by Jennette, December 26, 2012

It’s WANA Wednesday! Our authors don’t take a break for the holidays, so neither will WW. We have five great new reads this week!

StrongerThanMagic I was actually going to take the week off what with the holidays and not many people reading blogs, but these are too good to wait, not to mention it’s the perfect time to read a Christmas story. I may take next week off, and leave these up so they get the exposure they deserve!

YA fantasy author Melinda VanLone celebrates the release of her debut novel, Stronger than Magic. Being attacked by a demon in Philadelphia shouldn’t have been a big deal. Tarian Xannon is, after all, heir to the Dolphin Throne and the strongest magical talent in generations. Never mind that demons aren’t even supposed to exist. Never mind that the demon managed to swipe some of her blood. She’s never met her match before and she’s confident she can handle the situation. She creates a plan to find the demon, and kill him, before he destroys her, or worse, steals her power and the Dolphin Throne. Of course, she hadn’t counted on the throne insisting that now would be a great time for her to provide the next heir. She’s a modern woman with a demon to kill, and a baby to produce. What could possibly go wrong? More info at: http://www.melindavan.com/2012/12/20/its-here-and-its-stronger-than-magic/

Kristy K. James has been busy – she’s had two releases this month! Most recently, novella “Erin’s Christmas Wish,” in which Erin has been in love with her neighbor, Scott, for nearly two years. When working together to raise food for the less fortunate in their community, it appears that Scott may return those feelings. Or does he? Will a bad experience from the past come between them?

Someday_Maybe_cover Earlier this month, Kristy also released a short story, “Someday… Maybe.” In this story, one young girl is killed in a tragic accident. Another is forced to make a choice that results in long-term consequences. Twelve years later, Evie realizes exactly what she gave up. The question is, does she regret the decision she made so long ago? Kristy sneaked this one out under my radar – if she blogged about it, I missed it! Both stories are available exclusively at Amazon, so visit Kristy’s author page there for more info.

Christmas-on-the-Run Louise Behiel released her Christmas romantic suspense, “Christmas on the Run,” just in time for the holidays! I’m reading this right now and it’s really good. In this short story, Ramon Ramirez is found not guilty of first degree murder, so Adelina Ramirez grabs their six year old daughter and leaves Atlanta, determined to keep him from taking Sadie to Brazil and keeping her there.

A bad snow storm on an almost-deserted road in Montana forces Lina to stay in Bandit Creek for Christmas. New friend Todd Black is bound to help the quiet woman and her child. He knows there’s more to her story than she’s saying, but it’s none of his business. In the midst of Christmas preparations and a record snow storm, Ramon tracks her down. He doesn’t care about Lina but he wants his daughter and he’s going to take her. With Todd at her side, Lina is forced to confront her worst fears. Together, they will face Ramon and forge a new future – a gift from her Christmas on the Run. This is a Bandit Creek romance, and fellow Bandit Creek author Sheila Seabrook has the scoop at: http://sheilaseabrook.com/2012/12/15/christmas-on-the-run-by-louise-behiel

Finally, I have some news of my own! I’ve collected my Saturn Society series into one, convenient, value-priced “boxed set” of ebooks. Times Two includes Time’s Enemy and Time’s Fugitive, plus the short story, “Time’s Holiday.” As a special bonus, Chapter One of my upcoming science fiction romance, Hangar 18: Legacy, is included.

Time’s Holiday
In this short story, Taylor Gressman’s initiation into the Saturn Society is a baptism by fire when she sneaks away on Christmas Eve, hoping to find the angel who saved her life a few weeks earlier. Instead, she takes an unexpected trip back in time, and finds herself in the midst of a murderous street gang. Now it’s up to Taylor to ensure that she and a newfound friend don’t become the gang’s next victims, and in the process, learn that giving is the best gift of all.

Time’s Enemy
When a freak accident leaves Tony Solomon with the ability to travel in time, he becomes an unwilling initiate in the Saturn Society, a secret society of time travelers. Wanted by the Society for a crime he hasn’t yet committed, he seeks help from Charlotte Henderson, the woman whose life he saved decades before he was born. Loyal to the Society, Charlotte faces a terrible choice-condemn the man she loves and to whom she owes her life, or deny her deepest convictions by helping him escape and risk sharing his sentence.

Time’s Fugitive
Violet Sinclair remembers nothing of her past, but she’s certain she loved Tony Solomon… and did something terrible to him. Time-traveler Tony Solomon is sure he never met Violet, yet she bears an uncanny resemblance to the woman he loved and lost decades before he was born. After an impulse encounter leaves Violet pregnant with his child and targeted by killers from the future, their only escape is to jump into the past, something Tony swore he’d never do again. But when they jump back much further than planned, their troubles are only beginning—and secrets can get them killed.

Times Two is currently available on Amazon and Smashwords. Coming soon to other e-book retailers!

What about you? Do you like Christmas stories? Do you buy boxed set collections? Whatever the case, I hope you’re enjoying the holiday season! See you next year!

Jennette Marie Powell writes stories about ordinary people in ordinary places, who do extraordinary things and learn that those ordinary places are anything but. In her Saturn Society novels, unwilling time travelers do what they must to make things right... and change more than they expect. You can find her books at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Kobo, iTunes, and more.

by Jennette, December 19, 2012

It’s WANA Wednesday, with suspenseful reads and romance!

She’s here, and she’s bad… CC MacKenzie celebrates the release of Run Rosie Run, the latest in her Ludlow Hall contemporary romance series.

A wise man once said, ‘Be careful what you wish for because you might just get it…..’

Pastry chef Rosemary Gordon had worked hard her whole life to be successful… Now the wedding cake business she runs with best friend Bronte was winning awards life should be perfect…

But Rosie has a deep, dark secret…

And the steadily bubbling chemistry with Bronte’s brother, Alexander Ludlow, has suddenly become way too hot to ignore…

More info at: http://ccmackenzie.com/2012/12/12/shes-here-and-shes-bad/

Alicia and Roy Street have released their popular Dance ‘n’ Luv Boxed Set of three contemporary romance novels plus a short story. The Dance ‘n’ Luv series shines a spotlight on women of the dance world. Not necessarily the stars, but the unsung heroines, the dilemmas they face and the men who capture their passions.

Snow Dance – Divorced Broadway dancer moves to a peaceful fishing village for solitude and instead encounters a needy teen, a pesky ghost and a fisherman who makes her believe in love again. While complete in itself, this 13,000 word story is also a prequel to the novels.
Kiss Me, Dancer – A rollercoaster of a ride between a dance instructor and a divorced dad. Can she save her studio without losing her heart?
Touch Me And Tango – Ballroom dance star Tanya broke Parker’s heart when they were teens and seeing her again brings back all the fire and fury–plus a secret danger that will change both of their lives forever.
Stars, Love And Pirouettes – Two careers, two men. A ballerina faces the choice of a lifetime. Will her heart show the way?

bemineforxmas-400x600jpeg They also sneaked in a short Christmas story that released a month ago, and somehow I missed it! So if you’re looking for a fun holiday-themed read, check out “Be Mine for Christmas.” More info at: http://thewritersguidetoepublishing.com/bestselling-author-alicia-street-looks-at-her-first-year-as-an-indie-epublishedself-published-author

Finally, Diane Capri‘s Fatal Distraction has been out in ebook for a while, but is now available in paperback!

Relentless victims’ rights advocate Jess Kimball and Jack Reacher both deliver justice when the legal system fails. Reacher waits until trouble finds him and then he does whatever it takes. But Jess pursues legal justice and draws lines she will not cross. How can she win against killers who refuse to follow the rules?

Three years ago, beloved Florida Governor Helen Sullivan’s world shattered when her only son died in a senseless car crash, killing his best friend, too. Helen quickly discovered Eric’s crash was no accident and lured the killer to her son’s funeral to be caught.

When the shooting ceased in the small country church, Helen believed her nightmare was over. Instead, she’d unwittingly escalated her duel with a cunning and patient assassin.

Now, investigative journalist Jess Kimball is driven to find the horrifying truth. Is the Central Florida Child Killer guilty? Or is the real killer still out there? More info at: http://dianecapri.com/books/fatal-distraction/

ROW80 Wrap-up: The challenge doesn’t officially end until Thursday, but I now blog on Wednesdays, so I’m posting my wrapup here. This week’s goal was to get Times Two, my Saturn Society boxed set, formatted for upload to Smashwords. That’s done, and I went one better – it’s already published there! Look for an announcement when it’s available in other channels.

All in all, this was a very successful ROW80 for me! I finished edits for Hangar 18: Legacy, which is now with my editor, and will release sometime in the next few weeks. I also won NaNoWriMo by writing a completely new book! This one really stretched me creatively – it’s YA, which I never thought I’d write, and contains no speculative elements. Even more surprising, it came in short! But I filled in some holes I’d normally save for revision, hitting the 50,000 word mark for a NaNoWriMo WIN! Finally, I did well with my fitness goals this ROWnd – always a plus!

The next round starts on January 7th, and I’m going to be a sponsor! That means if you’re doing ROW80, I’ll be cheering you on even more!

What is WANA? It stands for We Are Not Alone, a guide to blogging, social media and networking for authors by Kristen Lamb. It’s writers helping writers, whether or not we’ve taken the course, and proving that we really are not alone!

What about you? Do my WANA friends’ books sound good, or what? If you are doing ROW80, how did you fare this round? I’d love to hear from you!

by Jennette, December 12, 2012

Everyone knows that laughter is the best medicine for whatever ails you, and I’m no exception. And the other night, I found it in a surprising place.

I’d been hormonal and cranky that day, and wasn’t really looking for anything other than an excuse to avoid doing work (this was at home, in the evening, so no, not shirking the day job!). I had won a kids’ book in a contest a few weeks earlier, and wanted to read it before I gave it away, mainly because the author is one of my WANA* friends. Curse of the Double Digits is a middle-grade chapter book, targeted toward kids ages 7-11. I’d planned to give it to some friends from high school who have a 7-year old son who likes to read, but that day, I’d learned one of my coworkers’ daughter was turning 10 this weekend – and the book is about a girl celebrating her tenth birthday, when everything that could possibly go wrong, does.

So I sat down to read. I knew the author, Lynn Kelley, is one funny lady, and the book looked cute. I figured it would be amusing and would make me smile. But holy smokes, I was literally laughing out loud from Chapter One! Curse of the Double Digits is about a girl who turns ten on the tenth day of the tenth month. Becky expects it to be magical, and her family has planned what Becky’s sure will be the Best. Birthday party. Ever. for a couple days later. Her whole class is coming, including a boy she really likes. But on her birthday, she realizes her bangs are too long. She doesn’t want her mom to cut them, because Mom always cuts them too short. So she enlists her best friend to help.

Becky’s scissors are too dull to cut hair, so they find her dad’s electric razor. At this point, I could just imagine what would happen, and was already laughing. What did happen was even worse (for Becky) and funnier than what I imagined, and I ended up laughing through the whole thing as poor Becky suffered one mishap after another. But all ended up well, and I was no longer grumpy, that’s for sure!

My daughter is seventeen. I haven’t read a middle-grade children’s book since she was young enough to still want to be read to, so it’s been a while since I read a kids’ book. Boy, am I glad I did!

So next time you’re down in the dumps, consider picking up Curse of the Double Digits, or another kids’ book. Because really, your bad day couldn’t be as bad as Becky’s–and you just might laugh yourself right out of the dumps!

Quick ROW80 Update: Hangar 18: Legacy is now with my editor. While she has it, I’m working on front and back matter. Acknowledgements page is done – so far, so good!

* What is WANA? It stands for We Are Not Alone, a guide to blogging, social media and networking for authors by Kristen Lamb. It’s writers helping writers, whether or not we’ve taken the course, and proving that we really are not alone!

How long has it been since you’ve read a kids’ book? I know a lot of adults enjoy teen books (me too). But what about books for younger kids? Got any good ones to recommend?

by Jennette, November 21, 2012

We have a special treat for WANA Wednesday this week! Prudence MacLeod, author of romance, science fiction, and fantasy, agreed to stop by and let me pick her brain. Prudence is one prolific lady, and I wanted some insight into how she does it. Okay, enough from me – here’s Prudence!

JMP: Prudence, how long have you been writing? How many books did you write before publishing?

PM: Thanks for inviting me over for a coffee and chat, Jennette. How long? Off and on for close to fifty years, I guess. Seriously for about seventeen.

JMP: That’s a good while! And I thought I’d been at it a long time. Have you been published by a big publisher? Small press/epub? Independently? Please share your publishing experience.

PM: I had a few articles and short stories published in magazines long ago. As for novels, I acquired a box full of rejections and spent a fortune on postage before the internet changed the publishing world. As soon as the option became feasible, I began self-publishing.

JMP: I don’t blame you! Your books tend to cross genres, and I’ve found self publishing to be a perfect fit for that as well. Now that you’ve tasted the control and flexibility that comes with indie publishing, are you still pursuing a traditional publishing contract, or perhaps an agent?

PM: No, once I decided to go it alone I stopped trying to go traditional. If you’re doing self-pub right you don’t have much time left over for writing a synopsis or sending out query letters. You are spending your time on writing, editing, and social media.

JMP: Boy, isn’t that the truth! And that’s on top of creating, or contracting for cover art, formatting, editing, and more. What do you do (or have you done) for a day job? Has this informed or inspired your writing in any way?

PM: I’ve had a number of day jobs over the years, but I have to say the years I spent as a personal trainer give me the fondest memories. Those years, the people I worked with, and the things learned there are a big influence on my writing. A lot of my characters come from those days.

JMP: I’ll bet you met a lot of interesting people as a personal trainer! Most of us have trouble getting to the writing every now and then, if not every day. What keeps you from writing, and how do you handle it? How do you make time for writing?

PM: Finding the time can be an issue some days and I so admire you folks who manage jobs, children, and still find the time. Me? I just make the time. I learned this in powerlifting. When a lifter wants to enter a contest and lift three hundred pounds, she will set up a chart, probably twelve weeks. She starts with week twelve and marks it at 300. Week eleven is marked at 290, week ten at 280 etc. Each day she enters the gym she knows exactly what she has to do. I do the same now with writing. If I want a first draft of 72,000 words in twelve weeks, then week eleven calls for 66,000, week ten is 60,000 etc.

As you can see I’m constantly setting goals for myself. If I don’t I’ll just drift and get nothing done at all.

JMP: That’s so true, Prudence! I know for me, that’s what NaNoWriMo does – it forces us to set goals and divide up that 50,000 word mountain into chunks we can mark off each day. But wow, you have a lot of books out there now! Tell me, what inspired your latest?

PM: Okay, this was fun, actually. Needing a good kick to get my head back into my writing, I dropped what I was working on and contacted one of my most avid fans. I asked her point blank, “What would you love to see in my next book?” She was pretty clear on what she liked so I set out to write a romance with her in mind as the reader. I sent her a small teaser and she loved it. I’m just getting started on it, but I hope to get it ready in time for Christmas.

JMP: And now for the $64,000 question – CDN or US$, either is fine. 🙂 What are some things you did to build your readership? What’s worked? What didn’t?

PM: Well, pushing in social media doesn’t work, running contests and doing giveaways haven’t worked for me, and offering sales and free books hasn’t worked either. What has worked is personal contact. Any reader who reaches out to me via e-mail or through a comment on my blog gets a personal response; not a come on to buy more books, but a response just to them. This can be a bit time consuming some days, but I will keep it up as long as I am able. I love the one on one with the readers.

JMP: Amen to that! Getting email from readers is the best! What are some things your readers have told you they particularly love about your books?

PM: Most of all it is Hope. I try to offer hope in all my book; they always have an upbeat ending. Folks also tell me they find my books informative; they learn things about all sorts of different people and lifestyles.

JMP: Having read and enjoyed some of your books, I couldn’t agree more! What’s up next for you – and where can readers find more about you and your work?

PM: Oh, gosh, I truly wish I knew. I’m hoping to find more ways to get in touch with the readers in more personal ways. I’m just not good at running big promotions; I’m more comfortable chatting over a coffee.

Here’s where you can find me, folks.

http://www.prudencemacleod.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Prudence-MacLeod/e/B0079XOY8U

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Witchhazel

Jennette, thanks for the coffee and the chat. Let’s do it again soon.

JMP: You bet, Prudence! It’s been fun – thanks again for stopping by!

Quick ROW80 Update: So far so good for NaNoWriMo! I’ve logged another 5,000 words since our last check in, bringing my total to about 36,000. I’m off of work today through Sunday, so I’m hoping to stay on schedule for that. I say stay on track, rather than get ahead, because I’m hosting Thanksgiving! My family’s great – everyone chips in as far as food goes, and it’s always a good time, so it’s ALL good! Hope you’re doing well if you’re participating in ROW80 and/or NaNoWriMo, and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

by Jennette, November 14, 2012

First, congratulations to Kassandra Lamb, who’s celebrating the release of Celebrity Status, book #4 in her Kate Huntington Mystery series. In Celebrity Status, Kate is now married to Skip Canfield, the man who patiently courted her through the last two books in this mystery series, and life is good. Skip’s private investigating agency, Canfield and Hernandez, may be doing a little too well, however. They have attracted their first celebrity client, a pop singer whose anonymous stalker has a twisted concept of love. Before Skip realizes just how twisted, he involves first his psychotherapist wife and then their lawyer friend, Rob Franklin, in the case.

Soon they are being hounded by paparazzi and someone is planting evidence to convince Skip that Kate and Rob are lovers. As they try to protect their relationship and family from this onslaught of unwanted attention, as well as a stalker who will stop at nothing to remove the obstacles in his path, Kate and Skip struggle with the reality that you can’t always keep those you love from harm.

Kassandra kicked off a big blog tour on Monday, where she’ll be giving away an Amazon gift certificate, a signed paperback, and several e-copies of her books. More info at: http://kassandralamb.com/2012/11/official-launch-of-celebrity-status-were-having-a-blast-and-a-contest/

And now for the Next Big Thing

This one’s been around for a while, but it finally caught up with me. Stacy McKitrick tagged me with the Next Big Thing meme, where I get an excuse to talk about my next book!

Since I don’t know if my NaNoWriMo book will be publishable, I’m going to answer the questions about my upcoming release. Here goes!

What is your working title of your book?
Hangar 18: Legacy

Where did the idea come from for the book?
This book has actually been published before, as paranormal romance Nothing to Hide. A while back, I decided to rewrite it, and rewrite I did – I didn’t even look at the original book. But the characters, their names, and the suspense/psychic abilities premise are the same, I just added the aliens (and improved on the writing). I got the idea for the psychic hero when my boss stopped by at work one day and asked me a question about the exact thing I’d just been thinking of. It was freaky, and I started to wonder, what if he could really read my mind? What if I was attracted to him? (I wasn’t; this is a romance writer’s mind at work. 😀 ) The alien part came many years later, when I started working at the base that supposedly housed Hangar 18, where, according to legend, the aliens and wreckage from the Roswell incident were supposedly taken. I wondered what if it were real? And what if, somehow, the aliens were still alive?

What genre does your book fall under?
Science fiction romance

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
I watch so little TV and so few movies, I honestly have no idea!

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
A psychic AF researcher and the skeptical developer of mind-control software must team up to rescue an imprisoned extraterrestrial thought dead for decades.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
It will be self-published.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
The first time, about six months. For the rewrite, maybe half that. But revision took a lot longer!

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
In its original incarnation, a reviewer compared it to Jayne Ann Krentz’s “gift of” series because of the psychic element. Of course now, the psychic is also a sexy Air Force officer.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?
The same things that gave me the ideas.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Hangar 18: Legacy is a different science fiction romance, with a good bit of suspense and one very angry alien. There’s not a lot of tech in it, so readers who shy away from that will still find Hangar 18 accessible. OTOH, my romances tend to have a lot of other action in them, so I have had male readers enjoy them as well. Basically, Hangar 18: Legacy is about Adam Keller, a psychic Air Force researcher, who can sense the thoughts and emotions of others. Because of his gift, he keeps people at a distance. But when an angry voice demands rescue, dark thoughts of death and suicide threaten to overwhelm Adam, until he meets a woman whose emotions quiet, if not silence, the voice. All he has to do is risk his heart and engage his own emotions. Lisa Stark wants nothing more than to finish the subliminal messaging software she’s worked on for over a year. But when command cancels the controversial project, someone else wants it badly enough to kill for it. The only person who can save it and Lisa is Adam Keller, a man who’s as irresistible as he is crazy. Soon, not only is Lisa’s project at risk, but also her heart, and her life.

I’m going to weasel out of tagging others for this, because just about everyone I can think of to tag has already been tagged. But if anyone wants an excuse to talk about your Work In Progress, feel free to say I tagged you, and share!

Here are the Rules for The Next Big Thing Blog Hop:

***Use this format for your post
***Answer the ten questions about your current WIP (work in progress)
***Tag five other writers/bloggers and add their links so we can hop over and meet them.

Ten Interview Questions for the Next Big Thing:
What is your working title of your book?
Where did the idea come from for the book?
What genre does your book fall under?
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Include the link of who tagged you and this explanation for the people you have tagged.

Quick ROW80 Update: This month, my main focus is my NaNoWriMo novel. My weekly goal is to write 1,500 words four weeknights, and 3,000 words each on Saturday and Sunday. Sunday through Tuesday, I’ve written over 5,000 words, bringing my total to 23167 – right on track. So far so good!

What about you? Do you like mystery/suspense novels? How about with romance and aliens? If you are doing ROW80, how’s your week going so far? I’d love to hear from you!

by Jennette, November 7, 2012

If you’re starting to think about the holidays, and need some little gifts for the readers in your life, look no further! Home for the Holidays has a little something for everyone who’s a little romantic. This anthology of holiday stories is the work of six authors who are members of the Ohio Valley Chapter of Romance Writers of America – five of my In Real Life writer friends, and me!

The stories in the anthology run from sweet to poignant, darkness-tinged to comedic, but in each one, people find the hope of love, and joy in the holidays. Stories feature married couples and those newly-met, some whose lessons lie in the past, and even vampires… all of whom find happiness and peace when they come Home for the Holidays.

Becke Martin‘s “Coventry Arcade” is where Ben Whitaker is determined to get his beloved Lily the best gift very little money can buy in this homage to O. Henry’s classic story “The Gift of the Magi.”

In “The Holly and the Ivey” by Sandy Pennington, Jon thought bells would be ringing a merry tune when he did a surprise Christmas visit but it turned out to be a Ho! Ho! Oh, no! instead.

Aileen is frustrated when she has difficulties communicating with her mentally challenged brother. But Dr. Lew Bard shows her it’s really just a matter of “Speaking the Language,” by Ann Gregory.

There’s magic in threes in Becke Martin’s “Triple Trouble for Christmas Eve.” With her dying breath, the triplets’ mother predicted they’d all find true love by midnight on Christmas Eve. Too bad Mom didn’t specify which Christmas Eve.

In “Merry and Bright” by Ann Gregory, Alex and D’Vee discover that a cup of spicy tea and a pair of fine brown eyes can both be inspiring. The Christmas season is the perfect time to kindle friendships and create possibilities.

Aiden Flynn is no Superman, but he does have a secret identity. And he just might be able to save Christmas for one young boy and his hardworking mom in “Silver and Gold,” by Becke Martin.

Stacy McKitrick’s vampire Katarina thought she was drawn to the mortal who refused her gift of immortality 45 years ago, but on her “Last Christmas Visit,” she discovers the truth.

Christmas can be murder when a trip back in time pits Taylor Gressman against a murderous street gang, but through a new friendship, she learns the greatest gift is in the giving in “Time’s Holiday” by Jennette Marie Powell.

In “No More Resolutions” by Dakota James, Stella despises holidays. Now she has to find a husband for bosszilla, deal with a stripper pole in her house and work with Simon, the guy she loves to hate. Or does she?

Oh yeah, and I designed the cover and did all the formatting, for both the print and ebook. 😀

The anthology is available in both print and ebook at Amazon.com; and in ebook from Smashwords, Kobo Books, and Sony. Coming soon to Barnes & Noble and iTunes. All proceeds go directly to Ohio Valley Romance Writers of America, and help bring in educational programs for the whole chapter.

My story, “Time’s Holiday,” is also available as a standalone ebook for FREE! If you’ve thought about giving the Saturn Society series a try, this is a great way to see if it’s something you might like. Grab a copy of the ebook from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Kobo Books, Sony or iTunes.

What about you? Do you like holiday stories? Know of any good new releases this week? Or what the heck, what are your reading now?

Quick ROW80 Update: This month, my main focus is my NaNoWriMo novel. My weekly goal is to write 1,500 words four weeknights, and 3,000 words each on Saturday and Sunday. Sunday through Tuesday, I’ve written 6,000 words, bringing my total to 12,346 – right on track. So far so good!

In other ROW80 news, I solved my dilemma with things that won’t go away from the to-do list. This was not intentional. But disappear they did. I use Cozi Organizer for this, and its Remove menu consists of 1. Delete checked items, 2. Delete everything on this list and 3. Delete this list (IMO there’s not much difference between 2 and 3, but there they are). Well, with a slip of the mouse, I clicked the second item when I meant to click the first. So boom! Those pesky things hanging around on my to-do list were gone! I decided not to worry about it, and reconstructed what I knew I needed for the week. Who knew it could be so easy? 😀

by Jennette, October 31, 2012

After taking a break last week to interview one of my favorite new authors, we have a bunch of new releases to celebrate this week!

A couple weeks ago, Angela Wallace marked the official release of the latest in her Elemental Magic urban fantasy series, Earth Tones. Nita Young doesn’t know if she has a future with college sweetheart Keenan Donovan—two star-crossed lovers of opposing elements—but she invites him up to Alaska to see if Earth and Water can rekindle their old flame.

When a series of wild animal attacks strike the inhabitants of Yakutat, Nita has to put her romantic plans on hold. Mangled bodies are turning up, and a mysterious black panther has been spotted in the woods. Fur, scales, and a venomous bite suggest the cat is supernatural in origin—and evidence indicates that someone not only summoned it, but is using it to target those Nita cares about. It’s the perfect murder weapon: no fingerprints, no evidence. And in a town this small, the killer is someone she knows.

Nita’s strength will be put to the test as she faces losing her friends, her town, and the man she loves. More info on Earth Tones and the other Elemental Magic books at http://angelawallace.wordpress.com/my-books/.

Jennifer L. Oliver is excited to announce the release of her first book, “The Unnamed.” In this horror/occult story, the demon Azazel is trying to make souls that are born tainted with evil. But his process unintentionally creates something more powerful than either demons or angels, a species he calls the Unnamed. They’ve come to protect the human world and stop Azazel from corrupting the laws of free-will. Will he be able to contain this new power or will The Unnamed cleanse the earth of all supernatural beings, including Azazel?

“The Unnamed” is a short story, and is a prequel to Oliver’s upcoming release, Haedyn, due out in early 2013. More info at: http://www.small-escapes.com/2012/10/whoa-im-published

Liz Schulte is celebrating Halloween AND the release of her mystery novel, Dark Passing, with a Coffin Hop blog hop! In Dark Passing, Mary Nelson’s murder shocked the small town of Jackson. The vibrant, young college student disappeared on her way home. A week later her body was found in the trunk of a burning car. No suspects. No evidence. No case.

Ella Reynolds’ life had finally turned around. With a new book released, the past safely tucked away, and a burgeoning romance, she begins to live again. Then a plea from a woman whose daughter’s murder remains unsolved ignites Ella’s curiosity—and drags her back into the dark world she fought so desperately to escape.

Curiosity turns to obsession as Ella inches closer to the truth—and the murderer begins to claim new victims. More info at: http://www.lizschulte.com/p/lizs-books.html

I’m letting you in on a November 1 release a day early. Stacy Green‘s short story “Welcome to Las Vegas” takes readers into the city’s seedy underworld with Tate, who is afraid of the dark. But his junkie sister has disappeared into the terrifying storm drains below Las Vegas. The tunnels stretch hundreds of miles beneath the city, housing the homeless and Sin City’s criminal element. Armed with only his flashlight, Tate wades into the gritty depths of the storm drains to rescue his sister from her demons.

Every step into the smothering darkness challenges Tate’s resolve. With his sister’s life and his own sanity at stake, Tate must face his fears or risk fading into the dank oblivion of the Las Vegas tunnels. More info at: http://stacygreenauthor.com/2012/10/23/big-things-coming-up/

Finally, a little something from the lighter side. These two romances by Asrai Devin were initially released a couple months ago, but have just now been distributed to the Barnes & Noble Nook store.

In Love Can’t Wait, Amy Black is in the middle of divorcing her cheating ex-husband, when she meets Scott Jones. After a night together, she discovers he’s not only her ex’s team mate, but her brother’s best friend. She has no choice but to ask him for help when her husband drops their cat off at her no pets allowed building. When he gets hurt, he requests a favor from her. Before long, Amy is wondering if a move to Ontario is the next best move in her life.

When Love Knocks is the story of Sophia Clark, who is just feeling normal after losing her husband in a car accident, when Doug Black knocks on her door. She hasn’t seen him in years and suspects his motives. She has no qualms letting him know she is not looking for a white knight. Her four children, however, have different ideas. And pretty soon they are trying to convince Sophia that Doug should stick around for the long-term.

More info on both books at: http://comingalive.wordpress.com/2012/10/27/finally-on-barnes-and-noble/

ROW80 Update

Just received the next print proof for the Home for the Holidays anthology. Everything looks good, so it’ll soon be for sale – watch this space for details!

I am also continuing to work on the Hangar 18 revisions. Got Chapter Seven marked up, and working on Chapter Eight.

NaNoWriMo starts tomorrow, and I plan to keep blogging throughout November, so wish me luck!

What about you – do you like scary books, even if only for Halloween? How about spicy romance or mysteries? If you’re doing ROW80, how is your week going so far? Know about any other WANA books that released recently that I’ve missed?

by Jennette, October 24, 2012

I have a special treat this week for WANA Wednesday. Today, I’m interviewing indie author and In Real Life writing pal Maria McKenzie. Her first book, The Governor’s Sons, was blow-me-away awesome! I have her new book, Escape, on my smartphone waiting to be read!

And now, here’s Maria:

JMP: Have you been published by a big publisher? Small press/epub? Independently? Please share your publishing experience. What made you decide to take this publishing path?

MM: I chose to independently publish my books. About two years ago, I tried to get traditionally published, but after multiple rejections I decided to try independent publishing, and I have no regrets. I knew other writers who were venturing there, but I think what pushed me over the edge was what agents and publishers were starting to ask for. One e-publisher asked that you submit your own artwork, and some agents were requesting publicity plans. Since more and more is required of new authors, I figured I’d do everything myself!

JMP: I don’t blame you! Those were all big factors in my decision, too. Now that you’ve tasted the control and flexibility that comes with indie publishing, are you still pursuing a traditional publishing contract, or perhaps an agent?

MM: No, and I’m not sure if I’ll ever try again. Right now I have complete control of all my projects, and I can write what I want.

JMP: Boy do I hear that. Big publishing is really risk-adverse to anything that’s a bit different, or doesn’t fit neatly into an established genre – which is definitely how I saw The Governor’s Sons. What do you do (or have you done) for a day job? Has this informed or inspired your writing in any way?

MM: I was a librarian for thirteen years. I resigned when I had my first child back in 1999. I really enjoyed being a reference librarian and digging up facts, and I love history. Now I write historical fiction, and half the fun for me is in the research!

JMP: One thing I loved about your books is how I felt like I was there! It’s obvious how your former day job and love of research has served you well. What about other inspirations – have there been any particular events, places, things you’ve seen/heard/read that inspired the overall premise of a book, its events, or any of the characters?

MM: My first book, The Governor’s Sons, which I published last year, was inspired by Essie Mae Washington-Williams’s memoir, Dear Senator. Williams is the love child of South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond and his family’s African American maid. Her story really touched me and made me think, what would have happened if a southern governor fathered a son by a black woman, and that son grew up to become a civil rights leader.

JMP: Dear Senator sounds like a fascinating read, and has been on my non-fiction TBR list since I read about it. What inspired your latest book?

MM: My latest novel, Escape, was inspired by my own marriage. Not long after I got married, I thought about how sad it would have been if my husband and I had known each other 150 years earlier. We were an interracial couple living in North Carolina at the time, and a century and a half earlier, we wouldn’t have been able to marry.

JMP: I thought about that with the relationship in The Governor’s Sons, too. Living in a post-Civil Rights society, it’s hard for me to imagine – but sadly true. Tell us more about your current or upcoming release.

MM: Escape: Part One of the Unchained Trilogy is my latest release, and here’s a brief synopsis:

Daniel and Lori love each other, yet to live as one in 1856, they must escape from the unyielding society that imprisons them.

Lori was born a slave in North Carolina, yet by chance was raised alongside Daniel in a wealthy abolitionist household. The sudden death of Daniel’s mother catapults Lori back into bondage.

Relegated to chattel on a rice plantation, Lori lives in constant fear under the tormenting scrutiny of Daniel’s wretched Aunt Lucinda.

After Daniel fails to convince his relatives to free Lori, he is compelled to devise a daring escape. Although a life threatening endeavor for both of them, Lori’s freedom is priceless to Daniel, and he’s willing to pay such a price for her love.

People have asked about the trilogy and the significance of the titles, so here’s that information in a nutshell: The title of the trilogy is Unchained. Lori was born a slave, but escapes from slavery. Her granddaughter, Selina, who passes as white, carries the secret of her African American ancestry like a painful chain, bound around her heart. Only when she tells her family the truth can she free herself from the pain of that secret. Escape is part one of the trilogy. While Lori escapes from bondage, her daughter, Lavinia, escapes from living as a “Negro.” In part two, Masquerade, Lavinia becomes a great actress in New York, all the while hiding her true identity. Revelation is part three, and in this story, Lavinia’s daughter, Selina, reveals the truth about her ancestry. For what to expect in each part of the trilogy, visit the novel page on my website.

JMP: Maria, thanks so much! I can’t wait to read Escape, and I know I’ll be looking forward to the next book as soon as I finish it! Your blog has some fascinating stories about famous historical people – including some in entertainment – that no one knew were of African ancestry.

What about you? Have you ever read historical fiction featuring interracial romance? Do you find it hard to imagine a time when interracial marriages were prohibited in many places? Do you have any questions or comments for Maria? We’d love to hear from you!

Maria’s books are both available on Amazon as eBooks, and in print.

Quick ROW80 Update: I haven’t received the print proof for Home for the Holidays yet. I did get a chance to mark revisions for Chapter 4 of Hangar 18. So far so good!

by Jennette, October 17, 2012

This week’s WANA Wednesday is all for the young among us. But you don’t have to be a kid or a teen to enjoy these books – so if you’re young at heart, check ’em out!

Children’s author Lynn Kelley celebrated the release of Curse of the Double Digits with a great, online launch party last week! Curse of the Double Digits is about Becky, who turns 10 on the 10th day of the 10th month. She expects it to be magical. The whole class is invited to her party, including Chad, the cutest boy in the fifth grade. So is Darlenie-the-Meanie. Becky wants to look cute for her big day, but all her plans go wrong. Really wrong. The magic of turning ten disappears before she even has a chance to blow out her birthday candles. Things get so bad, she refuses to go to her own party. Becky wonders if the Curse of the Double Digits will jinx her forever.

Lynn is doing random drawings for a giveaway in the format of your choice, including print, on her blog and several others through the October 30th. More info at: http://lynnkelleyrandomactsofwriting.blogspot.com/2012/10/curse-of-double-digits-launch-party.html

We also have the release of The Seven Keys of Alaesha by Samantha Warren. In this Young Adult fantasy, Edith Myers has just about had enough. Her first day at a new school and she already has an enemy – Dana Blake, head cheerleader, tormentor typical prom queen. But when Edith discovers a strange key, she finds herself embroiled in an inter-dimensional war. She and Dana must find a way to work together, or it could spell the end of the other world, and theirs.

Charles has spent centuries protecting the doors to his homeworld, Alaesha, but when he meets Edith, the quiet, quirky girl who stumbled upon a key, he must decide between saving his way of life and saving her.

Kindle owners who are Amazon Prime members can borrow The Seven Keys of Alaesha for free. For more info: http://www.samantha-warren.com/p/the-seven-keys-of-alaesha.html

My IRL friend Athena Grayson has released her romantic comedy Forever Material in print! This has been out a while in e-book, but the print version is new – and has a new, improved cover by yours truly. 😀

In Forever Material, bad boys are Barbara Whitehall’s business. She’s made a career out of teaching other women how to get over the bad boys–like her hunky neighbor–and find good men. Jake Mancini’s had his eye on the retail space next door to expand his martial arts studio, but before he could make a move, buttoned-up Barbara moved in. Now he has his eye on her killer legs and wants to make a move on her instead. Barbara’s killer legs might come with a tongue that’s murder on his no-strings social life, but if Jake can prove her wrong, she’ll have to close up shop. All he has to do is get close enough for her to fall for him…without losing his own heart. I read this when it first came out in ebook, and it’s LOL funny! So if you’re looking for a feel-good, fun read, I highly recommend Forever Material! More info at: http://athenagrayson.com/blog/all-about-the-books/

Finally, this just in! Shannon Esposito is celebrating the release of her newest Pet Psychic mystery, Lady Luck Runs Out, with a great contest, where she’s giving away not only books, but jewelry and some fun swag! In Lady Luck Runs Out, Fall tourist season in St. Pete has kicked into high gear for Darwin Winters, pet psychic, but that doesn’t stop her from getting tangled up in a new murder investigation. Rose Faraday, a gypsy fortune teller, has succumbed to a rattlesnake bite in her own condo. After a run-in with the victim’s traumatized cat, Darwin knows it was no freak accident. Can she find a way to prove it? Or will the killer get lucky and get away with murder? Contest details and more info at: http://murderinparadise.com/2012/10/release-day-contest/

ROW80 Update

My main task to complete this week is to finish formatting the Home for the Holidays anthology. I completed the ebook formatting on Sunday, and finished the print book formatting last night. Next, uploading in both e- and print formats. I hope to have it ready for purchase within a week or so!

I am also continuing to work on the Hangar 18 revisions. Chapter One is marked up, and I’m making progress in Chapter Two.

Fitness goals are 2 for 2 so far, so we’re off to a good start!

What about you – do you like children’s or teen books, even if like me, you haven’t been either for a very long time? How about funny romance or mysteries? If you’re doing ROW80, how is your week going so far? Know about any other WANA books that released recently that I’ve missed?

by Jennette, October 10, 2012

For this week’s WANA Wednesday, we have some books I can’t wait to read! In fact, I’ve already started the first one, and I’m really enjoying it!

Tales from the Mist doesn’t officially release until next week, but it’s available now. Tales includes short stories by WANA friends Rhonda Hopkins and Catie Rhodes, as well as several other popular indie authors. Tales from the Mist will take you on a journey into the dark world of the paranormal. These twelve stories vary in their degree of horror, yet all reach across the boundaries of their genres into the chilling realms of the macabre. Witches, ghosts, shape-shifters and vampire rats are some of the creatures that reign within these pages. Authors included are: Scott Nicholson, Rhonda Hopkins, Marty Young, Cate Dean, Tamara Ward, Meredith Bond, Catie Rhodes, Greg Carrico, Mitzi Flyte, Natalie G. Owens, *lizzie starr and Stacey Joy Netzel. More info, a fun interview with Rhonda, and a chance to win a free e-copy of Tales from the Mist at: http://libraryendofuniverse.blogspot.com/2012/10/october-tales-event-author-interview_6.html

The Naked Husband by Colin Falconer is about a man whose life becomes a train wreck, and I can’t wait to read it!

Mark d’Arbanville has the ‘perfect life’: a successful writer, he is happily married with a teenage son. But when he falls in love with another woman, Mark’s life unravels, exposing regret, estrangement and heartache. Yet as his marriage falls apart Mark still can’t let go. Nor can his lover, Anna, who won’t leave her husband. When Mark finally does make the break, the effect is catastrophic – his wife commits suicide. The circuit breaker comes when Mark finds his dead wife’s journals, and in their pages discovers a man – himself – he can barely recognize. The Naked Husband takes a candid look at the way men think, act and feel inside a relationship. Shocking, disturbing but impossible to put down, it’s a novel for every woman who ever found the reality of sex and marriage so different to the fairytale, and wondered why.

The Naked Husband almost didn’t get published – the author originally wrote it just for himself, as a way to work through some of his own life issues. As such, it’s said to be an emotionally-raw read, and one that gets the author emails every week, eight years after its original publication. It was a tremendous bestseller in the author’s home, Australia, but his U.S. agent couldn’t sell it here. Lucky for us readers here, the folks at Cool Gus publishing thought differently. It’s exclusively on Barnes & Noble now, and will be available elsewhere starting November 1. More info at: http://writeitforward.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/australian-runaway-bestseller-rejected-in-the-us/

And finally, how did I miss Big Trouble in China by CC MacKenzie??? Maybe because it was released before I started WANA Wednesday, but I still want to feature it! (And read it!)

In Big Trouble in China, Anais Walker has one passion – law. And one goal – a glittering career with Gillespie, Pattullo & Hindmarch. Success is so close she can taste it. Until a lamentable slip of concentration jeopardises a billion dollar deal with the Chinese. Is Anais about to lose it all…

Famously ruthless corporate lawyer Marcus Gillespie has two secrets. He’s a Vampyre Prince. After two hundred and thirty years he’s found the woman for him. She’s beautiful, smart and with a body to die for. After six months of mentoring Anais, the time has come to move her from the boardroom to the bedroom. And when Anais makes a costly mistake, Marcus has the gorgeous lawyer just where he wants her…

But although passions run red hot in the bedroom, Anais refuses to give her heart or commit to a future not of her choosing. When an ancient enemy arrives in Shanghai, Marcus finds himself in a race against time not only to win her heart, but to save her life…

Big Trouble in China is the second in a series of three legal vampire romance novellas. More info on the series at: http://ccmackenzie.wordpress.com/2012/08/31/597/

And this just in last night! A big congrats to Emma Burcart on the publication of her short essay, “Wherever I am,” in Brave on the Page: Oregon Writers on Craft and the Creative Life. The book is a collection of essays about writing and the writing life. Emma’s contribution deals with teaching herself to get the words down, no matter where she is – something she blogged about not too long ago. More info at: http://www.emmaburcart.com/2012/10/im-published/

ROW80 Update: I tend to get more done in the latter part of the week, but so far, so good: I got the last thing I needed for the anthology, so that’s formatted and ready to upload to Smashwords… then I decided to ask the authors to give it one final proofreading. I’ve already received six of the nine stories back, so once I get the other three, all I’ll need to do is make the corrections and off we go!

I also got started on the Hangar 18 revisions – the scenes have been put into the new (original) order and now I’m ready to dig into the rest of the details.

Fitness goals are 2 for 2 so far this week, so we’re off to a good start!

What about you – do you like scary stories or barely-fictitious memoirs? If you’re doing ROW80, how is your week going so far? Know about any other WANA books that released recently that I’ve missed?