KaLyn Cooper's Blog

It’s Christmas time so I am giving books away.

[image error]After nearly a year, I have decided to provide Unconventional Beginnings to everyone. I have been giving it away to those who signed up for my newsletter, as a gift during several events, and often randomly. It is up on most retail sites permanently free. 

If you haven’t read it already, grab your free copy now. 

Blurb: 

He’s dead. But they can’t allow it to affect her. She’s too important.

Nine months into the pilot program for the top secret Joint All Female Special Operations School, Katlin Callahan–Malone’s husband is killed in action along with his entire SEAL team. The Pentagon brass wants to know how that happened, but the four highest ranking women in all the military services are more concerned about its influence on Katlin. She is pivotal to the success of their test project. Will the death of her husband change her mind about women being allowed in SpecOps?

Unconventional Beginnings sets the stage for the Black Swan series by giving you a glimpse into the lives of several main characters three years before Unrelenting Love, the first book in the series. Although Unconventional Beginnings is a cliffhanger, I have included the first three chapters of Unrelenting Love with this book.

Amazon:  Although Amazon is currently listing at $ 0.99, I fully expect them to drop the price to zero as soon as they realize it’s free everywhere else.

https://www.amazon.com/Unconventional-Beginnings-Black-Prequel-Novella-ebook/dp/B0787GYZ39 
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1324764218
B&N:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unconventional-beginnings-kalyn-cooper/1127629359
KOBO:    https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/unconventional-beginnings

Speaking of free, (hint, hint) I encourage you to sign up for my newsletter immediately.  Click HERE or cut and paste the link below….

http://www.kalyncooper.com/newsletter.html

I’d like to wish you a very Merry Christmas!

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Over the past several months my book covers have undergone dramatic change starting with the Black Swan series.

Click on the cover to read the first chapter now.

The most recent addition to receive a new cover in that series is Noel’s Puppy Power.

Puppies can destroy your house and teach you to love at the same time.

Tanner Hill is better at communicating with dogs than women. That might be why he hasn’t had a second date in over two years. He’s also been extremely busy with his kennel which has become a premier training facility, specializing in supplying dogs to veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

But there is this psychologist he can’t get out of his head, or his heart.

Dr. Bailey Conrad would never allow the loss of half her right leg to an IED in Iraq to stop her. Every day at the VA hospital she sees psychiatric patients who have lost so much more to the war effort. It’s her goal in life to help as many vets as possible to find their ‘new normal’, because she knows firsthand, it’s the internal scars that can be the most difficult to heal.

Noel’s Puppy Power is a standalone novella in the Black Swan series that focuses on active duty women and the men who dare to love a woman warrior. If you like the military romance books by Susan Stoker and Elle James, you’ll enjoy this sweet Christmas story.

Buy this fast read to continue the epic Black Swan series today.

Click on the cover to read the first chapter NOW!

Double Jeopardy, the first book in the Guardian Elite series, has just received a new cover as well.

When a billionaire and his wife are in jeopardy, life is doubly dangerous for their bodyguards.

Guarding a billionaire couple on a fix-it or forget-it vacation, at a highly-exclusive resort on a remote island was Ryleigh Davenport’s dream assignment. Except, she’d been partnered with her former lover, Blake Albright, the soldier she’d been forced to leave behind without a word. When the threats against the CEO and his wife turn to murder attempts, will Riley and Blake find comfort in each other once again?

Double Jeopardy is the Guardian Elite novella #1 that includes characters from KaLyn Cooper’s popular Black Swan series. If you enjoy the strong female characters in books by Susan Stoker, Sharon Hamilton, and Cristin Harbor you will love this Special Forces trained heroine.

Buy this high-action contemporary military romance today.

Coming October 30 to all major e-tailers is the next military romance in the Black Swan series, Unexpected Love Grace (Lady Eagle) and Griffin .

He never believed in love, but he never expected to find her.

With his family embedded in southern politics and society for five generations, Griffin proudly earned his Playboy title and attitude toward women. But in the past year the former seal has gotten an education from the ladies of black Swan, warrior women trained in special operations. After losing the love of her life in a combat plane crash, Grace realizes she may have to settle for good man to give her the life she’d always dreamed. Too bad she was attracted to a bad boy. When Grace’s picture is on a terrorist hit list, Griffin vows to protect her with his life. But can he protect his heart at the same time?

Unexpected Love is the third full-length novel in KaLyn Cooper’s Black Swan series. This military romantic suspense continues the stories of the active duty women secretly trained in special operations. If you enjoy reading Susan Stoker, Elle James, and Cristin Harber, you’ll love the latest addition to this series featuring strong women and the men who dare to love them.

Buy this military romance filled with sensuous heat October 30!

 

[image error]I am an audiophile to the Nth degree, literally owning hundreds of audiobooks.

In the morning, I listen to books while I walk from my bedroom to the kitchen to make my breakfast, then down to my office and wait for my computer to boot up. You’d be amazed at how much of the book you can listen to in that ten minutes.

Since we live twenty minutes outside of town, I shove in earbuds even before I don sunglasses and head to the garage. I can finish half a book while running errands. Until you’ve tried it, you have no idea what it’s like to listen to a hot, steamy sex scene while shopping at Walmart. You get the strangest looks when you burst out giggling in front of the meat coolers at the Kroger.

[image error]My family thinks I’m crazy but I love to mow the lawn. It’s not because I like to drive the big honking zero turn radius mower, it’s because I have 3 ½ hours of uninterrupted listening. Yes, it takes that long to mow approximately 4 acres, even with the 52 inch cutting deck.

Macho Marine gets upset with me because I’m always plugged into a story. He’ll be calling me from somewhere else in the house and I won’t hear him. Oh, well. My book boyfriend is so much more romantic than he is. I guess that’s why romance novels are categorized as fiction.

Tell me your craziest listening experience in the comments below. Or tell me who you’re listening to. 

Last night I downloaded the new J. D. Robb novel Secrets in Death and Susan Stoker’s Protecting Dakota. I just finished Elle James’s Bride Protector and Delirious by M.S. Force.

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As I watched the full eclipse on Monday, I remembered the importance of an eclipse in the first book I ever wrote.

[image error]My heroine took her code name from the original French version of a fifteenth century story which was made into a movie in 1985. Have you ever heard of Ladyhawke? It had a great cast including Rutger Hauer, Michelle Pfeiffer and Matthew Broderick. A full eclipse of the sun played a key role in the story, a.k.a. the black moment. Pun intended.

[image error]In Unrelenting Love, Katlin Callahan takes the code name, Lady Hawk, not from the movie but from the original French version of the story which she was forced to read in high school.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the title for this blog.

[image error]But to briefly explain the ancient story, Captain Navarre and Lady Isabeau had fallen in love, but the Bishop wanted her too. When the two lovers escaped, he placed a curse on them. From sunrise to sunset Navarre was a man and Isabeau was a hawk. From sunset to sunrise, she became a woman and he shifted into a wolf.

Sidebar – I guess we can thank the French for the original shifters.

Only during a full eclipse of the sun could Captain Navarre and Lady Isabeau face the Bishop together in their human form and break the curse. Then they could have their happily ever after.

Want to know more about the movie?

Click here to watch the movie trailer #1.

Click here for the movie trailer #2

Click here for more movie information.

If you’re interested in reading Unrelenting Love, click here or on the cover above.

I want to thank my friend Janice Maynard (Click HERE to check out her books, especially her new Scots series) and her husband Charles for the wonderful picture of the eclipse taken a few miles from my home. This shot is called the diamond ring, taken just as the moon begins to reveal the sun once again.

[image error]When I completed my first romance novel and was ready to start pitching to publishers, I knew I had to build a brand which included graphics that looked the same across all forms of social media. Since my first book was based in Columbia and my second in Mexico, I decided a global look would be appropriate. My initial website banner was a map of the world, like my blog banner above.

Three years later, and ten more books, my brand needs a face lift.

I have started with my website. I looked at dozens of websites by some of the most successful authors in the industry before selecting the elements I wanted to include in mine.

I invite you to check out my website and tell me what you think. Please be honest. Is it easy to maneuver? Is it intuitive?

There are twenty pages on this website and nearly 100 links, so I’m positive I’ve missed at least one, probably several. The first person to find a messed up link, or one that doesn’t take you to the right place, will receive a prize! Be sure to post the page and the link in the comments below so I know what needs to be fixed – and who gets a prize.

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Wishing all of you a happy – and safe – Fourth of July

Here in Tennessee, fireworks are legal. That’s why Macho Marine and I took a detour on our way home from the shooting range on Sunday to the fireworks store.

We’ve learned over the years… bigger is better. We went straight for the mortars and got a two-for-one deal. We have 48 “Big Ones” ready to launch after dark next Tuesday.

[image error]It just wouldn’t be the 4th of July without firecrackers, which happened to be on sale for two-for-one. We now have plenty! Our granddaughter loves the fountains so we picked up one with a lot of purple just for her. Guess what! We got them two-for-one, so we bought a fountain in orange and white for Favorite Daughter and Favorite Son-in-Law, both University of Tennessee graduates.

[image error]We’re so excited that our whole family will be together starting this Friday for holiday. Of course we will cook out, eat way too much food, consume lots of adult beverages, throw hatchets, shoot guns, and paddle the river.

What are your plans for the Fourth of July?

 

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Joanna Palani Claims 100+ ISIS Kills

Authors are often asked where they get their ideas. In the case of Snow SEAL, the idea came from a news post I saw on the Internet. Whether it’s believable or not, it triggered my imagination.

 

Although I often write about the conflict in the Middle East, I was quickly made aware of the fact I knew little about Syria. I spent hours learning about the wars that have torn apart that country for hundreds of years.

 

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The British 60 Minutes did a special on these women

I also discovered the real women who fight that battle daily. Now, you all know how much I absolutely love kick ass heroines. These are women who fight every day with the weapons of war so they are not forced to abide by radical rules and fundamentalist interpretations. They truly fight for their freedom.

 

[image error]My research also took me into military winter training. SEALs train a lot! Part of that training includes learning survival skills in the snow and below freezing weather. Not only is the camouflage different, but weapons react differently.

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The lifts go all the way to the top of the mountain. 

It’s been several years since I skied at Big Sky, Montana, but after thoroughly researching the area, I believe I would like to return someday. It is an absolutely gorgeous area of the United States.

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Click on the picture for avalanche video and life-saving airbag

I grew up skiing; waterskiing during the summer on the lake, snow skiing all winter, and even cross country skiing, but I never went backcountry skiing. This created a minor problem, solved by more research. It also led to the study of avalanches. When I saw this video, I knew I had to include this technology in Snow SEAL.

 

[image error] I hope I have given you a glimpse of my writing process.
I also hope I have teased you enough to want to read the first chapter of Snow seal. Click on the cover to read immediately. 
Click HERE to BUY now!

Join me and 35 other Military Authors as we
Wrap Up Military Appreciation Month (May) with a
Facebook Party  …..  TODAY!!!

Click HERE to Join the Party! 

To accommodate our International readers, the party goes from

10 A.M. EDT Wednesday, May 31 until

11 A.M.  EDT Thursday, June 1st. 

 

Games!         Prizes!           Author Chats!

ATTENDING AUTHORS:

Aliyah Burke

Caitly O’Leary

Debra Parmley

Delilah Devlin

Desiree Holt

Donna Michaels

Gennita Low

Heather C. Leigh

J.M. Madden

Jean Joachim

Joni Hahn

KaLyn Cooper

KD Michaels

Kim Lowe

Kris Michaels

Lea Griffith

LeTeisha Newton

Lexi Post

Lindsay Cross

Lynne ST. James

Lynn Raye Harris

Mandy Harbin

Margaret Madigan

Marissa Dobson

Maryann Jordan

MJ Nightingale

Natasza Waters

Paige Tyler

Parker Kincade

Patti Fiala

Sharon Hamilton

Teresa Reasor

Tiffani Lynn

Trish Loye

Trish MCCallan

Wren Michaels

Zoe Dawson

This is a gift for everyone:

 

 

Unconventional Beginnings is the prequel to the Black Swan series. You will meet several of the characters seen throughout the entire series. Although it is a bit of a cliffhanger, I have also included the first several chapters of Unrelenting Love.

 

Click on the cover to  Download Unconventional Beginnings FREE

 

 

 

 

I have put many of my books on sale until midnight Saturday, May 20. (Amazon only)

 

Click on the ad to go to  the KaLyn Cooper Author Page.

 

 

 

 

Every day I’m running contests and giving away multiple gifts. 

 

Click on the Birthday Week picture to hop over to the KaLyn Cooper Facebook Page. 

Hurry…My Birthday Week celebration ends Saturday, May 20 at midnight!

When I decided to make writing books my new career, I researched the industry at great lengths before deciding on romantic suspense. At that time, most authors who had seven books published were making enough money to quit their day job.

Not the case today.

On March 16th, I published book number 10, but I don’t feel like I have made it yet. It seems like every year that magical number needed for success slides a little further away.[image error]

Several recent Facebook posts from authors have indicated their desire to quit and return to a paid position with benefits. After checking, most have published under five books. As with any career, being an author may not be the right career for them. I believe it is the right career for me.

In a professional writing workshop, the instructor told us that successful authors have one thing in common…Perseverance. I can’t tell you how many times I have been told horror stories by highly successful authors who have stacks of rejection letters. Yet, they believed in their talent and the stories they had to tell. They persisted until the right match was made. The melding of author, story, editor, and publisher made them a success.

Another Facebook complaint I’ve seen made by authors has been the decrease in profits. Currently there are nearly 3.3 million fiction books available. Of those, 825,000 are in the romance genre. That’s a lot of competition especially when you add 20,000 new titles every month. Those numbers can be disenchanting and downright frightening. The manuscript you labored over for months can easily get lost.

As many authors completed their taxes last week, I believe the reality of time, effort, and diminishing returns has made them question whether writing the next novel is a wise use of their time.

For me, the increase in sales over the previous year was incentive. My business plan for 2017 includes at least one more novella and two more full-length novels. I’ll be writing nonstop…forever.

If you’d like to see the cover reveals first, here about my work in progress, and be notified when I have special sales and upcoming releases, please CLICK HERE to join my newsletter now. I have a secret surprise for all newsletter recipients in May.