Deanna's Tidbits

Coffee Time Romance Anniversary Party

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:15:00 +0000

Coffee Time Romance

Anniversary Party!

Prize:

Spa Package - U.S. Residents Only

$25 Gift Card - Non-U.S. Residents

Head over to my Author Coffee Corner at CTR's Forum and leave me a comment to be in the drawing for a Spa Package (US entries only) and if you're international, you will win a $25 gift card of your choice!

I also have included a link so you can get in on all the other drawings going on during the month of May! Be sure to check them out!

See you at the party!

Help Celebrate Louise's Birthday!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:23:00 +0000

Happy Birthday, Louise!

Welcome to her birthday contest! Before you hop over to her site, be sure to help yourself to a piece of this delicious chocolate cake! You can work off the calories by surfing the net to answer Louise's Scavenger Hunt questions to get into her contest. Below is the link to her site - click the link and it'll open in a new tab. You'll need my blog to answer one of the questions! Have fun and good luck!

Louise's Birthday Scavenger Hunt

For her birthday, Louise is wanting more followers on her blog. I hope you can help her out. She's a new author with her debut suspense novel coming out later this year. The story takes place in Savannah and her heroine is a hottie detective! Check her blog for a link to read the first chapter of her book! By reading it this week, we may be able to get her book to the top of the list at Bookbuzzr!

Contest: Win a Swag Bag! If you follow Louise's blog, send me an email at deanna dot jewel at yahoo.com with your snail mail address and I will send you a swag bag filled with author book marks and post cards. You might even find a new author or their new books!

Have a wonderful birthday, girlfriend!!

My windows are open!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 22:56:00 +0000

Aaaaahhh! I just love it when the weather gets warm enough to open the windows so the scent of beautiful flowers can drift thru the house! Fresh air, new growth....I'm not even going to the weed thing...we'll ignore that until another day but perhaps I should venture outside.

Spring also is a time for renewal, not only of the outdoor growth, but of the growth that happens inside our mind. Just like in our gardens, we have to rake out the old things that don't work for us anymore...specifically our dusty old way of thinking if we are to move forward with our lives and achieve what we want to happen for us! We are the only one who can make that change. No one else knows what thoughts we harbor, what thoughts hold us back from obtaining what we want out of life.

Do you often look around and realize what you have really isn't what you want but you're afraid to take that step forward to begin getting what you want? I'm thinking happiness here but maybe you want more money - that would allow you to travel, improve your home, buy new clothes and so much more. To move forward, one needs to toss out the thoughts that hold them back. First, you need to know that YES, you DO deserve to have more more money and to be happy! First, you need to -

Change your thoughts to change your life!

We attract what we think so consider what your thoughts have been. Have they been about all the bills you receive and how much money you don't have? That could be why you're not attracting more money and only getting more bills. Experiment for one month - think about what you truly want, tell yourself you totally deserve to have what you want (and believe that!) and envision it in your mind!

I invite you to take a chance on my motivational book, Unleash Your Inner Strength, for .99. Can .99 change your life? Why wonder? Click now and get your copy. You need to read it everyday if that is what it takes to remind yourself of what you're thinking! Daily positive thoughts will also attract happy, successful people into your life. The results can be amazing!

Change your thoughts and change your life!

I DARE YOU!

All Romance

Amazon

B & N

SmashWords

Patricia Rasey - Suspense/Paranormal Author

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:05:00 +0000

Patricia Rasey

Suspense/Paranormal Author

The e-Book Winner is:

Donna
Congratulations!!

Thank you for stopping in to meet Pat today! We've known each other for fifteen years and I truly miss her since I've moved to the Pacific Northwest so it's with great pleasure that she's back to visit with us on my blog. Pat is great at getting into her villain's point of view when she writes to bring the reader even closer to those in her stories.

Were at a small cafe across from a recent crime scene so grab your coffee because here comes Pat to join us! Hey, woman! Have a seat right here. I'm so glad you're here! I've missed talking to you, for sure! Our readers are anxious to learn more about you...

Pat: First, I'm glad to get together with you again and chat with our readers. I've missed you, too, but glad we've stayed in touch even if it is by long distance.

Deanna: *sipping my raspberry mocha* Do you mentor any other authors who look up to you?

Pat: Not at this time. Between working my full-time job, trying to write and market, it doesn’t leave me a lot of family life. Anything else has to take a back seat for now. That’s not to say I haven’t helped a time or two when asked. I just don’t have a lot of free time these days.

Deanna: I know that working with you as a critique partner helped me immensely - thank you for that! What would you say is important for upcoming/aspiring authors to do?

Pat: Never give up. You may never realize success is just around the corner because you gave up before you got there. I was told that by a friend once, and I never forgot it. If you think about it—it makes you afraid to quit…because what if it was your turn to succeed and you gave up.

Deanna: Great advice. What has been your biggest help in becoming the writer you are today?

Pat: Working hard to improve myself. To never let myself think I am great, because I’m not. So I study the craft, see where I can improve and try hard to be the best writer I can be.

Deanna: I have to agree with you; it seems we can never learn too much with regard to writing. In your opinion, what should new authors avoid doing?

Pat: Believing their friends wonderful praise. Not that you don’t want to believe you are as good as they say you are, but your friends will tell you what they know you want to hear. Find a good, honest critique partner and never stop working at improving your craft. Everyone has room to grow.

Deanna: How has your life helped in creating your own characters?

Pat: I am a people watcher. If I go to the mall, I love to sit and observe. I think by watching people, it helps you with characterization. My life does creep into my work. If something interesting has happened—you can bet it will make it into one of my books.

Deanna: Readers love to know who we begin creating our worlds. What is the first thing you do when starting a new book - outline, synopsis, or just begin writing?

Pat: I am a by the seat-of-your-pants type of writer. I will have a brief idea of what I want. I’ll sit down and start the book. After I have a chapter or two down, I’ll start doing a brief outline. As I get further into the book, I’ll make it more detailed. I use WriteWay software to help me plot my work.

Deanna: I love that program and use it for my books, too. Thanks for telling me about it! Do you find a character photo first or wait until you’re further into the book to fill in those details?

Pat: *motioning to the waitress for another round of coffee* Characters photos usually come first. I want to see my character in my head as I write them. If they are a minor character—I may not have a picture for them, but all the major characters’ pictures come first.

Deanna: Mine, too, I have to know what they look like before I go too far into a story. What is your strongest trait as a writer - dialogue, POV, characterization, etc?

Pat: Definitely dialogue. My books are dialogue drive. My weakness, I think, is narration. So I am always working to expand in that area.

Deanna: What does your favorite male character look like?

Pat: I have to pick one? I have a lot of fav male characters. My latest book, LOVE YOU TO PIECES, my main character Jaycen McCain looks like Colin Farrell with shorter hair.

Deanna: Tell us about your newest book…where it takes place, how the characters came to you, teasing plot points, etc?

Pat: My latest book started with my mom buying a vacuum food sealer. I thought you could vacuum seal body parts…and my murder plot was born. It takes place in a small Ohio town, a very rural area. I like the idea of really bad things coming to small towns and shaking up the community. As for my characters, they just came to me as they always do. I really can’t explain that other than my romantic suspense plots start with who my killer is and how they are related to my hero/heroine. Then I start giving everyone flaws, things they need to overcome…and build from there.

Deanna: All that has worked great for you. I am biased because I love reading your suspense books! What makes a reader keep coming back for more books in a series?

Pat: I think the characters. If you can get the reader identifying with your characters, and leave a bit of a hook at the end—they’ll want to read more.

Deanna: Let's do a few 'fun' questions - What's your favorite meal?

Pat: Steak…right now I love Outback.

Deanna: What is your favorite wine?

Pat: Merlot

Deanna: Who inspires you?

Pat: Lara Adrian. We’ve been friends for years, but she is such a wonderfully talented author. That and she’s one of the sweetest people you will meet.

Book excerpt from Love You To Pieces:

Jaycen picked up his bottle and downed the liquid. Deaden the pain, blessed numbness; ease the weight centering in his chest. His ears buzzed, his heart rate accelerated and he was having a devil of a time drawing breath. He needed to get these panic attacks under control before the PD clued in. He didn’t need any psych evaluations or anyone questioning his performance. But dear God, his wife planned to divorce him. He thought of their last fight, just before she had walked out. You’re such an ass, Jaycen. You never listen to me. And he hadn’t; he stopped long ago. You wouldn’t care if I left and never come back. But he would have, though he’d never said as much. Jaycen ran a callused hand down his face. He’d never get the chance to tell her now.

He raised his bottle to the bartender, who quickly replaced the empty. Jaycen stared at the brown glass before tipping it back and taking another healthy swallow. Maybe he’d be drunk by nightfall. Inebriated or not, though, once his head hit the pillow, he’d be wide-awake and staring at the cold, empty side of his bed.

"I’m sorry, Jay. I shouldn’t have told you."

Hell, he didn’t even know what to say. Sara sat there staring at him like he should have some sort of reply. All he wanted was to be left alone.

"Say something."

"What do you want me to say, Sara? You just told me the woman I loved…spent fifteen years of my life with…wanted to leave me. Had already drawn up the damn papers."

"You weren’t exactly the easiest person to live with at the time, Jay. You’d changed."

"Kelly Jo changed, too, but I didn’t stop loving her."

"No, but you stopped talking to her."

He couldn’t argue with that. Many times he remembered shutting out Kelly Jo. How many times had he driven her from the house due to his silence? And never once had he questioned where she went. Sara hit the nail on the head. He had been so busy with his own misery that he’d failed to see the signs of a deteriorating marriage.

"So, what did you drag me here for? The other day at your house, you told me you didn’t want my help."

"I was being an ass."

She rolled her eyes, earning him the understatement of the year award.

"Look, Sara, I already apologized twice. What more do you want?"

"For you to quit being such a jerk."

Jaycen chuckled. "I don’t much like myself. How can I expect anyone else to?"

"What do you want to know about Kelly Jo that you don’t already know?"

Thankfully, she let the subject of his attitude drop. Finding Kelly Jo’s murderer was the priority, not his deep-seated issues and self-loathing. "What did she do with herself on the weekends?"

"She never told you?"

His face heated. Damn, he really had been uncaring. "I never asked."

"She went clubbing."

His brow furrowed. "Was she seeing someone?"

Sara shrugged again. "I don’t know."

"Would she have told you if she was?"

"Maybe. She told me she was planning on leaving you. So why leave out the part she found someone else?"

"I don’t know." He rubbed his jaw. "Which club did she frequent? Napoleon has none, so she’d have to leave town. Where’d she go?"

"Toledo. She went on Saturdays because it was Goth night at some bar."

"Goth?" Warning bells went off in his head, remembering his early conversation with Detective Miller. "What the hell would she be going to a Goth club for?"

"She liked the music."

Jaycen thought of the CDs lining the shelves at home: Stabbing Westward, gODHEAD, In Extremo, Dope. Groups he had never heard of, let alone listened to.

"You ever go with her?"

Sara shook her head. "It wasn’t my scene."

"You know which club it was?"

"No. She never said and I wasn’t interested."

"Kelly Jo disappeared on a Saturday, which means she was more than likely headed to this club. Why didn’t you tell me about this before?"

"I didn’t think it was relevant. You said her car was found in the Spring Meadows Shopping Center parking lot. Besides, I figured you knew what she was doing with her weekends."

"Apparently, I didn’t know my wife at all."

Pat's Website

Be sure to watch her book trailer!

(follow her on FB and Twitter)

Pat: Readers, thank you so much for stopping in to read about me and my books. Please visit my sites and connect with me online. I do have a newsletter you can sign up for also. Now, don't forget to leave a comment for the contest!

Contest: On Saturday, April 21th, one lucky commenter will win an e-book of LOVE YOU TO PIECES in Kindle or NOOK format - Winner’s choice. Winner will be picked using random.org and please include your email so I can easily reach the winner!

Deanna: Pat, thank you so much for spending the week with us. Readers, you won't be disappointed when you read Pat's books. She tells intriguing stories and you'll love her villains, she does a great job! Mark your calendars now - Pat will also be our guest on our blog over at An Avid Reader's Haven April 22 - 27.

Sharon Donovan - April 11, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 17:25:00 +0000

Sharon Donovan

Inspirational Romance Author

It's with a heavy heart that I share this bit of information with you. I only knew Sharon online but we corresponded as though we'd known each other for a long time. She will be truly missed by many and the reading world will miss a wonderful author. Sharon fought diabetes for many years. I miss her already....

As you know, Sharon Donovan has been fighting her health problems since Christmas.

On April 11, 2012, our lovely Sharon has made her way back to the good Lord above. Thank you for being such a loyal and caring friend during her trials and tribulations.

Obituary

On Wednesday, April 11, 2012, Sharon A. Donovan, 56, of Avalon, beloved daughter of James and Pearl Donovan of Avalon, beloved sister of Thomas (Priscilla) Donovan of Milwaukee, WI, and Mary Beth (Mark) McCauley of Mars; beloved aunt of Kendall and Connor, also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends. Sharon was very giving and loving, and a great inspiration to all.

She was an accomplished author and will be dearly missed.

Where to find my books...

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:37:00 +0000

Find me everywhere!

For those new visitors who haven't checked out my books yet, I'd like to thank you for stopping in! Never Surrender is my Native American time travel that will pull you back to the Wyoming Rockies as Taima searches for his soul mate; No Turning Back is my 1778 English historical where you can ride aboard Nathan's ship as he takes Vanessa across the seas; and Unleash Your Inner Strength will help you learn to control your thoughts to bring more of what you want into your life!

My books are available at a number of websites and I've listed them below so you can choose which site works best for you and also which download you prefer, such as Nook, Sony, or Kindle.

All Romance

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon DE

Apple iBooks

B &N

BookLocker - NS

BookLocker - NTB

SmashWords

Again, thank you for stopping in!

YOU are who I write for and I'd love to hear from you.

**To help all authors, please leave a review at your favorite book site for the books you read. You can also LIKE the books on most sites and also TAG them (add or agree with current tags, usually found on Amazon) These are FREE ways to help your favorite authors and their books!

Revised Book Trailer for Never Surrender!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 21:13:00 +0000

Time Travel Romance

Wyoming Rockies, 1835

If you've not had the chance to watch the video yet, even of the prior trailer, I've just redone it to include the new cover with new slides. To view the trailer, click HERE. I'd love it if you left a comment and shared it on your FB or Twitter. Thank you in advance because I know several of you will do that for me! I love doing these! I'm working on the trailer for Whispers at Ghost Point and will let you know as soon as I get that finished!

Wow! I just received word from Constant Contacts that I was picked as a winner to fall into their top 10% of senders! You might ask how that happened? I know I did. Constant Contacts does reports to find whose newsletters get opened the most and how many links inside that newsletter get clicked on! Yes it DOES matter if you click links inside my newsletter. I hope when you do that, you're finding new authors, new books, and a contest or two to enter so you can win books and gift cards! I couldn't have won this award without all of YOU who open my newsletter. Thank you! Each open affects my stats and every link you click on gives me credit with Constant Contacts so that I might qualify for 2012 but we'll see. I just enjoy sending you information that might be helpful and informative to all of you.

If you're not yet receiving my newsletter, there are a few benefits: 1 - You get a free copy of my book, Unleash Your Inner Strength. If you receive my newsletter but didn't grab your copy of my book, the link was included a while back and will be included again in the next newsletter as a thank you for subscribing. 2 - By being a recipient of my newsletter, you're automatically included in the monthly drawing I do from my subscribers. (Psst - another way to be in the drawings is to follow my blog!)

Again, thank you so much for being a part of me winning this award from Constant Contacts. If there is something special you'd like me to include in the newsletter that isn't currently there, please feel free to leave a comment here and check my poll over there on the left! I'm so glad I have such wonderful readers!

GoodReads Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:29:00 +0000

Thank you to all who entered my contest giveaway on GoodReads! Five of you have won copies and those will be in the mail to you in the next few days. If you entered and didn't win but would like to read about my blue eyed Shoshone warrior as he searches for his soul mate through time, my website has several sites to choose from to download your ebook: Amazon, B&N, All Romance, Smashwords, and more!

I do plan to write the sequel to Never Surrender and continue their story into the present time but that will not be out until late 2013. I hope you read and enjoy the story of Taima and Kate in Never Surrender if you've not read it yet! He'll steal your heart for sure!

My historical romance set in England 1778 had two main characters I just couldn't let go of and I'm taking them into my newest novel, Whispers at Ghost Point. If you've not read that book yet, I hope you get the chance before August when Whispers will hit the stores! This story involves a ghost at an abandoned lighthouse and he's determined to take what he lost in the past...can a ghost from Dana's past destroy her future? Read Chapter 1 by clicking the BookBuzzr link on the left sidebar and thank you for reading!

Thank you all for your support and enjoy the worlds I've created for your short escape from reality! Please sign up for my newsletter if you're not receiving that yet. I pick one winner a month from my subscriber list to win a gift card; don't miss out!

Time Travel Lovers & Never Surrender

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:33:00 +0000

If you love time travels and reading about those Native American warriors pulling you into their stories, you won't want to miss this one about my blue eyed warrior! Taima is a leader for his people, a father teaching his son the ways of his heritage and...a one-woman man...until he meets Kate. What infuriates him the most is her strong-willed attitude. Women of his tribe do not go against what he says nor do they outwardly argue with him! Yet this white woman continues to get under his feet, in his way and...under his skin, straight into his mind. The last thing he has time for is a woman who won't obey, refuses to back down and who hates it each time he touches her!

Further down on the left sidebar, you can click the BookBuzzr link to read Chapter One if you've not done that yet. I also have a book trailer for Never Surrender.

My books are available at All Romance for those who haven't ventured to the e-book store yet. They have many genres, ways to earn free books, and several are already free for download. I would love it if you could help get my book a little higher in the rankings at All Romance. Thank you for stopping in and for peeking at the All Romance ebook store!

Tracy Krauss - Romance Author

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 11:05:00 +0000

Tracy Krauss

Romance Author

'Play It Again'

Thank you for stopping by to join us as we listen to jazz and to Tracy as she tells us a bit about her newest release. The music is easy listening here at the club this week and they've told us we can stay here as long as we like. The drinks are on the house and they have a special brew of coffee for those who like the stronger taste. Tracy, thank you so much for being here all week to chat with our readers and answer their questions. Get comfy everyone and we'll get started!

Deanna: What is the first thing you do when starting a new book - outline, synopsis, or just begin writing?

Tracy: It all starts with an idea, obviously, which I usually write as a short synopsis. Then I make fairly detailed character bios and an outline. Of course, all of this changes as I begin to actually write, but I like having a framework to begin with.

Deanna: Do you find a character photo first or wait until you’re further into the book to fill in those details?

Tracy: I’ve never actually bothered finding a photo at all for any of my characters. I can see them very clearly in my mind and I’ve never seen a photo yet that quite measures up. Of course, the art department does a good job of translating the character into a photo or whatever, in the end.

Deanna: What traits do you give a hero to make him stand out from the other characters?

Tracy: I like quirks and I also like a bit of the ‘rebel’ in my protags – male or female.

Deanna: How many plots do you include in one of your books?

Tracy: I like a lot of subplots. There will be at least two if not more, as in my book MY MOTHER THE MAN-EATER, which has about seven. I love it when all the complexities are woven together in the end. That, for me, is a really satisfying book, movie, or play.

Deanna: Do your books have a common theme or are they all different?

Tracy: So far, redemption is a very strong theme in all of my books - that and the idea that God specializes in using the most unlikely people for His purposes.

Deanna: How do you go about naming characters?

Tracy: Names seem to pop into my head almost instantly when thinking about my characters, as if they were meant to be. I’ve never had to think this through very much.

Deanna: What is your strongest trait as a writer - dialogue, POV, characterization, etc?

Tracy: I think I am very strong in terms of my characterization, and I’ve also been told that my dialogue is strong and very believable. I strive for authenticity in both areas.

Deanna: How many times do you proof-read and edit before you’re satisfied with the manuscript?

Tracy: Is gazillion a number? Seriously, I tend to revise to the point of death. I find distancing myself for a while works wonders and helps me to see it with fresh eyes. At some point, however, you just have to hand it over to someone else to take a look at.

Deanna: How do you pick locations for your stories?

Tracy: The location usually comes with the initial idea. It might be a location that inspired me in the first place, or when I thought of the story I immediately see it in a certain location.

Deanna: We’re dying to hear about your newest release and the characters we’ll meet!

Tracy: PLAY IT AGAIN is the story of a very unlikely couple whose one night stand turns into much more than they bargained for. Deanie Burton is an ex rock and roll junkie and Russ Graham is an older, rather stuffy accountant. Their worlds are eons apart and yet they are inexplicably drawn together, despite their better judgment. Each has a lot of baggage – Deanie from an abusive relationship and unorthodox lifestyle, and Russ because of a failed marriage and what he sees as hypocrisy in the church. It takes place amid the 1980s music scene.

Here’s the book cover copy:

“Sparks fly when an ex-rock and roll junkie and a stuffy accountant rendezvous at a local resort, but neither are prepared for the emotional entanglements, family complications, and threat from the past that unexpectedly resurfaces. Set in the 1980s, this story brings two opposing forces together in a clash of romance and danger, while its musical undertones highlight the theme that God can turn anything into beautiful music. Play It Again is the much anticipated prequel to Tracy’s debut novel And the Beat Goes On. Find out where Mark Graham’s journey began in this, the story of his parents.”

CONTEST: I'd love to give away a signed print copy of Play It Again to one lucky comment who also leaves their email addy in the comment so I can easily reach you! Thank you for stopping by!

Tracy's Links:

Blog

Website

Buy Links:

Amazon

Whispers at Ghost Point - New Cover!!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:42:00 +0000

Thank you for stopping in to take a peek and chat with me a bit about you thoughts on the cover, the story, the characters...and the eerie feelings at the lighthouse! I'm having a great time with the story line so far and will be back writing again in May so I can get this book out as soon as possible. I'm aiming for late August 2012.

The characters are from my English historical romance, No Turning Back and are reincarnated into the present time, bringing them together in Wilmington NC. The abandoned lighthouse has drawn Dana close and she is dying to get inside so she can refurbish the place and bring it back to life. In the process, an evil spirit follows her home and won't leave. Is it possible that a ghost from her past could destroy her future?

If you've not read Chapter One of Whispers yet, hop over to Freado and read the beginning! I hope it whets your reading-buds and makes you want more! I'd love to hear that all of you are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Whispers in August! Thank you all for hanging in there while this story comes to life so that I can share it with you. I promise a great release month of fun and prizes when Whispers hits the e-stores!

Again...thank you all for your support!

Danielle Ravencraft - Romance Author

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:05:00 +0000

Danielle Ravencraft
Romance Author

Thank you for stopping in! We're on location in Chicago where Danielle's heroine is from so we wanted to stop back here for her. Come on in, we're all gathered here in the cozy cafe away from the noisy streets. Grab a chair and coffee and dessert is on the way. I hear their desserts are to die for! Ah, here comes Danielle so let's get started!

Deanna: Hi Danielle! Chicago is great and I love this little cafe! Our readers are anxious to know all about you. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Danielle: First, thank you for joining me in Chicago! Hmm, well, I’m a licensed dog trainer and used to work at a veterinary clinic before I became a full-time writer. Though training is now mostly done with my own dogs as a hobby, I still occasionally give advice to friends and family when they are having problems with their fur-babies. When I was in high school, I want to be a wolf biologist. Obedience training for domestic dogs was the closest I ever got to that dream, but I find writing suits me better than field work.

Deanna: I have a soft spot for wolves too! What do you do to relax when you aren’t writing?

Danielle: When I’m not writing, I’m reading something. My love for writing steamed from my love for reading. All my life I’ve had my nose stuck in a book and I won’t stop reading until my eyes fall off. I get to wrapped up in the characters and their magical worlds, it’s a better vacation than Disney Land.

Deanna: Do you have to split your writing time between a day job?

Danielle: Right now, no - and I’m very lucky I can write full-time. It wasn’t always that way. When I did work, my hours were crazy, but I was devoted to finishing my manuscript and I would wake up an hour early so I could write for an hour before work. When I got home, I’d go straight to my computer and write some more until I passed out on key bored at three o’clock in the morning.

Deanna: As authors, we’ve sometimes been accused of being several people. How many personalities live in your mind?

Danielle: More than I count on my fingers and toes! My family thinks I’m absent minded because I’m always starring into space, but they don’t hear the conversations going on in my head. Haha.

Deanna: *accepting a coffee refill and a dessert* How many plots do you include in one of your books?

Danielle: I don’t decide this ahead of time, I leave it up to the characters. But there are always at least a few subplots going on. I’m very character driven and my characters wear many faces just like people do in real life. We don’t always see how things connect in real life, but in books it becomes more clear how circumstances shape the story.

Deanna: I love it when our characters jump in and write a scene or two for us! Readers love to know how writers spend their day. Tell us about a typical day in your life as a writer.

Danielle: Oh gosh, it’s really boring! I spend all day in my room in front of my computer. I don’t have kiddies to worry about so I only ever have to step away from the screen to feed myself or use the bathroom, LOL. My social life is almost entirely online because my business is entirely online - but hey, I love what I do and wouldn’t change it for anything.

Deanna: I love being online with my readers. What one thing would you pass on to new writers?

Danielle: Writing is more important than promoting. I don’t care what anyone else tells you. You need to develop a back list and keep producing new books because the one-hit-wonder lives a very short shelf life and promo will leave you feeling burned out before you know it.

Deanna: Do your books have a common theme or are they all different?

Danielle: They have a theme. I write erotic romance, but more than that, I try to touch on life issues, specifically on issues that concern women. You’ll never find my books in a breast cancer support shop or anything like that, but there is, I think, that underlining message of hope and inspiration in all my stories.

Deanna: What are the physical characteristics that you admire in a man?

Danielle: Physical? Oh gosh…the eyes, the smile, the abs, the ass, the biceps, the hips and everything else in that general area…I just really love men…lol.

Deanna: Let's do a few questions for fun. For an evening out, would it be dinner or a movie? What would the dinner be? What might the movie be?

Danielle: It would be BOTH dinner AND a movie. LOL. My boyfriend and I have wide tastes in movies so it can be anything from a romantic comedy to action to horror, though he prefers the horror and I prefer the romantic comedy! We both love ethnic food so we usually hit the local Asian or Mexican restaurants for dinner, or sometimes we’ll grab coffee from Starbucks.

Deanna: Do you prefer wine, whiskey, scotch, or ice tea?

Danielle: Try margaritas or Captain and Coke. LOL. Okay, I’ll go with ice tea.

Deanna: I love the cover of your new book! Tell us about it and the type of reader if may appeal to.

Danielle: My newest book is a short story called “A Trace of Passion”. It’s the sequel to my first short story title “A Trace of Love”. In TOL, a young woman named Ophelia gets a rare chance to fraternize with a rock star - but he’s not just any rock star, he actually a guy she used to know and crush on in high school. When he doesn’t recognize her, she decides to take the risk thinking there won’t be any consequences. Of course there is…Trace the rock star falls in love with her and won’t take ’no’ for an answer.

“A Trace of Passion” continues the story as Trace tries desperately to win Ophelia over, but there’s a twist at the end that makes Trace question everything.

Deanna: Tell us about Trace, the hero of your latest book.

Danielle: Trace is a rock star who’s been feeling hallow and lonely ever since the death of his father. Despite the fame and fortune that surrounds him, he feels disposable. He’s truly a sweetheart at his core, though. Stubborn, yet gentlemanly.

Deanna: Tell us about Ophelia, the heroine of your latest book.

Danielle: Ophelia is a young woman with the weight of the world pressing down on her shoulders. She’s given up on life and waiting to die. She thought she had come to terms with her fate, that she regretted nothing, until Trace comes back into her life.

Here's an Excerpt:

Ophelia rushed into the first stall. Her nose wrinkled. She never understood how other women managed to pee on the rim of the toilet…or the floor for that matter. She was about to try the next stall when the restroom door opened, followed by a cloud of shouting and the click of high heels. Ophelia yanked the stall lock home and backed into the corner between the drippy toilet and the metal frame.

She managed to avoid the House of Blues for eleven months, twenty-three days, ten hours and forty-five minutes. But fate twisted a knife in her back one week ago when her friends surprised her with tickets to a Molten Silk concert for her birthday.

They didn’t know. She hadn’t told anyone. Now she wished she had.

This morning, her mind stooped so low as to consider telling her friends she was ill. But she couldn’t disappoint them. Molten Silk tickets were expensive and the girls had pooled their money together to make sure she had a great birthday.

Once the door swung closed, the tile amplified the click of the woman’s heels as she neared. “Ophelia, are you in here?”

Her breath hitched as she debated her next move. This is stupid. I can’t hide in the women’s bathroom all night. But she could try.

“Ophelia?”

She squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m in here.” Damn it.

Ophelia glanced at the space between the stall and the floor as a pair of black stilettos came into view.

“The show’s about to start. Are you all right?”

She sighed and unlocked the stall door. It swung open to reveal the tall brunette. “I’m fine,” Ophelia smiled. “Just using the bathroom.”

“Well hurry up,” Alana urged.

Ophelia strolled to the sink and washed her hands. He won’t recognize me. It’s been almost a year. He probably has a real girlfriend now. Her chest constricted and she winced. How could she still have feelings for him after all this time?

Alana rolled her eyes. “Ophelia, I love you but if you move any slower I’m going to have to hurt you. Now let’s go!” She grabbed Ophelia’s hand and flung her out of the restroom into the crowd chanting “Mol-ten Silk! Mol-ten Silk!” The venue was packed to the brim, muggy, and smelled like B.O. She wouldn’t have minded expect her friends had their hearts set on standing in the middle of B.O. central. The pair squeezed through the crowed until they caught up with the bubbly blonde standing alone in the center. “Oh good, you found the birthday girl,” Lizzy yelled over the demanding horde. She clapped her hands in excitement. Ophelia managed a small smile. Alana stretched her neck and glanced around. “Did I miss anything?”

Ophelia looked too, taking note of the obese gentleman on the left. She could always duck behind him. She doubted anyone would notice. Although, with an energetic crowd of rough rock’n’roll fans, ducking of any sort could be suicide.

Lizzy leaned toward Alana and opened her mouth to speak, but the lights dimmed and the crowd erupted in cheers. Ophelia winced as her stomach did a flip-flop. She touched her fingers to her lips. I hope I don’t vomit. Smoke spilled from the stage like a waterfall as the curtain lifted. Five male silhouettes stood in the dark. The one on the right strummed his guitar, earning shrill applause from the audience. Lights of every color illuminated the stage as the rest of the band joined in the performance. Ophelia’s gasp went unnoticed as her friends cheered.

Trace Curtis stood center stage, microphone in hand. His voice flowed in harmony with the guitar riffs. His black, unbuttoned vest accentuated his flawless chest and chiseled abs. His black curls were a bit longer than she remembered and hung over his baby-blue eyes. Ophelia’s throat dried and she struggled to swallow. “I’m going to get a drink,” she said to herself. She backed away from her star-struck friends.

Ophelia didn’t breathe until she reached the bar at the very back. Her breath rushed past her lips in a heavy sigh as she sat on the worn leather stool and ordered a beer. The bar tender winked at her as he handed her selection. Ophelia bit her lip. The old man remembers me after all this time…

The lyrics stopped. The microphone gave a squeal amplified to a glass-shattering pitch. Ophelia cupped her hands over her ears and turned in her seat without thinking. Everyone stared at Trace. His eyes were so wide, she saw the whites despite the distance and crowd. Everyone slowly turned to face her. Heat rushed to her cheeks. She faced the bar and pressed the neck of the beer bottle to her lips. Just keep singing, Trace. Please, just keep singing.

Deanna: Tell us about the third book in the series?

Danielle: “A Trace of Hope” is the title of the third and final installment of the series and will be out sometime at the end of this year or the beginning of 2013. All I can say about A Trace of Hope is that Trace and Ophelia are trying to tie the knot - but there are number of complications and trials still in the way.

Deanna: Where can readers buy your books?

Danielle: Both books are available from the MuseItHot Publishing book store in eBook format.
A Trace of Love is also available at the Amazon Kindle and Barnes&Noble Nook stores.

Deanna: Thank you so much for being here this week. I hope the cafe has great desserts all week. Where can readers find you?

Danielle: My website, facebook fan page, and twitter profile. Fans can also email me at danielle_ravencraft@yahoo.com

Contest: Yes, I will giveaway one ebook copy of either A Trace of Lover OR A Trace of Passion (winner’s choice). Please leave your email address so I can contact the winner on Saturday!

GoodReads Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:21:00 +0000

If you don't already have a signed copy of Never Surrender, check the giveaway box on the left panel over there. The contest is going on through March 14th so click to sign up if you're interested. Five copies will be given away! I would so appreciate a review after you finish reading but it's not a requirement to win. If you've already won and would like to post a review for others, they can be left at All Romance e-Books, Amazon, B & N, GoodReads, Smashwords or in my Guestbook. I will also post them on a separate page labeled Reader Reviews on my website.

Check out the Poll Questions I have listed on the left also. I want to know what you'd like to see in my newsletters so I can give you more of what you want! Thank you!

I appreciate all the support you give me by stopping by my web sites, subscribing to my newsletters and commenting on my blog posts. It lets me know that all of you are still out there surfing around in search of new books and new authors.

I will be back more often after tax season is over and hope you'll hang in there with me as I continue writing Whispers at Ghost Point! I'm glad many of you are as excited as I am for the release. I'm still aiming at late August 2012!

Thank you for being out there!

Valentine's Blog Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:05:00 +0000

Winners Listed Below

at prize packages

Thank you for stopping in and I hope you're having fun peeking at all the great prize packages out there for the holiday! Love is in the air and I hope you're grabbing some for yourself. To be in the drawing for my prizes, follow the rules below! I'm giving away THREE prizes so send your friends over, too!

My Prizes:

1st Place - Spa Package with Spicy Truffles
Winner: Library Pat

2nd Place - $15 Gift Card
Winner: Ingeborg

3rd Place - Signed copy of Never Surrender
Winner: WakeAngel

Blog Hop Rules

Follow my blog, either way
Leave a comment WITH your email addy included
Let me know where you'd like your gift card to: All Romance E-Bucks, Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Head over to the other blogs listed below. Keep my post open then right click the other blogs and open in a new tab to enter on their site.

**Before you leave, please answer my Newsletter poll and subscribe if you don't already receive my newsletter! (I pick one subscriber a month to win a $10 gift card!!)

Prequel to Whispers at Ghost Point

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:57:00 +0000

I'm bringing back my characters from the historical romance above because I just couldn't let them go. Is that bad? I love reincarnation stories and do believe it's a possibility so it made perfect sense to me when Whispers at Ghost Point visualized in my brain. Maybe Nathan and Vanessa did that! Who knows but it worked.

Read Chapter One of Whispers at Ghost Point if you've not already done that then head to my website and click some of the location photos I've posted about Wilmington NC. I'm enjoying where the story's headed and can't wait to get it to you but tax season is upon us and that's where I help hubby at the office when I can. It does put my writing on the back burner for a few months though. Hang in there with me; you won't be disappointed, I promise!

Get in NOW to add Your Blog to the Valentine's Day Hop!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:49:00 +0000

Click the Valentine's Day Blog Hop icon on the left, it'll take you to a post where you can add your blog to the hop. Remember, when you add your blog, your blog will be visited daily for those seven days and you offer a prize at the end for those who leave a comment on your blog, which is their way of entering YOUR contest.

At the end, pick one or two lucky commenters to win the prized you posted during the hop. Readers love to visit various blogs to see what and who is out there so come show off your blog for Valentine's Day and let readers fall in love with YOUR blog!

Readers, tell us what you love most about blog hops. Do you find them fun? Do you find many new blogs to follow and maybe even a few new authors and new books? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Extra Rich Hand Lotions!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 04:30:00 +0000

2 oz size w/lip balm

Thank you for stopping in to check out what these are all about. I came across some wonderful lotion that isn't greasy and feels so good as it soaks into your hands. I've tried many types of lotions but this one beats them all. A few have stopped by my website store and purchased a bottle so I hope they stop in to let us know how well the hand cream worked for them. I have a few different packages at my store page. The lotion comes as unscented and I add spa or lemon scent to it. I can also send it unscented should anyone prefer that.

1 oz size

I hope you give it a try if you have problems with dry hands, especially in the winter. Leave a comment here or in my guestbook on the main site if you give it a try. There are other items in my store that may interest you, too. Thank you so much for stopping in!

Change Your Thoughts, Start The Year Right!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:47:00 +0000

What we think about can ultimately change what we attract to us whether you realize that or not. Look back on one of your bad days - didn't everything seem to go wrong as the day went on? You may have been in a bad mood, gotten up crabby that day, mad at the world...it doesn't matter unless you consider what it attracted TO you.

Now consider how your day goes when you're upbeat, happy, excited things are going your way and no one in the world can stop the good things that are happening for you! I knooow! That's because you're attracting to you what you're thinking....GOOD things, things you WANT in your life. It works and if someone is going to argue with that, it's due to the fact that they're 'thinking' stinks!

If your thinking stinks, you're standing in your own way for success. It's out there so let it in, don't fight it. Clear your mind, change your thoughts and clear the way for good things to come to you. Understand that you DO deserve to have good things happen to you and for you.

My latest book can help you get started. It's only .99 and short enough that you can keep it handy to read on your bad days. I hope it helps keep you on the right path to achieve what you want.

Zig Ziggler says we have to read something seventeen times in order for the brain to accept what we've read. I invite you to read through my book seventeen times, let it soak in and change the way you think. I'd like to hear from you in a month or so if it helped you change the way you think. Come back here and leave a comment for us...thanks for stopping in and thank you if you've already downloaded my book and are on your way to achieving what you want!

New Year's Blog Hop!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:45:00 +0000

Merry Christmas

and Happy New Year!!

Thank you for stopping in and I hope you have a great time during the hop. Book mark sites you want to return to, then head out to enter on all the other hops so you get your contest entries in on all the blogs! You might even win on more than one blog. Good luck everyone!

PRIZES: Two winners

1st Place - a $20 Gift Card!

(Amazon, B & N, All Romance book bucks)

2nd Place - both of my books, signed for YOU!

and a goodie bag filled with author promo

MY Contest Rules: 4 things to do:

Leave a comment
Include your email addy (santa.claus at yahoo dot com)
FOLLOW my blog in Google or Networked (winners will be chkd)
Tell me where you want your GC to
You're done!

Nothing difficult and not a bunch of hoops to jump through. (I don't like it when I have to visit other sites to enter a contest either!) Leave your comment here then begin the hop! Leave this window open, right click on the next blog and open in a new tab. Close that window after you've finished their contest requirements, come back here and right click the next blog.

Good luck and have a great time!

Happy New Year to all of you!

Deanna's Blog Christmas Party!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:05:00 +0000

Congratulations Winners!!

Sharon H - Mousepad of her choice

MeljPrincess - basket of lotions/bath gel/shampoo/conditioner

Come on in, the party is in full swing and we're all glad you stopped in! I hope the music isn't too loud for you. Help yourself to food and drink but I do have to warn you that the bartender has hung up two mistletoes! Champagne is there too!

Before you leave, please be sure to follow my blog, leave a comment about your favorite holiday happening, be it a party, walking in the snow at night, sharing a drink with you honey before a crackling fire, dinner with friends, whatever....be sure to leave your email addy and I will pick TWO winners. On Dec 22 after 10 PM one will receive one of my mouse pads of their choice (see them all in my store, one goes to the winner!) and one lucky commenter will be picked to win this:

A bath & body package which

also includes one each of my new lotions!

Another Gift to You: All my books are .99 for the remainder of December at Smashwords. All format downloads are there. Click HERE to grab the codes that are put in on the buy screen and these codes will take the price to .99. Follow the link in that post to get over to Smashwords. Thank you so much for reading my work and I hope they make you smile. You could give back a gift to me by leaving a review at Smashwords, Amazon or B & N where all my books are available. Those reviews do help authors and readers can find my work.

I want to say thank you for your continued support all year long and reading my work, passing it on to your friends or sending them to my store links online. I do appreciate it. I love reading your letters and posts to my sites so please don't stop. Warm holiday wishes from my family to yours! *hugs*

Romance authors make love happen!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:40:00 +0000

Romance authors are true romantics at heart and even before I became an author, I wished that I could write a story that would make people fall in love because I'm a romantic. I like to think that everybody loves everybody even though we know deep down that isn't how the world works.

Readers who crave romance novels are romantics, too. We all love the way a great book makes us feel inside...that good things DO happen but we also have to help that along in our own way. By that, I mean that we have to look at who we have in our life and make sure the communication stays open with them. Let them know that you love those around you and in return, you should be able to expect they will love you back...but we also know that isn't always possible.

Surround yourself with friends who think like you do, who enjoy the same things as you do. If there's a few people who are intent on bringing sadness into your life, it may be time to cut ties with those people so you can continue on a path toward happiness. You don't have to be dragged down and sad just because that may be how those people live their lives. Make a change; choose to be happy! Start now to attract what you think and happiness is one of those things!

Love makes so many things better and improves our well being. Don't forget that we also have to love ourselves! You are unique and do good for others. We wake up happy knowing we're in love, too. I'm glad that my stories fall into that category and my readers are happy when they finish. Love plays a part in how we look at the world and those around us.

This holiday season, I wish happiness for all of you! We can play a big part in making happiness happen in our own lives by doing good things for others and that doesn't have to cost money. Look around to see what you can do for those around you. It might be as simple as lighting candles that flicker while you watch a movie together or getting them coffee when you get your morning coffee. Please scroll down to the next post to find my gift to you this year...my books are .99 at Smashwords for those who've not read them yet.

Lighting candles makes me smile and I enjoy smelling those spice scented candles that make me think about the holidays as I envision sitting in front of a crackling fire or walking at night while it snows, holding hands my husband. Do you have certain smells like the scent of a candle that bring happy holiday memories? Or maybe it's baking Christmas cookies with your children to create a holiday memory they will carry with them for life! Make a point to create a holiday memory this year.

As I surfed the internet reading blogs these last few weeks, it made me smile to read about all the traditions so many have this time of year, like getting together with friends, or maybe the type of gift they might by for that special someone or a dessert they fix for their family each year. What are some of the special things you do for those around you? We'd love to read about them so please share with us! Thank you for stopping in and may your holiday season be filled with loving friends and family!

My gift to you...

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 02:30:00 +0000

SALE!! .99 for December!

I want as many of you to read my books as possible so for the remainder of December, you can grab each of my books for .99 at Smashwords! Send this link to your friends and they can send it to their friends! The codes listed below get input on the buy screen and will lower the price to .99 for you. I hope you enjoy my stories. Both are are in different settings and eras as well as different continents!

I'd love to hear back from you about how you enjoyed the stories or better yet, you can leave a review at Smashwords returning to my page. No one has left a review for me so my books are a bit lonely over there! They'd love a few stars if you think they've earned them. Thank you so much for taking a peek and here are your codes to use on the buy screens:

until 12/31/11 use these codes:

DQ66X - No Turning Back

SQ46U - Never Surrender

Come Join us!!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 20:54:00 +0000

You're all invited to join us today at our Christmas Party over at Ravencraft's Romance Realm where we're giving away books! If you love to read, stop over, join the party, leave a comment with your email addy so we can reach you if you win and your entry will then be included. Pretty easy for a chance to win a book!

The party is well under way so hurry, drawings are TONIGHT!

Merry Christmas to all of my wonderful readers!

I'm guest blogging about Self-Publishing!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 23:38:00 +0000

Grab yourself a warm toddy and settle in so you can read a bit. The topic of self-publishing will get me on a soap box because I want to help so many others out there who are considering which way to go. I won't get into it here, but will let you read the post. I'm guest blogging over on Rachel Cooper's Verandah overlooking Imagination Creek! I love the title of her blog! Come visit, comment and you just might win a gift card!

Have questions about self-publishing? Leave a comment over there for getting in the drawing but you're welcome to leave a comment or question here, it just won't get you into the gift card drawing. Thanks for stopping by and return anytime!

Oh, before you go, I want to tell you about a Christmas Party over at Ravencraft's Romance Realm on Dec 10th. Mark your calendar now so you don't forget! Join us over there for fun and prizes the entire day! Psst....it's also my birthday so come have a drink with me. I'll be around throughout the day and into the night! See you there!

I'm back from convention and R & R!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna Jewel) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:12:00 +0000

Visited Mardi Gras!!

Sorry I've been MIA for so long! I attended a business convention in New Orleans and stayed another week for vacation with hubby. What an awesome time! We had a meet and greet on the FIELD of the New Oleans Saints SuperDome!! How awesome is that?

After the grueling three day convention (we did learn so it was worthwhile!), we began our vacation with a ghost/vampire tour after dark, also enjoyed a cemetery tour.

I think the most fun was the swamp tour in an air boat! Our guide took us down a few bayous so we could snap pics of alligators as well as the kewl scenery.

I sense a possible future book set in the bayou....Whispers from the Bayou??? We'll see, I have to finish what I've got started first!! Hmmm....a series of Whisper books? LOL

There are also a few additions I want to do for my website because I've found a fabulous hand lotion that is so creamy and I can add scents to it. The lemon and spa scents are yummy but I have to say, I do love the lemon one. I'll have those for sale soon but if you're interested now, let me know! Until later, have a wonderful beginning to our upcoming holiday season and come back to join me for the holiday blog hops!