Wednesday, August 21, 2013

#IndieSpotlight of Sara Daltry @SarahDaltry Author of Forget Me Not (Flowering #1)

Name: 
Sarah Daltry

The Title of Your Work or Group: 
 Forget Me Not (Flowering, #1)

Where are you from? 
East Coast (USA)

In what genre do you write?
 Erotica and romance. This novel is erotic New Adult romance. 

In your own words, what is your book about? If you were not the author and trying to explain this awesome book you just read to a friend, what would you say about it? 
It’s about college. About the process of growing up and realizing how much of you is you and how much is other people. Lily has everything – the perfect life, the perfect boyfriend, the perfect school. Something is missing, though, and it’s when she meets Jack that she realizes her life is not even the one she wanted to live, but more of an idea of a life. 

What is your writing style? Do you follow all guides and rules? Synopsis, outline etc. or do you just sit down at the computer and type to see what happens. 
I am a total pantser. I love characters and even if I have a basic plot in mind, the characters write the story. This started as a short story about Derek and Lily and I thought this was going to be a novella about them. Then Lily took over and wanted to tell her story. And now I am writing Jack’s story, because he started talking. J

Have you ever written anything and thought; " The world has got to see this!" ? 
I have to admit I am kind of in love with Lily of the Valley, which is the companion to Forget Me Not. It comes out September 26. Jack is just my favorite character I have written. 

Do you have an editor and Cover Designer or do you do this yourself? 
I edit actually for a job, but I also use a team of editors. I design some of my covers and usually have ideas. Braxton Cole has been helping me to design them lately, but I am involved. 

Who is your favorite author. Not just someone that you read allot. I wanna know whose book you read that made you suddenly know that if you didn't do this for the rest of your life then you would never be happy. 
Hemingway. I love The Sun Also Rises. It is the most honest book I have ever read and it breaks my heart just thinking about it.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
I think letting go and not worrying that people won’t “get” the characters. I worry that I am not doing them justice when someone misses the point, but really, how many people miss the point of me as a person? It’s just human nature.

Do you write your characters or do they write themselves through you? 
They do all the work. I just type!

Do you ever write yourself into the characters? 
No. Don’t get me wrong. Several of my characters have similar personality traits and they have similar experiences. I do believe in writing what you know, but I also see them as actual people with their own stories.

Is writing your full time job or are you "Keeping your day job"? So to speak.
It is not my full time job, although I want it to be.

If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be? 
Hemingway. I want to have a drink with him and talk about writing.

There are millions of new books released every year. What in your mind makes yours stand out from all those millions in your genre? 
It’s a little different than some of the New Adult romance out there, because it’s realistic. It’s got plenty of drama, but it is the drama that everyone experiences: homesickness, breakups, new relationships, making friends, sexual awakening. I think anyone who went to college and lived away will find part of their experience in it.

In the world of Indie, marketing is very difficult, especially if you don't have the funds to pay for it. Have you found a great free way to market your work that you think other Indies will benefit from? 
I have not really found the *right* way to market. And I don’t really know what works and what doesn’t. I do everything people suggest, although I don’t feel like I am reaching as many people as I would like. I also don’t know how those I did reach found me in the first place.

18+ New Adult romance

Watch Trailer

Lily had a crush on her brother's best friend, Derek for years - which led to their steamy night ten months ago in her bedroom. Now, Lily is going off to college and she and Derek are still going strong. However, when school starts, she realizes it's hard to maintain a relationship while also trying to live her own life. She and Derek find themselves falling apart and Lily has no idea where to turn.

Enter Jack. Everything about him is wrong for Lily and she knows it, but she can't stop herself from being attracted to him. When things implode with Derek, it's Jack who is there to pick up the pieces - and show Lily an entirely new set of experiences she didn't know she was missing.

Of course, Jack has his own problems and once Lily gets to know him better, she starts to wonder if she can handle all of Jack. When Derek reappears on the scene, Lily is forced to decide between two guys and herself. Can she find herself without losing the people who matter in the process?

See where it began in the short story, "Her Brother's Best Friend."

Buy Links:









Goodreads Link:

About The Author:

Author Bio:

Sarah Daltry writes erotica and romance that ranges from sweet to steamy. She moves around a lot and has trouble committing to things. Forget Me Not is her second full length novel, although she also has several story collections and two novellas available. Her other novel, Bitter Fruits, was available shortly, but is now in the contract phase with a major publisher. When Sarah isn’t writing, she tends to waste a lot of time checking Facebook for pictures of cats, shooting virtual zombies, and simply staring out the window.

Author Social Media Links:







Excerpt:

He moves closer and already my body is responding. He smells like cigarettes and leather, two smells I never thought were sexy until now. I want to fall into his body, to be wrapped in his arms, and I fight it. It’s wrong and it makes no sense. I have everything I could ever want. Jack is just a distraction.

“I’m not that kind of girl,” I tell him.

He steps closer still and kisses my neck. His lips are soft, which is unexpected, and it sends a shiver through me. Jack brings me in to his chest. I can feel his heart beating; it’s quickening and it matches mine. I feel his tongue sliding down along my collarbone. There is nothing like this, but I need him to stop. And yet, I never want him to stop. “I’d love to know exactly what kind of girl you are.”

Almost as if they are not my own, my hands slip between his jacket and his shirt. The heat of his skin burns me even through the fabric of his clothes. His lips continue to travel downward, but as they reach the curve of my breasts, something in me wakes up. I tear myself away from him and back up a few inches.

“I have a boyfriend,” I repeat. “I can’t do this.”

“Where is he?” Jack asks. His eyes are burning.

“What?”

“Where is your boyfriend? You’ve mentioned him before, but you run into me a lot for someone who’s so in love.”


Trailer:
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Tuesday, August 20, 2013

#IndieSpotlight of Darke Conteur @Darke_Conteur Author of The Watchtower (Series)

Name: 
Darke Conteur

The Title of Your Work or Group:
 The Watchtower(Series)

Where are you from? 
I'm from Kingston, Ontario, Canada

In what genre do you write?
I write in several genre's, but I prefer the three S's; Science Fiction, the Supernatural, and Steampunk. The latter I discovered about a year ago, and I've become obsessed with it.

In your own words, what is your book about?
The Watchtower is the first book in a series about a group of paranormal individuals Who must deal with their own demons, while trying to save the world from real ones.

What is your writing style? Do you follow all guides and rules? Synopsis, outline etc. or do you just sit down at the computer and type to see what happens?
I outline, outline, outline. I think I'm a little OCD with it too. I outline the idea and then go chapter by chapter. As I'm writing, I outline scenes before writing, just so I have an idea of how to structure the scene. Of course, there are times when I'm writing and my Muse suddenly decides the story needs THIS GREAT PLOT IDEA, or one of the CatPack chases a plot bunny out from under the couch and then it's like, "Oh great. Now what?"

Have you ever written anything and though; The world has got to see this!"
That's why I decided to venture down the Self-published path. I knew, from monitoring the industry for several years, that my story probably would not be picked up, either due to the word count (it's under 30k), or the fact it wasn't YA or PR, and that didn’t bother me. To be honest, I think all authors should try to self-publish at least one story. Just to understand the process.

Do you have an editor and Cover Designer or do you do this by yourself?
I have a beta, an editor and a cover artist. These three are (in my opinion) the most important part of the process. Well, apart from the book.

Who is your favorite author?
I have several people whom I enjoy reading their work, but not one in particular influenced my choice to be an author. The idea evolved over the years and as technology grew and made things easier, the reality grew as well.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Not confusing people. Writing a series is an interesting balance of knowing when to reveal information and I'm always thinking, "does this need to go in book four or book five?"

Do you write your characters, or do they write themselves through you?
With the first draft, I write what I think they should be doing/saying.Just to get it out. During revisions, they come out and make their voice known. Sometimes they like the direction we're going, and sometimes…well…they get a little testy.

Do you ever write yourself into the characters?
Yes. Sometimes it's my sarcasm or my outlook on life that makes it int the story. I don't know if a writer can create and not put some part of themselves into their story. Even my darker side has snuck in there too.

Is writing your full-time job, or are you 'Keeping your day job'?
I'm a SAHM (Stay At Home Mom) so this is kinda my day job. I'm lucy that my husband earns enough that I can do this.

If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be?
I honestly have no idea. Maybe Sir John A MacDonald (First Prime Minister of Canada). His views on the world were very ahead of his time. He believed in equal rights for women and Natives.

There are millions of new books released every year. What, in your mind, makes yours stand out from all those millions in your genre?
There is a true sense of camaraderie with these characters. Due to their unique circumstance, they confide in each other and the bonds of friendship are very strong. They are a family, and like family, they have their good times and bad, and even though there are cracks, it doesn't pull them apart.

In the world of Indie, marketing is very difficult, especially if you don't have the funds to pay for it. Have you found a great free way to market your work that you think other Indies will benefit from?
To be honest, all the free marketing and promoting won't do squat unless you have a decent book to promote. People remember a good story, a strong plot, interesting characters, and I am of the mind that word-of-mouth does more than any free promotion.

Links to find and follow her work:

Social Media:





Where to find The Watchtower.





More Books in the Watchtower Series:
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Thursday, August 15, 2013

#IndieSpotlight of Andrea L. Staum @DragonchildLore Author of Blood of the Sire Book 1 Dragonchild Lore

Name: 

Andrea L. Staum

The Title of Your Work or Group: 
Blood of the Sire Book 1 Dragonchild Lore

Where are you from?
South-Central Wisconsin

In what genre do you write?
Fantasy and Science Fiction

In your own words, what is your book about? If you were not the author and trying to explain this awesome book you just read to a friend, what would you say about it? 
When Zabond's raiders come to the shores of Kalahtaya, Kitra, the village outcast, is sent to find allies by the village's Elemental Guardians. Forced to travel with the man she accuses of stealing her daughter and a granddaughter she has never known, Kitra soon uncovers the villages long forgotten past, as well as, learns how misguided her own memories have become. The first book of lore reveals the birth of the Dragonchild and her tie to the Guardians of Kalahtaya.

What is your writing style? Do you follow all guides and rules? Synopsis, outline etc. or do you just sit down at the computer and type to see what happens. 
I can’t outline. I just go with the flow of the story. Most of the time I’m surprised by where things end up because I thought I it was supposed to be something else entirely. 

Have you ever written anything and thought; " The world has got to see this!" ? 
If I didn’t it would be gathering dust in a file somewhere ^_^

Do you have an editor and Cover Designer or do you do this yourself? 
I was fortunate to have a very talented friend agree to do my cover work and am thrilled with the result. I had one beta/editor other than myself. I learned a lot about editing with Blood of the Sire.

Who is your favorite author. Not just someone that you read allot. I wanna know whose book you read that made you suddenly know that if you didn't do this for the rest of your life then you would never be happy. 
Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern had a huge impact on my life. I would have to say she’s why I write. I discovered her in sixth grade when things were not so good and I escaped to Pern with every new release.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Time management. I’m fortunate to have ‘day’ job that’s seasonal so I have a lot more time during the Fall/Winter time. During Spring/Summer I just don’t have the time or energy to get things to paper. It’s my percolating time. However, we just bought a house that has some major renovations and finding time for everything is hectic.

Do you write your characters or do they write themselves through you? 
See question 6. I have no control. My husband thinks I’m crazy the way I talk about my characters like they are real, but they create themselves. I had a character assert himself in the final draft that hadn’t existed before and he’s proving to be important for book 2. Clearly, he knew at the time even though I didn’t have a clue about him….Maybe my husband’s right…

Do you ever write yourself into the characters? 
I think there’s always some piece of the author in every character. They’re able to do and say things that we can’t but really want to. I don’t think I have any Mary Sues, but there are little Andrea attitudes and attributes scattered among characters. Things like hand-wringing when nervous or eye color pop up now and again.

Is writing your full time job or are you "Keeping your day job"? So to speak.
See Question 10 lol. I’ve spent 10 years in the motorcycle industry; the last five in my current job. It’s what I originally went to school for and I really like the work I do. I don’t think I could go full time writing. 1) not financially feasible at the moment and 2) where would I get inspiration? I have based characters off of people I meet at work. 

If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be? 
There are so many people I would love to sit and talk with and understand how their minds truly worked and whether history got it right. If I had to choose just one though, I would go with Anne Bolyn, so many conflicting stories about her true intentions whether she was a mastermind or a pawn, it would be interesting to know the truth.

There are millions of new books released every year. What in your mind makes yours stand out from all those millions in your genre? 
My characters. Blood of the Sire is the origin of the Dragonchild and through it the characters are forced to grow and learn. A lot of Fantasy focuses on the fantastical elements, but I think the human elements are more important. My lead, Kitra, is one of the oldest characters in the book, but even she finds herself growing and changing throughout. A lot of coming to terms with the past and learning the truth of matters occurs and I don’t think there’s a lot of that in Fantasy beyond taking up a sword.

In the world of Indie, marketing is very difficult, especially if you don't have the funds to pay for it. Have you found a great free way to market your work that you think other Indies will benefit from? 
Going to the local library and getting to know the Director is a simple thing to get into the community. I had a huge squee-fest when Blood of the Sire was placed on the shelf. I’m in a library! Sure, it’s just one library in south-central Wisconsin, but it’s there! 

Links to follow Andrea's work:
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Tuesday, August 13, 2013

#IndieSpotlight of Jeffrey Littorno @JLittorno author of The Most Uncommon Cold I: Life in the Time of Zombies

Author:
Jeffrey Littorno 

The Title of Your Work or Group: 
The Most Uncommon Cold I: Life in the Time of Zombies 

Where are you from?
I grew up in a little town named Kenwood in Northern California wine country. All things considered, it was a darn good place to grow up. Lived around that area until I graduated college and took off for foreign parts. I spent time in Australia, South Korea, Kuwait, Mexico, Saipan and a few other places I can’t remember .

 In what genre do you write?
I have always been a fan of horror in both books and movies, so that seemed the most natural genre for me.

In your own words, what is your book about? If you were not the author and trying to explain this awesome book you just read to a friend, what would you say about it? 
My book is about a world turned upside down. Your loved ones no longer recognize you. The most basic laws of society are ignored. And the dead do not remain still. I would tell my friend about a great new writer named Jeffrey Littorno. His book The Most Uncommon Cold really makes you feel like you’re in the middle of the action. But instead of creating characters who just start fighting to survive, Littorno describes more realistic characters who question their own sanity upon seeing the dead begin moving. The book makes you wonder how you would react in the same situation.

What is your writing style? Do you follow all guides and rules? Synopsis, outline etc. or do you just sit down at the computer and type to see what happens. 
Most of the time I have some thoughts and notes scribbled about where I plan to go in the story. For Bloom’s Desk, my first book, I tried making an outline and organizing everything. As soon as I started, the outline and all the notes went out the window. I soon realized that the story had a mind of its own and would show me where it wanted to go, where logic said it had to go. So usually, I reread the last 10 or 15 pages of what I have written and go from there. 

Have you ever written anything and thought; " The world has got to see this!" ? 
 I think that with everything I write for publication!

Do you have an editor and Cover Designer or do you do this yourself? 
 I designed the covers myself. But I do have a great editor named Nancy McCaslin. I did not take me long to realize that I need a set of fresh eyes to look at my writing and catch the things I miss.

Who is your favorite author. Not just someone that you read allot. I wanna know whose book you read that made you suddenly know that if you didn't do this for the rest of your life then you would never be happy. 
Like most if not all horror writers, Stephen King is tops. I have to say that King’s writings really showed me that stories in any genre must be rooted in well-developed characters. Horror stories only work if readers care or at least feel like they know the people caught up in the situations. I don’t know that I ever felt like I could not be happy unless I was writing for the rest of my life. I had some pretty happy times before I started writing. I remember a night on the Greek island named Ios that was pretty incredible. But I digress... I like writing and would love to keep doing it. 

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
The thing I find most challenging in my writing is getting started. I typically have a swarm of story ideas swirling around in my head. Just forcing myself to sit down at the keyboard and letting some of them out is not easy.

Do you write your characters or do they write themselves through you? 
I think I always start by writing my character, but then they take over. The best characters always have the strongest voices to tell me where they should be going.

Do you ever write yourself into the characters? 
Every character is some part of me. Usually, the part of me that gives birth to a character is not entirely recognizable. However, other times it is easy to see me in my characters. Glen Davis in Bloom’s Desk is probably the most similar to me. He taught abroad. I taught abroad. Glen got married in South Korea. I got married in South Korea. Glen sees the ghost of a serial killer. I see the... Well, you get the idea.

Is writing your full time job or are you "Keeping your day job"? So to speak.
Writing is certainly a full-time job. Unfortunately, it doesn’t pay the bills (yet). I have to keep another job until it does. I pay the bills by teaching at the prison in Folsom, California.

If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be? 
If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be? I would like to meet Mark Twain. I can imagine sitting on a porch in rocking chairs, drinking a cold beer, and talking about anything other than writing.

There are millions of new books released every year. What in your mind makes yours stand out from all those millions in your genre? 
My books are written so as to put readers into the mind of the main character as much as possible. I think this psychological intimacy draws the reader in and makes them live the story rather than simply reading it. Many books in the horror genre seem to focus mainly on horrible images or occurrences. My books focus more on the reaction to those images and occurrences.

In the world of Indie, marketing is very difficult, especially if you don't have the funds to pay for it. Have you found a great free way to market your work that you think other Indies will benefit from? 
I am still struggling to find the great tool for marketing. I have seen some benefit from getting as many book reviews as possible. I have to admit that most of my marketing has been something of a shotgun approach. That is, I try to spend at least some time every day getting my book noticed. That usually means posting the link to my books on different websites. I started this campaign yesterday: Win a Kindle Fire! Buy The Most Uncommon Cold I' & leave a comment on Amazon. Drawing September 7th http://t.co/BgPOW0vpmt

Today, I ran across a post about The Book Referral Network. It sounds promising. We shall see.


Twitter: @JLittorno
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Monday, August 12, 2013

Literary Characters TC Southwell would Date, Dump or Marry. Fun guest post.

Literary Characters TC Southwell would Date, Dump or Marry

It’s not a very long list! The hero of my favourite fantasy series by another author, Stephen R. Donaldson’s The Thomas Covenant, Unbeliever series, is definitely someone I would dump, if I ever even considered dating him. Aside from his leprosy, he’s not my type of guy at all, even though his world and the story he was in fascinated me.

The guys I love the most are the ones I met in my channels, who captivated me so much I had to write about them. My favourite is a bit of a tossup between Blade and Sabre, but I think Blade, from The Queen’s Blade, wins by a hair. He’s just not the best of companions, with his dour attitude and flaying wit. Being in his company a lot could be rather injurious to the ego. If he made an effort to be charming, however, he’d be devastating. Of course, there’s the problem of him already being spoken for, but if that wasn’t the case, I’d date him, to see if I could become his friend and maybe more, but I don’t think I’d marry him.

Sabre, hero of The Cyber Chronicles, is a different story. He’s such an honest-to-goodness good guy, with his great personality, although the horrors of his past still haunt him. Life with him would always be an exciting adventure, even if, or rather, when, Cybercorp stirs up trouble again. As a bit of a speed freak myself, I’d enjoy his penchant for flying spacecraft, hover-cars and bikes with such panache and derring-do, knowing I was utterly safe while he was at the controls. So, if Tassin wasn’t in the picture, I’d definitely marry him.


Bane, from Demon Lord… well, who wouldn’t want to marry a mortal god? Then again, it would probably be rather overwhelming, but at the same time fun and exciting; even though he doesn’t have a terribly evolved sense of humour, he’s tolerant and forgiving. No worries about infidelity, with a god, but I’m sure I’d be fighting off the other gals with a stick!


Chanter, hero of The Broken World, is a bit too alien, even in his human form. He’s certainly a fascinating guy, and his attitude towards all living creatures is magnificently gentle, but his way of thinking would be a constant challenge. I reckon I’d date him, to get to know him better and bask in the wonderful peace he bestows on those around him with his innate love for all things and his strange, but captivating personality.


Last, but definitely not least, Tarke, from Slave Empire. Wow. He’d be a catch and a half, even with all his hang ups. Another adventurer and explorer of note, so life with him would be exciting, and being his wife, or even dating him, would be a wonderful experience. I’d do both, in a flash!

Author bio:

T. C. Southwell was born in Sri Lanka and moved to the Seychelles when she was a baby. She spent her formative years exploring the islands – mostly alone. Naturally, her imagination flourished and she developed a keen love of other worlds. The family travelled through Europe and Africa and, after the death of her father, settled in South Africa. 

T. C. Southwell has written over thirty novels, ranging from fantasy and science fiction to romance and adventure, as well as five screenplays. Her hobbies include motorcycling, horse riding and art, and she is now a full-time writer.

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Find TC Southwell online:



Twitter: @TCSouthwell
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Thursday, August 8, 2013

#IndieSpotlight of Rachel Amphlett @RachelAmphlett Author of Under Fire

Name: 
Rachel Amphlett

The Title of Your Work or Group: 
Under Fire

Where are you from? 
Originally from Hungerford in Berkshire, UK, I now live in Brisbane, Australia

In what genre do you write?
Thriller

In your own words, what is your book about? If you were not the author and trying to explain this awesome book you just read to a friend, what would you say about it? 

An explosion rocks a Qatari natural gas facility… a luxury cruise liner capsizes in the Mediterranean… and someone has stolen a submarine… 

Are the events connected?

Dan Taylor doesn’t believe in coincidences – all he has to do now is convince his superiors that they’re next in the terrorists’ line of fire.

As Britain enters its worst winter on record, Dan must elude capture to ensure the country’s energy resources are protected. At all costs.

In an action-packed adventure, from the Middle East through the Mediterranean to London, Dan and his team are on a quest that will test every choice he makes. Helped by the exotic Antonia Almasi, Dan realizes he faces an adversary far greater than he ever imagined.

And not everyone is going to survive.

What is your writing style? Do you follow all guides and rules? Synopsis, outline etc. or do you just sit down at the computer and type to see what happens. 
I learnt a really hard lesson writing Under Fire. I’m not naturally a planner when it comes to writing, other than having a general idea of the plot and what needs to happen, but with my first thriller White Gold, the characters really dictated the story. With Under Fire, the plot line is more intricate and after 20,000 words I had to stop, scrap two-thirds of what I’d written and start again – this time with a scene-by-scene plan. It worked, so I’m going to be a better “planner” in future!

Have you ever written anything and thought; "The world has got to see this!" ? 
My debut thriller White Gold. There was just something exciting about it – I really wanted the world to know about my protagonist, Dan Taylor, and what he’d been through. It must’ve struck a chord because a lot of readers demanded to know more about him – hence why Under Fire was written.

Do you have an editor and Cover Designer or do you do this yourself? 
I work with a cover designer. I usually have the idea in my head, so I send him some stock photos which appeal to me, together with a rough draft of the book blurb and we go from there. Often it only takes a couple of tweaks – we usually work on the same wavelength!

I do have an editor – I get a structural edit done as soon as the first draft is almost complete, and then a full edit once I’ve finished tweaking it. I must stress to anyone starting out that the cover design and the editing are the two most important things you will need to do – so start budgeting for them now and don’t cut corners!

Who is your favorite author. Not just someone that you read allot. I wanna know whose book you read that made you suddenly know that if you didn't do this for the rest of your life then you would never be happy. 
I’m going to cheat here because I can’t possibly just choose one. My Grandad started me on to the thriller genre when I was about 12 or 13 – I’d outgrown everything my contemporaries were reading. He had a shelf full of Dick Francis, Alistair MacLean and Jack Higgins books, so those authors were definitely my writing foundation.

I now read across all genres but if I had to choose authors whose work I enjoy in my own genre then Stephen Leather, Lee Child, Robert Crais, Michael Connolly and Daniel Silva. All of them are brilliant storytellers, create characters the reader can empathize with and still manage to come up with the goods after having so many stories to their name!

 Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
The last 15,000 words – that’s usually when I’m flagging because I’ve written all the exciting bits first, and I can see the end in sight but I’m not quite there! 

Do you write your characters or do they write themselves through you? 
Often they are imagined at about the same time as the idea for the story pops into my head. As the idea develops, they begin to write themselves. Alexandra Sokoloff (Screenwriting Tips for Authors) sums it up beautifully – she says that at some point in the writing process, the characters take over and you’re just the one trying to keep up with them whilst taking dictation! 

Do you ever write yourself into the characters? 
No.

Is writing your full time job or are you "Keeping your day job"? So to speak.
The day job pays the bills; the writing keeps me sane – sort of!

If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be? 
Leonardo di Vinci. The man was such an incredible engineer as well as being a creative genius. 

There are millions of new books released every year. What in your mind makes yours stand out from all those millions in your genre? 
That a female author can take on the military action thriller genre and deliver the goods.

In the world of Indie, marketing is very difficult, especially if you don't have the funds to pay for it. Have you found a great free way to market your work that you think other Indies will benefit from? 
Twitter has been working wonders these past nine months – much more so than Facebook to be honest. Having a professional-looking website is imperative and set-ups such as Weebly enable an author to set up a website for very little.

Links to find and follow Rachel's work:


Twitter: @RachelAmphlett





Where to buy link on her website: http://www.rachelamphlett.com/where-to-buy.html
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Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Another little peak at #LegacyForetold. Can Kenneth handle the threat on his child without going rouge again?



    "Oh my Goddess!" Ailis exclaimed. "You think she is the child. Don't you?"

    "It's obvious. Don't you think?" Kenneth asked her. "Somebody is manipulating our baby and I intend on finding out who the hell it is and rip them limb from limb." He told Ailis darkly.

    This is one thing Ailis was worried about. On the outside, Kenneth had changed so much with the birth of their children but on the inside, Kenneth was still the same. Deep down, Kenneth was still Alejandro, the vampire who did not care who he killed or why. It was enough that whoever it was ticked him off. They all knew, one day something would happen and they would see the famed vampire who took on The Merlin head to head and nearly killed him. 

    Ailis just hoped she could figure out what was going on before Kenneth went off the deep end. Ailis hated having to pull him back from the edge and was in fear every time, that this time, she would not be able to and he'd go rouge for good.
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A little peak at #LegacyForetold. Will you be ready when Karma judges you?

Wells, England 2001

She sat huddled behind a dumpster in the dark disgusting back alley of “Club Dead” while the rest of her crew where huddled behind the dumpster directly across the alley from her, Drake signaling for her to stay put. She rolled her eyes and looked back to the front of the alley. The freezing rain pelted down upon the creature. Lightning shattered the darkness and she could see his unearthly form hunched over the body of a local drug dealer. He had not yet sensed their presence in his determination to pick every last piece of meat from the poor bastards bones. She silently reached over her shoulder to slide the nearly three foot solid silver sword with it's ornately jeweled handle from her back sheath. She glanced across to Drake where he was steadily shaking his head and glaring at her. The rest of the squad made like they would fall out after her. When she gave them the order to stand down, Drake glared at her even harder.

“Karma! What the hell are you doing?” She heard him question through their shared mental link. She stepped sideways from behind the dumpster toward the center of the alley, Her sword steady by her side.

“My job Drake.” She answered him in the same way. “Now back off and let me do it.” She finished firmly and broke the link. She didn't have time for Drake and his constant worrying. She stared up to the front of the alley where the Shifter was still devouring it's prey. Right there, outside of a club no less. This was the part of her job that she loved. She thought, as the knowledge of what was to come and the smell of the drug dealers blood made its way to her nostrils. “Well X” She said mentally to her sword. “Let's jack this asshole up.” She felt her arm vibrate and took that as X's approval. 

Her fangs sprang free in anticipation as she cleared her throat. The Shifter's ears perked up and his head jerked in her direction before he stood from his victim and faced her. Karma stood with her legs spread, the gloriously beautiful sword that was the famed Excalibur relaxed at her side. Ready but not overly worried. She could take this newbie prick in her sleep.
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Monday, August 5, 2013

#IndieSpotlight of Joe Maldonado @justjoe81 Author of Subterranean Summer

Name: 
Joe Maldonado

The Title of Your Work or Group: 
Subterranean Summer

Where are you from?
Long Island, NY

In what genre do you write?
Though my first book is all poetry, I enjoy writing in many different forms. I don't really stick to just one genre.

In your own words, what is your book about? If you were not the author and trying to explain this awesome book you just read to a friend, what would you say about it? 
Subterranean Summer is a collection of poems about a man's struggle to find purpose and hope in a universe that is all too often filled with chaos and cruelty.

What is your writing style? Do you follow all guides and rules? Synopsis, outline etc. or do you just sit down at the computer and type to see what happens. 
Usually the ideas come out of the blue at first. It could happen anywhere: driving to work, brushing my teeth, etc. I might scribble it on a scrap of paper or make a note on my phone. Sitting at the computer comes later...sometimes the writing might take a typical form (like a haiku), sometimes it doesn't.

Have you ever written anything and thought; " The world has got to see this!" ? 
I usually have the opposite reaction initially..."I better not show this to anyone or they'll think I'm crazy". Then eventually I do let someone see it, and so far it's actually worked out ok.

Do you have an editor and Cover Designer or do you do this yourself? 
I do it myself, though I get my wife's seal of approval before releasing the final product.

Who is your favorite author. Not just someone that you read allot. I wanna know whose book you read that made you suddenly know that if you didn't do this for the rest of your life then you would never be happy. 
Mick Foley was a big inspiration for me. A fellow Long Islander who started as a wrestler famous for taking chair shots to the head, then became a NY Times bestselling author. Also, Walt Whitman. He's the only poet I know of that has a mall named for him.

 Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
I find the hardest part to be reaching that point when you can say to yourself, ok, this is good, it's finally done. I'm always revising, but at some point too much revision can actually make a piece worse.

Do you write your characters or do they write themselves through you? 
I don't really ever go looking for a poem or story to write, they come to me. Often at the most inconvenient times.

Do you ever write yourself into the characters? 
Definitely, I'm not sure it's possible to write a character that doesn't have at least a little bit of myself in them.

Is writing your full time job or are you "Keeping your day job"? So to speak.
I'm happy to say that my "day job" as a counselor at a psychiatric center fulfills me in ways that my writing cannot.

If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be? 
Andy Kaufman...though according to some people there's still a chance of that happening.

There are millions of new books released every year. What in your mind makes yours stand out from all those millions in your genre? 
I've been told that I have unique way of mixing humor and seriousness...like Whitman said, "I am large, I contain multitudes".

In the world of Indie, marketing is very difficult, especially if you don't have the funds to pay for it. Have you found a great free way to market your work that you think other Indies will benefit from? 
The blog Writers Kaboodle does some great author interviews via twitter, they've actually been a trending topic many times. You can sign up at writerskaboodle.blogspot.com

Links to fins and follow Joe's work:


Twitter:@justjoe81
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Saturday, August 3, 2013

#AuthorSpotlight of TC Southwell @TCSouthwell Author of The Demon Lord Series

Name: 
TC Southwell

The Title of Your Work or Group: 
The Queen’s Blade, The Cyber Chronicles, Demon Lord, Slave Empire and The Broken World.

Where are you from? 
I was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, but grew up mostly in the Seychelles. I also lived in England for a year and spent two years sailing through France and Spain aboard my father’s yacht when I was 11 or 12, so I’ve been around a bit. Nowadays, I live in Cape Town, South Africa.

In what genre do you write?
I write epic high fantasy, science fiction, and a combination of the two, along with one space opera series.

In your own words, what is your book about? If you were not the author and trying to explain this awesome book you just read to a friend, what would you say about it? 
The Queen’s Blade is about a master assassin who helps his queen to fulfill a prophecy and end a centuries-old war. He slays her enemies to save her and becomes legendary for his deadly skills. The books will take you on a roller-coaster ride of laughter and tears, adventures and tragedies, but I must warn you that you won’t get much sleep while reading this series as it’s impossible to put down! It’s best to read this series while on holiday, and once you’ve finished it, you’ll want to read it again and again.

What is your writing style? Do you follow all guides and rules? Synopsis, outline etc. or do you just sit down at the computer and type to see what happens? 
I’m a channeller. The story appears in my mind as I write, like an internal film I watch and listen to, and includes sensations and emotions. It makes for a totally engrossing experience, which I’ve tried to interpret in my telling of it. 

Have you ever written anything and thought, “The world has got to see this!"? 
The closest I’ve come to that was The Broken World series, which is the story of a world where humans have ravaged the land for their own benefit, as we’ve done in our world. That world, however, fights back. It’s a story I hope encourages people to take care of our world.

Do you have an editor and cover designer or do you do this yourself? 
All my books have been edited numerous times – I’ve lost count of how many – by myself and various editor and writer friends. I do all my own cover art and designs.

Who is your favorite author? Not just someone that you read a lot. I wanna know whose book you read that made you suddenly know that if you didn't do this for the rest of your life then you would never be happy. 
That would be Stephen R. Donaldson. I only read his The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant series once, but it drew me entirely into his world and made me want to write about worlds of my own that would be as engrossing as his, or more so.

 Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Not really. Channeling is easy. My biggest problem is typing fast enough to keep up with the story in my mind, when I’m in ‘full flow’. Other times, finding a channel can be a bit of a challenge, because if there isn’t one, I can’t write at all, which can be frustrating. I’ve gone for several years, in the past, without writing anything, because there was no channel. Then one will appear, and I’ll write five or six books in a few months.

Do you write your characters or do they write themselves through you? 
My characters come from wherever the stories come from, fully formed and not at all created by me. I can’t take credit for them any more than the stories. I don’t always approve of the things they do or how they behave, but I have no control over it.

Do you ever write yourself into the characters? 
No. I can’t, since they’re their own people, totally independent of me, and even if I could, I don’t think I’d want to. They’re far more interesting!

 Is writing your full time job or are you "Keeping your day job"? So to speak.
Writing is now my full time vocation. I wouldn’t call it a job, since it’s so much fun, and I’ve been doing it for twenty-odd years, purely because I enjoy it so much.

If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be? 
That’s a bit of a poser! I admire many famous or legendary people but, not being a ‘people person’, I don’t really have a yen to meet any of them. While their deeds were remarkable, I’m not so sure they’d be all that interesting as people. However, if you hold my toes to the fire for an answer to that, I’d have to pick Nostradamus. 

There are millions of new books released every year. What in your mind makes yours stand out from all those millions in your genre? 
First of all, they’re all series, and I find that, once I’m invested in a world and its characters, I like to read more about them. Single books are like a flash in the pan. Just as you’re starting to really get to know the characters, it’s over, and they’re gone forever. Secondly, I mix genres. I don’t see why a story has to be exclusively fantasy or science fiction, so some of my sci-fi books have magic, and some of my fantasy books have technology. Lastly, all my books have a powerful, but subtle, thread of romance, which I’ve always found lacking in fantasy and sci-fi books. That’s a shame, because romance is so fundamental, and everyone enjoys a good love story. In fact, it always seemed strange to me that the heroes and heroines in the fantasy books I’ve read never fell in love. The authors seemed to skip over any emotional entanglements as if they were objectionable, and when there was a bit of romance, it was glossed over and summed up. I believe love is the greatest instigator of heroic deeds. It certainly is in my books!

 In the world of Indie, marketing is very difficult, especially if you don't have the funds to pay for it. Have you found a great free way to market your work that you think other Indies will benefit from? 
Yes. When I started publishing, I made all the first books in my series free. People who enjoy the first books will happily buy the rest, knowing they’ll enjoy them. It’s a ‘try before you buy’ strategy that works very well. Not only does it sell the sequels, it ensures only people who enjoy the books buy them, so no one ever feels they wasted their money buying a book they didn’t enjoy.

Character Interview with Mirra from TC Southwell’s Demon Lord Series
Interview by Vanessa Finaughty
Mirra is the sixteen-year-old healer born to turn Bane from his path of destruction and prevent him from destroying the Overworld by unleashing Arkonen, the dark god trapped in the Underworld for aeons, upon it. 

1. Tell us about how you first met Bane, the Demon Lord.
I was taken to his camp by the gnomes who found me at my home in the forest, just outside the village where I lived at the time. Elder Mother had left me there a few days earlier, to start my work as a healer. The gnomes told me that he was ill, but I do not think they were being altogether truthful. He was ill, but that was not the real reason they took me to him. I am glad they did, though, or I might not have met him.

2. What were your first impressions of Bane? Did he scare you?
No. Not in the least. I did not know who he was at the time, and I just thought he was beautiful and rather confused. I was immediately drawn to him, and felt like I had known him before. He needed my help, but he did not accept it.

3. Most women would never be able to love a man like Bane, especially considering the circumstances in which you met and the fact that he’s a dark god. How did you find it within yourself to love him, and do you think it’s because you’re a healer?
I do not agree that most women would not be able to love him. As a dark god, he has an irresistible allure. He can make any woman fall in love with him the moment they meet him. Only a dark goddess could resist him. Tallis hated him before she met him, it is true, but afterwards, she too, fell under his spell, even though she was afraid of him. I fell in love with him the moment I saw him, and that was partly because we are soul mates, because he did not try to charm me. Quite the opposite! It had nothing to do with my being a healer, no.

4. Has there been a time when you regretted your love for Bane?
No. Although he was a difficult person at first, due to the dark power’s influence, my love for him uplifted me, and I just wanted him to love me back.

5. What’s it like travelling with a dark god?
It is strange, but exciting. He can do anything he wishes, even change the world to suit him, but he does not, usually, since this would cause destruction. He summons demon steeds to carry me, because being close to him when he uses his power sickens me. He does his best to take care of me, and ensure I do not suffer any hardships.

6. What would give you ultimate peace and happiness?
If Bane could cast out the dark power forever and live with me in a small house in a forest somewhere, so we could just be together and raise our children. Without the shadows’ influence, he is a good and gentle man.

7. If someone met you for the first time and spent only five minutes with you, what are they most likely to remember about you?
I would hope, my inner peace, and perhaps that I am a gentle and forgiving person. 

8. In three or less sentences, describe the world you live in. What do you like the most and least about it?
Myrthran is a wonderful world inhabited by many good people and lots of beautiful animals. The healers tend to the sick and injured, and all good people worship our goddess, Lyriasharin. She is the daughter of the Grey God, Kayos, who created our world millennia ago. I like the gentle animals and people the best, and the fact that there is a dark god, Arkonen, in it, the least.

9. Do you believe in reincarnation? Why?
Yes. Most people in Myrthran know that spirits are reborn many times, and dwell in the Eternal City while they are dead. It was one of my lessons at the abbey where I learnt to become a healer.

10. What three words best describe you?
Gentle, forgiving and helpful.

11. In Book 1 of the Demon Lord series, what’s your main goal?
It was to prevent Bane from destroying the world by unleashing Arkonen upon it, although I did not know it at the time. Lyriasharin sent me back to save Bane because he and I are soul mates.

12. What’s the main barrier to achieving this goal?
The dark power’s influence on Bane makes him angry, hateful and sadistic, and the fact that he was raised in the Underworld by demons and droges, so he had no notion of what love is. 

13. What are your religious beliefs, if any?
I worship the light goddess, Lyriasharin, ruler of Myrthran in Kayos’ absence, although I worship him too. 

14. In your opinion, what’s Bane’s most redeeming quality?
It is his ability to overcome the dark power’s influence in order to love me, and change the course of his fate and that of Myrthran. That is due to his being tar’merin – incorruptible – so perhaps that is his best quality.

15. If you could change one thing in the world that didn’t personally affect you, what would you change and why?
I would do away with sickness, so people would not suffer and die. Kayos allowed sickness, though, so I am sure he had a reason for it; perhaps so people would appreciate their health and treasure it.

Stay tuned on August 12th. 
In celebration of her new book release, T.C. will be doing a guest post. She will be listing all the literary characters she would date and why. Sounds like a fun time. LOL And there are great deals and freebies during the whole Blog Tour so check it out.
Demon Lord II, Dark God, for only 99c for 5 days, 1 – 5 August
A 40% discount on The Queen’s Blade II, Sacrifice for 3 days, 10 – 12 August

Sites to find and follow T.C.'s work:






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