“Hey world!  I have a new book out.  It’s fabulous, and you should buy it!”

 

If only promotion were that easy.  Maybe so for the extravert.  I’ve never been so lucky.  The thought of telling someone about my book—a complete stranger—makes me nervous.  The notion of  public speaking sends me into tremors.

 

So what’s a shy author to do?  Thank God for the Internet.  Not only can you reach possibly thousands of people with a click of a mouse, you can do it all in the comfort of your own home. 

 

Having a website is a must.  Mine can be found at http://www.nancyhenderson.com

You need a cyber home for your brand and your books.  A place for readers to find you.  Even better to interact with them through a forum or blog of some sort. 

 

I’ve been keeping a blog http://www.nancyhenderson.blogspot.com for about five years now.  I post often, usually at least three times a week.  I generally post writing news, excerpts of my books, author interviews, and of course the latest cute photo of my pets.

 

I’m fond of Twitter too.  There, I can announce online chats or signings I’m doing, even updates to my blog or places I’m guest blogging.  Plus I’ve made some new friends there, as well as found some new favorite authors from reading their Tweets. Oh, and my page can be found at http://www.twitter.com/nancyhenderson

 

I try to post on as many reader loops as humanly possible.  I love chatting with readers, talking about my characters, about journaling, or even movie watching.  (I think most writers are movie buffs at heart.)

 

All of these outlets can be a tremendous time suck if you’re not careful.  I try to promote on weekends when I’m not working on my books (except when on deadline then it’s 100% on the book at hand.)  Weekdays, nights especially, I have to work on the book.

 

So that’s my promotion methodology.  I do signings, attend conventions, but it’s the online promotion where I have the most fun.  Maybe because it’s the only place I can work in my jammies!

 

Thanks for reading,

~ Nancy

 

Website:  http://www.nancyhenderson.com

Blog:  http://www.nancyhenderson.blogspot.com

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/nancyhenderson

Tags: Author Days, Monday Mania // 9 Comments »

Hello,

 

It is such an honor to be invited to participate as a guest blogger.

 

What do romance readers and writers have in common? We all love books. We all love romance. We all love to believe in something.

 

I, for one, read romance as an escape from the harsh realities of everyday life. How much joy can one find in the world-when the 24 hour cable news networks are hell-bent on telling us how horrible the world is?

 

But there is joy in the world–we just have to look a little harder to find it.

 

Books have always been a love of mine. Check that–stories have always been a love of mine. When I was little, I thought the library should be divided into two categories: stories and non-stories. This whole fiction/non-fiction division. What was that about?  LOL

 

So, I grew up, reading, reading, and more reading. And after college, guess what? I became a librarian. By then I knew more about Dewey and organization (thank goodness something from college sank in!) I started writing my senior year of college. Well, actually, I started attempting to write my senior year of college. It was quite a labored effort. I didn’t finish that novel. But I kept trying.

 

It took me eleven years, but then I finally finished my first novel. I became a published author in 2005. Then in 2009, I found a new publisher, Agora International ebooks. (www.internationalagora.com) I submitted a manuscript to them, and three weeks and two days later, they offered me a contract. I submitted another manuscript to them, later that year, and it, too, was accepted.

 

So, it is with great joy that I am able to share these two new books with you.

 

Right Under Her Nose tells the story of a man and a woman who are best friends for twenty years. But what happens when the feelings of one person in the friendship begin to change? How does that affect the friendship? Can the friendship even survive?

 

This book was quite an undertaking as a character study, and figuring out ways that humans react in situations like this.

 

The second book is called Branson’s Beauty. In addition to writing, I am a musician and performer. I love Branson, Missouri as an entertainment destination. Branson’s Beauty tells the story of a woman who moves back home to Missouri in the wake of tragedy. She obtains a job singing on one of Branson’s famous stages, and she reunites with the old love of her life.

 

It was wonderful to incorporate knowledge from one of my fields of interest (music and live performance) into writing this book.

 

I am fortunate that the talented artist, Karen Ball, of Missouri, agreed to create my book covers. She creates fine art, herself, (as opposed to photoshopping a graphic) and the aspect of having real art on the covers, enhances the books to the Nth degree.  (www.karenballartist.com)

 

 

 

 

I’d love to share the books with you, so I’m having a contest. Email your name and email address to: possum (at) wiredok.com. Put “Fallen Angel blog contest” on the subject line. I will put the names in a hat, and draw out two winners. One person will receive an ebook for Right Under Her Nose and one person will receive an ebook for Branson’s Beauty.  I will hold the contest open for a week and draw the names on Monday, February 1, 2010.

 

So, in closing, I wish for you a fabulous day– full of life, love, joy and peace.

Best,

LeAnn Coston

www.leanncoston.com

Tags: Author Days, Contest, Monday Mania // 2 Comments »

Thank you Angels for having me on your blog! I love this site and I’m so happy you asked me to chat!

 

Since you’re all ‘fallen’ angels, I have a confession to make. I’m one of those readers who sometimes – more often than I’ll admit – skips to the end of a book if I’m feeling really stressed about the happily ever after. If things look too dire for a couple, I’m totally flipping to that last chapter and reading ahead. I should know better, especially when I’m reading romance because that almost always guarantees an HEA. But, I’m a bit of a freak when it comes to reading and I have no problem admitting it. Once I’ve set my mind at ease, I’m free to go back and finish the story.

 

One of the reasons I love reading and writing romance so much is watching that sexual tension and realization of love develop between the two main characters. I love reading about people falling in love. There’s a difference between erotic romance and erotica so when people ask me what I write, I make sure they understand the distinction. Yes, sex is involved in my stories and it’s graphic and hot, but it’s always about the developing relationship between two people. As a reader, if I dole out my hard earned cash I want an HEA so I definitely give it to my readers.

 

As I’m writing this, the heat in my house is broken and I’m wrapped up in blankets. You’d think since I live in Florida it wouldn’t get that cold, but there’s been a serious cold snap this month and this Florida girl wasn’t ready. At least I have my lovely ereader stocked full of hot books!

 

If you’re looking to warm yourself up one of these winter nights, check out Miami Heat, which just released from Loose Id Publishing January 19^th. To purchase, click here. I promise you’ll get your happily ever after. Here’s a brief blurb:

 

When Madison Dubois witnesses a terrible crime, she goes to the only place she knows she’ll be safe, Detective Rafe Jackson’s house. Rafe has been in love with Madison Dubois for longer than he cares to admit. Unfortunately for him, she views him as a big brother. When she shows up on his doorstep terrified for her life, he has no choice but to keep her safe. Undeniable sparks fly when they’re forced to share a roof but unless he can keep her alive, their relationship might not have a chance to even start.

 

About Me:

I’ve been reading romance for as long as I can remember and I’m a firm believer that the world would be a much better place if more people read romance! When I discovered erotic romance, I knew I’d found my niche. Most of my stories have a touch of intrigue, suspense, or a heavy dose of the paranormal. Happily married to my own hero, I live in (normally) sunny Florida with the smallest Siberian husky in the world who thinks she’s human. If you’d like to learn more about me, visit my website www.savannahstuart.com or visit either of my publishers: www.jasminejade.com & www.loose-id.com

 

Contest

One lucky winner will win a digital copy of my recent release from Loose Id (or something from my backlist if you’d prefer). Just respond to this post by 12am EST. Winner will be announced here tomorrow via a comment so please check back.

Tags: Uncategorized // 6 Comments »

All the writing mags and how-to books say, “Write what you know!”

 

Well, if you’re a small town southern girl like me, that may not be much. I’m not all that well‑traveled. Heck, I’ve never even had a cup of hot tea. We drink it sweet and iced down south.

 

But I have been in love. I’ve experienced the heartbreaks and joys associated with turning over your trust and soul and secrets to another person. I know what it’s like to be betrayed and unfortunately, I know what it’s like to be the one who betrays another. I also know what it is to find that special someone with whom you fall in love all over again every day.

 

Hopefully, I’m able to bring my experiences to my stories to create colorful characters and vicious villains.

 

In my most recent f/f Ellora’s Cave release, Beyond Curious, I incorporated my experience as a piano teacher to give texture to my heroine, Emily.

 

In Beyond Curious, heroine, Annie is dreading the piano lessons that her grandmother’s will demanded she take, that is until she meets her teacher, Emily. Far from the elderly cat lady Annie had envisioned, Emily is sexy, blonde, and completely irresistible.

 

Emily has never been with a woman, but Annie attracts her in a way that no one else has. Despite Emily’s initial misgivings, it doesn’t take long for their relationship to move from teacher and student to something much more than either of them expected—something that might lead to the love of a lifetime.

 

Here’s a brief excerpt of the first time Annie sees Emily:

 

A quick glance at her watch prompted Annie to get out of the car and climb the steep driveway toward the front door. Even in late September, the midday Alabama sun baked her back through her chambray shirt. But as she neared the house and heard the tinkling of piano music—very beautiful piano music—her trepidation melted away with the humid heat. So much like Gram, she thought. Only better. She had not heard music like this since Gram had still been able to make her arthritic fingers dance across the keyboard.

Consternation giving way to curiosity, Annie climbed the concrete stairs onto the brown brick porch and peered through the window at the narrow back of a blonde woman, playing the piano and swaying in time to the steady rhythm. Mesmerized by the sound, Annie could only gape as the woman—who she assumed was the Widow Granger—continued.

Annie’s piano repertoire included the bass part of “Heart and Soul” and a by-ear version of “Chopsticks”. But this…This was real music. If only she could learn to play like that! Gram would be so proud of her.

Although the pianist’s left hand was obscured by the drapery, Annie could see Mrs. Granger’s right hand lithely gliding up and down the keyboard.

Just as her consciousness submerged completely into the music, the musician abruptly stopped and stood, turning to discover her spying like some sort of peeping tom.

But no quicker than Annie had glimpsed her teacher, she vanished and Annie heard the doorknob turning. The screen door creaked as the widow pushed it open.

Annie gaped.

This was hardly the old cat woman in worn-out house shoes she had imagined.

Mrs. Granger was beautiful. Her blonde hair fell in an ethereal mass of waves just below her shoulders. Minimal makeup highlighted her fresh-faced appearance. Her white blouse and black skirt were stylish, yet professional. Annie had expected an old crone of seventy to greet her wearing a floral print muumuu. This woman had to be in her thirties—if that. The only thing that gave away her age was the wisdom that emanated from her eyes, even through a pair of bright blue reading glasses.

Everything about her seemed feminine and soft and the way her gaze traveled down Annie’s body and back up again made Annie wish she’d worn something besides the baggy men’s jeans and boots she wore to her job at the humane shelter every morning. A smile claimed Mrs. Granger’s pink glossed lips. “You must be Annie.”

 

Here’s Chopin’s Nocturne in E Minor, Op. 72, #1, the piece Emily was playing when Annie first saw her:

url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHAOrjgIfbg

 

What brings a character to life for you?

 

Comment to be entered in a drawing for a free download of Beyond Curious!

 

About the author:

 

Paisley Smith is a full time freelance writer and can usually be found in front of her computer either writing, chatting, promoting or plotting.

 

A true southern belle, Paisley enjoys all things feminine such as the perfect shade of lipstick, a pair of killer heels and a sexy, confident woman.

 

 

Sneak a peek at Paisley’s site to see what she’s up to.

 

Email: PaisleyLSmith@gmail.com

 

Website: www.PaisleySmith.webs.com

 

Beyond Curious buy link: http://www.jasminejade.com/pm-8016-593-beyond-curious.aspx

 

Beyond Curious Book Trailer: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mJPhOvQsYM

 

For a free download of First Taste by Paisley Smith: http://www.jasminejade.com/pm-7806-593-first-taste.aspx

 

 

Tags: Uncategorized // 15 Comments »

I have a confession to make: I am one of many women who didn’t understand the appeal of slash for a very, very long time. Comprehending what was hot about watching two men go at it was beyond me. Slash between two women I’ve always found hot, but never got into erotic romance novels between two men.

It actually was not until my favorite fandom pairing arose that I “got” it: it’s really about two men whom you find to be hot and whose chemistry you find to be hot that makes it work. It’s also about that lovely, perhaps-only-slightly-subconscious desire to be the filling in that sandwich. It is my belief that this is why m/m erotic romance sells well with women who want to appreciate men’s bodies and sexuality and find it to be a turn on.

The genre of m/m erotic romance had gone mainstream recently, and I blame it on the British sci-fi television show known as Torchwood. Its pairing of two of the main characters, Captain Jack Harkness and Ianto Jones, have sold the show for many people who may have never watched it. I personally got into the show because I am a fan of the original show it spun off from, which is Doctor Who. Torchwood broke through a lot of boundaries for the GLBT world with its loose boundaries and definitions of sexuality with its omnisexual main character, Jack.

Often times my writing is inspired by what I read and watch on television, and I write what I consider to be “gender blind” characters for the most part. So far, my books have featured m/f, f/f, f/f/f, f/f/m, m/m, and m/f/m pairings. My scifi/paranormal erotic romance book Dawn of the Seraphs is my entry into the wide, wonderful world of m/m and it definitely won’t be my last!

Readers and writers, feel free to sound off! Are you a fan of the m/m genre and if so, why? Do you have any preferences as to associated genres? Do you prefer m/m paranormals, historicals, contemporary?

Tags: Author Days // Add Comment »

Tell us about your latest book. What’s the title and when will it be released?

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS is an erotic science fiction romantic comedy about aliens abducting four humans in order to form an intergalactic porn empire.  Expect laughs, sex, weird holograms, jokes about horny cowboys, a lot more sex, voyeuristic aliens and a bit of lounge singing and disco.  It’s available now as an ebook and in trade paperback, from Samhain Publishing.

What can your fans look forward to in the next twelve months from you?

B.H. Dark was last seen on top of a mountain plateau, wearing tinfoil for a hat and holding up a large sign saying “BIG HUNKY ALIEN MAN WANTED FOR INTERSPECIES HYBRIDIZATION”.  This was six months ago, and we can only assume that she’s found an intergalactic partner for her experiment and is having the time of her life. 

Meanwhile, her minions, bestselling authors Julie Cohen and Kathy Love, have been busy writing their own books.  Kathy’s next book is WHAT A DEMON WANTS (Kensington Brava, February 2010), a sexy romance about a half-demon writer and her reluctant werewolf/vampire bodyguard.  Julie’s next book is NINA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF GLOOM (Headline Little Black Dress, March 2010), a  novel about a shoe-loving chick-lit heroine who loses it all and is forced to live in a decrepit Gothic mansion with some weird inhabitants. 

If you could meet any one person (past or present) and ask them only one question - Who would it be, and what would your question be?

B.H. Dark would absolutely love to meet Lassie and find out her brand of conditioner.

If you could be invisible for one hour, what would you do and where would you go?

Is there any other possible answer to that than “Hugh Jackman’s dressing room”?

What’s the worst summer job you’ve ever had?

B.H. Dark has never been anything but an international woman of mystery, and that job always rules.  Julie and Kathy, though, once spent a summer together working in a low-budget tourist restaurant.  By August they were looking for excuses NOT to spit in the customers’ food.

 

 

http://bhdark.blogspot.com

http://www.readkathylove.com

http://www.julie-cohen.com

 

Tags: Uncategorized // 2 Comments »

Can you please tell us a little bit about your current projects?

Wow, that’s a loaded question. LOL I’m working on a sequel to Broadly Bound titled Bound With a Bow, due out December 14^th from Phaze. www.phaze.com  It’s Christmas BDSM, cause nothing says loving like tying your partner up and spanking them senseless during the holidays. ^_^ I also just received an acceptance notice from eXcessica for a March 8^th short story release – it’s actually m/f in pairing this time, which will shock the hell out of a lot of my readers-titled Date Night. This story was offered as a freebie about 2 years ago for new members of my yahoo group and I’ve edited and added a bit to it and decided to try and get it published. You can find it on March 8^th at www.excessica.com I’ve got a few other short stories I’ve sent in lately for some antho calls that struck my fancy (I absolutely adore the erotica readers and writers site)  Also look for To Love and To Cherish, a lesbian charity anthology to be released in early February from loveyoudivine to benefit Marriage Equality. The book is definitely for a worthwhile cause and was put together by my lesbian author group Sapphic Planet. Those are the major things in the works, I have a few other side ideas but nothing I can crow about yet. I tend to stay pretty busy. Oh if anyone is interested in meeting me in person and buying an autographed book or two I will be appearing at Marscon in Williamsburg, January 15-17^th. You can register for the con and get more info about the panels and the adult midnight reading at http://www.marscon.net/

I’d love for some people to stop by and say hi and if you tell me you heard about the con from the FAR spotlight I’ll give you a free goodie bag loaded with swag for as long as they last! I plan to have a special book for sale during the con that I’m putting together personally through createspace. It’s a teaser book tentatively titled Wylde and Wet, that will contain both snippets and excerpts from some of my currently published stories along with several full shorts that will be scattered throughout the book.

What was the hardest aspect of writing Broadly Bound? How did you overcome it?

I had a few obstacles to overcome for this book and the series. First off was finding a publisher willing to give an anthology with multiple pairing in it a chance. Most anthology projects you see are all lesbian or gay male. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen another book that combines stories that span the entire GLBTQ rainbow and include another questionable theme like BDSM. Then I had the task of finding authors that wanted to play in my sandbox. I sent out the initial queries expecting lots of ‘thanks but no thanks’ emails. Instead, every author that I asked to write a story for the book was beyond excited to get in on the project. All in all I have four books planned in the series but we’ll see. I’m taking it one book at a time but I have to say I am immensely proud of book one. Both the amazing reviews, the sales numbers and what we accomplished. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to work with. ^_^

Do you have a name for your muse?

Nope, not yet anyway, but I do have a picture of her in my mind. She’s a rainbow hued little plot bunny that jumps around in my head dropping ideas as fast as real rabbits procreate. ^_^ She frustrates the hell out of me sometimes but I wouldn’t trade her for the world.

If you were a dessert, which one would best describe you?

Something like Chocolate Insanity. I’m a little sweet, a lot naughty, very indulgent and guaranteed to make you hyper after a while. You’d have to eat me in small quantities cause too much might make you crazy or a little sick. LOL

You have the chance to become one of the magical creatures from your childhood nursery rhymes, which character would you select and why?  

First off let me just say that I didn’t get put to bed with stories like Cinderella or The Frog Prince. I got read books like Bunnicula and stories by Edgar Alan Poe. (I still love his stuff. Nothing makes me think of Halloween more than The Raven.  Which totally explains my love of dark paranormal stuff and my twisted sense of humor.  But I remember one story from my childhood vividly. It was Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are. That was the first book I bought when I found out I was pregnant, determined that all my kids would love it. (They hate it by the way. Ugh.)

I wanted to be Max, the little boy that found himself suddenly immersed in the jungle as the newly proclaimed King of the wild things after being sent to his room for being bad. I was quite a mischief maker as a child. (Unbelievable I know!) Only I didn’t want to come back home in the end. I wanted to stay in the jungle forever and, if my family was nice to me, they could come live there with me too. I wanted a beast for my best friend. (I ended up with a few of them as I got older)

I remember my excitement when I found out there were making a movie from the book. A DVD copy is on my Christmas list! Anyway that story has just stuck with me and it’s one reason i think it is so important for us to read to and encourage our children to read. They are the readers and writers of the future.

 I’ll get off my sopabox now and say thank you to Tammy for such a fun and fabulous interview. For more info on my books, as well as appearances and current contest information join my yahoo group at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bethwylde/

Direct links to buy or read (or both) excerpts of my stories can be found here:

www.bethwylde.com and on the books page at the top is a free sample PDF ebook you can download. Or just email me personally at b.wylde@yahoo.com I love to chat online and hear what people have to say about my writing.

 

Tags: Author Spotlights // Add Comment »

Crystal B and Lori T CONGRATULATIONS! Please email me at fallenangeljoann@hughes.net so we can get your prizes out.

Tags: Contest Winners // 2 Comments »

Not A Shy Gene Among Them

 

Thank you Fallen Angels Reviews for having me here to talk about my witches’ sidekicks.

 

When I say no shy gene, I mean it in every way possible.

 

Anyone who’s read my Hex series knows that Fluff and Puff are out there getting into mega mischief, but you just know if Jazz is in trouble they’re there to help out. That ghostly Irma may complain about Jazz’s driving, be convinced that Jazz is making her spiritual existence miserable, but she’s also giving as good as she gets. Even Croc and Delilah, Jazz’s crocodile stilettos, were a good fit for her even if they stole her make up and lusted after her mortal housemate, Krebs.

 

Stasi has sweet Bogie, her dog that floats and tends to disappear when things get rough and then there’s Horace, the gargoyle in her boutique. We’re not talking an ugly stone creature that you’ll see on a shelf. We’re talking about an ugly stone creature that wanders the shop, leafs through the romance novels Stasi carries and hangs out in the dressing rooms. Yes, he’s a bit of a pervert, but again, he’d do anything to keep Stasi and Blair safe. He’s also more than willing to create chaos and mayhem when it’s needed.

 

Blair has Felix the Kit-Kat clock that lives for gossip and always passes on the good stuff. She also sort of had Alberic, one of Santa’s former elves, in Hex in High Heels. And Fluff and Puff even managed to stick around as tattoos on her ankle. Sort of another form of ankle biters. :}

 

I knew your everyday witches’ familiars wouldn’t work here. If the witches I wrote about weren’t typical, why would their cohorts be the usual? No black cats, no frogs, (what can I say? I have frog figurines in wizard hats), and anything else you might consider.

 

For me, I love quirky. I write that way with more than a hint of snark and my characters soak it up.

 

Personally, I believe the allies need to fit in with your main characters. Something that gives them a good balance. Plus, they’re fun.

 

I’m convinced there’s many times my own bunny slippers aren’t where I left them. That the gargoyle on my bookshelf has managed to roam my office when I’m not looking or checking out my Halloween Barbie dolls. I wouldn’t put it past him.

 

Coming up with the right companion for each witch is a challenge, but an entertaining one. The next two witches have ones that I hope will make you laugh and shake your head with wonderment as much as you have with the previous ones.

 

As for Fluff, Puff and Horace? You know they’ll show up again. After all, they absolutely refuse to leave the limelight. They believe the world I created was meant solely for them and they’re convinced even the other witches can’t survive without their assistance.

 

So let’s hear it for the sidekicks.

 

Contest

Two lucky winners will win both books in the series, Wicked by Any Other Name & Hex In High Heels. Just respond to this post by 12am CST and you could be one lucky winner. Winner will be announced here tomorrow.

Must be US or Canada residents only.

Tags: Uncategorized // 4 Comments »

Congratulations to Joder & Deidre!!! You both won copies of Amelia Grey’s A Duke to Die For & A Marquis to Marry. Please email me at fallenangeljoann@hughes.net.

Tags: Contest Winners // 1 Comment »