Teaser Sign Up Time

Yes, I realize this is a day late, but . . . umm . . . I have no excuse. I just forgot. Anyway, the rules are to post no more than a couple short paragraphs from your current work-in-progress or already published novel. The participants will hop around and make comments.

Have fun!

Posts should be live by 12:00 AM Eastern on March 3.

Tools & Tips ~ The Indie Network

The Indie Network

by Frankie Rose

Self-publishing is a long, lonely road. Right?

This can be so true. When I first set out to publish my work on my own, I was exactly that: on my own. I had my book, zero patience, and no clue what I was doing. I jumped in with both feet, setting a release date for my Amazon debut, but it was only when I started thinking about sales and how wonderfully I was going to do that I began to panic. There are over 1.5 million books on Amazon. Even in my blissful naivety, one question plagued me: how were people going to even know my book was there? It was around this time that I really picked up on how much work I had ahead of me. I did my research. I needed a book tour and a publicist, or at least some clue about marketing. Did I have a clue about marketing?  

The resounding answer to that question was most definitely no.

So, I pushed back my book release and started searching out book blogs that would review my book. There were thousands of awesome sites I wanted to participate, but I started hitting brick walls. “No Indie Authors Allowed!” were the larger-than-life words spray painted on those walls. I kicked at them, I scratched, I tried to knock them down every way I knew how. I’ll admit it was a mostly futile exercise, but I did have a few victories. People started reading my work, and all of a sudden I realised that I wasn’t alone anymore. I started collecting people.  People who would email me to find out how I was going and what progress I was making. People who had read Sovereign Hope and enjoyed it, and wanted to see it do well.

I admit, I never considered that there might be a community of people out there, supporting each other on their respective journeys. I had heard horror stories about indie authors back-stabbing and leaving purposefully nasty reviews on websites and blogs just to drag them down. What I found was the exact opposite. I was blown away when my small collection of supporters grew and grew, and as my book release approached, I was humbled by the amount of help I received in spreading the word. Maybe, I figured, this wasn’t such a long, lonely journey after all.

A plethora of wonderful authors gave me advice and pointed me in the right direction when I got a little lost, and I have built some incredible relationships with them over the past nine months. My second book release was so much easier, because I had a network of friends at my back, ready to buoy me up, talk me down off the ledge when I needed it, and to kick my ass when I needed that, too. Which was often.

It quickly became apparent that this whole Indie thing was so much easier when you had people to help you through it. My purpose in the indie community evolved, so that I was doing what I could to help others who were starting out on their own journeys, shaky legs and all. There was great satisfaction in that, and I felt blessed to be able to share the knowledge and support that had been given to me when I needed it.

Myself and a few other girls put our heads together. Wouldn’t it be great if there was an organised body that people could turn to when they needed answers or feedback? The groundwork was laid out by the brilliant Chelsea Starling and Jordan Rosenfeld, and over a period of months Indie-Visible came into being. Our motto, Literary Justice For All, really said it all. We wanted equality and readily available encouragement for everyone who was brave enough to pour their souls onto the paper and send it out into the world. It shouldn’t matter whether or not a big publishing house deemed it ‘right for them’.

I’m not saying becoming published author through traditional avenues isn’t a worthwhile goal. It’s one I’m sure we all dream of occasionally, but there are so many benefits to being an independent writer. Gone are the days when an author can only feel validated if one of the big six picks up their work and stamps it with their seal of approval. There is probably as much chance of you winning the lottery as that happening, with traditional publishers receiving thousands of queries each month. And I don’t like those odds.

With resources like Indie-Visible at our fingertips, there is no reason why our books should go unread, or not receive the attention they deserve. Diversity is a wonderful thing, and we have certainly benefited from the eclectic mix of people who have joined the Indie-Visible ranks. Professional editors, PR experts, graphic designers, book trailer makers—there are so many ways we have found to help launch each other with our individual skill-sets. With so few lottery winners, we have all decided to go out and build our own luck from the ground up. Sure, it’s hard work. Blood gets spilled and the odd tear is shed from time to time, but that’s just life.

I’m willing to risk being trite when I utilise the old saying, Nothing worth doing is ever easy.  It’s clichéd, but remarkably relevant.  And with the invaluable community of independent authors out there helping each other and taking such joy in another’s success, there is no reason why we should ever struggle on our journeys alone. Swing by and check out the amazing individual stories of the Indie-Visible crew. Our stories and our experiences are so very different, and we would love to help you build and create your own.

Literary Justice For All!

You can learn more about Frankie Rose on her website and here is the link for indie-visible.

Indie-Licious Interview: Laura AH Elliott has a Winner in Winnemucca!

I love writing about enchanted road trips, shadow worlds, and alien romance while eating lots of popcorn. I live in a tree house on the central California coast. After twenty-plus years as a freelance graphic designer/animator with clients including E! Entertainment Television and The Los Angeles Times, I crossed over into the world of publishing non-fiction and followed my heart to the world of fiction. You can find me on my blog Laurasmagicday.wordpress.com, on Facebook and @Laurawriting and on Goodreads too!

I'm the author of the Shadow Series & the Starjump Series. 13 on Halloween (Shadow Series #1) is about a girl who gets a birthday gift that's literally out of this world. I love this book because it takes a look at one girl's quest for popularity, no matter what the cost. Shadow Slayer (Shadow Series #2), is my new release and is now available as an audiobook too. I'm really excited about this book because Roxie is one year older and finds the agony of fitting in at high school nothing compared to saving the world from the shadow onslaught. Moon Killers, book 3 is due to release this spring. Transfer Student (Starjump Series #1) is an intergalactic tale of beauty and the geek. This book is near and dear to me because it explores the greatest mystery in the galaxy--what do boys think about girls? And, vice-versa. Ashley & Rhoe solve this mystery by swapping lives. I'm the author of a couple stand alone novels too. Winnemucca, a small-town fairy tale is inspired by my life-long love of a little-known town and my equal love of enchanted teenage road trips. I love this book because it's about Ginny awakening to her own intuition. The Seven Caves & Other Spine-Tingling Short Stories, is a compilation of my most popular ghost stories. Recently, a lost excerpt from Shadow Slayer has been featured in a paranormal romance anthology called Midnight Surrender.

Welcome Laura! I'm am so excited to have you here today at Indie-Licious. I was just thinking about you the other day and I realized that you were one of the very first author friends I've been blessed to meet online. Since then we've met in person and have shared many laughs and book events together. It only seems fitting that I get to be the gal lucky enough to interview and brag about your accomplishment with Winnemucca, Amazon Bestseller in Christian and Fantasy. So, allow me to pick your brain.

Describe your heroine.


"In the beginning of Winnemucca, a small-town fairy tale, we meet Ginny (Virginia Mae Nolyn) who is living the life everyone wants her to live, but to her something’s wrong. Something’s missing. There’s this nagging feeling Ginny can’t put her finger on until the life she’s living almost kills her. In this moment she listens to her intuition for the very first time and it takes her on an enchanted road trip where fear’s as blind as love. Winnemucca, NV is the Emerald City of the novel and the one place where Ginny believes she’ll find all her answers.

What makes Ginny a real heroine IMHO is that she listens to her intuition. How many times do we ignore our own? She leaves everything and everyone she knows to follow her heart. Even though she has no idea where this will lead. It takes a person an unbelievable amount of courage to listen to that little voice inside when it points to leaving a familiar life that seems safe, for the unknown. Safety can be an illusion."

I think we've all come face to face with such a circumstance, but not all of us are brave enough to explore it. Ginny sounds like an incredible character. Who would pick to play Ginny and the rest of your characters in a movie?


 Laura's Dream Cast for Winnemucca, a small-town fairy tale:

”GINNY” -EMMA STONE

 

“BOBBY” – ZAC EFRON 

“CLYDE” – CHASE CRAWFORD

“SUPERSTAR” – EMILE HIRSCH

“LIZZY” – CAREY MULLIGAN

“CARLOS” – JAVIER BARDEM

 

“ESPY” – SHAKIRA

“DOLLY” – SUSAN SARANDON

“EARL” – TOMMY LEE JONES

That is quite a cast list! I'd love to see it come to fruition. 

Often, as authors we are asked if the characters we write about are symbolic of ourselves in any way. What do you and your heroine have in common?

"Ginny and I share a love of the romantic. She is more courageous than me, but she’s inspired me to be more so."

I love the cover for Winnemucca. How did you come up with idea?


"My husband took the picture of HWY 33 in Avenal, CA that’s the setting for the opening scene of Winnemucca, a small-town fairy tale. If you look off to the right you can see the state prison that plays a part in the story. I photoshoped in Ginny’s legs. People often ask if they’re mine, but they’re not."

I would love it, and I know our readers would too, if you could share an excerpt with us. 

“Sweat beaded up under my bangs. I eyed Highway 33 in both directions. To the left was home––Bobby’s enchanting smile should be enough. But I’d never find my answers as Mrs. Bobby Jennings. To the right, God only knew. There was no guarantee I’d find my answers on the road. The wild oats bowed to the left. I turned right. Into the wind.”

"A police siren wailed, coming up from behind. Uncle Earl slowed his patrol car to a creep and yelled over the siren before he switched it off. “Virginia Mae? Where in the hell are you going?”

“Didn’t know walking’s a crime Earl,” I said, my eyes fixed on the white line under my feet.

“That’s Uncle Earl, Virginia Mae…and look at me when I’m talking to you…”

“Your momma called two hours ago,” Earl said, leaning out of his patrol car, his face as red as the pomegranates Momma grew in the backyard. “Bobby took you for dead.”

I’d done the worst thing possible by standing Bobby up. Because doing that one true thing meant the rest of the truth wasn’t far behind. I’d have to tell Bobby I didn’t love him and that buzzed the heebie-jeebies through me. The kind I’d get when I’d rush to kill a black widow before it killed me. I had no idea what Bobby would do when I told him. I had no idea what he was capable of. But, in the end, nothing would frighten me more than myself.

My nothing-better-to-do uncle took a drag off his long cigar. “Now don’t you go crossing the Kern County line thinking I don’t have jurisdiction there. Cause let me tell you, ain’t no measily little thing like jurisdictions gonna keep me from hauling your butt back home where you belong. I’ve got lots of friends who owe me favors in Kern County. And I’ll call every one of them in. Don’t make them hog-tie you.” The only thing I hated more than Earl laughing at my life was him managing it.

His lead-foot got in the way of trying to keep my pace. One time he pulled his patrol car up so close I thought he might flatten my feet.

“Could haul your butt back right now, runaway,” Earl said, pointing the slobbery end of his cigar to the backseat. “Come on, hop in back with your wedding dress.” It hung, covered in clear plastic, behind Earl’s secured shotgun. A white-sequined, sweetheart neckline sparkled blue and red, keeping time with Earl’s police lights.

Earl eased his patrol car to a stop.

“Earl, it’s the twenty-first century, the one where women take walks by themselves or fly to the moon if they want to,” I said. “That time of the month, huh?” Earl chuckled under his breath. Most family get-togethers found the men patting each other on the back for being Masters of the Universe, while their wives huddled in the kitchen, some wishing away their vows to obey. Women in the family assumed us kids were hard of hearing once the white zin flowed.

Earl spun his tires on his way to catch up to me. “Get in the car, Ginny,” he said.

If I did, it’d be all over town in the morning––Virginia Mae Nolyn, lunatic walker, driven to insanity by her nosy feet. Apprehended by her Uncle Earl.

One foot in front of the other. Will I huddle? And drink white zin? And wish my life away?

“Did you hear me?” Earl said.

“I’m almost eighteen and I don’t take orders from anybody.” I twisted my too-tight engagement ring. Don’t want you ballooning up after our vows, Skinny Ginny, Bobby had said when I wanted it resized. “I’ll turn around. When I’m ready,” I said.

Earl glanced at my wedding dress, the ghost of myself behind bars in Earl’s backseat. “Wasn’t anywhere near Fresno, but I picked it up. Saved your runaway butt one hundred whole dollars––don’t your Auntie Dee just know everybody. No need to thank us,” he said like I was as deaf as Poppa.

On my wedding day Daddy would take his ranch-worn hand in mine and we’d walk down the red-carpeted aisle of The First Baptist Church of Avenal, toward Rev. Jennings. Daddy would lift my veil off my face and kiss me for the last time as his little girl. I’d walk past the very first pew to the altar and take Bobby’s hand. But my wedding dress turned into a convict’s jumpsuit in my mind.

“We have ways of bringing in hardened criminals such as yourself,” Earl said. His smile faded and he mumbled into his handheld radio before rolling his eyes and driving off. Earl’s siren blared when he took a right on Twisselman Road. I’d never been in more danger in my Big, Fat, Lie-of-a-Life."

Thanks so much Laura for such an awesome interview!

When fear's as blind as love, how far would you go to find your own happily ever after? One question will change Ginny's life forever. One answer will set her free. Once upon a time Ginny's road blood ripened, the day she got wise to love. Engaged to the high school quarterback, his quarter-carat ring and enchanting smile should have been enough for her. But, she stands him up and takes a walk where every step questions her happily ever after gone-bad and the fate of the mother she never knew. The mother her father refuses to talk about. Ginny fights to untangle her big, fat, lie-of-a-life on an enchanted road trip to Winnemucca, where she believes all her answers lie. To solve the riddle of her past, she must outrun everyone who wants a piece of her future-including a man determined to see she never has one.

Click here To read Chapters 1 & 2. Click here to see the book trailer.

Buy at Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

iBooks

Smashwords

Paperback

Visit Laura at:

Laurasmagicday (her blog)

Goodreads

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New Book Reveal - Trust in Me by Bethany Lopez

                     Trust in Me: Book Three of the Friends and Lovers Trilogy by Bethany Lopez is here!

Synopsis:
Roni’s dreams of becoming a contemporary dancer were smashed under the brutal rage of her ex-husband's fists. Getting divorced and starting over at the age of twenty-two was never her plan, but maybe in Texas, she'll find her path. When the town's local player, Rich, opens a Rec Center, she sees a way to rekindle her dancing dreams...and maybe have a little fun with her sexy new boss.

Rich never expected to fulfill his dreams in the town he planned to leave behind, but that's just what he's doing. His reputation as a noncommittal ladies' man might make it challenging to earn respect in the business world, but he's willing to prove that he's serious. In fact, when it comes to pursuing Roni, he's more than willing. But she's taking a page out of his book, not wanting to risk another relationship. Can he convince her that his playboy days are over and that she can trust him with her heart?

Excerpt:

           He hadn’t heard her enter. The music was too loud, and he was totally focused on pounding the bag.

            Roni couldn’t look away. She felt a visceral need to touch. As the muscles rippled under his skin with each movement, her hands itched to feel.

Roni shook her head briefly. What was she thinking? This was Rich. A player. A Flirt. The exact opposite of the kind of guy she needed in her life.

Someone needed to explain that to her legs, she thought. They were about to give out.

            Suddenly she realized that the movement before her had stopped. She shouted out, “Hey,” to get Rich’s attention, before he turned and caught her staring at him. The last thing she needed was for Rich to think she thought he was hot!

            Rich wiped at his brow and turned, a grin spreading across his face when he saw her in the doorway. He held up a finger, to tell her to give him a second. He crossed the room towards the docking station and bent to turn down his iPod.

            Roni stifled a grown at the sight of his ass as he bent over. Who knew a man’s ass could be so freakin’ tight? And his back… Good Lord!

Where to buy:

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

Smashwords

                                                     Follow Bethany Lopez online:

                                           Twitter    Facebook    Pinterest   Goodreads

 

 

Indie-Licious Interview: The Real Krystal Wade

Krystal Wade can be found in the sluglines outside Washington D.C. every morning, Monday through Friday. With coffee in hand, iPod plugged in, and strangers - who sometimes snore, smell, or have incredibly bad gas - sitting next to her, she zones out and thinks of fantastical worlds for you and me to read.

How else can she cope with a fifty mile commute?

Good thing she has her husband and three kids to go home to. They keep her sane.

So, what makes Krystal Wade tick?
I’ve compiled a series of questions to answer just that. Let’s see what we can dig up. Mwahahahaha.

About the author:
1.  Favorite color. - Purple - Seriously, my husband says he can get me to buy anything, as long as it's purple.
2.  Favorite food. - ALL OF IT. I love eating. I love pizza, sushi, steak, veggies, junk! I LOVE IT ALL.
3.  Favorite kid – haha, just joking – next… - Kid #3. She loves me the most...just kidding.
4.  Favorite song/music. - This falls into the ALL OF IT. I don't love one particular type of music over another, but whatever I do love has to have EMOTION. I love songs I can feel.
5.  Favorite  movie. - The Wedding Singer. Once, a long time ago when I was on my own and had very little money, I watched the Wedding Singer over and over and over because I didn't have cable. I could probably still recite it: Julia Gulia. What kind of name is that?

 About writing:
6.  What was the most exciting moment in your writing career? - Finishing a trilogy!
7.  Can you share some of your favorite online writing sites/tools? - Grammarly.com I love this thing, but don't use it nearly as much anymore.
8.  Do you plot? - I'm a hybrid between plotter and pantster. I try plotting but it never works out.
9.  Do you have a favorite place in the house to write in? Room? Chair? Submerged in a tub of warm water topped with bubbles and screaming kids at the door? CHAIR! Well, it's a chair and a half, really, and it's leather and right by the fire place and has a big ottoman and lots of cushy blankets and pillows. :-) The cats also think this is their home.
10.  What tip would you share with beginning writers? - Don't give up.

About The Darkness Falls Series:
11.  What music artist/group would you commission to write/sing the theme song to The Darkness Falls Series? Hmm. Well, it would no doubt be an instrumental song, something alive and intense, something scary and hopeful, something progressive and leaves you feeling introspective. My favorite composer has to be John Williams (Jurassic Park, Star Wars, Superman, Indiana Jones, ET, Harry Potter, and SO MUCH MORE), but I really like Paul Cardall (Life and Death from LOST), Christophe Beck (Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Honestly, if I was ever given the chance to work with John Williams, I'd probably die a happy fan girl. I spent 7 years playing first chair Double French Horn, and some of my favorite music was written by Mr. Williams. :-) I'm off topic, huh?
12.  Who would play Kate? - This is really tough to answer. Mainly because the girl I used for inspiration is all grown up now and couldn't actually play her (Evan Rachel Wood), and even when I did pick her, I had to doctor her image to make her hair dark and remove makeup and such. So. I'm not sure.
13.  Who would play Arland? - Hands down, Henry Cavill!
14.  Is there anything about the story you would go back and change if you could? - I can't think that way. It would make me crazy.
15.  Did you plan a series when you started Wilde’s Fire? - There was no plan, really. I sat down and started writing. Everything that happened happened by chance.

Thanks, Krystal, for allowing us to snoop into your life.
Disclosure: The interviewer (ME) owns and read all three books in this series, and was in no way influenced or bribed with candy by the author (Krystal) to do this awesome interview :)

Katriona Wilde has never wondered what it would feel like to have everything she's ever known and loved ripped away, but she is about to find out.

When she inadvertently leads her sister and best friend through a portal into a world she's dreamed of for six years, she finds herself faced with more than just the frightening creatures in front of her. Kate's forced to accept a new truth: her entire life has been a lie, and those closest to her have betrayed her.

 "Hello, Katriona."

Those two words spark fear in Katriona Wilde and give way to an unlikely partnership with Perth, the man she's been traded to marry for a favor. Saving her true love and protector Arland, her family, and their soldiers keeps her motivated, but the at-odds duo soon realizes trust is something that comes and goes with each breath of Encardia's rotting, stagnant air.

The moment when concern for her missing sister spirals out of control, all thoughts of trust are pushed aside and she finds herself trapped by the daemon tricks Perth warned her of. When so many she's grown fond of die along the journey, will she still be Katriona Wilde, the girl with fire?

Happy endings are hard to find, and even though Katriona is in the middle of a war with someone who’s already stolen more than she can replace, she aches for a positive future with her Draíochtans.

Armed with hope, confidence in her abilities, and a strange new gift from her mother, Kate ventures into the Darkness to defeat a fallen god.

Losses add up, and new obstacles rise to stand in the way.

Is the one determined to bring Encardia light strong enough to keep fighting, or will all the sacrifices to stop those who seek domination be for nothing?

Krystal's Cyber Dwellings:
Blog ~  Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Teaser Hop 2/24

This week's blog hop sign up is open! Get to it.

~Krystal

Tools & Tips ~ Cover Art

What every author should know about cover art

by Elizabeth Sharp

 

 

I am a total and complete cover junkie. I browse Amazon searching for images I just gotta have. I have bought books without reading the blurbs because I loved the covers so much. And you know what? Some of them were just simply awesome. At the same time, I don’t care how good your blurb is or how many rave reviews you have, if the cover is awful, I’ll pass. As a cover artist as well as an author, I’m keenly aware of the trends in cover art. I’m very opinionated about it and I don’t apologize for that. There are some basic rules in cover art you should keep in mind, or you’ll lose a lot of other readers who are like me.

 

1) Make it look professional

If you’re going to do your own cover, that’s great. But if you don’t have the skills to make something anyone would consider art, maybe you should scrape together the cash. There are many affordable options out there.

 

2) Avoid clutter

Any cover that has too much going on is a total turn off. Just because your story features fifteen unique characters, you don’t have to picture each one. If you have several images you love and want to use, write a series.

 

3) Make it relevant

If you’re going to have a cover with a unicorn on it, your book should have something to do with unicorns. Even covers like Twilight, with its simplistic imagery, pull themes from the story itself, according to author Stephanie Meyer (even though the only one that makes sense to me is Breaking Dawn).

 

4) Make sure its self-explanatory

If you have to explain your cover, it’s not doing its job. A cover should be a clear and concise representation of your work, whether symbolic or just recreating a scene on the cover. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Never is that more true than referring to cover art.

 

5) It needs to be eye catching

There are hundreds of thousands of titles on the market and you need to stand out. One of the easiest ways is with an amazing cover. Bright color, shocking imagery and clear conveyance of ideas go a long way and doing this. It doesn’t matter what type of cover you want, you need to make it stand out. Don’t be afraid to go afraid to try something new. One of the best traits of indie publishing is the ability to quickly change what doesn’t work.

 

6) Don’t change your art too frequently

For someone like me, who is all about the cover, someone who changes theirs once a month is frustrating and turns me off of their work. Some people believe that changing covers often drums up sales. But I personally believe that it makes a book recognizable. Right now, think of the cover of your favorite book as a child. Mine is The Monster at the End of this Book). Now go look it up on Amazon (here’s mine). If the cover is the same as the one you imagined (like mine), you just got a blast of nostalgia, imagining your parents reading to you, or curling up under the covers with a flashlight. But if it’s different, you feel let down. I’m not saying you have to keep the same cover, but people are looking for something to picture when they think of you and your work, so give them a stable image.

 

There is so much to choosing and creating the perfect cover, it’s hard not to feel attacked when people complain about your cover. But remember, your cover is first and foremost a marketing tool. And if a tool isn’t doing it’s job, you replace it. These ideas might not be the industry standard, but this is a revolution. You need to worry about standing out, not fitting in.

Indie-Licious Interview: Lisa Collicut on the Flip-Side!

Lisa likes to write dark and twisted tales of magic and romance. She has a passion for Young Adult and New Adult Paranormal. When she's not conjuring tales about witches, demons, and other magical beings, she can be found leathered, and bound to the back of her husband's Harley, touring her homeland of Nova Scotia, Canada. 

Enter Lisa's imagination where light ends and fantasy begins. But heed these warnings . . . it's dark, it's magical, you may experience tingles.

Hello Lisa Collicut. Today we get to explore your creative thoughts instead of the other way around. Welcome to Indie-Licious on the flip-side, Lisa!

For my first question, let's get inside the writer's mind for a moment. Where in the world is your favorite place to write and why?

"Some people curl up in their favourite chair with their laptops, or in a tranquil home office, but I can only write in one place – a small room on the second level that used to be my son's play room. I'm sitting in a tan leather chair with a cat-scratched back rest, surrounded by stuff in need of a home, like an old stereo, a book case - the bottom two shelves contain old VHS tapes I can't bear to throw out - a wooden trunk housing hundreds of photographer magazines, and directly beside me, within reach is a doorless linen closet. But when I'm writing, I don’t see any of it. My vision forms a tunnel straight to the monitor, and the words that appear on the blank white Word page . . . and there's nowhere I'd rather be."

I know exactly what you mean, Lisa. Writers tend to get caught up in the moment while writing. You think you've been writing for fifteen minutes and the next thing you know half the day is gone. Instead of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, we should have our own flick named, INVASION OF THE MIND SNATCHERS! Speaking of which...if you could choose any film or television world to live in what would it be?

"This answer changes with time. This first 20 years of my life I would have said Oz and Narnia. Now, hmm, if you said book world, this question would have been a whole lot easier, I would have said: Kryn (Dragon Lance). I'd definitely like to visit Middle Earth and have an extended stay with the Elves."

You are a true fantasy enthusiast! What draws you toward writing fantasy and paranormal? Do you remember the exact moment you decided you wanted to be a writer?

"Yup. The exact moment! February 2/09. I finished reading the first Twilight book, and said to myself, "I can do this." I've always wanted to write, but never thought I could, and other times when I tried, nothing came to me. But, this time, I sat at the computer and wrote a full length novel practically without stopping. Four years later, I'm on my fifth novel (not all published) and have many works in progress. So yup, Twilight was my inspiration."

As a writer of fantasy, what type of character do you identify with the most? In other words, if you could be a superhero, who would you be?

"Hmm, a superhero, huh? After some consideration, I've come up with Thora of Asgard: Thor's betrothed and equal – why not."

Oh yeah, I can picture you now, Lisa. A biker chic weilding a lighting bolt while your hair rustles in the breeze underneath your horned helmet. Very sexy, chica! 

Final question, if you couldn't be a writer, what would you be?

"If I couldn't be a writer (gasp at the thought) and still know what I know now, I'd be a graphic designer. I'd love to design my own book covers, and web pages. I'm very fussy and no one can give you exactly what you want but yourself."

Thanks so much for sharing your creativity with us, Lisa. It was nice to get to know the writer behind the interview persona!

The Devil's Flower Blurb

Killing isn’t exactly on Rosalie Lockwood’s list of things to do when she runs away from home. But despite her search for peace; guns and motorcycles become her latest fashion accessories as Divine interference leads her to Steele, co-leader of the Fallen Paladins motorcycle club.

Leathered and tattooed, Steele’s presence scares off most people he comes in contact with—but not Rosalie. She’s immediately drawn into the dangers of his biker world—and into his heart.

While Rosalie is busy learning how to shoot a gun and ride a motorcycle, Steele is busy avoiding her and his budding feelings for her. He wants her out of his life and away from the dangers he represents. But when some of the gang turn on her, he has no choice but to tell her his secret.

He and Rosalie are immortal enemies, each with one purpose in life—to kill the other.

Once the truth is revealed, Rosalie must prove to Steele and his brethren that she’s not the killer they fear by saving their souls. But in order to do that, she must become soulless herself.

The Dark and Light Realms collide as Rosalie chooses between life, death, and the ever-after to become that which she is fated to destroy.

I know you're dieing to learn more about Lisa and her writing, so here are the links that will lead you to  Lisa's fictional world!

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Indie-Licious Interview: A. M. Hargrove Talks Shattered Edge

One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager, A. M. Hargrove, realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn't do something soon, it would quickly be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life. So, she rolled down the passenger window of her fabulous (not) company car and tossed out her leather briefcase. Luckily, the pedestrian in the direct line of fire was a dodgeball pro and had über quick reflexes enabling him to avoid getting bashed in the head. Feeling a tad guilty about the near miss, A. M. made a speedy turn down a deserted side street before tossing her crummy, outdated piece-of-you-know-what lap top out the window. She breathed a liberating sigh of relief, picked up her cell phone and hit #4 on her speed dial.

Boss:  Hello

A.M.:  Boss, is that you?

Boss:  Why yes, A. M., who else would be answering my phone?

A.M.:  Er... right.  Well, I'm calling to let you know you can pick up my luxury Ford Focus at Starbucks near the interstate.

Boss:  Why ever would I want to do that?

A.M.:  Because I quit!

A.M. hit the end button and speed dialed her husband.

A.M.:  Hi hubs, can you pick me up at Starbucks?

Hubs:  Sure... Having some car trouble?

A.M.:  Not at all.  I don't have a car to have trouble with because I just quit my job.

Hubs:  WHAT?!

A.M.:  It's time for a new career and I am going to be a very famous novelist.

So began A. M. Hargrove's career as a YA/NA and Adult Romance Author. Her novels include The Guardians of Vesturon Series (Survival, Resurrection, Determinant, Beginnings and the soon to be released reEmergent), Dark Waltz, Edge of Disaster and Shattered Edge.

Welcome A. M. Hargrove. Thanks for stopping by Indie-Licious and sharing your latest novel, Shattered Edge, with us.

1-Do you write different genres? If so, what ones, and do you have a favorite genre?

"I Also have books in the YA/NA genre, that are a blend of paranormal/sci-fi/fantasy. They are the series The Guardians of Vesturon and the books are Survival #1, Resurrection #2, Determinant #3, Beginnings a novella, and I'm currently working on reEmergent #4. I have another adult book that's a spin off of this series called Dark Waltz. Then Shattered Edge is An Edge Novel, with Edge of Disaster being the first in those novels which are adult contemporary romances. Those are all stand alone, but all have some common characters."

2-From the sounds of your bio, you always wanted to write. Did you always have that certain novel waiting to burst out of you?

"I don't think it was that one certain novel, but it was more like a ton of ideas waiting to be formulated into something. I have always had somewhat of a hyperactive imagination and could conjure up stories but never had the time to put them down on paper.

 (Wow - sounds just like me)

 3-Who would play Terri and Justin in the movie version of your book?

   "Justin...Chris Hemsworth with dark hair. Terri...undecided."

(Mmm, Chris Hemsworth)

 4-What do you and your characters have in common? Do they have any of your traits? Lived any part of your life?

"All of my characters have something of lots of people I know, including myself in them. I can't disclose which parts of me though ;-)  Physical traits...only when the female is tall since I am almost 5' 10". Other than that, I like to scatter the hair and eye color around because I believe beauty exists in all colors. Now, admittedly, I am extremely partial to men with long hair. Just can't seem to help myself. Because of that, you'll always find that in one of my characters. Hence, Chris Hemsworth. Love that man's hair!"

(I just love him - and his hair.)

5-Before you go, do you have any advice to beginning writers or writers at the querying stage of the game?

"No advice on the query front because that's something I'll never do. I wouldn't waste my time and effort when I could be writing instead. So, since I've gotten that out of the way, the best advice I could give would be to connect with other authors, bloggers and readers through Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter. Find a group to hang with that can help you find your way. And then write, write, write. Don't expect your first book to do much. In fact, it probably won't do much of anything until you get the next book up. Or even the one after that. Be patient and keep at it. Don't get discouraged. The more you write, the better you'll get and the closer you'll be to finding your voice. It may not be in the original genre you thought it would be. But that's okay, because you're learning as you go along."

Thanks so much for stopping by Indie-Licious for a visit. We like to pick author's brains here, and, well, yours was just ripe for the picking this week :)

Their trial relationship was meant to last six months, but things didn’t quite work out the way they planned . . .

Justin Middleton, who has left a string of broken hearts across the state of South Carolina, has only one thing on his mind, and that’s winning Terri Mitchell’s heart in six months. That’s all the time she’s given him . . . six short months.  If he can’t do it by then, they’ll go their separate ways.

Terri Mitchell knows she’s lost her mind when she even suggested this harebrained scheme.  She finally thinks her heart is on the mend from her past encounter with Justin. However, when he shows up at her house late one night looking deliciously sexy and irresistible, her iron will to fight him vanishes and the words tumble from her lips before she’s barely aware of what she’s done.

Within weeks, both of them find themselves passionately involved, but when Terri’s brother, Preston, shows up, mysterious things begin to happen, turning their blissful world into something dark and dangerous.

Where you can connect with A. M. Hargrove:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Smashwords ~ Author Website ~ Author Blog ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Other novels by A. M. Hargrove:

Edge of Disaster ~ The Guardians of Vesturon ~ Dark Waltz, a Praestani

New book reveal - SHATTERED EDGE by A.M. Hargrove

Synopsis:
 

Their trial relationship was meant to last six months, but things didn’t quite work out the way they planned...

Justin Middleton, who has left a string of broken hearts across the state of South Carolina, has only one thing on his mind, and that’s winning Terri Mitchell’s heart in six months. That’s all the time she’s given him...six short months. If he can’t do it by then, they’ll go their separate ways.

Terri Mitchell knows she’s lost her mind when she even suggested this harebrained scheme. She finally thinks her heart is on the mend from her past encounter with Justin. However, when he shows up at her house late one night looking deliciously sexy and irresistible, her iron will to fight him vanishes and the words tumble from her lips before she’s barely aware of what she’s done.

Within weeks, both of them find themselves passionately involved, but when Terri’s brother, Preston, shows up, mysterious things begin to happen, turning their blissful world into something dark and dangerous.

Excerpt:

Terri

My best friend was getting married in ten minutes. I was about to walk down the aisle as her maid of honor and I’d never been so nervous in my entire life. My palms were pretty much dripping water and I only hoped my dress wasn’t stained beneath my arms, because I was sure that about right now I was having massive antiperspirant failure. I had practiced walking in these shoes for two solid weeks at physical therapy. My therapists had convinced me (I actually made them pinky swear to me) that I could do this. At this moment I was quite certain that they had fed me some boldfaced lies. I knew when I took my first few steps, that I would stumble, then my bad leg would give out, and I would go rolling instead of walking down that aisle.

Crap in a handbasket!

I looked at Tana, the wedding director, and she nodded, signaling it was my turn. My grip tightened on my bouquet of fresh cut flowers. I was surprised the damn stems weren’t crushed by now. No doubt my fingers would be green by the time the ceremony was over.

My left foot went out, followed by my right. Okay, I had this. I repeated this mantra...left, right, left, right, until I was up at the altar and taking my place next to the spot where Lexi would stand.

I smiled and I’m sure it reached my ears, because I swear I could feel my earrings tickling my cheeks. Then I forgot the promise I made to myself. I totally blanked out because I was so excited about the stupid fact that I had made it down the aisle without looking gimpy. I let my eyes wander across the altar and damn if they didn’t land directly on him.

Shiz!

He looked like the dude in the Ralph Lauren Polo ad...tall dark and alluring. Dressed in a black tux, he was perfect. Justin Middleton, brother of the groom and best man...my heartbreaking nemesis. I suppose nemesis is relatively harsh, but heartbreaker isn’t. I had dreaded this day now for months. I should be happy for Lexi...she’d been my bestie since freshman year at UVA. But I was pulling the selfish card today. I tried not to, but everything I did was useless. I pasted a smile back on my face and jerked my head to the back of the church so I could watch Lexi walk down the aisle.

Damn, that girl looked gorgeous. Her dress was really something. I’d never seen a bride where anything close to that. Originality...pure and simple. Her dress had an illusion neckline, making it appear sleeveless and off the shoulders, when it actually had sheer fabric that afforded a boat neckline. The dress was fitted and had fabric beads sewn onto it until it hit mid thigh where it was covered in layers of chiffon and stiff ribbon, giving it a totally off the charts look. And she was getting married in the church every Charlestonian would give their left hand...hell their right hand too...to get married in. St. Phillips was the church on every Charleston postcard ever made. You had to be connected to get married there. And the Middletons were certainly connected. Hell, they were Charleston. South of Broad, blue blooded born and bred. Lexi sure lucked out here.

And Pearce...didn’t he look yummy? Not nearly as yummy as Justin, but girls all over South Carolina would be grieving today because one of the most eligible bachelors, not to mention one of the wealthiest, was getting hitched. Once again, Lexi sure lucked out. But if anyone deserved it, Lexi did.

Now, I sure wish the show could get a move on, because I would love for this thing to get the hell over with. I only had enough plastic smiles to last for a certain amount of time and once they ran out, I was gonna have to hit the road. I hated to be so snarky about this, but I couldn’t stand around with this happy assed face when I was cracking to pieces on the inside.

The happy couple said their vows and damn it all, I started crying. Thank God the Tana gave us a list with a bag at the rehearsal last night, which included waterproof mascara and eyeliner, or I would’ve looked like Rocky raccoon, resident maid of honor and side kick to Bullwinkle. Yeah, this was gonna be fun.

Now, I had to look forward to picture time and more plastic smiles. I pulled up my bootstraps and watched as Lexi and Pearce walked down the aisle as Dr. and Mrs. Middleton. Oh good lord, they looked so happy. I really couldn’t help the true smile that formed then, because looking at them made me believe in it all...their love was nothing short of bursting from them.

I heard a throat clearing and looked up to see Justin waiting with his arm bent. I’d been so engrossed in watching the happy couple, I’d forgotten I had to walk arm in arm with him.

Well, isn’t this a crap storm?

I didn’t have time to prepare myself. When I put my hand on his arm, I felt the jolt all the way to my toes. I forced myself to look at my feet, when all I wanted to do was to fall into his eyes...his perfectly gorgeous eyes. Lexi always called Pearce, Smoky Eyes, because he had gray eyes. Well, Justin’s were gray too, but his were the color of the sea, right before a storm hit. Deep, dark bluish gray and every time I looked at them I was pulled into their depths...just like I would imagine the sea as it would call to me. Mysterious, with things unknown lurking below the surface. That was Justin. Beautiful and sometimes frightening because he made me feel things I’d never felt before.

He leaned his tall frame down to my smaller one so he could whisper to me, “You were perfect when you walked down the aisle, Terri. You made me proud.”

That caused my head to jerk up. I shouldn’t have done that because my eyes landed right on his. And there I was, falling into them...deeply, dramatically, and yes, painfully.

“God, you’re beautiful.” Three simple words that nearly made me cry. I felt my lower lip tremble, but forced myself to smile instead.

“Thanks. You clean up pretty good yourself,” my voice trembled.

He smiled and it felt like someone lifted all the blinds and curtains in the church. The light just entered and blazed around him. He was that kind of beautiful. I knew I needed to get away from him. That’s the sort of effect he had on me.

Suddenly, I was back there again...last March.

“Ms. Mitchell, we’re taking you into surgery. You were in a car accident and your leg was broken. We’re going to fix you right up.”

Car accident? Where was Justin? Was he okay? Surgery? The next thing I knew I woke up again in a room and there were my mom and dad.

Several surgeries later, that damn wheelchair, physical therapy and Justin...Justin. God, why couldn’t I forget him? Things had been moving along so well until that wreck. All those surgeries and he couldn’t stop blaming himself. And then Lexi catching him with those two girls and my heart nearly breaking. Yeah, my leg had been broken and I’d been left with a twisted mass of scars, but my heart was the one that felt more damaged.

We reached the back of the church and were whisked off to the side by Tana and the photographer to where pictures would be taken. I was hoping they could put this thing on fast forward, get to the reception, have a little face time with Lexi and get the heck outta Dodge. That was my plan anyway.

Picture after picture and tons of pasted smiles later (I hope Lex didn’t shoot my ass when she saw these pictures), we finally hopped in the limos and left for the reception at the Charleston Yacht and Harbor Club.

I mingled with some of the guests, and made my way around to chat with Lexi and Pearce for a while, but before long, the throbbing in my leg and the aches and pains, had me hunting a chair. I spied one back in the corner so I walked, or at least gave my best imitation of one, over to it and blew out a huge puff of air when the weight left that leg. I was happy Lexi had approved the long dresses that we wore since they hid the scars that covered my disfigured limb. I absently rubbed it, like I often did, wishing for a huge bag of ice. They ought to invent Spanx you could cram an ice bag into for people like me. Maybe I could join forces with the Spanx lady and we could come out with Spanx on Ice. I bet those professional ice skaters would love that! We could even make a version for hockey players.

“You must have something terrifically funny on your mind by the look on your face.”

That voice of his made me want to strip off every thread of clothing and run naked through the streets yelling, “Take me, take me!” Crap! What kind of sexy did that man have working?

“I guess so. I was thinking about a joint venture with the Spanx lady. We could call it Spanx on Ice.”

“What?” he asked, bewilderment clouding his eyes.

“You know...for my leg.”

“Oh.” He smiled, nodded and acted like he was with me. I knew better from his odd expression. He didn’t get it at all.

“Do you even know what Spanx are?”

“No clue.”

I burst out laughing. “Never mind then. They’re something no man should ever know about.”

“Hmm, now I’m intrigued.”

“Oh God! Don’t be.” The last thing I needed was for Justin Middleton to see me in a pair of Spanx.

Mother of God save me now!

Links to buy:

Amazon 

Barnes and Noble 

Smashwords 

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