APRIL:
Week 13—Ursula Grey blog --Monday, April 18
Week 14—Mindy MacKay blog--Friday 4/29
MAY:
Week 15—Dawn Brown blog--Wednesday, May 4
Week 16—Elaina Lee blog --Monday May 9
Week 17—Veronica Lynch blog, --Monday May 16
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Just a Few More Weeks--Where I'll Be
It's almost over, the blog tour that won't die. Just a few more weeks--I promise. Here are the rest of the locations.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Week 12--All Things Romantic Suspense--Guest Author Chris Redding
Marie-Nicole: What makes a great hero and how do you write him to make the reader fall in love with him?
Chris: He has to be likable. Respectful of the heroine. Maybe I make them the way I want my sons to be someday. He has to trust the heroine, but want to take care of her.
Marie-Nicole: What makes your current heroine perfect for your current hero?
Chris: Because she challenges him. A guy will go along thinking that whatever he thinks is reality. The heroine must come along and make him rethink things. Who yeses their husbands? Who agrees to all that their husbands think? No, we challenge them and they challenge us.
Marie-Nicole: What kind of research did you do for your most recent novel?
Chris: For Incendiary it was easy. My DH is a volunteer firefighter. I asked him what it was like inside a fire. I used his descriptions. Of course, he loved to talk about it.
Marie-Nicole: Tell us how you fashion a story? Do the characters come to you first or does the situation/plot premise call you? Are you an obsessive outliner or more of a go-with-the-flow kind of writer?
Chris: The plot comes first. I am very plot driven. Then I figure out the characters. I don’t have voices in my head, I have movies in my head. That all said, I am a pantser. Thru and thru. If I outline, I won’t write the book. I love to careen down the hill of the story never knowing exactly where it is going to end.
Marie-Nicole: How do you balance your writing career with you daily life?
Chris: Not well. I have moments where I focus well on my career. Other times I find it had been days since I wrote. Then you add promoting and the days are not long enough.
Marie-Nicole: Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?
Chris: Persevere. Don’t give up. And learn your craft.
Marie-Nicole: What’s coming up in the way of future releases?
Chris: In July a humorous romantic suspense called A View to a Kilt.
Marie-Nicole: What would you like to share with readers that I haven’t asked?
Chris: That I have an awesome family who supports me.
Marie-Nicole: Thanks so much for taking time to answer my questions.
Blurb: INCENDIARY by Chris Redding
Chelsea James, captain of her local first aid squad, is trying to keep the organization afloat, but someone is sabotaging her. The squad is her father’s legacy and she feels responsible to keep it going.
Jake Sweeney, back in town after a decade, is investigating the arsons he was accused of long ago. When they start again Chelsea and Jake must join forces to defeat their mutual enemy.
Jake would like to rekindle what they had before he left town, but his departure left Chelsea hurt and bewildered. To begin again, she must learn to trust him.
Her life could depend on it.
Links
Monday, March 21, 2011
Week 11--All Things Romantic Suspense--Rachel Brimble
Today my guest is Rachel Brimble, "Author of all things romantic."
Marie-Nicole: How do you go about fashioning a heroine with whom readers will be able to identify?
Rachel: I usually start with a problem or premise and then develop the right character to play the lead role – it almost like a casting session. As I write across the romance sub-genres, once I know whether I am dealing with a crime or a comedic situation or an historical, then the character I need usually comes and say “Hi!” waving madly, jumping up and down and saying, “I have the skills/personality/motivation to do what needs to be done.”
Marie-Nicole: What makes a great hero and how do you write him to make the reader fall in love with him?
Rachel: Hmm…confession time! I create the perfect man for me in that situation, with all the flaws as well! I need to fall in love with the hero first and foremost and then I just pray other will too. A great hero is a man who will stand up for what he believes in, live by his principles and protect those he loves…yum!
Marie-Nicole: What makes your current heroine perfect for your current hero?
Rachel: The book I am promoting today is Searching For Sophie; it is my first romantic suspense and first book so this is where I grew from. I learned so much when I was writing this book but most of all how important it is to make your hero and heroine two parts of the perfect.
Melanie is perfect for Kieran because she heals his past – makes him understand that it’s impossible to have control over everything, that life has a way of preventing us from getting the outcome we want sometimes.
Marie-Nicole: What kind of research did you do for your most recent novel?
Rachel: I have just finished my second Victorian romance so the research was a lot more intense for this book than it is for my contemporary novels! I have focused on the romance so the things I wanted to get right like clothing, food, transport and everything I check and re-checked using my blossoming shelf of Victorian research books.
Luckily, the main focus of the book is the struggle of the two lovers overcoming the people, culture and crime that stands in the way of them being together. Therefore, the story of fighting for liberty and real love is age old and the emotions the characters go through doesn’t change no matter when the story is set.
Marie-Nicole: Tell us how you fashion a story? Do the characters come to you first or does the situation/plot premise call you? Are you an obsessive outliner or more of a go-with-the-flow kind of writer?
Rachel: Situation/plot premise usually calls me first – although with The Sharp Points of a Triangle, my romantic comedy, the heroine popped into my head full formed and ready to go, LOL! And then I tend to write a 5 or 6 pages synopsis to use as an outline, plus a character sketch for the hero, heroine & villain.
After that, I go-with-the-flow for the first draft and then clear up the mess I’ve made in the second draft!
Marie-Nicole: How do you balance your writing career with your daily life?
Rachel: Not well! I work part-time and then spend the rest of my time writing or looking after hubby, kids and dog. Any time left after that, I MIGHT whip the vacuum round but housework is very far down the list for me…much to my mother’s chagrin!
Marie-Nicole: Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?
Rachel: Keep writing, keep submitting and most of all keep believing!
Marie-Nicole: What’s coming up in the way of future releases?
Rachel: I have a contemporary romance just released in January with Lyrical Press called Getting It Right This Time and another due out in September with them, called Paying The Piper.
Marie-Nicole: What would you like to share with readers that I haven’t asked?
I’d love more visitors to my blog where I have guests every Tuesday and Thursday as well as lots of other stuff going on in between. Come and say hi!
Searching For Sophie
Blurb:
Harbouring the secret pain of giving up her daughter for adoption thirteen years ago, Melanie Royal has hidden herself in the quiet role of Head Librarian in Layley Hill. But then a crazed admirer rips her daughter from a loving home and Melanie is thrown into a race against time to save Sophie’s life.
When Detective Inspector Kieran Joseph is put in charge of finding a missing thirteen-year-old girl, it evokes buried mistakes that he’d vowed never to repeat – and so he’ll be suspicious of everyone this time, including the girl’s sexy and achingly beautiful mother, Melanie Royal.
Marie-Nicole: How do you go about fashioning a heroine with whom readers will be able to identify?
Rachel: I usually start with a problem or premise and then develop the right character to play the lead role – it almost like a casting session. As I write across the romance sub-genres, once I know whether I am dealing with a crime or a comedic situation or an historical, then the character I need usually comes and say “Hi!” waving madly, jumping up and down and saying, “I have the skills/personality/motivation to do what needs to be done.”
Marie-Nicole: What makes a great hero and how do you write him to make the reader fall in love with him?
Rachel: Hmm…confession time! I create the perfect man for me in that situation, with all the flaws as well! I need to fall in love with the hero first and foremost and then I just pray other will too. A great hero is a man who will stand up for what he believes in, live by his principles and protect those he loves…yum!
Marie-Nicole: What makes your current heroine perfect for your current hero?
Rachel: The book I am promoting today is Searching For Sophie; it is my first romantic suspense and first book so this is where I grew from. I learned so much when I was writing this book but most of all how important it is to make your hero and heroine two parts of the perfect.
Melanie is perfect for Kieran because she heals his past – makes him understand that it’s impossible to have control over everything, that life has a way of preventing us from getting the outcome we want sometimes.
Marie-Nicole: What kind of research did you do for your most recent novel?
Rachel: I have just finished my second Victorian romance so the research was a lot more intense for this book than it is for my contemporary novels! I have focused on the romance so the things I wanted to get right like clothing, food, transport and everything I check and re-checked using my blossoming shelf of Victorian research books.
Luckily, the main focus of the book is the struggle of the two lovers overcoming the people, culture and crime that stands in the way of them being together. Therefore, the story of fighting for liberty and real love is age old and the emotions the characters go through doesn’t change no matter when the story is set.
Marie-Nicole: Tell us how you fashion a story? Do the characters come to you first or does the situation/plot premise call you? Are you an obsessive outliner or more of a go-with-the-flow kind of writer?
Rachel: Situation/plot premise usually calls me first – although with The Sharp Points of a Triangle, my romantic comedy, the heroine popped into my head full formed and ready to go, LOL! And then I tend to write a 5 or 6 pages synopsis to use as an outline, plus a character sketch for the hero, heroine & villain.
After that, I go-with-the-flow for the first draft and then clear up the mess I’ve made in the second draft!
Marie-Nicole: How do you balance your writing career with your daily life?
Rachel: Not well! I work part-time and then spend the rest of my time writing or looking after hubby, kids and dog. Any time left after that, I MIGHT whip the vacuum round but housework is very far down the list for me…much to my mother’s chagrin!
Marie-Nicole: Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?
Rachel: Keep writing, keep submitting and most of all keep believing!
Marie-Nicole: What’s coming up in the way of future releases?
Rachel: I have a contemporary romance just released in January with Lyrical Press called Getting It Right This Time and another due out in September with them, called Paying The Piper.
Marie-Nicole: What would you like to share with readers that I haven’t asked?
I’d love more visitors to my blog where I have guests every Tuesday and Thursday as well as lots of other stuff going on in between. Come and say hi!
Searching For Sophie
Blurb:
Harbouring the secret pain of giving up her daughter for adoption thirteen years ago, Melanie Royal has hidden herself in the quiet role of Head Librarian in Layley Hill. But then a crazed admirer rips her daughter from a loving home and Melanie is thrown into a race against time to save Sophie’s life.
When Detective Inspector Kieran Joseph is put in charge of finding a missing thirteen-year-old girl, it evokes buried mistakes that he’d vowed never to repeat – and so he’ll be suspicious of everyone this time, including the girl’s sexy and achingly beautiful mother, Melanie Royal.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Week 10--All Things Romantic Suspense--Sarah Ballance
Today welcome, romantic suspense author Sarah Ballance who write "Romance you've dreamed of... Suspense to keep you up at night."
Marie-Nicole: How do you go about fashioning a heroine with whom readers will be able to identify?
Sarah: Two things. First, I give them flaws. Perfection is just annoying. Second, I tap into those basic emotions and feelings we all struggle with, no matter what our backgrounds or circumstances. I think that forges a connection on an instinctive level—sort of a familiarity readers can relax into.
Marie-Nicole: What makes a great hero and how do you write him to make the reader fall in love with him?
Sarah: My guys have feelings, and they're not above admitting it. I don't know where the stereotype of the stoic, unflappable hero came from, but you won't find them in my books. For my hero, the heroine is not only his greatest strength, but also his greatest weakness. No matter the plot, that story is the heart of what I write. I think it's hard not to love a man who loves so passionately, one who can see that about himself.
Marie-Nicole: What makes your current heroine perfect for your current hero?
Sarah: RUN TO YOU's Mattie is used to getting what she wants, and Wyatt has given up on wanting anything. Her vibrant, anything goes nature is contrary to his laid back style, but neither of them is looking for anything permanent. Besides, the attraction far exceeds the differences. At the end of the story, though, it's Mattie who fills that empty space inside when she discovers she's a lot more like Wyatt than she ever expected.
Marie-Nicole: What kind of research did you do for your most recent novel?
Sarah: My "research" for RUN TO YOU actually spawned the plot. My husband and I snuck away from the kids one fall night and went for a "romantic" walk on the beach. A nor'easter blew just offshore, leaving the night almost pitch black under a thick, rolling blanket of clouds. The ocean was furious, kicking foam and spray into the wind. Now, I love the beach, but I'm not a fan on a good night—between the noise of the water and the soundproofing quality of the sand, I've just always felt someone could walk up behind me and I'd never hear them coming. On this night, that feeling was so overwhelming it almost suffocated me. Everything about that night—the storm, the angry beach, and the feeling of terror—made it to the pages of RUN TO YOU. [Feelings that affected you that strongly were a warning. I’m of the mind (from a former experience of something similar) that something bad had gone down nearby or was about to.]
Marie-Nicole: Tell us how you fashion a story? Do the characters come to you first or does the situation/plot premise call you? Are you an obsessive outliner or more of a go-with-the-flow kind of writer?
Sarah: My stories tend to jump from something I see or hear in the real world. Sometimes the trigger is pretty monumental—like the walk on the beach—while others are less obvious. The idea for one of my WIPs stemmed from a photo of a house, while the other bounded from a show I saw on The History Channel about a gun. The gun plot evolved from what my first thoughts were, but that's what they do. I let my initial idea simmer for a day or two, and in that time most of the details seem to organize themselves. I keep notes at the end of my manuscript, changing or deleting them as needed—very much a go-with-the-flow method to my madness.
Marie-Nicole: How do you balance your writing career with your daily life?
Sarah: The H and I have six kids ages nine months to 12 years and we homeschool. There is NO balance, LOL. All I ask for is a couple of hours each day to make some progress, and my husband is incredibly supportive of that goal. If he's not at work, he does everything in the world to give me that time—everything from sitting in the hall to intercept the kids to taking all six of them somewhere to give me a break. Not every man will drag a whole herd of offspring into the grocery store so mom can sit at home alone. He's a definite keeper! [For sure he’s a keeper, no argument from me.]
Marie-Nicole: Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?
Sarah: Find someone who will read your work and give you honest feedback. A good critique will point out the good with the bad, but it WILL find flaws. None of us are perfect, and anyone who says your words are isn't doing you any favors.
Marie-Nicole: What’s coming up in the way of future releases?
Sarah: I'm working on a romantic suspense that will be the first in a series. The story kicks off with the hero greeting the heroine at gunpoint, and things get a bit dicey from there. This one is full of some MOST wicked twists. I'm dying to finish it so I can hunt down a contract!
Marie-Nicole: What would you like to share with readers that I haven’t asked?
Sarah: I'd like to thank all of you who take the time to contact me and let me know what you think of my books. I'm still expecting to blink and all of this is a dream, so there are just no words to express how incredible it is to hit the net and find your emails and reviews waiting for me. (((Thank you so much for your support))). I'm often asked how close I am to finishing another book, so for those of you who'd like to follow along, you may do so by clicking here. I promise to update at least once a week! Marie-Nicole, thanks so much for having me. It's been great getting to know you, and I appreciate your hospitality. [Ditto, Sarah. Anyone who can wrangle a husband and home school six kids has all my admiration. Also have to say I love your cover. The hero looks like a young Antonio Bandaras. Hubba!]
RUN TO YOU
--"Ms. Ballance understands how to keep a reader engrossed in the story and uses her talent exquisitely. … I can't say enough about how great this book was. I rarely re-read a book but this one is already in the stack to read again." – The Romance Reviews
--"Ms. Ballance’s characters are well-defined and her depiction of the Carolina coastal area is atmospheric".-- Two Lips Reviews
--"It will mesmerize you…." – Page Flipperz
BLURB:
Mattie James can't pinpoint exactly when she lost control of her life, but the moment she decided to take it back made the front page of the local paper. Desperate to dodge the fallout— and the tabloids—she jumps at the chance to spend an off-season week in a tiny resort community by the sea. Making the trip with her ex-lover is a complication she can live with; coming face to face with a dead woman is not.
The last thing Sheriff Wyatt Reed expected to find on the storm-ravaged beach was a beautiful blonde with a jealous sidekick, but one look at Mattie left him wanting more. Their first date takes an ominous turn when he gets the call that a woman was found murdered. With a killer on the loose and a troubling lack of suspects or motive, Wyatt has to put his feelings aside to focus on the case. But his vow not to become personally involved is shattered when he discovers Mattie's life is on the line, and this time the truth leaves her with a deadly choice . . . and nowhere to run.
BUY LINKS: PDF / EPUB / Microsoft Reader / MobiPocket or Kindle
Marie-Nicole: How do you go about fashioning a heroine with whom readers will be able to identify?
Sarah: Two things. First, I give them flaws. Perfection is just annoying. Second, I tap into those basic emotions and feelings we all struggle with, no matter what our backgrounds or circumstances. I think that forges a connection on an instinctive level—sort of a familiarity readers can relax into.
Marie-Nicole: What makes a great hero and how do you write him to make the reader fall in love with him?
Sarah: My guys have feelings, and they're not above admitting it. I don't know where the stereotype of the stoic, unflappable hero came from, but you won't find them in my books. For my hero, the heroine is not only his greatest strength, but also his greatest weakness. No matter the plot, that story is the heart of what I write. I think it's hard not to love a man who loves so passionately, one who can see that about himself.
Marie-Nicole: What makes your current heroine perfect for your current hero?
Sarah: RUN TO YOU's Mattie is used to getting what she wants, and Wyatt has given up on wanting anything. Her vibrant, anything goes nature is contrary to his laid back style, but neither of them is looking for anything permanent. Besides, the attraction far exceeds the differences. At the end of the story, though, it's Mattie who fills that empty space inside when she discovers she's a lot more like Wyatt than she ever expected.
Marie-Nicole: What kind of research did you do for your most recent novel?
Sarah: My "research" for RUN TO YOU actually spawned the plot. My husband and I snuck away from the kids one fall night and went for a "romantic" walk on the beach. A nor'easter blew just offshore, leaving the night almost pitch black under a thick, rolling blanket of clouds. The ocean was furious, kicking foam and spray into the wind. Now, I love the beach, but I'm not a fan on a good night—between the noise of the water and the soundproofing quality of the sand, I've just always felt someone could walk up behind me and I'd never hear them coming. On this night, that feeling was so overwhelming it almost suffocated me. Everything about that night—the storm, the angry beach, and the feeling of terror—made it to the pages of RUN TO YOU. [Feelings that affected you that strongly were a warning. I’m of the mind (from a former experience of something similar) that something bad had gone down nearby or was about to.]
Marie-Nicole: Tell us how you fashion a story? Do the characters come to you first or does the situation/plot premise call you? Are you an obsessive outliner or more of a go-with-the-flow kind of writer?
Sarah: My stories tend to jump from something I see or hear in the real world. Sometimes the trigger is pretty monumental—like the walk on the beach—while others are less obvious. The idea for one of my WIPs stemmed from a photo of a house, while the other bounded from a show I saw on The History Channel about a gun. The gun plot evolved from what my first thoughts were, but that's what they do. I let my initial idea simmer for a day or two, and in that time most of the details seem to organize themselves. I keep notes at the end of my manuscript, changing or deleting them as needed—very much a go-with-the-flow method to my madness.
Marie-Nicole: How do you balance your writing career with your daily life?
Sarah: The H and I have six kids ages nine months to 12 years and we homeschool. There is NO balance, LOL. All I ask for is a couple of hours each day to make some progress, and my husband is incredibly supportive of that goal. If he's not at work, he does everything in the world to give me that time—everything from sitting in the hall to intercept the kids to taking all six of them somewhere to give me a break. Not every man will drag a whole herd of offspring into the grocery store so mom can sit at home alone. He's a definite keeper! [For sure he’s a keeper, no argument from me.]
Marie-Nicole: Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?
Sarah: Find someone who will read your work and give you honest feedback. A good critique will point out the good with the bad, but it WILL find flaws. None of us are perfect, and anyone who says your words are isn't doing you any favors.
Marie-Nicole: What’s coming up in the way of future releases?
Sarah: I'm working on a romantic suspense that will be the first in a series. The story kicks off with the hero greeting the heroine at gunpoint, and things get a bit dicey from there. This one is full of some MOST wicked twists. I'm dying to finish it so I can hunt down a contract!
Marie-Nicole: What would you like to share with readers that I haven’t asked?
Sarah: I'd like to thank all of you who take the time to contact me and let me know what you think of my books. I'm still expecting to blink and all of this is a dream, so there are just no words to express how incredible it is to hit the net and find your emails and reviews waiting for me. (((Thank you so much for your support))). I'm often asked how close I am to finishing another book, so for those of you who'd like to follow along, you may do so by clicking here. I promise to update at least once a week! Marie-Nicole, thanks so much for having me. It's been great getting to know you, and I appreciate your hospitality. [Ditto, Sarah. Anyone who can wrangle a husband and home school six kids has all my admiration. Also have to say I love your cover. The hero looks like a young Antonio Bandaras. Hubba!]
RUN TO YOU
--"Ms. Ballance understands how to keep a reader engrossed in the story and uses her talent exquisitely. … I can't say enough about how great this book was. I rarely re-read a book but this one is already in the stack to read again." – The Romance Reviews
--"Ms. Ballance’s characters are well-defined and her depiction of the Carolina coastal area is atmospheric".-- Two Lips Reviews
--"It will mesmerize you…." – Page Flipperz
BLURB:
Mattie James can't pinpoint exactly when she lost control of her life, but the moment she decided to take it back made the front page of the local paper. Desperate to dodge the fallout— and the tabloids—she jumps at the chance to spend an off-season week in a tiny resort community by the sea. Making the trip with her ex-lover is a complication she can live with; coming face to face with a dead woman is not.
The last thing Sheriff Wyatt Reed expected to find on the storm-ravaged beach was a beautiful blonde with a jealous sidekick, but one look at Mattie left him wanting more. Their first date takes an ominous turn when he gets the call that a woman was found murdered. With a killer on the loose and a troubling lack of suspects or motive, Wyatt has to put his feelings aside to focus on the case. But his vow not to become personally involved is shattered when he discovers Mattie's life is on the line, and this time the truth leaves her with a deadly choice . . . and nowhere to run.
BUY LINKS: PDF / EPUB / Microsoft Reader / MobiPocket or Kindle
Author links:
Website
Website
Monday, March 07, 2011
Week 9 All Things Romantic Suspense, Author Leanne Dyck
Author Leanna Dyck's self-description is, "I reside with ideas. I craft with dreams."
Marie-Nicole: What kind of research did you do for your most recent novel?
Leanne: One of the research topics was Icelandic folklore. I found Nelson S. Gerrard’s The Icelandic Heritage very helpful.
Marie-Nicole: Tell us how you fashion a story? Do the characters come to you first or does the situation/plot premise call you? Are you an obsessive outliner or more of a go-with-the-flow kind of writer?
Leanne: Interesting question, I began working on The Sweater Curse so long ago that it’s difficult for me to remember which came first. It could be possible that all elements of the story came to me at once.
I’m a very flexible outliner.
Marie-Nicole: How do you balance your writing career with you daily life?
Leanne: I keep business hours—seven days a week, seven hours a day I work on my writing career.
Marie-Nicole: Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?
Leanne: Make a daily commitment to write, read and work on your business. Believe in the power of your words and others will as well.
Marie-Nicole: What’s coming up in the way of future releases?
Leanne: Currently, I’m working on a young adult adventure story Turning. I hope to have it ready for submission by the end of June.
Marie-Nicole: What would you like to share with readers that I haven’t asked?
Leanne: The Sweater Curse has received a four and a half star rating on Amazon. Here is one of the reviews…
Lou Allin writes:
The Sweater Curse: A Modern Edda
"Leanne Dyck has crafted a tale as exotic and existential as Danish author Isak Dinesen's."
(click on the link for the full review)
Blurb:
Aspiring knitwear designer Gwen Bjarnson is stuck in Purgatory. To escape, she must re-examine her life, journey through her past and right a wrong.
But which wrong?
Young and in love, she works to establish her career, except fate has different plans.
One rash act and she loses everything. Never resting, always seeking, and yearning for what she can no longer have, Gwen faces the truth: if she remains, others are destined to die.
How will she solve the mystery before it is too late?
Excerpt:
This isn't Heaven. It isn't Hell. And I'm not alive.
Picture this: a bus stop, tons of people packed into the same small space all waiting to continue their journey. Many buses stop here. Some passengers get off, others get on. Young children with sickly white complexions huddle together in the shelter. Teenagers with rope burns around their necks get off the bus. Old men with bullet holes climb on.
Throughout this confusion, the only constant is me. I remain alone.
Why?
I don't know, but I must find the reason. I must examine my life to discover the momentary lapse. The wrong I've committed. The task I've neglected. It's my only means of escape.
Buy links:
Decadent Publishing:
Amazon:
Smashwords:
Marie-Nicole: What kind of research did you do for your most recent novel?
Leanne: One of the research topics was Icelandic folklore. I found Nelson S. Gerrard’s The Icelandic Heritage very helpful.
Marie-Nicole: Tell us how you fashion a story? Do the characters come to you first or does the situation/plot premise call you? Are you an obsessive outliner or more of a go-with-the-flow kind of writer?
Leanne: Interesting question, I began working on The Sweater Curse so long ago that it’s difficult for me to remember which came first. It could be possible that all elements of the story came to me at once.
I’m a very flexible outliner.
Marie-Nicole: How do you balance your writing career with you daily life?
Leanne: I keep business hours—seven days a week, seven hours a day I work on my writing career.
Marie-Nicole: Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?
Leanne: Make a daily commitment to write, read and work on your business. Believe in the power of your words and others will as well.
Marie-Nicole: What’s coming up in the way of future releases?
Leanne: Currently, I’m working on a young adult adventure story Turning. I hope to have it ready for submission by the end of June.
Marie-Nicole: What would you like to share with readers that I haven’t asked?
Leanne: The Sweater Curse has received a four and a half star rating on Amazon. Here is one of the reviews…
Lou Allin writes:
The Sweater Curse: A Modern Edda
"Leanne Dyck has crafted a tale as exotic and existential as Danish author Isak Dinesen's."
(click on the link for the full review)
Blurb:
Aspiring knitwear designer Gwen Bjarnson is stuck in Purgatory. To escape, she must re-examine her life, journey through her past and right a wrong.
But which wrong?
Young and in love, she works to establish her career, except fate has different plans.
One rash act and she loses everything. Never resting, always seeking, and yearning for what she can no longer have, Gwen faces the truth: if she remains, others are destined to die.
How will she solve the mystery before it is too late?
Excerpt:
This isn't Heaven. It isn't Hell. And I'm not alive.
Picture this: a bus stop, tons of people packed into the same small space all waiting to continue their journey. Many buses stop here. Some passengers get off, others get on. Young children with sickly white complexions huddle together in the shelter. Teenagers with rope burns around their necks get off the bus. Old men with bullet holes climb on.
Throughout this confusion, the only constant is me. I remain alone.
Why?
I don't know, but I must find the reason. I must examine my life to discover the momentary lapse. The wrong I've committed. The task I've neglected. It's my only means of escape.
Buy links:
Decadent Publishing:
Amazon:
Smashwords:
Author links
Saturday, March 05, 2011
New Contest to Celebrate Selling My House
Celebrate with me. My house has closed as of 3/4/11, and in this tough market, that's a very big deal. For the next four weeks on Friday, I'll give away a copy of your choice of my current and/or backlist. All you have to do is sign up for my newsletter (Yahoo loop). It's announce only, so there's not a lot of useless chatter.
The first giveaway will take place on March 11. Please note, some of the books are digital only and may not be available in all desired formats.
The first giveaway will take place on March 11. Please note, some of the books are digital only and may not be available in all desired formats.
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