Maria Savva's Blog - Posts Tagged "romance"

My latest novel The Dream is available at Amazon on Kindle for just $0.99/£0.86 for the next day or so. This sale is really aimed at those of you who follow my blog, or my Facebook and Twitter page. Just a token of my appreciation for your continued support. So, if you've been wanting to buy it but were hoping for a lower price, here it is! Grab it at this exclusive price while you can!


Here are the links:

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/The-Dream-ebook...

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Dream-ebo...





Enjoy!

I have decided to start a new series on my blog, where I will recommend books that I think everyone should read.

I will pick one book each month.

These will not necessarily be new books, but will be picked from my favourite books.

I believe that good books deserve to find the widest audience possible, and this is my small way of spreading the word a little.

My first pick is: The Day the Flowers Died




I love this book because the story is so realistic and it made me cry at the end.

Here's the review I wrote when I first read it:

The excerpt from a review on the front cover of this novel says: "This is truly a love story". It is. It is one of the best, if not THE best love story I've ever read. The way the writer describes the couple's feelings; the way they interact; it's all so beautiful. The writer uses colour throughout the novel to describe scenes. She describes everything from the clothes the characters are wearing to the colour of the sky, to the flowers that Rebecca (one of the two main characters) loves so much. In some books I have read, it can become tiresome when an author describes everything -- but not in this book. The writing is so expertly and seemingly effortlessly scripted so that the reader can 'see' what is being described. An amazing talent.
Yes, there are a few typos and some editorial issues, odd use of words here and there, but on the whole the prose flowed well.
I was hooked on this book which is the story of Eli, a young Jewish lawyer, who falls in love with Rebecca, a German girl, who -- trying to escape the confines of her strict upbringing -- has moved to an apartment in Munich. Eli lives upstairs from Rebecca and falls in love with her. He gradually finds the courage to talk to her. We follow the love affair from the beginning, and by the end of the book I really felt as if I knew these two people.
The book is set in Nazi Germany before the Second World War, and the author has done a good job in weaving together the history and the love story, showing how the changes in the country had a direct effect on the couple's relationship and their lives.
As Hitler's power takes hold in Germany, Eli and Rebecca have to face up to the prejudice around them and the concerns of their families about their forbidden relationship.
'The Day The Flowers Died' is so much more than just a love story. It is a tale very relevant to the world we live in today, showing the destructive effects of prejudice and hatred on innocent people.
This book made me cry at the end.
A must read, for everyone.

I think it's available free on Kindle at Amazon at the moment, so make sure you get your copy. You won't regret it.

Look out for another pick from my favourites next month.

Happy reading!

I am thrilled to be introducing you to author Benjamin Jones today. I met Ben on Twitter quite a while ago when I ran a competition giving away hardback copies of my first novel Coincidences. He was one of the winners.

I recently read his latest novel Head Above Water, a romance with a twist of the paranormal. This fantasy tale is a fun and enthralling read, with a very unexpected ending. Ben has generously offered to give away some e-books to my blog readers, so to be in with a chance of winning a copy please either 'like' this blog post, or leave a comment for Ben below.

After reading his highly original new book, I wanted to find out more about this talented indie author. Here are the interview questions I sent him along with his replies:

1. Is there a particular author, or book, that inspired you to start writing?


Before I wanted to be a writer I wanted to be in the film business (specifically as a screenwriter and director) and I was HEAVILY influenced by Spike Lee so he was the one that really inspired me to write as I wanted to be just like him when I grew up.




When did you first discover your love of writing

I discovered my love of writing probably in middle school. Growing up in that particular time (before the internet and the emergence of cell phones to the masses like they are today), we didn't have a home phone so, in order to keep up with my school friends during the summer months I had to write letters as that was the only way that I could communicate with them (at least those that didn't live within walking distance to me). That was really when I got hit by the writing bug.


Do you have an tips for someone who is considering self-publishing their own book?

Be prepared to do EVERYTHING. The job doesn't stop when you finish the book - that's the easy part. The hard part is getting the word out and promotion and all of that good stuff. Another good thing is to find some peers on Twitter, Facebook, etc... that are self publishing and learn from them (both their successes and failures).

Your first published books were in the H.U.B. series Humanity's Ultimate Battle (H.U.B.) Volume 1 and 2 Collection, and Volume 3. I haven’t read those yet. I understand from your website that these books are about Vampires but ‘not the Twilight kind’. Can you tell us a bit more about the series and what inspired it.



The H.U.B. series is set in a world where vampires and humans co-exist in a very fragile "truce"; vampires are the minority and most of them simply want to live amongst the humans peacefully. There are certain people/groups on both sides that aren't happy living with each other and are willing to do anything, even provoke a war, to re-insert their dominance.

The series was inspired by what I perceived to be the watering down of vampires. The vampires you see in movies and television shows today are about romance and partying and all that good stuff but I wanted to take it back to the essence and show vampires as I always knew and loved them to be - bloodthirsty animals that only wanted blood. Once the idea was born it really took off and I had the first three volumes written within 18 months.



I read in the bio on your website that you describe yourself as and ‘independent’ author ‘for the time being’, and you go on to say that you don’t have an agent ‘at the moment’. Does that mean you’re actively seeking a publisher or agent? Tell us more about your aspirations for your future writing career. What’s your ultimate goal?

I think it's most everyone's dream as an aspiring author to be represented by an agent and to be in a big publishing house but, at the same time, the odds for that are very slim. Plus, you have to look at the economics of it all; you sign with a big publishing house and you'll sell more books (hopefully) but you're gonna get less and you'll have less control over the whole process. Being an independent author, I like being able to control when and how I want to release my books and doing things how I want to do them. I may sell less books but I get more of the profit and it's, at least for me, a greater sense of satisfaction in knowing that I wrote these books on my own and people are reading and enjoying them; it's a great feeling.

As for my ultimate goal - it's to continue to get better at my craft and build my fanbase one book/person at a time in the hopes that, one day, I can quit my corporate job and be able to live off of nothing but writing.

I’ve seen that you have taken part in a few blog talk radio interviews. Do you find that those types of interviews help with promoting your work? Have you found new readers through that medium, as far as you know?

Yes, I've done a few blog talk radio interviews and I think it does help promote your work as you never know who's listening to it. As far as I know I think those interviews have translated into a few new readers, which is great, but, at the same, I'm also hoping to inspire someone to work on their dream of being a writer by them listening to me and my story and them knowing that I'm just like them.

I understand that you are currently involved in a non-fiction Hip Hop book project with co-writer, Debbie Cunningham. Tell us what that’s about and how you got involved with this. What can Hip Hop fans expect from the book?

I got involved with the Hip-Hop book project through an interview that I had with Debbie Cunningham and her online blog/magazine entitled For The Masses. We follow each other on Twitter and we both were familiar with each other's taste in Hip-Hop music so, at the end of the interview, when she asked me if I would be interested in writing a book on Hip-Hop, I jumped on it.

As for what the book is about, it's simply two fans (Debbie and myself) profiling the Hip-Hop artists that we feel represent what Hip-Hop is to us. Hip-Hop fans can expect to get different takes on their favorite artists and also to read some interviews that we have conducted with some of the artists that we talk about in the book. It's gonna be really nice when it comes all together as you have Debbie who lives in New York and me who was born in Tennessee and currently lives in Dallas, and the different likes and dislikes that we have in regards to Hip-Hop. We tend to agree on a lot of the artists we talk about but, some, not so much. :-)

Is Hip Hop your favourite music? What bands are you listening to these days?

Hip-Hop is my favorite form of music but my interests in music are varied. My favorite artist is The Notorious B.I.G. and I love Jay-Z. Outside of Hip-Hop, I like Adele, Sade, Beyonce, Fiona Apple, Corinne Bailey Rae, etc...




I also read on your website that you’re working on a book called The Girl in the Red Balloon. What genre is that book, and can you tell us a little about it?

The Girl In The Red Balloon is, at it's heart, a romance, but there's another element to it, much like Head Above Water. As for what it's about, it's about how a note in a balloon sets off a very "interesting" relationship between two people that have never met each other before, both of which are "broken" in a sense.



I know that you’re involved in a separate project Clan of the Flying Pen, which I understand is a group of writers that have got together to release a book. Is this going to be an anthology of short stories in many genres, or is there a theme to the book? Do you have an anticipated release date?

The Clan of the Flying Pens is a group I put together with 4 other writers that I met on Twitter. Their is no theme to it, just a collection of our work (excerpts from novels, poetry, flash fiction, short stories, etc...) to give potential readers a taste for our writing and hopefully allow one (hopefully all) of us to sell some more books and get some more shine in the industry. I call it a big writing gumbo as you're getting so many different tastes of things from 5 very different writers and it's gonna be great when it's all said and done.

As for a release date, all of the work has been submitted and everything so I would anticipate a late spring/early summer release.

You have book trailers for the H.U.B. book series. What’s your opinion about the effectiveness of book trailers as a promotional tool, and have you ever been influenced to buy a book after watching the trailer?

I'm kinda torn on book trailers. They do serve their purpose of getting people to notice the book and what not but I would have to say that I've really never been influenced to buy a book after watching a trailer. I'm more influenced by the synopsis and, if that catches me, then I'm good.

Your latest book, Head Above Water is a wonderful romantic novel with a twist of the supernatural/paranormal. I really enjoyed it. Hopefully I’m not giving too much away by saying that I noticed one of the themes in the book strikes me as quite similar to the H.U.B. series in the sense of ‘we are not alone’, there are other types of ‘humans’ on the planet (of course in H.U.B. they’re Vampires). Is this something that you believe, or is your inspiration purely derived from imagination?



The similarities between H.U.B. and Head Above Water was purely coincidental and was/is inspired purely from imagination. But, do I believe that there could be "others" out there (i.e. aliens), I would be hard pressed to rule it out. The universe is a big place and who knows what could be lurking out there waiting to be discovered?

Head Above Water is a very romantic novel, I especially found Darryl, the lead male character, to be romantic. Leena and Darryl are portrayed as soulmates. Do you believe in true love?

As a romantic at heart, I am prone to believe in true love but I often struggle with the concept of there only being "one" person out there for someone; I feel if that were the case then people would only get married once and stay married. I tend to believe that there are several individuals that someone could find "true love" because, as we grow and mature, sometimes our ideals of love can change and what used to be true isn't any longer.

I felt that the ending of Head Above Water left the possibility that there could be a sequel. Is this something you had in mind when writing the book? Or, if not, do you have plans to write a sequel?

When I initially wrote the book I had never really intended for it to be a sequel but, the more I worked on it, my ideas started to change a bit. I have a few thoughts swimming around in my head in regards to where a potential sequel could go but, right now, I'm happy with where things are in the book. Ask me again in six months, I may change that answer. LOL

I read that you have been working on Head Above Water for many years, changing bits until you were happy with it. How long in total did it take to write the book?

I would say all in all, I worked on Head Above Water off and on for a decade; putting it down, picking it back up and editing, etc..., etc... At one time I had tried to find an agent and get published the traditional way with the book and I got rejection letter after rejection letter. I kept tinkering with it until I was happy with it and that is what I released. It helped that I learned a lot by putting out the H.U.B. series and getting the little bit of success with that definitely made me feel better about putting Head Above Water out.

Who are your favourite authors and what is it about their writing that you like?

Stephen King is my all time favorite; he's the master at what he does. I grew up reading his books and watching the movies of his and was in amazement in all of the great stories he was able to tell.





I'm a big fan of a writing friend of mine named Reena Jacobs who wrote a WONDERFUL book entitled I Loved You First; I just loved everything about the book and her characters were so well written and made me care about them. By being able to network on social media I've been able to read so many good books by independent authors such as myself and they all inspire me as there are some GREAT writers out there.

Is there a book you own that you’ve read more than once?

Yes, The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King which is my favorite book. The story is just so different from his other works and there's just something about it that I love.

Are you reading a book at the moment?

I just finished reading 11/22/63 by, again, Stephen King which was fantastic. I do have 4 books from my writing friends that I need to read, though.

What do you think of e-books as opposed to print books?

As a reader I'm still the type of guy that prefers to have a physical book in my hand but I'm coming around to the idea of e-books. As a writer, the importance of e-books can't be stated enough. E-books allow authors like myself to reach a wider audience at less cost to us which is always a bonus.

What is your opinion of the new Amazon KDP Select option for authors? Are you planning to try it out?

I think for someone more established the Amazon KDP Select program is good but, for someone like myself who needs to get my book in as many different places as I can, it doesn't appeal to me. It doesn't help that I sell the majority of my books via the Nook anyway (for whatever reason that is) so, I'm not liking the appeal of having my book in only one place for a certain amount of time.

How important are reviews for you as a writer?

Reviews, to me, are the life blood of any book, especially from an "unknown" writer like myself. Reviews are like word of mouth and the right buzz can do wonders.

How do you go about choosing a cover for your books?

Once I finish a book I usually have an idea of which scene/idea from the book that I think will signify something special enough to be on the cover. I was fortunate enough to find a very good cover designer named Chris Leepow that is awesome at taking my ideas and turning them into a great looking cover.

Do you have any upcoming events or news you’d like to share with your readers?

On March 3rd I will be in Oklahoma City, OK promoting my H.U.B. series at the Underground Monster Carnival. Also, on March 24th I will be conducting a live radio interview that can be heard at 6 AM EST (I know it's early! LOL) with Mr. Marc Medley at http://gobrave.org . Readers can always keep up with me by visiting my Event-Calendar

Where can people buy your books?

My books can be found via the following:
Purchase links
All e-book at $0.99 each

Paperback of H.U.B. Volumes 1 & 2 are available for $10 (autographed) via the website

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Thank you, Ben!!

Remember, if you'd like the chance to win an e-book of Head Above Water, leave a comment below, or simply 'like' this post :)
Good luck! Winners will be picked on 24th February 2012.

It's nearly upon us, Valentines Day. For those of you in a happy relationship who may be wondering what to buy your other half, books always make a good gift. Maybe you're feeling even more generous and are thinking of buying an e-book reader for your loved one?
Anyway, I know that times are still hard for most of us, so I have reduced the price of all my Kindle books in the run-up to Valentines Day in case you want to grab a bargain.

Here's a link to my Amazon page: Amazon's Maria Savva Page

I even have a book with hearts on the cover! Love and Loyalty and there are a couple of romantic stories in that one.







My book, Fusion, includes a story called 'The Valentine's Card' which is most appropriate for this time of year :)










For the hopeless romantic in your life, you may prefer my bestselling book (that's bestselling in the sense of it sells more than my other books, not it's a bestseller - I wish!!) A Time to Tell This is a family saga, but at its core is the idea of true love.









My novels Second Chances and The Dream both contain a healthy dose of romance.










In my short story collection Pieces of a Rainbow (currently free on kindle), there is a story 'Forever Blue' which is very romantic, if a little poignant.









I hope you will consider purchasing one of my books -- now at the low, low price of $0.99 or £0.71 on Kindle. The prices will go up again after Valentines Day.

I wish you all a very Happy Valentines Day, whether you are single, married, or in a relationship. I hope you enjoy the day.

Freado is a book marketing website that helps independent authors promote their books.

This summer they are having a festival where you can enter to win books. There are over 200 books up for grabs, including my novel Second Chances.






Second Chances is a romantic drama rather than your typical romance novel. You won't find a hero and a heroine, or anyone tearing anyone else's clothes off, but you'll find old fashioned love in between its pages. It's about a couple who are clearly in love with each other but who are facing a point in their relationship where the demands of modern living threaten to tear them apart. Not only that, but there is a secret that requires an explanation. It's a book that explores the couple's emotions introspectively. It's partly inspired from my years working as a divorce lawyer. It also contains a good dose of humour to hopefully entertain as well as paint a portrait of the reality of modern life.


You can find out all about the festival here:

http://www.freado.com/romancefestival/

My book's page on the website is here: Second Chances : http://www.freado.com/bid/1729/second...

If you'd like to take part in the festival and try to win my book, you will get 500 bonus points by using this Code “ROMANCE”.

Good luck, and enjoy the festival!

So far this year I have chosen the following books as my favourites:

January: The Day the Flowers Died by Ami Blackwelder -- a tear-jerker/historical Romance

February: Caviar Dreams by Judy Nichols -- murder/mystery with characters you can believe in.

March: Horse Latitudes by Quentin R. Bufogle -- a laugh-out-loud insightful book that everyone can relate to.

April: Into The Light by Darcia Helle -- a humourous suspense/mystery/paranormal novel

May: Rock Fiction selection: Metallic Dreams by Mark Rice, 33 Days: Touring In A Van. Sleeping On Floors. Chasing A Dream. by Bill See, Pixels of Young Mueller by Jerry Schwartz, B-Sides and Broken Hearts by Caryn Rose, and Ladies and Gentlemen...The Redeemers, by Michael Scott Miller

June: Beyond My Control: One Man's Struggle with Epilepsy, Seizure Surgery and Beyond by Stuart Ross McCallum

My selection for July is a masterpiece by an author who, in my opinion, is one of the finest authors writing today.





Breathing into Stone by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick, is a book that takes the reader away to another place and time. It's a historical romance novel. Here's the review I wrote when I read it:

This is a spellbinding work of fiction. The characters come alive on the page and become real; the reader is a spectator watching their lives unfold. I feel like I know the little town of Resceto and would be able to find my way from Anoria's house to Pia and Tito's house. I could see the sculptures in the garden and in front of the church. In fact I would love to visit. When I reached the last page, I felt it was time to say goodbye to friends... I didn't want it to end. Anoria was so real and so enigmatic that I wanted to be able to follow her life for ever.
Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick has documented the lives of fictional characters, but in doing so he seems to have created another world somewhere back in time, a captivating and enchanting world that welcomes the reader and takes them far away.
Antonio Lisi is a master sculptor. He is said to breathe life into stone when he creates angels and religious sculptures and other work that is commissioned. Many of his sculptures look like his daughter, Anoria. Particularly the sculpture of The Lady which stands outside the church in Resceto. The author allows us to glimpse into the world of this master sculptor, shrouded in mystery and superstition. For years, Antonio has not allowed his daughter to watch him work. He has his reasons, but in keeping her away from the marble she loves, he has kept her in an arrested state, almost as if she were a piece of his marble not yet transformed to life. Anoria is blessed with the same talent as her father of being able to see the figures in the stone work before they are created, but more so; she seems to have an understanding of marble that no one else possesses. Her beauty captures the heart of a priest, Novia, who has become bitter and angry and is now feared by all. Novia tries to plot against Antonio Lisi with the aim of fleeing the church which he feels has kept him captive, when his unhealthy obsession with Anoria takes over his mind.
You will find drama, humour and wisdom within the pages of 'Breathing into Stone.' Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick has created a masterpiece. His characters may breathe life into stone when they chip away at marble, but Kirkpatrick breathes life onto paper when he writes.

I hope you'll add Breathing into Stone to your to-read list! You won't regret it!

Today, I welcome back to my blog an author I admire very much. She has published three novels, all in different genres, and all are excellent. I recently found time to read her book, Molly Hacker Is Too Picky!. It's a romantic comedy that will appeal to fans of chick lit, and anyone who likes contemporary fiction.



After reading the book, I was keen to invite Lisette over here for a chat.

She has generously agreed to give away 2 e-book copies of Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! I've set up a Rafflecopter giveaway for this contest; you can enter by following the link: Winners will be picked on 30th April 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Here's the interview:

I absolutely loved Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! It's chick lit, I suppose, but grown up chick lit; I couldn't help thinking as I was reading it that it would make a wonderful romantic comedy in the cinema. The style is very different from your other two books. What made you decide to write a chick lit type novel?

First, thank you for your very kind words, Maria. Many people have told me that they could envision Molly as a feature film. She’s still waiting to be discovered. Yes, the style of this book is quite different from my other two novels. A very honest answer to your question: I got the idea to write Molly in 2006, before it was feasible to publish independently. I chose to write chick lit because I saw so much of it selling. But then, in late 2007, I discovered that I could publish on my own, so I set the book aside. I first published my novel Crooked Moon, and then Squalor, New Mexico. After I had done that, I thought about the 65K words I had already written for this chick lit book called Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! I liked what I reread and decided to finish it.

You have written three books and all are different in style, with Crooked Moon being more geared towards an adult readership; Squalor, New Mexico, a young adult novel, and finally Molly is a chick lit/rom com book. One thing that shines through in all your novels, in my opinion, are your observational skills about human behaviour and motivation. This, to me, makes your books among the best I've read. The characterisation is so realistic. How do you go about developing your characters?



I love a good story, but I relate to people first, situations second. I have always been fascinated by human nature. As we all know, fact is always stranger than fiction. It’s funny that I couldn’t even fictionalize some of the situations I see in real life because readers would find them too far-fetched! That said, I take a lot of mental notes about the actions and characteristics of people everywhere. I’m a people-watcher, for sure. I like seeing what makes people tick and what ticks people off.

Fact is definitely stranger than fiction. I totally relate to that, having had comments about stuff I've written in my own books, taken from real life, where people have said in reviews "it's unrealistic, that would never happen." Um... it did... LOL

Molly Hacker, as everyone knows by now, is too picky. Are you picky about anything?

Oh, my, Maria. Yes, I’m picky about a lot of things and easygoing about others. I am picky about people who aren’t professional when they should be. I’m picky about my work (but so are most authors, yes?)

Oh, yes! Definitely. We have to be picky about our own work.


Leading up to your release of Molly's book, you created a website for the character and some wonderful videos on YouTube introducing her. Molly also did a series of interviews with authors and other artists (myself being one of the lucky interviewees!). How successful was that pre-launch promotion, and would you recommend that type of thing to other indie authors?

Yes, for eight months, I blogged as Molly. Every week, I published a new blog with original artwork (by Charles Roth) or original photos. This was one of the most time-consuming things I have ever done with my life. And because I am so picky about my work, I labored over finding just the right topics to present each week. And yes, simultaneously, also as Molly, who is a reporter, I interviewed creative people on another part of the website. It was an experience; I’ll say that much. People really loved the blogs, but I can tell you that I would never do it again. (By the way, all of the blogs and interviews are still up for the world to see at www.mollyhacker.com.)

I was lucky enough to be interviewed by Molly, if anyone is interested in checking that out, by the way.

Lisette, you've been promoting your work online for a few years now, do you have any tips as to what works best and what doesn't work when it comes to marketing a book?

I often hear people say, “I prefer Facebook to Twitter, so I just market there.” They’re both social media sites, but as you know, they work quite differently. I do have a Facebook author page and regularly post content about my work, authors who I am interviewing (and vice versa), and topics of interest to readers/writers. But my personal Facebook page is really a place for friends. I share news, but I don’t like to do very much promotion there.

Twitter, for the most part, is a better place for promotion. It is great because you can make relationships with people all over the world without having to be personal Facebook friends. But there has to be a balance. Neither Facebook nor Twitter exists solely as a place to advertise your work. It’s like any other community. If you don’t care about other people, nobody is going to care about you. Every tweet should not be about your work. If it is, you’ll turn people off quickly. I recently wrote a lengthy blog about how to use and not use Twitter that is on my website. I support authors like you, Maria, who care about others and cross-promote. I don’t care how great someone’s work is; I am just turned off by the it’s-all-about-me kind of person.

Hear, hear!

I also think that book bloggers and well-read review sites help writers tremendously. I think it’s good to diversify, throw things up against the wall of the universe and see what sticks.

Ha, ha!


Are you working on any other books at the moment?

Yes, I am. I am working on a YA paranormal set in the California desert.



Ooh... paranormal. Different again! I like that :)

If you had the opportunity to have one of your books made into a film, which one would you choose, and why?

Oh, that is a really tough question! I’m going to say that Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! would be my choice only because I think it would have the most commercial success. 



Molly has some hilarious dialogue, and is in essence a comedy. Who are you favourite comedians?

Comedy is something I’m very picky about. I don’t really have any favorite comedians, though I do like Steven Wright quite a bit. I can watch one comedian after another and not laugh even though I appreciate their talent. I think the people who make me laugh are the ones who best know how to poke fun at real life. Billy Connolly is quite funny, and I enjoyed seeing him in the film Quartet.


As mentioned above, all of your books so far have been different in style. Which was the hardest to write, which was the easiest, and which was the most fun?

Molly was easily the most difficult to write. For one, as stated earlier, I stopped writing it to publish two other books, then came back to it. So I had to completely immerse myself back into the book and all of its tiny details in order to get it right. As you know, Molly is dating four men, pining over a lost love, fighting with the town socialite, working hard to keep her love life a secret from well-intentioned but interfering gal pals, and sharing her romantic adventures with her co-worker and friend, Randy. There’s a lot going on, and I wanted to make sure that it all came together well and was easy to follow. I kept careful track of all of the details. My other two novels were more emotional to write but easier.



How long did it take to write Molly?

Because I stopped in 2007 and started again in 2009, I’m not sure how long it took. At least a year. And that is only because I had so many things going on at the time—like a cross-country move.


I know you have qualifications in acting. If you could star as one of your characters in a film, who would you choose?

I would choose someone else to play the roles! But the one I think I could best portray would be Frankie in Crooked Moon.




What's the nicest thing someone has said about Molly Hacker Is Too Picky!?

Oh, my, that’s a tough one! There has been so much great feedback and many wonderful reviews. I think what makes me happiest is when people have said that they really related to the characters, laughed a lot, and loved the ending. 



I loved the cat character in Molly. Was he based on a cat that you own or have owned?

As you know, Maria, there were cats in Crooked Moon, but they were just supporting players. Molly’s Captain Jack is a leading man! He was partially based on my beloved Saki, a cat I had for over 20 years. But Jack is his own man.



Molly has quite a few suitors throughout the course of the book. Are any of the men based on people you've known, or were they all entirely fictional?

For the most part, entirely fictional. But of course, there are bits and pieces of some of the men who remind me of real-life people.


Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! is written in the first person, and often when books are written in that way, the reader can begin to think that the writer is speaking through the character; almost like it's a memoir. How much of you is there in Molly?

I don’t think I could’ve written this book in the third person. It wouldn’t have worked. Molly insisted on being up close and personal with her readers, and I agreed with her. I’m like Molly in some ways but not in others. I’m definitely very unlike Molly dating-wise. We’re very different there. Like Molly, I can tend to be overanalytical and drive myself nuts on some topics. I am also like Molly in that I don’t suffer fools gladly. But she is definitely her own woman. And she has a lot more energy!


Do you have any other news you'd like to share with your readers?

Yes, thank you. I recently published a book of my mother’s poetry. It’s called My Way to Anywhere by Jean Lisette Brodey. It’s a collection of poetry that my mother wrote as a young woman, before she reentered the workforce and became a university professor. I’ve blogged about my mother and the book here: http://bit.ly/Xh1KTX



Yes, I have a copy of that book on my Kindle and am looking forward to reading it!

Thanks for coming back for a chat, Lisette, you've been great as usual!

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Well, two actually! Both by the same author.

Two of Jaleta Clegg's books are free for Kindle this weekend!!

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Happy Reading!

Today, I'm excited to be introducing you to one of the friendliest and most supportive authors I've met online. Tara Ford not only writes great fiction, she also helps support her fellow indie authors with promotion on her blog.

After reading the wonderful Calling All Dentists I was keen to interview Tara about the book and her writing life in general.








So, without further ado, here's the interview:






In Calling All Dentists you have two female characters who are best friends, but have totally opposite personalities. Which one of the two girls would you say is more like you?

I think that I am more like Emma than Ruby. Ruby is a very sweet girl but far too nice to be considered anything like me. She is somewhat naive too and hopefully I have a little more grounding and experience than she does.

I can empathize with Emma and her fears but I'm not sure I would be as brave as her when it comes to the bottom line.


Emma has a terrible fear of dentists. Is that taken from your own experience or someone you know?

Oh, that would most definitely be taken from my own experiences of dentists over the years - I was terrified of them. I really could never understand why though. After all, a dentist is hardly ever going to tell you some terrible news about your health, like a doctor could!

While I was writing 'Calling All Dentists' it became apparent to me that there were so many people I knew who hated dentists and had real fears about them. I was relieved to find that I wasn't the only one.

I'm also terrified of dentists!

The book is the second in a series although it reads well as a stand alone book. I enjoyed it very much even though I haven't read the first one yet. Are you planning more books in the series?





Yes, there are two more books in the series, 'Calling All Customers' (due out at the end of this year) and then the last book is 'Calling All Neighbours'.

The series of Calling All... books are based around the lives of one family (the Frey family) but the stories are not always directly related to the Frey's and their lives. 'Calling All Customers', in particular, is related to the Frey family in an indirect way, i.e. the book isn't actually about them but they are there somewhere.... The other exception is that the first book, 'Calling All Services' is set ten years before the other three books. Are you confused yet? I am!

A bit! LOL :)

Incidentally, I now have the firm base for my fifth book which is very exciting. I can't write the others quick enough to get on to the fifth one!

That's great!

Apart from the 'Calling All...' series, are you working on any other projects?

Oops - think I just answered that one in the previous question. Well I'm not actually working on it (apart from in my head).

I have also been asked to write a biography for someone which really surprised me. I felt quite honoured to be asked actually and I'm in the early stages of talks about this exciting venture.

Intriguing... I look forward to finding out more about that.

How long have you been writing?

Er... I learnt to write when I was about 4, so I guess it's been for ** years. On a serious note, I've dabbled in writing, bits and pieces, for years. I always wanted to write a novel but could never think of what to write. Now I have come to realise that I was looking too hard all of those years and actually, the subjects/genre/style were right under my nose all of the time.

What would you say is the best thing about being a writer?

The best thing about being a writer is letting my overloaded brain explode out through my fingers and in to a Word document, in the form of words. I am quite a shy person, contrary to popular belief, and have always found it so much easier to communicate through word, rather than speech. I sometimes think that the internet, or more specifically social networks, were created for me and others like me who are able to express themselves easier through written words.

And the worst?

The worst thing about being a writer is doubt. I hear or read a lot about 'writer's block' and yet (touch wood), I haven't experienced it yet. The worst thing for me is wondering and worrying about whether people will like my writing. I am well aware that there will always be those who don't like it but in general we all want it to be liked - right? I suppose that I worry too much about it and possibly have a slight insecurity about what I'm writing sometimes. Perhaps all writers do?

Or am I just a wimp?

I think all writers have that :)

Have you read any books recently that you would recommend? What was it about that particular book or books that you most enjoyed?

I've stepped back almost 40 years just recently. I've been reading some of my childhood favourites, like 'Charlotte's Web' (which incidentally, has now helped me to overcome my fear of spiders... well up to a certain size of spider anyway... I'm working on the bigger ones). I've also just re-read 'The Secret Garden' which I didn't enjoy so much this time around and almost wish I could have left it in my memory dump from years ago and not read it.



I now have a long list of books that I want to read and they are all staring at me from my Kindle - Help! I don't know where to start...

A familiar feeling!

When choosing a book to read do you have a favourite genre, or are you open to trying any genre?

My usual choice of genre is chicklit/romantic comedy. I am open to trying other genres (except maybe horror, due to my 'wimpish' nature) and have read some true and sometimes really inspirational stories in the past too. So, as long as you're not scaring me, I'll have a go at anything.

Put these influencing factors in order from the most important to the least important when you're looking for a new book to read: Characters, Genre, Writing style, Cover, Blurb, Author, Price.

Genre, Author, Cover, Blurb, Characters, Writing style, Price.

What do you think of the current trend of writers giving books away free?

I used to think that this was a cheap and tacky, almost desperate thing to do. I couldn't understand why an author would work so hard to write a novel over a long period of time (whether it be 9 months or 9 years), just to give it away for free.

However, now I do understand this concept as I have done it myself. I read somewhere, some while ago, about the power of free promotions to gain a fan base from where to start working and marketing from. It worked for me in the sense that my free book was downloaded over 3,000 times, in just a few days. What was more exciting and unexpected was the fact that my other book started selling at a daily rate, tenfold to previous sales figures. This has now happened twice for me and I will do it again in the future.

I must stress that these free promotions are only temporary promotions, lasting no more than 5 days and I'm happy with that set up each quarter, throughout the year. I do wonder though, what is the purpose of permanently free books to the authors who wrote them?

I know some authors who have one book permanently free as a sample of their work. I suppose that would work where the author always writes in the same genre, or where the freebie is the first book in a series.

What's your favourite genre to write?

Definitely comedy with some romance thrown in... or is it romance with some comedy thrown in? Not sure which way round but I hope you get the gist of it.

Do you do your best writing in the day or night?



I'm a day person, more specifically, a morning person. It all goes downhill at around 10am. By 7pm I'm an internet zombie, stunned in to a death-like state of immobility as I stare at other people's conversations on Facebook, watch numerous, sometimes pointless, video clips that jump out at me from the newsfeed, about all sorts of weird and wonderful things and then I trawl through the mountains of notifications, messages and general mayhem on Twitter. The internet is the bane of my life and the modern form of procrastination.

Some writers like music in the background when writing, others (me included) prefer silence. What is your preference?

I go for silence for 2 reasons. Firstly, I don't often get it in my busy household, therefore it's the ideal excuse not to write and to further my career in procrastination. Secondly, when it is silent and I do have to write, I can hear the characters in my head clearer. They may be talking to me or having conversations amongst themselves but at least I can hear what they're saying. Weird or what?

Hahahaha!

If you could meet one of the characters from your books and spend a day with him/her, who would you choose and what would you do?

I really liked Ruby from 'Calling All Dentists' and would love to spend a day with her. I would take her shopping to buy some outlandish clothing, sunbathe on a nudist beach (purely for the shock factor - both the shockingly, horrified looks of passers by [I'm not as sleek as I used to be] and to shock Ruby), encourage her to play 'Knock door run' with me, make some crank phone-calls, get extremely drunk in a local nightclub and 'pull' a one-night-stand. Hopefully after all of that, Ruby would be a little more worldly-wise and 'up for a laugh'.

Many authors write much of their fiction inspired by their own life experiences. How much of your own life goes into your fiction?

Quite a bit actually. I think of something that may have happened to me, or someone I know, but usually me. Then I twist it and turn it, take bits out, put other bits in (usually funny bits) and then scramble it all back together and throw it at a wall, just to splatter it a little further. I then scoop it all up and chuck it into a word document. I hope that's not reflected too much in my books, lol.

If you could invite 3 authors to dinner (can include authors from the past) who would you choose and what would you cook?

For a start I am the world's worst cook - I can burn a jelly! So I would hope that the 3 authors would be kind and forgiving. I would probably cheat due to my culinary inadequacies and either ask Mr Fordie (who is a wonderful cook) to pretend to be a hired cook for the evening (I'm sure he'd be up for that) or nip to the local take-away.

My 3 authors would be, Sophie Kinsella - I adore her and love her books. She seems to be a shy-ish person (like me) and I'm sure we would connect. Carole Matthews would be my next choice, she appears to be very outgoing, lively and fun and her books are fabutastic. She could bring me out of my little coconut shell. My final choice would be Roald Dahl, purely because I am so intrigued by his lifestyle, his shed (I would quite like one too) and his writing, I would love to know where his ideas came from. He would probably be the centre of attention actually, thus deflecting from the take-away or the fact that I had to get someone else to cook for me!

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Write, write, write... and keep writing. Don't give up on those 'bad days'. Keep at it and believe in yourself. I am completely sure that if I can do it, then anyone can. Another thing that I would say is, get your name known, well before your first book comes out. Social networking is an absolute must, particularly if you are going to be an independently published author.

It's a very good idea to set up a website/blog for yourself too. This is a window for interested readers/fans to go and take a peep through. I believe that the readers want to get to know you a little more, if they like your work.

I'm a great believer in 'what goes around, comes around', hence I do a lot of promotional work to help other authors too. I think this helps me as well.

How much research did you have to do for Calling All Dentists?



I did a little research for 'Calling All Dentists'. Luckily, I like my dentist, who I've been with for 3 years now and I used my experiences with her in either a negative or positive way (back to the 'chucking ideas at the wall' again). I've had some terrible experiences in the past and also my fair share of toothy problems so again, it all went up the wall.

Do you have any news for your readers?

Er... I think I've probably blown this question by waffling in previous questions. I'm looking forward to the release of my third book, 'Calling All Customers' at the end of this year. I'm hoping that it will be the best one yet. A fun read!

I will be going part time when I go back to school in September - yay! All thanks to Mr Fordie's kindly supportive role as husband-type-thing. So I hope to be able to write a lot more and procrastinate a lot less. I may well be banning myself from the internet for a certain amount of time each day, just so that I don't waste any more time. I can also catch up with the ironing!

Sounds wonderful, and I'm looking forward to reading more of your books!


Keep up with Tara Ford's news at the following links:

Author Website: http://taraford.weebly.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rata2e

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/Tara.Ford...

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

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/rata2e2/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/tara-for...

I'm excited to be telling you all about Jennifer Lane's new release, Blocked. I've known Jen online for a few years now. She was one of the regulars at the BestsellerBound forum in the early days, and she's a wonderful writer and friend. I have everything you need to know about her new release here, as well as an excerpt and a guest post from Jen. You'll also be pleased to know that she's running a giveaway on her Facebook page... keep reading to find out more.




New Adult Contemporary/Sports Romance
Released October 21, 2014

Buy from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Blocked-Jennife...

About the book:

College freshman Lucia Ramirez has a secret crush on Dane Monroe. He’s a tall drink of water — blond, brash, and one hell of a volleyball player. Hijole. Lucia hopes her volleyball scholarship to his school will make him notice her.
Too bad what’s noticeable is Dane’s obvious hatred for Lucia. Her family’s politics contradict everything he stands for. And politics are front and center in both their families. Dane’s mother is about to face Lucia’s father in the race for US President.

When Secret Service throws them together, Dane can’t deny his frustrating attraction to Lucia’s athletic curves and sweet faith in the world. Amid the intense pressure of college athletics and presidential politics, can opposites not just attract, but overcome overwhelming odds to be together? Or do their differences block their match from the start?

Here's a guest post from the author:

Writing Blocked

Lucia opened the door. "They say not to discuss politics and religion on the first date."



“Well, then.” I gave her a huge smile. “We’re screwed.”

~*~

Has a political opinion on social media ever made your blood boil? Have you struggled to tolerate friends’ opposing political views? There’s a bitter political divide in many countries, including the US, and those polarized philosophies inspired the story of Blocked.

Heroine Lucia Ramirez and hero Dane Monroe view the world in opposite ways but are thrown together as their parents compete for the US presidency. Underhanded national politics are hardly the place for a trusting relationship to begin, but can love bridge the gap of mistrust and hatred?

The theme of forbidden love intrigues me. Lucia’s conservative father, the Republican nominee for US President, would be horrified to learn of his daughter’s crush on his liberal opponent’s son Dane. Dane and his mother, the Democratic nominee for US President, believe that harsh conservative ideals thwart the American dream.

One lesson from my psychology career is that perception is reality. Democrats see the world quite differently from Republicans, and both groups are hell-bent on proving they’re right. Dane wants equality for all. Lucia stands for individual responsibility. Which philosophy is better? Which will persevere in the next election?

Sometimes, political discussion becomes heated. It gets ugly. In contrast, I tried my hardest to present each viewpoint fairly in this story. Readers and editors from both sides of the aisle critiqued the manuscript, and one reason I self-published the novel was to preserve a delicate balance of political views between Dane and Lucia.

Despite their political differences, Lucia and Dane share one thing in common: volleyball. Both are scholarship volleyball players at a top university, vying to earn a spot on the US national team one day. In addition to swimming, I played volleyball at a small college, and my love for this sport bleeds onto the pages. To smash a perfectly set volleyball down the opponent’s throat? There’s nothing more satisfying. And the closeness of a team is one of life’s special pleasures, experienced by Lucia and Dane.

I hope you enjoy the political and sport elements in Blocked.



***************

Thanks, Jen. Sounds intriguing, doesn't it?

To whet your appetite even more, here's a teaser from "Blocked".


Excerpt from the book:

But ever since I’d seen Dane on TV a year ago, I’d been infatuated. His mother had spoken at a Highbanks rally, and she’d invited him and his little sister up on stage at the end of her speech. Tall, fit, and tan, his blond hair shining in the stage lights, he’d grinned and waved to the crowd. “I love this state so much my son Dane is a scholarship volleyball player here!” Senator Monroe had crowed. I’d leaned closer to the TV and felt my heart flutter. That Adonis plays my sport? He couldn’t have been more perfect, and I’d devoured media coverage of him ever since.

Now that I’d met him in person, my dream of being his girl had shattered.
Boxes and gym bags littered the thick carpet of the bedroom, and I knew I should get up to unpack. When my Secret Service agents had offered to help me set up my room, I’d waved them off, citing fatigue. But really, I’d known I was seconds from a meltdown, and I couldn’t let them see me cry.

When a growl gurgled in my stomach, I realized I hadn’t eaten dinner yet. More tears fell — I had no clue where the kitchen was in this place. And it wasn’t like Dane would graciously give me the grand tour. Not to mention I wanted to avoid having him see me eat. He probably already thought I ate like a pig, given my size.

With a sigh, I covered my eyes with my forearm. I was even too tired to dig out my mp3 player and listen to some Neil Diamond. It wasn’t quite eight p.m., but maybe I should crash early and put this awful first day at Highbanks behind me. At least I knew the next day couldn’t get any worse.

************


Now for the giveaway!

GIVEAWAY

Jennifer Lane is giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card on her Facebook page for the release! You can enter here: http://tinyurl.com/otc3vhm

About the Author:



Get psyched for romance with psychologist/author (psycho author) Jennifer Lane! By day she witnesses growth in her psychotherapy clients, and by night she wrangles misbehaving fictional characters as she writes sports romance and romantic suspense with a psychological twist. She can’t decide which is more fun.
 
A swimmer and volleyball player in college, Jen wove some of her own experiences into Streamline—a military mystery about swimmers. And readers can dip their toes into Jen’s world of swimming romance by sampling her free New Adult novella Swim Recruit.
 
College volleyball romance Blocked is Jen’s newest release,launching 10-21-14.

Peek inside big-time college sports and even bigger national politics when the offspring of two presidential candidates find out whether opposites really do attract, or their match is blocked from the start.
 
Stories of redemption interest Jen the most, especially the healing power of love. She is also the author of The Conduct Series, a romantic suspense trilogy that includes With Good Behavior, Bad Behavior, and On Best Behavior. Ultimately, whether writing or reading, Jen loves stories that make her laugh and cry.

In her spare time she enjoys exercising, attending book club, hanging out with her plus-size, “I’m not fat, I’m big-boned” Izzie cat, and visiting her sisters and their families in Chicago and Hilton Head.

HYPERLINK

Website: http://jenniferlanebooks.com
Blog: http://jenniferlanebooks.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.lan...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenLanebooks