Wednesday, February 27, 2013

The number you have dialed....

You know...
I'm getting a little fed up with Blogger.
It's just small things now but they're adding up.

For one...
I tried to leave comments on friends blogs yesterday and today and if the comment box was embedded then the comment was eaten by Blogger.

If the comment box was a pop-up it seemed to work fine.

I changed mine today to become a pop-up comment box.

If anyone has trouble with this please email me hmgardner28@gmail.com.

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Also...my special guest, Tracey Sorel, didn't get a lot of love yesterday (maybe because of the comment problem) and I feel REALLY bad.

Maybe if you have a minute you could go read her interview HERE.

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Heading back to editing Maguire's Corner. I made it through by paper, now I just have to make the actual changes.


But, I'll leave you with...



Moonstruck is one of my absolute favorite movies. Mostly for Olympia Dukakis. She is simply brilliant.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

We are not alone...interview with Author, Tracey Sorel.

I have a guest!

It's so nice when someone comes to visit and I didn't have to tie them to a chair. ;)

Let's give a warm welcome to Tracey Sorel!

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Talk to us about Tracey Lyons, Historical Romance Novelist now using the pen name Tracey Sorel, Contemporary Romance Novelist.


First off let me say a big “thank you” to Heather for so graciously allowing me to visit her blog! I’m excited to be here.


Tracey Lyons is my married name and the one that I launched my writing career with. I’ve published my first four novels under that name.

I took on the name Tracey Sorel mainly because the Wine Country Vixens series is so different from the persona of Tracey Lyons, historical author.

My historicals, for the most part are wholesome sweet books and my contemporary wine series are a bit juicier! I needed to separate the two.

I’m sure some of my fans will follow me over to the spicy side, but there are also those who really prefer to read sweeter books. I want to keep them happy, too!



Introduce us to Beth Chadwick from Zinfandelity.

As Zinfandelity opens you find Beth about to learn that her husband has been having an affair. Have no fear this is not a spoiler alert.

This discovery propels Beth forward with her life. You’ll see her grow to be a stronger woman, who realizes her libido isn’t as dead as she once thought it was!

Zinfandelity is the first in a series of books you’re calling The Wine Country Vixens. Can you tell us more about the other books coming up? 

I’m working on Pinot Gigolo right now.

This book centers around the owner of a lingerie shop called The Pinot Gigolo and the thorn in her side; a Greek God-like city project manager who has not only left a gaping whole in her front yard, but won’t give her the time of day. 
  
What influenced this series the most? 

My wine drinking adventures in Northern California!

Seriously, I think all women can relate to gathering with friends and sharing a few glasses of wine while discussing the woes of their lives.



What character traits, if any, do you share with your main characters? 

NONE. LOL! My characters are all fictional.

Okay, maybe some of my characters are a bit outspoken. I’ve been told on more than one occasion that I don’t hold back my opinions.

Tell us about your journey to self-publishing this series.

I never planned on self-publishing. However, the world has changed and there are many successful traditional authors who have made this transition. For me this has been an adventure.

When I found I had a book that couldn’t find a home with a traditional publisher the opportunity to go it on my own made sense. Some days I wish I’d had a team that I could just hand everything off to, but for the most part I love, love, love having all the control over my product.

Though, this venture is not for the faint of heart. You have to have a perfect product.  There is no one to fall back on except yourself when you assume the role of author, publisher and publicity department.

Zinfandelity is a Contemporary Romance. What made you switch up from Historical? Would you consider writing Historical again? 

I found that I had more stories inside of me than just historicals. And the Wine Country Vixens were just begging to have their story told.

Historical romance is my first love and what got me started in this business. I am currently working on an idea for another Adirondack series. This one is geared for the inspirational market and involves some Pinkerton spies.


How do you choose character names? 

I used to consult the phone book, but now I have a collection of baby naming books I use.

And sometimes I might “borrow” a name from a friend or two.

What book is on your actual/virtual nightstand right now? 

Right now I’m reading a Linda Lael Miller book.

What is your writing survival gear? 

Lots of caffeine.
My collection of research books.
My network of writing pals, I couldn’t have gotten this far without all of their support.

Is there anything you’d like to share with us that I haven’t asked? 

I sold my first book on 9/9/99, the day all those computer geeks thought we’d have a worldwide computer crash.

How can we find you and your books?
 



Websites: Bringing you small town, sweet historical romance: www.traceylyons.com

The Wine Country Vixens: www.traceysorel.com


Amazon: Tracey J. Lyons






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Tracey, thanks so much for coming to be with us today. We wish you the very best of luck with your new contemporary series!

Friday, February 22, 2013

NINJA CAPTAIN COVER REVEAL...over here!

We've waited long enough. 

It's time.

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CassaStorm by Alex J. Cavanaugh

A storm gathers across the galaxy…

Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, his only struggles are occasional rogue pirate raids and endless government bureaucracies. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans.

After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, shaking Bassan to the core and threatening to destroy the boy’s mind.

Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could be on its way back. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…



Release date: September 17, 2013
Science Fiction - Space Opera/Adventure
Print ISBN 9781939844002
E-book ISBN 9781939844019


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Need to go back to the beginning?







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Alex, I wish you the very best of luck!

Thursday, February 21, 2013

An interview with a blogger...and the truth.

I was interviewed recently. I'm not very good at it. You'd think I could come up with something more interesting than the bland comments that I submitted. You'd think.

Maria Buscher from A Journey from Creation to Publication contacted me to see if I'd be interested in talking about my So You Think You Can Write Contest experience.

And I was.

So, I did.
  
Click HERE to check out my short but oh so sweet interview.

***

Now...about that truth...

When I answered those questions I was being completely truthful.

Since I answered those questions a few things have changed.

I have now made some small changes to the manuscript.

It is no longer out for query.

I haven't sent it to anyone else...yet.

I'm no longer working on book two cause I'm back to working on book one.

***

I guess those weren't a whole lot of non-truths. Just adjustments.

I have to say...I'm having some trouble seeing where I need to 'add more' in book one.

I thought that I was missing a lot of romance and plot but when I'm reading it I think it's there.

It's so difficult to judge your own work.

It's actually weird to read the book again after so much time. I keep finishing sections and saying...I wrote that? Huh. I don't remember writing that.

I'll keep plodding along and perhaps I'll have an epiphany or a breakthrough or a pyschotic break. 

Whichever comes first.

***

Tomorrow...

ALEX J. CAVANAUGH's BOOK COVER REVEAL!!!!!

Monday, February 18, 2013

Holy list of blogfests, Batman!

Hello everyone!

There are a TON of blogfests coming up before the Blogging from A to Z Challenge begins.

I am completely stealing this list, word for word, cut and paste, from Alex J. Cavanaugh. If it ain't broke...

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Today and February 20 - Elise Fallson and Michelle at Writer In Transit are hosting the She Said What Blogfest.

February 20 - Jamie at Mithril Wisdom and Allison at Geek Banter are hosting the Level Up! Blogfest.

March 1M Pax, Suze, and Nicki Elson are hosting the Back From the Future Blogfest.

March 1 - Clare Dugmore and Kyra Lennon are hosting the Bloghop of Joy.

March 14 - Stephen Tremp, Laura Eno, LG Smith are hosting the National Wormhole Day Blogfest.

March 15 - Mark Koopmans is hosting his annual Got Green Blog O’ Hop.

March 18 is my Top Ten Movie Countdown Blogfest.

All of April – the A to Z Challenge.

Ongoing –

First Wednesday of every month - Insecure Writer’s Support Group.

Every Friday - Celebrate the Small Things, hosted by VikLit.

Once a month is Writers4Writers


And this Friday, February 22, CassaStorm Cover Reveal!


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Yowza!

What a fantastic list! Thank you, Alex, for doing all the hard work.

Also...have you started reading The 13th Floor series by Christine Rains? Really great stories about six supernatural tenants.

Also...I'm going to have a blog guest, Author Tracey Sorel, when she comes to talk about her new book coming out Zinfandelity, A Wine Country Vixens Novel. More to come on that!

Also...A short interview from me about being in the So You Think You Can Write contest will be up on Thursday, 2/21/2013 on the A Journey from Creation to Publication blog.

Also...that's it!

Isn't that enough? 

Thursday, February 14, 2013

#wipeout - Jinx is my middle name.

I told you I shouldn't have said it. I told you and then I said it anyway. And what did I do? I jinxed myself.

I was writing. I mentioned it in passing on Tuesday. Oh, look at me, I'm writing. It was beautiful. It was wonderful.

Then I got an email. 

It was a lovely and surprisingly helpful Rejection Letter from the publisher that saw my pitch on Twitter.

That shut The Muse right up, let me tell you. Immediately.

But, Heather, you said it was lovely and helpful? How can that be?

Well, they were really nice. Said twice that they liked my writing, which of course they didn't have to say.

They mentioned some specific problems that were keeping them from taking on the book.

Figuring I had nothing to lose, I emailed them back and asked if I reworked the book would they take another look.

Graciously, they said yes.

Although, I would have to go through the process the traditional way this time around.


Emotional roller coaster. *yak noise*


I know what you guys are saying. I can hear the words ringing in my ears. Just do it.

And, I probably will.

They really only want more, more romance and more plot to keep the pages turning.

I can do that.

I can.

It's just going to take me some time to switch gears.

So, I'm going to go do that. Switch some gears with...some switches and maybe a red pen.

And, maybe some wine that Anon/K offered.

And, some chocolate.

And, coffee.

And...