July 4T Olio

Here's a bit I did recently for Magical Musings. Really loved how it turned out (or maybe that's just the fever talking, lol).

photo credit: USPS Ford Cargo via photopin (license)

Working on an edit deadline, I decided to wait until I had the time to properly put together a post for today. I even had a topic, I just wanted to have a clear schedule to find the right words.

Then I got sick. Not bad, but my throat and stomach are not very happy with me right now and I’m soooo sleepy.

But as any entertainer knows, the Post Must Go On. Or, as is inscribed in the James Farley Post Office in New York City (and it turns out is a lot older than that):

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.
(From Wikipedia)

It reminds me of the book I’m releasing in September. A complete re-edit of the first novel I completed, Hot Chips and Sand rose out of my struggle to be both mother and successful career woman. Its a romantic comedy, but in it, I explore what it means to be a professional.

Some things have changed in the years since I first wrote the book. We no longer have stewardesses and the pile of greenbar reports I had my heroine tumble off the desk to distract the hero are so last century. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the struggle to be professional in one’s career. Is it dress for success? Being hungry to reach the top? Working eighty hour weeks?

I don’t know. That’s the lovely thing about a novel: I get to explore many of these from different points of view. But as far as being sick and still having to work, my hero sums it up nicely. “The client says, ‘How are you today’? And you say, ‘Not so good. But what can I do for you anyway?'”

Neither rain nor snow nor throat of sore can keep me from my appointed posts

More on Hot Chips and Sand coming soon, but I’m thrilled to share this gorgeous cover by EJR Digital Art!

3T Writing Tidbit

Do you want readers to throw your book after only one page? No? Then listen up!

Starting the story. As authors, we used to have a chapter or so before the reader decided whether or not to come along with us on our journey.

Not today.

Chuck Wendig wrote an amazing column that talks about pacing your beginning. Here's one nugget I've gleaned from several columns and conferences over the years that he also makes.

Have things happen!

Aka put your character in an intriguing situation aka have your character doing something interesting aka start off with action.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" doesn't cut it anymore. "To be or not to be" would--since the words are our POV character contemplating suicide.

***BUT*** you must also be sure your reader cares what's happening by caring about the character.

This doesn't work as a beginning either: George slammed his fist into the concrete block, breaking fingers.

Action yes. But why is George doing this? If he's got anger management issues we won't care. If he's an abusive spouse we won't like him. But since we all insta-care about puppies and kids and moms, if he's a dad trying to break through to his toddler who's accidentally locked herself in the public restrooms, well, we not only care but we're rooting for him.

Published since 2009, over the years I've accumulated various items of writing wisdom. The Third Tuesday Writing Tidbit showcases these items in no particular order. Click here to see all 3T Tidbits.

Try a New Genre contest half over

On July 2nd, we launched the Take a Walk on the Wild Side – Try a New Genre & Win contest.

There are only two weeks to go, so while there is still time to take part, you need to get reading!

We started out with 200 books to giveaway, so first check the FB group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/311838205606591/) to see if there are any copies left, but if not, you can still participate, by finding a new-to-you genre book at the library, borrow one from a friend, or support one of the great authors sponsoring this contest.

Read below to see how it all works. If you already know, and are participating, this is just a reminder that there are only 14 days left. And don't forget, the person who participates the most on the Facebook group wins a $50 gift card. Go on, be a chatterbox! :)

How It Works

This challenge starts on July 2nd, and ends on July 30th, so you have a month to get reading.

PERSUADE US . . .

We're all different and what we like to read is no exception. However, sometimes it's fun to change things up a bit and try something new. We're going to help with that, by giving the first 200 lucky readers to ask us an ebook for free. All we ask is that the book they request is in a genre they don't read, or read a long time ago and drifted out of.

Each participating author will offer ten books for free (we'll give you a list of what's available). But if you don't manage to get in fast enough and there aren't any books left, don't worry, you're still eligible for the Take a Walk on the Wild Side contest. Find a book in a new-to-you genre, whether at the library, from a friend, or if you want to support the wonderful authors involved in this contest by buying one of their books, so much the better!

Read the book—the contest runs for four weeks, so you've got time—then write a paragraph on the contest's Facebook group about what surprised and delighted you about the genre you just read. You can also include a short paragraph on the genre you usually read and why you love it. Help convince other readers to give a new genre a try! We're going to encourage people to like the paragraphs that inspired them to read a new genre, and the five entries with the most likes will go to a well-known book blogger (with names redacted) to choose the winner of the $200 gift card.

BE A CHATTERBOX . . .

This is one place where being a chatterbox will get you sent to the top of the class, not to detention. We want people talking about the books they're reading, swopping recommendations, and generally connecting over new genres, so we've got a $50 gift card prize to the person who interacts the most on the Facebook group.

Good luck, everyone, this is going to be a lot of fun!

And here are the amazing authors involved in sponsoring this contest:

Marilyn Brant Robin Bielman Kelsey Browning Zoe Dawson Michelle Diener Cynthia Eden Jennifer Estep Misty Evans Maggie Mae Gallagher Lori Handeland Mary Hughes Shona Husk Rachel Johns Dale Mayer Nancy Naigle Christina Phillips Edie Ramer Elle J Rossi Barbara Samuel Therese Walsh

We'll be posting a profile on each author and the books they have made eligible for the giveaway on the Read a New Genre Facebook group. As stated above, the first 200 people to request the books on offer will get them for free, thereafter, participants will have to source their own books, either from the library, a friend, or if they'd like to support one of the authors sponsoring this contest, so much the better! Only one free book request per person, so as many readers as possible can benefit.

2T Repeat Performance

July focused on fun.

Feeling up trouble--my "sense" of humor

Fun With Covers

Music & Sex…I Mean Sexy Novels

It's About Time

Vacation! Guest Noon & Wilder

 

 

 

 

1T Status Update July

Passion Bites is this month's big news. It's in edits, and I'm loving it! Full of action, sex, and emotion, plus the fun you've come to expect from Meiers Corners. I have gorgeous cover art to share soon :)

Luke and Alexis's story is anticipated to hit the shelves in paperback and ebook December 29. 

Also, Biting Love Nibbles (Biting Love Short Bites #1-#4) is available for the first time in paperback! Get yours at at Create Space and Amazon.

Sparkling, sassy, sinfully sexy. Indulge your yen for action-packed vampire romance with these short bites.

Biting Holiday Honeymoons
Elena's and Nixie's special night with their master vampires is interrupted by Dracula and Santa Vamp. 


Oz Bites
Vampires and sex and flamingos oh my! A Nixie and Julian Story. Warning: Contains wild sex, explicit violence, and a frazzled punk heroine. Or is that explicit sex, wild violence, and a frazzled lawyer vampire? What the heck. There’s sex, swearing, fighting and smiles.

Murder at Chipmunk Lake
Nixie's lost her mojo! A Nixie and Julian Story. Warning: contains a cranky pregnant lady trying to control her swearing, a master vampire appeasing his wife with food and creative sex, murder, mayhem and several arguments over what to name the baby.

Biting Serendipity: April Fools For Love collection
Best April Fools joke ever—falling in love. Warning: A terribly lonely vampire, a conflicted schoolmarm with a caged wild side, nosy roommates and the female version of a bromance, not to mention scorching sex, swearing with the **** filled in, a whole town full of busybodies—and the best April Fools joke ever.

These stories contains material intended for mature audiences. Reader discretion advised.

Awesome cover by P&N Graphics! Thanks to author Sahara Kelly for suggesting the Short Bites collection be called Nibbles.


Ebook links

The other big news is that Serendipity Bites: April Fools For Love (Biting Love Short Bites #4) is now available at multiple retailers.

Best April Fools joke ever—falling in love.
 


Biting Love Short Bites, Book 4

Serendipity “Sera” Braun wears glasses and a bun to teach during the day, but at night, she adds a breast-plumping vest and dirndl for her job hoisting beer steins at Nieman’s. The big, leather-vest-and-earringed Viking bouncer? He’s bedsheets waiting to get sweaty, but all he does is scowl at her. She’s trying to keep her geriatric stripper of a granny from breaking a hip, but it’s hard when she keeps getting distracted by that sexy, smoky baritone.

Thorvald Thorsson is bitingly lonely—every vampire around him is mating. But his ex-fiancée rejected him as a killjoy (her exact words were he ate rules and s*** misery), so it’s high time Fun Thor comes out to play. No way he’d pair up with the cute but too-serious little schoolmarm who waits tables at the bar.

Sera bridles the wicked, delicious things she’d like to do with the muscular Viking, suppressing herself until she’s a volcano about to blow. Then they are thrown together in a prank war, and all his potent masculinity is focused on her. He makes her burn to let loose, but how can she and still be responsible for Granny and set a good example?

Warning: A terribly lonely vampire, a conflicted schoolmarm with a caged wild side, nosy roommates and the female version of a bromance, not to mention scorching sex, swearing with the **** filled in, a whole town full of busybodies—and the best April Fools joke ever.

This story contains material intended for mature audiences. Reader discretion advised. Thanks to P&N Graphics for this awesome cover.

Excerpt on my Blog.

ALSO in the April Fools For Love Collection:

When the Lights Go Out
Double Dare
Fringe Benefits


 

Walk on the Wild Side starts TODAY

How It Works This challenge starts on July 2nd, and ends on July 30th, so you have a month to get reading.  

PERSUADE US . . .
We're all different and what we like to read is no exception. However, sometimes it's fun to change things up a bit and try something new. We're going to help with that, by giving the first 200 lucky readers to ask us an ebook for free. All we ask is that the book they request is in a genre they don't read, or read a long time ago and drifted out of.

 Each participating author will offer ten books for free (we'll give you a list of what's available). But if you don't manage to get in fast enough and there aren't any books left, don't worry, you're still eligible for the Take a Walk on the Wild Side contest. Find a book in a new-to-you genre, whether at the library, from a friend, or if you want to support the wonderful authors involved in this contest by buying one of their books, so much the better!

Read the book—the contest runs for four weeks, so you've got time—then write a paragraph on the contest's Facebook group about what surprised and delighted you about the genre you just read. You can also include a short paragraph on the genre you usually read and why you love it. Help convince other readers to give a new genre a try!

We're going to encourage people to like the paragraphs that inspired them to read a new genre, and the five entries with the most likes will go to a well-known book blogger (with names redacted) to choose the winner of the $200 gift card.  

BE A CHATTERBOX . . .
This is one place where being a chatterbox will get you sent to the top of the class, not to detention. We want people talking about the books they're reading, swopping recommendations, and generally connecting over new genres, so we've got a $50 gift card prize to the person who interacts the most on the Facebook group.

Good luck, everyone, this is going to be a lot of fun!

And here are the amazing authors involved in sponsoring this contest: Marilyn Brant Robin Bielman Kelsey Browning Zoe Dawson Michelle Diener Cynthia Eden Jennifer Estep Misty Evans Maggie Mae Gallagher Lori Handeland Mary Hughes Shona Husk Rachel Johns Dale Mayer Nancy Naigle Christina Phillips Edie Ramer Elle J Rossi Barbara Samuel Therese Walsh We'll be posting a profile on each author and the books they have made eligible for the giveaway on the Read a New Genre Facebook group on July 2nd. As stated above, the first ten people to request the books on offer will get them for free, thereafter, participants will have to source their own books, either from the library, a friend, or if they'd like to support one of the authors sponsoring this contest, so much the better! Only one free book request per person, so as many readers as possible can benefit.