A New Series by Christine DePetrillo

Wolf Kiss, Book One in my new series, The Warrior Wolves Series, will be releasing on August 17th. This is the first time I have written all the books in the series before publishing any of them. This afforded me some unique revision opportunities. I completed each book and went through my normal routines before moving on to writing the next one, but then I sat down and read the entire 5-book set in a week.

In doing this I was able to:

• comb through and fix any inconsistencies, 
• make sure the passage of time worked out correctly, both within books and between books, 
• keep each story focused around the series theme while maintaining its own uniqueness, 
• keep the action moving from book to book
• check that all the paranormal "stuff" I made up made sense,
• see the arc of the entire series from Book One to Book Five
• change anything that wasn't working and make sure it got changed everywhere it needed to,
• think deeply about cover design and how to make it consistent so readers know it's a series,
• get excited about how everything tightened up nicely!

I read Jennifer Probst's writing book, Write Naked, right before finishing this series and used many of her tips to help me sharpen up the series too. I highly suggest this text. It's an easy read and full of goodies to get you thinking about your writing and career as an author. 

While this series is paranormal due to the inclusion of some supernatural characters and events, I think I still maintained an air of contemporary romance with the setting of good old Vermont. As I've maintained since the publication of my first series, The Maple Leaf Series, "love grows in the woods." I'm convinced that love does best when surrounded by a heavy dose of nature, maple trees in particular. 

The Warrior Wolves Series follows five Celtic warriors who have been banished from Ireland by Flidae, the goddes of wild things when they use their "gifts" to kill. They all end up in present-day U.S.A. While they don't all start out in Vermont, the Green Mountain State becomes their gathering ground when they find each other... and their one true loves. 

These books are about finding your pack and making a home. 

   

Here's the cover, which I LOVE. Many thanks to Dar Albert of Wicked Smart Designs. She always gets it exactly right.

And here's the blurb:

Warrior Reardon McAlator kills anyone’s enemies for the right price. Victory comes easy to him and his fierce army… until one day, they meet their match. Faced with the possibility of destroying their legendary winning streak, Reardon takes action. He makes his men more like him and angers the wrong Celtic goddess. Banished from her protection, he wakes up alone in a different place, in a different time, and in a world of pain. He must do something worthy to get home to Ireland, but maybe getting home isn’t where he thought it was.

Wildlife biologist Dr. Brandy Wendon cares for wolves—and her sister’s son, Dylan—at Silver Moon Wolf Sanctuary in the woods of Vermont. She loves everything about her work, including secretly researching clinical lycanthropy just for the fun of it. It’s what nerds do. Brandy stays busy, but in the lonely hours of the night, she can’t deny something is missing. If only she could find that soul mate people are always mentioning. As if one perfect match for her really exists.
 
When a pained howl echoes from the dark forest beyond the sanctuary fence, Brandy meets a wolf unlike any to cross her path. Why does she grow instantly connected to him? Why does he become so important to her? 
 
She’ll only get answers if she accepts a wolf kiss.

Check my website for preorder information and prepare to howl along with my warrior wolves!

Toodles, 

Chris

The Maple Leaf Series, Books One to Six, available now, Book One is always FREE!

The Shielded Series, Books One to Three, available now, Book One is always FREE!

Wolf Kiss, Book One in The Warrior Wolves Series, coming August 17th!

www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com 

Tough Skin? Mostly By Brenda Whiteside

I think I have pretty tough skin. My stint as an office manager/scheduler for a swimming pool company gave me the first layer of toughness. You can't imagine how irritated and rude people can be when it gets hot in Phoenix and they're waiting for their pool to be finished. I was the first level of contact AND the crew scheduler. I got all the grief.

Skip ahead quite a few years to my current status of author. The skin better be good and thick to handle critiques of your work, bad reviews, and comments that hit below the belt concerning your creations by people who don't even know they're swinging at you. Okay, that was rather long and convoluted. Let me explain.

I'm three books published into a five book series. Confession here...when I wrote book one, I didn't actually think about the series angle enough. I set book one and two in Arizona, but because of the story in book one, book three takes place in Austria. Kind of wacky, but I went with it. It involves the neo-Nazi movement too. The cover has a swastika. I thought my cover artist did a great job. To me, it spoke to the suspense and danger of the book. Apparently, this might not appeal to some readers. Truthfully, only one reader told me it didn't appeal to her even though she loved the first two books. She won't read it. Only one...but if one, then there could be more who feel that way.

Where is my self proclaimed tough skin on this issue? I'll admit, I'm bothered. What can I do about it? Not much now. I do keep wondering, are there others who are missing out on what I think is one of my most involved plots and story to date because of my setting and villain choice? Jeez, I just don't know.

A Legacy of Love and Murder, book three in the Love and Murder Series

In Austria to meet her great-grandfather and explore his castle estate filled with priceless art, August Myer arrives to find he’s died suspiciously. As one of the heirs, her life is in danger, turning this fairytale Alpine adventure into a nightmare of unexplained accidents, neo-Nazi threats, and murder.

Inspector Tobias Wolf splits his time between his profession and fighting the spread of neo-Nazism. But when the beautiful, intriguing American crosses his path during a murder investigation, ensuring her safety challenges his priorities…and his heart.

When August learns the handsome inspector’s involvement with a major female Nazi is more than he’s admitted, and the death of her great-grandfather is somehow connected, she takes the investigation into her own hands. The outcome could be the death of both of them.

A Few Buy Links:

Amazon 

The Wild Rose Press 

ARe 

Conform or Be Unique?

“Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.” ~ Margaret Mead

This quote really resonates with me as an educator as well as a writer. In teaching, we strive to individualize instruction and cater to the needs of all students. We see the unique talents each student has. We also see the unique struggles each student faces. Our goal is to make the curriculum accessible to all students regardless of their different circumstances. We do this on a daily basis for 180 days a year.

And yet, with all these specialized plans and accommodations and modifications and juggling acts and scripts and what sometimes amounts to a theater-level production, we eventually expect these children to grow into citizens who will be treated pretty much the same when it comes to getting a job and functioning in society. There’s a certain level of conformity that we expect them to be able to tolerate. Current trends in education with Common Core State Standards support this notion. While the standards don’t tell us how to teach, they do tell us what to teach. They strive to make sure every student masters the same information. It’s not a bad idea, however, it does squash that uniqueness. It does sort of shout, “You will learn exactly what everyone else is learning! You will be the same.”

Sometimes it all gets a little stuffy. I try to balance my classroom with some room to be different, to explore, to find the sheer joy in learning something that interests you. Unfortunately, time is short. One hundred eighty days goes by in the blink of an eye.

In the way of writing, authors love to think we’re unique, but pick up any book off the actual or digital shelf and you’ll find common themes, plots, settings, and characters. We’re probably just writing different versions of the same five stories. Another writer once told me, “There are no new ideas.” Sometimes I believe that.

Other times… I don’t.

I’m starting a new series and I’m hoping it is unlike anything I’ve written before. I’ve been studying up on different components of the writing craft, trying to reach new levels, dig deeper, expand my thinking. This series will still be romance (I’ve tried NOT writing romance and I simply can’t do it), but I’m delving into sci-fi and thriller a bit. I thought about the characters I would normally write about and am making a conscious effort to change it up. I’m leaving the present time and shooting to the future. I’m getting out of the woods and away from mountain men heroes. I’m tossing aside the sweet, feminine heroines. I’m looking to fashion a villain that isn’t a jealous ex-wife, crazy business partner, or evil mob boss.

I’m looking to be unique and not like everyone else. We’ll see how it goes. Don’t worry. There’ll still be a happily ever after, 100% guaranteed. I don’t want to go too different. Readers come to have certain expectations from an author.

I guess this rambling post has led me to conclude that you need to decide when to conform and when to be unique. There’s a place for both, don't you think?   

Toodles,

Chris

www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com

The Maple Leaf Series

More Than Pancakes (Always FREE!)

More Than Cookies

More Than Rum

More Than Pizza, Coming Soon!

Starting Something New by Vonnie Davis

And suddenly you know: It's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings. ~ Meister Eckhart

For the past year, I've been working on two series of three books each. A contemporary firemen's series set in Clearwater, Florida for Harper Impulse and a bear-shifter series set in the Highlands of Scotland for Random House. Six books that I hope to have finished by April 6th, when the final books of each series are due.

That's right. Two books to two different publishers on the same day. My ex-agent said she forgot to look at my first contract and the dates in it before she encouraged me to take contract number two. My fault: keep a calendar with all your due dates in it, so when a new contract comes rolling in, you can check for yourself. Or, as we like to say, take charge of your life.

I had 3 weeks between the submission dates of two books. Now, I don't know about you, but it takes me a tad longer than 3 weeks to write a full-length book. I had to ask my editor for an extension which went against my work ethic. In every job I've held, I've always met my deadlines.

So, here's where the bit of insanity slips in.

I'm ready--eager, really--to start my next series for Random House. But first, I'm taking a break. I've already had the nervous breakdown. Thanks to too many deadlines too close together. This year, one publisher, one series, one locale. I mean, I can't tell you the times I had my firemen in Florida speaking with a Scottish brogue! The Delete key became my BFF.

 

 

 

I don't think making mistakes is a bad thing. Not always. I learned a lot about myself through this process of over-extension. I've also learned to say, "No." And, at sixty-six, it's about time, don't you think? But society tells us to take on more, to do more, to achieve more. Sometimes we lose the joyous and renewing state of just being, of observing, of listening, of enjoying people important to us. Last year went by in a blur of words. This year, I hope the treadmill slows down....after all, I'm retired!

 

Here's my book trailer for A HIGHLANDER'S OBSESSION that was one of Amazon's best sellers last year, well, for a month anyhow.

 

T

It's always changing by Barbara Edwards

What is success—?

I wish I knew what success is. My definitions and markers keep changing on a whole bunch of different levels. It’s a kind of bucket list. When one goal is accomplished, it’s immediately replaced by another.

I remember how hard it was to finish my first book. I wrote and rewrote. Took advice, and then changed my mind. That first manuscript took years to write.

Then the goal was to find a publisher. Another marker of success was when an editor loved it.

Success was that contract in my hand. Wow. I cried so hard and ate too much chocolate to celebrate.

Only that was the start not the finish in the run for publication. A book cover, edits, galleys, blurb and dedication all needed doing and everyone was a small success along the road.

My first book wasn’t a bestseller. So I set that as a goal. My name in the New York Times would be so fine.

Didn’t happen with the next four books either. Then came Journey of the Magi, a short Christmas story in a genre I never wrote before. It didn’t make the New York Times, but it did hit the Amazon Holiday Romance Bestseller list. That resulted in more chocolate and tears.

I just realized I eat a lot of chocolate when I’m happy.

So the next goal was to finish book three in my Rhodes End Series and it is currently being put into galleys.

So here’s a peek at the cover.

Date to be published-Soon!

Please follow, friend or like me. I love to hear from my readers.

Blog http://barbaraedwardscomments.wordpress.com/

Website http://barbaraedwards.net

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How To Write A Series 101 and a Free Book by Jannine Gallant

What's hot in books? I'd have to say the answer to that question is a series. Even if you haven't planned on writing a series, readers frequently ask about secondary characters in a book. And if there's one thing I know about resurrecting a setting and characters after a couple of years, it's that you forget all the little details. That's what I'm doing with my current WIP, and I'm constantly having to go back to the original book (published 3 years ago) to verify facts. It's a complete pain in the butt!

So, here's Jannine's #1 tip for writing a series and not making yourself crazy in the process. PLAN AHEAD! Last spring it occurred to me that some authors were doing very well with series, so I decided to write one. Being a fairly organized person, I created a strategy.

#1 THE CONNECTION: I planned all three books in the series using a trio of friends introduced in the first book. Each of the three girls would be the heroine in her own story.

#2 THE SETTING: I mapped out my fictional town of Ravenswood, adding businesses, neighborhoods, street names, and landmarks as they were used in each story.

#3 CHARACTER LIST: Every time I used a character, no matter how minor, I put them on the list. Who knew that the first grade teacher Sam waved at on the street in book #1 would pop up at a party in book #2. Certainly not me, but when she did, I had her name and a brief description on hand.

#4 HOOKS AND CONCLUSIONS: This is key. Based on other blogs I've read, it seems readers really don't like it when you end a story but don't really end it. They feel they have to buy the sequel to find out what happens, and it makes them mad. So, each of my stories has a plot with a conclusion guaranteed to satisfy. I've had several reviews where the reader thanks me for this. The hook is the next friend in the series getting one scene with a snippet of her upcoming situation. Just a hint to make the reader curious about what is going to happen to this character, but not enough to make them frustrated that it isn't wrapped up in the current book. No one has complained yet, so I'd have to say this is a good technique.

There you have it -- Jannine's hot tips to writing a series. If you're planning one, I hope they help. Even if you aren't, implementing steps #2 and #3 is an excellent idea. You never know when readers will take to a secondary character and ask for his or her story, and these simple steps will save you huge headaches down the road!

Since you've patiently read through my whole post, I have a reward for you! Book #1 of my Secrets Of Ravenswood trilogy is FREE on Amazon today and tomorrow only. Please download We'll Never Tell by clicking HERE. Enjoy, and tell all your friends. That's my Hot August Tip of the Day!

Visit my website for information on all my books.

Taking the Plunge into Self-Publishing by Jannine Gallant

A new year - a new adventure for me. After publishing 7 books with small presses, I'm taking the plunge (though it feels more like a free fall) into self-publishing. I've been plugging along, writing, publishing, and promoting - all with limited success. I say limited because the sales aren't there. But, I've had great reviews. The people who've actually read my books, liked them. So, the goal is to get my books into the hands of more readers. Maybe the answer lies in indie publishing.

Don't think I'm jumping in with both feet without doing a little research first. I'm a cautious soul. When it first entered my head that self-publishing might me the next path to follow in my career as a writer, I looked at who and what was selling in that particular market. I came up with what I think are a few keys to success.

Length - Small publishers who focus on e-book sales are asking for shorter books, 25,000 to 45,000 words. Maybe people just don't have time to read long books. Maybe something about holding an e-reader instead of a paperback makes this length work. Whatever the reason, sales seem to be better for shorter novels.

Sub-Genre - Has to be romance, but what type? Contemporary, Paranormal, Erotica. These genres seem to sell best. Erotica - I can't write it. I feel like a voyeur every time I write an intimate scene. Not going to happen, people! Paranormal - okay, maybe I can work with this one. I'm never going to write about werewolves (just not my thing) but I love ghost stories. Do ghosts count as paranormal? I hope so! Contemporary - lots of layers to this category. I'd probably be better off writing about a billionaire, but they just don't interest me. Suspense and action does.

Series - People love reading series. They want to know what happens to the supporting characters in a story. As I generally adore my supporting characters, I'm totally on board with this.

Price Point - Here's where the indie part comes in. Indie authors set their own price. Indie authors have the option of using "free" to promote. Indie authors can change it up when something isn't working. I like having a greater degree of control. The downside is, you get to pay for formatting, covers, and editing or learn how to do it yourself.

So, with all this in mind, I designed a project with a plan to self-publish. My premise - three twelve-year-old girls witness a murder and make a pact. Seventeen years later, each girl (now a grown woman) gets her own story. 30,000 words was my target length for each story. All include sexy heroes and lots of suspense. One has a ghost. The setting is a fictional town in the Sierra Nevada mountains called Ravenswood.

We'll Never Tell - Sam's story. The first book incorporates the witnessing of the murder as the prologue. When the woman's body is discovered seventeen years later, the threats begin. Sam and Ethan must uncover the murderer's identity before he shuts her up for good.

She'll Never Rest - Darby's story. Returning home to Ravenswood to work on a genealogy project for Logan's grandfather, Darby is determined to find peace for a restless ghost. But someone wants to make sure the circumstances remain hidden.

He'll Never Know - When Juliette falls for Shane, the man remodeling her new home, she has no intention of telling him all her secrets. While she struggles to walk a fine line between past disappointments and future dreams, a psycho with an agenda of his own is watching.

Currently, the third book is written past the half-way mark. Yea, me! Time to plan some important details. Covers and a name for the series. I NEED HELP! My working title is The Ravenswood Chronicles. My tag line: What happens when the past comes back to haunt you? I want something attention grabbing, and I don't know if this is it. Any better ideas for a series title? Covers - I want them consistent, and I want them to help sell my books. These stories take place in September, October/Halloween, and November/December respectively. They all have an outdoorsy atmosphere, but it's cold. My heroes aren't running around bare-chested in the mountains in freezing temperatures because they aren't stupid. LOL But should they be depicted that way on the covers? These are suspense stories - should I use that in the covers or go for sex-appeal? I'd love some advice.

Buy links for all my books can be found on my Website, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Thanks for stopping by!

Meet Ty Synclair, Bass Player for ShadowsForge by Jena Galifany

Meet Ty Synclair, Bass player for the British 80s rock band, ShadowsForge. In the days of the big hair bands, Ty’s story is told in the first of the ShadowsForge series, Three Times a Hero by Jena Galifany.

Taylor “Ty” Synclair - Bass/Vocals

            Ty is the bass player and his voice is the main support to Geoff Richards lead, the voice behind the voice of ShadowsForge.  This lady-killer, wild man was recently captured and caged by Alexis Rivers Synclair, having met her on a snowy road overlooking Mirada Valley in California during the US leg of the Ethereal Edge Tour.  They literally ran into each other, bringing an end to his prowling days for the second time.  Only time will tell if Alexis can hold on to this Bad Boy.  Ty is 25 years old and he and Alexis make their home in Brighton when they are not traveling with ShadowsForge.  Ty's trademark thick mixture of blond to light brown chest-length curly hair and his crystal blue eyes made him most popular with the ladies until Alexis took him out of circulation.  He is 6’, muscular and finds it difficult to stay in one place on stage, usually burning off 2-3 pounds during each performance.  Off stage, he likes to spend his time with Alexis or writing lyrics for ShadowsForge.

How do you deal with being on the road, away from family and friends?

          Ty: Other than my Mum and Dad, my family is with me on the road.  Alexis is my family and who knows, maybe we'll be adding to the family soon.  That would be cool.  So I have the best of both worlds.

Did you date fans?

          Ty:  Most fans aren't looking for a long-term relationship.  They cross over that barrier from fan to “round heel” at that point.  I used to do the groupie thing.  Hey, if they were going to offer, I took.  That was when I was single.  Now I'm married to my number one fan.  Alexis was never a round heel or one-night stand.  It's perfect.  She's perfect.

How do you handle having money?

          Ty:  I've been making some investments and looking for a place to "retire" to when the bottom falls out of the music industry.  ShadowsForge is on top right now but you never know when your popularity will take a dive.  You have to be prepared for that to happen.  It's great to have all this money but you have to be smart with it.  This kind of success won't last forever. You have to plan ahead.

Where are you from?

          Ty:  Manchester.  

What kind of places did you play in the early days?

          Ty: Any place that would let us drag our equipment through the door and onto the stage.  That was before we picked up Gary Felding, our first roadie.  We didn’t want to think too highly of ourselves to turn down any gig.  We did pubs, coffee houses, even an outdoor free concert with two other local bands.  We wanted to get the exposure.  We hoped that it would lead to the paying gigs and it did once we developed a following.

Where do you live?

          Ty: I have a lovely home in Brighton. The entire upper floor is our bedroom.

What are your favorite:

Meal

          Ty:  Shrimp, any style of shrimp with a thick steak and a green salad.

Drink

          Ty: Wine

Perfect date

          Ty: Dinner and drinks in an intimate restaurant with my wife.

Perfume on a woman

          Ty: Lavender and Vanilla

Performers/bands

          Ty: Def Leppard still rock.

Albums (ShadowsForge)

          Ty:  Ethereal Edge.  I don’t like to look back.

What is your birthday?

          Ty: April 1. No one believes me, though.

Thank you, Ty for answering my questions. I can’t tell you how much fun I’ve had working with you and the band over the years, writing the ShadowsForge series. Now if I can get Jon to settle down and work with me, I can get the last two books of the series finished.

          No problem, Jena. I’ve loved every night we’ve spent together. Writing, you know. If you want Jon to settle down, use his own ropes on him. That would be new for him.

Would you be willing to answer any other questions the readers might have?

          Sure thing. I’ll be here throughout the day.

I hope you have enjoyed meeting Ty Synclair. He was the beginning of a wonderful new career for me. I never thought I’d be published, but Ty made that possible.

Learn more about Ty and the other men of ShadowsForge by stopping by my website, or check out the ShadowsForge Series available at Whiskey Creek Press.

Cheers,

Jena Galifany

www.jenagalifany.bravehost.com

Meet Ty Synclair