Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Guest: Debra Jayne East

Crush

I’m not talking about the strawberry carbonated beverage kind. I’m talking about the weak in the knees, heart palpitating, swooning I’ll name my firstborn child after you crush. Everyone has them at sometime in their life.

I divide crushes in two categories. The first one is a fantasy crush; the other is a real life crush. A fantasy crush is when you go crazy over a singer, band, actor or other celebrity. Usually, it just sells a lot of movies and albums. A real life crush is a friend, a teacher or stranger you meet and are attracted to. It rarely leads up to anymore than that. As a matter of fact, the majority of crushes never get revealed at all! Let me share with you a past crush of mine, which will tell you how old I am, but at this point age is just a number!

First, I think I had a crush on this guy because my mother did. He was the lead intern in a show named after him and women went nuts over his weekly show. Can you guess ladies? It was Dr.Kildare! Played by Richard Chamberlin, he sure looked great in a white lab coat that’s for sure. There was something very appealing about the show that aired to audiences in the sixties.

These days, crushes means lots of money for Hollywood. All you have to say is Edward and Jacob and everyone knows there the two leading men from the Twilight fame.

So, who is my crush these days? Wouldn’t you know I had to create one for myself! I got tired of looking! I decided not to be greedy though and share him with you.

His name is David Martin and he is the male lead in my paranormal romance novel, Radiance: Love after Death.

Marena Jacobs married her high school sweetheart and thought Ben was her one true love. After being together for years and having a son together their marriage ends in a bitter divorce. She never imagined she would be alone in her forties.

Driving home from work one night in a rainstorm, her car crashes and she is shocked to be experiencing the last seconds of her life. She could feel herself floating and staring down at the life that had once belonged to her.

Months down the road after her accident recovery, Marena meets a stranger who seems to be rather different from most men. He is tall, kind hearted and not afraid to take risk. His name is David and he just happens to be totally blind, although that never stops him from doing anything.

Never expecting to be attracted to someone after losing Ben, Marena finds herself fantasizing about his touch and his kiss not long after they meet. When she finally realizes he has fallen in love with her, she finds out he is the last person on earth she should fall in love with, ever. Their secret crush on each other nearly destroys everything they thought love would be.

So, does David sound sexy? Believe me, he is! I created David with everything you could want in a man. He’s tall, good looking and in his sixties although he does not look a day over forty-one! {Hey, Edward Cullen was over a hundred!}

Did I say that he was a virgin? Yes, you heard me...a virgin! Might as well make it interesting!

So, that ladies, is my fantasy crush. I hope you will want to read David and Marena’s love story. For the meantime, comment on this blog about the interview or about your crush and you’ll be put in a drawing to win this e-book for free!

It’s been a pleasure being here today!

Friday, April 13, 2012

GUEST: Kenny Scudero

Author Bio:

Comfortably Awkward is Kenny Scudero's debut self-published novel. He is a twenty-two year old author from New York City who looks forward to a bright future in writing. Kenny recently graduated from St. John's University where he majored in Sport Management. At St. John's, Kenny was Sports Editor for the University newspaper. After graduating from St. John’s, Kenny had trouble finding a job and wrote “Comfortably Awkward” based off that frustration. He is currently working on his second novel.

You can visit Kenny’s website at www.kennyscudero.com for more information.


About the Book:

For Albert Ferenzo, life is a series of ironic events that may or may not have a reason behind them. While struggling to find a niche for himself, Albert blames the corporate world for hindering his dream of making money and living a prosperous life. After playing the good guy his entire life, Albert decides that the only way to get ahead in the world is to be the bad guy. Albert questions his own fate as he drives himself to insanity in an effort to find happiness. The destinies of Albert and everyone around him intertwine as he finally realizes what life is all about or at least, he thinks he does in this revolt against normality.

Interview :

  1. How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing ever since I can remember. My earliest memory of writing a story was in the third grade. We were assigned to write a page of anything we wanted. It could have been a story or a list of things we liked at the time. I wound up writing a three page story about a boy who finds an emerald. He then wakes up and realizes he was dreaming and finds that the emerald is in his pocket. I never looked back after the emerald story.

  1. How long have you been a published author?

Only a few months. I self-published my first book and it became available on January 9th, 2012.

  1. What titles do you have available?

“Comfortably Awkward” is my first and only novel at the moment.

  1. What made you choose the subject of this book?

It’s a very personal book because it’s based upon what I was going through in my life. It’s a serious, emotional story but at the same time it’s filled with strange, ironic occurrences. These kinds of things happen to me in real life so it would only make sense for me to write about them.

  1. Do you have any new titles coming soon? Will you be venturing into the area of fiction anytime soon?

I’m working on my next fiction novel at the moment and it’s not going to be as quirky and humorous as “Comfortably Awkward” is. It’s going to be more of a post-apocalyptic psychological thriller. I’m also working on a biography for a good friend of mine. He has been through it all between experiencing tragedies all through his life, being a firefighter, losing a best friend on September 11th 2001, and being a high-school football coach. I’m hoping to release both of them by the end of this year or beginning of next year.

  1. What is your favourite genre and why?

I think humorous fiction is my favorite genre. Often, people think that humorous fiction means the book is just a comedy but that’s not true at all. To me, humorous fiction is more about seeing the irony in serious situations. There’s still emotion and great writing involved, but there’s some things in life you just have to laugh at and I think that’s what humorous fiction is.

  1. What, to you, is the most exciting part of the writing process?

Creating a new world or a new character is my favorite part. You get to create your own rules and your own characteristics of the people and places in your story. You can write things that are true, kind of true, and not true at all at the same time. I love brainstorming and just thinking of all kinds of ideas I could use for a character or story and it isn’t until I actually begin writing the story when things actually materialize and solidify. Creation is an amazing thing and I love that I am able to create different places and people with words on a piece of paper.

  1. If you could co-author a book with anyone, who would you choose and why?

George Orwell. A lot of times I will be reading one of his books and I feel like I could have written that sentence or that paragraph. I feel really connected to many of his words and I think that my ideas are similar to his.

  1. Where can readers find you on the web?

You can check out my website: www.kennyscudero.com where I blog and there’s some stuff about me and my book on there. You can check out my book on Amazon here:

http://www.amazon.com/Comfortably-Awkward-Kenny-Scudero/dp/1467989053/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328831065&sr=8-1

Follow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/KennyScudero

My Virtual Book Tour: http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2012/03/11/pump-up-your-book-presents-comfortably-awkward-virtual-book-publicity-tour-april-2012/

Thanks so much for being my guest.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

GUEST: A.K. Alexander

A.K. Alexander

I started writing when I was nine-years-old. I used to write short stories on my dad’s notepads. One day he read one and he said to me, “You are a writer.” It stuck. My dad is still my biggest supporter and he is also my mentor in many ways. I went to college at The University of Southern California. My parents though didn’t think that “creative writing” at USC was a major that would likely be lucrative in the long run, so I figured I would be logical and look at writing in the journalistic field. God (the Universe), etc. had a different plan for me. Soon after I graduated from USC I gave birth to my first son. He was six weeks premature and he had some health issues, which caused me to decide that going into a career at that time would not benefit my son. So, I stayed home with him and I wrote my first book. That first book is tucked away in a box somewhere because it’s pretty darn bad, but it gave me the confidence I needed to know that I could start, write, and finish a book. From that point on, it took me twelve years to become a published author and several manuscripts. It has been a wonderful and amazing process, and although many challenges have presented themselves along the way, I have never quit writing. It is my passion!

My other passion is Horses. These amazing animals are very dear to my heart and I have been known to take in “strays.” My daughter and I are very active in the horse world. My daughter is involved in pony club and three day eventing.

I enjoy work with other writers when I can , especially kids. I designed a program for young writers to help them learn how to write short stories and picture books to writing complete novellas for older kids. I have mentored several students now and it’s a joyful experience to see young writers and their creative minds at work. It is something I am working on expanding with some local teachers in my area.

Family and friends are extremely important to me. I am the proud mother of three amazing kids who have always supported me and are just great, awesome human beings (yes, I know I sound like every mother in the world about their kids, but I really mean it). My husband is my best friend and a very patient man, which is a real positive—he is married to a writer after all. We also have three dogs, a kitty, and eight horses.

When not writing, riding, or being a taxi-cab driver for my youngest, I try to find time to do a little yoga, meditate or cooking. I love cookbooks and cooking!

A.K.’s recent release is Daddy’s Home.

You can visit her website at www.michelescott.com/books/ak-alexander.

About Daddy’s Home

A KILLER STALKS HIS PREY…
A calculating and deadly killer is in search for what he terms as his perfect family. Preying upon single mothers and their innocent children, the police have dubbed him “The Family Man.”

HE WATCHES THEM…HE TAKES THEM…
He plays out his role as the perfect father. When things don’t go so perfect in his insane fantasy world, the family man kills.

HOLLY JENNINGS IS ON THE CASE…
Crime Scene Investigator Holly Jennings of the San Diego Police Department is determined to track him down and see that justice is served. With Holly being a single mother herself, this man’s crimes are deeply personal to her, and turn more so when a friend and her daughter become the latest victims of “The Family Man.”

Along with tracking an evil killer, Holly is dealing with her own internal demons. She is raising her daughter Chloe alone after the death of her husband–a death she feels guilty for.

To complicate her life further, Holly is doing her best to avoid possibly falling in love again with charming veterinarian Brendan O’Neil. As Holly delves deeper into solving the murders, she finds herself being sucked into a game of cat and mouse by “The Family Man,” that may lead her down a dark path too horrible to bear. One that may cost her gravely-her family, her new found love, and even her life.

How long have you been writing?

Since I was a kid, but as a full length fiction author for twenty years.

How long have you been a published author?

Eight years

What titles do you have available?

I have six titles in The Wine Lover’s Mysteries and eight titles under A.K. Alexander. I also have a non-fiction book, a children’s book, and a contemporary fiction book, as well as a new release out in April. I have a total of 18 titles available. You can find a complete list of books on my website at http://www.michelescott.com.

What made you choose the subject of this book?

I chose it because I was a single parent and this idea would not leave me alone. I felt compelled to write it.

Do you have any new titles coming soon? Will you be venturing into the area of fiction anytime soon?

I do have a new release out in April: THE GREY TIER: A DEAD CELEB MYSTERY

What is your favourite genre and why?

Mystery and thrillers. I enjoy the suspense and to kept a bit on edge.

What, to you, is the most exciting part of the writing process?

Writing dialogue. I love good dialogue. I love the entire process.

If you could co-author a book with anyone, who would you choose and why?

I am co-authoring two books right now. I am doing a thriller with Andrew E. Kaufman who is also an internationally bestselling thriller author. He lives only a mile from me, writes edge of your seat thrillers and is just a super fun and great guy. I am also co-authoring a mystery with a friend of mine who has not published yet but who is a fabulous writer and has a great humorous voice, which is what this story called for. Her name is Barbara Williams and we expect to have the mystery out in the fall of 2012.

Where can readers find you on the web?

Either on my website at http://www.michelescott.com where readers can also connect with me on goodreads, facebook and twitter. Readers can also visit my blog at http://www.adventuresnwriting.blogspot.com

Thanks so much for being my guest.

Thank You for hosting me! I really appreciate it.

My new release is THE GREY TIER; A DEAD CELEB MYSTERY. Here is a little info on it: Sookie Stackhouse Meets The Ghost Whisperer

Introducing Evie Preston: Small-town girl and under-the-radar healer, currently trapped in a po-dunk Texas town but yearning for something more. When fate gives her the opportunity to move to Hollywood to follow her dreams, Evie finds herself navigating through the land of glitz and glamour, and the realm of (dead) celebrities…

Raised in Brady, Texas by her minister father and her beauty shop-owner mother, Evie has been trying get out of town for years. When an old family friend gives her an unexpected gift on her birthday, Evie finally gets the chance to start fresh out west. Against her father’s wishes, she packs up her guitar, her dog Mama Cass, and heads for California.

Once in L.A., Evie finds a singing gig at a local dive bar where she meets a slew of

interesting characters including the owner himself, a former child star with a hidden past. She also scores a day job doing make-up for a famous and foul-mouthed pop diva. One of the job perks includes house sitting at a Hollywood Hills mansion. But what Evie doesn’t know is the house is also home to some famous celebrity spirits, including that of former Grunge rocker, Lucas Minx.

As if things weren’t complicated enough, Evie finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery and discovers she’s being targeted by some nasty spirits. And to top things off, she’s developed a Texas-sized crush on her hot, but very dead, roommate, Lucas.

Maybe her dad was right and the City of Angels really is the City of Devilsall of them after her.


Thursday, April 05, 2012

Locks of Love & Shayla Black join forces for Charity


******** LIVE AUCTION ********

APRIL 8TH 2012 = START TIME: 9AM EST ---- END TIME: 3PM EST.

BID HIGH AND BECOME THE SOLE OWNER OF AN ADVANCED COPY OF 'MINE TO HOLD' FROM THE WICKED LOVERS SERIES, SIGNED BY NYT BEST SELLER, SHAYLA BLACK BEFORE ITS JUNE 2012 RELEASE!!!!!!!

As you know, we are raising funds for a very worthy charity in support of a very special roleplayer who underwent surgery for cancer recently. St Judes is a Childrens hospital that is in need of some serious funds. On April 8th at 3PM EST a series of before and after pictures supplied by fans and rpers sending their hair donations to the charity locks of love will also be displayed along with the winning bidder. We wish you all the best of luck.

HOW TO BID/ENTER:

We will have a BIDDING ENTRY AUCTION on APRIL 8TH 2012 WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 9AM EST AND END AT 3PM EST. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS INBOX SHOCK DOOMSDAY BRETHREN WITH YOUR DONATION OFFER. THE HIGHEST AMOUNT RECEIVED BY 3PM EST WILL WIN THE BOOK.

PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU ARE THE HIGHEST BIDDER YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY THE AMOUNT YOU OFFERED INTO THE ST JUDES DONATION FUND VIA PAYPAL BEFORE YOUR COPY IS SENT. IN THE EVENT OF NON PAYMENT, THE OPTION WILL MOVE ON TO THE SECOND HIGHEST BIDDER. THE FUND RAISER LINK IS DISPLAYED AT THE END OF THIS MESSAGE. SHOULD YOU WISH TO MAKE ANY DONATIONS, ANY AND ALL AMOUNTS ARE WELCOMED. THANK YOU.




Tuesday, April 03, 2012

50 Shades of Love

Does Love Have Rules?

Most people would immediately say no to that question, but for others it’s a logical query to which the response is “of course” with no hesitation at all in the response. Is it chosen lifestyle or outlook that makes it cut and dried for people? I tend to think we ALL have certain rules of life that do in fact pertain to the way we perceive love. For some fidelity is a deal-breaker, others it’s material comfort, the list is as myriad as people themselves.

Where is all this coming from, you wonder? Well, recently a friend suggested I read a trilogy of books called Fifty Shades of Grey and I decided I’d take his advice and check them out, his last recommendation to me was Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed series and I’ve fallen totally in love with them! I did some research before I bought the Fifty Shades books, and even then, I wasn’t entirely sure I was wading in with any real enthusiasm.

What I discovered when I began to read reviews and observations about the three novels that comprise this set is that people have a vehement love or hate response to the books. There is virtually no middle ground in the reviews, and I read quite a few! Curiosity won out in the end and I bought them, and started the first novel that night. Chapter One, Book One–and I can’t say I was impressed in the least, honestly. It wasn’t the story that put me off, it was the writing style, which is very unpolished and in need of editing. However, and yes that word is crucial at this stage, the mercenary in me had just put out $35 for these books, so I wasn’t prepared to give up so easily. Plus, I was still curious about all those five-star reviews, wasn’t I?

By the time I got to chapter three, the writing style was less intrusive to the flow of the story, and the characters had come to life, and they ARE very intriguing. Salvation. I’ve finished the first book in record time for me, and now it’s time to consider all those reviews, as well as the material that prompted them.

The novels are labelled as BDSM, erotica, romance, and probably a few less “genre” standard names, so those brands are part of the review complaints in some cases. BDSM, it’s noted many times, is not how it is portrayed in these books–the author doesn’t know or understand the lifestyle, she doesn’t respect the lifestyle, etc. From where I’m sitting–and I state categorically that this is just MY opinion–this story has little to nothing to do with a lifestyle, and everything to do with the falling in love process for two very, very different people. One is an innocent who has never been in love, or in a sexual relationship before–and she falls for a guy who’s been used as a Submissive by an older woman, and is now convinced he’s a Dominant, so behaves accordingly.

The “flaw” as it were in this love story is that both are lying to themselves and each other much of the time. Christian Grey has a contract full of “rules of engagement” for his chosen partners, and mostly he’s abided by them without question. Anastasia Steele is young, inexperienced, and a classic romantic. She wants the hearts and flowers, and the passion, but is playing well out of her league with Christian. She is at that stage where she will do “anything for love” and enters into the contract after much fear and negotiation with her new Master. Before they’ve even signed their agreement, Christian is breaking his own rules, over and over. Ana is never going to be a proper Submissive, she’s strong-willed and defies him constantly. Her fears and her passion are at war from the moment they meet.

So, from what I have seen in book one, this is a complex love affair with two messed up people who talk about trust, but rarely embrace the true depth of what it is to trust totally in someone you love. She tries hard to be what he wants, but she is also trapped in what she wishes he was, her version of a “normal” lover. It’s easier to understand and like Christian than it is Anastasia, he’s the dominant character in the story–no pun intended. But, the reviews and the impassioned hate some people have levelled at the books is also a point of interest, at least to me.

For a book to engender so much outrage and disgust in some, while others sigh with contentment is fascinating. Art is always subjective, and for better or for worse, written word is an art. If you really react so violently to something that you spew pages of hate at it, it’s clearly struck a nerve in your psyche, and not a good one. I have to wonder how much individual fear is guiding the pens with many of these reviewers? And if you are that afraid of yourself and your desires, is it the author’s fault for pointing them out to you? Open-mindedness is the greatest gift we are given as creatures of thought and intelligence, as is our free will. No one can truly force you to do a thing voluntarily that you are not on some level wanting to do. Personal hang-ups have coloured a lot of reviews for many, many literary works–throughout time. Step back, and look closely at your motivations when you want to trash someone’s work, you may learn more about yourself than you ever expected or wanted, but you have to be honest from the start.

Personally, going back to the original question, I think love does have rules. They are as unique and individual as the people in the relationship. What we are willing to accept from one lover we may never accept from another, so there is no right or wrong, only the personal choices that exist between two people who are intimately involved. And, with regard to E.L. James and her “Fifty Shades of Grey” I am very happy I swallowed my initial reaction and stayed with the story. I can’t wait to get buried in book two this evening when I’m done with my work.

So, friends and readers, what are YOUR thoughts on this subject?