SORMAG's Blog

FEATURED AUTHOR: Rose Jackson-Beavers

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:04:00 +0000

Rose Jackson-Beavers, Chief Executive Officer of Prioritybooks Publications grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois and received her Bachelor and Master degrees from Illinois State and Southern Illinois Universities. Rose is a motivational speaker who is frequently asked to talk to youths and young adults about life issues. She has worked with many youths throughout her community and has received many awards and recognition for her work in publishing. She has worked as a freelance writer for A-Magazine, a St. Louis Publication, The Spanish Lake Word Newspaper and as an Opinion Shaper for the North County Journal Newspaper. Married for twenty-seven years to Cedric, they have one daughter, Adeesha. She is the author of seven books. Her books can be published directly from her website at http://www.prioritybooks.com/ or from http://www.amazon.com/ or http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. She can be reached at rosbeav03@yahoo.com, or at 314-306-2972.

How did you start out your writing career?

I knew I wanted to write since I was ten years old. I used to write letters to prisoners as a pen pal and by age twelve I was reading all of my mom’s True Love magazines. As I grew older, I developed a love for writing poems and speeches. I did a lot of speaking to teens and adults about making changes in their lives. After each session I would recite a quick poem that I thought of while talking to them. Students said I should publish them, but it took another friend to push me. My friend and co-author of my book, Quilt Designs and Poetry Rhythms, Edna Patterson-Petty is a nationally known fabric artist who is often sought out to do workshops, speaking engagements, designs, etc. She asked me to write a few speeches for her, so I did. She was impressed with them and asked me had I written anything else. I showed some articles to her and she mailed them to an up-and-coming magazine. They offered me a column and that’s where it started.

What did you learn while writing this book?

I learned that there’s a thin line between sharing a viewpoint, and seeming like you’re recruiting people. Truthfully, I wanted to write a book with a Christian theme. But as I wrote I realized that I had to be true to my religion. I couldn’t write a story about worshipping on a Sunday because I hadn’t done that since I was thirteen years old. I had to be absolutely true to my religion’s doctrines without coming off preachy. People always asked me about being a Seventh Day Adventist and I tried to explain it to the reader without seeming like I was recruiting. I kept asking my editors if it sounded preachy or appear like I was trying to sell my religion. If you read most of my books, my religion is included because those are the principles that guide my life. I want my characters to have faults, but I also want them to have some religious beliefs to help them become better.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

To encourage the masses to pay closer attention to senior citizens. One character, Sarah, was very lonely and needed help with overcoming alcohol abuse. Children should pay attention to their parents and spend time with them to assure that they are happy and are not withering away. Also, true love usually comes when you least expect it to.

What came first with this story, the characters or the plot? Why?

The characters. When I lay down at night, I found myself dreaming of this non-existent pastor who was handsome, sensitive and everyone’s dream. He was single and very wealthy. I had read enough books with pastors having sex with their members and stealing from the church.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

It amazes me how much drama sells. Readers seem to crave drama in books.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

I love the fact that writing is freeing. In the creative world of fiction, characters are able to go wherever they choose and can be all they desire to be with no limitations.

What I hate most is how hard it is to introduce your work to readers. Like me, readers have their favorites and it takes a lot of work to get them to read a new unknown author. That’s why I try to support so many up-and-coming authors. I know how it feels. I also realize there are so many good writers who’ve written great books and I don’t want to miss out because an author is new on the scene. Likewise, I don’t want readers to miss out on my work either.
What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

First, I didn’t know that it wouldn’t get easier. As a publisher, I have twenty-four authors under our label and the majority are self-published. I wanted a company that treated all authors with respect, support and care. I encourage our authors to work, advertise and market together and to pool their resources. We meet regularly and even invite marketing representatives, web designers, book club members and readers to our meetings. Whatever we can do to motivate and inspire, Prioritybooks does. But being a publisher and an author is hard. I spend most of my time encouraging our authors and little time nurturing my writing. It can be conflicting sometimes because writing releases stress and if I cannot write, I feel overwhelmed.

Secondly, too many authors seek quick money and only the opportunity to become published. Once they sell that first two-hundred books they are happily done. They don’t market or promote because they didn’t plan to work hard, even though they said they would bust their butts, trying to sell their books.

Third, it’s hard to network. When you are so busy doing a bunch of other things, it’s hard to find the time to network.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

Do research and learn everything about this industry from publishing to editing. If someone tells you he or she is an editor, request the names of the books they edited and the authors’ contact information.

Don’t assume that once your book is published that all you have to do is sit back and wait for the money to fall into your lap. There’s a lot of hard work in selling books and getting the acclaim that you desire.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

It takes time to build loyal audiences, be patient. Also the majority of writers are not rich.

Tell us something few know about you?

I love doing workshops and presentations, especially to the youth. In addition to a small publishing company, I also own a federally approved 501-C (3) non-profit company.

Our mission is to enhance the lives of families through health, social and cultural experiences by providing information, training, referrals and education. I am looking into a way to combine both companies.

When you’re not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

I watch movies with my husband. I also take my parents to lunch or spend time with them twice a week. I work with teens. This month I presented a Dress for Success workshop. All attendees received a free book. I also give out a scholarship every two years to a student who may only have a 2.0 grade point average. Everyone helps our children who are smart, have every advantage at their disposal, but for the student who has to work hard to just get a C average and lack family support they get looked over. With support, mentoring and help, the average student can become the excellent student. The scholarship is given from my scholarship foundation, the McKinley and Sylvester Jackson Scholarship. I created this scholarship because my brothers loved education and helped as much as they could to make sure we could be educated. McKinley died of cancer at forty years old and Sylvester at forty-three.

What do you do to interact with your readers?

I have two free workshops a year on self-publishing. I also have donated other free workshops throughout the year like Dress for Success and Understanding Depression for Teens. I interact on Facebook and on my blog “Lessons Learned.” In two years I’ve had almost 70,000 visitors who read my blog.

This month we have two themes, our first is Family Literacy. Do you do anything to promote family literacy?

I donate a lot of books to churches and schools. Last year we donated five cases of various teen books to churches and afterschool programs. We wanted the kids to have a variety of novels to choose from that were more relatable to them. I also donated fifteen books to the teens I spoke to this month.

Our second theme is Local Authors, what are you doing locally to promote your books?

I use the newspapers here and send out press releases, eblasts, friends, and other types of publicity. I also have some planned book signings.

Oprah always asks, what do you know for sure?

I love writing and would do it without pay. I love the opportunity to tell a story and share information through pages that could help someone with a problem they may be having. I also know that when I put God first and then family, the sky is the limit.

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

Rosbeav03@yahoo.com, http://www.rosejacksonbeavers.com/ http://www.prioritybooks.blogspot.com/

A SINNER'S CRY

Denise Reese’s life seems as if it is on a sure course to perfection, until a single phone call crushes her reality and leaves her heartbroken and vulnerable. As she attempts to rebuild her shattered life, Denise seeks solace in the confines of the church that she'd walked out of years ago and swore to never return. As she struggles to gain redemption, the ringing of her phone continues to haunt her and impede her progress. In the midst of her struggles she receives support from the newly appointed pastor, the handsome James Davis. While the two attempt to walk the right path, they must combat the lies and deception that those closest to them are spreading. Once Denise learns to decipher between lust and love, she realizes, even from a struggling sinner, God hears sincere cries.

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FEATURED AUTHOR: Megan Kelly

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:40:00 +0000

Megan Kelly writes contemporary romances, both self-published and for Harlequin American Romance. She spends a lot of time with imaginary people in her head. Fortunately, she has a very supportive husband and two kids who don't remember a time when Mom didn't write, so a wandering mind seems almost normal in her house. She lives in the Midwest, where the weather has an imagination of its own. You can reach her through her website, http://www.megankellybooks.com/ or on FaceBook.

How did you start out your writing career?

I joined my local RWA chapter and absorbed all the advice I could. At my first writers' conference, I attended a group pitch where I barely breathed, let alone spoke. Afterward, the editor wrote down our names and said she expected something from each of us! So I sat down and wrote a book with my sister's critiques guiding me, then sent it in. -- I want to apologize to that editor for having to read it. No one should see a writer's first attempt. That was my learning book where I made every mistake possible.

What did you learn while writing this book?

SANTA DEAR, which was released in Dec 2011, was my first self-published book, after selling four Harlequin American Romances. It was also a book I wrote a long time ago but couldn't sell. It received great responses (good rejections, lol), got to the senior editor's desk, was sent by one editor to another who she thought the book fit better, and so on. No offers. But I believed in this story and wanted readers to have it. The self-pub learning curve is steep, even though I used a company to format and distribute it. I'm still learning about it.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

I wanted to touch readers' hearts. SANTA DEAR is about the widowed heroine learning to trust another man after raising her son alone for several years. My hope is readers will laugh and cry, and finish it wanting to read more stories I've written.

What came first with this story, the characters or the plot? Why?

The characters always come first with me. I don't plot ahead. I let the characters take me through their experiences as I type. The widowed heroine showed up in my head first, distraught over her son's letter to Santa Claus. In it, he says he needs Santa to visit, to prove Santa's not a "just a story, like my dad." That hits the heroine hard. I typed that out and waited for Trish to tell me what she did next. Stories I've plotted always came out dry and lifeless when I wrote them, so I don't plot.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

After five books, I'm still finding out what routine works best. The two books I wrote by putting my head down and typing--finishing each in roughly six weeks after the proposal was accepted (meaning the first three chapters were done), including revising and polishing--were the two the editor barely had any revisions on. The two books I labored over for six months or more had 8 page revision letters from the editor. I want to believe if I "get out of my way" I write better books, but that's because binge-writing is easier for me.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

I love reader feedback and I hate doing promotion.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

DO keep learning. Keep reading widely. Keep attending workshops, even if it "just" validates what you do. Validation is almost as important as chocolate to a writer. DON'T quit. It took me thirteen years from starting that first book to getting THE CALL. I'd like to add a second DO that is just as important to me as learning: Give back. None of us got here alone.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

I'd like them to understand writers don't get paid for books pirated off the internet and the effect it can have on a career. If someone posts BOOKX for free and millions of people download it and love it, the publishing company still counts that as one sale. If the author self-published BOOKX, she gets one royalty payment (between thirty cents and two bucks in most cases). Having fans doesn't insure an author will receive another contract or earn enough money so she can write full-time. Pirating books hurts the author.

Tell us something few know about you.

I have a bad habit of saying things to make people laugh coupled with a very deadpan delivery. Even close friends and family take me seriously when they shouldn't. I seldom take myself seriously. Life is too short.

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

Read. Isn't that the typical answer from writers? I also knit and crochet (not well), but I prefer getting lost in someone else's imagination. I love to go to the movies.

What do you do to interact with your readers?

I blog with Harlequin American Romance authors (http://harauthors.blogspot.com) and I'm on FaceBook every day. I answer emails and do in person book signings for my print books. I love readers.

This month we have two themes our first is Family Literacy. Do you do anything to promote family literacy?

My books are for adults. I'm not aware of any Family Literacy events in my area.

Our second theme is Local Authors, what are you doing locally to promote your books?

I have signings at local independent bookstores to bring in readers. I try to make sure the local newspapers are informed. I write articles for my local RWA chapter occasionally and am always available to help writers with questions if I can. Actually, I had two people approach me recently about helping beginning writers they knew. I love that. I believe helping others and making contact in a personal way does more to sell a book than anything else I can do locally.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

My family is my rock.

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

I have a proposal with Harlequin American right now. It's not contracted, but hopefully it will be my next print book. In it, a reporter stuck in Features stumbles on a big story that will hurt the family of the guy she loves. What to do?

My next self-published story is a mystery with romantic and paranormal elements. You can see why it would be a hard sell to a traditional publisher. It would be difficult for a bookstore to shelve--is it mystery or romance or paranormal? (Yes.) Since the setting is a campground, I'll be putting it out this summer. I don't have excerpts up for these yet, but readers can go to my website for excerpts of my other five books.

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

My website http://www.megankellybooks.com/ has a contact page. You can email me, become my friend on FaceBook or tweet at me on Twitter.

SANTA DEAR

"Santa, My friends say you're just a story, like my dad."

Trish's heart aches when she reads the note from her five-year-old son. She needs a man, but only to play Santa for Tyler. Widowed several years earlier, she's not quite over the scars left by her dishonest husband. She isn't looking for a relationship, although having someone to rely on is tempting. So is Sam, but she's not going to fall for an unambitious man. Not again.

Sam doesn't want a relationship, either. Recently burned by his ex, who had her eye on the top of the corporate ladder, he's willing to let Trish think he's poor and out of work to keep her at arm's length. When she and her son invade his heart, there's this little misunderstanding in the way. He has to win her over, but can he help her bury the past?

When things look their gloomiest, it doesn't hurt to have Santa on your side.

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FEATURED AUTHOR: Suzanne Hartmann

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:06:00 +0000

EDITOR’s NOTE: You know I love introducing you to my writer friends. I met Suzanne when I created a writer’s group last year. She has inspired us all to continue on our path to publication. She showed us not to let go of the dream, to work hard, to learn and it will all pay off. I’m super excited to see where her career will go. Please meet my writing friend, Suzanne Hartmann.

Suzanne Hartmann is a homeschool mom of three and lives in the St. Louis area. When not homeschooling or writing, she enjoys scrapbooking, reading, and Bible study. She began writing fiction when her children were young, and four of her short stories were published in a Milliken Publishing
reading workbook. PERIL: Fast Track Thriller Bk. #1 is her debut novel.

On the editorial side, Suzanne is a contributing editor with Port Yonder Press and has written a book titled Write This Way: Take Your Writing to a New Level, which is a compilation of her popular Top 10 series of articles on her blog.

How did you start out your writing career?

In the mid-1990’s, I sold a set of short stories to be used in a Millikin Publishing reading workbook, but I didn’t feel called to write a novel until the fall of 2006.

What did you learn while writing this book?

The main thing I learned was how to write fiction. I had a good story to tell, but I needed to learn the best way to hold the readers’ attention. Unfortunately, I learned through the school of hard knocks—by making just about every mistake there is to make in writing, learning how to fix each of them, then finding and fixing them over and over in my manuscript.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

I want to offer a good read with quality writing that doesn’t offend Christians like so many secular novels do anymore. I also wanted to create realistic characters who pull readers into their lives—characters you care about and remember long after you finish the book.

What came first with this story, the characters or the plot? Why?

Lady Anne, my main character, came first. The story started with a question: What if someone could do…? I created a character who could do that, then put her in situation after situation which challenged her. Those scenarios eventually formed the outline for PERIL.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

How much work it is to get the word out about a book. So far, everything I’ve done from a book release party to sending out press releases to doing a blog tour has taken far longer than expected.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

I love it when I’m in the groove with my writing. That’s when I’m getting to know my characters and plotting all kinds of fun and challenges, disasters and successes for them.

Marketing is definitely the hardest part for me. I’ve always shied away from sales; now I have no choice, so I’m learning and applying everything I can.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

1) More about what happens after the contract
2) How time-consuming marketing a book is
3) How to manage my time better

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

DO: Be a willing learner.
DON’T: Don’t give up.
Persistence and a willingness to learn will take you to publication if you hold on and keep at it.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

Writers really, REALLY do want to hear from their readers, especially new authors.

Tell us something few know about you?

Both of my knees have been replaced. The problems that lead to the need to replace them stem from a severe car accident 25 years ago.

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

Scrapbooking is my stress-reliever, and Bible study is my sanity-saver. And, of course, I LOVE to read!

What do you do to interact with your readers?

I have a Facebook page and am on Twitter (SuzInIL). I also write a blog, Write This Way (http://suzanne-hartmann2.blogspot.com/), that offers freebies for readers and resources for writers.

This month we have two themes our first is Family Literacy. Do you do anything to promote family literacy?

Reading is important in my family and all of my children are big readers. From the time they were very little, we read to them. Even though they are now teenagers, I still read to them. As a part of our homeschooling, I read them several pages from the Bible each day, and a number of novels that correspond with whatever we’re studying in history.

Our second theme is Local Authors, what are you doing locally to promote your books?

I have sent a press release to local newspapers and articles have been printed in the Troy Tribune, the Edwardsville Intellingencer’s The Edge Magazine, and the Alton Telegraph. Marketing is something that is tough for me, especially now that I have a deadline for writing the sequel to PERIL, but I have made a commitment to do at least one tiny marketing item per day. So over the course of the next couple of months, I will contact local libraries and Christian bookstores to request that they carry my book and discuss the possibilities of setting up book signings and/or writing workshops.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

I know for sure that Jesus is my Savior, that He has called me to write, and that He is walking with me step-by-step through my writing journey.

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

CONSPIRACY: Fast Track Thriller #2 is due out in the summer or fall of 2012. This novel picks up where PERIL leaves off. Joanne’s boss, the head of the country’s most clandestine intelligence organization is framed for selling secrets to a foreign government. She and her friend, NASCAR champion Stuart Jackson, vow to help George set things straight, in spite of personal tragedies engulfing her life.

REVENGE: Fast Track Thriller #3 is due out in 2013. The man who framed Joanne’s boss may be behind bars, but he wants revenge. He promises to expose her deepest secrets to the entire world and isn’t afraid to threaten her loved ones to accomplish it. When he threatens Stuart’s safety during a race, will she trade her secrets to save him?

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

My e-mail address: shartmann5@yahoo.com
My Website – FastTrackThrillers (http://fasttrackthrillers.blogspot.com/)
My Blog - Write This Way (http://suzanne-hartmann2.blogspot.com/)
Facebook – Suzanne Hartmann – Author http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Suzanne-Hartmann-Author/45955180933
Twitter - @SuzInIL (http://twitter.com/#!/SuzInIL)

PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1

Christian Suspense

A top secret agent with enhanced strength must use her extraordinary abilities during several high-profile assignments, from the White House to NASCAR tracks, while escorting the first Muslim king to convert to Christianity. When unwanted publicity threatens to expose her, she herself becomes a terrorist target, with danger surrounding her on all sides.

“Plenty of action and unexpected twists.” Foreword by Jimmy Makar, GM of Joe Gibbs Racing

PERIL BOOK TRAILER http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-G_LzhD4zE

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BOOK WINNERS - January

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:45:00 +0000

Congrats to

Teresa Beasley

Charlene Sapp

You won a copy of

Real Wifey:Get Money by Meesha Mink

Sinners & Saints

By Victoria Christopher Murray & ReShonda Tate Billingsley

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Sinners & Saints

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:08:00 +0000

Sinners & Saints
By Victoria Christopher Murray & ReShonda Tate Billingsley

TEAM JASMINE or TEAM RACHEL?

Bestselling and award-winning novelists Victoria Christopher Murray and ReShonda Tate Billingsley bring their favorite heroines together in a novel that will delight their legions of fans.

Jasmine Larson Bush and Rachel Jackson Adams are not your typical first ladies. But they’ve overcome their scandalous and drama-filled pasts to stand firmly by their husbands’ sides.

When a coveted position opens up—president of the American Baptist Coalition— both women think their husbands are perfect for the job. And winning the position may require both women to get down and dirty and revert to their old tricks. Just when Jasmine and Rachel think they’re going to have to fight to the finish, the current first lady of the coalition steps in . . . a woman bigger, badder, and more devious than either of them.

Double the fun with a message of faith, Sinners & Saints will delight readers with two of their favorite characters from two of their favorite authors.

Would you like to win a copy of this book? CLICK HERE

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SORMAG is Nominated For An Award

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:16:00 +0000

PRODIGY PUBLISHING GROUP presents "SECOND ANNUAL FACE BOOK URBAN LITERARY AWARDS

SORMAG was nominated for -
INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR

We received an Honorable Mention in the following categories

BOOK REVIEWER OF THE YEAR

BEST WEB SITE DESIGN OF THE YEAR

Please take a moment to vote for us and all the other nominees.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHVDMkxEVng2cFc3MGVJNmRPNmJjS1E6MQ

A BIG THANK YOU for supporting SORMAG. I know there is no SORMAG without you and I’m grateful for you stopping by every day.

LCH

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Guilty by Association Virtual Book Tour with Pat Simmons

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:11:00 +0000

About the Book

The Jamieson Family Legacy series follow the lives of two Jamieson brothers in Boston, Kidd and Ace, and their cousin, Cameron, from St. Louis. The older brother, Kidd, is struggling with anger and resentment issues toward his absentee father who never married his mother. Yet, he had the audacity to demand his illegitimate sons carry his Jamieson name. Ace, on the other hand, is on his collision course to be a chip off the old block when it comes to women. Their highly MIT educated cousin, Cameron Jamieson, is all about saving family from self-destruction.

Through genealogy research, Cameron's mission is to show his cousins their worth as the eleventh generation descendants of a royal African tribe and to give them a choice: live with the stereotypical "angry black men" syndrome or to crush any obstacles that try and stop them to become strong successful black men.There are three books in the Jamieson Legacy series: Guilty by Association (Kidd's story), The Guilt Trip (Ace's story), and Free from Guilt (Cameron's story). Each of the three Jamieson men have to accept that their past and present are in God's hand, and without Him they can't advance to their future blessings. The bonus storyline in Guilty by Association is one that progresses the story of the much-loved character in the previous three book Guilty Series, Grandma BB. This time, she picks up a sidekick Mrs. Valentine.

Guilty by Association is the story of Boston bad boy Kevin "Kidd" Jamieson. His gripe is with his father who dared to insist that his two illegitimate sons carry his last name. To add insult to injury, the man never bothered to stick around to provide love and guidance as his boys matured into men. Kidd's anger overflows into every area of his life. As his animosity festers, Kidd becomes as a roaring lion, seeking whatever and whomever he can devour. He's as gritty as his cousin in St. Louis, Parke Jamieson VI, is polished. The two strong-willed men clash when Kidd relocates to St. Louis where his cousin assures him it's a land of milk and money in job opportunities. Where is lands a job is far from it.

Through a series of events that involve Grandma BB, her dog named Silent Killer and her Stacy Adams shoes, Kidd meets two women who recognize his hostile tendencies and immediately begin to administer CPR to his soul. LPN Eva Savoy eventually becomes his "Eve," a woman God created from the underlying goodness hidden in Kidd's own heart.Reluctantly, Kidd allows Parke to divulge information about their royal family heritage. While everyone's care and compassion begins to smother Kidd, he struggles to keep up the bad boy attitude as his walls start to crumble. Kidd learns it's not his association with the name that identifies him, but the man he becomes that defines him.

BOOK TRAILER

About the Author

Pat Simmons is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth. She is passionate about digging up the dirt on her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She has been a genealogy enthusiast since her great-grandmother died at the young age of ninety-seven years old. Pat has won numerous awards for her novels which include: Talk to Me, Grace and Humility and Still Guilty, which was voted the Best Inspirational Romance for 2010. Pat is best known for her Guilty series: Guilty of Love, Not Guilty of Love, and Still Guilty. She is continuing the series through the Jamieson Family Legacy trilogy: Guilty by Association, The Guilt Trip, Free From Guilt. Pat has recently been nominated for the best Christian fiction award by the African American Literary Awards for her latest release, Crowning Glory. Pat and her husband live in Missouri and have two children.

How did you start out your writing career?

I started writing as a dabbler. It was a past time. I would write a couple of pages one day and maybe come back to the project six months later. That behavior is defined as a hobby. Then I made the commitment that I wanted to become a published author and stay published. If a person isn’t ready to put in five, six or eight hours, five days a week to write, then define the goal.

What did you learn while writing this book?

My heart aches for our young men who seem to be on a path of destruction. Those misbehaving young boys grow up to become out-of-control teenagers, and then finally angry black men. My desire was to tap into Kidd Jamieson’s anger and yank it out by its roots. And then plant the seed of hope, love and salvation in his heart. I hope I didn’t miss the mark in Guilty by Association.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

To ease the guilt that parents, especially single parents, who might suffer from second-guessing themselves. Where did they go wrong to cause their sons to lash out for no apparent reason? We are our brothers’ keepers. If we can reach out to a young man—or woman, don’t be shy. Let’s save them from self-destruction. Sometimes, they may need a listening ear, or a hug or a job.

What came first with this story, the characters or the plot? Why?

Definitely the plot. I wanted to get away from the good-hearted, positive-thinking Jamieson men from the previous books. Readers are fascinated with the bad boy characters, so I wanted to include some in the same family and then watch their transformation.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

Readers don’t pick up an author’s novel by chance. It takes money to promote, attend conferences and word of mouth to get an author’s name circulating.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

I loved it when I write a perfect scene where I sniff or grin while experiencing a character’s emotion. I hate re-writes—period.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

The amount of time it takes to write. When I log off a computer at five o’clock doesn’t mean my characters aren’t still active in my head. I have turned back on my computer and jotted down notes, so that I wouldn’t forget great details of a scene. Second, the amount of money it takes to publicize a novel. A day job or a monthly inheritance would definitely foot the bill for tours, printed material, hotel stays, etc. And third, understanding the writing craft would have been a plus, but I have learned from my freelance editor.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

Pay for an editor who has edited author’s manuscripts before submitting it anywhere. DON’T sign a contract without a literary attorney if you don’t have an agent. I consider myself pretty smart, but not in legal matters.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand? If you mean non-writers such as readers, my answer is authors stay published because readers support them. If you mean non-writers such as people in different fields, writing is work whether I’m at home or in an office, it is a job. To earn my pay, I need to put in eight hours.

Tell us something few know about you?

I’m more bark than bite. Ask my children.

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

I enjoy watching romantic movies with my husband or hiding out in the library’s genealogy dept.

What do you do to interact with your readers?

If possible, I like attending book club meetings and conferences.

This month we have two themes our first is Family Literacy. Do you do anything to promote family literacy?

I recently donated books for a shelter and I committed to donate books for a group of young girls in Africa.

Our second theme is Local Authors, what are you doing locally to promote your books?

I try to participate in as many local literary events as my schedule permits, which include signing at company’s vendor days and our military base.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

That Jesus saves.

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

Ace is Kidd’s younger bad boy brother from Boston. Aaron Jamieson is living a carefree life. He's good-looking, respectable when he's in the mood, but his weakness is women. When a woman tries to ambush him with a pregnancy, he takes off in the other direction. Responsibility as an option is something he learned from his absentee father. Talise Rogers has a bright future ahead of her. She's pretty and has no problem catching a man's eye, which is exactly what she does with Ace. Their chemistry is undeniable and their passion explosive. Trapping Ace is the furthest thing from Talise's mind, when she learns she is pregnant. She is determined to be a good parent. When Ace rejects her she lets him know, "I want nothing from you Ace, not even your name," and she means it. But Ace's big brother and cousins don't plan to let the child who represents the twelfth generation descendant of a royal African tribe leave the fold. Whether Ace decides to accept his responsibility or not, his family embraces Talise and baby. As for Ace, they turn him over to the LORD. How long will he be able to endure the guilt trip he's experiencing because of his choices?

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

Snag mail: Pat Simmons, P.O.Box 1077, Florissant, MO 63031; http://www.patsimmons.net/
or pat@patsimmons.net.

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT: REAL WIFEYS: GET MONEY

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:37:00 +0000

In the new novel from the author of Real Wifeys: On the Grind, rapper Make$’s wifey, Harriet “Luscious” Jordan, finds herself out in the cold financially after Make$ is imprisoned for his role in the brutal rape of Luscious’ friend and his business partner, Kaeyla “Goldie” Dennis, a misguided young woman who once ran a strip club out of her apartment. But Luscious is a first-rate hustler and soon becomes a successful party promoter. There is really only one thing on Luscious’ mind: destroying Goldie. Luscious has never forgiven Goldie for sleeping with Make$ behind her back before the rape, and she’ll stop at nothing to exact revenge. Yet how far can Luscious go in her blazing quest for payback without destroying herself, too?

Real Wifeys: Get Money is the second installment in a fierce and gritty new trilogy from one of the most daring voices in street lit.

Meesha Mink is the psuedonym for bestselling author Niobia Bryant. For more on this author, please visit: http://www.meeshamink.com/ or http://www.niobiabryant.com/.

Would you like to win a copy of this book? CLICK HERE

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Book Spotlight: Sanctuary Cove - Chapter Excerpt

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:42:00 +0000

SANCTUARY COVE
by Rochelle Alers

Sometimes love is the simplest choice of all.

Still reeling from her husband's untimely death, Deborah Robinson needs a fresh start. So she decides to pack up her family, box up her bookstore, and return to her grandmother's ancestral home on Cavanaugh Island. The charming town of Sanctuary Cove holds happy memories for Deborah. And, after she spies a gorgeous stranger in the local bakery, it promises the possibility for a bright, new future.

Dr. Asa Monroe is at a crossroads. Ever since the loss of his family, he has been on a quest for faith and meaning, traveling from one town to another. When he meets Deborah, the beautiful bookstore owner with the warm eyes and sunny smile, Asa believes he has finally found a reason to stay in one place.

As friendship blossoms into romance, Deborah and Asa discover they may have a second chance at love. But small towns have big secrets. Before they can begin their new life together, the couple must confront a challenge they never expected . . .

With nearly two million copies of her novels in print, Rochelle Alers is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Pen Award, the Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award.

For more information, please visit Rochelle's website at www.rochellealers.org/

Chapter One

Barbara, are you sure you don’t mind looking after Whitney and Crystal for
the week? You know I can always take them with me.”

“Deborah Robinson! Do you realize how many times you’ve asked the same question and I’ve given you the same answer? No, I don’t mind at all. Now go before you miss your ferry. And no cell phone calls from the car.”

As the boat headed in a southeast direction she stared at the island shorelines of Kiawah, Seabrook and Edisto Islands before the ferryboat slowed, chugging slowly and docking at Cavanaugh Island. She was the las“Thanks for everything,” Deborah whispered, hugging her friend. “I’ll call you from the island.”

Deborah ran across the front lawn, jumped into her car, fastened the seatbelt and pulled away from the curb. Smiling at years of happy memories as she drove through the back streets of Charleston, Deborah made it to the pier before sailing time. She drove onto the ferry, turned off the car, and got out to stand at the rail, instantly refreshed by the cool breeze. This time her return to the small community of Sanctuary Cove wouldn’t be for a weekend or mini-vacation, but to air out the house she’d inherited from her grandparents in order to make it her home and to look at a vacant store she’d rented where she’d open her bookstore.

Two blasts from the ferry’s horn echoed it was time to sail; a man on the pier tossed the thick coil of hemp to another worker on the ferry, freeing it; below deck engines belched, coughed, and rumbled. There came another horn blast and the ferryman deftly steered the boat through the narrow inlet until he reached open water.

Resting her elbows on the rail, Deborah watched as steeples and spires of the many churches rising above the landscape disappeared from view t one off the boat, and waved to the captain as he tipped his hat.

Driving off the ferry, she felt herself blinking back tears, remembering the last time she’d come here. It had been Thanksgiving and she, Louis and their kids had decided to celebrate the holiday at the Cove rather than in Charleston. Louis never could have imagined as he’d carved turkey that a week later he would become embroiled in a scandal. That he would be seen in a compromising position with one of his female students.

Despite declaring that he was simply comforting her, and there was nothing improper going on between him and the student, Louis Robinson was suspended pending a school board hearing. Tensions and emotions were fever-pitched as Charlestonians formed opposing factions while Louis awaited his fate. Deborah blamed those who were quick to judge her husband for his death, and all of their condolences fell on deaf ears when the truth was finally revealed. The truth had come too late. She’d lost her husband of eighteen years and Whitney and Crystal their father.

Slowing and coming to a complete stop, she reached for a tissue and blotted the tears, praying for a time when the tears wouldn’t come without warning, or so easily. It took several minutes, but after taking a few deep breaths, she was back in control.

Stepping on the accelerator, Deborah drove slowly along the paved road, boarded on both sides by palmetto trees and ancient oaks draped with Spanish moss.

She maneuvered onto the quaint Mail Street and suddenly felt another
rush of sadness, but this one was not personal. Like so many small towns across the United States she realized the Cove was slowly dying. She noticed more boarded-up storefronts; the sidewalks were cracked and even the Cove Inn, a boardinghouse and one of the grandest houses on the island, needed a new coat of white paint.

Deborah drove into the small parking lot behind Jack’s Fish House. After only a cup of coffee earlier that morning she needed to eat before throwing herself into the chore of cleaning the house. There were more than a dozen cars in the lot; some she recognized as belonging to local fishermen.

The winter temperature on Cavanaugh was at least ten degrees warmer than in Charleston, so she left her wool jacket in the car. Reaching for her purse, she walked up from the lot to the entrance of the restaurant, an establishment that was known for serving some of the best seafood in the Lowcountry.

The familiar interior of Jack’s Fish House hadn’t changed in decades. Tables hewn from tree trunks bore the names and initials of countless lovers, ex-lovers, and those who wanted to achieve immortality by carving their names into a piece of wood. Only the light fixtures had changed, from bulbs covered by frosted globes to hanging lamps with Tiffany-style shades. A trio of ceiling fans turned at the lowest speed to offset the buildup of heat coming from the kitchen each time the café doors swung open. The year before the Jacksons added a quartet of flat screen televisions, primarily for the fishermen who went out at dawn and returned midday with their nets laden with crabs, oysters, and shrimp.

Deborah walked past restaurant regulars and few strange faces to sit at a round table for two in a far corner. The mouthwatering aromas coming from dishes carried by the waitstaff triggered a hunger she hadn’t felt in weeks. She knew she’d lost too much weight, and although she cooked for Whitney and Crystal, she would take only a few forkfuls before feeling full.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over the table and her head popped up. Luvina Jackson, wearing a pair of overalls and a bibbed apron, arms crossed under her ample bosom, gave Deborah a sad smile. Her gray hair was covered with a hairnet. “Stand up, baby, and let Vina hold you. I’m so sorry about Louis.”

Deborah couldn’t hold back tears as she sank into the comforting softness of Luvina’s well-rounded figure. The smell of yeast and lily of the valley wafted in her nostrils, a fragrance Luvina had worn for as long as Deborah remembered.

“Thank you, Miss Vina.”

Luvina rocked her back and forth. “You know the Cove would have turned out for you if you hadn’t had a private service.”

“I know that, Miss Vina. But I would’ve lost it if the hypocrites who were so quick to judge Louis would’ve shown up to pay their so-called respects.”

“All you had to do was say the word and we would’ve been there for you with bells on. Ain’t no way we gonna let dem two-face, egg-suckin’ vultures hurt one of our own. We would have turned it out.”

“Then we all would’ve been on the front page of The State or The Post and Courier, not to mention footage on the local television news,” Deborah murmured.

“I just want you to know we would have been there for you, baby. How are your kids doing?”

Easing out of her embrace, Deborah met Luvina’s eyes. “They’re coping as well as they can. But kids are kids and they are much more resilient than grown folks. They’re spending the week with friends until school begins again.”

“Thanks goodness for that. Enough talk. I know you came in her to git somethin’ to eat. Whatcha want?”

Deborah smiled. Even though she’d been born and raised in Charlest
on, coming back to the Cove and listening to the different inflections interspersed with the Gullah dialect made her feel as if she had come home. “Do you have any okra gumbo?”

Luvina’s broad dark face, with features that bore her Gullah ancestry, softened as she smiled. “I jest put up a long pot earlier dis mornin’.”

Deborah returned Luvina’s smile. She liked Jack’s okra gumbo because they fried the okra with oil to reduce the slime and added corn to the savory dish. “I’ll have a bowl with a couple of buttered biscuits.”

“Do you want rice?”

"No, thank you. But I’m going to order something to take home for dinner.”

“Whatcha want fo’ dinner?”

“Anything that’s good, Miss Vina.”

Eyes wide, Luvina stared at Deborah. “Now you got to know that everything we makes at Jack’s is good. Have you been gone so long that you forgot that?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Let me put somethin’ together for you. You like oxtails?”

“I love them.”

“Good. Then I’ll fix you some oxtails with ham hocks. I’ll also give you some rice, because you need some meat on your bones. Collards and a slice of my coconut cake should fill you right up.”

“That’s sound good, Miss Vina.”

“Rest yourself and I’ll be right back.”

When Deborah sat down, closed her eyes and pressed the back of her head to the wall behind her, she realized she was hungry and unbelievably tired. Tired from the stress that had worn her down like a steady rush of water over a pile of rocks.

Her parents had come up from Florida for the funeral and had all but begged her to move down there, but Deborah told them she couldn’t uproot Whitney and Crystal. Whitney was in his last year of high school, and fifteen-year-old Crystal would have problems adjusting and making friends at a new school. Crystal had taken her father’s death much harder than Whitney, who’d grieved in private.

Her musings were interrupted when Luvina’s granddaughter walked over to the table with a large glass of sweet tea and a plate with two biscuits. “Sorry about Mr. Robinson, Miss Deborah. All the kids cried for days when we heard he’d drowned. He was the best math teacher in the whole high school.”

Deborah smiled at the girl, who lived on the island but went to high school with her children. “Thank you, Johnetta. How are you?”

“I’m good, Miss Deborah. Right now I’m applying to nursing school up north, but my momma and daddy don’t want me to leave the state, so I have to apply to one here.”

“Charleston Southern University has a school of nursing. You can live here while you’re taking classes. That would save you a lot of money.”

Johnetta smiled, displaying the braces on her teeth. “You’re right. I could take the ferry or get my father to drop me off when he goes to work.”

“That sounds like a plan.”

“Thank you, Miss Deborah. I’m going to go and bring out your food.”

Deborah stared at the tall girl, who’d at one time admitted she liked Whitney, but he’d acted as if she didn’t exist. She’d wanted to tell Johnetta that Whitney was more interested in sports than he was in a relationship with a girl. It wasn’t as if he didn’t like girls, but sports and academics were his priority.

Johnetta returned with a bowl of okra gumbo and after the first spoonful Deborah felt as if she’d been revived. The soup was delicious, the biscuits light and buttery and the sweet tea brewed to perfection. She’d tried over and over but whenever she brewed tea it was either too strong or too weak. Too strong meant adding copious amounts of sugar or too weak made it taste like sugar water.

She finished her lunch and paid the check, reminding Johnetta she’d come back to pick up her takeout order. Leaving Jack’s, Deborah strolled along Main Street, stopping to stare through the windows of stores and shops. Grass had sprouted up through the cracks in the sidewalk. There had been a time when there were no cracks and the only thing that littered the sidewalks or curbs was sand and palmetto leaves. The sand-littered streets added to the charm of the town, but dead leaves and debris were swept away by shopkeepers every morning.

She continued her stroll, turning onto Moss Alley, and then came to a complete stop. Moss Alley was appropriately named because of the large oak draped in Spanish moss on the corner. Shading her eyes, Deborah peered through the glass window of a store that had once been a gift shop. The
space was particularly wide, but deep enough for her bookstore. And what made it even more attractive was it had a second floor – space where she could store her inventory.

A flutter of excitement raced through her. It was perfect for The Parlor. It was off the main street, but on the corner where anyone walking or driving by would notice it. With hand-painted letters on the plate-glass, a colorful awning, and furniture resembling a parlor, it would generate enough curiosity to draw in customers.

She walked down the street, stopping at the opposite end of the block. Smiling, she waved through the window of the Muffin Corner at the woman behind the counter, who beckoned her.

She opened the screen door and was met with tantalizing aromas of fruit and freshly made cakes, pies, and donuts. Lester and Mabel Kelly had opened the shop the year before. Both had worked as pastry chefs for a hotel chain, but had tired of the frantic pace of baking for catered parties and returned to the Cove to open the Muffin Corner.

Mabel Kelly flashed a gap-tooth smile when Deborah walked in. Coming from behind the counter, she hugged her. “How’s it going, girl?”

Deborah returned the hug. “I’m good.”

Pulling back, Mabel narrowed her eyes. She and Deborah were the same age, thirty-eight, but there was sadness in Deborah’s eyes that made her appear older. “I’m sorry about Louis, Debs. It’s a damn shame folks accused him of something he didn’t do, and would never think of doing. I can tell you that folks here were ready to get in their cars and start some mess Charleston hasn’t seen in a while.”

“I know that, Mabel.”

“Is that why you decided to have a private funeral?”

“It was one of the reasons.”

“You know I called your house but some woman named Barbara answered. Damn, you thought I was trying to set up a lunch date with President Obama the way she interrogated me. In the end, I told her to let you know I’d called.”

“She did, Mabel. And, I do appreciate you calling.”

“Can I get you something?”

“No thanks. I just came from Jack’s.”

Physically Deborah and Mabel were complete opposites. Mabel was barely five foot and had what people call birthing hips, yet she’d never had any children. She said she didn’t want any because she’d helped her father raise six younger siblings after her mother got hooked on drugs. The year she’d turned fourteen her mother had taken the ferry to Charleston to score and never came back. There were reports that someone had seen her in Savannah, strung-out, but it was never confirmed.

The wind chime over the door tinkled musically. “Excuse me, Debs,” Mabel whispered. “Let me take care of this customer, then we’ll sit and talk.” Her smile grew wider. “Afternoon, Asa. Can I get you to sample today’s special along with your black coffee with a shot of espresso?”

“No thank you, Mabel. I’ll just have coffee,” she heard the man reply.

Deborah sat, enjoying the aromas of the shop before her gaze lingered on Mabel’s customer. He was a tall, slender, middle-aged black man. Though he was dressed casually in khakis, long-sleeved light-blue button-down shirt, and black leather slip-ons, Deborah couldn’t take her eyes off the handsome stranger. He didn’t look familiar, so either he was a newcomer, visitor, or tourist. Cavanaugh Island didn’t get many tourists during the winter months, but the balmy seventy-degree temperatures attracted a few snowbirds from the northeast and Midwest.

Without warning, he turned and caught her staring. Their gazes met and fused, and they shared a smile. He continued to stare and Deborah couldn’t control the rush of heat in her face; she lowered her eyes and didn’t glance up again until the wind chime tinkled when the door closed behind the very attractive man.

“I like what you’ve done with the shop,” Deborah said to Mabel when she joined her at the table.

“We don’t have a Starbucks here in the Cove, so Lester and I decided to offer something other than regular coffee to go along with the muffins. Business has really picked up since we put in the tables. We mostly get retirees who order their favorite muffin, coffee, and read the newspaper whenever it gets too hot to sit in the square, or during rainy weather. It’s a big hit, especially with the snowbirds.” Mabel bit her lip. “If it wasn’t for the snowbird businesses in the Cove would really have a hard time staying open.”

“It’s that bad?” Deborah asked.

“Just say it could be better. Most of us are hanging on by the skin of our teeth, waiting for the summer season. Take Asa Monroe, the man who just left.”

“What about him?” she asked. For a reason she couldn’t fathom, Deborah wanted to know more about the stranger who unknowingly intrigued her.

“He rents a suite at the Cove Inn, been here about six weeks. He eats lunch at Jack’s, sends his laundry out and comes in every day for his black coffee with a shot of espresso. Multiply that by twenty or thirty snowbirds and it’s enough revenue to keep small shopkeepers afloat until the summer season.”

Deborah nodded. “I noticed a few more vacant stores since the last time I was here.”

“The gift shop closed up last month.”

“I just rented it.”

A beat passed before Mabel said, “You’re kidding?”

“No, I’m not. I’m moving to the Cove and –”

“Permanently?”

Deborah nodded again. “Yes. I’m also moving my bookstore. I called the chamber and they gave me a listing of the vacant stores. Once I found out the gift shop had closed, I realized it would be perfect. It has more square footage than my Charleston store and having a second floor is a bonus.”

Mabel leaned closer. “What about the kids?”

“Nothing’s going to change, Mabel, except that they’ll live here instead of in Charleston. They’ll still go to the same high school and hang out with their same friends.”

“What are you going to do with your house on the mainland?”

“I’m putting it up for sale. I know the real estate market is soft,” Deborah said quickly when Mabel opened her mouth, “but I’m willing to accept a reasonable offer because I don’t want to rent it.” She glanced at her watch, then stood up, Mabel rising with her. “I have to get back to the house. I’ll drop by in a couple of days.”

“How long are you staying?”

“I’m leaving New Year’s Eve. I promised the kids I’d be back in time to bring in the new year with them.” Extending her arms, Deborah hugged Mabel.

She left the Muffin Corner, stopping again at the vacant store on Moss Alley that was soon to be the new home of The Parlor bookstore.

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FEATURED AUTHOR: Jill Williamson

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:12:00 +0000

Jill Williamson is a novelist, dreamer, and believer. Growing up in Alaska led to a love of books, and in 2010 her first novel, By Darkness Hid, won the Christy Award. She loves working with teenagers and gives writing workshops at libraries, schools, camps, and churches. Jill lives in Oregon with her husband and two children. Visit Jill online at www.jillwilliamson.com, where adventure comes to life.

How did you start out your writing career?

I had left the fashion industry and was searching for the plan God had for my life. Since I had a pretty interesting childhood/life story, I thought God could use me as a motivational speaker for teens. I discovered that sometimes, people hire speakers based on articles written by the speaker. So I looked into writing articles. I was working on all that when a new Harry Potter book came out, and a new barrage of debates within the church community flared up as to whether the books were safe for Christians to read. The debate inspired me to write a teen novel for Christians.

What did you learn while writing this book?

That stem cell research is so complex… the things they can do. It’s amazing. And frightening. And amazing all over again. And more controversial than I ever imagined.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

I want teens to consider that God is real and that he has a purpose for every life on this planet.

Which character did you have the most fun writing about?

Martyr for sure. He is smart and kind, but totally naïve about the world outside the lab. So he questions things like colors and animals and marriage, but doesn’t hesitate to stand up for what he believes is right. And it was fun to write his loving, selfless character in comparison with Abby’s by the book, it-has-to-be-my-way personality. Martyr sure showed her a thing or two.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

How people are still discovering my first book years later. That books have a life of their own. People pass them around and it never stops, even after a book goes out of print. It’s a pretty incredible thing.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

I love the very beginning and the very end. Coming up with new ideas and finishing the novel are my favorite parts of the writing process. It’s the actual first-draft writing that is a lot of work for me.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

1. That the belief, “If I could just get published, then I would be satisfied” is not true. It’s human nature to never be satisfied. Publication doesn’t change that. We must find out worth in God, not what the world deems a success or failure, because there will always be another potential success or failure just waiting to consume us.

2. That even bad reviews are a good thing. I’ve had many people tell me that they bought my book because of a bad review. If only I’d known that might happen back when I got some of those first horrible reviews that I ached over for a month!

3. That no matter the size of the publishing house, it’s still up to me to do what I must to market my book.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

Do have fun when you write. And don’t let “being published or not” define your self-worth.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

That writers don’t get paid much, and that they don’t get paid at all when you buy their books used on Half.com or Amazon.com. If you have a favorite writer, purchase at least one of their books new each year to support them.

If you could be a character from any book you've read, who would you be?

I think I might like to be Galadriel from The Lord of the Rings. She is awesome on so many levels.

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

Read! And also spend time with my family and play my guitar.

What do you do to interact with your readers?

I talk with them on my Facebook page and my blog. I also invite them to ask me questions through my website. And I love speaking at schools, libraries, or camps so I can talk to my readers face to face.

Our theme for this month is CHILDREN BOOKS. What inspired you to make children’s
literature the focus of your career?

My husband is a youth pastor, so I’ve been working with teens with him for thirteen years. I adore teenagers. But I read some of the books that they were reading and I wanted to offer something more, stories that were exciting and fun that also included God, his truths, and didn’t offend him. Teens deserve more. They deserve books that will entertain and inspire.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

I know that my God created me and loves me and has a plan for my life.

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

Sure! My next book, The New Recruit, is about a teenage boy who joins the agent development program of a spy organization and travels to Moscow on a training mission. It’s scheduled to release October 2012 from Marcher Lord Press.

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

You can connect with me on my Facebook page, or on my website, www.jillwilliamson.com, where adventure comes to life.

Replication: The Jason Experiment

Abby Goyer is forced to move to rural Alaska when her father unexpectedly takes a job in a remote laboratory called Jason Farms. Suspicious of her father’s decisions, she investigates and finds more than what she was looking for when a strange boy shows up at her door. Martyr, one of fifty-five identical clones, escaped from the underground lab at the farm with one wish: to see the sky before he fulfills his purpose and “expires” on his eighteenth birthday. Abby tries to help Martyr see that God has a purpose for his life, one that is different from the one the scientists originally planned for him.

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FEATURED AUTHOR: Sandra Ardoin

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:14:00 +0000

Sandra Ardoin’s work has been published in various forms, but fiction allows her to share the stories that run through her imagination. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the author of “Get a Clue” in Family Ties: Thirteen Short Stories. Contact Sandra through her website at www.sandraardoin.com. Follow her on Twitter, Google+, and Goodreads.

How did you start out your writing career?

I began by writing greeting cards and poster quotes. My first sale was a poster quote for Argus. I also wrote devotions and still write four-line light verse now and then. My first love, though, is fiction. After my daughter was born and I became a stay-at-home mom, I began writing short stories for children. I’ve done that for several years.

What did you learn while writing this book?

It wasn’t what I learned while writing the story. It’s what I learned by having it published in Family Ties: Thirteen Short Stories. On rare occasions, I’ve sold “all rights” to stories, which is the way I sold “Get A Clue” to My Friend in 2007. When the editor, Diane Lynch, called and asked to use it in a book collection, I was astounded. What I learned is that what we think may be a done deal or of no real use to us anymore could be the beginning of something new and exciting.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

Children need good, clean, fun stories they can enjoy and relate to, something that builds families up in their minds instead of tearing them down. Family Ties is about family relationships and building stronger ones.

In “Get A Clue,” when family game night is changed to a different day, Jerome must decide between spending time with his family and doing the fun thing he normally did at that time. It’s a tough choice for him.

Which character did you have the most fun writing about?

Jerome, of course, was my favorite. He struggles with a decision that, as adults, we would find minor, but to him is important. His sister Chloe plays a small part, but she’s so cute.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

A couple of things. First, the fact that editors find my stories worthy of publication. Secondly, that it’s so normal. It’s not much different than when I went off to my secretarial job. Sometimes I think, as writers, we put more emotion into our successes than other people do. I suppose it’s because we know how hard we’ve worked and what it takes to get that acceptance letter or contract.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

I love the idea and challenge of creating a whole story around the snippets of images and dialogue running through my head. It may start with one line or one image, but if I can’t forget it, I have to find a story for it.

The down side of writing for publication is the waiting. Writers send out manuscripts, queries, proposals, then wait weeks and months to discover whether or not the project will be accepted by an editor or agent. I’m in the middle of that process right now. It’s not “unfair.” That’s just the way it is.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

1. Time. God is in total control of the pace of my career—not me. I knew this, but it’s become more real since I began writing novels for publication.

2. Time. Traditional publishing is a numbers game. It’s a matter of persistence. You can’t expect to put something out there and have it snatched up by the first publication or publishing house that receives it. It can take submitting over and over and over again. Even then, there’s no guarantee it will sell.

3. Time. After years of writing 800 to1200-word short stories, I had no idea how long it took to complete a full-length novel from first sentence to (my) final edit.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

DO hone your craft and learn to take constructive criticism. DON’T expect your words to be published exactly as you’ve written them. Even “Get A Clue,” after being published in the magazine, went through a re-editing process for the book.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

How hard it is to put those ideas floating around in your head into proper sentences that make a whole, compelling book.

If you could be a character from any book you've read, who would you be?

Wow! I’ve read and enjoyed so many. With the disasters writers put their characters through, I’m not sure I’d want to be any of them.

I think Laura Ingalls. I loved reading her books when I was in elementary school and it’s a time in history I really enjoy.

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

I garden. However, the past three years have been spent writing full-time and I’ve had few hours to sow and reap. I read—voraciously. I especially enjoy historicals and suspense/thrillers. Lately, though, I’ve read quite a few of the young adult novels. I also enjoy hitting antique stores, although I’m getting to an age where I find too many things I grew up with.

What do you do to interact with your readers?

On my blog (http://www.sandraardoin.com/), I try to cater to readers of Christian fiction. I’ve joined Goodreads with the hope of connecting to other readers.

Our theme for this month is CHILDREN BOOKS. What inspired you to make children’s literature the focus of your career?

Though my novels are aimed at adults, I’ve enjoyed writing for the 8 to12-year-old group. The stories and characters are fun and I think I relate more to that age than teens or preschoolers.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

Other than my salvation? I know nothing. LOL! It seems any time I think I know something for sure…that’s when I get into trouble.

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

At this point, I’m looking for an agent willing to represent my novel A Lady Divided. It’s a historical that revolves around an unconventional and bitter southern widow who must join forces with an old enemy to prove she’s innocent of murder—twelve years after she took lives in the War Between the States.

The book I’m working on now is a historical involving an unemployed pastor and a female Jonah.

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

They can contact me at the email address contact@sandraardoin.com. My website is http://www.sandraardoin.com/. I’m also on Twitter (@SandraArdoin), Google+ and Goodreads.

Thanks so much, LaShaunda. It’s been fun!

Family Ties: Thirteen Short Stories

This collection features stories about the rewards and the challenges of family life. While family interaction isn't always easy, healthy, strong family relationships are vital to the development of every child. Family Ties provides engaging stories for children that they will relate to and enjoy. Story topics include: a military father's absence from home; competition between siblings; annoying, younger siblings; having a difficult day; learning new things; dealing with grief and death; broken family relationships; the addition of a foster child into the family; embarrassing parents; making family time; visiting an Eastern Catholic church service, among others. The stories entertain and educate by providing discussion questions to keep children thinking and reading.

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FEATURED AUTHOR: Precarious Yates

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:37:00 +0000

Precarious Yates has lived in 8 different states of the Union and 3 different countries, but currently lives in Texas with her husband, her daughter and their mastiff. When she's not writing, she enjoys music, teaching, playing on jungle gyms, praying and reading. She holds a Masters in the art of making tea and coffee and a PhD in Slinky® disentangling.

You can learn more about Ms. Yates and about the issues discussed in this novel by visiting www.precariousyates.com

Book 2 of Revelation Special Ops, Pharmacia: Those Magic Arts, is due out in 2012.

Thank you so much for interviewing me and learning all about The Elite of the Weak, a YA book about responding to human trafficking.

How did you start out your writing career?

I actually started my writing career in Ireland while working as a nurse, waitress, and missionary/church-planter. I lived there 4 years and published a fantasy novel (The Heart of the Caveat Whale) while there. Once a week I held writers' workshops for adults and taught creative writing to teens. When I moved back to America, I discovered that I had to relearn the writing industry. It had changed dramatically between 2005 and 2009. In November 2010 I sat down with the goal to write 50,000 words of my new novel, The Elite of the Weak, in a month. In the end I wrote 62,000 before December 1, 2010.

What did you learn while writing this book?

Oh, boy. Where do I begin? I learned so much on so many levels. First, I had to research about human trafficking. I knew quite a bit about the basic stats, etc, but I didn't know how widespread the issue was. I have yet to read about a country that truly has no slaves. All over the globe, human beings are exploiting one another. I also learned how some cultures contribute more to the problem than others.

I also learned how to balance family and writing. This was more delicate than I anticipated.

The third thing I learned was how widely accepted indie books are now as compared to 2005.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

When I was twenty-two and first learning about human trafficking, I was appalled not only by what I learned, but also by what I believed. Beforehand, I thought 1. slavery was eliminated across the globe; 2. most prostitutes chose their lifestyle.

I was wrong on both accounts. I was dead wrong.

When I sat down to write The Elite of the Weak, I geared it toward Young Adult. I wanted teens to not only be aware of the situation, but to know there are solutions to the problems. Organizations such as IJM (http://www.ijm.org/), Exodus Cry (http://www.exoduscry.com/) and Love146 (http://www.love146.org/) actively work toward rescue, restoration and prevention.

I witnessed some horrible things as a teen and believed I was powerless to do anything. The day I learned that I could stand up and say something was wrong, and have people take me seriously, was a great day. Teens have a powerful voice when they work for righteousness and sometimes they need to hear this truth.

Which character did you have the most fun writing about?

I had a great time writing about Eva, the main character's mom. Both Hadassah and her mom, Eva, are strong women who don't let circumstances make all the decisions. Eva, who was a spy with the Mossad, inspired me even as I wrote.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

I didn't expect to have so many people I didn't know show interest in my work as quickly as they did. This was a very pleasant surprise, especially since I'm an indie author and do most of my own marketing.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

This is easy! I love writing action scenes. LOVE IT! I'm not a fan of writing romantic scenes. There are a few here, and these went through heavy edits!

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

I wish I had known that having a book out there is like having an infant! I hardly sleep, but I couldn't be happier.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

Do have lots of different people read your work and comment on it before showing it to the world. Don't take every bit of advice that comes your way, but rather trust that the story you need to write should be written.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

It's a labor of love. Really. Truly. And we writers love to hear feedback from readers!

If you could be a character from any book you've read, who would you be?

Probably Psyche, a character from my very favorite novel of all time, Till We Have Faces, by C.S. Lewis. She wasn't afraid to love.

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

I write more. Just kidding. I love to cook, to get my hands in the dirt, to play on jungle gyms with my daughter, to pray, to paint, to read and to spend time with my husband.

What do you do to interact with your readers?

I blog a lot (http://precariousyates.wordpress.com/), but my favorite way to interact is through letters, e-mail, and Facebook.

Our theme for this month is CHILDREN BOOKS. What inspired you to make children’s literature the focus of your career?

Most of the books for teens right now are paranormal romance. My goodness, there needs to be an alternative! Also, I love to read this genre. When I pick up a fiction book, it's almost always YA. I love the possibilities in this genre.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

I can come boldly to the throne of Grace! I know that throughout my day, whether it's been a good day or a terrible day, I can pour my heart out to my Abba Father.

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

Ooh. Maybe. I think I can give you clearance, just this once. There's a sneak peek of book 2 at the end of book 1, but I'll tell you that about 1/3 of book 2, Pharmacia: Those Magic Arts, will be in a guy's perspective. His name is Matthew and he ends up in places no one else wants to be. Hadassah gets to visit a Russian palace and may even go on a shopping spree in St. Petersburg. Also, there is a whole section about Hollywood and I tackle some of the many issues of human trafficking there.

How can readers get in contact with you?

I love to hear from readers! My e-mail is precariousyates@yahoo.com
My website is: http://www.precariousyates.com/
On Facebook, I'm at www.facebook.com/precariousyates
Also, @precariousyates on Twitter.
And www.facebook.com/shulammite33

I'll have a snail-mail address soon. Be a part of the handwritten letter revolution!

The Elite of the Weak

Weak because their hearts are broken for the oppressed. Elite because they keep the code. Hadassah isn’t like the rest of her friends in high school. Neither is she like the kids in her church’s youth group. At least not when she’s in the African jungle trying to rescue an abducted child, or when she’s crawling through an air duct on a surveillance mission in Queens. She was born for such a time as this. She also wasn’t cut out to do this work alone. Book 1 of the Revelation Special Ops series.

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FEATURED AUTHOR: April W. Gardner

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:07:00 +0000

April W. Gardner lives in Georgia with her computer nerd Air Force husband, ten year-old bookworm son, and eight year-old art-loving daughter. The Gardners enjoy watching nature shows, visiting national parks, and eating popcorn and chocolate every Friday during family night. April writes her Lizzie stories for God, her precious children, and every other kiddo who loves a good adventure. She is also the author of the Creek Country Saga, an inspirational historical romance series for moms.

How did you start out your writing career?

I started out as a historical romance writer and have just recently branched off to children’s historical adventure. I’m still writing for adults, but feel it’s also important that our children have good quality faith-filled fiction. If it teaches history along the way—all the better!

What did you learn while writing this book?

I learned so much that if I listed it all here, I’d never get to the next question! But the biggie--Not many know that a portion of Great Britain was occupied by the Germans during WWII. They invaded Guernsey Island in 1940 and stayed until 1945, the end of the war. Five years of misery. I learned this vital bit of WWII history from Ruth Davies, the dear lady who lived the experience as an impressionable nine-year old girl. Ruth is my real-life “Lizzie.”

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

Children learn best through stories. Problem is, kids these days don’t have many “safe” stories they can read. Through the Channel Islands Resistance series, I hope to give them fun, clean stories that teach lessons about faith and family.

Which character did you have the most fun writing about?

Andre Browning is Lizzie’s precocious little brother. From his bouncing blond curls to his carefree and trusting disposition, Andre is absolutely precious. He is based loosely on Ruth’s younger brother, Les.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

Interesting question! I’d never thought about it before, but I suppose it would have to be the longing to connect with readers and get their feedback.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

Finally being able to share a story that I’ve labored over and that’s dear to my heart is THE BEST. The worst? Marketing. Don’t even get me started on the drudgery of marketing!

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

1. Writing is only the beginning of writing.
2. The quality of the book has little to do with the size of the publishing house.
3. My true value resides in Christ.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

Do constantly hone your craft. We never “arrive.”
Don’t give up. If you love to write, then do it, regardless of how “successful” you are.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

Writers live in two worlds--the real one and the one inside their heads. Don’t be afraid of us. Embrace our weirdness.

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

Organize my home. Hang out with my girlfriends. Read!

What do you do to interact with your readers?

I blog! Come visit me at http://www.aprilwgardner.com/.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

In the words of Don Piper, “Heaven is real. Jesus is the way.”

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

Lizzie and the Forbidden Crystals is the next book in the series. Lizzie and the gang discover contraband crystal production in their own backyards. Before long, they’re tangled in the middle of it, transporting them across town in their schools satchels. But what do the crystals do, and why do the Germans forbid them? If the soldiers catch the kids, it could mean immediate transport from the island, and those already taken to the horrid work camps in Germany have yet return.

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

I adore hearing from readers! They can reach me here:

aprilmarieg(at)gmail(dot)com
http://www.aprilgardner.com/
http://www.channelislandsresistance.com/

Lizzie and the Guernsey Gang
Lizzie Browning loves nothing more than her tiny, island-home of Guernsey, but when German bombs drop on her crystal beach, her peaceful world is shattered. For months, the big war on the continent has been nothing more than stories in the paper, but as the enemy takes over Guernsey, the war rushes to her doorstep. For Lizzie, younger brother Andre, and cousin James, the time to escape is now, and they know just how to do it.

Phillip Seifert, the odd boy from down the street, has all the markings of a genuine Nazi-lover. Lizzie knows better than to trust him, but he somehow manages to weasel his way into James’ good graces. Phillip joins the gang in their audacious escape plan, and Lizzie can do little more than pray he doesn’t get them all shot. But Lizzie soon learns that God doesn’t always answer prayers in the way she expects. He might actually plan for them to live under Nazi rule…forever.

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FEATURED AUTHOR: Deanna K. Klingel

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:20:00 +0000

Deanna K. Klingel lives in the mountains of western NC, with her husband Dave and golden retriever Lily. Although she enjoys doing many things, golf, traveling, reading, therapy dog visits, dog training and dancing, knitting, gardening, she finds she spends most of her time reading, writing, and marketing. The Klingels raised seven children and now have 11 grandchildren.

How did you start out your writing career?

I’m not sure exactly when and where writing became my career. I’ve always been a writer, but I was also raising my large family, moving frequently, and doing a lot of other things as well as writing. Eventually, when all the children were gone, I began to focus more on the writing, took a couple of lit classes at Brevard College, entered a few writing contests and won. I joined writing groups, went to conferences, and it just began to grow.

What did you learn while writing this book?

In addition to the American history I learned and relearned while researching, I learned a lot of editing skills, and I learned there are many ways to say the same thing. Try them all. A first draft is exactly that. It takes many to create a book.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

As with everything I write, my primary purpose is to write a good story that young people will want to read. This book had a second purpose, and that was to finish Avery’s war time adventure that started in book 1.
Which character did you have the most fun writing about? Assuming you mean in this book, it would have to be Mrs. Somebody. I love her. But, I also had a lot of fun with the honey man. Of course, Gunner was always fun. I enjoy canine characters. Avery was the driving force behind the story. I guess I loved all these characters. I had so much fun watching them come alive on my paper, I felt a sadness when I finally finished the final edits and sent it off. Felt like saying goodbye to the family. The Avery books were a lot of fun to write from beginning to end, and now I’m hearing the readers say they’re fun to read, too.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

The computer technology. It’s so wonderful to be able to delete, do over, save, edit, communicate with the editor. I can’t imagine doing this on a yellow pad. But, the computer technology is also the thing I hate the most. I don’t like sitting here in the corner, and when something happens with the computer, it’s so frustrating, and then I’d trade the whole thing in for a pencil and eraser. When the power goes out, work stops. Computer technology is the best of times, and computer technology is the worst of times for me.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

I wish I’d known more about small independent publishers. I wish I’d known more about book awards in that they need to be submitted almost immediately hot off the press or the deadline will be missed. I wish I’d known more about the value of conferences.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

Do write something every day. Write from your heart. Don’t be afraid to write outside the box. Some editors say, “You need to be able to say your work is exactly like another one.” But, others will appreciate your uniqueness. Do take suggestions that will make your work better. But, you don’t have to compromise your values.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

It would make conversations easier if they understood what a long—very long—process it is to write a book, and that the majority of us are not “rich.”

If you could be a character from any book you’ve read, who would you be?

Wow. Most of the really interesting fiction characters I can think of had incredibly difficult lives. I’m not sure I could handle their adventures. The interesting nonfiction characters are mostly dead! Maybe Death. He (or she) is the narrating character in The Book Thief. He was privy to a great deal, very compassionate and caring, but accepting; and he was already dead, so it didn’t involve pain. Yeah. I might be Death.

When you’re not writing, what are you doing in your spare time?

Spare time? That’s probably when I get the oil changed, get a haircut, take the dog to the groomer, clean bathrooms, do the laundry, go to the grocery store…that’s what I do when I’m not writing. That would be the spare time.

What do you do to interact with your readers?

Readers can leave comments on my website, and some have. I have some interesting exhibit items on my table when I’m signing books at reenactments and museum events. It gets their attention and starts conversations. At school visits, we are totally interactive and all about them. Some of the students email me from time to time, and I respond immediately. At the reenactments, living history, sesquicentennial type events, I wear a reenactment costume. Kids like to talk about that. With another book, Just for the Moment: The Remarkable Gift of the Therapy Dog, many of the signings have been in conjunction with a therapy dog seminar I offer. It’s very interactive and I sometimes have a dog with me. Dogs are great ice breakers and they interact naturally.

Our theme for this month is Children’s Books. What inspired you to make children’s literature the focus of your career?

I feel strongly about illiteracy. I want to write books that kids will want to read and surprise themselves when they discover they really do like to read. Stories are a great way to have history come alive and show kids some important aspects of their own history.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

I am certain that God has led me to this place and provides the inspiration for my work. I told him not to be subtle, just tell me. He slapped me upside the head. That’s what I know for sure.

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

I’d be happy to. The next book will be out either December or January from Rafka Press, Phoenix. The title is Bread Upon the Water. This is a YA, nonfiction. It’s a true story set in Vietnam, about a boy who has a calling to the priesthood and must escape the communists in order to become a priest. It’s a hero story of incredible faith, courage, and adventure.

How can readers get in contact with you?

Deanna K. Klingel, 243 Country Club Estates, Sapphire, NC 28774; 828-743-1683; deannaklingel@yahoo.com; http://www.booksbydeanna.com/. I always respond to any of these.

Avery’s Crossroad: This is book 2, following behind Avery’s Battlefield, and covering the last three years of the Civil War, 1863-65, as Avery matures into a fine surgeon and an admirable man. The setting is Richmond and Alexandria, VA. The book title refers not to a place on the map, but rather a place in Avery’s development.

Journey Forth has created a wonderful book trailer that can be viewed on my website http://www.booksbydeanna.com/

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FEATURED AUTHOR: K.Dawn Byrd

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:37:00 +0000

K. Dawn Byrd is an author of inspirational romance and romantic suspense. Mistaken Identity, her first young adult romance released on June 15, 2011 from Desert Breeze Publishing. She enjoyed writing it so much that she'll have four young adult releases in 2012. The sequel to Mistaken Identity, Shattered Identity, will release in June and a college-age romance/mystery series, The Zoe Mack Mystery Series, will release in January with others to follow in June and December.

K. Dawn is an avid blogger and gives away several books per week on her blog at http://www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com/, most of which are signed by the authors. She's also the moderator of the popular facebook Christian Fiction Gathering group at http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=128209963444.

When not reading or writing, K. Dawn enjoys spending time with her husband of 16 years while walking their dogs beside a gorgeous lake near her home and plotting the next story waiting to be told.

How did you start out your writing career?

I started writing about four years ago.

What did you learn while writing this book?

I was afraid at first that I'd have a hard time as an adult woman getting into the mind of a teenage girl. Apparently, I did a good job because several teens have emailed me telling me that Lexi, the bad girl in the story, reminded them of someone they knew.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

I hoped to show those Christian girls who are trying to live for God that they're doing the right thing. It may not be the most popular thing, but you do come out a winner in the end.

Which character did you have the most fun writing about?

I had the most fun writing Lexi. She was spiteful and selfish. I would never want a best friend like her, but she was fun to write.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

I'm currently writing my ninth book and I'm surprised at how much fun it is to continue on. It's more than a hobby. It's a passion.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

I love writing "The End." It's such a sense of accomplishment. I hate editing.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

I wish I'd known how slowly the market moves. I wish I'd taken my time and spent more time learning to write before releasing earlier books. I wish I'd known more about marketing.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

Don't write for fame and fortune because they may never come. Do write for the simple joy of placing words on the page.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

I wish non-writers would understand when they call and ask what I'm doing and I say that I'm writing that I'm in no mood to carry on an hour-long conversation.

If you could be a character from any book you've read, who would you be?

That's a hard question. I'm really not sure. Okay readers, who would you be?

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

Read. Take long walks with my husband. Love on my hairless Chinese Crested dogs. Maintain aquariums full of flowerhorns, convicts, blood parrots, Jack Dempseys, and firemouths.

What do you do to interact with your readers?

I have a website, three blogs and I FaceBook and tweet.

Our theme for this month is CHILDREN BOOKS. What inspired you to make children’s literature the focus of your career?

My first published books were romantic suspense. They were kind of dark. Someone has to die or be in peril. With young adult fiction, it's just plain fun! The books are light-hearted for the most part and absolutely a joy to write even when I tackle hard subjects.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

I know for sure that when I die I'm going to heaven.

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

My next release is in January. It's the first book in The Zoe Mack Mystery Series and is called Zoe Mack and the Secret of the Love Letters. Here's the blurb:

When Zoe Mack moves in with her grandparents to start college, she's thrown into more mystery than she bargained for. Her cousin, Emma, is terrorized by a stalker who breaks into her house and leaves a photo-shopped image of Emma hanging from a tree. Nothing is as it seems and Emma soon learns that even the man she thinks she can trust is suspect.

Zoe can't wait to reunite with Nate, the bad boy who doesn't talk about his feelings much, but the passionate kiss he gave her last summer had to have meant something. When she arrives back in town and discovers that he's in trouble with the law, she must take matters into her own hands in order to clear his name. She has her hands full with a needy Emma, a cop who gives her the creeps, and Nate, the guy she desperately wants to call her own. Can Zoe solve the mystery, clear Nate's name, and make him fall in love with her?

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

Email: kdawnbyrd@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.kdawnbyrd.com/
Blog: http://www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com/
Zoe Mack Blog: http://www.zoe-mack.blogspot.com/

MISTAKEN IDENTY

Eden Morgan makes a list of six goals to accomplish in order to have the best summer ever. Getting a boyfriend, which is perhaps the most important goal, becomes complicated when she and her best friend, Lexi, fall for the same guy. Since Lexi is popular, gorgeous, and always gets her guy, Eden thinks she doesn't have a chance.

Channing Johnson is everything Eden's ever dreamed of and she can't believe he just moved in next door. When he starts showing interest in her, she's overjoyed...until she sees him out on a date with Lexi. He says Lexi talked him into it to repay her for tutoring him. Lexi says they're in love.

Eden doesn't know who to believe and is forced to choose between her best friend and the guy of her dreams. Nothing is as it seems and no matter who she chooses, someone will get hurt.

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FEATURED AUTHOR: Staci Stallings

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:14:00 +0000

A stay-at-home mom with a husband, three kids and a writing addiction on the side, Staci Stallings has numerous titles for readers to choose from. Not content to stay in one genre and write it to death, Staci’s stories run the gamut from young adult to adult, from motivational and inspirational to full-out Christian and back again. Every title is a new adventure! That’s what keeps Staci writing and you reading.

How did you start out your writing career?
I've always had "movies" playing in my head. When I was young, I would put myself to sleep to them. The next night, I would remember where I had left off, "push play," and start from there. My writing career started because I kept "losing" favorite story lines, and when I finally had the time after my first child was born and I became a stay-at-home mom, I started writing them down. I gave those first few to some friends to read. They fell in love with them, and that's how it started.

What did you learn while writing this book?

How very vulnerable our kids are to the world and how diligent we must be in protecting them and listening to them. Their experiences are real, and we can't abandon them as we search for lives of our own. They need us as parents, as teachers, as adult friends to listen and to care and to help them--not to judge them or dismiss them.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

Although it's about high school age students and they will enjoy it, I want it to accomplish two things: 1) to give the kids the courage to stand up to the very real evils they are facing but more so, 2) to tell parents and teachers and administrators to WAKE UP and stop putting our students lives and spirits on the line by trying to keep the veneer of "everything's okay" stretched over our schools. If everything is not okay, we need to get in there and do something about it. PC doesn't work when our kids are being shredded in the land of bullying and threats.

Which character did you have the most fun writing about?

This is probably going to brand me or something, but I loved Sean, the hero. I'm far more like Robyn, the heroine, who is going to get in there and do something to fix things. But I truly loved Sean, the bad boy who has a heart of gold. I loved him trying to protect Robyn and how he went all out, but still trying not to let her know anything was wrong. He was fun to write because he was edgy but so sincere and wanting to be the good guy.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

That life is still life. I still have laundry to do (should be doing some now, but this is more fun). And I still have dishes to do and still have to go get the kids from school and a million other "life" things that were supposed to magically disappear when I got published.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

I love getting lost in the stories--whether I'm writing them or reading them. I love to just sit back and watch my characters as they grow and learn. The other night I was reading one that just came out on Kindle, and in the scene the heroine was being really obstinate, and I was like, "Come ON, Elizabeth! Give him a break!" My husband looked at me really funny and said, "Didn't you write that?" I said, "Yeah, but she needs to cut him some slack already!" I love that.

What do I not like? Trying to let readers know I'm here without sounding like I'm some kind of pushy salesman. I love my readers and I love talking with them about the books. It's getting them to go, "This sounds really good" and taking the next step to buy it that is the toughest for me. If I could just give the books out, that would be great. Unfortunately, it doesn't work too well like that.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

To let God work and enjoy the ride. I do that a lot better now than I ever did. Five to seven years ago, I was into the "making it happen" thing. Brought me a lot of misery. Now, it's just "let's see what God has in store for today." That's a lot more fun and I'm a lot more successful as well.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

Do believe in your voice and your style.

Don't try to fit yourself into everyone else's boxes.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

How awesome it is to hear that someone liked your book. Good reviews make me excited about writing more, and some days that's worth gold to me. Problem is, most people read the book, like it, but never think to leave a good review or to write in and say they liked it. Years later, I'll say something on Facebook or something and they'll go, "Oh, I loved that book. I've read it five times!" I would love to have a way to get them to tell me that when they read it so I can ask 10,000 questions about what they liked and why.

Think about your favorite television show. Part of the fun is watching it. Part of the fun is talking about it. I really like to talk about my books with people who enjoyed them.

If you could be a character from any book you've read, who would you be?

Cinderella--minus the stepmother, two stepsisters, and the mice! :) I just love the story of how she had this hard life, a sad life really, but she stayed beautiful on the inside. And although the dress and the glass slippers helped, if she was ugly on the inside, the Prince would never have fallen for her. I love that.

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

I love to Wii Snowboard. I love the sensation of going super fast down this wicked hill and jumping up on these things and doing these flips and jumps, and even crashing and burning. Then getting off and not having to spend six months in a full-body cast!

What do you do to interact with your readers?

Well, I'm on Facebook and I have a Contact Me page on my blogs. I reply to all comments on my blogs. I'm on Twitter. I do interviews on cool blogs like this one and talk to people there. Any way I can think to interact, I pretty much do and try.

Our theme for this month is CHILDREN BOOKS. What inspired you to make children’s literature the focus of your career?

YA (Young Adult) is only one of the genres I write, but I love it. I think teenagers have some of the most challenging, interesting lives that we just don't see because too many times they are either caricatured as materialistic brats or dismissed as having nothing to contribute to the conversation of humanity. Far from either of those, I love the spirit and the energy teens bring to life. I love how imaginative they are and how they are just ready to take on any challenge. And I love how the ones I know care so much about life--theirs and everyone else's.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

That God exists and that He's in our corner. Bad things happen. God doesn't cause those things to happen. Life takes care of that. Just like with parents. They don't cause the child to fall off the bike. Life does that. But a good parent is always there to pick the child up, to hold them, to make it better, and then to encourage the child to try again. They are also the first ones to cheer when the child makes that phenomenal leap into learning how. That's what God does for us, and that's what I know for sure.

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

I'll give you a sneak peek of another series for YA that I have out right now. It's a three-book series (The Faith Series), and it's about this group of friends in college and how that group was built. You start out with Rebecca Avery who is this really quirky, fun girl but who kind of blends in with the woodwork. She meets up with Eric Barnett in this hilarious scene (one of my all-time favorites!), and he's this guy who nothing seems to be working out like it is for all of his friends. We start off following them, and then as others are added to the mix, we go through all kinds of ups and downs in their lives.

Those books are: A Work in Progress, A Little Piece of Heaven, A Light in the Darkness

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

I'm on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/staci.stallings.author

Twitter: @StaciStallings
Email: staci_stallings (at) hotmail (dot) com
My blog: http://spiritlightbooks.wordpress.com and http://stacistallings.wordpress.com

Thank you so much for having me! This has been fun! Now, I guess I'd better go get that laundry done... *sigh*... but if you've read the interview and liked it, you can certainly leave a comment and then I'll have a reason to stay here just a little longer (I don't really want to do the laundry anyway!). That would be TERRIFIC! :)

THE PRICE OF SILENCE
Where do you turn when the watching eyes are everywhere?

Where do you go when no place is safe?

Who do you turn to when saying anything could get someone killed?

Who can you trust when “they” could be anyone?

Robyn Lockhart liked her simple but predictable life in the small Iowa town she grew up in. But when her mother moves them to the big city, Robyn has no choice but to brave the tumultuous high school she’s thrust into. Then, with barely a blink and as an outsider looking in, Robyn begins asking questions that no one seems willing to face. Is it possible to stay silent while simultaneously shouting from the rooftops that something is deadly wrong? And if you shout, beyond those watching every move you make, who will even hear?

“Stallings takes a much darker turn with this novel and she does so very well. The sense of desperation and anguish on the part of Robyn is palpable and you definitely find yourself sympathizing with her. Stallings has created a very memorable character here… an Atticus Finch styled hero who refuses to let threats stop her from seeking the truth and justice."
–Kevin Apgar, Fun With Dead Trees

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FEATURED AUTHOR: Vicky Alvear Shecter

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Vicky Alvear Shecter is the author of three books set in the ancient world. Cleopatra’s Moon is her first young adult novel. Her other two books—Cleopatra Rules! and Alexander the Great Rocks the World—were written for younger readers. She is a docent at the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University in Atlanta.

How did you start out your writing career?

First, let me say thank you, LaShaunda, for having me here! It’s an honor. To answer your question, I had always been a writer, but because I worked in business marketing, I approached writing as a trade rather than an art. When my second child was born, I took a break from writing. During the period she was in grade school, I reconnected with my passion for ancient history and so I began writing about that. I got trained as a docent at our archaeology museum here in Atlanta (at Emory University) and went from there.

What did you learn while writing this book?

It’s not enough to just “report” what was happening in a story, but to dig deeper into the emotional experiences of my characters.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

I hoped that people would learn about two fascinating figures in ancient history—Cleopatra Selene (the daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony) and Juba II, a king of North Africa. Both have fallen into obscurity, which needs to be fixed!

Which character did you have the most fun writing about?

Oh, that one’s hard because there were so many characters in this book. But I’d say, Selene’s little brother, Ptolemy Philadelphus, known as “Ptolly” in the book. I loved that little guy!

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

How vulnerable I would feel about people’s response to my characters. Would they like them? Hate them? Suddenly, they were like my children and I hadn’t expected that.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

I love the imagining process (for me I have to imagine scenes before I write them down) because that’s when it’s the most fun. What I hate the most is the endless waiting. Once I’ve written something, I need to give myself some space from it, which requires waiting. Then there’s the waiting from an agent. Then the endless waiting to see if the book will sell. Then the waiting for edits from the editor. Then the waiting for it to come out! Nobody warned me how LONG the process takes and how much waiting is actually involved.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

1. (Your book) is only a story and there are many, many stories in this world.
2. But it is YOUR story, and so has a right to be heard.
3. Trust your instincts.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

1. DO search/dig deeper for the emotional core of the story. It’s too easy to focus on plot or “what happens.” For example, when Cleopatra Selene faced some devastating losses, I pulled up the feelings I remembered from childhood when I faced a family member’s unexpected death. I don’t have a thing in common with an ancient Princess of Egypt—except our shared humanity.

2. DON’T give up on yourself. When I first started on this novel, I discovered that a famous writer was about to release a novel on a similar subject. I was devastated and figured I’d quit. No point, right? But a friend insisted I keep writing because my story would be different. She was right. I’m glad I listened.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

For years, I’d been told to stop “living in my head” or to “get my nose out of books.” But these are the ways I cultivate my stories. And reading books—lots of them—are critical for writers! After getting published, it’s a little easier to do these things.

If you could be a character from any book you've read, who would you be?

I’d have to say Janie Crawford from Their Eyes Were Watching God. Her confidence, her capacity for deep love, and even her acceptance of pain and sorrow are a wonder to behold.

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

Read!

What do you do to interact with your readers?

I have a blog (http://historywithatwist.blogspot.com) and am on Facebook and Twitter. I also love to do school visits and book clubs.

Our theme for this month is CHILDREN BOOKS. What inspired you to make children’s literature the focus of your career?

I’m not sure I set out to write for children per se, it just ended up that way. I have been accused (complimented?) of having a childlike curiosity and enthusiasm, so maybe that’s why it made the most sense.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

I know that I love my family. Beyond that, I know that what fascinates me so much about ancient history is that it shows us that no matter how much time has passed, no matter who we are or where we’re from or when we’re from, we are all the same inside.

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

I haven’t sold it yet, so I can’t. But I will say it will also be set in the ancient world.

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

I love to hear from readers. My email is valvearshecter@gmail.com and my website is www.vickyalvearshecter.com. And, as mentioned above, my blog is: http://historywithatwist.blogspot.com.

Cleopatra’s Moon is the story of Cleopatra’s daughter, Selene (Mark Antony was her father), the only one of the queen’s four children to survive into adulthood. Cleopatra Selene was taken from Egypt and reared in the home of her parent’s conqueror in Rome. She and her brothers were marched through the streets of Rome in chains in place of their mother. When nearly sixteen, Cleopatra Selene was married off to a North African king, where she ruled for decades. This is her story of survival and eventual triumph.

The LA Times called the book, “Magical.” PW said it was “fascinating” and “atmospheric.”

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Sanctuary Cove

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 18:07:00 +0000

OPEN HOUSE - THANK YOU

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 23:29:00 +0000

We had a lot of luckers today, so I want to say thank you to our silent visitors for stopping by today.

I didn't give out all my prizes, so the next 10 who leave a comment will be lucky winners today.

I will give out the rest of the prizes next week, so stay posted here and on facebook for your chance to win some great prizes.

A big Thank you for the ladies who stopped by and shared some hot cocoa with me.

Have a great weekend.

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OPEN HOUSE - 2011

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

SORMAG's OPEN HOUSE

Welcome to our OPEN HOUSE.

Thank you so much for stopping by today.

Our chocolate bar includes a pitcher of cocoa, tea and coffee with lots of marshmallows and whip cream. If you need a cherry there’s a few of them too.

This year we have a chocolate fountain for dipping, cubes of pound cake, marshmellow treats and pieces of bananas, strawberries and apples.

The dessert bar includes Red Velvet Cheesecake, German Chocolate Cake, my specialty Turtle cake with extra Carmel and cupcake pops shaped like Christmas trees.

I know it’s early in the morning so I have a breakfast bar with a few bagels, glazed donuts and Christmas cookies if cakes are too much for you.

I’m looking forward to mingling with you all.

Prizes will be give every hour from (9:00 a.m - 5:00 pm)

There are two ways to win. Leave a comment or answer one of the questions posted each hour. To be eligible make sure to leave your email in the comment.

Feel free to mingle with the other guests who drop by. Tell us how your holiday plans are going.

Listen to some music with us.
http://www.pandora.com/

Type in Christmas Song – Select Brian McKnight

Now you’re listening to the music at our open house - Enjoy

Authors feel free to tell us about your current books in our
On The Shelf Now room.

We all know books make great gifts, so tell us what we're missing.

Check out our SPONSOR page.

They've donated some great gifts this year.
Come on in and have some fun.

LaShaunda
SORMAG’s Editor/Hostess

P.S. I have doorprizes every hour. You have to leave a comment to win.

Do you eat roasted chestnuts or fruitcake?

What is your favorite Christmas smell?

What is your favorite Christmas memory?

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http://sormag.blogspot.com/2011/12/sormags-open-house-sponsors.html

http://sormag.blogspot.com/2011/12/sormags-open-house-whats-on-shelves-now.html

SORMAG's Open House - SPONSORS

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:26:00 +0000

SORMAG's OPEN HOUSE SPONSORS

A Sinner’s Cry
by Rose Jackson-Beavers

Denise Reese is beautiful, successful and can buy anything she wants. But all she needs is to be wrapped in the arms of Darren Tate, a sexy, Professor she’s been involved with for almost two-years. When her life seemed as if it was on a sure course to perfection, a single phone call sent her reality crashing and left her heart broken and vulnerable. Trying to find a way to gather her life back together, Denise seeks solace in the confines of her former church. As she struggles to gain redemption, the ringing of her phone continues to haunt her. Through her struggles of trying to stay on the right path, she receives support from the pastor, the handsome James Davis. As he encourages her, he faces allegations from his congregation of misdoings. While the two attempt to walk the right path, they struggle with the lies and deception that those closest to them are spreading, while wondering if they should allow their hearts to find each other. As Denise learns to decipher between lust and love, she realizes always God hears sincere cries.

www.prioritybooks.com

The Write Plan
Dr. Linda Beed

Gift certificate entitles you to developmental review of first three chapters of manuscript.

www.thewriteplan.net

Telling Your Tale: A Beginner's Guide to Writing Fiction for Print and eBook
By Angela Benson

Telling Your Tale: The Beginner's Guide to Writing Fiction for Print and eBook (2nd edition) is a 10-week writing class in ONE eBook!

Telling Your Tale: The Beginner's Guide to Writing Fiction for eBook and Print is for you if -

* You want to write a book, but don't know how to get started. Telling Your Tale can help you learn.

* You've written a book, but you're concerned because somebody told you it wasn't good enough. Remember it's just their opinion. You may never be able to change it, but Telling Your Tale can help you get better at the craft of writing.

* You're writing a book, but you don't think you can finish it. You can. You just need a little push in the right direction. Telling Your Tale gives you that push.

Whether you want to be published by a traditional publisher or intend to go the independent route and publish your own book through eBook and POD (print on demand) mechanisms, Telling Your Tale can help you. Using engaging exercises, illustrative examples and inspiring advice, Telling Your Tale will guide you to find your writing voice and personal style, develop multidimensional characters who reflect today's diverse communities, and weave plots that keep readers turning the pages.

http://theamensisters.com/tellingyourtale.html

The Table in the Window
By Elaine Cantrell

Being dumped by your gorgeous fiancé is bad enough no matter when it happens, but he did it at Christmas time! Marley thinks she’ll never get over it, but Rob Travers disagrees. He sets out to win Marley’s heart, well aware that when she finds out about his past, she may turn her back on him forever.

http://www.elainecantrell.com

Sand and Silk Soap

They are fragrant, beautiful and wonderful in the bath: one is Pink Sands, the other Pina Colada

www.sandandsilk.com

Do You Still Do What Happens Happily Ever After
By Cheryl Lacey Donovan & Keith Donovan

Do You Still Do? is a wonderful guide on being spiritually married. And that is something else altogether than, simply, being married. I really loved that the book was written by Mr. and Mrs. Donovan and added a masculine component that is usually missing in marital, relationship books. Angelia Menchan

http://www.doyoustilldomarriage.blogspot.com

Deceptive Nights
By Sylvia Hubbard

When her husband leaves her with nothing, Phoebe Green vows to never give another man any part of her heart or her body without getting something in return.

Jacoby Knight just wants to find a woman, who wants to join themselves with his body and not his massive bank account.

These two strangers meet and find they can meet each other needs, yet one night won't do when passion this hot meets.

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/20331

A Kiss of a Different Color
By Bettye Griffin

After nine months of unemployment, physical therapy assistant Miranda Rhett leaves her home in Racine, Wisconsin, to take a job in employment-rich Bismarck, North Dakota, despite the city's startling absence of African-Americans. Once there, far removed from anyone who would tease her about her dream of ballroom dancing, she signs up for lessons, providing the school can find her a partner. The school comes through in the form of handsome, sexy Jon Lindbergh, a recent transplant from Minnesota.

Jon is as charming as he is agile on the dance floor, and Miranda soon finds that her romantic daydreams about falling in love in the arms of a handsome partner on the dance floor spilling over into real life. But Jon's family history of four generations of failed marriages has made a non-believer out of him. His primary interest seems to be hooking up with someone with whom to spend the bitterly cold North Dakota winter. Miranda doesn’t believe in pursuing failure, and an even bigger obstacle is their learning they have the same employer--who instituted a strict no-dating rule in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal. Both of them have plenty to lose...Miranda paid her own relocation expenses at considerable cost, and while Jon, a director, was reimbursed for his, he has invested in a house. He feels that no one will be the wiser, since he works at corporate and she at the rehabilitation center. Miranda is not so sure. But with the magical sparks that pass between them every time they look at each other, and with an average high winter temperature in the single digits and frequent dips below zero, what’s a girl to do?

If she's Miranda, she does what comes naturally...and tries like hell to be the one to make a believer out of him...

Bettye Griffin - Bunderful Books

Even Sinners Have Souls TOO:
By Various Authors

Darrell King, Victor L. Martin and Essence Best-Selling authors, Tysha and Michel Moore, bring you four smashing tales, but not before National Best-Selling author, K’Wan, hits you with the powerful introduction, Oh Sinner Man. Edited by award winning author E. N. Joy, once again, some of the literary industry’s much respected authors pick up their pens to ink something outside of their norm. As the gritty tales unfold, the readers’ souls will be enveloped by the moving and unexpected outcomes. Unlike other street stories, these real and raw characters choose neither the road most traveled nor the road traveled less; they make their own way.

www.enjoywrites.com

Santa's Helper
by Deatri King-Bey

Santa’s Helper: Marybeth Write is a kindergartner on a mission many deem impossible—to see her dad marry their neighbor by Christmas. To accomplish this mission, she’ll have to go straight to the top—her grandmother and the big guy himself—Santa! A kid’s gotta do what a kid’s gotta do.

Five years ago when District Attorney Houston Write lost his wife to breast cancer, he began going through the motions of life without truly living. Then choreographer Sabrina Ingles moved in across the street and reignited a fire within him he thought was long gone. Now Houston is ready to live again and give his child the mother she deserves.

When Sabrina Ingles’ marriage went down in flames, she swore off relationships and the trouble that accompanies them. But how could she shield herself against the most adorable little girl ever? Marybeth quickly became a part of Sabrina’s heart as Sabrina’s undeniable attraction to Houston grew stronger. Guarding her heart against the type of man fantasies are jealous of has become a full-time job, but she refuses to be burned again.

http://deatrikingbey.com

Caught Up in the Rapture
By Lisa G. Riley

We meet the outspoken Tracy Adamson as she’s sneaking out of a Parisian apartment after indulging in a one-night stand with Jacques, a Frenchman whom she believes she'll never see again. Mortified by her behavior, she flies home to Chicago.

Jaques Winthrop is a French-American federal agent and is only in Paris to track down an American fugitive, but finds himself irresistibly drawn to Tracy. A ladies’ man who enjoys having no ties to women, Jaques decides to seduce her and let her believe that he lives in France. No one is more surprised than he that he can’t stop thinking about her. And when he wakes up to find her gone after their one explosive night together, the amount of disappointment he feels stuns him.

Tracy is determined not to get involved with Jacques. Gorgeous Jacques who for the first time in his life is interested in more than just sex with a woman, is determined to change her mind. In the meantime, Jacques is on the trail of Alexander Brickman, a criminal mastermind that has been Jacques' personal nemesis for at least a decade.

www.lisagriley.wordpress.com.

Lights Out
By Ruthie Robinson

Piper Renee Knight was sole proprietor of two coffee shops located in Austin, Texas. Lights Out Coffee began two and a half years ago as a joint venture with her father, Macarthur "Lights Out" Knight, former boxing great turned businessman. Joe and Piper meet during Joe's second visit to her shop and exchange coffee and banter. They both agree to take their attraction further. But before they can start, Piper's father asks her to look after his two younger daughters, her half-sisters. His third wife has left him.

Piper settles her sisters into her life, locating a school for them. She decided that Joe is not an option for her now that she has the girls, and he gets her message and stops coming by the shop. They meet again at the kids' school. Joe has been raising his nephew for the last two years, after his sister's departure. During the school year they join forces and work together. Piper falls in love, and, while Joe likes her, he's not sure with his nephew and his prior life experiences that he's in for the long haul?.

Guilty By Association
By Pat Simmons

Guilty by Association is the story of Kevin "Kidd" Jamieson. Kidd suffers from the "angry black man syndrome". How dare his father insist that his sons carry his last name when he was never around? As far as he's concerned the Jamieson name is worthless. Kidd's anger is seeping out into every area of his life as he carelessly leaves a trail of destruction whenever he goes. When he receives an invitation from a distant cousin, Parke Jamieson VI to come to St. Louis, he is hesitant but accepts it almost as a dare. Though he initially bumps heads with his cousin, a series of events that involve a dog named Silent Killer, Stacy Adams shoes, and two women who enter his life to calm his raging storm, Kidd makes St. Louis home. One woman is Eva Savoy who becomes his “Eve,” a woman through whom God uncovers and exposes the underlying goodness in Kidd’s heart.

Reluctantly, Kidd allows Parke to walk him through information on their royal family heritage. Overwhelmed by the care and compassion of new friends and family, Kidd struggles to keep up the bad boy attitude but his walls are starting to crumble and he knows he’s going down.

Eventually, Kidd learns it’s not his association with the name that identifies him, but the man he becomes that defines him.

http://patsimmons.net

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SORMAGs Open House - What's On The Shelves Now

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:25:00 +0000

SORMAG's OPEN HOUSE
What's On The Shelves Now

AUTHORS:

Post your excerpts in our comments. Include title, genre, blurb about the book, a one page excerpt, and where to find the book.

READERS:

Are you looking for what's hot on the book shelves now. Click on the comments.

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FEATURED AUTHOR Samantha Williams

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:22:00 +0000

Hi, my name is Samantha, I am 10 years old and in the 5th grade. I am also a stroke survivor. I had a stroke when I was six months old and my family and I lived in Germany. It affects a lot of things I do, because I can’t use my right hand and foot very well. When I grow up I want to be a radiologist (x-ray doctor). Big Like Me is my first book.

I like to hang out with my friends. I like to have breakfast for dinner on Sunday. I like to read YA novels, especially the paranormal ones. I especially like things from the eighties: movies, music and television shows. I love to go shopping, because I am a girlie-girl on some things and a tomboy on others.

I love my family and I have a Chihuahua, her name is Daisy. My dad is funny and crazy if you ask me. My mom is a romance writer but let’s talk about me. I like new shoes. My favorite foods are ice cream, cheese burgers, salad and ravioli from Olive Garden.

How did you start out your writing career?

I started writing because my mother made me. For real. She wanted me to work on my writing and sentences, so she said ‘think about a story you want to write’. I first thought that she was joking. Then I looked at her face and realized she was serious. I then thought about if I was going to write a story the only thing I really knew about was my life. So, I thought about myself as a character and I came up with Denise Wilson.

What did you learn while writing this book?

I learned that when you write it can bring out emotions in you as a writer. For example there is a part in this book that was really hard for me to write because I had to remember a sad experience in my life to write about what the character was feeling. I didn’t expect that sometimes writing a book could make you cry or laugh out loud.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

I hoped that people would see how special needs people can be the same as regular people. I also hope that friends can learn to understand each other better. I want other kids to know that if they are being bullied they can learn to stand up for themselves.

Which character did you have the most fun writing about?

There are two characters in the story Madeline and Jamar. They are both best friends to Denise. Even though Madeline and Denise’s friendship kind of changed, Madeline was still there when Denise needed her. Jamar he is cool, funny and is a good friend.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

It’s hard work. You have to first figure out how the characters are feeling in one moment, then you have to make the character actual go and do things. Like if they are talking you have to say where they are or if they are eating or what they are wearing. Well finding clothes for them to wear was fun. I also had to try and keep up with posting on my blog, some days I just wanted to watch TV.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

What I love the most is looking on the internet and finding pictures of what I think the characters look like. You know find famous people who may have the same color hair or might act like the person I see in my mind.

The one thing I hate the most is that I had to draft what was going to happen in the story. I just wanted to write the story and let it go where ever.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

The first thing I wish I knew was how hard it would be to write a book. The second thing was how important it would be for me to write in a journal or a note book about the characters and different things I wanted to happen in the story. The third thing is that I would have liked to know that after I finished the book it would take so long to get the book together, processed and published.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

Do the best you can on your writing and don’t give up just because you don’t think you can do it.
That’s how I felt, like maybe it was too much and I couldn’t get it done.

If you could be a character from any book you've read, who would you be?

I would have to say Sarah from “Shadow Walker” by LA Banks, because she had special powers that she had to learn how to use and overcome her fears. That’s how I feel sometimes like I know there’s something special about me but I don’t know what it is and I get scared at times.

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

I like to hang out with my friends, listen to my IPOD or play with the things in my room or watch television, especially old sitcoms.

What do you do to interact with your readers?

I have a blog where I post about things in the book and things going on with me.

Our theme for this month is CHILDREN BOOKS. What inspired you to make children’s literature the focus of your career?

Because I’m a child. I will be eleven soon and I like to read young adult books, so I wanted to write books about things and feelings that young adults go through.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

What I know is that special needs people out there can write and be just as active and do big things just like everyone else.
Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

My next book is called “I Bite” and it is about a girl that is a half-blood vampire who finds out that there is paranormal mischief going on at her middle school and she has to discover a way to stop it before another cheerleader gets changed.

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

http://samanthas-books.com

Ms. LaShaunda, I would like to thank you very much for taking time with me to talk about my book. This was my first interview and it was fun.

Big Like Me

Denise Wilson, a stroke survivor, has always been tall for her age. Too tall in fact. At nine she was a giraffe among cats. All of her friends were shorter than her and she could even see the top of most of the guys’ heads. But, that didn’t stop her from falling for Taylor Young. In the fourth grade the Puerto Rican heartthrob had taken her breath away every time he looked at her. However, when her father gets a job in Germany and they move halfway around the world to strange people and even stranger places; all seems lost.

Now, it’s her eighth grade year and she is back in North Carolina--to old friends, old places and an old crush. But, things have changed in a major way. More students are looking her eye-to-eye now, but there are other unexpected situations for Denise and her friends at Pramar Academy. The pressures of her last year in middle school are piling up. The cruel trio is meaner than ever and if she is not careful everything she is afraid of happening… will happen.

Note: This story is for young adults written by a young adult.

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FEATURED AUTHOR: Kimberly Reid

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:04:00 +0000

Kimberly Reid is the author of the Langdon Prep series for young adults starring Chanti Evans, a fifteen-year-old girl trying to navigate her new school and solve crimes. Like her main character, Kimberly grew up the daughter of a police detective, attended a prep school where she did not fit in, and always wanted to help her mother solve crimes. She earned a M.A. from The George Washington University and currently lives near Denver, Colorado, where her series is set. Please visit KimberlyReid.com to learn more.

How did you start out your writing career?

At a writing conference that included literary agent pitch sessions, I pitched a coming-of-age novel to an agent and she asked me to send the manuscript to her. I told her I was also starting a memoir about growing up in 1980s Atlanta during a two-year long serial murder investigation. She ended up rejecting the novel because she didn’t feel it was marketable, but she liked my writing style and asked that I send her the memoir when it was complete. It was ready a year later, she read it and offered representation. Several revisions and another year and a half later, No Place Safe sold to Kensington Books. It was my first published book, but the third book I’d written with serious intent to publish. Now I’m writing fiction for young adults, though I hope not so young adults will give the book a try.

What did you learn while writing this book?

I learned my long-held ideas about who I am, what I expect of myself and what I enjoy writing were outdated expectations that didn’t fit where I wanted to be right now. I’m a big planner, but sometimes I get so caught up in executing the plan that my brain misses the moment when the plan no longer works. Fortunately, my heart pays better attention. Once I let go of what I ought to do, I was able to do what I really wanted to do, which was write this new series.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

I wanted to create a fun teen series with multicultural characters who aren’t defined only by their race or ethnicity. I wanted my characters to go to school, deal with family drama, solve mysteries, fall in love just like everyone on the planet does, except they happen to be people of color—both good guys and bad guys. Mostly I just want readers to have a good time, to put down the book feeling entertained and looking forward to the next one.

Which character did you have the most fun writing about?

MJ was fun to write. She and Chanti keep dancing around whether they’re friends or not. Chanti is a by-the-book kid of a police detective, MJ is a cop-hating former juvenile delinquent serving probation, and they are fascinated by each other’s lives even if they won’t admit it. I look forward to learning more about MJ in future books.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

I was surprised by how many other people want to become published authors when I tell them what I do.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

The best part of writing is being able to do the thing I’ve dreamed of doing since I was a kid – creating people, worlds and stories out of my head and having real-life people join me for the ride. Even on a bad day, it’s good, and I absolutely love it when I hear from readers that they enjoy my work.

The part I most hate is the lack of control I have over most aspects of the business side of writing—whether a book is published at all (although self-publishing is changing this); whether booksellers will carry it on their shelves; whether critics and readers will like it. I used to be in corporate management in a start-up tech environment where decisions were often made quickly and unilaterally. Publishing is very different—at least from my view of it—many people are involved in decision-making so it can sometimes take a while. It has taught me patience, a lesson I needed to learn, anyway.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

1. After her writing skills, a writer’s most important tools are patience, perseverance, and thick skin.

2. Writing for a living will most likely not make you rich, or even earn you a full living.

3. Enjoy every step along the journey as it happens, even the not so great moments, instead of worrying about the next three steps down the path. There are many firsts, but you only get to enjoy them once. I’m still learning this one, but getting there.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

1. Do learn to accept editing and criticism—both will make you a better writer. You don’t have to accept every suggestion (and shouldn’t), but be open to the idea that everything you write is not absolutely brilliant and occasionally may even suck.

2. Don’t let rejection make you bitter. It is part of this business—you will be rejected by agents, publishers, booksellers, book reviewers and readers. It will happen on your first, third and twentieth book. Not everyone will love your work. It isn’t personal; a variety of tastes makes the world more interesting. Enjoy a minute of self-pity and indignation (privately, not on your blog, in an e-mail to your editor or in retaliation to a bad Amazon review) then let it go. Move on. Be a professional. Write the next book and make it better than the last.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

I write every day, but once in a while I go into the writing zone and the world I’m creating is as real to me as the one that demands mortgage payments and family commitments. The zone is like an unpredictable lover—it visits when it wants to; I have no say over it. It may stay a week or only a few hours; I have to enjoy it while I can. If I seem less attentive, it isn’t because I’m in a mood, I’m just in another place. But day jobs and bosses will be given 100%, dinner will be cooked, appointments will be kept, though I may seem a little odd while I handle my business—sort of like I just fell in love.

If you could be a character from any book you've read, who would you be?

That’s a hard question. Even though I spend several hours a day pretending to be other people while I write, it’s hard to imagine being anyone but myself. When I first read Alice Walker’s The Color Purple and its cast of characters who were each strong in their own way, I was just becoming a woman myself. Those women stayed with me. I’d try being a composite of them: Shug Avery’s adventurous spirit; Sofia’s fight; Nettie’s desire to see the world beyond the little piece offered to her; and Miss Celie’s ability to move past fear and all the wrongs done her to eventually find strength and happiness.

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

My favorite things are food, music, and traveling. I’m a Food Network junkie and love trying out new recipes while enjoying a glass of wine. Good food, music and conversation with people I like and love make me happy. Traveling can be all of that, wrapped up in a brand new setting. I also watch more television than I probably should. OnDemand cable is dangerous when I’m on deadline.

What do you do to interact with your readers?

I’m still trying to get the hang of that. I prefer face-to-face interaction, but I realize you can only meet so many people at book events, plus they’re expensive and hard to come by when you’re a new author. I still enjoy attending conferences and book events, but now I’m using e-mail, blogging, Facebook and Twitter. I’m not yet convinced about Twitter, probably because I’m not very good at it. But I like the other methods and hope to become better at using them to connect with readers.

Our theme for this month is CHILDREN BOOKS. What inspired you to make children’s literature the focus of your career?

After my memoir was published, I felt very exposed. I should have seen that coming, but didn’t think about it while I was writing. So I wanted to return to fiction, my first love, and my agent suggested I try writing for young adults because she thought I had the right voice for it. I thought she was crazy until I realized every manuscript I’d written for adults had a teen narrator. My first effort was a darker YA about online predators. It felt forced because it wasn’t my voice, and we didn’t even try to sell it. Then I realized that while I liked reading dark, I wanted to write something fun. I wanted to write books that reflect real-world diversity without heavy messages about morality or race.

Of course those books are necessary and important, but when I went to the bookstore, it seemed publishers thought, with a few exceptions, that was the only kind of book teens of color wanted to read. But if they were anything like me, I figured they also wanted to find books like those of YA writers Sarah Dessen, Meg Cabot or Ally Carter, but with characters that look something like them in settings they can better relate to. I also hoped to write books readers of those authors would want to try, the same way I “crossed over” to enjoy those writers. I think teens today are more savvy about knowing what they want to read without genres or the skin color of characters on the book cover limiting or defining their choices. As for choosing to write mystery/suspense with a little romance thrown in, I always liked Nancy Drew and I’m addicted to cop shows and thrillers, so I drew from my personal experience growing up the kid of a cop to create the backbone of the series. Each book will have a main crime for Chanti to solve and her detective skills will grow, but we’ll also see her mature and develop emotionally. Last year, my agent sold my first YA book—My Own Worst Enemy—as the first in a series, in a three-book deal to Kensington Books’ new YA line, Dafina KTeen.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

The only thing I can control is the writing. The rest I’ll try to influence the best I can, deal with what comes my way, and appreciate how wonderful it is to be doing what I love.

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

Creeping With the Enemy is the second book in the Langdon Prep series. Here’s the cover copy:

There’s nothing like having someone in your corner when you’re the new girl in school, but Chanti can’t help suspecting that everything about her new friend, Bethanie, is a lie—especially once she starts skipping classes and blowing Chanti off for her mysterious new crush, Cole. Chanti really doesn’t need the trouble of finding out the truth. She’s busy enough trying to convince her hot almost-boyfriend Marco that her amateur sleuthing won’t come between them again. But when Bethanie disappears with Cole, Chanti has only one chance to find her—even as her investigation puts her love life, and everything else, at risk…

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

I welcome contact!
email: Kimberly@kimberlyreid.com
website: http://kimberlyreid.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kimberly-Reid/211943298837447

My Own Worst Frenemy

Chanti Evans is an undercover cop’s daughter and an exclusive private school’s newest student. But Chanti is learning fast that when it comes to con games, the streets have nothing on Langdon Prep. With barely a foot in the door, fifteen-year-old Chanti gets on the bad side of school queen bee Lissa and snobbish Headmistress Smythe. They’ve made it their mission to take Chanti down and she needs to find out why, especially when stuff begins disappearing around campus, making her the most wanted girl in school, and not in a good way. But the last straw comes when she and her Langdon crush, the seriously hot Marco Ruiz, are set up to take the heat for a series of home burglaries—and worse. . . .

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FEATURED AUTHOR: Joshua Cohen

noreply@blogger.com (LaShaunda) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:28:00 +0000

I began writing "Leverage" after reading a news account of a horrific attack by a group of high school seniors on their fellow underclassmen teammates. When the victims reluctantly came forward they were ostracized by the surrounding community for sullying the reputation of the school and causing a cancellation of the football season. My fascination with that part of human nature--the need to keep quiet when awful things occur and how that leads to victims getting wronged twice--is what started the whole story that eventually led to "Leverage."

How did you start out your writing career?

I think my writing career began in earnest when I started submitting short stories to literary magazines. Of course, none of my stories were accepted but that was the point I made the mental leap from writing "just for fun" to writing to get published. It's an important psychological step to take in any writer's evolution.

What did you learn while writing this book?

That having readers you can trust to read early drafts of your manuscript is important but you also need to trust your own instincts as well. My first manuscript (for a story that will never see the light of day) I spent 5 years writing without any trusted reader input and I think I could've saved myself 4 years worth of trouble if I'd had someone early on tell me that my first story really had no plot.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

Above all, I wanted the reader transported for a few hours to a different world where they were entertained by a good story. That's how I judge books I read. After that, if they go away thinking about the characters in my story and maybe looking around at their own lives through the lens of one of my characters, if only for a few minutes, well, that's icing on the cake!

Which character did you have the most fun writing about?

Kurt, by the end of the book, really pulled me in as I wrote his story and I really experienced all the emotions he seemed to be going through and found him really awe-inspiring. But for pure fun, one of the secondary characters, Vance Fischer, the team clown, was the most fun to write since he delivered some of the best lines in the book.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

Just how much of a business there is to not only getting published but trying to help the sales of your book. You don't sign the dotted line with a publisher and then sit back and let them do all the work anymore. Now days they want your full participation, which takes time away from actually working on another book. It's a tricky balance.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

I loved seeing my book on the store shelves. That was phenomenal. It felt so good to see it there after so many years of struggle to get published. That will always be one of the true highlights of writing for me. I also love the feedback from readers who contact me out of the blue to tell me how much they enjoyed the story or were moved by a particular aspect of the story. I don't think there's anything I hate about writing. I went through a period where I no longer enjoyed all the work of writing with no pay off and I stopped for about a year. It felt like renouncing my faith and I felt really empty after awhile so I licked my wounds and got over my bitterness and came back to writing because I had to do it. Besides my family, it gives my life meaning.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

These are actually three things I've known for a long time but it's good to be reminded of them:

(1) Your family and friends cannot be replaced. Love 'em now while they're around to love.
(2) You have no more and no less a right to exist and live on this planet as does the next person.
(3) Work Hard. Play Harder!

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

DO keep writing and submitting to agents and venues that publish no matter what. The world of readers is supremely vast with tastes to match and just because one agent says your work will never sell doesn't mean another agent won't love it.

DON'T let your doubts overwhelm you. Everyone has doubts about whether or not they are talented enough or smart enough or gifted enough to be a published writer (or in any endeavor, for that matter). Go ahead and allow your doubts to run wild for 5 minutes each day and then shoo them away so you can get down to work. When you're finished writing, plan on meeting up with your doubts for another 5 minutes the following day before you kick them to the curb again.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

How much time it takes and how you need "alone time" to get it done. People see you in front of a laptop and they think you're surfing the net and that it's not real work you're doing so they may come up to chat with you. And if you go into your room and shut the door, they accuse you of being anti-social. It's got to be done, though, if you want to get anything completed.

If you could be a character from any book you've read, who would you be?

That's a hard one. All the great characters that come to mind have suffered terribly but have acted heroically in the face of tragedy. I'd want to be a character that's boring to read about because I'm not up for too much real life drama at the moment. I'll have to get back to you on that one.

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

I became a father 11 months ago and my spare time is "daddy-time" which I absolutely love. It's a bit like having a second childhood because I start seeing the world through the eyes of my baby girl all over again--the smallest things fascinate my daughter ... like a sock. That sock on her foot is absolutely fascinating to her...and quite tasty judging from how often she tries to stuff it into her mouth.

What do you do to interact with your readers?

I do interviews like this (And a big THANKS to you, LaShaunda, for this great opportunity!) and do a bit of blogging (a very little bit as of late) and I'm attending the Tucson Book Festival this March 10th and 11th. I also get email on Goodreads and on my website. I love reader emails. It's a blast hearing from someone that's read a book you spent years writing and years shopping around to finally get published. I never tire of emails from readers!

Our theme for this month is CHILDREN BOOKS. What inspired you to make children’s literature the focus of your career?

I'm not sure this will be the focus of my career but I really felt that the voices I wanted to get down into this story needed to be heard and they happened to be those of two teenagers. Bullying in our schools has become such a problem and such a source of humiliation for so many kids, that I wanted kids to know they're not alone, that others are out there suffering, too, and they understand the pain some kids are going through.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

I know that playing with my daughter is a remedy for a day at the office (yes, I have regular day job) where the news on the internet all seems to be bad. I know that when I watch her just now learning to walk, it fills me with hope that the human race really does strive to be better and do good by each other.

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

I cannot because I'm still working with my publisher to see if it will, indeed, be my next book. If I get the green light on it, though, I will be happy to shout about it on your site.

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

My website is http://leveragethebook.com/
my email is jcc@joshuacohenbooks.com
facebook at leveragethebook

LEVERAGE

When a violent, steroid-infused, ever-escalating prank war has devastating consequences, an unlikely friendship between a talented but emotionally damaged fullback and a promising gymnast might hold the key to a school's salvation. Told in alternating voices and with unapologetic truth, "Leverage" illuminates the fierce loyalty, flawed justice, and hard-won optimism of two young athletes.

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