Life is really strange. You grow up, being force fed one set of expectations. Then things happen. Like LIFE. And somehow you don't get the result you grew up being told you would. I mean, you can do everything perfect, but if one little outside thing happens, it can throw your whole life into a tailspin.
For example, you can be the absolute best driver in the world. But let the worst driver cross your path, and BAM! your life changes. It's not through any fault of your own, but an outside force that acts on you.
This is really frustrating for the control freak in me. She wants all the little ducks in a row and if they try to wander out of line, she wants to nail their feet to the ground to keep them in place. Meanwhile, the animal lover in me is hiding all the nails so she can't do that. Makes for a very messy life. And they start bickering in my head and after a while, I just want to scream at them to shut up, and .... ummm... you aren't going to tell my therapist about this, are you? <nervous laugh>
But anyway, there is it. Life isn't just what you make of it, it's also what happens to you that you cannot control, and how you deal with the things that happen that you can't control. I'm coping the best I can, and have made every effort to minimize the outside influences. It seems to be working but I know in the long run, being a hermit just isn't a good thing. But it works for now.
Join me next time for my discussion on things people say that I can't stand. lol
Friday, September 29, 2017
Thursday, September 28, 2017
The Paranormal Portal Cover Reveal
Title: The Paranormal Portal
Genre: A Young Adult Paranormal Anthology
Authors: Cheri Marie, Kris Johnston, Angie Brocker, Trinity Hanrahan, Alyssa Brocker, Stephanie Lucci Henry, Charlotte E Dhark, Brianna West, JP Hart
Release: October 26, 2017
Blurb:
Nine authors come together to tell their own unique tale of paranormal accounts.
From ghosts, to witches, to demons alike, immerse yourself in these one-of-a-kind YA Paranormal tales that will be sure to leave you pondering the age-old question: Do they actually exist?
Decide for yourself in The Paranormal Portal, A young adult anthology.
PreOrder:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2yaaztT
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2xMMb0z
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2wY7CYx
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2xyPYyB
Social Media Links:
Cheri Marie
Bio:
Author of Hearts Aligned (Self-published 2016), a military romance, Cheri Marie aka Young Adult author Bella Rayne, lives for a good read with an alpha hero and strong, stubborn heroine. After many years of starting books and never finishing, she took to Word in April 2015 determined to write and finish her first novel. Nights that turned into mornings and a whole lot of unruly characters, she finished Hearts Aligned. Residing in sunny Southwest Florida, she lives with family, five dogs, a cat, a tank full of fish, and a bearded dragon named Toad.
Social Media Links:
FB Like Page (Cheri Marie): http://tinyurl.com/kkva3ut
FB Like Page (Bella Rayne): https://tinyurl.com/y9xjexs9
FB Reader Group: http://tinyurl.com/ku5ntlv
Twitter: http://tinyurl.com/kkxhvjk
Instagram: http://tinyurl.com/kxw776n
Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/m8vtogt
Goodreads: http://tinyurl.com/lfewnh5
BookBub: https://tinyurl.com/yauh36q3
Webpage: http://www.authorcherimarie.com
Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/mdh428t
Kris Johnston
Bio:
Kris Johnston is the best-selling author of paranormal fan favorites; The R.I.P. Series and This Beautiful Curse. She is a single mother of six, a native of Southern California, and loves all things indie. Her obsession with writing began at the age of 8 with poetry and grew over the years. She is a huge fan of Dean Koontz (Odd Thomas is her forever book boyfriend!), Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King, and R.L. Stine.
Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/krisjohn_author
Instagram: www.instagram.com/authorkrisjohnston
Angie Brocker
Bio:
Angie Brocker has been writing since the 3rd grade, and over the years, her passion for the written word continues to grow. She obtained her BA in English Literature with a Creative Writing emphasis and discovered a love of editing. Years later, she has been published on 101 Words, Eskimopie and has been a featured writer on Spillwords. Currently, she is also writing vows for weddings as an ordained minister.
Married with four grown children, Angie enjoys spending as much time with her family as possible. She also loves her dogs and cat, being a manager for a Paranormal Investigating team and compulsively watching The Walking Dead.
Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brockerwrites/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/angie_brocker
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/angiebrocker
Trinity Hanrahan
Bio:
Trinity lives with her husband and children in Virginia. She grew up overseas in Turkey and Japan, where her love of reading developed due to a lack of English-speaking television. As her need for written works grew, so did her desire to create worlds for others to enjoy. By the time she was in middle school she had started writing short stories. She endeavors to break the mold where modern stereo-types are concerned and create engaging characters.
When she's not writing or working, Trinity still enjoys settling down to read a book or doing graphic art in her spare time.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://www.trinityhanrahan.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/t_hanrahan01
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/trinityhanrahan
Instagram: http://instagram.com/trinity.hanrahan
Alyssa Brocker
Bio:
Voted 2016 Spillwords Author of the Year, Alyssa Brocker began writing during her freshman year of college. With the creative efforts of her theatre troupe, they produced an original play written in prose. After that experience, writing was all she wanted to do. Her poetry and short stories have been published in Florida Weekly, Leaves of Ink, 101 Word Stories, and Eskimopie. Her current project is a poetry collection, “without reason” on Spillwords. The series is written only from post-it notes, along with honest photography. She lives with her puppy, Dobby, who is always her first reader.
Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrockerAuthor/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/Atelgy
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Atelgy
Stephanie Lucci Henry
Bio:
Stephanie Henry is the author of What Doesn’t Kill Us, The Story of Us, and most recently the C-Vac series. She loves writing, as well as immersing herself in a good novel. Whether in a book or on screen, she’s a sucker for an epic love story. She lives with her husband and two young children in Central Massachusetts.
Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Astephaniehenry
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniemhenry/
Charlotte E Dhark
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/yc42wq4f
Brianna West
Bio:
Brianna West lives in beautiful Northern California with her wonderful husband and four adorable children. She writes funny, real stories that are accompanied by humor and supernatural elements. First published in October 2015, Brianna has gone on to add several books to her main series and spin-off series since then.
Her stories feature sassy, strong heroines; hunky, supernatural heroes; a sordid amount of action; enough humor to leave you laughing all the way through; and a world that will fill you with an overwhelming desire to be a part of it.
Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bwest0426
Newsletter: http://www.subscribepage.com/briannawest
Website: www.authorbriannawest.com
Pronoun: https://books.pronoun.com/briannawest/
Brand Merchandise: http://rdbl.co/2k97vm9
Signed Paperbacks: http://bit.ly/2lQOXJN
JP Hart
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjphart/
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Author Interview with Kathleen Eyke
Author Interview
With Kathleen Eyke
Name: Kathleen
Eyke
Pen Name if
different: Kami Larke
What first inspired
you to write? I’m not really sure. With the Southern Family Ties series, it
was because I was tired of reading books where I had to keep a score card to
keep up with who was in bed with whom and was tired of dodging clothing flying
at me from all directions. With the Kami Larke books (which are NOT clean and
wholesome, hence the use of a pen name to keep the two separate), I wanted to
challenge myself and set out of my comfort zone.
How do you come up
with the ideas for your stories? The Southern Family Ties series started
out very loosely based on stories told to me about life in my area by one of
the oldest residents of my town before she passed away. The characters just
sorta took on a life of their own and started demanding their own books. I’m
now up to 11 books in the series, with 3 written, 2 more outlined and the
premise for the rest written down.
The contemporary books are drawn from life.
What question do you
hate the most about being a writer? I hate when people ask what I do with
my time. I’m forever writing, or doing something writing related. I may look
like I’m surfing the internet, but usually it’s some form of research, name
searches, research into historical times, looking into the occult, the list
goes on.
Are you indie or
traditionally published? My #Southernfamilyties series is traditionally
published, while my Kami Larke work is indie for now.
Have you ever tried
the other style of publishing? I had done indie publishing before I was
traditionally published, but I think having a publisher has worked out for the
best for me. I have learned so much that I never would have learned on my own.
What are you working
on now? To the delight of my #sporkarmy, I am working on book 4 in the
#southernfamilyties series, which is about Jerome. I also have two books under
Kami Larke that are finished and one is set to release in the next couple
weeks. I’m working on the sequel to Blindsided, a wrestling book, and
surprisingly, a children’s book.
What is your most
recent/upcoming release?
I just had a book release last month, for Family Lessons,
which is about Edmund, Emma’s brother.
I have one book in the #southernfamilyties series pending,
Family Values (Liz). I also have my indie book written under the name Kami
Larke, Her Only Defense pending. The second book in that group, Blindsided, was
just sent to the editor.
Links to stalk you
online: www.twitter.com/eykekathleen facebook.com/kathleen.eyke.southernfamilyties
Author Interview with Annelise Reynolds
Author Interview
Name: Annelise Reynolds
What first inspired you to write? I’ve loved reading and writing since I was a kid. I’d wrote poetry, journals, songs, and I started writing a novel my senior year of high school. I still have some of that manuscript in my head, though the file was lost long ago. Maybe one day I will revisit that story to make some of it, I’m not sure, but writing and seeing my words—my stories in print is a dream come true.
How do you come up with the ideas for your stories? Different things inspire me. It can be a picture, a song, a quote… Anything can speak and give inspiration for characters. I have a lot of premade covers waiting to be used because they inspired something in me. I had a short story in Sweet Treats, that inspired something more, so I pulled it out of the short story collection and it became Bidding on Santa and Stupid Cupid. I’m very much a panster when I write, so the stories can take on a life of their own and totally surprise even me.
What question do you hate the most about being a writer? I don’t really hate any questions. Please, ask me anything about my writing. What I do hate, is when words are dubbed “cringe worthy”. It’s a little discouraging to say the least that authors get flayed for using certain words, “Moist” for instance… You don’t like it, that’s ok—read on. But I’ve seen so many authors post asking what words readers hate, and every word used to describe sex ends up on that list (Cock ended up on a list). I see those posts, and I want to use it as a shopping list of words. One day, I want to publish a story that is packed full of those cringe worthy words because I just find it limits the author when everybody has one word or another they hate.
Are you indie or traditionally published? I’m a proud indie author.
Have you ever tried the other style of publishing? I have not, but I have been considering it.
What are you working on now? I currently have seven works that are at various stages. It’s an ongoing joke with me about when I get in the shower to wash my hair, I get brilliant ideas. Then, I have to write those ideas as long as the words are flowing. Sometimes it’s only 3k, other times it’s 30k. I go as long as those characters are talk. That’s why I have so many stories open at one time because I get ideas, and the characters scream at me until I write them down, then they will go quiet on me. Two of the main ones I’m writing right now are the next stories in my Holiday Heartthrobs Series. Christmas Calamity and Mary Christmas & Mr. Bane, I’m hoping to have both out this holiday season.
What is your most recent/upcoming release? I released Ridin’ Nerdy in May, right now all proceeds from that book are going to a friend of mine whose family lost everything from hurricane Harvey. My next release is Christmas Calamity—I’m shooting for the end of October or the beginning of November.
Links to stalk you online:
|
Author Interview with CJ Cassidy
Author Interview with CJ Cassidy
Name: CJ Cassidy
What first inspired you to write? I wrote a novel 12 years ago when I was 50 and was compelled to publish it. That first novel was picked up by a survivor of abuse and she asked me to write her biography. That novel was published as; “A Tortured Soul – The Unauthorized Biography of Nicholas Anderson” The subject matter became my trademark.
How do you come up with the ideas for your stories? Most of my novels are based on actual events, but I tend to write fiction about the human condition. It just so happens that my ‘characters’ like sex!
What question do you hate the most about being a writer? #1 hated question; “Have I read anything you’ve written?”
My answer; “If you have to ask…”
Are you indie or traditionally published? I am self-published.
Have you ever tried the other style of publishing? Yes! I have a file cabinet filled with rejection letters, some manuscripts were returned unopened!
What are you working on now? I am presently working on the “ClownTown” series. It is the continuing story of a small town in which half the townsfolk wear clown make-up for no apparent reason, they are NOT clowns in any sense of the word. The ‘Clownies’ are hated by the ‘Norms’ and the series is a thinly veiled social commentary with a murder mystery as the prevailing story line. I’m hoping to sell it as a web series.
What is your most recent/upcoming release? Recently, I released the biography of a porn princess titled; “Innocence Lost – From Tragedy to Triumph” and;
“ClownTown II – The Return of Bo Rodgers” is slated for a mid-August release.
And;
My executive producer is currently trying to get ‘A Tortured Soul…’ made into an independent film; “The Secret Diary of Katherine Stark”
Links to stalk you online: My Amazon author page
https://www.amazon.com/C.J.-Cassidy/e/B071RNKRLP
If you want to read some excerpts or my Bedtime Stories please like my FB fan page;
https://www.facebook.com/The-Novels-By-Author-CJ-Cassidy-94764619958/
My twitter page
https://twitter.com/CJTorturedSoul
Author Interview with AJ Storm
Author Interview with AJ Storm
Name: AJ Storm
What first inspired you to write?
Since high school, I've always written small snippets to pictures that inspired me. An author friend encouraged me to take one of the snippets and write a novel. So, I did.
How do you come up with the ideas for your stories?
I have voices in my head who tell me their stories and I write them down, and then add my own voice to it.
What question do you hate the most about being a writer?
I hate the business end of promoting my books. I want readers to look at the cover and blurb and want to read it. I have never been very good at selling myself.
Are you indie or traditionally published? Both. I started out with a small publisher, then tried it for myself.
Have you ever tried the other style of publishing?
Yes.
What are you working on now?
A story called Danny's Heat but not sure if I'll publish it yet.
What is your most recent/upcoming release? My most recent release was Fortune's Daughter. A little bit psychic, a little ghost, a bit voodoo, New Orleans, and a lot of sex.
Links to stalk you online:
www.amazon.com/A-J-Storm/e/
https://m.facebook.com/
https://twitter.com/ajstorm684
https://www.goodreads.com/
https://www.instagram.com/
https://www.facebook.com/
Author Interview with Michael Gagain
Author Interview with Michael Gagain
Name: Michael
Gagain
Pen Name if
different: The “Notorious Black Reign”
What first inspired
you to write? It’s My Therapy, I am a recovering Addict, and the writing helps me keep the demon’s in check
How do you come up
with the ideas for your stories? Life and my Twisted imagination Sweetheart
What question do you
hate the most about being a writer?
None of them, it can get repetitive after a while, but
nothing I can’t handle ~smiles~
Are you indie or
traditionally published?
I’m an independent Author and Zorha Edwards publishes my
books for me, Zorha is the best
Have you ever tried
the other style of publishing?
No, I write outside of the box, and as of yet had no offer.
If my stories don’t stay the way I write them, then I will stay an Indie
Author
What are you working
on now?
Right now I am working on my Thriller/Horror short story
“The Crucifix Connection”
What is your most
recent/upcoming release?
Construction Paper Monster
Author’s
Links to stalk you
online:
Author page
Black Reign Basement
Wine and Roses
Dark
Erotic poetry
If you enjoy my Censored Writing, come and read it in all it's
filth at the "Black Reign Manor" Secret group...Just ask me or my PA
Zorha Edwards to invite you….
manor page
Poetry page
Twitter
Tumblr
SoundCloud
Creep
Webpage
Author Interview with Zorha Edwards
Author Interview with Zorha Edwards
Name: Zorha Redwolf Edwards
What first inspired you to write?
I loved stories…and had a great imagination. I also loved sharing my stories with my family and friends… that’s where it began.
How do you come up with the ideas for your stories?
I have no idea other than life. I also see words in my mind, that
can spur a story just as fast as an event or other people.
What question do you hate the most about being a writer?
Nothing, everyone has questions, and not all people know me, nor have they been at all my events.
Are you indie or traditionally published?
I’m a Indie Author and love it.
Have you ever tried the other style of publishing?
Nope, and at this time I am completely happy where I am
What are you working on now?
I always work on a few things… my book three of my Stygian Angel series is up for
pre-order, then my story “Daddy’s Girl” and my story “The Wytch And the Warlock”
What is your most recent/upcoming release?
Summoned, an Anthology of short stories with some Amazing Author's
Links to stalk you online:
Author
page
Poetry
Soundcloud
Twitter
Tumblr
Pinterest
MySpace
Webpage
Darc
Wytch Graphics
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/zorhaedwards/ Event
Post!
Good
Reads
Author Interview with Alicia Maslo
Author Interview with Alicia Maslo
Name: Alicia
Maslo
Pen Name if
different: A. Maslo
What first inspired
you to write? My bucket list and a cool series of dreams.
How do you come up
with the ideas for your stories? I have a very vivid imagination where
random thoughts become comic strip type scenes.
What question do you
hate the most about being a writer? I honestly haven’t had a question I
didn’t like being asked. I want people to ask questions and get to know me and
my work.
Are you indie or
traditionally published? I am an Indie author.
Have you ever tried
the other style of publishing? No, but I’m not opposed to it, either.
What are you working
on now? I just finished up the first draft in a new series I’m co-authoring-
Afflicted is Book One of the Princes’ Collection. Think the fairytales, but
through the guys’ POV and completely for adults. I’m also working on Book Two
of my Annarii Fae series, called Ascension.
What is your most
recent/upcoming release? Oct. 22nd the War Cry Anthology
releases which features my short A Survivor’s Journal. Along with that, the
prequel novella of the Annarii Fae series, The Anguished Queen is supposed to
release Oct. 28th.
Links to stalk you
online:
Author Interview with T. E. Christopher
Author Interview
with T. E. Christopher
Name: T. E.
Christopher
What first inspired
you to write? My mother. She said I was always talking, so I should write.
How do you come up
with the ideas for your stories? Tinker March was from the airfield where I
was working. Basically, life situations.
What question do you
hate the most about being a writer? That’s sorta a tough one. I haven’t had
one yet.
Are you indie or
traditionally published? Indie
Have you ever tried
the other style of publishing? Not yet but I’m exploring that avenue.
What are you working
on now? Tinker’s Dream, the sequel to Yosemite Station: Exodus. It’s not
really a trilogy, but it’s part of a series of related books. I have several in
the same universe.
What is your most
recent/upcoming release? Tinker’s Dream, I don’t have a set release date as
yet. I’ll keep you posted.
Links to stalk you
online:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010103741727
Author Interview with Islam Atef Aly
Author Interview
Name: Islam Atef Aly
Pen Name if
different:
What first inspired
you to write? -
Philosophy
How do you come up
with the ideas for your stories? - My childhood was lonely and i was always
sitting playing my games which were those types of scenarios.
What question do
you hate the most about being a writer?
What made you a writer at this young age! people always thinkg that being bigger is a proof for being more mature and more wise.
What made you a writer at this young age! people always thinkg that being bigger is a proof for being more mature and more wise.
Are you indie or
traditionally published?
I am an indie author.
I am an indie author.
Have you ever tried
the other style of publishing?
I publish indepedently on digital stores, and yes i tried to contact a publishinghouse, but seems not working with me.
I publish indepedently on digital stores, and yes i tried to contact a publishinghouse, but seems not working with me.
What are you
working on now?
A book called Through the Moonsoon and editing my second book What happened
A book called Through the Moonsoon and editing my second book What happened
What is your most
recent/upcoming release?
What happened and through the moonsoon
What happened and through the moonsoon
Links to stalk you
online:
https://twitter.com/islamatefaly
https://www.facebook.com/islamatefaly
https://www.linkedin.com/in/islamatefaly/
https://twitter.com/islamatefaly
https://www.facebook.com/islamatefaly
https://www.linkedin.com/in/islamatefaly/
Author Interview with Mel Johnson
Author Interview with Mel Johnson
Name: Mel Johnson
Pen Name if different:I write Adult Fiction under Beau Johnson and G-rated human interest
short stories under my given name. They address different audiences.
What first inspired you to write?I’ve always enjoyed writing for fun. When I retired, for the first couple years I enjoyed the beach, beer, and bikinis. My brain, however, started to become mush. I could tell my memory was slipping. My Aunt Anna died at 56 of Alzheimer’s Disease and I know it runs in families, so I was concerned. My decision to become a writer was in self-defense, to maintain whatever brain power I have left. So far, so good.
How do you come up with the ideas for your stories?The writing teachers said Write What You Know so I wrote a short story about a couple I knew. The husband, Bob, had Alzheimer’s so I cleverly named it Bob and Marie. Failing to come up with any other good ideas I decided to write about an old flame of mine from the Eighties. I knew her pretty good for almost three years back then. A year or so later of scribbling down my fond memories I had 160,000 words on Rhonda. I have been refining that story for the past three years.
What question do you hate the most about being a writer?I have considered myself to be a writer until I published Liberating Rhonda in June of 2016. At that point, I became an author. The thing I
hate most about being an author is that it takes a lot of work to do well. Anybody can scribble something down but storytelling is an art, one that should be crafted carefully. I’ve taken some online and offline courses to enable me to learn various facets about the art of telling a story. Reading good authors is both inspirational and discouraging to me. It’s very discouraging because I’m not nearly as good as them at this point. Inspirational because one day I MIGHT eventually get the hang of it!
Are you indie or traditionally published? I have published online to Kindle thru a small publisher in Florida. He set it up, formatted it, and put it online for a price.
Have you ever tried the other style of publishing?I had an unfortunate and expensive experience with iUniverse where I paid them $1365 to publish my story, which wasn’t finished at the time.
They said 10 % royalties was the going rate. A half-dozen times I was told not to rush, take my time. Nine months later, when I finished Rhonda I ran into a guy who would give me 40% royalties. I sought to cancel my contract with iUniverse but a clause buried in page 12 of a fifteen-page contract stated that said no refunds would be offered after six months. I’ve received ZERO services from iUniverse and no refund.
What are you working on now?
I’m re-editing Liberating Rhonda, the Sixties coming-of- age section of this trilogy. I have a new editor and am learning the tools it takes to
write well. It’s an entirely new education for me. I believe I’m getting a
little better every day and my cognitive functioning is holding steady.
What is your most recent/upcoming release?I’m planning to re-release the second edition of Liberating Rhonda this Fall. The first edition is available on Kindle. The second part of this trilogy, Liberated Rhonda is 100,000 words but needs a lot of editing. It covers The Eighties, when I knew her, in her mid-twenties. I haven’t written a word of the third part yet. My Muse has yet to arrive.
Links to stalk you online:
Authorbeaujohnson.com- my WordPress website
Beau Johnson, Author, Adult Fiction on Facebook
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