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Cover Love: Shotgun Bride @Karen_lopp #RLFblog
Shotgun Bride Cover Love at Romance Lives Forever is a short intro to a book
and includes a cover, blurb, buy links, and social media contacts for the author.
Today’s featured book is Shotgun Bride by Karen LoppOrphaned young, Kathleen Barns has struggled to survive only
to end up in a New York
mill, when an unexpected inheritance gives her a glimpse of freedom. But becoming
the landowner of a coveted piece of land with precious water rights in New Mexico Territory threatens to destroy her only chance
at love. Forced into a marriage to a man who believes she planned the shotgun wedding
to gain control of his ranch, Kathleen flees into the wilderness. Yet it is her
unwanted husband that keeps saving her life and threatening to steal her heart.Mike Baca had finally reached his goal, his fighting days were
far behind him now that the war was over, he owned a ranch and he was on his way
home to marry the richest girl in the New Mexico Territory.
A shotgun in his back had him married to a green-eyed girl who wanted his ranch!
Furious with her trickery, Mike made sure she wouldn’t want to keep him. It was
only after she had run, with her big-eyed gaze haunting him that he discovered she
was innocent, and there was a plot on her life. Now he must race the clock and the
wild badlands to try and save his wife – and convince her to stay.Buy linksAmazon http://www.amazon.com/Shotgun-Bride-ebook/dp/B00BT4GDD4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365102716&sr=8-1&keywords=karen+loppFind Me Here
Websitehttp://karenlopp.com/Twitter http://twitter.com/Karen_loppFacebook http://facebook.com/authorkarenlopp -
Sometimes Writing Can be Like Pulling Teeth #Writing #Blogging @Selena_Illyria #RLFblog
Hidden Diversions Romance Lives Forever welcomes
Selena Illyria to the blog for an article on writing and writer’s block. This article
could have come from my own heart – after reading it, I felt I knew my friend Selena
much better. If you’re a writer, you owe it to yourself to read this. If you’re
a reader, this might make you appreciate writers a little bit more.I’ve been
meaning to write this blog for quite some time but something or other always came
up. Over the past few months I’ve been having computer issues so that didn’t help.
Those issues made both editing and writing difficult. I was in panic mode during
those times; it was a fight to get in every edit or finish a sentence. After I turned
in my edits, which was a relief, I still had a book to finish but soon it became
evident that my old laptop wasn’t up to the task. Recently, I was able to get a
new laptop that would allow me to continue with writing and other things, which
was a relief. That sentiment didn’t last long.As I waded
back into the world of writing it became clear that I was in trouble. For weeks
I’d been going around in manic mode to get things done. And once my edits were done,
I started to seep into depression with every day that I didn’t get to write or I
didn’t get to write enough. That depression turned to anger and stress. I became
mired in frustration at my inability to get anything done. I thought that getting
a new computer would help with all those emotions. It didn’t.Now I
was in a new form of hell. One where every word was like pulling teeth or mucking
through molasses. No word was right or enough. I found myself falling backward into
old bad habits that I’d been trying to break after my burnout a year before. I became
angry at myself, frustrated that it wasn’t as easy at it once was. That my mind,
fingers and brain didn’t seem to want to cooperate or work with each other like
they used to. Even though I knew I couldn’t go back, I still wanted to recapture
that hubristic little shit that I was when I first started. When you finish your
first book and get it published you’re on a high. You can do anything, write anything.
Book after book can pour out of you like water. Phrases like writer’s block or burnout
don’t even apply. They’re like distant lands you’ll never visit and have no intention
of stopping in, not even for a moment. Those two things would never happen to you,
because you’re kick-ass, you’re made of so much awesome sauce that it comes out
of your pores.Yeah right.
Then they both come and you get your ass handed to you, even if it’s temporary or
lasts longer than a week or month. The first time burnout happened to me, I needed
a few weeks to recover. Then those periods lasted longer and longer until it seem
never-ending. Now, I find myself in a new kind of Hades, one where I can finally
write but the words aren’t coming. Everything I put down sucks and my internal editor
is playing kickball with every sentence, comma, and my confidence.The one
thing you never truly understand until you become a writer is that it’s truly a
solitary career. No one else can write what you write. Your editors can clean up
your work, improve your voice, and your publishers can put out your books, but in
the end, they can’t write them for you. They don’t have your voice or vision or
phrasing. You can write with a partner but you still have to pull your own weight.
And none of those people can give you confidence when you fall down or start to
wonder how you could ever have gotten published in the first place. Things get doubled
or tripled if you have people in your life that question why you write or make you
feel like crap because you don’t have “a real job.”After
much wallowing, hiding in reading “comfort books” and pretending that
I’d get to writing the next day, eventually I had to stop hiding. So, I opened my
story and got back to work. Unfortunately I’d ended with a sex scene. Nothing says
sexy like depression. *rolls eyes* And that’s when the self-doubt and self-hatred
started. Writing the sex scene was painful and I’m still not done with it. Nothing
about it screamed emotional or enticing. I had to stop before I sabotaged myself,
but I still had to write. So, I put away that story, for now, to try a palate cleanser,
to write something that wasn’t contracted and something that wasn’t paranormal (which
the other story was). It wasn’t perfect, if an editor saw it there would be lots
of knuckle wrapping and tsk, tsk, tsking, but in the end I’d written something,
anything and it was pretty good. I had accomplished something.Recovering
from all the pain, heartache, self-doubt, frustration, writer’s block, and writer’s
fear will take time, and baby steps. But in the end I am a writer and damn it, this
is what I’m meant to do. Even if it is painful, it’s my job and I love it even if
it can be a pain in the ass at times. Also, I know that I’ll make it through this
patch because I’m surrounded by awesome people. One more thing: I’m stubborn.For more information about
Selena’s latest release:Blurb:Their passion may be the
death of them…Werewolf Chief of Police
Torger, is running into walls while tracking the Draven’s Crossing serial killer.
No matter what he tries to do, he can’t find the clues needed to stop the terror
that stalks the streets of his city. Things aren’t helped by his attraction to the
dragon shifter and Draven City News Reporter, Isadora Jones. With political pressure
and bodies mounting, can he get through all these distractions and find the truth
before it’s too late?Reporter Isadora Jones wants
to help with the investigation into the serial killer but Torger refuses to let
her. She decides to do it on her own, but her world goes upside down when the killer
sets his sights on her. Under Torger’s protection, they start to put the pieces
together but will it be too late for them?Things go from bad
to worse when another killer appears. Draven’s Crossing just got a whole lot more
dangerous.Buy Links:Purple Sword Publications:http://purplesword.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=130&zenid=numkviqa0h5fkk6o4i6cqo6m06Amazonhttp://www.amazon.com/Hidden–Diversions–Dravens–Crossing–ebook/dp/B00ANAI9EG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355422078&sr=8-1&keywords=Draven%27s+Crossing%3A+Hidden+DiversionsBarnes and Noblehttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hidden-diversions-selena-illyria/1045434820?ean=2940015723694ARehttps://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-hiddendiversions-1018638-139.html -
Familial #DNA: Death of Anyone @MelangeBooks #RLFblog
Death of Anyone Romance Lives Forever welcomes DJ Swykert to the blog.
Here’s his article about writing The Death of Anyone.—The underlying theme in my latest
book, The Death of Anyone, poses the Machiavellian question: Does the end justify
the means? I developed this story around an impulsive homicide detective, Bonnie
Benham, who wants to use Familial DNA, a search technique not in common use in the
United States.
Only two states even have a written policy regarding its use, Colorado
and California.Bonnie is a no nonsense cop who describes
herself as a blond with a badge and a gun. She has her own answer to the ethical
use of Familial DNA, but the actual legality of its use will be determined in a
real life courtroom in the California
trial of a serial killer dubbed by the media: The Grim Sleeper.Lonnie David Franklin, the Grim Sleeper,
was caught because his son’s DNA was the closest match to DNA collected at the crime
scenes in the database. Investigating Franklin’s
son led them to investigate Lonnie Franklin. But there was no direct DNA evidence
that linked Lonnie to the crime scene until they obtained a sample from him after
his arrest. Lonnie Franklin will be the first person in the U.S. to ever stand
trial based on Familial DNA evidence, and its admissibility issues in court will
be thoroughly tested by defense attorneys. These are the very same issues that face
Detroit Homicide Detective Bonnie Benham and form the plot of my story.I’m a blue collar person from Detroit. I’ve worked as a truck
driver, dispatcher, logistics analyst, operations manager, and ten years as a 911
operator, which was the very best job of them all. I have a pretty straight forward
style of telling a story. I write a book like you’d watch a movie and put it down
on paper.Detroit Detective Bonnie Benham has
been transferred from narcotics to homicide for using more than arresting and is
working the case of a killer of adolescent girls. CSI collects DNA evidence from
the scene of the latest victim, which had not been detected on the other victims.
But no suspect turns up in the FBI database. Due to the notoriety of the crimes
a task force is put together with Bonnie as the lead detective, and she implores
the D.A. to use an as yet unapproved type of a DNA Search in an effort to identify
the killer. Homicide Detective Neil Jensen, with his own history of drug and alcohol
problems understands Bonnie’s frailty and the two detectives become inseparable
as they track this killer of children.I first heard about the use of Familial
DNA working as a 911 operator in 2006. It came up in a conversation with officers
working a case. I thought at the time it would make an interesting premise for a
book. I began writing the mystery some three years later after leaving the department.
I had just finished editing a first draft of The Death of Anyone in the summer 2010
when news of The Grim Sleeper’s capture in Los Angeles was released. I read with interest
all the information pouring out of L.A.
regarding the investigation and the problems confronting prosecutors. All of which
are explored in The Death of Anyone.
DJ Swykert About the Author
DJ Swykert is a former 911 operator. His work has appeared in
The Tampa Review, Detroit News, Monarch Review, Zodiac Review, Scissors& Spackle,
Spittoon, Barbaric Yawp and Bull. His books include Children of the Enemy, a novel
from CambridgeBooks; Alpha Wolves, a novel from Noble Publishing, and The Death
of Anyone is his third novel, just released by Melange Books. You can find out more
about him and how to buy his books on the blogspot: www.magicmasterminds.com, they
are also available at Melange Books, Amazon and at select mystery bookstores. He
is a wolf expert.Buy linksPrevious Books
Maggie Elizabeth Harrington (also titled as The Place Between.)(I Live in Two Worlds)Children of the EnemyFind Me Here
Website: http://magicmasterminds.com/ -
Marketing as a Professional Author @MargaretRChurch #RLFblog
Today’s article is “Punching a Hole in the Literary
Universe” by Margie Church.
Thanks for hosting me today, Kayelle. As a marketing
professional, I really appreciate your approach to book marketing. A lot of
authors don’t realize that the moment they sign their book contract (or
self-pub their book), that they have opened a small business. For the majority
of us, the lion’s share of the promotional work falls on our own shoulders.
Often, we’re really unprepared for this to happen. Even those of us with a
significant back list know that we cannot rely on past accomplishments to
ensure our future success.Here’s a key sentence to remember: Plan for success.What does that mean? You need to create a little marketing
plan for your new book to give it the best possible chances of success. Here
are 10 tips to help you.- Write a solid blurb, no more than 200 words long, to attract
readers. - Have a 25-30 word version of the blurb ready for Twitter and
casual conversations about the book. - Put your web/blog/buy links on everything.
- Hunt for readers in your genre. Conventional thinking is to
just sign up for a whole bunch of blogs, give away amazing prizes, and wait for
success. Don’t count on that. Readers are getting very fed up with having our
books and promotions shoved down their throats. Choose your blog locations
carefully. Match those blogs to your genre. Write short, punchy pieces that
engage readers – remember, they’re choosing to spend time on you – don’t waste
that chance! - I don’t recommend giving away huge prizes if you haven’t
squirreled away the royalties from previous months to pay for them. I always determine
how many books I must sell to recoup the cost of my prize AND make a profit. I
also don’t like giving away gift cards that allow readers to buy books that
aren’t mine. I prefer to give prizes unique to me and my work so they will
remember me. This is a business. - Don’t pay for reviews. Consider how many books you’ll need
to sell to recover the cost, and be honestly prepared to suck it up if you get
a less favorable review. Keep reviews current on your website, with hyperlinks
to the full source. Always cite the reviewer. - Insert a hyperlink from your book cover to the buy link.
Always. - Consider an ad, but recognize that ads are passive forms of
advertising. Pick your
Desire’s Edge. location to match the audience you’re seeking. I don’t
always follow the crowd. If I have a spectacular cover, and the chance to
caption that cover or link it to more information, those get stronger purchase consideration
from me. - Be available. If you post in yahoo loops, Facebook groups,
have a fan page, hold a blog hop, etc., show up to say hello and respond to
comments even a day or two after your appearance. Spread your announcements out
to avoid a morning flood that disappears by evening when many people might have
more time to focus on social media. Twitter is a very valuable tool to help
share your information globally. Please don’t forget to thank your blog hosts! - Realize this activity is ongoing. It takes time, patience,
and hard work to build a readership.
My newest book, Love’s Storm, is co-authored with K.B.
Cutter. We used several fun tools to help us reach readers and increase
excitement for the entire series. Those included creating a QR code to our Facebookseries fan page, and partnering with a company to feature their product as
a give-away item as part of a very sexy prize package. We also did a blog talk
radio interview. There are lots of other things we did and will do through the
end of May.Get creative, stay focused, and keep track of your results
so you know what worked and what didn’t. I bet you’ll see some great sales
numbers, too.I’d love to show off our new book now!About the Books
Razor: Love’s Storm by Margie Church and K.B. CutterTheir delicious, naughty secret is out, and it’s open season
on Amy and Bryce’s decision to add a third person to their marriage.All the talking in the world can’t convince critics that Amy
and Bryce’s marriage is rock-solid, and there are no secrets between them.
Others meddle to undermine Bryce’s business and marriage. Even Raine’s Master
thinks she’s making a huge mistake.With no allies, and scorn coming from every direction, love
and determination must lead Amy, Bryce, and Raine through love’s storm.Their journey began in Razor: Desire’s Edge and continues
after Love’s Storm in Love’s Reflection.
Margie Church Love’s Storm is the second book in the Razor trilogy. It’s a
polyamorous love story written for 21st century romance readers. We hope you’ll
find the premise fascinating and take a chance on this book. You won’t be
disappointed. It contains strong BDSM elements and plenty of erotic love scenes,
but at its core, Love’s Storm is a marvelous romance.Available in eBook and print, get Love’s Storm at Amazon
and Barnesand Noble Get Desire’s Edge, the first book in the series, at Amazon
and Barnesand Noble Learn more about our amazing RazorRomances Booty giveaway here.Find Me Here
Website www.RomanceWithSASS.comPinterest https://pinterest.com/margiechurch/ - Write a solid blurb, no more than 200 words long, to attract
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Surrounded by Roses @mornic1 #RLFblog
Today’s featured book is Surrounded by Roses by Nicole Morgan.
After years of working on submarines and loving what he does,
a training exercise goes horribly wrong. Suffering from the loss of his best friend,
Trevor Purlington comes home to try and get past the demons which keep him awake
at night.Emily Dennis spends her days working as a nurse and her nights
anticipating correspondence from her deployed submariner boyfriend. The last thing
she expected was to find him at home waiting for her after a long shift at the clinic
where she works. After being apart for so long, she was ecstatic to finally have
him home.Trevor came home to Emily a different man, one who was starting
to overshadow the man she once knew. Overwhelmed and confused, she refuses to give
up on the man that she loves and vows to do whatever it takes to knock down his
walls and bring back the Trevor she once knew.Buy link:Bookstrand http://bookstrand.com/surrounded-by-rosesFind Me Here
Website http://nicolemorgan1.webs.com/Twitter http://twitter.com/mornic1 -
Suspense: Legally Undercover | Interview @rachelkall #RLFblog
Legally Undercover Rachel Kall, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. Let’s talk about
your book, Legally Undercover.Genre: Romantic SuspensePublisher: Entranced PublishingCover artist: Suzannah SafiLength: 78,500Heat rating: SensualTagline: An ambitious lawyer’s quest for partnership is threatened
by a top secret government investigation and the mysterious man invading her heart.Blurb: Attorney Alex Popov’s dream of partnership is put to the
test when she’s pulled into a top-secret investigation involving arms dealers and
one of her clients, Rodrigues Capital. The only good part about her association
with the secretive organization is her client contact, Pedro Martín. She’s drawn
to him, but he’s hiding something.When Jacob shows up as a new attorney at Alex’s firm, it’s clear
Pedro isn’t the only one with secrets. As Alex tries to determine Jacob’s true identity,
she’s drawn closer to Pedro and deeper into the mystery of Rodrigues Capital and
its shadowy networks.Everyone has an agenda. In a world of lies, where no one is what
they seem, Alex puts everything — even her dreams of partnership — on the line for
love.Buy links:Entranced Publishing http://entrancedpublishing.com/imprints-5/entranced/legally-undercover/Amazon http://amzn.com/B00CCJ0B24Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/legally-undercover-rachel-kall/1115118157?ean=2940016549385What are your main characters’ names, ages, and occupations?Alex Popov is a thirty
two year old attorneyPedro Martín is a thirty five year told businessman.Interview
What is the most important thing you do for your career now,
as compared to when you first started writing?Constantly working on
craft. When I first started, I really had no sense of what it took to write a book.
Now I’m constantly trying to learn more about craft.What do you enjoy most about writing?I love the sense of fulfillment
I get from writing. When I write, I’m not focused on anything else but the story
and being transported to another place.What is your work ethic when it comes to writing?I believe hard work is the key to success in writing and in any
other endeavor. Discipline and time management are key to making it work as a writer.How do you cope with stress as an author?I enjoy writing so much that so far I haven’t felt much stress.
If anything I write as a mechanism to de-stress.Do things your family or friends do ever end up in a book?All of my characters are purely fictional—except for the furry
ones.What kind of books do you read when taking a break from your
own writing?Romantic suspense if
my favorite genre. I believe that to write in a genre you really need to read in
it. I also really enjoy contemporary romance.Imagine you get to go on a dream vacation, but you have only
one hour to pack and leave, and it starts as soon as you finish this interview.
What will you take with you and where will you go?I think Grand Cayman is the most amazing place on earth. I’d pack
light—as long as I have bathing suits, my Kindle, and laptop, that’s all I’d need.What is your favorite holiday and why?I love Christmas. I have
so many fond childhood memories of that holiday. I believe it’s better to give than
to receive, and the Christmas season really embodies that for me.What good book have you read recently?I read all the time, so it’s hard to limit it to one. But I loved
The Marshal’s Witness by Lena Diaz.If you were a color, what color would you be?PinkPlease underline which statement is more like you:“I am a vacation spa because I am laid back and relaxed.”“I am a ten-countries in ten-days tour vacation, because
I do things as fast as possible.”Please complete the sentences
I love pizza with pineapples.I’m always ready for a long walk with my dogs.When I’m alone, I belt out tunes.You’d never be able to tell, but I’m a bit of a comedian.If I had a halo it would be sparkly.If I could be a cat for a day I’d love it_I can never jump out of a plane because I’m too much
of a wimp.Find Me Here
Website: http://rachelkall.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/rachelkallFacebook: http://facebook.com/AuthorRachelKallPinterest: http://pinterest.com/rachellkallGoodreads: http://goodreads.com/rachelkall
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