Off in my Writerly Cave so here's some metal

I'm taking a brief hiatus from blogging to focus on revising my heavy metal romance, HIS ROADIE.

I hope to check back in with everyone soon. For now, here's one of my favorite metal songs of all time,

"Holy Wars" by Megadeth

Wanna Win A $10 Amazon Gift Card?

Come check out my post at Bonnie R. Paulson's blog on the cars featured in WRENCHING FATE. Two of them are based on real cars.

So stop over there and say hi!

Authors Beware. Unscrupulous "Book Reviewer" alert (Likely not real reviewers)

Okay, we've all received unsolicited emails from random authors asking you to buy or review their book. These emails are annoying and feel like spam. This is part of why I haven't set up many reviews for my current release, WRENCHING FATE. I don't want to be one of those people. 

 

Anyway, a book reviewer friended me on Linkiedin, which I thought was great. 

 

The I got an email from the reviewer with the subject line: "I want to review your book!"

 

Naturally, I was excited. ...Until I read the email.

 

Here is the response with all of the person's personal info omitted.

 

"Hi, 

Thank you for accepting my invitation to connect on linkedin. Please help me by growing my network on linkedin and I will do a book review for you on Amazon. 
I will buy your book and I will do an Amazon verified purchase review of your book, only if you can share your linkedin contacts on my email (email) 

I will also share contact list of 2000+ Amazon reviewers with you. 

If you are interested the please send the amzon link of your book and Your linkedin contacts at (email)"

 

What in the ever-loving Fuck?

 

This person wants me to violate the privacy of others so she can spam them and try to get them to help her violate the privacy of their contacts?

 

I repeat, What the Fuck? This is the most creepy and unprofessional behavior I've ever seen from a book reviewer. Is this person even a real reviewer? Why is she going about review requests in this manner instead of getting to know authors or requesting books through netgalley? There are a ton of authors who would love to have their books reviewed. Why is she wanting to spam people instead?

 

This sets off all sorts of red flags, especially with the offer to actually purchase the book in exchange for giving up my contacts. Like it's a bribe. It makes me suspect that her objective is not to review books at all, that there is some likely unsavory motive. 

 

So I feel compelled to share this experience with you all and advise you to be wary of a book reviewer contacts you in this manner. 

 

I have sent the reviewer a response declining her offer stating clearly that I believe it would be unethical to share my contacts without their consent and recommend that she seek reviews through traditional means. I then removed her from my contacts.

She has since been banned from linkedin, but I fear more scammers like this will show up.

Book Release Recap/ AKA, the best weekend of my life.

I had the most fabulous weekend ever!

 

First, I reserved Friday off so it started early. I got dressed up and had a lovely date at Red Lobster with the sweetest guy. I ate ALL the shellfish. :) Then I worked on last minute preparations for my book release and stayed up late, vowing to sleep in, since my virtual release party wasn't until the afternoon.

 

Nope, I was up at eight checking my sales rankings. It's a good thing I did because I found out there were some technical difficulties with the Kindle, so WRENCHING FATE wasn't up yet. So I spent the morning communicating with technical support. WRENCHING FATE went live on Kindle 5 minutes after the party started.

 

...and speaking of last minute, I also had a scare with my print books I'd ordered for my signing. They were supposed to come on Thursday, but they got stuck in Illinois due to bad weather. For almost three days, there was no tracking information available. I was terrified that I'd have no books for my signing. 

 

Thankfully, as my party was in full swing, the books arrived. I totally blew a kiss to the UPS guy. 

 

And speaking of my virtual party, it surpassed my expectations. I think only 24 people originally signed up to attend, but by the end of the evening, the official attendtees numbered around 60 and that doesn't even count the party crashers. 

 

Despite my complete lack of organization, all of my guest authors showed up and posted at perfect intervals. And the reader response was incredible. Everyone came away with new book and author recommendations and several came away with prizes.

 

I am still humbled and blown away by the enthusiasm. The realization that I have fans is still sinking in.

 

As I was chained to the computer for the FB party, my date ended up feeding me and suprising me with flowers. And I thought his agreement to watch EVER AFTER with me was my Valentine's day present. :) Anyway, after the party wound down, he made me dessert and we watched the movie. He LIKED it!

 

I accidentally slept in on Saturday. My friend woke me up with a grin, "It's 10:30, do you wanna check your sales rankings?" Alas, I didn't get much time to do that because I had to get ready for my book signing at my local pub. For the occasion, I got my first professional manicure.

Alas I have no pictures yet, but I will soon. Video too!

 

Anyway, I can't believe how many of my dearest friends showed up to give me support. I sold almost all print copies of my book, recouped cost and shipping and made a little bit for my RT fund. An old friend from high school came and had me sign the first one.

 

But my heart almost stopped when my old friend Christa walked in the door. We were buddies in 2nd grade and then ended up working together 10 years ago. I'd started writing WRENCHING FATE in a battered notebook and she kept reading my chicken scratch and asking what happened next. SHE is one of the main reasons I became an author. I'd been trying tfor nearly a decade. So when she showed up at my signing I almost cried in joy.

 

Alas, she couldn't stay long, but I still had a ton of fun with my friends.

 

I spent Sunday relaxing with my son.

 

This week I have blog posts, giveaways, copyedits, and revisions to work on. That way I can have another awesome book release party.

 

Thanks so much to my readers for giving my stories a chance. I owe the world to you! 

HAPPY RELEASE DATE FOR WRENCHING FATE!!!

"Silas McNaught, Lord Vampire of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho is elated when he finds Akasha Hope, the woman his psychic visions revealed to him centuries ago. 

To his surprise, Akasha is infuriated when Silas interferes with her life. Furthermore, she is nothing like the sweet woman he’d envisioned. Instead she's a foul mouthed mechanic and, due to being the accidental result of a military experiment, she possesses the strength of ten men ….and government agents are looking for her. 

Matters are further complicated when Silas’s vindictive ex lover spurs the Elders to investigate Silas in hopes to destroy Akasha and gain control of her friends, which are the key to an otherworldly prophecy. 

As government conspiracies and vampire politics collide, Silas teaches Akasha the meaning of trust…and love."

OMG, You guys, I can't believe it's here already!
Wrenching Fate is now out in the big scary world!
Here's the links to where you can get it:
Apple (ibook store)
Barnes & Noble (Nook and Print)
Kobo
Google Play
Amazon

I'm also having a virtual release party on FB Here!

There will be chances to win digital copies of Wrenching Fate as well as other books and prizes from my stellar list of amazing guest authors.

So please pop by!!!

For an extra chance to win, you can comment on my guest post at SOS ALOHA!

OMG, I am so excited!!!

In Honor of Karen Ann

An Angel That Was Taken Too Early

Five years ago, on Valentine's Day, I lost my best friend, who was also my mother, Karen Ann. 

For over a year, I was in a mindless state of grief. However, I know she absolutely hated it when I was unhappy. So after a couple years of therapy and much dedication to my writing career, I've become more functional. After all, mom wouldn't be proud of me if I remained a miserable ball of sadness. 

Still, the grief never leaves me. It's an open wound that strikes me with crippling pain. Every once in awhile, out of nowhere, I find myself crying in my car from missing her so bad. It's always worse during Christmas, which was her favorite, Mother's Day, her Birthday, and of course, Valentine's day.

She never stopped believing in Santa.

The first one I got ridiculously drunk and cried like a baby. The next few I spent curled up in bed, unable to face the day. But as I said before, Mom really hated it when I was sad. She always made extra efforts to cheer me up. We usually snuggled on the couch and watched movies. So I started honoring her memory by watching her favorite movies. One year my brothers and I had a Nightmare on Elm Street marathon. Another year I did a wacky combo of First Wive's Club, Total Recall, Terminator 2, and Ever After.

Yes, Mom had delightfully eclectic taste in movies and she passed it on to me. 

This year, movies aren't enough. It's not enough to distract myself from missing her. I wanted to do something to honor the woman who nurtured my creativity and encouraged my dreams. I wouldn't have become a successful writer if not for her. Even now, as I fight back tears, I can see mom shaking her head at me and tears coming to her own eyes because my pain is her pain. 

I want to picture her smiling, like this.

Even though I can never erase the grief from Valentine's day, I can mitigate it. I chose to release my novel WRENCHING FATE and have a fun online release party with all my friends. Then later I'm even going to try to celebrate Valentine's Day as a holiday and watch EVER AFTER with the nicest guy I know.

I'll probably still cry a little, but I'm going to do my best to make it a happy day and make my mom proud. And every book I write, I dedicate to her. I still remember when I first got her hooked on romance novels, and I hope there are books in heaven. 

Afterward, I'm going to start another book. Because she didn't get a happily ever after in real life, I'm going to create as many as I can as long as I live.

Huge Romance Sale! (Updated with more books!)

A bunch of books by the lovely Sourcebooks Casablanca authors are on sale for only 2.99 on Kindle and Nook!

A few I found are:

For The Love of a Goblin Warrior by Shona Husk!

X Marks the Scot by Victoria Roberts!

How To Date a Dragon by Ashlyn Chase!

Geek Girls Don't Date Dukes by Gina Lamm

 

It takes Two to Tangle by Theresa Romain!

Heart of Iron by Bec McMaster!

And finally, Bite Me, Your Grace by Brooklyn Ann. ...Hey, that's me!

I have no idea how long these are on sale, so grab em while you can!

Update! Our Publicist sent us a complete list of everything! Oh and she says the sale is until the 28th!

OverDrive Price Promotion, 2/8-2/28
TITLE	AUTHOR	Promo Pricing
Bite Me, Your Grace	Ann, Brooklyn	2.99
Bound to Be a Bride	Mulry, Megan	0.99
Captain and a Corset	Wine, Mary	2.99
Checkmate, My Lord	Devlyn, Tracey	2.99
Cowboy Tough	Kennedy, Joanne	2.99
Double Enchantment	Kennedy, Kathryne	2.99
Flirting Under a Full Moon	Chase, Ashlyn	2.99
For the Love of a Goblin Warrior	Husk, Shona	2.99
Free Fall	Mann, Catherine	2.99
Geek Girl and the Scandalous Earl	Lamm, Gina	2.99
Geek Girls Don’t Date Dukes	Lamm, Gina	2.99
Heart of Iron	McMaster, Bec	2.99
Hot Ticket	Cunning, Olivia	2.99
How to Date a Dragon	Chase, Ashlyn	2.99
Howl for a Highlander	Spear, Terry	2.99
If You Give a Rake a Ruby	Galen, Shana	2.99
India Fan	Holt, Victoria	2.99
It Takes Two to Tangle	Romain, Theresa	2.99
Jaguar Fever	Spear, Terry	2.99
Lady Mercy Danforthe Flirts with Scandal	Fresina, Jayne	2.99
Lady Vivian Defies a Duke	Grace, Samantha	2.99
Little Night Mischief	Greenwood, Emily	2.99
Love on a Midsummer Night	English, Christy	2.99
Magic of “I Do”	Falkner, Tammy	2.99
Man of Honour	Ashford, Jane	2.99
Officer Breaks the Rules	Murray, Jeanette	2.99
Once Again a Bride	Ashford, Jane	2.99
One Day in Apple Grove	Admirand, C.H.	2.99
Outcast Prince	Husk, Shona	2.99
Paradise Valley	Bittner, Rosanne	2.99
Prince of Power	Staab, Elisabeth	2.99
Shivering Sands	Holt, Victoria	2.99
Smoking Hot	Kelley, Karen	2.99
Spy Wore Blue	Galen, Shana	0.99
Summer He Came Home	Stone, Juliana	2.99
Surrender to Sultry	Beckett, Macy	2.99
Tall, Dark, and Vampire	Humphreys, Sara	2.99
This Magic Moment	Rice, Patricia	2.99
To Wed a Wicked Highlander	Roberts, Victoria	2.99
Undone	Humphreys, Sara	2.99
Wait Until Dark	Buchman, M. L.	2.99
Waking Up with a Rake	Mason, Connie	2.99
Wedding in Springtime	Forester, Amanda	2.99
Wildcat	Brooks, Cheryl	2.99
Winning a Bride	Lee, Jade	0.99
X Marks the Scot	Roberts, Victoria	2.99