Guest Post: Pinterest = Fun Social Media

Pinterest = Fun Social Media

by Terra Harmony

Of all the social media sites out there, the one I find most enjoyable is Pinterest. Here are the deets:

What is it: Images galore. Think of a digital pin-up board where you can post pictures and videos. Under your account, you can create different boards with different interests. This website is huge for fashion, travel, and foodies. 

Why do it: Currently, over 10 million people are using Pinterest. Some tout Pinterest as the fastest growing standalone website ever.  Users spend more time on Pinterest (average of 15 minutes per visit) than they do on Facebook (average of 12 minutes per visit) or Twitter (3 minutes). 

How: You can repin images you like or add your own. All images link back to the source, so there aren't any copyright issues (at least not that I know of). You can also 'like' pins and comment on pins. Choose other boards or people to follow.  

Guest Post & Giveaway: The origin of The Guardians of Vesturon

The origin of The Guardians of Vesturon

By A.M. Hargrove

I love vampires, witches, werewolves and anything supernatural.  You name it, I’m one hundred percent in.  I can’t seem to get enough of any of them, so you can only imagine my excitement when all things paranormal began to surge and gain in popularity.  Somehow, I managed to have a daughter that *sigh* hates all things supernatural.  I still shake my head over that one (and oftentimes vigorously scratch it).  When I decided to try my hand at writing my first book, I plundered my brain for ideas that would appeal to both of us and hence, the Guardians of Vesturon were created.

I also love sci-fi.  She *sigh again* does not.  You may now be asking yourself, “What does she like?”  I’m still trying to figure that one out.  When I began writing Survival, Book 1 of The Guardians of Vesturon, I really wanted a blend of everything, minus vampires and werewolves.  I didn’t want strict paranormal or sci-fi either.  So the series tends to straddle the line.  There is a tendency for sci-fi, obviously, with the Guardians since they are otherworldly.  But it’s light sci-fi.  They are gifted with serious paranormal powers, such as telepathy and mind reading, for example.  There is a group of people on Earth they are connected with that have mystical/paranormal powers as well.  Though the books enter the sci-fi realm a bit, they are not high tech sci-fi to the point of turning a non-sci-fi lover off.  In other words, I don’t leap into the world of quantum physics and take you on a fifty page dissertation of trying to explain how that could possibly fit into my story.  The most intense form of tech you’ll ever see is my usage of the string theory in explaining the ability to travel faster than the speed of light.  Every now and then I might throw in an awful looking creature, but for the most part, my aliens are swoon-worthy, and easy on the eyes *wink*.

Guest Post: The Hero Inside Every Woman

The Hero Inside Every Woman

By Diane Lynn McGyver

Let’s first set the stage: I grew up in a house with seven brothers and two sisters; all but one sibling was older than me. I gravitated towards the boys because they did more enjoyable things—fishing, camping, go-carts, hiking, swimming—than the girls—knitting, dishes, laundry, house-cleaning, baking. Boys also played Cowboys and Indians, Cops and Robbers and various other games where at least one of the cast starred as the hero.

Being a tomboy, rough and tough like my brothers, I took turns at portraying the good guys and the bad guys. This gave me the opportunity to envision what both sides of the conflict experienced, and as it turned out, it was a great help when I later constructed characters—both hero and villain—in my stories.

But what it really taught me was a girl could be a hero, too. Unlike being a helpless princess in a silly fairy tale, I could be the Lone Ranger or Tonto, Spiderman, Captain Kidd or Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest…or some made-up, female version of these heroes. I could take control and win the day!

It took me a while to translate ‘women can be heroes’ into making my heroes female. Up until about a dozen years ago, I still wrote stories with men leading the way. In my mind I was still the hero, and he was still male.

Guest Post

Anxiety Over Writing

By Adrianna Stepiano

I'll admit, I was a little nervous when Alexia asked me to write a guest post for her blog. Being new to the writing scene, this is the first time an interviewer has asked me to write 'whatever I wanted'. Usually, there are questions associated. Questions that would guide and direct the subject for the blog-spot. Alexia left me a blank page, so to speak. She said, "You can just write whatever...no questions..." And, while that might sound like an amazing opportunity to people who love to stand on a soap box and spout off at the mouth, it was terribly frightening to me. After all, I'm the person that had a finished novel sitting on my computer for nearly a year before I broke down and published it. I'm the person that breaks out in a nervous sweat every time I read a review.

Why do I have such anxiety over writing? The short answer; I'm not a writer. I'm a graphic designer. Throughout college I took the most basic of English and writing classes, and always did quite well, but it never occurred to me that I should make a career out of it. I didn't study classical literature, though I do enjoy reading it. I'm not friends with 'sentence structure', though we're learning to live together...so, even though I had a story, I didn't feel qualified to write it. That's why it sat on my computer for so long. I often wonder how many people out there have wonderful stories that they would tell, if only they could figure out how to use that darn comma! I also wonder how many people have read a grammatically correct story, that had a terrible plot.       

So, what brought me to sit down and write? The short answer; a sentence. It started with a sentence that I couldn't get out of my head.  And, as it turns out, this is how I write. I hear, read, stumble upon, or dream about, a combination of words that strike a chord with me. Nouns working with verbs that plant a seen in my psyche.

What sentence began MofaM? Here it is. Bad luck has a stubborn way of following someone once it strikes.

It came from a conversation with my mother, after I was laid-off from my full time job. She said, "If you didn't have bad luck, you'd have no luck at all." To which I replied, "I know, it seems bad luck has a stubborn way of following someone once it strikes." Now, I am sure that both of those sentences are widely known and used, but when I sat down at the computer that night and typed the second one out, it was fresh. And thus began the story of a girl that was stuck in a ring of bad luck. As those of you that have read the book know, it's since morphed into something else, but the foundation for Seraphin's character is based on 'bad luck'. The words were invigorating and they helped to feed a story that was starving to be known. Even though neither sentence is used in the novel, there were some deeper meanings that resonated with me.

At the opening of Book #1, Seraphin is at the very crucial age of 18. It's an age that most are legally considered an adult, the age that a person is allowed to be 'on their own'. Most of the time it's exciting, as a young person, to step into the real world. However, Seraphin finds the idea terrifying. We find her living in a life of fear; fear of the unknown. I think most of us can relate to this feeling. It's the feeling I felt and still feel when I'm writing, and it's exhilarating. I don't know what I'm doing and it scares the BEEP out of me, but I'm doing it...and It's exhilarating!

So let me revisit my previous thought. How many people out there have wonderful stories that they would tell...IF ONLY_________________. You fill in the blank. How many reasons can we find? I'm curious. Comment on this post with your reason for NOT writing the story that you have floating around in your head. 

Adrianna Stepiano Bio

Following a summer of unexpected struggles and rampant changes to her career, lifestyle, and social circle; Adrianna Stepiano craved a creative escape. A graphic artist by trade, she found herself uninspired and lacking imagination. As an avid reader, she found solace in fiction but desired more.

For several years the idea of a merfolk based story swam around in her head; inspired by family vacations to coastal states and a life spent on the shores of the magnificent Great Lakes. Finally in 2009, a prayer brought Joseph and Seraphin to life by way of the written word.

Adrianna prides herself on the ability to tell an interesting story that can truly be a cerebral getaway. Though, at first she was intimidated by the comma, the two have learned to live together and at times, agree to disagree. If a misplaced adjective or an absent word happens to stumble in or out of a sentence, do not take it as a sign of carelessness but rather appreciate the rawness of her writing.

After two years in the making, ‘Memoir of a Mermaid: When, at last, he found me.’ is available for download in various ebook formats as well as paperback.

Connect with Adrianna:
-          Website
-          Facebook
-          Goodreads

About Memoir of a Mermaid: When, at last, he found me

Seraphin Shedd can't seem to escape the murky vision of her father's death. She's always felt like his death was a result of her defiant actions. When she meets Joseph Merrick, the nephew of her beloved teacher, her life begins to unravel. When Joseph opens her eyes to the impossible, her trust begins to waver. Is his interest in her purely for personal gain or will he prove to be helpful? Follow along as Seraphin uncovers her true identity as well as discovers the evil surrounding her father's death.

If you love mermaids, this is the young adult fantasy novel for you. See the raging sea through Seraphin's eyes and struggle to make sense of the impossible. This isn't an ordinary mermaid story, the mystery is as deep as the ocean. You'll find intrigue and romance, as well as a dash of humor and action.

Caution: Memoir of a Mermaid has been known to cause 'up all night reading' and 'can't put down syndrome'. You may find yourself addicted to the tension between Joseph and Seraphin. Due to the fact that this book is all you'll be able to think about, do not begin reading the night before an important meeting or a final exam. The story will literally be swimming around in your head.

 
Excerpt: "Looking back, sometimes things are better off unknown. Sometimes the truth hurts more than a lie and being naive is a blessing in disguise.  From that moment on, it was going to be difficult to distinguish between being protected and being lied to."

See my review here

Purchase sites for Memoir of a Mermaid:

-          Amazon (e-book or paperback)
-          Barnes & Noble
-          Lulu.com
-          Createspace.com

Guest Post

I Never Thought

By Natalie Star

I never thought that anyone would read my novel. That wasn’t my intent when I penned it. I wrote it for me and maybe a few of my daughter’s friends to read. I most certainly didn’t intend to submit it to a publisher, ever.

While working on it, I went against the norm the majority of the time. Wanting to write young adult paranormal, I didn’t want to do the usual vampire, were, angel or ghost story. I made up my own paranormal world with Keepers/Watchers/Protectors/Organizers. Then when it came time to make a decision, I’d ask myself “What would the average reader expect to happen?” Then I’d go in the opposite direction. I had a blast writing the story using this method. I also kept reading how people were getting sick of love triangles in stories, so I wrote a nontraditional one. I’m not even sure you could call it a triangle. You’d have to read it and tell me what you think.

I didn’t even know how my story would turn out. I mean, I had a basic outline in my head how the story would progress, but in the end, it didn’t happen the way I planned. I’m thinkin’ it turned out even better. Writing this story was much like reading one – never knowing what was going to happen next, or how things would turn out. I wrote by the seat of my pants.

I had no pressure writing my debut novel, The Keeper, because no one was really going to read it, or so I thought. Things change, and now you can purchase my eBook on ten different websites, how totally cool, and totally unexpected for me and my family. But now writing the next story after The Keeper, I feel the pressure. I am still writing by the seat of my pants, but when I ask myself that question of what would the average reader expect…I think wow, this better be good, because someone might actually be reading it.

Connect with Natalie Star:

-      Twitter
-      Blog
-      Website
-      Facebook

The Keeper

The morning of her sixteenth birthday, Billie feels blessed despite the reoccurring nightmare that wakes her. Loving parents, a caring boyfriend, and great friends surround her until an heirloom necklace throws her into a world she never imagined.

“Gifted” with supernatural powers and an unexpected destiny as the Keeper, Billie and a mysterious boy from her past must work together to find answers. But, as they begin to discover feelings for one another, he disappears leaving her to fight evil alone. Her life spirals out of control. She breaks up with her boyfriend, Tony, and alienates her best friends Arianna and Jocelyn to protect them from the truth.

As dark forces pursue her, Billie longs to run away from it all, yet a need to do what’s right compels her to face the future as the keeper of more than her own fortune.

Purchase sites for The Keeper: Natalie’s blog

The Keeper book trailer

Guest Post

I’m not lucky, just tenacious and I never gave up my dream

By Ann Harrison

Ever since I could remember I’ve loved books. I would read anything I could get my hands on and it’s only now that my taste has really settled on certain genres. I love a good romance, who doesn’t love a happy ending and all the angst in between. I greedily absorb as much young adult as I can and I can’t go past a good suspense and murder mystery.

I wish I had started writing years ago, a cry you probably hear from many a writer. I think I was always too busy reading to sort out the voices in my head but four years ago it all got too much and I had no choice.

My first seven books spewed forth at a rate of speed that literally scared me half to death. I started with young adult because that was what came to the surface first. You might gather from this that I am a pantser. I can’t do it any other way and am in awe of those that do plot every part of their manuscript.

Young adult books one through to book three (and notes for the fourth) in a series very quickly were written. After having book one rejected, (I think six times) I thought I wasn’t cut out for young adult and tried my hand at romance. Three books were written in as many months and sat while I entered competitions and took the judge’s comments to heart.

It wasn’t until I met a freelance editor, Annie Seaton who pointed out the flaws in my stories (in a way that I understood). I polished them until I was happy to submit them. It was the turning point for me and within 48 hours I had three contracts sitting on my desk. I chose wisely I feel and carried on writing. Three weeks later I signed my second contract with Breathless Press.

Taming the Outback will be out in August and Mistress for Magnus will be released in September.

With my success I felt brave enough to submit Book One of my young adult series and have just been asked for a revise and resubmit which I am thrilled about. It looks like all the hard work has finally paid off and it’s going to be a big year.

The one thing I have learnt from this is never say die, ever. The only time you will fail is if you throw in the towel and give up. You never start writing and become an instant expert. It takes time, just the same as learning to play the piano for example. It takes practise. I have met some terrific people along the way and learnt so much. I’m not lucky, just tenacious and I never gave up my dream.

So if your dream is to write and get published, start working now. Join blogs, writer’s websites, and all the social networking sites you can manage. Not only will you learn more than you thought possible, you will meet some great people along the way.

Connect with Ann:

-          Website
-          Facebook
-          Twitter
-          Goodreads

Guest Post: Erotica vs Porn

Erotica vs Porn by Natalie Hancock

     Since I became an author of erotic paranormal romance, everyone has said the same thing whenever the topic ‘erotic romance books’ comes up. Erotica is porn.

     Is it? There is such a big difference between the two I wonder why someone could think erotica was porn in the first place.

     Erotic romance tells the entire story, including the sex. It’s there to stimulate the mind and the body with the romance and arouse emotions and the imagination with the erotic side of romance.

     Porn is exploitive and degrading. There are no other words to describe porn. Of course that is my opinion. Many people don’t find porn degrading and I would never tell them they are disgusting for watching it. If they want to watch it, then that’s fine by me. I know a lot of people who do, most for research, others just because they want to.

     The way I see it, and most authors too, if you take the sex out of porn, you are left with literally nothing. You take the sex out of erotic romance and you still have the romance.

     When you watch a film, and there are breasts out on display, any other body part or there are couples having sex, is that porn? I’m pretty sure it isn’t, even though a lot of people get aroused watching it, yet the majority of people, men mostly, say erotica romance is. How does that work?

     I write erotica romance because when I speak about the love my characters have with one another, the emotions they feel whenever they are together, I want to describe that in all forms, including sex.

     Is that so wrong?

     I have had someone tell me that if two people love each other and create a porn video, that’s romance.

     I laughed hysterically at that.

     In my opinion, you could be in love with someone, you could be the most romantic couple there ever could be, but when you have sex and put a video of that up on the internet for millions... No billions of people to masturbate over, you’ve lost your romance right there. Instantly. What you share with your partner or partners is meant to be private, for you only, not for everyone else to see.

     Yes, erotic romance books have detailed sex in it, but you can’t watch them have sex, you can only see it in your mind. And what do you really see when you read an erotic book? Do you see the couples described, or do you see yourself with your partner, or a partner you would like? Do you see all your wildest fantasies coming true?

            Just remember that when you say an author is writing porn, you are insulting them, and the people who read their books. Erotica is not porn and porn is not erotica. I know I can’t change most people’s minds about the difference between the two, but I do hope to change a few.

Natalie Hancock: Bio

Natalie is a hyperactive writer of Paranormal Romance books. She writes about vampires mainly, but would like to write stories of other paranormal creatures. She studied and graduated at the University of Lincoln, Riseholme College where she studied an animal course for two years, which is where she met her partner, Reece. He's as crazy as her, if not more, so they're the perfect match.

They live with their zoo in the middle of nowhere. Their zoo consists of a hamster called Crunch. A chinchilla called Hektor and three guinea pigs called Fluff, Smudge and Squig. They hope in the near future to add to the family and get an army of hamsters, chinchilla's and guinea pigs. Oh, and a goat.

Natalie loves to read, listen to loud rock/hardcore music, game, and look after her crazy animals. She also loves vampires! She's a true believer of all things supernatural and if she had the luck to run into one, she would either ask for his or her autograph, or jump on them just to make sure she wasn't dreaming.

Natalie’s Books:

Eternal Darkness is about the life of Layla, a half vampire, half human who is sent to live in a hundred acres of land full of vampires for her own safety. The only problem is she hungers for the vampires blood, so when she has lessons with them, not only does she struggle with the hunger raging inside of her, but she has to learn to trust those around her, something she can’t do because she has a dark past, and because of it, she has trouble trusting anyone.
She knows she’s in as much danger inside the land as she was when she was outside the land, and she can’t shake off the feeling that something, or someone is watching her, waiting to attack her, despite the guards watching her every move.
When she meets one of the tutors, she feels things towards him and wants both his blood and his body, but it’s forbidden to feel the way they do and Layla must fight her feelings otherwise the secrets she desperately wants to remain a secret will get out, and put her in more danger than she already is.

 

Dark Shadows continues the story of how half-breed Layla struggles with her hunger, and her desires for Shade now more than ever. She is also struggling to keep her hidden identity a secret as well as her secrets, but when there are attacks made on her, and it puts everyone in serious danger, the identity she has kept hidden is revealed.

In Dark Awakening, there is more security, more people watching Layla’s back now that everyone knows who she is. Layla wants to find the person responsible for the attacks made at her, as is everyone else, but when an attack happens to someone other than her, she and Nikalye are the only ones who know the truth of it and are determined to find the culprit once and for all, before someone else is seriously injured.

Layla continuously fights for survival to keep herself and those around her alive, but when more things sinister arrive in the hundred acres of land, and the culprit is revealed, the situation turns from bad to deadly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A huge thanks to Natalie! Visit her website here. (Don’t you think those covers are drool worthy? ;)

What are YOUR thoughts on Erotica vs Porn?

Eye Candy by Terra Harmony

As you know from my schedule post, Terra Harmony has done a guest post!

Day 5 – A guest post

“In this day and age, when we have thousand upon thousands of reading options at our fingertips, the book cover is often the one and only chance to grab the reader’s attention. The cover makes the first impression and the book is judged before even getting a chance to present its blurb. This is especially true with e-readers.”

“How could we possibly forego the smell of a freshly printed book – or even the smell of an old, dusty book pulled from the back of the shelf? How could we give up the way it feels in our hands, the way it crinkles as we turn the page, or the way it bends exactly to our hands’ size? Furthermore, what in the heck will we do with our favourite bookmarks?”

“The entire experience of reading a book is an escape for many of us – a treat.”

To read further, head on over to Ritesh’s blog for the rest of the guest post as well as Terra’s and my favourite book covers J

Happy reading…

Much love

xx