Saturday, December 20, 2014

Interview With DM Cunningham, Author Of NILES WORMWART: ACCIDENTAL VILLAIN @LiteraryAsylum @SHPMiddleGrade @SpencerHillP

Hi all! Today we have an interview with the awesome D.M. Cunningham, author of NILES WORMWART: ACCIDENTAL VILLAIN.

How would you describe yourself? Well, other than as a writer. We already know that part.
Husband, father, coffee addict, filmmaker, TV producer, horror junkie, pumpkin freak, metalhead, movie score collector and allergic to dust. I don't have any orange shirts in my wardrobe (by choice). I've just listened to the same hard rock song about 40 times because I love it so much.

What authors or other creative types influence you the most?
Oh, umm, how much space do you have on this blog?! And in no particular order because I love random. Judy Blume, Lois Duncan, Katherine Paterson, Stephen King, Poe, Grimm fairy tales, Jason Edmiston, Famous Monsters, Wes Craven, Tim Burton, John Carpenter, Stanley Kubrick, Danny Elfman, John Williams, Alice Cooper, Goblin, Alter Bridge, Krzysztof Penderecki, Steve Jablonksy and I could go on for days. 

What one thing are you OCD about?
And by ODC you mean Outrageously Cool Dude? I get that all the time. 

Sorry, I was just informed that's not what you meant. Based on the Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale my desire to have a lot of movie scores may border on obsessive. Otherwise I'm super normal and awesome and have no weird traits at all. Okay, I also love goofy socks... a lot. Oh and pumpkin, did I say that already? 

What is the most creative way you have promoted any of your books?
I always told my publisher and amazing editor that I would love to shoot my book out of a canon to people. But they advised me against that. So now I'm thinking about strapping copies to park squirrels and letting them have a go at it. I know, totally sounds nuts. Let's check in later and see if it worked. 

If you encountered Nikola Tesla, would you ask him to help you build a time machine to fix something from the past, or build a different machine to shape your future?
First thing I'd do is have dinner with the guy so I could watch him clean his fork several times. Then I would absolutely ask him to build a time machine, and show me how the world power grid would work and see if he'd go to Disneyland with me. I would also introduce him to hard rock music because I think he would have loved it. And see what he thinks of David Bowie's acting in The Prestige. 

What are the first three rules you would make if you took over the world?
1. Tim Burton's production designers would have to redesign all buildings and towns. 
2. I would have my own personal Haunted Mansion in my backyard that I could ride on at all times. 

3. Free health care for all (drops the mic).


NILES WORMWART released November 2014. Find it on GoodReads, Amazon,Barnes & Noble, and wherever else awesome books are sold.

Friday, December 19, 2014

#NaNoWriMo's Over, Now What Do I Do?

Now that the dust has well and truly settled on NaNoWriMo 2014, it's time to look at what we accomplished during that month of madness. For those who aren't familiar with the magic and wonder that is NaNoWriMo, read this post.



It all comes down to this: 50,000 words in 30 days. Totally doable.

How do I know? I did it. Actually, I killed it.

I hit 50k on day 19 of NaNo, and I ended up with 60,565 words by November 30. Crazy? Yeah. Despite my apparent insanity (and a caffeine addiction that was more severe than anyone realized), I wrote a not-too-shabby first draft. I must say, as first drafts go I'm more pleased with this that I have been with any other.

Which means that I need to put it away and ignore it for at least a month. Maybe two, or three.

Um, what? Ignore my masterpiece? Why would I neglect my new baby?

Easy. Because it's not done yet.

As some of you know, I work for a publishing house that accepts open submissions every December. The slush pile rapidly fills up with still-smoking NaNo manuscripts, and we've never, not even once, offered on one. Yes, we can tell when it's your NaNo project. Yes, we're proud of you. Now go polish that baby up!

When you're still in that first flush of love with your new project you tend to overlook its flaws, like how you type "if" when you mean "of", or how you wrote three chapters in the wrong character's POV. Or said that the main character had blue eyes in chapter one, green eyes in chapter three, only to go back to blue in chapter ten.

Not that I have *ever* made those mistakes. My first draft errors are much, much worse :)

Anyway, my point is that there are only two groups of people you want seeing your first draft blunders: your trusted beta readers and critique partners. Wouldn't you rather they pointed out the flaws in your draft, instead of your dream agent when they reject you?

I sent my NaNo project, Changing Teams, out to my beta readers a few weeks ago, and I steadfastly refuse to make any changes until feedback has been received and processed. Will it be ready for submission then? Probably not, but it will be well on its way.

*sigh* Who knew being a writer would require so much patience?

Well? What are you doing with your NaNo projects? Tell me in the comments below! And, if your interested in seeing a teaser about my NaNo project, go here.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

What's NaNoWriMo All About, Or Why Should I Try To Write A Novel In One Month, Anyway?

Tomorrow heralds the start of National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. For those not in the know, NaNoWriMo is when writers across the globe work toward completing a novel of at least 50,000 words, between November 1 through 30.

Sounds daunting, huh?

 No doubt about it, writing 50k in one month is a challenge, but it’s totally doable. A basic Google search will turn up hundreds of tips and tricks for winning NaNo, ranging from setting a daily word count goal (1667 is the daily minimum you need to win), to getting your outlining and research done beforehand. However, most of these resources don’t address why you should participate in NaNo.

The answer is simple: it will put you on the path to making money from your writing.

 Now, I’m going to let you in on the great secret to making money with writing: you need to finish your projects. And, participating in NaNo will help you do just that. Writers who make money have two things in common: they write regularly and meet their deadline. Participating in NaNo reinforces those two habits. Not only do you have a hard deadline to meet, you have a word count goal as well. While you’re participating in NaNo, you can tweak your writing process to see what works for you. Are 1667 words per day too much? Maybe you work better with a lower goal, with a few intensive writing days interspersed. Some write furiously at the start of a project, only to slow appreciably near the end. Some belt out 50k in a week or two. Really, the options are endless.

 I promise you, the techniques and habits you use during NaNo will make you a better writer overall, whether your area of expertise is blogging, short stories or novel-length works. Best of all, when the dust clears on December 1 you’ll have a shiny new manuscript in your hand. Who knows, maybe you’ll create the next great American novel.

Release Blitz: HE SAVED ME by Whitney Barbetti @barbetti

HSMebook

Title: He Saved Me

Series: He Found Me #2

Author: Whitney Barbetti

Release Date: December 18, 2014

Genre: New Adult Romance

SYNOPSIS:

Julian

I’ve come to understand that I’ll always find her. She’s my North Star, my sense of direction. In her, I’ve found my home. She tells me I saved her. But the truth is, she saved me. But nothing good can ever last. Andra’s keeping secrets. She’s holding something back. I’m trying, desperately, to anchor her. To let me in, to let me help. But will all my efforts end up with a ghost of a girl I love?

Andra

I’m used to disappearing. Vanishing into thin air, without a trace of who I’ve been or where I’ve gone. But it’s so much harder to do with a broken heart and no hope for a happy ending. Sometimes the only people who can put all the pieces of us back together are the ones we least expect to. That’s what Julian did for me. Julian found me. But now, all Six wants is to keep me locked up, away from the world, away from the Monster. I can’t live like that. It’s not living at all. Because I still have unfinished business. And I’m going to make sure the Monster gets what’s coming to him.

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Please note: This is a continuation of He Found Me. Characters from Ten Below Zero do appear in He Saved Me. This is the final installment of Julian and Andra's story. The sequel is 99 cents for Release Weekend ONLY. Buy He Saved Me The first book, HE FOUND ME, is available on Kindle Unlimited. Buy He Found Me

GIVEAWAYS

Instead of one Rafflecopter with one winner, Whitney Barbetti is going to be doing TOUR STOPS on December 17, 18, 19, and 20. She'll be doing a one-hour takeover at 9 PM EST in the following Facebook groups. Join these groups and stay tuned win paperbacks, swag, and ebooks! December 17: Barbetti's Babes December 18: Grayson's Girls December 19: Three Girls and a Book Obsession Book Club December 20: Dearest Series Fans
Connect with Whitney Barbetti

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Twitter

Monday, December 15, 2014

LOVE ADDICTION, An NA Romance Anthology

LOVE ADDICTION: a holiday anthology
Eight steamy stories of love and lust to melt your winter blues. Today's hot new adult romance authors will hook you with a sexy ski instructor, a spicy Aussie, an infuriatingly-charming husband, a lusty lumberjack, a hunky romantic football player, a bad-boy protector, a smokin' hot snowboarder and a hauntingly-handsome man with a secret.

Now Available! .99c for the boxed set!
Purchase here:
Amazon I Amazon CA I Amazon AU I Barnes and Noble I Kobo I iTunes I Goodreads

Join the Facebook Party: https://www.facebook.com/events/332132753633612/


More about the books included in the anthology...

#1: CRAVE by Violet Vaughn
Casey Cassidy gets what she wants.

Determined to get over Jason and find a man that wants a family, she moves to Breckenridge, Colorado.

Landing a job skiing every day, Casey finds Blaine Johnson - a wish come true. A hunky surfer turned ski instructor, he checks off every requirement on her list.

Except for the one she forgot to add.

Blaine has a secret. A secret so big it keeps intimacy smoldering, when Casey needs fire. No matter how hard she tries, the embers won’t ignite. Can she live without passion to get the family she craves?

When Jason comes to town, Casey questions everything she wished for. Their consuming love threatens to explode and ruin her dream. Will she have to choose between a family and the love of her life?

#2: ANOTHER NEW LIFE by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle
"I wanted him, but more than that, I didn't want to disappear again. That scared me the most."

Miranda Preston is a walking contradiction. Beautiful on the outside, but, insecure, haunted and damaged on the inside. Despite these contradictions, she’s ready to start Another New Life.

When her talent wins her a piano scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin, Miranda arrives on campus determined to experience everything college has to offer and to keep her secrets in the past where they belong.

An easy task, until the first guy who catches her eye happens to be someone she’s known all her life.

Eight years have passed since the last time Miranda and Troy saw each other. He reminds her of the best and worst times of her life, but she can’t think about one without dwelling on the other. As they grow closer, every day their attraction reminds them they are no longer kids.

The epic romantic love story that is Miranda and Troy seems to be destined for a happy ending, but Miranda knows it's only a matter of time before her secret is discovered. A secret that will not only destroy their relationship, it will destroy Troy, too.

Can Miranda focus on her future with Troy while preventing her past from tearing them apart all over again?

#3: JARDINE by Leesa Bow (Book #1)
‘Nothing is worth losing you,’ he whispered.
‘You wouldn’t lose me. I’d be there to support you and help you reach your dreams.’ I smiled and ran my hand down his beautiful face.

At eighteen, Ava is sure she has found her soul mate in Jardine. Convincing their friends and family that what they have is more than just a crush, however, is an entirely different story. Jardine's parents have his life mapped out with plans that don't include Ava.

Their plans to get into med school and start their future together crumble when cricket sensation Jardine is selected to play for the Australian team, and expected to spend most of the year touring internationally. Ava knows since they agreed to follow their dreams, no matter the cost, she has to let Jardine go.

Ava also discovers a new inspiration to move on with her life. But can she keep it a secret from Jardine? If he discovers the truth, everything between them could be destroyed.


#4: KILL DEVIL HILLS by Sarah Darlington
“Sweet as hell. Unexpected. Reassuring. It was as if he wanted me to know, in his own particular Noah way, that he hadn’t forgotten about me.”

He’s twenty-four. She’s eighteen.
His life is exactly the way he’s always wanted it to be...stable.
She’s quite possibly the very definition of unstable.

Noah saved her.
Georgina never wanted to be saved.

Growing up, Noah Clark was passed from one relative to the next until he finally ended up living with his abusive, alcoholic uncle in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. Thanks in part to the unwavering love and support of his best friend, Ellie Turner, Noah survived those years, escaped his uncle, and grew into the man he is today. Now he runs his own business and lives a pretty normal, no-nonsense life—one where he maintains a high level of control.

Georgina is Ellie’s younger sister. Four months ago, Noah saved Georgie’s life, but he thought that was where his involvement with his friend’s sister would end. Now Georgie has returned home from the recovery facility her parents sent her away to and Noah, still haunted by the night that connects them, can’t stop himself from continuously trying to protect this girl he barely knows. But is he willing to give up all of the control he’s worked so hard to build in his life and risk everything for her? Even more importantly, would she do the same for him?

#5: CANDI FOR CHRISTMAS by Lilly Christine
McGreers Special Christmas Edition, McGreers #7
"He hadn’t taken his eyes from hers.
They were the blue-grey of the sky now. Sunlight sparked against them.His lips were close, then they met hers.
When she kissed him back, it felt like she was melting inside, melting into Shane McGreer."

Fresh-faced intern Candi Bamberger flies to Beaver Creek, Colorado to scope out the action, but not the kind smokin’ snowboard star Shane McGreer has in mind! Shane shows her amazing moves, and not just in the half-pipe. He’s fallen hard, but Candi’s in deep freeze. Will he warm her up in time for a McGreer Ranch Christmas Eve?

#6: DOWN TO YOU by Addison Kline
"Here it is. Here is all I have to give. Everything in my life comes down to you." ~Brant Edgemont

Holly Edgemont used to love celebrating Christmas, that is, until her whole world was turned upside down by an unexpected divorce from her college sweetheart Brant. This year, not only is she divorced, but the kids are going out of state with her ex Brant, leaving her utterly alone. Holly's party-girl friend Sloane tries to break her out of her frump by dragging her along to holiday parties where Holly meets cute and available Chris. But when Holly realizes that she still has feelings for Brant, she has a decision to make: Learn to trust her long time love who broke her heart, or move on for good.

Brant Edgemont is a divorced father of three, and hopelessly in love with his ex-wife, Holly. He made the biggest mistake of his life walking out two years ago. Despite his pleas to reconnect, Holly still resists him. Is it too late to rekindle their love? Or will Holly move on for good, leaving Brant himself heartbroken and alone? Down To You is not just a romantic love story. It is a story of familial love, friendship, betrayal, redemption, and the magic that can happen at Christmas time when friends and family join together.

#7: ADAM'S LIST by Jennifer Ann
"We’ve entered dangerous territory. You can’t kiss someone with so much emotion if you’re preparing to walk away."

She's ready to give up on life, hiding her depression with sarcasm and booze. He's got a secret and quit college, with few friends to lean on. When they discover each other, the sexual attraction is undeniable. So why does it seem impossible for them to be together?

Everyone wanted to be Jewels Peterson in high school. Naturally beautiful, exceptionally smart, talented cheerleader, life of the party, and with an All-American boyfriend to boot. One regrettable choice and fatal accident later, and Jewels found herself unceremoniously knocked off her pedestal. Now she’s in college, going through the motions, but not really living.

Adam Murphy is easy-going, charming, considerate, and crazy good looking; he’s exactly the kind of guy Jewels pictures herself being happy with. But Jewels is already involved with someone, and Adam makes it known that he’s guarding a dark secret, one that makes him the wrong guy for her. Trumped by the promise of an innocent friendship, Jewels is forced to ignore her overwhelming hunger for Adam.

After Jewels unknowingly helps Adam create a bucket list, they embark on the adventure of a lifetime that pushes their platonic relationship to its limits. But does she want to be with Adam without knowing the truth behind the skeletons in his closet, or is being with him just another pointless thing in her life?

#8: SNOWED UNDER by Jen Greyson
Passionate Hippie + Hot Lumberjack = Enough heat to melt the fiercest Alaskan snow storm.

Cassidy catches a plane to Alaska to meet celebrity and friend, Jeremy Wren, to tackle her biggest environmental protest to date. But when she gets there, Jeremy's flaked again and now she has to take on the Goliath, Whetman Logging, by herself.

But lumberjack, Teague Whetman isn't who she expected. He's sexy and nerdy and nothing like his old man--the Whetman behind the monster that she's come to destroy. Determined to see her protest through, she handcuffs herself to his saw and shuts down the operation...right as a late-Spring storm rolls in.

Hammered by the snow, the little town of Bear Ridge shuts down, including the airport and Cassidy's way out. Left with no other option, and with the storm turning deadly, Teague takes her to his place...

Will Teague and Cassidy be able to keep each other at arm's length, or will the softly falling snow, candlelight, and their intense attraction be too much to resist?

Enter the Rafflecopter:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Cover Reveal: COPPER VEINS, Book Three of the Copper Legacy @SpencerHillP @SpenceCityBooks

It's here! The cover for COPPER VEINS, book three of the Copper Legacy!

Take a look:



Full jacket:

Yep, that's Sara and Micah on the back getting snuggly.


Blurb:
Sara’s pretty sure her life is perfect.

Not only are she and Micah finally married, her father, who’d been missing since the Magic Wars, has been found. Actually, he just strode up to the manor’s front door, but whatever. Sara knows better than to look a gift horse in the mouth.

But Baudoin Corbeau isn’t content to return to family life. He’s decided that he will be the force of change in the Mundane world, and lead the Elemental resistance to victory with his children at his side. What’s worse, Baudoin doesn’t approve of Sara’s marriage, and makes every attempt to separate her from Micah.

After a visit to the Mundane realm leaves Sara, Max and Sadie imprisoned by the Peacekeepers, Sara’s doubts creep to the surface. Is her father right? Does she belong in the Mundane realm, not the Otherworld? Is Micah really the right man—make that elf—for her?
Was marrying him a mistake?
 

Title: Copper Veins (Copper Legacy #3)
Publisher: Spence City
Expected Publication Date: July 7, 2015

Add it to GoodReads here.

Well, what do you think of my shiny new cover? Let me know in the comments!

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Teaser Tuesday, #NaNoWriMo Edition

Hey all!

For this week's Teaser Tuesday, I thought I'd post an excerpt from my NaNoWriMo project, working title CHANGING TEAMS. This is my first foray into NA contemporary romance, and I can't wait to hear what people think about it!

The excerpt below is from the third chapter, and is told from the POV of our hero, Sam MacKellar. And, away we go!


“Britt,” I murmured, my hand coming to rest on the curve of her bottom. “Short for Britney?”

“Not hardly.” When I kept looking at her, she elaborated, “I’ll tell you, but you have to promise not to laugh.”

“Scout’s honor,” I said, squeezing her bottom for good measure.

Britt buried her face against my neck; whatever this story was, it had to be good. “Well,” she began, “my mom got pregnant in the school library.”

“The school library?” I scandalized.

“Yeah, yeah,” Britt said, her breath hot on my neck. “Anyway, once Mom knew she was expecting she went back to the aisle it, um, happened in, and picked out a name from the books on the shelves.”

“Wait.” I rolled onto my side so I was looking Britt in the eye, and asked, “Is your full name Britannica?”

“Yeah,” she admitted, “Mom got knocked up in the encyclopedia section.”

“Well,” I said, with my best straight face, “at least it wasn’t in front of the Funk and Wagnall’s shelf.”

We burst out laughing at that, and Britt pounded my shoulder. “Sam, you promised you wouldn’t laugh,” she shrieked. Once we calmed down I rolled onto my back, and Britt laid her head on my chest. “You’re different here.”

“Different how?” I murmured. I folded one of my arms under my head so I could watch her, and smoothed those brown waves away from her face.

“You’re voice, for one. It’s… I don’t know, deeper? And, your fake Southern accent’s gone.”

“My accent is authentic Midwestern,” I huffed.

“Uh huh.” Britt traced the column of my throat with her fingertip, then she kissed my Adam’s apple. “And, you’re just Sam. Not photographer’s assistant Sam, or awesome partyer Sam, just Sam.”

“I’ll thank you to replace ‘photographer’s assistant’ with ‘aspiring photographer’,” I snapped, rattled that Britt had effortlessly seen through to the truth of me. “You like ‘just Sam’?”

“I do.” She looked up, fixing me with her honey brown gaze. “You don’t let many people meet the real Sam, do you?”


Oh, if she only knew. “Only those worth it.”

###

As you can see, Sam's got it bad for Britt. But, what's he hiding? Comment below with your best guesses. 

Stop by on December 4, when we'll have the cover reveal for COPPER VEINS! Later, ya'll!