Freebie Friday: My Erotic Alphabet Series - Careers (1/26)

A is for Artist

Series: My Erotic Alphabet Series - Careers
Author: Katie L Thompson
Genre: Erotic
Length: approx. 1650 words
Release Date: 13/06/2013
Blurb: Painting has always been Louie’s passion, especially when beautiful women are involved. His heart lies with his paintbrush as day by day he stands in his studio painting whichever model happens to have crossed his path.

Louie has seen more than his fair share of beautiful women but none as attractive as Naomi. As the painting nears completion Louie’s heart flips at the thought of being able to ask Naomi out on a date. Knowing it’s now or never will Louie have the courage to follow his heart or will he let Naomi slip away forever?

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Available from the following retailers:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Extract:

Louie lay in bed. Usually he’d be asleep the moment his head touched the pillow, but not today. Today he’d gone to bed at ten thirty and it was now one forty seven and he wasn’t any sleepier now than he had been three hours before.

Hoping that a mug of hot milk may help to send him off, Louie got out of bed and padded across his studio apartment in his bed socks, the rubber pads on the soles of his feet sticking to the varnished wooden floor.

A few minutes later he returned to the bedroom and lay down again but it was no use. He just couldn’t turn his brain off. No matter what he thought of he always managed to drift back to thinking about the same thing.

Tomorrow, or more, later that day (depending on how you wanted to think of it) was the day that his latest project would come to an end. After spending three weeks, Monday to Friday, slaving over a painting of what might just be the prettiest lady he’d ever seen, he was almost finished. That was good. Louie always liked finishing projects because then he could start again, with a new model and a clean canvas. The problem was that over the last few weeks he’d grown an attachment to this one particular model, Naomi.

Cover Reveal: "One Wicked Night" by Emily Quinn

Title: One Wicked Night

Series: Wicked #1

Author: Emily Quinn

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Release Date: July 15, 2013 

Blurb:

Angel Jones is a career-driven woman at the top of her game with a big problem: a wickedly handsome boss. It is impossible to get him out of her mind, so her friends talk her into using someone else’s invitation to an exclusive dating service. It’s a dare she can’t resist.

Fernando Durante knows lusting after someone at work is not an option. He has managed to avoid direct contact with her for years, but thanks to a recent promotion, the witty goddess reports directly to him. When a friend emails him an invitation to an exclusive dating service, Fernando accepts against his better judgment.

Will Angel and Fernando let their hearts guide them?

You can add One Wicked Night to your to-read list on Goodreads

 About the Author:

Emily Quinn writes sexy contemporary romances with irresistible bad boys, feisty heroines, a bit of conflict, humor and a dash of spice.

She loves books and falls in love with every hero she reads. She lives in sunny Southern California with her husband, two kids, and her dog.

Emily loves hearing from her readers.

You can find and contact Emily here: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads. 

"The Georgia Corbins" by Kara Leigh Miller

Title: The Georgia Corbins

Author: Kara Leigh Miller

Publisher and Imprint: Entranced Publishing

Genre: YA contemporary romance

Release Date: June 10 2013

Length: 265 pages

Blurb: Ali Philips never thought anything could be more devastating than the day Levi and Tucker Corbin, her two best friends—her only friends—moved away. Three years passed without a single phone call, text message, or email from them and she’s resolved to the fact that she will probably never see them again. Until one morning when she comes face-to-face with Levi Corbin in physics class. 

Little does she know, the Corbins have returned to Haldeen with only one thing on their minds: winning Ali’s heart. Ali soon finds herself in the middle of a love triangle she doesn’t want any part of. As she tries to reclaim the friendships she’s lost and to adjust to the unfamiliar feelings she’s having, she struggles with making the one decision that will forever change their lives: Levi or Tucker Corbin? 

She’s always had a special bond with Tucker and feels most comfortable when she’s with him. But Levi brings her to life in a way she didn’t think was possible and makes her feel things she didn’t think she would ever feel. Torn between the two, Ali is certain of only one thing–by the time it’s over, she’ll lose one of her best friends.

Buy Links: http://www.entrancedpublishing.com/imprints/blush/the-georgia-corbins/

Add to Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17669136-the-georgia-corbins

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/HQeur_ftAno

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of The Georgia Corbins, Kara Leigh Miller is giving away exciting prizes. The Grand Prize, which is open to US residents only, includes a signed copy of The Georgia Corbins, The Georgia Corbins hardcover journal and postcards, The Georgia Corbins tote bag, Kara Leigh Miller pens and notebooks, and Legasea bookmarks.

Second and third prizes are an ebook copy of The Georgia Corbins, and one lucky person will win a first chapter critique. International entries are welcome. Good luck! Winners will be announced July 1^st.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author:

Born and raised in the small town of Mexico, New York, Kara was an only child who was forced to find ways to entertain herself. Playing make believe with her Barbie dolls and stuffed animals was her first real taste of storytelling before she became old enough to develop a love affair with the written word. In early 2010, Kara picked up her very first erotic romance novel, and she was instantly hooked. She loves to write contemporary romance, erotica, and young adult romance. Currently she has several full-length novels in the works, a series of novellas, and a handful of short stories. Kara is an active member of the CNY Creative Writers Café and the CNY Romance Writers. Today, Kara resides in New Haven, New York with her husband, five kids, and three cats. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s thinking about reading and writing. And when she’s not doing that, she’s spending time with her family and friends.

Author Social Media Links:

Blog: http://www.karaleighmiller.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaraLeighMille1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraLeighMiller?fref=ts

The One Thing Every Writer Needs

by

Kara Leigh Miller

     I'm often asked, what's the most important thing every writer should have? Or, what's the one thing, as a writer, that you couldn't live without? And the answer is always the same: a critique partner, or CP as I like to refer to them.

Surprised?

That's okay. I was too when I first realized this little nugget of information. But now that I know, I feel obligated to spread the word.

Now, you're probably sitting there wondering, "But, why do I need a critique partner? Isn't that what an editor is for?"

Yes and no.

Yes, your editor will, and can, do everything a critique partner can do, probably better. But, if your manuscript isn't in the best possible shape, chances are good that it'll never see the eyes of an editor. This is where your CP can help.

There are 3 reasons every writer needs a CP:

1.  They can tell you when you suck. Let's face it; we all suck on some level. Personally, I suck at writing good, vivid descriptions and at writing believable action scenes. But, I digress.

My purpose of bringing up this point is this: absolutely, under no circumstances whatsoever can you have your mom, dad, sister, brother, cousin, spouse, hair dresser, mailman, co-worker, or best friend be your CP. It just won't work. No matter how well-meaning they are, they will not be honest with you. Why? Because they don't want to hurt your feelings. Partner up with someone you don't know. Trust me on this. You'll thank me later.

2.  They can tell you when you're brilliant. There are times when we write a scene or a snippet of dialogue or create a character that is just absolutely fantastic. Hopefully you'll have a lot of these instances, but rather than walking around patting yourself on the back while tooting your own horn, wouldn't it be nice to have someone else do it for you?

3.  They can make you a better writer. I've never met a writer whose first draft has been publishable. Writing is re-writing, but when it gets to the point that you can't see the forest through the trees, it's time to let someone else take a look. Hello, CP! Seriously, let them have a stab at it.

I know. It can be hard to hand off your baby to someone else. And yes, it stings to hear that your characters are unlikeable, or that your plot has more holes than Swiss cheese. But those are the things you need to hear. Those are the things you need to fix before you start submitting it publishers and/or agents.

I'm not saying that all the other writerly tools aren't important, because they are. They're just not the most important tool in your arsenal.

So, where can you find a CP? Lots of different places. I started out by attending a critique group, which is where I ultimately met my CP, the wonderful Giovanni Valentino. He's a funny guy. If you get a moment, check out his blog: http://giovannivalentino.blogspot.com/. You can find local groups by either doing a Google search or visiting Meetup.com, which is a great site for locating groups near you. (That's how I found my critique group.)

If attending a group doesn't work for you; then there are tons of places online you can find a suitable CP. Here are a few of them:

Ø      Ladies Who Critique www.ladieswhocritique.com

Ø      Critique Circle www.critiquecircle.com

Ø      CP Matchmaker http://cpmatchmaker.blogspot.com

Ø      Absolute Write www.absolutewrite.com (This is a website all writers should have bookmarked. There is so much valuable information here.)

Now it's time to share your story! Do you have a CP? Do you attend a group? How did you find them? Do you have any other advice to add?

Freebie Friday (1/4): Daisy - Cover Reveal

Title: Daisy

Author: Katie L Thompson

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Self-Published


Blurb: Daisy Snowdon,
thirty five, hasn’t been in a relationship for over five years. All that is about
to change. Daisy’s mother dies leaving all her possessions to Daisy, including
her diaries which date back to her childhood. Daisy discovers things about her
mother’s life that she never knew before. Things that lead Daisy to thinking
about her own life.

.....Still struggling with a phobia of
commitment Daisy starts to experience things she’s never felt before. One night
stands and no strings attached flings had never been Daisy’s style, but with a
new view on life came a new Daisy. However, the heart wants what the heart
wants…

Interview: David Louden

What have you had published?

At the moment it’s just Lost Angeles.  I mean, I have had a few short stories published but that’s going back years and I don’t count them.  I’m currently working on a few different things and depending on mood one will take precedence over the other but I’m trying to make sure that whatever I put out there I can look at it and not feel embarrassed.

What genre(s) of book do you write?

Lost Angeles is a first person account.  It’s almost a confession in it’s style but I find my voice lends itself to the roman á clef genre.  It’s a genre style that’s filled with really good writer…and then there’s me dirtying up the place.  I’m trying something new in the noir genre and that’s a real challenge as you almost have to change your thought process if that’s not your “natural” genre.

What inspired you to write your first book?

With the genre I write in it’s very much life based.  It experiences that you’ve grouped together and moulded so they make sense as a narrative.  A lot of them were experiences from my own life, a lot from friends and the rest comes from the land of make believe.  I had been playing around with the idea of committing it to paper for a while but could never bring myself to type that first word (probably because I’m lazy and I knew how much work it would be).  Then one day it happened and it spewed from me and when I had finished I felt like it was something I wanted to happen again and again.

How long did it take you to write “Lost Angeles”?

The first draft not very long at all.  Then you look at it and question whether it’s worthwhile, whether you’ve got anything there and I asked a friend to read it and hoped they’d tell me it was terrible.  But they didn’t so I gave it another pass, and another.  I’m not entirely sure how long Lost Angeles took because when I gave it to my proofer he make some errors with it and everything had to be redone.  The thing I’m working on at the moment I wrote the first draft over the Christmas week between midnight and 5AM each night and I’m about to take another pass at it now with a mind towards it coming out…at some point.  Hopefully.

What is the working title of your next book(s)?

Well the one I did the first draft over Christmas, that’s probably next depending on whether or not anyone wants it.  It’s called Bone Idol.  The part of North Belfast where I’m from is known as ‘The Bone’ so it’s set in and around there.  Write what you know and all that.

When and why did you begin writing?

It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do but felt conflicted about.  I’ll not say too much on the subject as it’s pretty well covered in Bone Idol but suffice to say writing is cheaper than therapy and bottom shelf whiskeys and works just as effectively as the two combined.

Do you self publish your books or go through an agency?

Lost Angeles was through a small company but you end up doing most of the work yourself anyway.  I don’t know what I’ll do with Bone Idol, all depends on whether it’s any good, whether there’s a market for it and whether anyone wants it.

What part of writing books do you find the hardest?

There’s a moment of transition between the ‘concept’ and initial progression of narrative that feels almost like a change of gear.  It comes early on and has been the killer blow for many a good ‘concept’ I’ve started writing before giving up.  That’s not the hardest bit though, it only causes the hardest bit.  The hardest bit for me is the voice in my head that knows how to push all the buttons, has me questioning everything and drives me over the edge for an unquantifiable amount of time.  I swear off writing delete whatever it is I’m working on and promise myself never again.  Never again will I make myself do something that drives me so nuts and makes me so unhappy.  Fighting back from that is easy because it’s like returning to your true love after a lifetime of drought but the hardest part of writing is that initial wave of doubt and how heavy it is when it crashes down on my shoulders.

What do you do in your spare time?

I’ve a film blog where I write about Exploitation cinema.  I haven’t had a lot of time recently to dedicate to it.  I also play banjo, I’ve a five string Ozark that’s beautiful and a four string Irish traditional that I use to keep my hand in with the traditional stuff.  I also like a drink.

Who is your favourite author?

Charles Bukowski.  He had something in his writing that you can’t learn and you’ll kill yourself trying to imitate.  Sometimes I’ll read a four word sentence in one of his books and it’s sum up life, the universe and god-damn everything and I’ll wonder how he managed to say so much with so little.  Remarkable.

What’s your favourite genre to read?

I don’t know if I have a favourite genre.  If I do it changes with my moods.  I’m very much a believer in the author.  It’s like cinema, an Alfred Hitchcock movie is always going to be great because it’s an Alfred Hitchcock movie.  Every once and a while you’ll get a mediocre director like Michael Curtiz and they’ll make something brilliant like Casablanca but by and large their work isn’t that impressive.  I know when I read a Bukowski, or a John Fante, or a Bret Easton Ellis book that regardless of genre it’s going to be great because it’s their world and I’m being invited in to play in it.  Every once and a while I’ll read something by a writer I haven’t read before and I’ll love it, then I’ll try something else of theirs and decide they’re not for me.  I guess my genre is the writer.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

I only know two pieces of advice that have actually worked for me.  The first is: If someone tells you there’s something wrong with a draft of what you’re working on listen to them but ignore their advice on how to fix it and the second is: listen to the voices in your head.  Self doubt will make you a better, braver writer as long as you don’t let it eat too much of your soul at any given time.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Other than a big ol’ thank you for the your time and space on your site I’d probably just ask everyone to buy five copies of my book each so that I can quit the nine-to-five rat race and start living it up a block down from Easy Street but I doubt that’ll happen…so I’ll just say thank you.