Relationship drama, romance in Nigeria, and self publishing with Amaka Azie author of Starting Over Again

It's been a very long time since I've done an interview on the blog. When I saw that Amaka Azie had released her third book, Starting Over Again, I got curious about her and her stories. Only an interrogation interview would appease me. I hope you enjoy getting to know Ms. Azie as much as I did.

As an icebreaker please tell us the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done.

In my secondary school in Eastern Nigeria, students frequently fetched water for daily use from a spring situated in a deserted forest. We usually went in groups because there were loads of snakes and scary reptiles located in that forest. One night, I discovered I had no water to use the next morning to have a bath. Nobody wanted to go down there with me at night, so I took my bucket in one hand and a flashlight in the other, and braved going to that forest alone in the dark. Although I was scared as hell, I was strangely excited. With my adrenaline pumping full speed, I raced through the dense forest to the spring, filled the bucket and raced back up. I didn’t realise how frightened I was until I found myself back within the school compound. I almost fainted with relief. But it made me realise I could do anything I put my mind to.

What made you decide to be a writer?

I have always enjoyed books, literature and poems. I can’t count how many times I got into trouble for missing family activities like dinner when I was younger, because I was engrossed reading one book or the other. In secondary school, I wrote many short stories that I passed around to my classmates. They queued up to read my short stories, and sometimes got into arguments about who was next on the queue. In fact, one morning during English class, my teacher, Mrs Iyang, caught a classmate of mine reading one of my stories and seized it. I thought I was in trouble when she called me into the staff room but she simply told me she read and enjoyed it, and that I should consider becoming a writer. I kept ruminating about writing until I met another Nigerian author on Facebook who encouraged me to publish. I’m glad I took that bold step

Why do you write romance?

Oh, I love the concept of love. The excitement of meeting someone new, the emotions of trepidation and anxiety about relationships, advice from friends, challenges relationships bring, fights and break ups to make ups. No matter our previous bad experiences with love and relationships, we keep searching for it.  I find it fascinating that more than half of my adult conversations are dominated by relationship drama. I love it! It’s no wonder I gravitated towards the romance genre. Love literally makes the world go round!

You have three books released and they are all set in Nigeria. Why did you decide to use Africa as your setting?

I was born in Western Nigeria, West Africa, and grew up in different parts of Nigeria. When I was a teenager, I actively searched for romance novels with African characters and found few. It was frustrating. I settled for romance novels with non-African characters, and that made me unhappy about the lack of diversity.

Any time I came across romance novels with African characters, I would go crazy and buy as many of those books in excitement. Helen Ovbiagele was one of the authors who pioneered those novels. When I came across other authors like Kiru Taye, my excitement tripled. I wanted to be a part of filling that void. Writing about a vibrant and exciting Africa that is rarely portrayed in the media. A Nigeria/Africa that I experienced, where education, wealth, love and family exists. 

What made you decide to go the self-published route?

Unfortunately, there are few publishers that cater to the African romance genre. Apart from Ankara Press, most publishers won’t take a risk on romance novels set in Africa. I was turned down from the outset, or told I had to change a few things. When I realised I wanted to share my story the way it was, not water it down, or make it more “sorrowful” to portray the “African suffering”, I decided to self-publish. I wanted full control of my story, including the packaging and book covers. I have seen book covers made to look outrageous because it is an African book. For example, the idea that a book cover with an animal, a lion or an elephant or a monkey on it would authenticate it as African. I find that not only ridiculous, but insulting.

I’m glad I self-published and took control of what I wanted to put out there. So far, I have gotten good feedback from readers. One reader, an English lady, contacted me on twitter after reading Thorns and Roses. She told me she was so glad to read about a lovely side to Nigeria for a change. It made me very pleased.

What do you find most fascinating thing about writing?

The fact that I can create a story from my imagination, and get others to experience it with me, is extremely brilliant. I love creating a world and sharing that world with others so they can see it the way I created it. When I hear from a reader who not only experienced my creation the way I intended it, but also enjoyed my story, it makes it even more worthwhile.

I’ve seen you singing on social media with your daughters. What do they think of you being an author?

My daughters love to encourage me. They keep asking, “mum, how many words have you written today?” They are still very young, and so, not yet old enough to read my books. I look forward to when they can share their thoughts about my stories.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a writer?

Simply to write. You can talk about it for ages, but until you do it, you never actually achieve the goal. Another is that writing should be a passion about sharing stories. Your story may cause people to laugh, cry, or have serious conversations. People may love your story, or hate it tremendously, but the most important thing is to share your story with passion. It’s a calling that a true writer can’t resist for long.

Author bio

Amaka Azie was born and raised in Nigeria, West Africa. She developed a passion for reading at the age of twelve. Her interest in writing began in secondary school when she joined the press club and her active imagination has captured the interests of many. With multiple stories in her head, she has finally decided to publish. Amaka currently resides on the Wirral peninsula in North West England with her husband and two daughters, where she also works part time as a family doctor. Apart from reading and writing, she enjoys watching crime TV shows, painting and travelling.

You can interact with Amaka Azie via:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amakaazie1/

Twitter: @AmakaAzie

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/amakaazie

Blurb:

Abandoned by her husband and left to care for a sick child, Onome is desperate to find a job. After several failed attempts, she eventually lands a job at one of the most prestigious banks in Lagos. She is finally rebuilding her life after her divorce and everything seems to be falling into place. However, she finds herself irresistibly drawn to her new boss, Nnamdi, who is also notoriously known for his womanising ways. Desperate to fight this attraction, she struggles to keep him at arm’s length. She can’t afford to let her growing attraction to him jeopardise her job, and most importantly, her heart…

Scorched by the burden of a scandalous family secret he stumbled upon when he was a young boy, single father Nnamdi, finds it hard to trust women. He has always lived his life lightly, with his relationships free from deep emotions and entanglements. To protect himself from hurt, he has built a wall around his heart. But there is something about his new executive marketing assistant, Onome, that makes him consider a future with her. The more time he spends with her and her daughter, Fejiro, the more the wall around his heart crumbles. And just as he is beginning to warm up to the idea of forever, her ex-husband resurfaces…

Buy links

Amazon uk: http://bit.ly/StatingOverAgainAmazonUK

Amazon Us: http://bit.ly/StartingOverAgainAmazonUS

Okadabooks: http://bit.ly/StartingOverAgainOkadabooks

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/starting-over-again-6

iTunes: https://itun.es/gb/k50slb.l

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/StartingoverAgainBarnesandNoble

Excerpt:

 Onome heard a soft knock on her hotel room door causing her heart to jump. Her eyes flickered to the clock on the wall. It was seven p.m. She knew it had to be Nnamdi. He was here to tell her whether they got the account or not. Her pulse quickened as she moved from the bed to open the door. Nnamdi was leaning against the doorframe, looking virile in a brown muscle-hugging shirt, a pair of black jeans trousers and white Nike trainers on his feet. His thick curly hair glistened with moisture as if he had just stepped out of the shower. A subtle citrus aroma most likely from a bath gel assuaged her senses.

“Can I come in?” he asked in a relaxed tone. Onome stepped away from the door, holding her breath as his tall frame strutted into her room.

“Did we get the account?” Onome asked nervously, scrubbing her sweaty palms over her bright green cotton shorts. He hesitated, his facial expression serious. Onome’s heart sank. She had let him down, let the bank down. Her stomach knotted with trepidation. “We… we didn’t get it?” she mumbled hesitantly. His lips twitched momentarily, then cracked into a disarming smile.

“Congrats, Onome, you have brought in your first account.”

“Oh my God!” Onome exclaimed, jumping in delight. “I have been so anxious, oh my God!” He opened his arms. Without a thought, she ran into his outstretched arms, wrapping her arms around him. He lifted her, twirled her around briefly before gradually lowering her on her feet.

“I’m so proud of you, Onome.” His deep baritone resonated within her.

“Thank you for letting me do this. I have actually missed doing this, hustling for accounts.” They stood that way, locked in each other’s arms as moments ticked by, neither of them making any move to break the connection. Slowly, the atmosphere between them shifted from elation to sensual awareness. Their eyes locked. His brown eyes, darkened now, dipped to her lips.

“I’m going to kiss you,” he murmured. He sounded as if he was warning her, giving her a chance to back away from him. Onome had no such desire. She had dreamt of kissing him countless times, been consumed with the desire to feel his full lips glide over hers, spent nights wondering if he kissed softly and sweetly or if he plunged in, hard and rough, taking, demanding—

Before she could complete that trend of thought, his mouth descended on hers.

Excursion to Romance Novels In Color - $5 Amazon GC #Giveaway

Taken from Google.com images

Hi everyone,
   Today I'm being interviewed on Romance Novels In Color. 
   The picture is a hint of what you'll find when you join me. That's all I'm going to say about that.

I'm giving away a $5 Amazon gift card. All you'll have to do is leave a comment. See you at RNIC.

Interview with Tima Maria Lacoba author of Bloodpledge #paranormal #romance #Giveaway

After I read and reviewed Bloodgifted  by Ms. Lacoba I couldn’t miss the opportunity to have her on my blog for an interview. She's giving away a Signed Print of Bloodgifted and Silver Heart Pendant so make sure to enter to win.

What made you decide to write paranormal romance?

I've always loved that genre—it's what I read when I came home from work. There's enough reality to identify with the story and characters, and a dash of the unnatural to spike the imagination and set the pulse racing. Perfect.

How do you handle writing and everyday life?

Interview with Julia Joseph author of The Broken

I’d like to welcome the fabulous Julia Joseph. I’ve read one of her short stories, Palomino Man and got a hold of her telling her how much I enjoyed it. She writes amazing stories. I can’t wait to read her latest release The Broken which is sitting on my Kindle. I’m excited to have her on for a chat.

Nana, thank you so much for that warm welcome!  (Btw, your surprise message about PM flooded me with giddy delight.  You made my month.)

I’m going to start with one of your own interview questions, just to make sure you know you’re in the hot seat. Tell us an embarrassing (PG-13) story about yourself. 

Oh, boy.  Here we go…

I have a talent for falling—but not the kind you’re probably imagining.  I don’t trip, and I’m not clumsy.  No, I’m the kind of girl who show jumps horses and climbs cliffs, so I save my spectacular spills for those types of activities.  Anyway, as a sophomore in high school, I made the varsity volleyball team (which made me think I was more than awesome), and my new coach made us run sprints when we made mistakes.  I rarely made errors, but it just so happened that, on the day tons of high school kids packed the gym to take their yearbook pictures, a serve of mine went out of bounds.  Coincidentally, that was the one day that year we had a rainstorm in my desert hometown.  And did I mention that our gym roof leaked? 

Allow me to paint you a picture—

A young girl runs the length of the gym as fast as she can to show off for a crowd.  She thinks she’s really hot stuff.  Enter puddle on a wood floor.  Feet fly.  Butt slams.  Bones grind together.  Some little guy exclaims, “¡Ay, güey!” (“Whoa, dude!”).  Everything goes black.

The fall itself wasn’t the most embarrassing part of the whole debacle, however.  Nope.  I’d chipped a vertebra in my neck.   So, literal insult to injury, I got to endure weeks of phallic-themed nicknames (thanks to my lovely nude colored neck brace), which people screamed from right behind me to see how quickly I could turn around.  I also missed four weeks of my first varsity season.  Sigh.

That’s what conceit will get you, ladies and gents—humility served in an X-rated fashion.  And, yes, I have at least three more stories like this, but they involve cliffs and horses.  (How did my mother survive raising me?!)

Eek! What a horrible  and very embarrassing experience. I have the utmost respect for paranormal writers (not just because I’ve written a paranormal romance). How did you get into writing this genre?

I have no idea how I ended up writing paranormal fiction.  I was an avid Romance and Sci-fi kind of girl most of my life, but I’ve always felt there were things about our world that only special people could see.  Because I’ve tried for years to witness these things and never have, I guess I decided I’d create a world in which someone could see all that I had dreamt was possible.

How many books have you published?

Just one so far—The Broken.  As you said above, I’ve also had a short story, Palomino Man, published in the anthology Things That Go Bump for the Holidays.

Have you ever written a novel with a weak heroine?

Good question!  I think all my heroines believe that they are weak, at least in the beginning.  However, they tend to surprise themselves (and everyone else) with just how strong they can actually be when tested.  I think that’s how most of us are in the “real” world.  We’re as strong as our lives call us to be.

That was very well said. I might have to quote you. Which of your characters can you relate to best?

I relate best to the main characters in my novels.  (I’ve got two more in the works.)  They are usually based on me—or certain parts of me—so I find them utterly adorable, of course.  Lol.  In all seriousness, though, most of my females are based on women I know and love.  I think that keeps them real and allows me to honor the heroines in my own life.  I do take a lot of liberty with their characters, but the core of each remains intact.

Lol. I thought I was the only one who put a little bit of herself into the characters. What’s the hardest aspect about writing?

I’m a perfectionist, and that makes me SLOW.  I have learned to let a bit of my OCD go to get first drafts done, but I still find it very difficult.  I’m obsessed with finding the right verb for every sentence.  (I seriously need a dose of Frozen and Elsa when writing…)

Now I’m going to have to look up that last part because it went over my head. How do you come up with the concept for your book cover?

I love Khalil Gibran.  One of his paintings, Life is Flame, features a hand holding fire.  I showed it to my nephew (a fantastic graphic designer), and he did everything else.  The first time he showed me my cover image, I cried.  It was nothing like—and so much more than—anything I’d imagined.

Your nephew did a wonderful job with the cover. Please give us an analogy of what writing is like for you.

Writing is like having my teeth pulled while I balance on my head and people throw rocks at me. 

Perforating an ulcer is less painful.  Really.

I did not expect that answer. But then again, life is a huge surprise when dealing with Julia Joseph. Remember to pick up a copy of her book.

The Blurb

"The time before the start of the invasion dwindled, as did the fear of my own death. To calm my nerves, I checked my bow and supply of arrows. I felt for Ouriel’s knife strapped at my back, and the weight of it steadied me. I knew now, without any doubt, I could use both weapons to kill in order save the people I loved."

Born into a family of Guardians—extraordinarily gifted humans who fight demons to protect mortal souls—seventeen year old Rose Kazin shows no signs of being blessed with the supernatural talents her family has used for generations to fight. When she and her father figure, an age old celestial Warrior, are horribly wounded in a demonic ambush, Rose awakens to find a younger Warrior, Ouriel, has volunteered to stand in as her protector. She rails against his presence, but Ouriel seems interested in only one thing—teaching Rose how to protect herself from the demons she was never supposed to fight.

With his help, can Rose survive long enough to figure out who she is meant to be and why demons seem so intent on capturing her?

Buy links

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/The-Broken-Julia-Joseph/dp/1626941041

B&N:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-broken-julia-joseph/1111300705?ean=9781626941045

Author Bio

Julia Joseph taught Theatre for nine years in Texas middle and high schools, where she wrote and produced three original plays for her students.  In 2011, Julia left teaching to devote all of her energy to her own children and to writing a novel.  She earned her B. A. in English Literature and Language with a focus in Drama from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. 

Julia spends most of her free time reading, writing, and chauffeuring her kids between activities.  She lives happily with her husband and two children wherever the Army happens to station them.

Contact info

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/JuliaJoseph7

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/juliajosephauthor?ref=hl

Blog:  www.juliajoseph.net

Buy links

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/The-Broken-Julia-Joseph/dp/1626941041

B&N:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-broken-julia-joseph/1111300705?ean=9781626941045

Interview: Terri Herman-Ponce :In This Life, Book 1 in the Past Life Series $50 Amazon GC #giveaway

Today I’d like to welcome Terri Herman- Poncé to my blog. She has written a fascinating mystery/suspense which includes a past life experience. I love reading (and writing) stories with past lives so once I read the blurb I had to have her on. 

Terri will be awarding a digital copy of IN THIS LIFE (Book 1 of the Past Life Series) to a randomly drawn commenter at each stop during the tour, and a Grand Prize of a $50 Amazon gift card to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

NP: Please tell us a little about yourself.

THP: Hi, Nana. Thanks so much for having me here! I’ll start by telling you that I’ve got a romanticized, overwhelming fascination with ancient Egypt, which serves as the backdrop for In This Life. In fact, there was a period of time when I watched every show on TV that I could that dealt with the subject. I also adore red wine and a fine scotch, but was also recently introduced to sipping tequila. Ever try it? It’s nothing like I’ve ever had before. I’m the last of five children and I live with my husband and son on Long Island, and I’m a huge New York Yankees fan. In my next life, I’m coming back as an astronomer, because I’m as fascinated with the night skies as much as I am with the ancients!

NP: I like my tequila mixed in margaritas. Yummy. How did you get into writing?

THP: Oh geez. Everyone laughs when I tell this story. Years ago, I had a huge (HUGE) addiction to Star Trek: The Next Generation. So much so, that I started writing ST:TNG fanfiction. When I did it, I developed an equally huge crush on a certain character, but I wanted to write him the way I wanted and not the way the screenwriters did. Soooo…long story short, during this time I also met my current best friend who became my beta reader. And I wrote a story about having the flu and going to bed and then waking the next morning on board the Enterprise. As time passed, my best friend said to me that maybe it was time to spread my wings and write something mainstream about characters who were all mine. She even suggested I use that fanfic story as a place to start. You know, the whole “what would happen if reality wasn’t what you thought it was?” Then I got to thinking about past lives and what it might be like to have a second chance, and I mixed the two storylines together. And voila! In This Life was born.

NP: I also love Star Trek: TNG. I’m curious to know which character you rewrote. Do you remember the episode where they were all tired because—  Sorry about that, back to the interview.  Of all the places you could have chosen in the world for the story to go why Egypt?

THP: As I mentioned above, I’ve got an absolute fascination with the ancient Egyptians and the pyramids, and their whole view of life and the afterlife. The ancient Egyptians were big on body oils and perfumes (two of my favorite things), and wine and beer (two other favorite things), and I’m fascinated with how they depicted their life and their concept of afterlife through hieroglyphs. To me they’re an enigma because there’s only so much history available about them. And the thought that maybe, just maybe, there was more to these people than we give them credit for is equally intriguing. I mean, how did they build those amazing structures when so-called modern man can’t? Like I said. Fascinating.

NP: The people from ancient Egypt were an intriguing people.Do you believe in past lives?

THP: To tell you the truth, I’m on the fence about this. The emotional part of me wants to, but the logical part of me fights the idea. However, I DO believe in second chances, and if Buddhism is true in its belief of rebirth, then I’m all for it. It’s another concept I find fascinating. I’m also a true believer in karma. What we are is truly dependent upon what we think, and good will always beget good, in my mind.

NP: Interesting philosophy. We’ll have to chat more on this another time because I’d like to hear more o your opinion. Tell us one reason why people should read your books.

THP: I truly hope to entertain. To bring the reader to another place, another time, and so totally wrap them up in another world that their current one disappears. I’ve been told that In This Life is a fascinating, thought-provoking, and un-put-downable read, so my hope is that others will read the book and enjoy it as much. In This Life was a book from my heart and soul, and my wish is to share it with the world.

NP: Sounds like a book I’d enjoy reading. I like loosing myself in the worlds authors have created. Please give us an analogy of what writing is like for you.

THP: Analogy? What’s an analogy? (kidding!) Hmm…gotta think on this. Thinking…thinking…okay, I’ve got it. Sometimes writing feels like I’m trying to boil the sea. I start with an idea that I lovelovelove, and then when I get about one-third of the way into the book, I stare at the page and think, “What the heck was I thinking and how the heck am I going to get to the end?” So therein lies the sea boiling. But once I get past the middle hump, it feels more like “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” because, at that point, I’ve remembered (as I do every time I go through this process) that it’s the small steps that lead me to the big ones, which is finishing the book. And eventually I do!

Wow. That was an amazing answer. I’m not usually one to do flash questions after my big analogy question, but I can’t resist.  Which did you like better?

Happy Days or Three’s Company?

Happy Days! Total lovefest with The Fonz

Clark Gable or Cary Grant?

Oh dear. I’d have to say Clark Gable. There’s something about a dark-haired man with facial hair…

Sears or Woolworths?

Woolworths brings back wonderful memories for me.

Vinyl or cassette?

The horror in even asking such a question! V-I-N-Y-L

Michael Jackson’s Thriller or Beat it?

Thriller.

Slice or Jolt?

Neither! Gave up soda eons ago…I’m an H20 kinda girl.

WOW. That was fun! Thank you again for hosting me, and for giving me the chance to share some tidbits about myself and In This Life. SO appreciated.

I’m glad you took the time to come on. Now let’s learn a bit about Terry’s new release.

BLURB:

   

Hidden memories. Buried secrets. Resurrected revenge.

   

Psychologist Lottie Morgan knows something is wrong when she relives memories of a lover she's never had. At first she attributes them to fever-induced dreams. But when the fever disappears and the visions don’t, Lottie realizes something else is going on.

   

Then she meets Galen. Their first encounter is as intense as it is eye-opening, and his revelation that they shared a passionate relationship thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt entices Lottie into wanting to learn more about her past. Her decision, however, comes at a price. Galen may hold the answers but he could destroy the devoted, lifelong relationship Lottie has with her current lover, David.

It also could mean her death—again.

   

Someone is protecting millennia-old secrets, determined to keep them buried while exacting a revenge on Lottie for a mistake made a very long time ago. A mistake she could be destined to repeat.

   

Take a trip to mysterious ancient Egypt, where Lottie becomes caught between two lifetimes, two men, and long-buried deceptions. Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha, Anthony and Macavity-winning author, calls this paranormal suspense "Inventive, original and thought-provoking; this mystically romantic mystery will instantly intrigue."

Excerpt:

“Doctor Morgan?”

Galen’s voice soothed me into a strange calmness that intrigued and scared me. I nodded because I couldn’t find my voice.

“I am Galen Briscoe,” he said.

He held out his hand and I took it, unprepared for the heat that surged between us, and the images came hard and fast—sweaty, intertwined bodies, his hungry mouth on mine, and a desire so desperate, so insatiable, it devoured everything we were.

I tugged out of Galen’s grip, breathless and overheated and unhinged. I stared back at him and swore I could see the two of us in the depths of his sand–colored eyes. With a pounding heart, I headed for the window. I needed space and time to think, not to mention a good dose of cool, calming air.

“Take a seat,” I said, unable to restrain the huskiness in my voice. Whether he took the seat or not didn’t matter. In fact, I didn’t even care that he may have considered my immediate disregard of him as rude, and when I opened the window and felt the fresh summer breeze rush in, it did little to temper my overheated body and the fine sheen of sweat that covered it.

“Doctor Taletta Morgan,” he said, reading my diplomas from the other side of the room. “Unusual name.”

Once again his voice blanketed me in a calm that eased my alarm as quickly as his touch ignited it. It was deep and refined with a hint of an accent thrown in, and I would have asked him to continue talking just so I could keep taking pleasure in it. I closed my eyes, determined to fight the startling and primal effect he had on me, and didn’t face him until the restlessness in my body subsided.

“Taletta is a derivative of Taletha,” he said, peering over at me. “Did you know that?”

I shook my head, still unable to find my voice while some baser part of me took pleasure in his, wanting more. “No,” I said after clearing my throat. “I didn’t.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets and continued browsing around my office as if it were his own. I tracked his lean body and long legs, and the form–fitting silk T–shirt and black slacks that accentuated it. Understatedly wealthy. Supremely self–confident. And an unexpected enigma to me.

“It’s a biblical name,” he went on. “Taletha is Aramaic for little girl and is taken from the phrase taletha cumi, meaning little girl arise. Jesus spoke the phrase to bring a little girl back to life.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Terri looks for any opportunity to make stuff up. She thinks anything that can’t so easily be explained is worth an extra look and often makes a great story. She loves red wine, scotch, sunrises, Ancient Egypt, the beach—and a host of other stuff that would take too much real estate to talk about. The youngest of five children, Terri lives with her husband and son on Long Island. And, in her next life, if she hasn’t moved on to somewhere else, she wants to be an astronomer. Terri’s fascinated with the night skies almost as much as she’s fascinated with ancient Egypt.

Terri is a member of member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America, and you can read about her at http://terriponce.com/.

If you love social media, you can also find Terri on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Terri.Ponce.Author and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/TerriPonce. Come visit. She’d love to hear from you!

Links:

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Terri-Herman-Ponc%C3%A9/e/B009FMZV3K/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1394838446&sr=1-1

Make sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/03/virtual-book-tour-in-this-life-by-terri.html

Interview with Tracy Sweeney author of Living Backwards (she's has such a cool #giveaway)

Today the amazing Tracy Sweeney is here for a chat. She will be awarding a key chain that looks like the flask on the cover to three randomly drawn commenters during the tour (US ONLY). 

NP: What made you become a writer?

TS: I think I’m still trying to become a writer!  But I’ve always written—just mainly for my own entertainment.  However, letting the world in on the crazy things that happen in my head is an entirely new experience.

NP: Where did you get the idea for Living Backwards?

TS: I love time travel stories.  But in most cases, the protagonist is trying to change an event that happened in the past.  I wanted to take the point of view of someone who was trying hard not to change the past.  But can you make the same choices you made when you were a kid knowing what you know now as an adult?  I’m such a different person than I was back then.  I know I’d struggle pretending to be my teenage self.  You should have seen my hair.  Such a bad call.

NP: If you could go back in time (any time in history), which year would you go back to and why?

TS: I’m a child of the eighties.  I would love to rock a cool pair of rainbow leg warmers, a high ponytail and a satin jacket to the local roller rink.  Of course, in my mind, I’m not almost forty.  The high ponytail is hard to pull off at my age.  The jacket however…

NP: Other than Living Backwards, what is your favorite book or movie about time travel?

TS: I loved Peggy Sue Got Married.  Maybe I’m biased because I love Kathleen Turner but I think her version of an adult pretending to be a teenager is perfect.  She just needs a flask.

NP: Why a pink flask? (I’m partial to purple myself, but silver is the most common).

TS: Because I think a flask is an accessory and accessories should coordinate and sparkle.  (Purple would have been my second choice.)

NP: Please give an analogy of what writing is like for you.

TS: Writing is like therapy.   A way to quiet the chattering voices in my head.

BLURB:

Twenty-nine-year-old Jillian Cross refuses to believe that a pair of skinny jeans has led to her untimely demise. Life just isn't that cruel. But when an overly-enthusiastic attempt at squeezing herself into them leads her to fall and lose consciousness, she is faced with just that possibility. When she awakens with both a bruised ego and a bump on her head, she's not in her tiny apartment but her childhood bedroom circa 1999-the spring of her senior year in high school. Jillian knows that time travel isn't logical. But then again, neither was her decision to wear skinny jeans. As she attempts to navigate her way through the halls of Reynolds High, walking the same path and making the same choices she made years before, she knows that any change she makes can have a catastrophic effect on her future. But when she strikes up an unexpected friendship with motorcycle-riding, cigarette-smoking Luke Chambers, can she pretend to be the same shy girl she once was? At least she has her pink sparkly flask to take the edge off. One little change won't hurt, right? 

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Excerpt:

Before I rounded the corner to the rear of the gym, I knew something felt off. I just couldn’t figure out what it was. Turning the corner, I saw that for the first time all year, I wasn’t alone. A girl was sitting on one of the milk crates. Her long brown hair was hiding her face as she bent over. In her hands, dangling between her legs was what looked like a flask. She looked more like someone who belonged at Jonas’s pub than at a high school. The girl hadn’t heard me coming and I was irritated because I just wanted some peace and quiet. Grabbing a cigarette from my pack, I cleared my throat not knowing how else I could get her attention and tell her to leave. She looked up, startled, and nearly knocked the wind out of me. It was Jillian Cross. Jillian Cross was sitting on my milk crate. Behind the gym. In my place. With a flask. And it was pink.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Tracy Sweeney graduated with a degree in Management and Finance but prefers writing ridiculous things to crunching ridiculous numbers. She lives north of Boston, Massachusetts with her two young boys. Her short stories have appeared in Literary Juice, Solecisms and Slice of Life Magazines. Her debut novel, LIVING BACKWARDS, was published in January 2013.  She is currently working on her second novel which will be equally as ridiculous. 

Follow her just about everywhere:

Website

http://www.tracysweeney.net/

Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/LivingBackwards

Twitter

https://twitter.com/pink_flask

Goodreads

www.goodreads.com/pinkflask

Tumblr

Pinkflask.tumblr.com

Buy LIVING BACKWARDS

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Living-Backwards-Tracy-Sweeney/dp/1621371867/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360115782&sr=8-1&keywords=living+backwards

Virtualbookworm

http://www.virtualbookworm.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=bookstore&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=living_backwards

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/living-backwards-tracy-sweeney/1114216279?ean=9781621371861

I'm linking you to an awesome review of Living Backwards on Zee Monodee's blog that I thought was brilliant. Remember to leave a comment and stop by the other blogs on her tour to increase your chances of winning. 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/06/virtual-nbtm-tour-living-backwards-by.html

Interview and Giveaway with author Maggie Wells from Smokin’ Hot Firemen

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Today I have the honor of interviewing Maggie Wells, author of Rescue Me from the anthology Smokin' Hot Firemen. Before we start I just want to encourage you to leave a comment for chance to win one of the awesome prizes listed at the bottom of the post.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My life isn’t nearly as exciting as the bits I dream up for my characters. I spend my days toiling in a corporate job and my nights writing steamy stories. I live in Arkansas with my hubby, a couple of kids, and a menagerie of critters that includes one very spoiled house rabbit named Tim. I’m a voracious reader, a horrible housekeeper, and completely addicted to Route 44 Diet Cokes from the Sonic Drive-In.

What genre do you write?

I write erotic romance heavy on the romance end of the spectrum. I also write contemporary romance and women’s fiction as Margaret Ethridge.

Do you have any other books published?

My first erotic romance was a friends-to-lovers story called Seducing Steve. I’ve since written three Dirty Bits short stories – Spectators, Missed Connection, and Happy Endings; a twelve novella calendar series called Hot Nights in St. Blaise with Turquoise Morning Press; and short stories for the Love Letters series from Carina Press.

My non-erotic titles as Margaret Ethridge are Contentment, Commitment, Paramour, Inamorata, and Spring Chickens. I’m very excited because Commitment was chosen as a finalist for the 2013 GDRWA Booksellers Best Award!

Congratulations! How did you get involved with the Smokin' Hot Firemen anthology?

I answered the call for submissions Delilah Devlin posted for the anthology. Lucky for me, Delilah and the good people at Cleis Press liked my spin on the traditional ‘meet cute’, which in the case of Rescue Me is more a ‘meet mortifying’.

Firemen are sexy, no doubt about that. Is there another occupation that you find sexy?

I’m a sucker for the hot cops, corporate magnates, and rock star bad boys, but I think most any occupation can be sexy depending on the man. My guy in Seducing Steve owns a computer software company and is a self-professed geek, but he’s still sexy as sin. I’ve written everything from smoke jumpers to EMTs to guys who are basically paper pushers. It’s all in the attitude.

Marketing is one of the most labor intense aspects of being a writer. What advice would you give to freshly published authors about marketing their work?

Try to work ahead. It’s hard to keep up with all the marketing and promo an author has to do, so don’t leave everything to the last minute. Write blog posts and guest spots ahead of time and schedule them to post if possible.

That is some great advice. How do you boost your writer confidence when it’s low?

Oh boy. That’s a tough one. When I feel my mojo flagging I try to write something for fun. It might be a short story or an outline for a book I hope to write one day. It just needs to be something without a deadline or expectations attached. I love the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) challenge and participate each year. It’s a great opportunity to banish the inner editor and write like the wind!

If you were told you could eat desert for the very last time, what would it be?

Cookies. No question. Doesn’t matter what kind. I’ve never met a cookie I didn’t love, and I have the hips to prove it.

Please give an analogy of what writing is like for you.

I’d say writing is like untangling a kinked up necklace. I spend hours pick, pick, picking at the knot, tugging, coaxing, manipulating, and cussing. I just hope I have something shiny and pretty when the darn thing finally unravels.

BLURB:

Who can melt any woman’s heart with a single smile? The sexiest icon of all—a fireman!

They enter fiery structures with selfless courage–the very definition of the word “hero.” Women understand their allure… A soot-covered face, sweat dripping from hard, chiseled muscles, the sharp snap of suspenders—yes, only a fireman can make suspenders sexy! Delilah Devlin’s burning-hot book includes thrilling stories teeming with gorgeous firemen from some of today’s hottest romance writers. In “Saving Charlotte,” Sabrina York’s firefighting Dom rescues a woman tied to a red-hot bed; from Cathryn Fox comes “Temperature Rising” where a fire chief fulfills some very steamy fantasies; Elle James’s “Chasing Fire” sees a daring smoke-jumper parachuting into the hot zone of a forest fire then setting his girlfriend ablaze with erotic heat; and Magic Mike ain’t got nothin’ on Delilah’s own fireman-turned-exotic-dancer-for-a-night “Johnny Blaze.”

With a list of award-winning authors that includes Ily Goyanes, Shoshanna Evers, Adele Dubois, and Rachel Firasek, Delilah delivers tales of these courageous men sliding down their big poles to steal readers’ hearts! Smokin’ Hot Firemen imagines the romantic possibilities of being held against that massively muscled chest by a man whose mission is to protect and serve…

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EXCERPT

Rescue Me by Maggie Wells

When a hot fireman breaks down the wrong door, a smart woman drops her towel.

The pounding started just as Addi Mason rinsed the conditioner from her hair. Too tired to deal with Mr. Grabowski’s incessant complaining about the height of her grass, she groaned and dunked her head back under the spray. This was America, damn it. If she wanted to let her lawn grow over the two inches her nosy neighbor deemed optimum it was her business, not his.

Another round of pounding echoed through the empty house and she yanked open the shower curtain, glaring at the bathroom door. He even measured it! The man actually took a ruler and measured individual blades of grass. He claimed they were over five inches long but she wasn’t about to double-check him. Hell, five inches wasn’t enough to get any woman excited. 

She switched off the water, yanked her towel from the bar, and wrapped it around her dripping body as she climbed from the tub. The wood floors were cool as she stomped through her bedroom, ramping up to give the old man a piece of her mind.

The sound of men shouting carried through the door slowed her footsteps at the end of the hall. Had Mr. Grabowski formed some kind of posse to bring her to lawn care justice? She almost ran back to the shower but another round of rapping steeled her resolve. Knotting the bath sheet between her breasts, she marched forward to meet the enemy head-on, but drew up short when a sharp crack split the air.

Her front door exploded.

One second it was intact, the next, shards of shrapnel from the wood frame showered the rug and pinged off the walls. Addi screeched, instinctively raising her arms to shield her face. The hulking figure of a man filled the open doorway. She had barely a moment to register the vision of a firefighter in full gear before he lunged through the door, barreling straight for her. She sucked in a sharp breath and the knot unraveled. Damp terry cloth hit the floor in a heap at her feet and his hard shoulder pressed into her stomach.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

By day, Maggie Wells is buried in spreadsheets. At night, she pens tales of people tangling up the sheets. She'll tell you she's a deep down dirty girl, but you only have to scratch the surface of this mild-mannered married lady to find a naughty streak a mile wide.

Website:  http://maggie-wells.com/

One randomly drawn commenter during the tour will receive a $50 Amazon GC.

Additionally, one each of the following prizes will be awarded to randomly drawn commenters during the tour on each author’s stop. All items that require shipping are for US winners only:

Adele Dubois will award a download of REV ME UP, plus a surprise giveaway the day of her blog appearance.

Cathryn Fox will award a download of Cowboy Way.

Cynthia D’Alba will award a copy of every RS book that finaled in the RITA this year:  

          Celebrity in Death by J.D. Robb

         Dead Heat by Bronwyn Parry

         Don’t Cry for Me by Sharon Sala

         Forged in Fire by Trish McCallan

         Last Man Standing by Cindy Gerard

         Scorched by Laura Griffin

         Twisted by Laura Griffin

         Vortex by Cherry Adair

Delilah Devlin will award a handmade pendant the day of her appearance

Elle James will award a book bag, books and swag

M. Marie will award a Firemen calendar

Maggie Wells will award a pocket rocket firemen lip gloss, and downloads of her St. Blaise series books

Rachel Firasek will award a 2013 Houston Firemen Calendar

Sabrina York will award a download of her book (reader’s choice) on her blog appearance and tiara for grand prize

Tahira Iqbal will award a digital copy of The Collector

Shoshanna Evers will award an ebook of Enslaved, Book One in the Enslaved Trilogy from Simon & Schuster Pocket Star

Follow the blog tour for more chances at winning one of the fantastic prizes. The tour dates can be found at:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/06/virtual-book-tour-smokin-hot-fireman.html