Kayla Marie's Blog: Love and Writing
October 10, 2017
"What if you're exactly what I'm looking for?"
An excerpt from Survivor,
the second book in Kayla Marie's Sweet Home Dixie series.
“Are you sure you don’t have anything better to do?” Avery asked.Reid seemed to think about it for half a second. “Nope.” An amused smiled played on his lips. “Eager to get rid of me?”“No… it’s just…” She looked down at her shoes, suddenly at a loss for words.He tilted his head. “It’s just, what?”She shifted her weight uncomfortably as she wrung her hands. Reid watched her, his amusement growing with every second of her silence. She drew in a breath and let the words fly. “All of a sudden it’s like you…” Another deep breath. “You kind of make me nervous.”“Is that why you’re doing the potty dance?”Her cheeks warmed and she crossed her arms over her chest, regretting her honesty.His expression turned darker and he took a step toward her. “Why do I make you nervous, Avery?”Heat spread down her neck to her chest and all the way to her fingertips. Still, she didn’t step back or look away as he pinned her with his gaze. She swallowed. “You make me… feel things.”His eyes smoldered with intensity and—hope? “What kinds of things?”“Real things. Even… dirty things.” Her cheeks warmed further as the words spilled out. His eyes widened slightly as his breath hitched. He took another step toward her. “So, what’s stopping you?”“Right now, I’m not entirely sure.” She licked her lips and dropped her gaze to his mouth. Ever since that night in his truck, she’d wondered what it would be like to kiss him, and right now the urge was stronger than ever.He leaned closer to her, inch by agonizing inch. Though he reached out to touch her cheek, he seemed to think better of it and dropped his hand to his side. He closed his eyes as if searching for strength, his brow creasing.“You deserve more than I can give you, Avery.” He took two steps back, his expression pained. “You deserve better than someone like me.”Her heart raced and her senses were on high alert. For some inexplicable reason, Reid made her feel alive, maybe even happy, something she hadn’t experienced in far too long. “But what if you’re exactly what I’m looking for?”
To read more, get your copy of Survivor here
For more about Kayla Marie's books, visit her website at www.kaylamariebooks.com
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the second book in Kayla Marie's Sweet Home Dixie series.
“Are you sure you don’t have anything better to do?” Avery asked.Reid seemed to think about it for half a second. “Nope.” An amused smiled played on his lips. “Eager to get rid of me?”“No… it’s just…” She looked down at her shoes, suddenly at a loss for words.He tilted his head. “It’s just, what?”She shifted her weight uncomfortably as she wrung her hands. Reid watched her, his amusement growing with every second of her silence. She drew in a breath and let the words fly. “All of a sudden it’s like you…” Another deep breath. “You kind of make me nervous.”“Is that why you’re doing the potty dance?”Her cheeks warmed and she crossed her arms over her chest, regretting her honesty.His expression turned darker and he took a step toward her. “Why do I make you nervous, Avery?”Heat spread down her neck to her chest and all the way to her fingertips. Still, she didn’t step back or look away as he pinned her with his gaze. She swallowed. “You make me… feel things.”His eyes smoldered with intensity and—hope? “What kinds of things?”“Real things. Even… dirty things.” Her cheeks warmed further as the words spilled out. His eyes widened slightly as his breath hitched. He took another step toward her. “So, what’s stopping you?”“Right now, I’m not entirely sure.” She licked her lips and dropped her gaze to his mouth. Ever since that night in his truck, she’d wondered what it would be like to kiss him, and right now the urge was stronger than ever.He leaned closer to her, inch by agonizing inch. Though he reached out to touch her cheek, he seemed to think better of it and dropped his hand to his side. He closed his eyes as if searching for strength, his brow creasing.“You deserve more than I can give you, Avery.” He took two steps back, his expression pained. “You deserve better than someone like me.”Her heart raced and her senses were on high alert. For some inexplicable reason, Reid made her feel alive, maybe even happy, something she hadn’t experienced in far too long. “But what if you’re exactly what I’m looking for?”
To read more, get your copy of Survivor here
For more about Kayla Marie's books, visit her website at www.kaylamariebooks.com
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September 30, 2017
Things Hadn't Been Easy Without Jeff
An excerpt from the award-winning novel, Mended
Emmett stormed into the room, rousing Ashley from her glass-half-full thoughts and declaring for the third time that afternoon, “I still don’t understand why I have to go to some stupid after-school program. I’m not a little kid! I can stay here alone until you get home from work.”“Emmett, we’ve been over this. The terms of your probation specify that you can’t be without adult supervision. So unless you can find some other kind of adult-supervised activity that your probation officer and I approve of, you’re going to that after-school program.” She wanted to add, “And frankly, I don’t trust you to go anywhere without a responsible adult,” but her blunt honesty wasn’t very well received these days.“This is such crap.” His face reddened. “Why can’t I just come home after school?”Ashley took a deep breath to steady herself. “Emmett, I’m not talking about this anymore. This is what’s happening. Accept it and move on.”“This sucks,” he yelled as he moved toward the front door of the house.“Emmett, stop.” Her voice rose. “You can’t just leave. You need to tell me where you’re going.”“I’m just going for a walk. Don’t get your panties in a twist.”His disrespectful attitude was downright offensive. Was every thirteen-year-old boy this rude to his mother? She didn’t think so and it made her bitter. After a few deep breaths, she counted backward from ten. When she felt calm enough to avoid yelling, she said, “You may go for a walk but you have to stay in the neighborhood. And take your cell phone with you.”“Whatever.” He continued moving toward the door.“And if you’re not home in twenty minutes, I’m calling your probation officer.”“Okay! Chill out, Mom.” He stormed out of the house and slammed the door behind him.Ashley’s gaze caught the potted houseplant by the door. It rattled in its dish, its leaves trembling as if a train was rumbling past. As she placed her hand on the pot to steady it, she caught her reflection in the mirror on the wall beside it.
Her ocean blue eyes looked weary and troubled and her long golden hair was frazzled from tugging at her roots. Her ivory cheeks were flushed with irritation and frown lines lay between her eyebrows. Life hadn’t been easy without Jeff.
To read more, click here to get your copy of Mended
For more about Kayla Marie's books, visit her website atwww.kaylamariebooks.comDon't forget to subscribe to my newsletter while you're there!
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Emmett stormed into the room, rousing Ashley from her glass-half-full thoughts and declaring for the third time that afternoon, “I still don’t understand why I have to go to some stupid after-school program. I’m not a little kid! I can stay here alone until you get home from work.”“Emmett, we’ve been over this. The terms of your probation specify that you can’t be without adult supervision. So unless you can find some other kind of adult-supervised activity that your probation officer and I approve of, you’re going to that after-school program.” She wanted to add, “And frankly, I don’t trust you to go anywhere without a responsible adult,” but her blunt honesty wasn’t very well received these days.“This is such crap.” His face reddened. “Why can’t I just come home after school?”Ashley took a deep breath to steady herself. “Emmett, I’m not talking about this anymore. This is what’s happening. Accept it and move on.”“This sucks,” he yelled as he moved toward the front door of the house.“Emmett, stop.” Her voice rose. “You can’t just leave. You need to tell me where you’re going.”“I’m just going for a walk. Don’t get your panties in a twist.”His disrespectful attitude was downright offensive. Was every thirteen-year-old boy this rude to his mother? She didn’t think so and it made her bitter. After a few deep breaths, she counted backward from ten. When she felt calm enough to avoid yelling, she said, “You may go for a walk but you have to stay in the neighborhood. And take your cell phone with you.”“Whatever.” He continued moving toward the door.“And if you’re not home in twenty minutes, I’m calling your probation officer.”“Okay! Chill out, Mom.” He stormed out of the house and slammed the door behind him.Ashley’s gaze caught the potted houseplant by the door. It rattled in its dish, its leaves trembling as if a train was rumbling past. As she placed her hand on the pot to steady it, she caught her reflection in the mirror on the wall beside it.
Her ocean blue eyes looked weary and troubled and her long golden hair was frazzled from tugging at her roots. Her ivory cheeks were flushed with irritation and frown lines lay between her eyebrows. Life hadn’t been easy without Jeff.
To read more, click here to get your copy of Mended
For more about Kayla Marie's books, visit her website atwww.kaylamariebooks.comDon't forget to subscribe to my newsletter while you're there!
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September 29, 2017
It Cost Her Everything
An Excerpt from Survivor, the second book in the Sweet Home Dixie Series
Avery gasped and bolted upright. Her chest heaved with her breaths, and her pulse pounded in her ears. Her hair was matted to her face, obscuring her vision. She brushed it back hastily and wiped the moisture from her cheeks, but still couldn’t see anything past the darkness that surrounded her. She swallowed against the tightness in her throat and blinked against the familiar burn of new tears. Her chest constricted like a vice, squeezing her heart as it thudded in her chest.The panic threatened to overwhelm her, and she forced her attention to her breaths. In, out, one. In, out, two. Counting each one. Breathing became easier, but the pressure in her chest wouldn’t ease. It was only a dream. But it was more than that. It was a memory—a horrible recollection of the worst day of her life. The day she lost everything. Moisture pooled in her eyes as the loss consumed her all over again. Would it ever not hurt? She pulled the duvet around her, but it brought little comfort. The pain clawed at her insides, along with a far more vicious emotion that shredded her, tearing her apart.Everything about the dream had seemed so real, as if it was happening all over again. Even awake, the darkness rose up like a tidal wave about to drown her. The panic. The helplessness. The insurmountable agony as she realized what had happened. Though the room was warm, her teeth chattered noisily, and her muscles quivered as if she was standing barefoot in the snow. The paper-thin patches she used to hold herself together disintegrated into nothing. Pain shot through her chest as the pieces of her heart shattered once again, widening the hole that no patch was able to fill.
Pre-order Survivor Now
For more about Kayla Marie's books, visit her website at www.kaylamariebooks.com
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Avery gasped and bolted upright. Her chest heaved with her breaths, and her pulse pounded in her ears. Her hair was matted to her face, obscuring her vision. She brushed it back hastily and wiped the moisture from her cheeks, but still couldn’t see anything past the darkness that surrounded her. She swallowed against the tightness in her throat and blinked against the familiar burn of new tears. Her chest constricted like a vice, squeezing her heart as it thudded in her chest.The panic threatened to overwhelm her, and she forced her attention to her breaths. In, out, one. In, out, two. Counting each one. Breathing became easier, but the pressure in her chest wouldn’t ease. It was only a dream. But it was more than that. It was a memory—a horrible recollection of the worst day of her life. The day she lost everything. Moisture pooled in her eyes as the loss consumed her all over again. Would it ever not hurt? She pulled the duvet around her, but it brought little comfort. The pain clawed at her insides, along with a far more vicious emotion that shredded her, tearing her apart.Everything about the dream had seemed so real, as if it was happening all over again. Even awake, the darkness rose up like a tidal wave about to drown her. The panic. The helplessness. The insurmountable agony as she realized what had happened. Though the room was warm, her teeth chattered noisily, and her muscles quivered as if she was standing barefoot in the snow. The paper-thin patches she used to hold herself together disintegrated into nothing. Pain shot through her chest as the pieces of her heart shattered once again, widening the hole that no patch was able to fill.
Pre-order Survivor Now
For more about Kayla Marie's books, visit her website at www.kaylamariebooks.com
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January 30, 2017
A Sneak Peek Into Survivor--Book 2 in the Series
Hi Friends! I hope you all had a great weekend. Are you looking forward to the Superbowl next weekend as much a I am? I'm already excited about the spread of salty snacks and bad-for-you, though delicious, junk food spread my mother-in-law always lays out for her Superbowl party. The big crock pot of Velveeta nacho cheese is my ultimate favorite. The Superbowl is one of those times of year when the calories don't count, right?
I haven't been as active on social media lately as I have been in the past, since I'm trying to focus my efforts of writing my next book in my Sweet Home Dixie Series. I'm calling it Survivor, and it's about a strong ex-singer, who was broken by tragedy and loss after a near-death experience. Every day is a struggle for her as she tries to face the realities of what she lost and find her place in life again. Will time heal her? Or will it take a love she never wanted, to help her accept the hand life dealt her? All of our favorite characters will be back in this moving story, along with the much anticipated wedding of Ashley and Wade.
I don't have the cover art yet, but I have some great ideas that I think you will love. I expect Survivor to be finished sometime this summer, possibly sooner if I continue not to let myself be overly distracted by social media and toddlers!
Click here to sign up to receive my newsletter and be the first to know about Survivor's release date, along with other exciting news and giveaways.
Get Mended on Amazon
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I haven't been as active on social media lately as I have been in the past, since I'm trying to focus my efforts of writing my next book in my Sweet Home Dixie Series. I'm calling it Survivor, and it's about a strong ex-singer, who was broken by tragedy and loss after a near-death experience. Every day is a struggle for her as she tries to face the realities of what she lost and find her place in life again. Will time heal her? Or will it take a love she never wanted, to help her accept the hand life dealt her? All of our favorite characters will be back in this moving story, along with the much anticipated wedding of Ashley and Wade.
I don't have the cover art yet, but I have some great ideas that I think you will love. I expect Survivor to be finished sometime this summer, possibly sooner if I continue not to let myself be overly distracted by social media and toddlers!
Click here to sign up to receive my newsletter and be the first to know about Survivor's release date, along with other exciting news and giveaways.
Get Mended on Amazon
Follow Me on Facebook
A Sneak Peek Into Survivor
Hi Friends! I hope you all had a great weekend. Are you looking forward to the Superbowl next weekend as much a I am? I'm already excited about the spread of salty snacks and bad-for-you, though delicious junk food spread my mother-in-law always lays out for her Superbowl party. The big crock pot of Velveeta nacho cheese is my ultimate favorite. The Superbowl is one of those times of year when the calories don't count, right?
I haven't been as active on social media lately as I have in the past, since I'm trying to focus my efforts of writing my next book in my Sweet Home Dixie Series. I'm calling it Survivor, and it's about a strong ex-singer, who was broken by tragedy and loss after a near-death experience. Every day is a struggle for her as she tries to face the realities of what she lost and find her place in life again. Will time heal her? Or will it take a love she never wanted to help her accept the hand life dealt her? All of our favorite characters will be back in this moving story, along with the much anticipated wedding of Ashley and Wade.
I don't have the cover art yet, but I have some great ideas that I think you will love. I expect Survivor to be finished sometime this summer, possibly sooner if I continue not to let myself be overly distracted by social media and toddlers! You can sign up to receive my newsletter to be the first to know about Survivor's release date, along with other exciting news and giveaways. http://www.kaylamariebooks.com
Don't forget, my Goodreads giveaway ends tomorrow! Enter for your chance to win a signed copy of Mended.
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Goodreads Book Giveaway
Mended by Kayla Marie Giveaway ends January 31, 2017.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter Giveaway Thanks for reading!
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Get Mended on Amazon
I haven't been as active on social media lately as I have in the past, since I'm trying to focus my efforts of writing my next book in my Sweet Home Dixie Series. I'm calling it Survivor, and it's about a strong ex-singer, who was broken by tragedy and loss after a near-death experience. Every day is a struggle for her as she tries to face the realities of what she lost and find her place in life again. Will time heal her? Or will it take a love she never wanted to help her accept the hand life dealt her? All of our favorite characters will be back in this moving story, along with the much anticipated wedding of Ashley and Wade.
I don't have the cover art yet, but I have some great ideas that I think you will love. I expect Survivor to be finished sometime this summer, possibly sooner if I continue not to let myself be overly distracted by social media and toddlers! You can sign up to receive my newsletter to be the first to know about Survivor's release date, along with other exciting news and giveaways. http://www.kaylamariebooks.com
Don't forget, my Goodreads giveaway ends tomorrow! Enter for your chance to win a signed copy of Mended.
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Goodreads Book Giveaway
Mended by Kayla Marie Giveaway ends January 31, 2017. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter Giveaway Thanks for reading!
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January 20, 2017
Reviews, Giveaways and Excerpts
Sorry, it's been a little while since I've reached out to you. Things have been so crazy lately, it's so hard to keep up with everything, but I'm here now! I'm heading out of town in a little over an hour, but I wanted to drop in to give you all a quick update before I do so.
Things have been moving along at an alarmingly fast pace. I'm 22k words into writing my second book and I am completely in love with the story. I'm actually really disappointed I have to take the weekend off from writing, but I hope to be able to immerse myself in it once again when I get back.
Book Reviews
Reviews of Mended have been trickling in and I am so pleased to read the positive feedback my readers have for me. I wrote Mended in hopes that it would resonate with readers and give them a story they can truly connect with. I feel so blessed that I have achieved that and it only motivates me to continue pouring my heart and soul into my next book.
My first blogger review has also come in. The lovely Sandra has been so kind as to read my gift copy of Mended and post a review on her blog. What Sandra says about Mended:
Warm, touching, and charming, this well-written novel captivates readers with its endearing characters and emotional plights. Mended is all about breaking and repairing; it's about getting lost and finding your way. Story is enriched with a delicious cornucopia of guilt, pain, and love-- powerful ingredients blended for the perfect combination of a sweet and savory tale. You'll want to eat it up!
You can read her whole review on Sandra's Book Club here: http://sandrasbookclub.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-mended-by-kayla-marie.html
Giveaways
My Facebook giveaway was a success and I was able to gift three copies of Mended to three happy readers. One of my favorite things about being an author is to talk with readers and make them happy, and hosting giveaways is a perfect way to do both those things. Because of that, I plan on hosting another giveaway next week, this time through Amazon. I'll make an announcement once that giveaway is live! It's not too late to enter to win a signed copy of Mended on Goodreads. The giveaway ends January 31. You can enter using the widget in this post.
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Goodreads Book Giveaway
Mended by Kayla Marie Giveaway ends January 31, 2017. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter Giveaway
Mended Quote of the Day
One last update for you. I'm currently running "Quote of the Day" campaign on my Facebook page. Every day will feature a new quote from my novel, Mended. You can follow each day's quotes on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/kaylamariebooks/
Thank you all for stopping by again. Don't forget you can read the first four chapters of Mended for free on my website: www.kaylamariebooks.com
Please visit Amazon to read Mended's reviews and to purchase copies of this book: https://www.amazon.com/Mended-Sweet-Home-Dixie-Novel/dp/069280367X/
January 9, 2017
An Interview with Super-Mom and Best-Selling Author Stephanie Collins
Kayla Marie here. I've been eagerly awaiting this topic for weeks and I’m excited the day has finally arrived. Today’s blog post features the amazing, awe-inspiring # 1 best-selling author, Stephanie Collins.
Later in this post is an interview I conducted with Stephanie herself, but before we get there I wanted to share a little bit about her.
Not only is Stephanie an amazing mother and author, but she is a completely genuine and open person who is willing to share her story with the world in hopes that it may help other families with special needs children.
Stephanie’s best-selling memoir, With Angel’s Wings, has touched so many people with her honest and compelling story and has helped many of those who struggle with similar circumstances. Too often, people try to keep a false-positive front, pretending like their lives are perfect and they are able to handle every situation with grace. The reality is, we all struggle from time to time, we all have negative thoughts about the people we love most, and life is always less-than perfect.
It's refreshing to read a memoir that is written in such pure honesty and raw emotion and to meet someone who is willing to admit that life isn’t perfect, especially life as a parent of special needs children. Stephanie’s book reminds us that not only are these negative thoughts and feelings okay, they are often justified. I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with Stephanie over the past few weeks and she is a truly wonderful person with a big heart and—despite everything she’s been through—a healthy sense of humor. She has done a great thing by sharing her story with the world and by continuing to connect with the public on her blog and website in hopes of trying to reach families in need.
To find out more about Stephanie and her award-winning novel, visit her website: http://www.withangelswings.net/
To read Stephanie's blog, visit: http://withangelswingsepilogue.blogspot.com/
I hope you all will take the time to read her book and witness her amazing story for yourselves. You can purchase the award-winning book, With Angel's Wings on Amazon: here
A Personal Interview with Stephanie Collins
Today I have the pleasure of sharing with you an interview with Stephanie herself. Continue reading to get to know a little more about this amazing woman.
1) When did you decide to write down your story?
I think Sarah (“Hannah” in the book) was probably about 6 months old when I began writing therapeutically. In what felt like the blink of an eye, I had gone from being a young woman wrestling with a temperamental marriage to a single mother of an asthmatic, autistic toddler and an epileptic infant in heart failure. There was suddenly an overabundance of OMG moments, WTF moments, and "just hold your head in your hands because you can't even remotely believe this is happening" moments. It all felt so surreal that I thought maybe writing it down would help me sort out my feelings and help me better cope with it all.
2) What were your reasons for wanting to share your story with the world?
Other people (specifically nurses and therapists who were in our home, working with the girls) began to read what I had written. Multiple people said things like, "Wow, I'm working with another family right now, and I'm certain the mom is struggling with the feelings you wrote about here, but she doesn't seem comfortable sharing her thoughts. I think she's ashamed of her feelings or afraid to open up, and I think reading something like this would really help her to know she's not alone...that the way she's responding to what life is throwing at her right now is only natural." After many similar comments, I decided to take a deep breath, close my eyes, and bear my exposed, bleeding heart to the world. I figured if sharing my tale would help just one family facing similar challenges, my fear of criticism from the rest of the reading world would all be well worth it.
3) How long after the events in the book did you start writing your memoir? With everything else going on in your life, how long did it take you to complete?
Like I said, I think I started writing when Sarah was about 6 months old. Due to multiple hospitalizations (and later due to her severe sleep disorder) there always seemed to be time here and there to write. I think I was probably about 2/3 finished with what ultimately became the book by the time we moved (which happens at the end of the book, about 6 years after I had begun writing). I still didn’t necessarily plan on publishing at that point, but then I was working the 11PM to 7AM shift at Children’s Hospital, and found myself, again, with ample time to write here and there on slower nights, so I continued it. I finished writing in 2012 (16 years after starting), and devoted a year to editing before it published in 2013.
4) Did Kevin ever grow up?
LOL! It’s hard to answer that question, but – in short – I would have to say “no”. He didn’t grow UP – if anything, he grew scarier. He married Cindy (“Stacy” in the book) soon after we moved to Washington (at the end of the book). I gave them 3 years – tops. Cindy is a GREAT woman who deserves lots of happiness and I knew it was a massive mismatch. I hoped that she would recognize her error and move on early on (it’s not my story to share, but Cindy has plenty of her own cringe-worthy horror stories to tell someday).
Last year Aaron (“Kevin” in the book) decided he had had enough of Cindy and wanted to spend more time with his mistress (or, at least, one of them), so he kicked Cindy out. After 15 years of Aaron insisting Cindy not work because his income could support them just fine, Cindy had no job, no money, no insurance, and nowhere to go. In true Aaron fashion, he demanded that she just walk away and not ask for any of his pension money, alimony, etc. It has been a very difficult time for Cindy, but I think we can all agree she’s better off in the long run. She’s still recovering from the years of his verbal and emotional abuse. Interestingly, Catherine (“Emily” in the story) has a very close relationship with Cindy. Since the split, she has spent 3 extended vacations with Cindy (who still lives in Littleton - walking distance from Aaron’s house), but Catherine has expressed no interest in visiting Aaron. Now that she’s over 18, we are not obligated in any way to force – or even encourage – her to spend time with him, so we don’t.
5) Laura often seemed so calm and collected toward Kevin despite his frustrating and downright offensive behavior. How did she keep her cool with him when he acted this way?
LOL! Um…fear? I’m not sure. In the beginning, it was weakness. I didn’t know how to stand up for myself. Furthermore, I had chronic low self esteem (from a chaotic childhood), so I don’t think I found myself worthy of fighting for. Later (after my girls had gifted me a backbone) a lot of times I didn’t stand up to his ridiculous behavior because I didn’t see that it would do any good - much like the useless endeavor of trying to reason with a toddler in the throes of a tantrum. The only time his behavior led me to take action was when it had to do with the girls – specifically Catherine, since she was the only one he had contact with. He was verbally and emotionally abusive with her (just like he was with everyone else in his life). There was no convincing him that his behavior was in the wrong, so my only option was to go to the courts. Once we moved to Washington, Aaron wanted Catherine for entire summer vacations. I was able to get a letter from her pediatric psychiatrist saying it was safe for Catherine to spend no more than 2 weeks with him at a time. That was the best I could do. Catherine wasn’t harmed beyond the point of repair, but she spent enough time with him to decide for herself he wasn’t someone she wanted to spend time with if she didn’t have to – as evidenced by her decisions now, as an adult.
6) Do you have any plans for a second book in the future?
No, I think my book writing days are over. A sequel has been requested by a number of people, so I’ve compromised. About a year and a half ago I started a monthly blog that acts as something of a continuation of the book’s epilogue. It’s been surprisingly fun and therapeutic. The posts have also reached more people than I probably ever would have, had I simply written a second book. Maybe someday I’ll throw all the posts together in book form, but for now I’m very happy with just having the blog.
7) How did it feel when your book hit the # 1 Amazon Best Seller list?
It was a bizarre feeling; it didn’t seem real. I was proud, of course, but more than anything I was happy that more sales meant more people reading the book. The purpose of putting our story out there was to share a truth of special needs parenting – beyond the “my child is perfect and I am blessed to have her in my life and I would never change a thing” narrative you often find in books about special needs kids. Of course, I was also nervous. More eyes on the story meant the possibility of more criticism. Every author shares that concern, but when you write a memoir you open yourself up to criticism over not just your writing, but how you lived your life, too. It’s scary, but worth it in the end, because MUCH more important to me than landing on the best seller list was feedback I have gotten from fellow special needs parents, thanking me for making them feel understood, supported, and not so alone.
8) What is the best way to market your book?
Hmmm…I don’t know that I can answer that question. There are lots of successful ways to market a book, and beyond that, a successful marketing strategy for a thriller suspense may differ wildly from that of a memoir. I’ve also found it’s difficult to really know what “success” is even defined as. Let’s face it, my monthly sales numbers may feel successful to me, but they certainly wouldn’t feel that way to Steven King. I’ve found that to be the most frustrating part of sales – when do you know you’re doing well and when do you know you should be working harder or changing your plan all together? All of that set aside, I guess my only word of advice that would work for any author is to know your target audience.
Whether you’re looking to advertise on social media sites or looking to do speaking events and book fairs, know who you want to reach out to and do all you can to impress those folks. I focus on social media because it works for my lifestyle. I’m at home with my adult special needs child – I can’t exactly hopscotch across the country doing book fairs or spend lots of time doing speaking events and book signings. As for social media, my advice is to follow the Golden Rule. You want people to follow you? Follow people. You want people to share/retweet your posts? Share/retweet theirs. You want a positive social media atmosphere? Keep your posts/comments positive. Don’t care for spam/aggressive marketing? Don’t dole it out to others. I try to think of my social media platforms as a big book store. I try to put out an eye-catching display without being over-the-top and obnoxious with posts that effectively scream, “Buy my book! Buy my book!” Just like any good display in a store, your posts should SHOW the potential reader why they might want to check your book out. They shouldn’t beg, plead, or try to guilt a reader into it.
9) What advice would you give to other authors out there who are just starting out in this business and hope to become a best-selling author like you?
My number one advice is to invest in a REALLY good editor. Trust me; it’s money well spent. Beyond that, I would suggest getting involved in author support groups. There’s lots of GREAT advice out there from very supportive, seasoned authors that any new author would benefit from. Furthermore, the indie author world has taught me that success is most likely when you cooperate. We are a team; we’re not competitors. If we all work together, we all win.
10) What are some of your favorite little-known authors?
Wow…tough to answer, just because there are SO many! There are so many amazing indie authors out there! The tragedy is the all-too-large number of these authors who don’t get the attention and credit they deserve. It’s unfair – but a reality – that being an amazing author isn’t enough. If you’re not ALSO a good salesperson, your beautiful book will likely go unread. That’s an incredible challenge when you don’t have much of an advertising budget, or when you don’t have much time for advertising because you’re too busy writing other books, or when you’re something of an introvert and the idea of “tooting your own horn” makes you physically ill – or all of the above.
11) What were some of your favorite “hidden gems” of books you read this year? The November Snow paranormal series by A.M. Manay is AMAZING.
I’m also a big fan of just about anything from Jim Heskett, who generally writes thrillers. The Whistleblower series is really good, the Micha Reed series even better.
I’ve really enjoyed a few romances from Sandra S. Kerns. Michelle Abbot has a few good, interesting romances out, too, as does Jennifer Senhaji, and G.S. Bailey – a relatively rare male romance author (from down under).
Rebecca Reilly has some nice [clean] romance books, complete with suspense and mystery. If you’re looking for “clean”, the Seeker series by Amy Reece is also good.
A fascinating historical romance that is on the cleaner side but maybe not considered “completely clean” is The Merchant’s Pearl by Amie O’Brien – a very unique and interesting read.
Another historical romance I thoroughly enjoyed is Dark Prince, by Eve Silver – beautiful, yet haunting.
And of course, there’s a beautiful new romance series by Kayla Marie, starting with “Mended”, an absolutely delicious read! J
12) How are Hannah and Emily doing now?
There are some detailed updates about both girls on my blog, of course, but in general, Catherine (“Emily”) is doing well. She’s 24 now. She volunteers weekly at a horse barn and continues to take weekly riding lessons at Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center. We’re so lucky to live in an area that has so many fantastic services and opportunities for her. For instance, Catherine can’t drive. The fact that we have Uber in this area is a HUGE help. She can take the metro bus to Little Bit – it’s a route that she’s familiar and comfortable with, but I wouldn’t ever try to have her take the bus anywhere else – she’s too easily confused and stressed out. She’s at the social, emotional, and developmental level of maybe a 12-14-year-old, so that’s how we live. I continually work on life skills with her – something I’ll continue to do forever, I guess. She won’t ever live independently. She’s very happy, though, which is a win in my book.
Sarah (“Hannah”) is also doing well. She’s 21 now. She just finished high school last spring, so she’s home with me full time. I was concerned about that new development at first (burnout is a constant battle), but I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how it’s going so far. She’s still non-verbal, non-ambulatory, exclusively tube-fed, and incontinent. She weighs about 50 pounds and developmentally she’s at about the level of a 9-month-old. Soon after we moved to Washington we got her sleep disorder somewhat under control (meds are needed every night, but she usually gets at least 4-6 hours of decent sleep at night and she’s happy, so I consider that a win, too). She’s also nearly seizure-free. She had a status grand mal 2 years ago (about an hour in duration), but nothing serious, otherwise. One time I got a critical review on the book that complained that I only wrote about her infancy – that I didn’t include the part where she grew up. I had to laugh out loud. Oh, how I WISH I could have written that she had grown up!
13) Is there anything else you’d like to share with your audience?
I can’t think of anything at the moment, but [obviously] I’m not a private person. Should anyone ever have questions, I’m always willing to answer them [or to try, anyway]. Aside from that, I just thank you, again, for the opportunity to “chat”! J
A big thank you to Stephanie Collins for letting me feature you on my blog. And a thank you to my readers. Until next time.
Check out my website: www.kaylamariebooks.com
Later in this post is an interview I conducted with Stephanie herself, but before we get there I wanted to share a little bit about her.
Not only is Stephanie an amazing mother and author, but she is a completely genuine and open person who is willing to share her story with the world in hopes that it may help other families with special needs children.
Stephanie’s best-selling memoir, With Angel’s Wings, has touched so many people with her honest and compelling story and has helped many of those who struggle with similar circumstances. Too often, people try to keep a false-positive front, pretending like their lives are perfect and they are able to handle every situation with grace. The reality is, we all struggle from time to time, we all have negative thoughts about the people we love most, and life is always less-than perfect.
It's refreshing to read a memoir that is written in such pure honesty and raw emotion and to meet someone who is willing to admit that life isn’t perfect, especially life as a parent of special needs children. Stephanie’s book reminds us that not only are these negative thoughts and feelings okay, they are often justified. I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with Stephanie over the past few weeks and she is a truly wonderful person with a big heart and—despite everything she’s been through—a healthy sense of humor. She has done a great thing by sharing her story with the world and by continuing to connect with the public on her blog and website in hopes of trying to reach families in need.
To find out more about Stephanie and her award-winning novel, visit her website: http://www.withangelswings.net/
To read Stephanie's blog, visit: http://withangelswingsepilogue.blogspot.com/
I hope you all will take the time to read her book and witness her amazing story for yourselves. You can purchase the award-winning book, With Angel's Wings on Amazon: here
A Personal Interview with Stephanie Collins
Today I have the pleasure of sharing with you an interview with Stephanie herself. Continue reading to get to know a little more about this amazing woman.
1) When did you decide to write down your story?
I think Sarah (“Hannah” in the book) was probably about 6 months old when I began writing therapeutically. In what felt like the blink of an eye, I had gone from being a young woman wrestling with a temperamental marriage to a single mother of an asthmatic, autistic toddler and an epileptic infant in heart failure. There was suddenly an overabundance of OMG moments, WTF moments, and "just hold your head in your hands because you can't even remotely believe this is happening" moments. It all felt so surreal that I thought maybe writing it down would help me sort out my feelings and help me better cope with it all.
2) What were your reasons for wanting to share your story with the world?
Other people (specifically nurses and therapists who were in our home, working with the girls) began to read what I had written. Multiple people said things like, "Wow, I'm working with another family right now, and I'm certain the mom is struggling with the feelings you wrote about here, but she doesn't seem comfortable sharing her thoughts. I think she's ashamed of her feelings or afraid to open up, and I think reading something like this would really help her to know she's not alone...that the way she's responding to what life is throwing at her right now is only natural." After many similar comments, I decided to take a deep breath, close my eyes, and bear my exposed, bleeding heart to the world. I figured if sharing my tale would help just one family facing similar challenges, my fear of criticism from the rest of the reading world would all be well worth it.
3) How long after the events in the book did you start writing your memoir? With everything else going on in your life, how long did it take you to complete?
Like I said, I think I started writing when Sarah was about 6 months old. Due to multiple hospitalizations (and later due to her severe sleep disorder) there always seemed to be time here and there to write. I think I was probably about 2/3 finished with what ultimately became the book by the time we moved (which happens at the end of the book, about 6 years after I had begun writing). I still didn’t necessarily plan on publishing at that point, but then I was working the 11PM to 7AM shift at Children’s Hospital, and found myself, again, with ample time to write here and there on slower nights, so I continued it. I finished writing in 2012 (16 years after starting), and devoted a year to editing before it published in 2013.
4) Did Kevin ever grow up?
LOL! It’s hard to answer that question, but – in short – I would have to say “no”. He didn’t grow UP – if anything, he grew scarier. He married Cindy (“Stacy” in the book) soon after we moved to Washington (at the end of the book). I gave them 3 years – tops. Cindy is a GREAT woman who deserves lots of happiness and I knew it was a massive mismatch. I hoped that she would recognize her error and move on early on (it’s not my story to share, but Cindy has plenty of her own cringe-worthy horror stories to tell someday).
Last year Aaron (“Kevin” in the book) decided he had had enough of Cindy and wanted to spend more time with his mistress (or, at least, one of them), so he kicked Cindy out. After 15 years of Aaron insisting Cindy not work because his income could support them just fine, Cindy had no job, no money, no insurance, and nowhere to go. In true Aaron fashion, he demanded that she just walk away and not ask for any of his pension money, alimony, etc. It has been a very difficult time for Cindy, but I think we can all agree she’s better off in the long run. She’s still recovering from the years of his verbal and emotional abuse. Interestingly, Catherine (“Emily” in the story) has a very close relationship with Cindy. Since the split, she has spent 3 extended vacations with Cindy (who still lives in Littleton - walking distance from Aaron’s house), but Catherine has expressed no interest in visiting Aaron. Now that she’s over 18, we are not obligated in any way to force – or even encourage – her to spend time with him, so we don’t.
5) Laura often seemed so calm and collected toward Kevin despite his frustrating and downright offensive behavior. How did she keep her cool with him when he acted this way?
LOL! Um…fear? I’m not sure. In the beginning, it was weakness. I didn’t know how to stand up for myself. Furthermore, I had chronic low self esteem (from a chaotic childhood), so I don’t think I found myself worthy of fighting for. Later (after my girls had gifted me a backbone) a lot of times I didn’t stand up to his ridiculous behavior because I didn’t see that it would do any good - much like the useless endeavor of trying to reason with a toddler in the throes of a tantrum. The only time his behavior led me to take action was when it had to do with the girls – specifically Catherine, since she was the only one he had contact with. He was verbally and emotionally abusive with her (just like he was with everyone else in his life). There was no convincing him that his behavior was in the wrong, so my only option was to go to the courts. Once we moved to Washington, Aaron wanted Catherine for entire summer vacations. I was able to get a letter from her pediatric psychiatrist saying it was safe for Catherine to spend no more than 2 weeks with him at a time. That was the best I could do. Catherine wasn’t harmed beyond the point of repair, but she spent enough time with him to decide for herself he wasn’t someone she wanted to spend time with if she didn’t have to – as evidenced by her decisions now, as an adult.
6) Do you have any plans for a second book in the future?
No, I think my book writing days are over. A sequel has been requested by a number of people, so I’ve compromised. About a year and a half ago I started a monthly blog that acts as something of a continuation of the book’s epilogue. It’s been surprisingly fun and therapeutic. The posts have also reached more people than I probably ever would have, had I simply written a second book. Maybe someday I’ll throw all the posts together in book form, but for now I’m very happy with just having the blog.
7) How did it feel when your book hit the # 1 Amazon Best Seller list?
It was a bizarre feeling; it didn’t seem real. I was proud, of course, but more than anything I was happy that more sales meant more people reading the book. The purpose of putting our story out there was to share a truth of special needs parenting – beyond the “my child is perfect and I am blessed to have her in my life and I would never change a thing” narrative you often find in books about special needs kids. Of course, I was also nervous. More eyes on the story meant the possibility of more criticism. Every author shares that concern, but when you write a memoir you open yourself up to criticism over not just your writing, but how you lived your life, too. It’s scary, but worth it in the end, because MUCH more important to me than landing on the best seller list was feedback I have gotten from fellow special needs parents, thanking me for making them feel understood, supported, and not so alone.
8) What is the best way to market your book?
Hmmm…I don’t know that I can answer that question. There are lots of successful ways to market a book, and beyond that, a successful marketing strategy for a thriller suspense may differ wildly from that of a memoir. I’ve also found it’s difficult to really know what “success” is even defined as. Let’s face it, my monthly sales numbers may feel successful to me, but they certainly wouldn’t feel that way to Steven King. I’ve found that to be the most frustrating part of sales – when do you know you’re doing well and when do you know you should be working harder or changing your plan all together? All of that set aside, I guess my only word of advice that would work for any author is to know your target audience.
Whether you’re looking to advertise on social media sites or looking to do speaking events and book fairs, know who you want to reach out to and do all you can to impress those folks. I focus on social media because it works for my lifestyle. I’m at home with my adult special needs child – I can’t exactly hopscotch across the country doing book fairs or spend lots of time doing speaking events and book signings. As for social media, my advice is to follow the Golden Rule. You want people to follow you? Follow people. You want people to share/retweet your posts? Share/retweet theirs. You want a positive social media atmosphere? Keep your posts/comments positive. Don’t care for spam/aggressive marketing? Don’t dole it out to others. I try to think of my social media platforms as a big book store. I try to put out an eye-catching display without being over-the-top and obnoxious with posts that effectively scream, “Buy my book! Buy my book!” Just like any good display in a store, your posts should SHOW the potential reader why they might want to check your book out. They shouldn’t beg, plead, or try to guilt a reader into it.
9) What advice would you give to other authors out there who are just starting out in this business and hope to become a best-selling author like you?
My number one advice is to invest in a REALLY good editor. Trust me; it’s money well spent. Beyond that, I would suggest getting involved in author support groups. There’s lots of GREAT advice out there from very supportive, seasoned authors that any new author would benefit from. Furthermore, the indie author world has taught me that success is most likely when you cooperate. We are a team; we’re not competitors. If we all work together, we all win.
10) What are some of your favorite little-known authors?
Wow…tough to answer, just because there are SO many! There are so many amazing indie authors out there! The tragedy is the all-too-large number of these authors who don’t get the attention and credit they deserve. It’s unfair – but a reality – that being an amazing author isn’t enough. If you’re not ALSO a good salesperson, your beautiful book will likely go unread. That’s an incredible challenge when you don’t have much of an advertising budget, or when you don’t have much time for advertising because you’re too busy writing other books, or when you’re something of an introvert and the idea of “tooting your own horn” makes you physically ill – or all of the above.
11) What were some of your favorite “hidden gems” of books you read this year? The November Snow paranormal series by A.M. Manay is AMAZING.
I’m also a big fan of just about anything from Jim Heskett, who generally writes thrillers. The Whistleblower series is really good, the Micha Reed series even better.
I’ve really enjoyed a few romances from Sandra S. Kerns. Michelle Abbot has a few good, interesting romances out, too, as does Jennifer Senhaji, and G.S. Bailey – a relatively rare male romance author (from down under).
Rebecca Reilly has some nice [clean] romance books, complete with suspense and mystery. If you’re looking for “clean”, the Seeker series by Amy Reece is also good.
A fascinating historical romance that is on the cleaner side but maybe not considered “completely clean” is The Merchant’s Pearl by Amie O’Brien – a very unique and interesting read.
Another historical romance I thoroughly enjoyed is Dark Prince, by Eve Silver – beautiful, yet haunting.
And of course, there’s a beautiful new romance series by Kayla Marie, starting with “Mended”, an absolutely delicious read! J
12) How are Hannah and Emily doing now?
There are some detailed updates about both girls on my blog, of course, but in general, Catherine (“Emily”) is doing well. She’s 24 now. She volunteers weekly at a horse barn and continues to take weekly riding lessons at Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center. We’re so lucky to live in an area that has so many fantastic services and opportunities for her. For instance, Catherine can’t drive. The fact that we have Uber in this area is a HUGE help. She can take the metro bus to Little Bit – it’s a route that she’s familiar and comfortable with, but I wouldn’t ever try to have her take the bus anywhere else – she’s too easily confused and stressed out. She’s at the social, emotional, and developmental level of maybe a 12-14-year-old, so that’s how we live. I continually work on life skills with her – something I’ll continue to do forever, I guess. She won’t ever live independently. She’s very happy, though, which is a win in my book.
Sarah (“Hannah”) is also doing well. She’s 21 now. She just finished high school last spring, so she’s home with me full time. I was concerned about that new development at first (burnout is a constant battle), but I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how it’s going so far. She’s still non-verbal, non-ambulatory, exclusively tube-fed, and incontinent. She weighs about 50 pounds and developmentally she’s at about the level of a 9-month-old. Soon after we moved to Washington we got her sleep disorder somewhat under control (meds are needed every night, but she usually gets at least 4-6 hours of decent sleep at night and she’s happy, so I consider that a win, too). She’s also nearly seizure-free. She had a status grand mal 2 years ago (about an hour in duration), but nothing serious, otherwise. One time I got a critical review on the book that complained that I only wrote about her infancy – that I didn’t include the part where she grew up. I had to laugh out loud. Oh, how I WISH I could have written that she had grown up!
13) Is there anything else you’d like to share with your audience?
I can’t think of anything at the moment, but [obviously] I’m not a private person. Should anyone ever have questions, I’m always willing to answer them [or to try, anyway]. Aside from that, I just thank you, again, for the opportunity to “chat”! J
A big thank you to Stephanie Collins for letting me feature you on my blog. And a thank you to my readers. Until next time.
Check out my website: www.kaylamariebooks.com
December 28, 2016
Last chance to get your copy of Mended for half-price
I have a quick announcement for you all. Today is your last chance to get a copy of Mended at half-price. Sale ends tonight. https://www.amazon.com/Mended-Southern-Romance-Sweet-Dixie-ebook/dp/B01N7FP9MH/
If you'd like to read a sample before buying, you can read the first four chapters for free on my website: www.kaylamariebooks.com
If you'd like to read a sample before buying, you can read the first four chapters for free on my website: www.kaylamariebooks.com
December 27, 2016
Book Review: Everything We Keep by Kerry Longsdale
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend. Mine was filled with family, gifts, lots of food, and some minor stinky accidents. But, we managed to get through it relatively unscathed, and now it's back to the grind of daily life. Did it ever stop?
Now I'm desperately trying to swear off sugar (a difficult task when my house is full of it) clean my house, and get caught up on work despite constant interruptions. One of the tasks I had set out to complete was telling you all about a book I read recently.
Disclaimer: I am in no way linked to the author or publisher of this book. I'm simply a reader who purchased the book and enjoyed reading it, and I wanted to share it with you all.
Last week I finished reading Kerry Longsdale's debut novel, Everything We Keep. I was blown away by the story and quality of the writing. It rivaled that of an experienced New York Times best-selling author, and in some ways I think it even surpassed them in heart. Being her first novel, Lonsdale poured her heart and soul into this book, carefully crafting each word, and it shows.
Aimee is blissfully happy with plans to marry her best friend and one true love, James. After going on a business trip months before their scheduled wedding, James disappears in a boating accident off the coast of Mexico and never comes home. Instead of getting married, Aimee finds herself burying her fiancee on their wedding day. For months, Aimee is consumed with grief, unable to move on and forget the man she loved.
Family secrets and new evidence regarding Jame's disappearance begin to unravel, causing Aimee to grasp onto hope that her fiance may still be alive. Unsure of the truth, Aimee is stuck in limbo for years, unable to fully move on with her life and allow herself to fall in love with a man who is everything she needs. Can she uncover the truth and finally achieve peace? Everything We Keep is a story that explores the pain of loss and the internal struggle of letting go and allowing oneself to find happiness again. Lonsdale provides readers with suspense, deep and believable internal struggles, and the joy of budding romance. For more information and to read some of the 7,000 four-star reviews, you can find the link to the book's Amazon page here.
The author's next book, All The Breaking Waves has been released
as well. It's a story of the struggles of motherhood, family secrets, and the healing power of returning home for good. I haven't read it yet, but if it's anything like Kerry Longsdale's first book, It's one that I can't skip.
My next book review will be for Stephanie Collin's With Angel's Wings. It's a true story about a mother and her struggle to care for her two special-needs daughters despite the stress of strained relationships and the pressure of giving more than she has to give. I haven't finished it yet, but with any luck, I'll be back here later this week or next to share my experiences. I'll also be interviewing the author of this moving story and will post that as well. To make sure you don't miss out, please subscribe to my blog. Have a great week, everyone.
Visit Kayla Marie's website: www.kaylamariebooks.comConnect with Kayla Marie on Facebook Connect with Kayla Marie on Twitter
Now I'm desperately trying to swear off sugar (a difficult task when my house is full of it) clean my house, and get caught up on work despite constant interruptions. One of the tasks I had set out to complete was telling you all about a book I read recently.
Disclaimer: I am in no way linked to the author or publisher of this book. I'm simply a reader who purchased the book and enjoyed reading it, and I wanted to share it with you all.
Last week I finished reading Kerry Longsdale's debut novel, Everything We Keep. I was blown away by the story and quality of the writing. It rivaled that of an experienced New York Times best-selling author, and in some ways I think it even surpassed them in heart. Being her first novel, Lonsdale poured her heart and soul into this book, carefully crafting each word, and it shows. Aimee is blissfully happy with plans to marry her best friend and one true love, James. After going on a business trip months before their scheduled wedding, James disappears in a boating accident off the coast of Mexico and never comes home. Instead of getting married, Aimee finds herself burying her fiancee on their wedding day. For months, Aimee is consumed with grief, unable to move on and forget the man she loved.
Family secrets and new evidence regarding Jame's disappearance begin to unravel, causing Aimee to grasp onto hope that her fiance may still be alive. Unsure of the truth, Aimee is stuck in limbo for years, unable to fully move on with her life and allow herself to fall in love with a man who is everything she needs. Can she uncover the truth and finally achieve peace? Everything We Keep is a story that explores the pain of loss and the internal struggle of letting go and allowing oneself to find happiness again. Lonsdale provides readers with suspense, deep and believable internal struggles, and the joy of budding romance. For more information and to read some of the 7,000 four-star reviews, you can find the link to the book's Amazon page here.
The author's next book, All The Breaking Waves has been released
as well. It's a story of the struggles of motherhood, family secrets, and the healing power of returning home for good. I haven't read it yet, but if it's anything like Kerry Longsdale's first book, It's one that I can't skip.
My next book review will be for Stephanie Collin's With Angel's Wings. It's a true story about a mother and her struggle to care for her two special-needs daughters despite the stress of strained relationships and the pressure of giving more than she has to give. I haven't finished it yet, but with any luck, I'll be back here later this week or next to share my experiences. I'll also be interviewing the author of this moving story and will post that as well. To make sure you don't miss out, please subscribe to my blog. Have a great week, everyone.Visit Kayla Marie's website: www.kaylamariebooks.comConnect with Kayla Marie on Facebook Connect with Kayla Marie on Twitter
December 23, 2016
Tips For Finding Deals on Popular 5-star Books
I'm sure everyone is extremely busy today, preparing for your holiday weekend plans (as am I.) But if any of you are like me, after all the holiday craziness is over, after the food is put away (most of it in my stomach) and the dishes are mostly cleaned, I need to unwind, preferably alone and wearing my coziest pajamas.
As a bookworm, one of my favorite ways to unwind is to throw on my softest blanket and curl up with my Kindle. (This of course requires my toddler to already be put to bed. Unless I want to merely stare at the words on the screen as I try to avoid getting a knee to the face while my son goes on a climbing excursion of Mt. Mom.)
I'm an avid reader and I go through about a book a week, which means I'm pretty much always looking for a new book to read. What I don't want is to waste my very valuable time reading a book I don't like or scrolling through countless pages on Amazon, reading reviews as I try to choose one book among the thousands.
Recently in my research of how to market my own book to the masses of potential readers, I came across some wonderful book deal sites. My favorites are:
ReadingDeals.com
https://www.bookbub.com/home/
These sites are free to sign up and all you need is an email address. When you sign up, you can get weekly deals sent right to your inbox (35% off, 50% off and FREE) and you can also search the site any time you want, looking for deals on the most popular books. Who doesn't love a good bargain? For authors to submit their books, they must have a minimum of 10 reviews that average 4 stars or higher, so you know all the featured books are great books.
Just last night I filled my kindle with almost 20 free books of all different genres that have hundreds of 4-to-5 star reviews. I get to read free books while supporting indie authors. It's a win-win for everyone. I'm particularly excited out these two:
I haven't read one of Douglas Richards' books but I'm a fan of Kait Nolan!
These sites are great for discovering hot new authors and the best of little known authors. With indie publishing growing everyday, there are so many talented authors out there just waiting for you to read their books and these sites are a great way to find and support them. Even when you download a book for free, it benefits the author because it helps boost their Amazon seller status so their books can be more easily found by customers. Being seen, means they can sell more books, which means they can earn income to help them produce more books for you to read.
For all the authors out there who are looking to market their books at an affordable price, you can visit the sites and check out their submission guidelines to see if your book meets the qualifications to be featured. Some similar sites you can also use are: http://www.thefussylibrarian.com/ and Buck Books.
If any of you readers and authors alike, enjoy using any other sites that I haven't mentioned, please feel free to share with us in the comments section of this blog!
For those of you who have not gotten your copy of Mended and would like to read it, Mended is currently on sale for only $1.50 on the kindle and free with a kindleunlimited subscription.
https://www.amazon.com/Mended-Southern-Romance-Sweet-Dixie-ebook/dp/B01N7FP9MH/
Sale ends December 28.
Thanks for stopping by and Happy Holidays to all!
As a bookworm, one of my favorite ways to unwind is to throw on my softest blanket and curl up with my Kindle. (This of course requires my toddler to already be put to bed. Unless I want to merely stare at the words on the screen as I try to avoid getting a knee to the face while my son goes on a climbing excursion of Mt. Mom.)
I'm an avid reader and I go through about a book a week, which means I'm pretty much always looking for a new book to read. What I don't want is to waste my very valuable time reading a book I don't like or scrolling through countless pages on Amazon, reading reviews as I try to choose one book among the thousands.
Recently in my research of how to market my own book to the masses of potential readers, I came across some wonderful book deal sites. My favorites are:
ReadingDeals.com
https://www.bookbub.com/home/
These sites are free to sign up and all you need is an email address. When you sign up, you can get weekly deals sent right to your inbox (35% off, 50% off and FREE) and you can also search the site any time you want, looking for deals on the most popular books. Who doesn't love a good bargain? For authors to submit their books, they must have a minimum of 10 reviews that average 4 stars or higher, so you know all the featured books are great books.
Just last night I filled my kindle with almost 20 free books of all different genres that have hundreds of 4-to-5 star reviews. I get to read free books while supporting indie authors. It's a win-win for everyone. I'm particularly excited out these two:
I haven't read one of Douglas Richards' books but I'm a fan of Kait Nolan!These sites are great for discovering hot new authors and the best of little known authors. With indie publishing growing everyday, there are so many talented authors out there just waiting for you to read their books and these sites are a great way to find and support them. Even when you download a book for free, it benefits the author because it helps boost their Amazon seller status so their books can be more easily found by customers. Being seen, means they can sell more books, which means they can earn income to help them produce more books for you to read.
For all the authors out there who are looking to market their books at an affordable price, you can visit the sites and check out their submission guidelines to see if your book meets the qualifications to be featured. Some similar sites you can also use are: http://www.thefussylibrarian.com/ and Buck Books.
If any of you readers and authors alike, enjoy using any other sites that I haven't mentioned, please feel free to share with us in the comments section of this blog!
For those of you who have not gotten your copy of Mended and would like to read it, Mended is currently on sale for only $1.50 on the kindle and free with a kindleunlimited subscription.
https://www.amazon.com/Mended-Southern-Romance-Sweet-Dixie-ebook/dp/B01N7FP9MH/
Sale ends December 28.
Thanks for stopping by and Happy Holidays to all!
Love and Writing
This blog is all about books. Book's I've read, books I want to read, and information about my books as a Goodreads Author.
Here you will find updates and exciting news about my books, giveaways, blog ...more
Here you will find updates and exciting news about my books, giveaways, blog ...more
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