeply entrenched in the bloody excess and hidden desires of middle America.

Why don't you pick your favourite character and tell us about them.


I must say, I do have a soft spot for Lust’s main player James, dating all the way back to the original composition of The Vampire Family novel, which is now on kindle with Eternal Press. I think he might steal a few hearts with his mellow piano player mentality. He is a vampire, doing what he has to do, but he doesn’t believe in the blood and gluttony- an ideology that is dividing James from his lady vamp Catrina. Really, after a few hundred centuries, there were bound to be a few bumps in the road! It’s strangely weird yet appropriate that Lust: James at the Sundowner ended up as our December Fate and Fangs release. Yes, it is some vampy innuendo kinky speakeasy for Christmas, not your typical Yule. But the melancholy here reminds me of all the unhappy winter depressions that people feel during the holidays when they are alone. I also particularly love all the pouty and moon themed musical material in James repertoire. Again, we don’t often think of bloodthirsty fangness with those tinny type swing nickelodeon sounds. All the layers just add up to a lot of festering brooding and eternally hidden torment. It just makes James so sensitive and juicy. It is so easy to love him and love to hate his wicked twin Victoria! Here’s an excerpt to tease you!

" Unfortunately, after five centuries or so, the comfortable vampire enchantment can, in fact, wane. Sometimes I think Catrina is longing for something more-just like her fooled admirers. I enjoy my music. I have to occupy myself with some post-war Goodman ‘Moonglow’ and Miller ‘Serenade in Blue’ in order to control my Welshire urges. These dark gifts cannot and shall not rule me. I will not succumb to animal anarchy the way Stephen does. For myself, I am content in my respectable role here until the next war comes calling. Can I admit to myself that I know Catrina is not content? How could she be? My voluptuous love has the predatory power of the wolf and all her fun feline charm. I enjoy watching her exude the dark magic allure as I play the music for her. Her exotic and spooky look brings the silver screen to life-curly black hair and white skin stamped with a perfectly deadly pout of red lips. I love her, I always have. I could not bring the vampiric gifts to anyone I did not love. I expected to spend the rest of my unnatural life with her. Although I don’t doubt Catrina loves me and will always have a space for me in her black heart still; deep down I know she intends to leave me for new vampire lusts. ...."


It sounds great. I'm sure it'll do very well. As this is a site that helps other authors, what's the best marketing advice you can offer.

I’ve been asked this a lot recently and have even done several seminars and panels with the New Jersey Authors Network discussing marketing and publishing trends. I do really love meeting new authors and aspiring writers and helping give them the lift they need, that extra push of hope, confidence, or information that pushes them to personal accomplishment or publication glory. Really, half of marketing is just having the confidence to put you and your work out there. There are so many options in publishing today that there is no reason for hesitancy. However, it worries me more that it seems marketing is beginning to take over the literature. A bad book with phenomenal right place right time and solid backing can be a blockbuster, where a quite quality book will go unnoticed if left to speak for itself. Its weird that we have to know and love an author and see their every goofy gaming and photos on facebook and twitter in order to make a decision on buying his or her book. We complain when we watch a crappy movie that is just a actor playing himself or is larger than life celebrity for no reason and makes run of the mill popcorn entertainment. Yet we want to turn our literature into the same gimmicky moneymakers. Open your mind, open your pen, let the juices flow. Make the best work possible, research your publication options, craft and polish to perfection with editors and revision. I think the best marketing advice is too make a damn fine book that is going to be a solid piece of literature- whether it ends up having sensational hullaballoo or not. Does that make sense or am I being to idealistic or pessimistic? Just because you can churn out something cheesy, slap on the bells and whistles, and tack on smart celebration campaign does not make it good marketing advice, you know.

So whats on your writing agenda for next year?

Up next is more Fate and Fangs! We still have two more Tales coming from the Muse in 2012. Humanity and Resurrection bring The Welshire vampires back into contemporary times after all of the historical escapades we’ve had thus far. Both of these lead towards to next full length novels I’m editing now. I still like the titles Requiem or The Vampire Family Forever, though I’m not sure. I have such trouble with titles!

Before you go, where can your followers find you

Everywhere overnight in the darkest depths of the internet!
http://vampfam.blogspot.com
http://jsnouff.com/kristin
http://kristin724.livejournal.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Vampire-Family/157922293588
http://www.myspace.com/kristinbattestella
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kristinbattestella/
http://www.facebook.com/kristin.battestella

Thank you so much Margaret for having us visit again!

Its a pleasure to have you kirstin. Have a wonderful Christmas and new year. xx

Welcome to Chris Lindberg

Good Morning Everyone

Today in my vitual lounge I have the fabulous Chris Lindberg. He was born and raised outside Chicago, Illinois. After graduating from Northern Illinois University in the mid-1990s, he headed out to the west coast for a couple of years, where he began writing as a casual pastime.
Some time after returning to Chicago he began attending writers workshops at StoryStudio Chicago, where he wrote two character studies, both of which have since been developed into key characters in Code of Darkness.
Chris now lives outside Chicago with his wife Jenny and their two children, Luke and Emma. Keep yopur eyes pealed, because you just might catch him working away on his second novel while commuting on his morning train into the city.



Hi Chris, a little birdie tells me that you have a book hot off the press. Can you tell us a bit more about it?

Morning Margaret. It's nice to be here in your virtual lounge.
Code of Darkness is my first novel. It’s a dark thriller that also has elements of sci-fi and even a little horror. It centers around a mysterious vigilante only known as Rage, and Larry Parker, the Chicago Police officer who is hot on his tail. When Rage’s past catches up with him, a covert Black Ops division within the Pentagon is dispatched to find Rage, and eliminate Parker, who is seen as knowing too much. The deadly chase takes them cross-country to a top-secret military facility, where the greatest danger of all awaits.

That sounds like a brillient first book. So what’s next on your writing agenda?

I’m bouncing back and forth between two projects: a coming-of-age space opera, and an apocalyptic thriller. But I’m getting some welcome feedback from readers that I should be doing a sequel to Code of Darkness, so I suppose I’d better get working on that, too.

Ah yes, it's always wise to listen to your readers. Just for fun, pick your favourite character from your new release and tell us about them.

This is probably like choosing a favorite child, but I’ll do it anyway. One of the two main characters in Code of Darkness is a vigilante named Rage. I honestly can’t remember what inspired me to choose that name, but over time I found that it fit the character better than any other name I could’ve given him. Rage is a loner, an outsider who doesn’t know much about his mysterious past until it catches up with him. He’s the archetypical anti-hero: he doesn’t want to be a hero, but he ends up being one despite his best efforts not to. I chose to write about him because I always enjoyed stories about darker, misunderstood figures who in the end wound up being forces for good: you probably shouldn’t have been rooting for them, but you found yourself doing it anyway, and in the end you wound up being happy that you did.

When your charatcers get under your skin that much, you know they are good lol I know your new to the writing industry, but have you aquired any marketing advice that you can share today?

Be persistent. When you publish your own book it seems like the system is designed to make you fail. Even with e-books and Amazon, the barriers are still high. Keep at it, be shameless for a year and ask people for help. I’m still working at it, but if I’m lucky enough to make the big leagues in this industry, I’m going to remember who helped me out along the way, and make it a point to help others myself.

Thats a nice thought chris. I'll hold you to that lol We all love to hear a romance story, so where did you meet your partner?

On a beach in Mexico. No kidding. It was at a company retreat; we worked at the same company but had never met. We took one walk on the beach and I knew she was who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. Fifteen years and two kids later, we’re still together.

Aw, I can feel my readers turning to mush already lol Before you dash off, Where can your followers stalk...ahem... I mean, find you?

You can find me HERE and on Facebook by searching “code of darkness”. I also have a Twitter handle, Chrislindberg7. You can also email me at chris (at)codeofdarkness (dot)com – I’d love to hear from you!

Click here to buy Code of Darkness

Sneak peak.



When a routine bank robbery takes an unexpected turn, veteran Chicago police officer Larry Parker witnesses a heroic act by a mysterious intervener. But seconds later the Samaritan disappears, leaving Larry only with unanswered questions.

Suddenly, vigilante activity begins popping up all over the city – including several murders. Larry begins to gather the missing pieces of the puzzle, and finds evidence the Samaritan might be tied to them. When he learns the man’s identity – a loner known only by the name Rage – he prepares to move in for the arrest.
But there is much more to Rage than meets the eye: the case has also drawn the attention of a covert Black Ops division within the Pentagon. Their mission: find Rage, while keeping their operation out of the public eye. Seen as knowing too much, Larry suddenly finds himself in the crosshairs as well. After a deadly standoff, Rage is captured, forcing Larry to search for answers while on the run.
The deadly chase leads cross-country to a top-secret military facility in Virginia, where Rage and Larry uncover the greatest danger of all -- and only they can stop the unthinkable from happening.

Welcome Jane Richardson

Today I have the lovely Jane Richardson in my virtual lounge and we are eating a nice continental breakfast while we book talk. Before we start, here is a bit about her.

Scots-born Jane Richardson now resides in a historic seaside town on the south coast of England. After a couple of super careers, the last of which was her dream job of working as a DSM in professional theatre and opera – where she met her gorgeous husband! - she’s now an incredibly busy, home-educating stay-at-home mum to two gorgeous kids. When she gets the chance, she loves to write, read, listen to music, walk in the sunshine and the breeze, paddle at the edge of the sea, cook and share food with family and friends, talk, chat and listen, catnap, write and read some more. She’s also very fond of lemurs!

Morning Jane. I hear that you have a book hot off the press. Can you tell us a bit about it?

Hi Margaret! Yes, that’s right, I have a story called Edinburgh Fog which has been released in e-formats by MuseItUp Publishing.

The central character is Greg Morton, a real grafter who’s worked hard to achieve his dream of running the best bar-bistro in Edinburgh, a fabulous place called Tellers’, which is housed in a former bank one of those beautiful old Georgian buildings you see all over Edinburgh. Sure, Greg’s been successful in business, but he’s sacrificed a lot for it over the years, not least a relationship he once had in London with the beautiful Julia Brady. When Julia appears out of the blue one day in Tellers’, Greg knows this is one and only chance to win her back….but someone else has his sights on Julia now. Greg’s going to have to work fast, or lose Julia a second time, for good.

The story means a lot to me because I lived in Edinburgh for many years and I have such fond memories of the place – the settings, the characters and Tellers’ Bar-Bistro itself are all based on people and places I knew there. There’s something very magical about Edinburgh, and I do think it’s just the sort of place a story like this one about Greg and Julia could happen.

It is my belief that when a book touches an authors heart, that's what goes into it. This novel is special, I'm sure it will do well. I know an editor at Museitup Publishing. It' got to be a great publishing house if she works there lol So what’s next on your writing agenda?

I’m revising a previously published novel and I’m still deciding what I’m going to do with it! The idea of self-publishing intrigues me, and it seems far simpler for authors to do it now than it was even just a few years ago. The quality of self-publishing has improved every which way, I think it’s a real, viable option for authors. Having said that, I’m thrilled with the publisher I’m with now, and particularly with the editor I worked with there, and I wouldn’t have that input on a self-published basis. So, there are lots of big decisions for authors these days!
Other than the revised book, I’m working on another story set in Edinburgh Fog’s Tellers’ Bar. One of the secondary characters from that story is getting her own story, and I’m loving it enormously.

Once that’s done, I’m returning to another project I’ve had on the back-burner for a while, a story set in two time periods in the same place, Sussex, in the present day and in WWII. The seed of this story planted itself when I was living in a beautiful rural cottage on the Sussex coast. One summer, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flew right over the cottage on its way to a local air show – a Lancaster, a Hurricane and of course the iconic Spitfire plane. Later that same night I watched the Spitfire do a solo exhibition flight over the coast, and of course, I began to think of all the women who’d stood maybe right where I was standing then, watching their men fly into battle and wondering if they’d come home safe. The story began there and then – and of course, with my love of contemporary fiction, I wanted to tie one woman’s WWII story in with the present day too. It’s a big project for me, and I just hope I can do it justice.

I think self publishing is really picking up speed nowadays. A lot of authors seem to be going that route. Anyway, I digress lol Pick your favourite character from your new release and tell us about them.

You know, I love every single character in Edinburgh Fog, so I really can’t pick just one of them – so if I may, can I pick Edinburgh itself? It’s the most beautiful city. Steeped in history, as you know, the very stones seem to resonate with all the souls that have gone before. In different parts of the town, you can imagine so many different parts of history – Scotland under the reign of the ancient kings, or the cradle of science, philosophy and learning during the age of enlightenment in the 18th century. You can see the run down, impoverished parts of the city on one side and the elegant, genteel Georgian buildings on the other, with all their contrasts. The Edinburgh of today, the Edinburgh I spent a long time in, is still vibrant, a centre of commerce, finance, art, theatre and music – it’s a wonderful place. Above all, it’s the people and their wonderful, wry sense of humour that I absolutely adore – and I like to think they’ve always been that way, right through history.

Being an author isn't easy, especially if you are just starting out. What is the best marketing advice you can offer?

Getting to know other writers and helping them as much as you can will also help you. It’s a two-way street. I’m a great believer in the expression, ‘ candle loses none of its light when it’s used to light another,’ so never be afraid to use your time and space to showcase other talents. You will all benefit!

I so agree with that Jane. If authors just spend a few minutes helping each other along this rocky path,everything can be gained by it. I spend a lot of time helping where I can and I've met some wonderful people because of that.
Here's where we get upfront and personal lol We love a good story here, so tell us where you met your partner?

Ah! Well, both my partner and I have background in the theatre, but in different places. I was working freelance for a number of local theatres in Sussex, and was spending some time working on a charity production in a theatre in Brighton. He was literally between jobs at the time – he’d just left a position in one of the biggest theatres in London and had just a week before he was due to take up another post at a new and very exciting theatre also in the city. He was staying with friends in Sussex and came along to help out on the charity production, and that’s how we met. If we hadn’t both had the week in the same place, I guess we wouldn’t ever have met each other. We got married a few years later and held out wedding reception in – yes, you’ve guessed it – the same theatre in which we met! So I think that/s maybe what you’d call a romance story!

I'd call that synchronicity lol Before you eat and run, where can any followers find you?

You can catch me at my blog, Home Is Where The Heart Is, and I’m always happy to hear from readers by e-mail at jane (at)janerichardson(dot)co.uk I’m on Twitter too, where you find me as @Gimmeahugyou.
Edinburgh Fog is available in all e-formats from MuseItUp Publishing.

Thanks for popping by Jane.

COMPETITION GUIDELINES

Elizabeth Newman is the Octagon Theatre Bolton's Associate Director. As well as directing productions she also runs the Theatre's new writing department. She has worked as a casting director for theatre and television and has been a lecturer and senior lecturer at various HE and FE facilities across the country.

Elizabeth Newman, Head of the New Writing department at the Octagon Theatre and she is in search of authors of all genres, with some exclusions that I will be putting in the competition guidelines. She is launching a competition to find three novelists who would be interested in coming to the Octagon to learn more about adapting their writing for the stage. This competition has been inspired by her working with little ole me. I have already been picked to join the chosen three at the Octagon in December 2011. So I look forwards to meeting the lucky winners.

Ms Newman is currently leading a team of eight playwrights to adapt Frank L Baum's classic novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, for the Octagon audience which will open on the 19th November 2011.

The competition will open on Food for thought Thursday, 20th of October 2011. You will be able to post your submissions on the Author promoting Authors comments section. You will also be given a chance to post on the 27th October on the Thursday Food for Thought day.


Winners will be announced on Thursday 10th of November 2011 on my blog and the APA site.

The UK winners will not only attend the day workshop at the theatre, with playwrights who adapted The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, but they are also invited to see the show in the evening. How spectacular is that!! One international winner will have skype session with Elizabeth about their novel.

PLEASE NOTE. Winners are responsible for their own travel arrangements to the Octogan on the day.




THE GUIDELINES ARE AS FOLLOWS.

You need to be a follower of this blog and the APA. You will need to keep up with any updates.

Ms Newman is looking for all genres.
Exclusions are Erotica and Gay/Lesbian fiction, Horror, stories containing rape and child violence.

I must stress these are the Theatres guidelines, NOT mine. Competitions exclude genres all the time. Because of the volume of emails that I am receiving about this competition, please do not contact me complaining about the exclusions. There are many competitions out there. Find one that fits your genre.



RULES.

In NO more than 100 words write a short biography about yourself and why you would like to adapt your novel for the stage.

In NO more than 200 words write a synopsis of the novel you wish to adapt.

Please Include your publishers name and your email with your synopsis.

Open for submissions 20th/27th October 2011


Because of the volume of participants expected, any submissions that do not meet these guidelines will be immediately disqualified.

Please note.
IF YOU CONTACT MS NEWMAN OR THE OCTOGAN THEATRE VIA ANY SOCIAL NETWORKS, PHONE OR EMAIL, BEFORE THE COMPETITION END, YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMPETITION SHOULD BE SOLELY THROUGH MARGARET WEST VIA EMAIL.

Welcome to Kristie Cook

Its a sunny morning and I'm pleased to have kiristie in my lounge today. Before we start on the book talk, here is a bit about her.


Kristie Cook is a lifelong, award-winning writer in various genres, from marketing communications to fantasy fiction. She continues to write the Soul Savers Series, with the first two books, Promise and Purpose, available now and the third book, Devotion, coming February 2012. She’s also written a companion novella, Genesis, coming October 2011.
Besides writing, she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and riding on the back of a motorcycle. She has lived in ten states, but currently calls Southwest Florida home with her husband, three teenage sons, a beagle and a puggle. She can be found at:

Author's Website & Blog:
Series Website:
Facebook:
Twitter:
Tumbler:
Google+:


Good Morning everyone. I'm so happy to be here today.
Many readers of the Soul Savers Series ask me who my favorite character is. If you have children, you understand how absolutely impossible this is to answer. I love all my characters as if they’re my own children. They kind of are, considering I created them and put almost as much blood, sweat and tears as I have into my real-life children. Okay, not quite, but sometimes it feels like it. Like real-life people, I love them for different reasons.

Alexis – The main series tells Alexis’s story from her point of view, so she and I share minds most of the time. I’m closer to her than anyone else. She’s like the daughter I never had and I love her to death. She can be strong but she has her insecurities, especially in the beginning of the series – Promise – because she’s young and learning her way. By the end of the series, she’ll become one of the strongest women you’ve ever met.

Tristan – Oh, how I adore Tristan, Alexis’s soul mate. He’s (almost) everything I love in a man, including super-hot-and-sexy. He has issues, as they all do, that sometimes scare me, but most of the time just make me want to hold him and tell him everything will be okay. I think you’ll want to do the same and stroke his hair (or chest) while doing so.

Sophia – Alexis’s mother has such an interesting background that I can’t help but love who she is. Little of that has come out in the books so far, but you can see what her background has resulted in: a strong, no-nonsense woman who has to carefully balance her love for her daughter and her responsibilities as the next leader of their secret society.

Owen – Everybody loves Owen. He’s tough but sweet, cute, funny and just all around great. Unfortunately, life takes a difficult turn for Owen in upcoming books and I’m worried about how he’ll handle it all. You just want everything to be right for him.

Dorian – We don’t get to see much of him in the first two books, but he’s an awesome kid who readers are falling in love with. His role grows as the series progresses and, sadly, it’s not all good for him either.

Cassandra – Now we move into my upcoming release, Genesis: A Soul Savers Novella, which is a prequel to Alexis’s story. Cassandra, one of the main characters, is independent, strong, kind, caring and trusting to a fault. She lives in a time of constant war, which she hates, but she never stops seeing the good in everyone. Unfortunately, that’s her downfall.

Jordan – The other main character in Genesis, Jordan is the ultimate bad boy, but I still can’t help but love him. He’s hot and he knows it – arrogant, self-serving, often cruel. If you like Eric Northman (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood), Damon (The Vampire Diaries) or Jericho Barrons (the Fever series), you might like Jordan.

These are only the primary characters. I could go on and on about the rest, but suffice it to say, I love them all and hope you will, too.


Thanks for sharing kristie. Good luck with all your books.

All things spooky

I’ve had a few emails from readers to say that my latest release Abigail Cottage is too real and is freaking people out lol I take this as a compliment. I base all my books loosely on my experience as a medium and the interactions I have with the other side of life.
I have a question for you. What would you say, apart from, OMG, or arghhhhhh, to a spirit person if they were standing in your lounge. What is your burning question??
If it's a good one you will win a pressie from me :-)

Abigail Cottage is pure fiction. It speaks of shadows and all who dwells in them. Let’s face it, our greatest fears live in the shadows of our minds. In Abigail Cottage, evil dwells in the shadows. Entities live in them, watching and waiting for an unsuspecting mortal person to fall under their spell. But always with darkness, comes light. In the light dwells all things good. A problem arrives when you have one foot in each. Read Abigail cottage and find out why you really shouldn’t have a foot in each side of life. It won’t end well …..mwahhh.
On the flip side of the spirit world comes Spirit Intervention. Just because your parent dies it doesn’t mean they have gone for good. It just means they have gone from your sight. Except for those who can see the dead of course. AKA Me!! Seriously, I can.

Spirit Intervention is a light hearted romance, with complications. The complication being a certain mother who refuses to stop interfering in her daughter’s life even after death. BUT..and this is a true fact... there are spiritual laws, and they are set in place for a purpose. If a spirit person alters the life of a mortal, it means they are interfering in a life plan. So when this mother decides her daughter’s boyfriend isn’t up to standard and separates them, the children who are supposed to be born to them now can’t be. What a disaster. Can it be rectified? You’ll have to read the book and find out.

Ami Blackwelder

Good morning everyone and do I have a treat for you today. Not only is Paranormal and SciFi Author Ami Blackwelder here with me today, we are also giving away a fabbo prize to someone who comments.

She has two New releases out soon and let me tell you, these are not to be missed. Do you want to know more about her books? Go here.

The Invasion of 2020, the first book in the Shifter Evolutions series is scheduled to be released Sept 1st 2011, (Books 1-5 are out now)
The Invasion of 2020 is the prequel to Shifters of 2040. The Shifter Evolutions begins with the middle book, The Shifters of 2040, and gives the reader the choice for the past or future.

This release of the first book in the series, The Invasion of 2020, will allow readers to engage the series chronologically as well.
Readers will enjoying finding out more about Uri Petrov and Dr. Samantha Croon as they discover what exactly brought the shifters to Earth and what sparked human fears. Who was the young Marn and young Raul and what molded them into who they became?

Ami Blackwelder is a forbidden romance writer in the paranormal and historical romance genre. Growing up in Florida, she went to UCf and in 1997 received her BA in English and teaching credentials. She travelled overseas to teach in Thailand, Nepal, Tibet, China and Korea. Thailand is considered her second home now. She has always loved writing and wrote poems and short stores since childhood; however, her novels began when she was in Thailand.

Having won the Best Fiction Award from the University of Central Florida (Yes, The Blair Witch Project University;), her fiction From Joy We Come, Unto Joy We Return was published in the on campus literary magazine: Cypress Dome and remains to this day in University libraries around the country. Later, she achieved the Semi-Finals in a Laurel Hemingway contest and published a few poems in the Thailand’s Expat magazine, and an article in the Thailand’s People newspaper. Additionally, she has published poetry in the Korea’s AIM magazine, the American Poetic Monthly magazine and Twisted Dreams Magazine. Visit her at her blog site.

Short Story contributors.

Hi Folks
This is a continuation from Thursdays Food for Thought post at Authors promoting Authors. It was a shame more authors didn't participate. There was a method to my madness. I hinted to everyone that you never know who is watching the blog!!!??? I wasn't allowed to say what was really going on lol

Unfortunately no one seemed to click on, so my innuendo fell flatter than my victoria sponges. The blog was being watched by a company who are looking for fresh, novelists for various drama projects. I can't tell you who yet, there is another huge event planned soon and I don't want to spoil that in any way.

It was their idea to do the post and I thought it would be fun too.
The good news is they emailed me to say, although it was a shame the blog wasn't very active, they were impressed with two authors who did participate. I can't tell you who because they didn't say lol but they will be looking out for them at the next event. So well done all of you. Your foot is in the proverbial door lol

I've decided to call the very short story lol
A collaboration of authors

Carrie Sanders sat in the car, which rattled like an old tin can, as the rain pounded on the roof and sighed. What on earth was she doing at midnight, sitting in Rattlers Cove, freezing her backside off? Mist hung like a silken shroud across the shore line obscuring most of her view of the water. With camera poised in her hand, she squinted out of a window which had begun to steam up, annoying her further.
This would be a good scoop for the paper if she got a picture of the, so called, Selkie, who was said to visit the cove every year, for one week. So the locals had whispered to her. Too scared to say it out loud in case the mere mention of it reaped terrible luck on their fishing boats. Carrie didn’t believe a jot of it, but her editor had become intrigued and she had been sent out to investigate. A flash of lightening lit up the sky, casting a hazy light over the water and it was then she saw it. A dark shadowy outline of someone on the beach. Carrie rubbed at her window to clear the fog, and squinted out. She held her wide angled camera up and looked through. Her eyes widened in shock and she blinked several times, hardly believing what she was looking at. There was a selkie and it was a man, who turned and looked straight at her, his red eyes flashing in anger.
Carrie's first inclination was to turn tail and run, to quail in the face of such obvious anger. But then she stiffened her spine, reminding herself why she was there, and the moment passed. Bugger all, the scoop of a lifetime stood within reach and damned if she was going to let it get away.The next flash of lightning to split the sky revealed an empty beach. Carrie swore under her breath, scrambling from the car. She'd never forgive herself if she let this one get away. She'd also never live it down. It would become part and parcel of the local legend that was Carrie Sanders. Local joke more like.Carrie Sanders was known for letting all the good ones get away. She couldn't hold a man to save her life. They all figured her out for what she was and ran for the hills.Putting such dismal thoughts behind her, she was thinking seriously of giving up when a blessed intervention in the form of a jagged flash revealed that the selkie, if indeed that was what it was, had simply changed position. He stood just outside her car, peering into the window. She worked hard not to leap back in fright.
Her heart pounding, she clutched her camera. The movement started him and he jolted back."No! Don't go!" she shouted and opened the car door and stepped outside. This was a photo opp she was not going to miss. Not this time."Carrie!" he said. "I thought that was you."She recognized the voice. It was Jack. Of all people! Stepping forward for a closer look, his face came into full view. Their eyes met and held for a long moment. They both saw it, then. Something moving beyond the rocks. Watching them.
Get back in the car." Jack's voice was rough in her ear, and Carrie's first instinct was to balk at being ordered to do something. But as his fingers tightened around her arm, tension ran through them both like the lightning that played in the sky above them. "Did you see it...him...too?"Jack didn't answer. He took a step toward the car, dragging her with him."You did, didn't you?" So it hadn't been her imagination. The red eyes, the anger...Yes, getting in the car and leaving would be the best thing for both of them right now. But this was the chance of a lifetime. How could she walk away?In a wrenching movement, she tore away from Jack's grip and ran, not toward the car, but away...toward the rocks, and the man who waited there. She was going to get her picture, one way or the other.
Through the pouring rain, Carrie ran hard and fast towards the rocks beyond. Lightning flashed over and over as she came closer to what, she knew not. Carrie only knew that she was not to be denied.Another flash of lightning, far closer that Carrie was comfortable with and the loud crash of thunder came barreling over the landscape, causing Carrie to shriek with fright and nearly drop her camera.Suddenly, she felt something soft and gentle on her shoulder and the rain-soaked young woman turned to tell Jack that she was just fine. The flash of lightning and crash of thunder revealed a sight far more frightening than Carrie thought possible and realized that the hand on her shoulder was not Jacks.
Ran towards the rocks she could feel her heart pumping. She could hear the voice of Jack in the distance calling to her as she ran. The thunder booming violently and lightning playfully dancing across the sky. The brief flashes of light to darkness made her even more determined in her pursuit. She never liked the rain but this story was to important to her. She continue to run towards the rocks panting but exhilarated. Suddenly she felt a blunt push knocking her to the ground. The rain soaked ground cold and unforgiving. Her drenched her covered her eyes but one thing she was certain of she had snapped a picture before the fall.She remembered pointing the camera towards the area she had seen the silkie and the only light the flash of her camera as she fell to the sand.She clamoured to her feet and before her stood Jack. Jack did you see who pushed me she asked. Jack..The figure known as Jack stood there not saying a word. Jack she continued....
She and Jack had a shared history, not one she was particularly proud of but they had been very close over the years. There was a time when all of the locals thought they would be together, marriage, baby's,the whole shebang but that was before Carrie had been betrayed. Jack had wanted her but being aware that he was the most eligible bachelor in town,how old fashioned did that make her sound, he could not resist flirting with every woman he came across. Not in a sleazy way but with an air of confidence that danced in his eyes.Little by little Carries self esteem had dwindled as she tried desperately to compete with the prettier girls in their small seaside town.Her older brothers had made it quite clear that in their opinion their little sister was batting out of her league and should give up any ideas of hanging onto Jack and when She had turned up at his house unexpectedly that spring evening seven years ago they had been proved right.Jack was not to be trusted with her heart and now here he was again, as he was at every momentous moment of her life, trying to spoil things. She would find the Selkie and claim him as her own,that would show him.Carrie ran blundering into the dark her knees buckling as she clambered over the dunes the soft sand shifted under her feet. Despite the spiteful wind she could hear Jacks heavy breath behind her as he gave chase. Panic thumped in her chest as she pounded along the stormy beach.she had run from jack before and she would outrun him now, if he thought he was in a position to stop her he was sadly mistaken.She must find the Selkie man, he would be her champion, he would save her.

Welcome to Kirstin Battestella

Good morning Kirsten and welcome to not so sunny kent. As it is raining, I thought we’d take our brunch into the lounge and chat today. I hear that you have a book hot off the press. Tell us a bit about it.

Love: Ann and the Viking is the first title in my new FATE and FANGS: Tales from the Vampire Family series with Muse It Up Publishing. The novellas and vignettes here- Love, Punishment, Struggle, Debauchery, Lust, Humanity, Resurrection- are based in the same universe as my 2008 Eternal Press novel The Vampire Family. This set is hosted by the family’s occult go to guy Professor James-though he isn’t always so reliable and unbiased as he pretends to be. These 7 books are also first hand accounts; some of them are actually earlier material that was excised from the first full length novel because of the viewpoint. As was the case, I wanted this collection to come inbetween The Vampire Family and the next full length sequel so we can slow down and- for better or worse- find out what makes bad boy Mestiphles, goody goody Samantha, and the rest of the divided coven tick. There is a certain uncomfortable intimacy in getting to read the inner most thoughts and feelings of the confused Elizabeth, naughty Victoria, or lovelorn James. I find it amazing to get into the heads of antihero characters and witnessing their m.o.! They’re vampires you know, so there’s a lot of room and most definitely times and places to explore with these characters. Really, is it any easier to break up with someone after 200 years? FATE and FANGS opens with the medieval steamy in Love: Ann and the Viking and continues through Civil War strife in Debauchery and concludes in contemporary melodrama for Humanity and Resurrection. And yes, some of these folks are totally melodramatic predators and proud of it. There’s no glitter glow here, and Muse has been so cool in handling our dirty love, gore, and period-hopping adventure. Whew.

Wow, they all sound fabulous. I have a lot of time for vamps and am especially interested in these confused thoughts of Elizabeth. Lol It looks to me like you have not had time to breath. So what’s next on your writing agenda?

What isn’t on my writing agenda, Margaret? I still do some hometown newspaper work, have been for the last seven years, and I write reviews, film criticisms, and other articles and essays for anything and everything that will have me in print or in the vastness of internetdom. There’s still the bells and whistles yet for the FATE and FANGS follow up, too. Yes more beyond these 7 tales! Currently I call it Requiem for the Vampire Family. But I am slow, or at least slower than the speedy writers today, and it is getting big, maybe into two books. That might be The Vampire Family Forever. I stink at titles! I’m also doing some editing for fellow EPer and neighbor Leigh Wood. She’s more twisted than I am, and I am getting into her Horns of Myleness unicorn kink just a bit too much. I enjoy alternating the work and the material. I don’t tear through a world for both fear of rushing it all on and worry about staying too long on the stale. I like to switch it up, get practice and tools from non fic ways for the genre. Edit sexy medieval smut as Leigh calls it to push my own writely boundaries for ideas. The key is too always be writing something. Not that it is all always good, but getting it out there on the page, gaining experience, and habit. Hopefully it’s all fabulous and positive habits, but c’est la vie.

*Sniggers* medieval smut. I rather like that phrase lol Pick your favourite character from your new release and tell us about them

Ah, I can’t choose! For Love specifically, of course I like my leading man, Eric, the titular Viking obviously. I wrote his introduction to the Welshire vampire world years ago. He’s so strong and yet even considerate in his cutthroat ways. You’d think his vampire woman Ann would be so please with the rough love, yet she is always in Antonio’s shadow. When I first started writing about The Vampire Family, none of this glitter undead baby stuff was going on. I was interested in the actual family dynamics- which are already totally effed up- and how adding immortal darkness and power would shift the teetering balance. Now everybody has a ‘vampire family’. What ever happened to the word ‘coven’? Doesn’t anybody like covens anymore?

Aren’t covens more for witches than vamps? What is the best marketing advice you can offer.

I dare say I’m not that good a marketeer. I know how to promote, where to do it, what and when. Unfortunately, I don’t feel I have the zest or spin angle upon which true salesmen thrive. I don’t like to be pushy. I’m old fashioned. I think a work should speak for itself. Of course today that is no longer the case but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t write your manuscript any differently. You should damn well write your book like it is the next big thing, the Great American Novel. I’d much rather read something of greatness then get the used car salesman push. Write your book to the best of your ability. That is the best marketing you can do for it. Granted you do need to consider genre and audience a bit while in the draft, but write for yourself, write to create the best damn literature possible. Don’t get swelled in the head with the promotion with a half finished or half assed manuscript. The best advice is to not let the marketing obsessions of today compromise your writing vision.

I think we could all follow that advice. To jump totally out of subject, being a romance writer I love to hear about a real romance. So, probing gently lol where did you meet your partner?


Is Sears romantic? My husband and I both worked the magic of retail! Romance shouldn’t necessarily peak at the meeting. It should grow in bond, comfort, satisfaction. Wow, I think I’ll just stop there. Too near the danger territory!
Lol spoilsport. Before you go, where can your followers find you
Well, you won’t find me on Twitter. Everyone says it’s the way to go now, and my negativity about it has been called Luddite by some. I just don’t understand the conundrum of busting your butt to write the best dang book possible and then fleetingly trying to catch people’s attention in 140 characters or less. What if Shakespeare could only get one line of a Sonnet out at a time? Ridiculous! I am on Facebook, for better or for worse, and I still have a probably very outdated myspace page! Blogger, goodreads. What dark corner of the internet have I not found yet?

Mmm Maybe Shefari lol I think you have covered the rest.


Blog
http://jsnouff.com/kristin

http://kristin724.livejournal.com/

http://www.facebook.com/kristin.battestella

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Vampire-Family/157922293588

http://myspace.com/kristinbattestella

Thanks, Margaret!

Thursday Blog hop question

QUESTION: How does a writer make marketing their stories easier on themselves?

In my opinion Internet book marketing is an absolute necessity if you want to sell your book.
I have a good, easy to navigate website that heavily promotes my current releases. I also have a link to where you can purchase it.
An auto responder is a good informative, sales or promotional tool. It is just an email that you can schedule to go out to any email list. It can be set up to create a series of emails to send out every Monday for six Monday’s in a row and then once a month after that. The benefits are that you can write the emails ahead of time and that the email can be sent to any list that you desire. Blogs can be sceduled to release you current information too. They need not just be for guest posts. They can work for you and you can check the stats on them to see how much traffic you have. Whether a certain promotion worked or not.
As we have to mostly market ourselves, I am up for anything that makes the path smoother.

A trip into the dark side.

I wrote my first serious novel, Abigail Cottage, way back in my twenties, when computers were unheard of and electric typewriters were highly prized lol It was so dark, with characters that you love to hate and hate to love, is bordered on the macabre side lol The trouble is, I have never been able to recreate the atmosphere of that book. Maybe because there was no happy endings in my life at the time, who knows.

I believe our emotions are reflected back at us in our writing. Today my novels are romances or comedies. My life is in balance and that reflects back into my characters. But the problem is, Abigail cottage needs a sequel, so how do I get back into that dark imagination?

I often think what on earth rattles around in authors heads when they write horrors? I can hardly bear to watch films like that never mind read books. What dark place, if there is one, do they imagine for themselves, to create these wonderful, but scary characters? I’d like to delve into the mind of a horror writer, but to be frank; I’m worried what I would find lol

Anyway, I digress. Abigail Cottage is about a demon who desperately wants to live a mortal life, but he can’t. His sins, when he was alive, have caught up with him in death and made him a hideous wreck of a creature. He can transform into the handsome man he was, but it’s hard to pretend that you are something you are not all of the time, and throughout the story his disguise begins to slip.

W Which brings me to this thought. How many of us try to be who we are not? For example, we put up with people treating us badly, so we do not upset the proverbial apple card so to speak, we bite back harsh words, because we know if they burst forth, the problem will escalate. BUT, doesn’t this just bottle up the emotions we feel? Instead of releasing the pressure valve, are we not instead building up pressure for it to explode?

Do you think it is better thing to speak your mind, regardless of the consequences?
Abigail Cottage is a minefield of different emotions. The bitter feeling of betrayal, the unrequited love, the pain that love brings with it, all encapsulated in a dark world that is desperately seeking the light.

Welcome to G.A. Hauser

Morning everyone. Spotlighted today is award-winning author G.A. Hauser, who was born in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, USA and attended university in New York City. She moved to Seattle, Washington where she worked as a patrol officer with the Seattle Police Department. In early 2000 G.A. moved to Hertfordshire, England where she began her writing in earnest and published her first book, In the Shadow of Alexander. Now a full-time writer, G.A. has written over sixty novels, including several best-sellers of gay fiction and is an Honorary Board Member of Gay American Heroes for her support of the foundation.
For more information on other books by G.A., visit the author at her official website.
G.A. has won awards from All Romance eBooks for Best Author 2009, Best Novel 2008, Mile High, and Best Author 2008, Best Novel 2007, Secrets and Misdemeanors, Best Author 2007.



Because my blog is not rated I can only spotlight this fabbo book. It really is a good steamy read. Here is a blurb.

Cowboy’ Charlie Mosby worked on a horse ranch in Heber, Utah. He loved his work, the owners of the ranch, and his co-workers; wranglers who helped tourists with guided horse tours and trail riding all year round.But after a chance meeting with a handsome gay man who had helped Charlie change a flat tire on Interstate 80 a month ago, Charlie was beginning to wonder about his sexuality. And if that wasn’t confusing enough, strange things were happening on the ranch.Satanic worship? A strange cult ritual? Whatever it was, it wasn’t good for the owners or the horses on it.One night Charlie stumbles upon Roman Burk in the woods, naked, bleeding and shivering in the cold. What Charlie never imagined was who -or what- Roman was. Even though the handsome stranger seemed to vanish at times and reappear as if by magic, Charlie was infatuated by this man.Roman was fearful of revealing his secret. Most of all to a cowboy who was spending more time hunting him, than loving him.In this shape-shifting story of sexual bonding and discovery, can both Charlie and Roman find what they’re looking for? It’s a question of honor; one that has been up for debate since the first time man set his eyes on this formidable predator. It’s about the mutual respect of Wolves and Men.

View her lost of novels here.
The G.A. Hauser Collection
Single Titles
Unnecessary Roughness
Hot Rod
Of Wolves and Men
The Order of Wolves
My Best Friend’s Boyfriend
Mr. Right
The Diamond Stud
The Hard Way
Games Men Play
Born to Please
Got Men?
Heart of Steele
All Man
Julian
Black Leather Phoenix
London, Bloody, London
In The Dark and What Should Never Be, Erotic Short
Stories
Mark and Sharon (formally titled A Question of Sex)
A Man’s Best Friend
It Takes a Man
The Physician and the Actor
For Love and Money
The Kiss
Naked Dragon
Secrets and Misdemeanors
Capital Games
Giving Up the Ghost
To Have and To Hostage
Love you, Loveday
The Boy Next Door
When Adam Met Jack
Exposure
The Vampire and the Man-eater
Murphy's Hero
Mark Antonious deMontford
Prince of Servitude
Calling Dr Love
The Rape of St. Peter
The Wedding Planner
Going Deep
Double Trouble
Pirates
Miller's Tale
Vampire Nights
Teacher's Pet
In the Shadow of Alexander
The Rise and Fall of the Sacred Band of Thebes

The Action Series
Acting Naughty
Playing Dirty
Getting it in the End
Behaving Badly
Dripping Hot
Packing Heat
Being Screwed
Something Sexy
Going Wild

Men in Motion Series
Mile High
Cruising
Driving Hard
Leather Boys

Heroes Series
Man to Man
Two In Two Out
Top Men
Writing as Amanda Winters. Here are some of her books.

Sister Moonshine
Nothing Like Romance
Silent Reign
Butterfly Suicide
Mutley’s Crew



Here is where you can find her.
MySpace:
FaceBook:
GA Hauser’s Blog;
Book Trailer

Welcome to Martin Sharlow

Good Morning Everyone.

I would like to say I have a man in my boudoir today, unfortunately it is just business lol I am happy to have as a guest Martin Sharlow the author of Shades of Blood.

As usual, the best comment wins one of my fabbo gifts.

Hi Martin. Thanks for popping in today. Lets get right down to the interrogation
...um...I mean interview lol Can you tell us who inspires you to write?

Morning Margaret. Thanks for having me here today. I have a need to create. It's really hard to define, and it can take shape or form in different ways. When I was younger, I use to role-play and build worlds for me and my friends to entertain ourselves in. When I was a teenager, I used to build imaginary worlds in my mind that I would populate and participate in as I did chores, worked, or just explore as I fell asleep that night. So I think I've always felt the need to create. When I started reading in my late teens, I discovered other worlds that people created through writing. I have to say that just spoke to me in a way that was similar to what I used to do when I was younger.

As to who inspires me to write? I would say that Robert Jordan was my first really big inspiration. He got me started writing fantasy. Amanda Hocking inspired me to write paranormal romance, specifically stories about vampires being the good guys, not the monsters that I grew up with in the movies.

Well this is a blog that LOVES paranormal romances, so you are already a hit with me lol What’s next on your writing agenda?

That's kind of hard to say. I have a whole slew of books, at least for story ideas written down. In fact I swear I come up with a new story multiple times a day. Usually I don't write them down and pretty forget them, unless of course one of them catches my eye. I have a half written novella that I intend to finish over the next week or two, and I'm supposed to start to actually physically write book 3 of my Fallen series. I've been working out the kinks in that, so now all I have to do is write it and edit it. So those are most likely my next two works.

Oh my god, you are busy. Okay, just for fun, how about you pick your favourite character from your new release and tell us about them.

Wow that's a hard one. I think the most interesting character is probably Sarah. As to my favorite…my readers probably won't believe me, but I'd have to say Melissa. I mean, after all, the story is about her, or at least her perspective. What I think is probably the best thing about her is watching her grow. In book 1, Melissa starts out as a naïve, sheltered young adult who's just starting out in her life. She's not very sure of herself, but sure enough to be out on her own. Some people don't like her, because they think she's too whiny. I think she's just the way she should be, since she comes from a sheltered life and finds herself thrust into a world that can't be real. I personally thinks she holds up pretty well.

I rather like the concept of seeing a character grown like that. Do you have any advice for new writers just staring out.

I think the best thing I can say to them is to know your audience. You need to know who you're writing for if you're expecting to have an audience for your work. I think as writers we get lost in our story without ever considering who we're actually writing for. That's fine and dandy when you're just writing for yourself and not for anyone else. But if you intend to have others read it, especially if you intend to make a career of it, then you need to know who your audience is. That, and seriously consider what your cover is going to look like. I find it strange that authors who create their own covers, or pay for one, treat them like their babies, the same way they protect and guard their stories. You have to be very subjective about your covers, and in fact you need to be willing to change them as necessary. You don't want your cover to look like it's a spy novel when it's about vampires. Unless of course it's about spies that are vampires.

Your book sounds like the sort of thing I'd like to read. Before you leave us please tell us where can your followers can find you.

I'm at several places, here let me give you a couple of links.
Website
Twitter
Blog

Okay, a tease question. If you could be anyone you like, who would you be?
Superman. No competition at all. I'm sure there's a lot of other good characters out there, and I can think of a few, but how can you compete with flying, super strength, perfect health, invulnerability, and of course immortality. Not to mention all the other things he can do. So I have to go with him hands down.

Well, you can fly by here anytimes Martin. Good luck with your books.

Winners

It was really hard this year to pick a winning comment, but three literally jumped out at me after I read and re-read them. The gifts will help them tremendously.
Thank you for stopping by.

The winners are:

Karen Michelle Nutt - Purse

Alison - Angel Crystals.

Darlene - Meditation CD..I need you to email me though as I can't find you anywhere lol

PS. I really think you all deserve something.

Thanks for participating.

Closed

Blogfess has now ended. I will announce the lucky winners Monday 18th July.

Thank you to all those who particiapted.

Welcome to Martin Sharlow

Good Morning Everyone.

I would like to say I have a man in my boudoir today, unfortunately it is just business lol I am happy to have as a guest Martin Sharlow the author of Shades of Blood.

As usual, the best comment wins one of my fabbo gifts.

Hi Martin. Thanks for popping in today. Lets get right down to the interrogation
...um...I mean interview lol Can you tell us who inspires you to write?

Morning Margaret. Thanks for having me here today. I have a need to create. It's really hard to define, and it can take shape or form in different ways. When I was younger, I use to role-play and build worlds for me and my friends to entertain ourselves in. When I was a teenager, I used to build imaginary worlds in my mind that I would populate and participate in as I did chores, worked, or just explore as I fell asleep that night. So I think I've always felt the need to create. When I started reading in my late teens, I discovered other worlds that people created through writing. I have to say that just spoke to me in a way that was similar to what I used to do when I was younger.

As to who inspires me to write? I would say that Robert Jordan was my first really big inspiration. He got me started writing fantasy. Amanda Hocking inspired me to write paranormal romance, specifically stories about vampires being the good guys, not the monsters that I grew up with in the movies.

Well this is a blog that LOVES paranirmal romances, so you are already a hit with me lol What’s next on your writing agenda?

That's kind of hard to say. I have a whole slew of books, at least for story ideas written down. In fact I swear I come up with a new story multiple times a day. Usually I don't write them down and pretty forget them, unless of course one of them catches my eye. I have a half written novella that I intend to finish over the next week or two, and I'm supposed to start to actually physically write book 3 of my Fallen series. I've been working out the kinks in that, so now all I have to do is write it and edit it. So those are most likely my next two works.

Oh my god, you are busy. Okay, just for fun, how about you pick your favourite character from your new release and tell us about them.

Wow that's a hard one. I think the most interesting character is probably Sarah. As to my favorite…my readers probably won't believe me, but I'd have to say Melissa. I mean, after all, the story is about her, or at least her perspective. What I think is probably the best thing about her is watching her grow. In book 1, Melissa starts out as a naïve, sheltered young adult who's just starting out in her life. She's not very sure of herself, but sure enough to be out on her own. Some people don't like her, because they think she's too whiny. I think she's just the way she should be, since she comes from a sheltered life and finds herself thrust into a world that can't be real. I personally thinks she holds up pretty well.

I rather like the concept of seeing a character grown like that. Do you have any advice for new writers just staring out.

I think the best thing I can say to them is to know your audience. You need to know who you're writing for if you're expecting to have an audience for your work. I think as writers we get lost in our story without ever considering who we're actually writing for. That's fine and dandy when you're just writing for yourself and not for anyone else. But if you intend to have others read it, especially if you intend to make a career of it, then you need to know who your audience is. That, and seriously consider what your cover is going to look like. I find it strange that authors who create their own covers, or pay for one, treat them like their babies, the same way they protect and guard their stories. You have to be very subjective about your covers, and in fact you need to be willing to change them as necessary. You don't want your cover to look like it's a spy novel when it's about vampires. Unless of course it's about spies that are vampires.

Your book sounds like the sort of thing I'd like to read. Before you leave us please tell us where can your followers can find you.

I'm at several places, here let me give you a couple of links.
Website
Twitter
Blog

Okay, a tease question. If you could be anyone you like, who would you be?
Superman. No competition at all. I'm sure there's a lot of other good characters out there, and I can think of a few, but how can you compete with flying, super strength, perfect health, invulnerability, and of course immortality. Not to mention all the other things he can do. So I have to go with him hands down.

Well, you can fly by here anytimes Martin. Good luck with your books.

BlogFest 2011

Blogfest has arrived!!!!!

So many prizes to be one it will boggle your mind. On my blog today I am giving away

A beautiful purse

Two beautiful crystals attuned to the angels

A Meditation CD made by myself that can only be bought exclusivly from my site.

How do you win these prizes. Its open to every country, just follow the blog and comment on this question.

If you could change one thing in your life, what would it be?

If you are feeling crazy and want to enter all the giveaways on the BlogFest 2011 list, here are the next five giveaways. Hurry, this ends today at 12am (GMT)

At Home With Books

Aubut Family

Under The Covers

Whirlwind of suprises

Obsession with Books

Get your running shoes on. Good Luck!!!

Welcome Chloe JonPaul

It's is a bit miserable outside today, but the fire is crackling nicely in the grate and we have fresh coffee, so all is good. My guest today is Chloe JonPaul. What a lovely lady she is. Here is a bit about her.


Chloe Jon Paul, M.Ed., is a retired educator and writer of several published articles and a previous book entitled "What Happens Next: A Family Guide to Nursing Home Visits" and More...

Her many achievements since the age of 55 include:
Title of Ms. Maryland Senior America 2003

Recipient of the Fulbright Fellowship Seminars Abroad award to South Africa, 1996
• Volunteer internship during the 2005 Maryland legislative session as a Legacy Leadership Institute graduate
• Lead facilitator for the Alternatives to Violence Project in prison and community workshops on conflict resolution for ten years
• State representative for the National Family Caregivers Association's caregiver community action network 2006-2008
• Advisory board member: MD, Health care Commission and the Interagency Commission for Aging Services: Maryland Dept. of Aging
• Hospice and homeless shelter volunteer
• Coordinator for the Good Samaritan Project at her church
• World traveler - all 7 continents



I am so please have the star of the book with us today. Do sit down, Deidre and have a cup of tea while we talk about your interesting life.

Now you seem to be a feisty young woman with a history of political and teacher union activism you seem to want to leave behind you. Can you tell me why?

Thank you for inviting me, Margaret. Yes, my life had been full of political and teacher union activism. I marched in anti-war protests during the Vietnam fiasco, and worked on countless committees fighting for teachers’ rights all my professional life.

So what exactly happened to change you in Blevins, Maine?

Well, the first thing that happened was the school-redistricting plan that had been announced. It looked like my school was being dumped on and that special interest groups were being served. I went to the School Board meeting and asked some pertinent questions about it. The next morning the headline in the local paper read: TEACHER CHARGES THAT SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS SERVED IN RE-DISTRICTING PLAN FOR SCHOOLS. You can imagine what happened after that! I was literally dragged into a fight I had hoped to avoid. Anyone who reads this novel will discover how that happened.

Mark sounds like the type of man I’d like to meet. If I’m not being too nosy, how did your relationship with him develop?

Mark…ah, yes! I really thought he didn’t like me at all but in late October, I had forgotten to order heating oil. The temperature was already in the mid-30s and I didn’t know how to use the wood stove so by Monday, I had a miserable cold.
Mark took one look at me, asking why I had come to school and I explained what had happened. He offered to come and show me how to work the damper handle on the stove.
He came…and we wound up talking for hours. There’s more I could say but I’ll leave it up to the readers to find out what happened to me less than a month later as I was waiting for the elevator in the lobby of the Holiday Inn where I was attending a Leadership Conference for the Maine teachers Association in Portland.


Now there is also a bit of subterfuge around Stu Martel, another teacher. Tell me about the dark secret he shares with you?

Stu… how I wish I could have done more to help him. I was the only one he ever confided in…I don’t know why. He was a closet gay and surely you must know how the AIDS epidemic mounted in the mid-80s. Whoever reads this book will find out how I convince him to be tested and there is a hilarious scene that reveals what happens when the two of us spend the night together in a motel.
I only wish I has picked up on what Stu was really trying to say in what turned out to be his final telephone message to me.

Okay, let lighten this now. Three quick questions from our readers.

What’s your Favorite color? Yellow
Favorite drink? Chardonnay wine
Secret vice? Secret Vice? I have plenty of vices but none of them are secret. For one thing, I guess I smoke too much.


I’m a romantic at heart so you’ll have to excuse me if I ask you why didn't you ever marry.

I almost married years ago but I broke the engagement two weeks before the wedding. I figured that real love would be something so natural, so powerful, that there would never be any question – and I didn’t want to have to try. Besides I’m not the kind of woman most men feel comfortable with. Like I told Vera, my teacher friend and colleague: “Women like you marry. Women like me have affairs!”

When did you realize that your affair with Mark couldn't continue?

It actually happened one Saturday morning in April. I needed to pick up some cat food and laundry detergent so I went to the local supermarket in Blevins. Readers will find out what happened to me at the checkout counter when I saw Mark and his wife at the far end of the checkout aisles. They seemed to be looking over a shopping list. That’s all I can tell you for now. The final episode between us takes place during the candlelight vigil we teachers held in front of the Murphy Building as we fought for ratification of the contract.

I can’t wait to read how this all ends. It’s been nice to meet you Deidre. Thanks for popping by.

Vera Harriss, Deidre Fletcher, Mark Pettingill, and Stu Martel are elementary school teachers in the fictional town of Blevins, Maine whose secret, private lives change dramatically as you read.
Vera, who is about to retire, vents her anger during a Board of Education meeting with a speech that brings the audience to its feet. Why does Deidre, an exceptional teacher, leave the job she loves to become a corporate trainer down South? Then there is Mark, the perennial job hunter looking for a corporate position with more prestige and pay but then turns down the perfect offer when it finally comes through. Stu, one of the most popular teachers in the school, struggles with a deep, dark secret that he can only share with Deidre. What causes Stu
Vera Harriss, Dee Fletcher, Mark Pettingill, and Stu Martel are eager to share their intriguing secrets and entangled lives with you.

Buy this book here.