May Releases and a Blog Tour & Giveaway Announcement!

Hi folks, I know it’s not quite May yet but I’ve got blog tour announcements for May and my guest schedule list here as well as a couple releases to highlight from my Backspace brethren & fellow Kindle Authors.


Let’s start with the releases for May…

Betty Carlton – The Kincaid Way

The Kincaid Way is the story of the Kincaid Men.

Brian Kincaid: the sheriff of Paradise. Who after years of

being a widower he finally meets Ellen a woman that shakes his world up. Only she's not impressed with him. Yet!

Matt Kincaid: the son of Charles from Mine Alone. He was not going to keep with the family tradition of training Patsy, the love of his life, to be in absolute submission to him. Until she disregarded his wishes.

Come along and enjoy finding out if there is such a thing as 'Happy Ever After' for them.

S.M. Reine – Six Moon Summer - April 29, 2011

Rylie's parents are going through a messy divorce. They send her to summer camp to get her out of the way of their fighting lawyers, but she's just as miserable at the girls' camp as she was at home-- there's nothing vegetarian for her to eat at the mess hall, she hates hiking and archery, and the other campers taunt Rylie mercilessly.

One night, the bullying goes too far, and Rylie runs away. She doesn't get far. It's a full moon, and she isn't alone in the forest. A wild animal mauls her. She's certain she won't survive.

Instead of dying, she wakes up unharmed in her cabin the next morning. The only sign that something has changed are the healed scars on her chest, her increasingly keen senses, and her sudden craving for raw, bloody meat. A boy from the other camp seems to know what's happening to her, but Rylie isn't sure if she can trust herself with Seth.

Rylie soon learns that she only has until the end of summer before she becomes just like the monster that attacked her: a man-eating werewolf hungry for human flesh. Unless she can find a cure, she's only six moons away from transforming forever and losing her life to the hunger...

Shannon Duffy – Stormy Knight: Prom Queen of the Undead - May 1, 2011

High school is never easy--homework, peer pressure, dating--and that is no exception for the students at Littleton High; especially one student in particular named Stormy Knight who's a half vampire queen and half mortal being struggling to find her place in the human world.

Overall, Stormy thinks she's doing a pretty decent job of fitting in, at least until the undead begin popping up around her school and her mom, Candi the Vampire Queen (who enjoys eating ghosts way too much), suddenly decides to start dropping into her life too.


With all of the chaos that ensues, Stormy soon realizes that it's up to her and her friends, Marco and Corey, to figure out who's bringing back the dead--but will Stormy, blessed with super-human powers, be able to decide between what's morally right and what she's willing to sacrifice soon enough to stop the ghosts before they take over the world?!


My Blog Tour & Giveaway

Now – although Hunting Season has been out for a little over a month, May is my official launch and blog tour month and I’m offering prizes this time around.

No scavenger hunt, no tricky questions, all you need to do is comment on each of my tour stops AND each of the guest posts on my blog during the month of May to be entered in the drawing for one of these prizes:

Grand Prize: $50 Amazon gift certificate and a signed set of the Steve Williams Series paperbacks (Dark Reckoning, Vengeance & Hunting Season) – paperbacks only available to US residence participants. If an international winner is chosen, they will get an e-book of each in the format of their choice.

First Place: $25 Amazon gift certificate and a paperback copy of Hunting Season – paperback only available to US residence participants. If an international winner is chosen, they will get an e-book in the format of their choice.

Second Place: Paperback of Hunting Season - paperback only available to US residence participants. If an international winner is chosen, they will get an e-book in the format of their choice.

Winners will be chosen and contacted in June.

I’m also lowering the price on Hunting Season’s predecessors, Dark Reckoning and Vengeance from $2.99 to $0.99 for the month of May. If you haven’t sampled my writing yet, now’s the time to grab them while they’re on the sale rack.

Here is the schedule of stops you will need to comment on for the Amazon Gift Card/Steve Williams set giveaway tour (including guests on my blog):

Monday May 2 - Manic Monday with Jacqueline Paige on my blog http://jetaylor75.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, May 4 on GK Barker’s Blog http://gkparkerhistorynoir.blogspot.com/

Thursday, May 5 on The Self Publishing Revolution Blog http://theselfpublishingrevolution.blogspot.com/

Friday May 6 – Dishing it up with Sandra Edwards (Kindle Giveaway blog tour stop) on my blog http://jetaylor75.blogspot.com/

Monday May 9 on Louann Caroll’s Blog http://louanncarrollbooks.weebly.com/blogs-and-guest-blogs.html

Monday May 9 - Manic Monday with Barrie Abalard on my blog http://jetaylor75.blogspot.com/

Wednesday May 11 on Teresa D’Amario’s Blog http://teresadamario.com/blog/

Friday May 13 on Marilyn Meredith’s Blog http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/

Friday May 13 interview on Kiki Howell’s blog http://authorsbyauthors.blogspot.com/

Friday May 13 – Dishing it up with Saffina Desforges on my blog http://jetaylor75.blogspot.com/

Sunday/Monday May 15/16 on Backseat Nightmares http://romanceinthebackseat.com/paranormal/blog/

Monday May 16 - Manic Monday with Mysti Parker on my blog http://jetaylor75.blogspot.com/

Tuesday May 17th on Tim Ellis’s Blog http://timellis.weebly.com/featured-author.html

Tuesday May 17 Interview on Amber Kallyn’s Blog http://plotmamas.wordpress.com/

Friday May 20 – Dishing it up with Tracey Alley on my blog http://jetaylor75.blogspot.com/

Monday May 23 on PA Brown Mystery Site http://pabrown.livejournal.com/

Friday May 27 – Dishing it up with Suzanne Tyrpak on my blog http://jetaylor75.blogspot.com/

Wednesday June 1 on Black Velvet Seductions http://www.blackvelvetseductions.com/readers_blog/


Hope to see you on the tour and good luck!

Until next week,

Ciao

JET

Jenny Craig week 33

Again - the same reading on the scale...BUT a half inch off my stomach measurement.  Going for the toning now more than the weight loss.  So we'll see.  The non-movement in the scale is a little annoying, but if I'm still dropping the inches - who am I to argue.  Besides, muscle weighs more than fat. 

Goal is still another ten pounds - but more importantly I want to lose 2 inches on my waist, 3 inches on my hips and 4 inches on my stomach measurements which would leave me at the following:

Chest 32
Waist 24
Stomach 24
Hips 32 

That's the magic number - more so than what the scale says - this is where I want to be.  I just don't want my chest to drop any further.  ;)

So that gives you an indication of my current measurements and the little belly pouch is still present - but not what it was.  Hell, I've lost 15 pounds so far and between 6 and 8 inches depending on the measurement - when I look at it that way, I'm not that far off from my goal on the measurement side, so the weight side is just a bonus. 

Until next week,
Ciao
JET

Dishing it up with Kipp Poe Speicher

Hi folks, I have Kipp Poe Speicher on my blog today. Kipp’s and an independent filmmaker and author and he always wanted to share his stories with the world. He hopes to entertain his audience and to fill their minds with visuals of the stories he weaves for them.

JET: Can you tell us about your most recent book, Die Already?

Kipp: Die Already is a story about a young man named Horace that has a gift or what he considers curse. Anything that dies in his presence never really dies. No matter how violent an accident may be they still will not die.

JET: What drew you to the horror/thriller genre?

Kipp: Maybe I’m a bit cynical? Everything I write ends up looking towards the darker side of a situation. I write about beauty and love but it never has a happy ending. It is all part of the circle.

JET: What’s been your most challenging hurdle on the road to publication?

Kipp: The fact I can’t spell worth a crap, I have to look up about every other word I type. So it is a very long process.

JET: What was your favorite moment in the journey? Putting out a piece and having other writers I look up to really enjoy what I wrote, and really get what I was going for.

JET: Which authors had the most influence over you growing up?

Kipp: Edgar Allan Poe is probably my biggest I love his poetic pace. Then Stephen King, and many episodes of The Twilight Zone.

JET: When did you know you wanted to take the plunge into the writing world?

Kipp: When I was about 5 I have always been very quiet and spent a lot of time alone writing, doing storyboards. I really don’t talk much at all, I think what I write, or what I capture with a camera is my voice.

JET: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of book research? Most interesting fact you uncovered?

Kipp: Nothing to crazy so far, I read a lot to look into a certain subject. I also dig deep into watching films and tv shows of a certain genre. Like now I’m writing a police thriller so i’m watching a lot of Naked City an old police show from the 50’s. I am also reading the book The Day The Universe Changed by James Burke. For research for my end of the world book “Listen”

JET: Of all the novels and stories you’ve written - which one is your favorite?

Kipp: I had fun writing my new short story The Rot, something I think I could expand on. Why? It I sort of my first published piece all wrote in third person, and it has some conspiracy theory element to it. A dark reflection to the rough times we are going through these days. I wonder at times what literature will rise from out generation.

JET: Any advice (from a writer’s standpoint) for the novices out there?

Kipp: Just write take a chance with your ideas, pick up a pen, sit at your keyboard, type into your phone what ever it is write. The world used to be industry driven but times are changing. No mater what the state of your general public they will always want to be entertained and it all starts with a written idea.

JET: All right - now that I’ve hammered you with the big questions, let’s tackle my favorite (and geeky) quick ten. . . starting with: Paper or Plastic?

Kipp: Plastic it makes blood clean up so much easier

JET: Steak or Tofu?

Kipp: Tofu I guess I have not eaten steak in over 30 years how about a peanut butter sandwich instead.

JET: Beach or Mountains?

Kipp: Beach I’m a people watcher.

JET: Country or Rock-n-Roll?

Kipp: Rock-n-roll

JET: Paper or Digital?

Kipp: Digital

JET: Classics or Modern?

Kipp: Classic

JET: Zombies or Demons?

Kipp: Demons

JET: Silent Film Classics or Cheesy B Rated Horror?

Kipp: I love both but I’ll go with the silent to see where it all started

JET: 2012 Mayan Prophecy Believer or Ain’t Gonna Happen?

Kipp: I sort of think we are heading towards something. With every end there is a beginning.

JET: Sword-wielding Ninja or Gun-toting Momma?

Kipp: The Momma’s for sure.

JET: Thank you for indulging me. Before we wrap this up, can you tell us what you're working on now? What's next?

Kipp: I have three novellas I’m working on.

LISTEN: My apocalyptic story taking the end of the world in a different direction.

The New Junk: Sex, Drugs, and Bugs. Naked Lunch for the new generation

Question of Time: The Torso Killer is back terrorizing a small town in Ohio.

JET: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat on my blog. Folks, you can find out more about Kipp Poe Speicher and his work at the following places:

Kipp: I run a blog at http://kippoe.blogspot.com/ where I keep everyone updated on my writing projects and post my latest flash fiction. I also interview other authors on my blog I have over 150 interviews I’ve done and the list is growing.

My books are available on all eBook readers and right now I have a special going on at Amazon my latest book The Rot contains all three of my other short stories including Die Already, Closing My Eyes, and my new short “i” all for .99 cents

The Rot

You can also find my work on Smashwords

Kipp's Blog

Kipp's Facebook page

Kipp's Goodreads profile

Kipp's YouTube page

Kipp's Twitter page



Thank you for swinging in and listening to what Kipp had to say. Next week, I’ve got Sandy DeTarant on tap.

See you then!

Ciao,

JET

Jenny Craig Week 32

The Song Remains The Same -

That's all I'm sayin....

No loss, no gain. 

I'll check in with you next week. 

Ciao,
JET

Manic Monday with Mila Ramos & Giveaway!

Welcome to the first day of my Manic Monday Guest Blog series.  Today you have the pleasure of spending a slice of the day with Mila Ramos, Author of Strange Desires, Dark Pleasures, Smouldering Ember: Touch of Fire, and her newest release Echoes and Illusions. Mila has offered to give a print copy of Echoes & Illusions away to a lucky US resident who comments on this blog.  Because I was a little behind the eight ball this morning - I'll give a couple extra days and pick a winner on Wednesday night! 

At an early age, Mila learned the valuable secrets books contained -mysterious worlds and far away places helped nourish different ideas and concepts of the real world. The day she picked up her first true romance novel , her life changed.  It was through this that she discovered a whole new realm of depth and her writing took a new turn, into the paranormal scene.

Without further adieu, here's Mila.....

Hello all and a Happy Monday to you!

Don’t worry about the happiness on a Monday; the excitement wears off after the 4th cup of coffee. Hehehe. How is everyone doing today? Well I’m having a great time riding the waves of cyber goodness and I hope you have enjoyed your time as well on my virtual tour. There have been some lucky winners along the way, great questions and fantastic comments!

Thank you to J.E Taylor for graciously hosting me today! I’m so happy to always get the chance to explore new places and sites!

So since today is Maniac Monday, and everyone is normally running around, I wanted to slow things down just a little bit. Of course the urge to belt out The Bangles version of the song (which is fantastic by the way) is still on the to-do list.

With the tour a little more than half way through, I was asked a great question by a reader who was wondering about writing.

“How do you do it? How do you do the promotional and writing?”

Truthfully some days I really don’t know how to keep it all straight with everything else that’s done during the day. But I will say to all writers out there, especially the new writers, keep writing. Some of you have seen on my blog that I normally end a post with my phrase “Keep writing!” This is something that I would recommend and give if you are wondering just what to do, or how to get that contract to the big leagues.

Keep writing.

In looking at my first story and seeing some of my writing now, time has absolutely changed my mentality as a writer. And it happens to everyone. What you couldn’t write back when you first started is easier to write with a couple years under your belt. The fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants attitude of writing may have changed or you may have refined it to work for you. Most importantly though, don’t give up that style of writing. Refine it, work it, expand on it, but don’t give it up.

In all the work that I have been doing, from poetry writing to now this, I have learned I have a particular voice. In that voice, I’ve had to expand on it and heavily perfect it. By all means it is not yet at the level I wish it to be but I know I’m getting there. But writing will get me there. The more I write the better I’ll be. The better I am, the more I will live up to the dream of the writer and author I can become.

As far as promotion, I’ll do as much as I can but it’s the writing that will get me there. I can’t really be a world bestselling author if I don’t work on the writing. So that is my advice to those starting out, keep writing. Even as I still go out and work on my type of writing, I know the brand that is meant for me. Do that for yourself. Attend the seminars or webinar; get the books that teach you how to perfect YOUR style of writing. Work on perfection to YOUR writing voice. Try different things out that may work for the writing you want to do. Some things will work, some will not at all. At least you know though, what does work.

I’m still in that phase, refining my voice, finding ideas that work best with my voice, my style of writing. I know paranormal and science fiction are it (I’m a SyFy fan, can’t deny it), I know I love erotic romance, and mainstream romance I can do, but I’m exploring the darker sides of the paranormal and testing my boundaries with erotic romance. Do that with your own stories, do that with your own style. You may be surprised what you find. I know my own shot of something new would be a historical. How in the world it’s going to be done, no clue but its jumping around the brain and I’ll figure it out soon.

Think of it this way, all the big writers had to start somewhere. They had to learn different tricks of the trade to be where they are at now. They had to learn their own tricks to make that space in the writing world. If they had to do it, trust me, you do too.

So keep writing!

Thanks to J.E. Taylor for hosting me today and thank you readers for dropping by! The tour continues with Smoke and Mirror characters Ana and Cody taking the reins and letting us know their thoughts on their story.

She currently working on her doctorate in Organic Chemistry and resides in Texas, with her husband, family, friends. Her favorite genres are: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Erotica and anything her mind concocts. Crazy and silly as the ideas she sometimes has, her heart is as true as gold and hopes her readers enjoy the stories she writes as much as she loves to write them.

Dishing it up with Debra L. Martin

Hi folks! Today, I have the pleasure of hosting Debra L. Martin on my blog. Debra L Martin writes science fiction and fantasy with her co-author, David W Small. They have been writing together since 2006 and have produced two novels and two novelettes to-date. Debra lives on the East Coast with her husband and 3 cats. David lives on the West Coast with his wife and daughter. They are currently working on a fantasy they hope to finish in 2011.


JET: Can you tell us about your most recent book?

Debra: We actually released two books in the Rule of Otharia series, QUEST FOR NOBILITY and THE CRYSTAL FAÇADE. The QUEST FOR NOBIITY follow royal twins, Darius and Dyla Telkur, as they try to navigate the minefield of the royal hierarchy. Not everyone is a fan of the House of Telkur and it seems that evil forces are working against the twins, first with their parent’s murder, then with the duchy going bankrupt. When the twins are wrongly accused of murder themselves, they must flee to the forbidden planet Earth where they uncover a secret that could rock the hierarchy to its core. Otharia and Earth are connected by an ancient pact and the secrets lie in the legends of Merlin and the Lady of the Lake. The twins must find the connection and stay alive to return home, but that proves difficult when they are followed by a telekinetic assassin who pursues them across the galaxy. The adventures continue in THE CRYSTAL FAÇADE.

JET: What drew you to fantasy and science fiction?

Debra: I write with my co-author, David W Small, who happens to be my brother. We both have enjoyed reading the same science fiction and fantasy for years and have passed numerous books back and forth. During a dry spell for something new to read, we decided to try and write one ourselves. It was a struggle in the beginning trying to blend our writing styles, but now we write as a well-oiled machine.

JET: What’s been your most challenging hurdle on the road to publication?

Debra: Indeed it has been. For 2 years, we submitted our manuscript for QUEST to agents. We received rejection after rejection, but many of them added personal notes saying the book had potential, but they didn’t love it enough to take it on.

JET: What was your favorite moment in the journey?

Debra: Our favorite moment was when Amazon opened the path to publishing directly to authors. Now we had an opportunity to let the readers enjoy out books. And they have.

JET: When did you know you wanted to take the plunge into the writing world?

Debra: I’ve always loved writing and have a couple sitting in a desk somewhere. They’re aren’t very good, but they were great for giving me the experience of writing a complete story from beginning to end.

JET: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of book research? Most interesting fact you uncovered?

Debra: In our books, the Otharians have PSI power (empathy, telepathy and telekinetic) and their powers are fueled by crystals. On Earth we call them diamonds. Everyone knows the 4C’s of a diamond, cut, color, clarity and carat. We took that one step further with a 5th C – connectivity. It’s that 5th C that enhances the Otharian’s powers.

JET: Of all the novels and stories you’ve written - which one is your favorite? Why?

Debra: THE CRYSTAL FAÇADE is my favorite so far. It is the second book in the series and by then we were deep into the story of Darius and Dyla and the connections to the legends of Merlin. Both Dave and I have smoothed out our writing styles and even we can’t remember who wrote which part of the story. That makes us happy.

JET: Any advice (from a writer’s standpoint) for the novices out there?

Debra: Write the best book you can, give it to beta readers, hire an editor and have the best cover you possibly can before submitting your book for publication. The readers will be quick to pounce on everything that feel is wrong with a book in their reviews. It’s important not to rush into publication. It’s exciting and hard not to do, but it will pay off in the end if you go through all the steps outlined above.

JET:All right - now that I’ve hammered you with the big questions, let’s tackle my favorite (and geeky) quick ten. . . starting with: Paper or Plastic?

Debra: Reusable canvas

JET:Steak or Tofu?

Debra: Is fish an option?

JET:Beach or Mountains?

Debra: Definitely the Beach.

JET:Country or Rock-n-Roll?

Debra: Rick-n-Roll for sure.

JET:Leather or Lace?

Debra: Lace

JET:Angels or Demons?

Debra: Demons, they’re much more interesting

JET:Paper or Digital?

Debra: Paper to edit, digital to write

JET: Silent Film Classics or Cheesy B Rated Horror?

Debra: Neither

JET:Twilight or True Blood

Debra: True Blood rules!

JET:Coffee or Tea?

Debra: Definitely coffee – can I throw in a latte as well.

JET: Thank you for indulging me. Before we wrap this up, can you tell us what you're working on now? What's next?

Debra: We are currently working on a fantasy involving assassins, witches and an ancient prophecy. We hope to finish it by the summer of 2011.

Thank you so much for taking the time to chat on my blog. Folks, you can find out more about Debra L. Martin and her work at the following places:

BLOG at Two Ends of the Pen: http://twoendsofthepen.blogspot.com/

Buy Links for QUEST FOR NOBILITY:

$.99 at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003CC1KI4

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/11660

Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Quest-for-Nobility-Book-1/Debra-L-Martin/e/2940000838488

Buy links for THE CRYSTAL FAÇADE:

$3.99 at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003CC1KK2

Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/11661

Barnes & Noble:http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Crystal-Facade-Book-2/Debra-L-Martin/e/2940000838495

Next week, I have Kipp Poe Speicher on my blog, don’t forget to swing in and say hi!

Until then,

Ciao

JET

Jenny Craig week 31

Yo-yo.  I'm back up a half pound.  The good news is I've lost a half inch on my stomach so not a total loss. 

Let's see if I can yo-yo down a full pound this coming week. 

Glad it's starting to feel like spring out - now I can go for a walk as an exercise alternative. 

Catch you next week.
Ciao
JET

Dishing it up with Susan Helen Gottfried

Today I have the pleasure of having author Susan Helen Gottfried on my blog. She is the author of ShapeShifter: The Demo Tapes — Year 1, ShapeShifter: The Demo Tapes — Year 2, and Trevor’s Song. A tone-deaf rocker-at-heart, Susan worked in retail record stores, in radio stations, as stage crew, and as a promoter while earning two college degrees in creative writing.


Susan walked away from a continued career in the music industry in order to write books, so it makes sense that most of her fiction revolves around rock bands. Once you get those record stores, radio stations, and fellow roadies and promoters under your skin, they never leave.

When not writing, Susan captains the team at Win a Book, a promotional site for authors and book bloggers — and readers like yourself.

JET: Can you tell us about your most recent book, Trevor’s Song?

Susan: Trevor's Song is the story of Trevor Wolff, bass player for the band ShapeShifter. When his band leader and surrogate brother commits an act of monogamy, Trevor's world is rocked. But it's nothing compared to what's about to happen -- and the fact that this sexy redhead he both desires and hates might be the key to his salvation.

JET: What drew you to writing rock-n-roll fiction?

Susan: I began working in a record store when I was sixteen. Back in the Dark Ages, when record stores weren't found online and Sony Walkmans were the size of today's iPad. Okay, I exaggerate, but weight-wise, they were about the same.

Working in that record store made me hunger to be a bigger part of the magic I was seeing. Music touches people, oftentimes deeply. I wanted to be responsible for it, so I tried to parlay my record store into something bigger. I went on to college radio, then at the last second, turned down a job at a record label. Well, okay, I turned down a bunch of offers, but when I turned down the big one in favor of writing, I shocked even myself.

I never regretted it. And yes, I was already writing rock and roll fiction by that point. Maybe one day, I'll pull out those early manuscripts and work them over a bit and make them available. Who knows? It's all about making the time to do it.

JET: What’s been your most challenging hurdle on the road to publication?

Susan: I started off querying agents with Trevor's Song. This was years ago -- like five. Back before the self-publishing boom made it a respectable outlet. Yet at the same time, my blog was a year old and my readers were already clamoring for what became The Demo Tapes anthologies.

I felt I had a demand for Trevor's Song but industry pros were telling me that no one wanted to read a book about a man (a sentiment I'm sure JR Ward and JK Rowling both would support), and that books about rock stars historically don't sell.

I was standing in a field, blubbering, "but, but, but" at those industry pros. I could SEE the demand, but they said it wasn't enough. It was very disheartening and frustrating.

JET: What was your favorite moment in the journey?

Susan: I think when I announced I was going ahead with The Demo Tapes: Year 1. I said at first that it would be a straight vanity thing, even without an ISBN, the unique cataloging number each book carries. My groupies protested. How were they supposed to order the book? Talk about it on GoodReads? Pass it along via the book trading sites?

The Demo Tapes twins have sold well for me, despite being short stories about a man -- that you could get for free online (a trinity the publishing pros told me equated the kiss of death). I'll be bringing a third one out soon, making the twins into triplets.

JET: Which authors had the most influence over you growing up?

Susan: Yikes. I have no idea! Better to ask which bands had influence over me. I read so very widely, and I'd like to think I soak up something from everyone, even if it's only a passion for telling a good story.

JET: When did you know you wanted to take the plunge into the writing world?

Susan: Me? I'm not sure. Maybe around age 6 or so. My mother will tell you she knew I was destined for this when I was two. She says I was a late talker, but once I started talking, I spoke in paragraphs. I can believe that; writing and telling stories is in my blood.

JET:What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of book research? Most interesting fact you uncovered?

Susan: I'm not really sure, because so much of what I write about is based on my exploits in college and beyond. My writing and my adventures in music aren't independent of each other. Thus, I've never entered a situation in search of research so much as I've gone on adventures that I could later twist into fiction.

JET: Of all the novels and stories you’ve written - which one is your favorite? Why?

Susan: Well, definitely the Trevor/ShapeShifter project is my favorite. It's the most complete, the characters are the most realized, the situation is difficult and very real. Any of us could face some of what Trevor faces.

JET: Any advice (from a writer’s standpoint) for the novices out there?

Susan: Study the industry. The entire industry. If you know you're going to go the indie route, learn about the traditional model of publishing, as well. Vice versa, too. Even if you are bound and determined to land an agent and get a big, fat advance from a publisher, learn the ins and outs of self-publishing. Knowledge is power and you never know, in an industry that's changing as fast as ours is, when you'll need something you've learned.

JET: All right - now that I’ve hammered you with the big questions, let’s tackle my favorite (and geeky) quick ten. . . starting with: Paper or Plastic?

Susan: Usually paper, but I do have a nice selection of reusable bags in the front seat of my car.

JET:Steak or Tofu?

Susan: Steak, preferably from a bison. Although I've had some very good tofu, as well, and would eat more of it if the rest of the family would agree.

JET:Beach or Mountains?

Susan: Mountains. Rocky Mountains, including those amazing Absarokas.

JET:Top 10 best seller or Unknown Back Shelf Find?

Susan: Definitely back-shelf find. I might even specialize in them.

JET:Leather or Lace?

Susan: Yes, but I'd have to fess up to leaning toward leather.

JET:Angels or Demons?

Susan: Probably demons, but again, I'd take 'em both.

JET:Paper or Digital?

Susan: Yes.

JET: Silent Film Classics or Cheesy B Rated Horror?

Susan: Definitely cheesy B-rated horror. Preferably alongside a couple of robots with sarcastic leanings.

JET:Twilight or True Blood

Susan: True Blood. I tried Twilight and couldn't even read 20 pages. Maybe it's fitting that a vampire novel didn't breathe; I don't know. I just know that it couldn't stop being mere words on a page.

JET:Coffee or Tea?

Susan: Neither! I am one of those weirdos who fills a glass to overflowing and then puts water in the cracks. The colder, the better, baby.

JET: Thank you for indulging me. Before we wrap this up, can you tell us what you're working on now? What's next?

Susan: I am struggling with Microsoft Word so I can bring Trevor's Song in print to a wider audience (right now, it's ONLY available at Lulu, and that's just not cool). I also have Demo Tapes 3 almost ready to go, and am at work on the follow-up to Trevor's Song. And then... Demo Tapes 4 along with something brand-spanking new. I also have two short stories I'll be putting on the e-book market, so watch Smashwords and the usual e-book retailers for those. They'll be cheap, since they are short stories.

Thank you so much for taking the time to chat on my blog. Folks, you can find out more about Susan Helene Gottfried and her work at the following places:

http://westofmars.com/

http://facebook.com/WestofMarsFans

http://twitter.com/WestofMars

Next week, I have Debra L. Martin on tap.  Swing in and say hello!

Until then,
Ciao
JET

Jenny Craig - week 30

Back down a half pound.  Lost what I gained - so I'm happy. 

Slow and steady is the way to go and don't beat yourself up for a step back.  It will happen - but how you handle it is the key. 

Hope you're all doing well on your weight goals!

Until next week.
Ciao
JET

First Friday - and April Fool's Day to boot!

Happy April Fool’s Day!


April 1st and I’ve survived a month of my daughter’s driving. The weather is poised to warm up this month – or so they say. As I write this blog it is freezing outside and I’m itching for the warmer New England weather. So light a fire and curl up with one of these books until spring shows her warm face…

J.E. Taylor - Hunting Season - Available Now!

When Kyle Winslow escapes from custody and targets everyone Special Agent Steve Williams cares about, a turn of fate brings Steve face to face with Ty Aris – a criminal mastermind topping the FBI’s most wanted list. Torn between justice and vengeance, Steve must make a decision. Join alliances with Ty, or arrest him and lose his best chance to catch the bastard who destroyed his family.


"Unstoppable, breath stealing, and terrifying all at once." - Cat Connor, author of killerbyte, terrorbyte, and exacerbyte.

"Hunting Season goes where few venture, mixing a compelling crime thriller with supernatural forces. The action and drama is thick and fast and I guarantee you will not be able to put this book down." - Poppet, author of Seithe and Darkroom.

Jonathan Maberry – The King of Plagues – March 29, 2011

Saturday 09:11 Hours: A blast rocks a London hospital and thousands are dead or injured… 10:09 Hours: Joe Ledger arrives on scene to investigate. The horror is unlike anything he has ever seen. Compelled by grief and rage, Joe rejoins the DMS and within hours is attacked by a hit-team of assassins and sent on a suicide mission into a viral hot zone during an Ebola outbreak. Soon Joe Ledger and the Department of Military Sciences begin tearing down the veils of deception to uncover a vast and powerful secret society using weaponized versions of the Ten Plagues of Egypt to destabilize world economies and profit from the resulting chaos. Millions will die unless Joe Ledger meets the this powerful new enemy on their own terms as he fights terror with terror.

Ty Drago- The Undertakers – Rise of the Corpses – April 1, 2011

"On a sunny Wednesday morning in October, a day that would mark the end of one life and the beginning of another, I found out my grouchy next door neighbor was the walking dead. When you turn around expecting to see something familiar, and instead see something else altogether, it takes a little while for your brain to catch up with your eyes. I call it the 'Holy Crap Factor.'"

Forced to flee his home and family, twelve-year-old Will Ritter falls in with the Undertakers-a rag-tag army of teenage resistance fighters who've banded together to battle the Corpses.

Brett Battles – The Silenced – April 5, 2011

Professional “cleaner” Jonathan Quinn has a new client and an odd job: find and remove the remains of a body hidden twenty years ago inside the walls of a London building, before the building is demolished.

But Quinn and his team are being watched. Suddenly caught in the cross fire between two dangerous rivals, Quinn must unravel the identity of the body and why it still poses so great a threat even in death. Because a plot stretching from the former Soviet Union to Hong Kong, from Paris to London, from Los Angeles to Maine, is rapidly falling apart. And Quinn hasn’t been hired just to tie up loose ends—he is one.

Jael McHenry – The Kitchen Daughter – April 12, 2011

After the unexpected death of her parents, painfully shy and sheltered 26-year-old Ginny Selvaggio seeks comfort in cooking from family recipes. But the rich, peppery scent of her Nonna’s soup draws an unexpected visitor into the kitchen: the ghost of Nonna herself, dead for twenty years, who appears with a cryptic warning (“do no let her…”) before vanishing like steam from a cooling dish.

A haunted kitchen isn’t Ginny’s only challenge. Her domineering sister, Amanda, (aka “Demanda”) insists on selling their parents’ house, the only home Ginny has ever known. As she packs up her parents’ belongings, Ginny finds evidence of family secrets she isn’t sure how to unravel. She knows how to turn milk into cheese and cream into butter, but she doesn’t know why her mother hid a letter in the bedroom chimney, or the identity of the woman in her father’s photographs. The more she learns, the more she realizes the keys to these riddles lie with the dead, and there’s only one way to get answers: cook from dead people’s recipes, raise their ghosts, and ask them.

Various Artists – With Love – March 22, 2011

A short while ago, when the news and images of the Japanese earthquake found its way into our homes through that same internet and on our TV screens, we watched bodies being recovered. We watched homes being swept away. Some of us shed tears, some were stunned, but we all wanted to do *something*, anything, something....

We wanted to reach out, to help.

But we're not wealthy, we're not trained in search, rescue or other emergency services. We have families and jobs that we can't just leave...

But we can write. We can edit and we can publish.

We are a group of talented writers and some of us have donated our words, someone donated a cover, some have donated time, some have donated editing skills, Ethics Trading has donated the publishing portal, and we have pulled together this ebook of a selection of our work.

While working on this project we realised that although Japan was the trigger and the inspiration, we wanted to establish an ongoing project to aid disaster relief and aid across the globe - so proceeds from sales of this project will be offered to Medecins Sans Frontieres, (Doctors without borders) to support the work they do.

Thank you for your support. It really does mean a lot.
Sarah Barnard
Freelance Author and Publisher.

Sibel Hodge – Be Careful What you Wish For – April 2011

Armed with cool sarcasm and uncontrollable hair, feisty insurance investigator Amber Fox is back in a new mystery combining murder and mayhem with romance and chicklit…

Three deaths.
A safety deposit box robbery.
The boxing heavyweight champion of the world.

Somehow, they’re all related, and Amber has to solve a four year old crime to find out why.

As she stumbles across a trail of dead bodies and a web of lies spanning both sides of the social divide, it’s starting to get personal. Someone thinks Amber’s poking her nose in where it’s not wanted, sparking off a game of fox and mouse – only this time, Amber’s the mouse.

Amber’s forced to take refuge in the home of her ex-fiancé, Brad Beckett, and now it’s not just the case that’s hotting up. So is the bedroom…

All Levi Carter wanted to be was the boxing heavyweight champion of the world, but at what cost?
All Carl Thomas wanted was to be rich, but would his greed be his downfall?
All Brad Beckett wants is to get Amber back, but there’s a reason for the ex word.

Be careful what you wish for…you might just get it.

Georina Young-Ellis - The Time Baroness - April 2011

It started out as such a simple experiment: time-travel to Jane Austen’s England, live a quiet, rural life as a woman of independent means, observe and notate. I never thought I would fall in love or... end up planning a prison break! When did everything go so terribly wrong?

October 24, 1820 - Dr. Cassandra Reilly



 

 

Susanne Dunlap - In the Shadow of the Lamp – April 12, 2011

It's 1854 and sixteen-year-old Molly would give anything to change her circumstances as a lowly servant in a posh London house. So when she hears of an opportunity to join the nurses who will be traveling with Florence Nightingale to the Crimea, she jumps at the chance. The work is grueling, the hospital conditions deplorable, and Miss Nightingale a demanding teacher. Before long, the plight of British soldiers becomes more than just a mission of mercy as Molly finds that she's falling in love with both a dashing young doctor and a soldier who has joined the army to be near her. But with the battle raging ever nearer, can Molly keep the two men she cares for from harm? A love story to savor, and a fascinating behind-the-scenes imagining of the woman who became known as “the lady with the lamp”.

Next week, I have Susan Helene Gottfried here to talk about her latest book.

Until then,

Ciao

JET