Chatting about Author Maggie Shayne

Hello peeps, It's good to have you drop by on my blog. I have someone very special to my heart on which I'll be talking about, Author Maggie Shayne. She was one of my first vampire romances that I read back in the year 2000.

 It was the beginning when vampire romance was just starting out and only a couple of authors were creating the new path of romance. Once I read her books I was lost. She's talented, beautiful and such a great inspiration in every way. To me she's a light that shines bright for she is comfortable in her own skin. In my eyes and other authors and readers she is considered a legend. Those few authors paved the way on how romance is written today. I think of her as one of the reasons I started to write. What she and Christine Feehan, and Linda Lael Miller started changed my life. I couldn't go back to regular romance books. They had become boring. Maggie Shayne has been a best seller many times over. I actually met her at a writer's conference years ago in Florida called the Silken Sands Conference. It was one of my first conferences and here she was in front of me giving a lecture about her life as a writer. I sat in her lecture room and listened on how in the beginning she was rejected more then once, twice and even three times, but finally she was recognized and got her first contract. The hairs on my neck stood on end, and my heartbeat thundered in excitement. She gave me hope, and determination.
   Looking back she has over sixty books published through Harlequin, Berkley, Avon, Martin's Press, Pocket Books and other top publishing companies. In March 2014, Maggie Shayne walked away and became a indie author.

She has something for everyone with her many genres,. She writes Paranormal Romances, Contemporary Western Romances(which surprises me greatly. giggles) Romantic Thrillers, and she has a blog called, "The Bliss Blog,"which she teaches Law of Attraction. Here is the link so you can check it out. https://www.blissblog.org/
 



For the month of October she has a few things going on I thought I would mention.

http://maggieshayne.com

Also she has another event that you might love. 

 

Chatting it up with Author A.S. Crowder

Featured Author Interview Series

Author Name* A.S. Crowder

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now? Do you have any pets?

          I grew up in Alabama and went to college in Mississippi. I worked at a radio station for a while and then a TV station. I ended up back in Alabama teaching sociology at local colleges/universities. I’ve always been surrounded by stories—books, TV, movies, plays—and I’ve always been curious as to the forces that might shape people’s lives. I guess, bearing all that in mind, it’s not super surprising that I ended up writing. I’ve got two cats, Rascal and Stormageddon. They don’t like the writing so much, but they’re big fans of the laptop, so I guess that works out.

At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?

         It’s less a fascination with books than it is a fascination with stories, but I started reading everything I could get my hands on as soon as I could. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to tell stories, but I wasn’t sure how I wanted to do it. I tried acting for a while, and even though I enjoyed it, I wanted to be able to come up with stories of my own. I started playing around with writing when I was thirteen. I started a couple of projects, but none ever really got off  the ground. I made my first real attempt to write a novel when I was seventeen.  I’ve been trying to get stories from my head to paper ever since.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read? Who inspires you in your writings?

         As far as genres go, I like a mix. Lately I’ve been reading a lot of thrillers—I love the fast-paced action, especially if it’s coupled with great character moments. I love to read books that surprise me. I really enjoy stuff by Christopher Moore. I’m also a member of the Harry Potter generation, so I’m a fan of JK Rowling. As far as inspiration goes, for me it’s more about the circumstances under which authors write than it is about the actual content. So people like JK Rowling, who wrote through poverty and personal struggles, and SE Hinton, who wrote one of my favorite books (The Outsiders) when she was a teenager.

Tell us a little about your latest book?

         Evin is my first novel. I wrote the first draft during NaNoWriMo in 2012, though I  had drafted a long prologue to it about a year before. After I got the first draft done, I let it sit on my computer until I moved back to Alabama. A fellow writer friend convinced me to take it back out and polish it. I did, and here we are!

Evin follows named Eva as she discovers that she’s being targeted by beings made of shadow—beings that have been sent to stop her from saving the Forest of Evin. The forest is the glue that holds the various human worlds together, but something or someone has been trying to tear it apart. Eva has to find the other two people who share her destiny and stop whatever is trying to destroy the forest.

         The story is about  teamwork and knowing your value, even if you don’t think you’re equipped to deal with the challenges you’re facing. Eva’s not the hero type, but she figures out how to get done what she needs to get done.

Author website AuthorASCrowder.blogspot.com

Facebook Page www.facebook.com/AuthorASCrowder

Twitter Account https://twitter.com/annabeth07

Email* AuthorASCrowder@gmail.com

You can find her new book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Evin-S-Crowder/dp/1536852090/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477587784&sr=8-1&keywords=A.+S.+Crowder

Thank you A.S. Crowder for your time. Good luck to you with your writing.  

Hanging out with Personal Assistant Mitsy Princell and Market Manger for Foundation Publishing

         As a indie author there are so many avenues to get your name out there but it's just you, ONE person. I know as an author there isn't enough time in the day to write and promote. Sometimes I get caught up in Facebook, or Twitter and time just slips away. That's where you call in for help. Today I'm chatting with Mitsy Princell who has been working as a Personal Assistant since last year.
          If you have any questions, please leave a comment and I'm sure one of us will come back to answer it for you. So here we go with the questions:

 
1. How long have you been a PA? I started PA work in Ocotber of 2015.
2. What publishing houses do you work for if any? Just started working for Foundations as a Marketing Manager.

3. What kind of references do you offer? I can offer many professional references.
4. If an author hires you for PA/Personal Assistant, what is included? I have a website with the basic fees, yet I prefer discussing it with the author before determining the price range of the services provided. I work with a lot of indie authors, so prices vary with each author depending on their budget.
5. Are you a writer as well? What is your favorite genre? No. Well, I imagined writing a short story yet that's not coming together.
6. Tell me something about you? I am 41, single, from South Carolina, and have no kids. I have my cat, Jynx! I love sports, every sport except boxing, and watch ESPN all the time! I love attending live sporting events, which I wish I could do more often.

My links:
Mitsy PA https://www.facebook.com/mitsypa/
Web Site http://mitsypa.com/index.html

Blog http://bookloverpa.blogspot.com
Review Team http://goo.gl/forms/DWfZwxlliXck4PiH3
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/Mitsyc Twitter @Mitsycp
PinInterest mitsyc106

HORROR Writer/Author Alexander Stephen Brown at Geekonomicon 2015

GEEKONOMICON 2015 

Sitting next to me at the Pulp/Writer's Exhibitor section was none other then Horror writer/ author Alexander Stephen Brown. 

He was wonderful and funny and he and his assistant/ friend, Kerry Stevens on his right. They made me feel like I fit right in. I was surrounded by other great authors and publishers and at first I felt like an outsider, but not long after we were all laughing and enjoying our day together. Even though you can't see me, I was actually sitting behind his huge sign. (Which I want one for myself.) 

After talking with Alexander I found out he's published by Dark Oak Publishing. I happened to meet the owner of the company Tommy Hancock who was also there sitting close by pushing his other author's works. I was extremely excited that a publishing house would work extra hard to help his authors. It was amazing. Also Mr. Hancock was down to earth and fun to hang out with.



The pictures below was his setup~ Impressive!!!

 

        Alexander S. Brown has a lot of different Novels out which can be found on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Alexander-S.-Brown/e/B002UN7ZHQ/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1


Alexander and myself pushing our books~~~~ We had a blast. Later we all even went to dinner together.

                                                                                               

Tag, Your It, Blog Hop

Greetings! First I’d like to take the time to thank Runére for tagging me so I could join in the fun on this introductory blog hop. I can’t wait to read BLACK DOLL, the first book in her New Orleans based ‘Silent Doll’ series, seven stories that begin with an anonymously delivered Voodoo doll!

So, let me get to these questions I was given.

1.)   What are you currently working on right now?

Well, I’m finishing editing on the last few pages of my newest book, THE UNFORSEEN RESCUE. I hope to have it ready to release around Halloween. Though each of my books can be read as a stand-alone, my characters come from a central world, interacting with each other in their own story. This newest one has a connection to the main characters from FOREVER LOST, my first ebook, available at http://www.amazon.com/Forever-Lost-ebook/dp/B007COU8I6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380577433&sr=8-1&keywords=Paula+Hardin , but it's also available on Barnes and Noble, and Itunes, and Smashwords. I have another book I’m preparing to start edits on, hoping to have it ready for Heather Graham’s conference in December. With two other stories underway, I stay pretty busy! Oh! I bet you’d like to see the covers! Here they are for both books.

  

             

2

3.)   Why do you write what you do?

Smiling fondly. I owe it all to Christine Feehan. Once I started reading her books I was hooked on the Paranormal genre. It started out as a joke, but while waiting for her next book to come out, I tried my hand at story telling. But as I began to write my first pages, to build my characters, it quickly became real. Now I see my characters everywhere. While cooking dinner, watching TV, talking to a friend, my mind tends to go off and I’m transported back into my story. All I want to do is write.

That time I first tried my hand at writing I thought I was doing good, but I know now it needed work. I had not yet learned the craft. When she read my first pages, she didn’t tell me how mangled my work was; instead she told me how she loved this and that about my story. With her encouragements, it keeps me inspired. She’s a Icon, a legend to me and all who love her work.  Through the learning process and workshops, I have come a long way. And if she’s reading this, I want to say thank you. I love you beyond all the stars in the sky.

4.)   How does my writing process work?

After deciding to write a particular story, I find names for my main characters, I think about any habits they might have, what they look like  . . . and write them down! I learned the hard way when I forgot a character’s eye color about half way through the manuscript. I find a personal habit, good or bad, to bring them closer to the reader. I do all this while making primitive dolls. My love for the paranormal sneaks in there as well when I occasionally create Witch and Mummy dolls. Hahaha!  I sell them locally and online, with some of the money supporting my writing by buying my promos, and covers.

I tried to plot out my storyline, but lost the whole feel for the story. I don’t know what happens, or why, but it does.  So I think I write by the seat of my pants . . .hahaha . . .

Well, thank you for stopping by. It was my greatest pleasure to have you here!

Paula Hardin

PS—I tag April M. Reign and Tressa Messenger and Rita Bay. These ladies are great storytellers, so come prepared to meet two awesome ladies!

Fall Is Coming

Greetings Peeps. I hope all is well in your world. Fall is on it's way. I don't mind the weather for fall, but winter I don't like the cold. On the other hand, I love the rich earth tone colors, and the upcoming holidays. Life is a fast paced in mine, and I never seem to have enough time to do the things I need done. Twenty more pages and my edits will be completed. My cover is awesome, and I love it. I already showed a quick peek. My blurb about half done. Compacting a book into two small paragraphs isn't easy. Not for a chatter box like myself. Grins wickedly. You can't tell that by my blog because I know I let it go for weeks, months sometimes, without leaving a post, but I feel like I'm talking to myself and I find this harder then writing.
    I have two blog appearances coming up, so I'm really nervous and excited. I don't want to mess up and embarrass myself. I would be mortified. When I meet people in real life, I say I'm shy, but I warm up quickly. My husband will tell you on the other hand. I never meet a stranger.
    I love primitive dolls, and Halloween is my favorite making all kinds of ghost, witches, mummies and I've made a Frankenstein. Here are a few pictures for your pleasure.