Summer #Giveaway Hop : Make Believe #Fantasy #PNR

Thanks to I Am A Reader and BookHounds for hosting this giveaway! As usual, I'm going to use this giveaway to help promote a J. Taylor Publishing book. This one just happens to include ... ME!

Who ISN'T sick of this stinkin' heat yet??? In total defiance of summer, I'm offering a copy of Make Believe, a 6 story anthology based on a picture prompt which is the cover.

All that snow looks refreshing doesn't it?? Let's see what it's all about ...

Make Believe

by J.A. Belfield, Jennifer M. Eaton, J. Keller Ford, Terri Rochenski, Kelly Said, Lynda R. Young

Release Date: December 3, 2012

Target Reader: Adult

Keywords: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Romance

Sacrificial Oath by Terri Rochenski
An impetuous act unwittingly makes Alesuela the fulfillment of the Sovereign’s Blood Oath to their Goddess. In five days, she’ll be forced to make the greatest choice of her life: become the virginal sacrifice already promised, or force the man she loves most to die in her place.

With an impossible choice in front of her, she searches for ways to undo the oath, and in her quest, finds not everything in her life is as she expects.

The Amulet of Ormisez by J. Keller Ford
There is only one way to save Elton Fletcher’s brother from an insanity-ridden death.
After years away from home, fighting for his people, Elton returns to discover his only sibling, Cayden, possessed by greed and malice, and responsible for malicious, unthinkable deeds. Cayden, though, isn’t the only one afflicted by the Amulet of Ormisez, and Elton finds himself in yet another battle, where the price of failure could be his own life.

Birthright by Lynda R. Young
Christa can mask the pain and hide the scars, but running from a birthright is impossible.
She’s tried to escape her grief by fleeing to a small town in Florida. Much to her frustration, the locals think they recognize her even though she's never been there before. To make things worse, a man named Jack spouts outrageous theories about her.
Both spur Christa to bolt, to start fresh yet again, but there’s something about Jack that intrigues her enough to stay. The only problem? Someone else wants her to leave, and they won’t stop until she’s dead.

Petrified by Kelly Said
A mysterious storm has replaced summer with winter, devastating crops and smothering Castle lands in snow. Prince Sterling August stands alone as a leader, lost in personal grief as well as a desire to help his people but with an inability to do either.

The answers he needs await him, but without Lochlyn, a woman who’s just as isolated as Sterling, he’ll never see what stands before him, cloaked in illusion.

Last Winter Red by Jennifer M. Eaton
Emily is a Red, a woman whose sole purpose in life is to produce offspring. When her husband dies and leaves her childless, she risks her life and forsakes the safety of Terra—a disease-free city born after the nuclear holocaust. Beyond its boundaries, she knows, survives a man with whom she can be properly paired.

The Outside, though, holds secrets the government struggles to keep, and what Emily discovers on her quest for a mate will change her life forever.

Escort to Insanity by J.A. Belfield
From a charity auction, to a stroll in the park, to the craziest night of her life. Nicole Harrington can’t help but wonder how a simple event went so drastically wrong.

Of course, the male escort she booked is wholly to blame. Not only charming but shrewdly intelligent, Benjamin Gold drags Nicole into a platoon of unimaginable problems—ones from which she’ll have to find the courage just to survive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Be sure to check out the linky list below of other participating blogs.

Best of luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Creating The Book Cover - As Authors, Do We Have A Say?

Let’s face it – a cover can make or break a book sale. Ever walk into a bookstore, see a cover, fall in love, and purchase it without a second thought? Ever browse around, dismissing those ‘Eh’ covers? Even bestselling authors sometimes get covers wrong. It’s not always their fault, though. 

Why? 

Because every publisher does things differently, and maybe they had no say.

I’ve had three experiences so far in my scribbling sojourn with creating covers, and I wanted to share a smidge of what you might expect when this part of your manuscript-to-publication journey takes place.

Having no say

My first release / cover was for Make Believe – an anthology based on a picture prompt. The pic ended up being the cover, created by the publisher before the stories were even submitted, so bah da boom. Done. 

Easy peasy, pumpkin pie. 

No author input, no tweaking. No say, but really no biggie. I was just happy to finally have that ‘real’ publication under my belt.

Got it right the first time

The second was for Christmas Magic, another anthology, but from a different publisher. The cover was created by them and emailed to the three authors. Personally, I loved it. I felt the lone street lamp had an historical feel, and matched my historical romance short at the antho’s end. 

Nothing needed added. Nothing needed tweaked. 

They got it spot on the first time around as far as I was concerned.

Input wanted and then some

Third is my fantasy novel which releases Oct. 7^th of this year. Unfortunately I can’t share the purdy with you just yet – stop back on March 18^th for the big reveal!!!

This cover was much more involved seeing as how it is a novel. Here’s how it went down.

After I signed the 2-book series contract for Pool of Souls with J. Taylor Publishing, I received a pile of paperwork to fill out. One of them was the cover information page. On it they asked questions about the genre, subgenre, title, and theme. Then they asked if I had any special requests.

This was the first I’d been ASKED to be involved. I was stoked – but blindsided and clueless. I am NOT an artist. I can’t even draw a stick figure properly. Sad, I know.

Anyhoo. I was also given a link for their stock photos to browse through. Well. I found a pic that ended up inspiring the title for the 2^nd book of the series, which up to that point was simply known as Pool of Souls #2. Woo Hoo!

But I digress.

I suggested a few things, and emailed those sheets back. The turnaround time blew me away! Within a few weeks I got an email that said ‘Eye of the Soul Cover’.

*GULP*  Fingers trembling, I clicked on the email.

My initial thought was that the background rocked, but the rest of it was just ok. After FIVE years of slaving over a manuscript, to see the story summed up in one picture ... wow. Surreal, but it wasn't quite IT for me. The cover didn't resonate in my soul. I wanted to be blown away.

I’m a nitpicker at heart, and they did request my thoughts, so I offered back suggestions of what didn’t work for me, what images I thought might represent the story better. We ended up going through 3 rounds of tweaks, until I was thrilled. Like, stare and can’t stop grinning like an idiot, thrilled.

LOVE my Eye of the Soul cover!!!! Wish I could share it now, but alas, no can do.

Starting on March 11^th, I’m going to offer a tiny puzzle-like teaser of the cover until cover reveal day. That’s 7 teasers. Ought to be fun, don’t ya think?

The devil is in the details, says I. If given the opportunity to be involved in the cover making process, be sure it represents what lies within, and make sure to catch the eye and raise questions. Entice. Draw potential readers in like  stinking trashcans will a fresh-out-of-hibernation bear.

What kind of book cover draws your attention? What’s the one element a cover shouldn't go without?

HUGE Hugs & Thanks Are In Order! #MakeBelieve Winner

My first official blog tour has drawn to a close. I’m thrilled yet saddened at the same time. 

A special thanks & cyber hugs to all the following bloggers / book reviewers for taking part!

Dec. 3^rd – Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance – giveaway

Dec. 4^rd – J.A. Belfield’s Blog – Author Interview

Dec. 6^th – Julie Reece’s Blog – Author Interview

Dec. 6^th – Kaidens Seduction - Review

Dec. 7^th – Kelly Said’s Blog – Author Interview

Dec. 8^th – J. Keller Ford – Author Interview

Dec. 10^th – The Machenwood Chronicles and Other Tales – Character Interview

Dec. 11^th – Tynga’s Reviews – Guest Post

Dec. 11^th –  Machenwood Chronicles  Book Review

Dec. 12^th – Jennifer Eaton’s Blog – Author Interview

Dec. 12th – Jeanz Book Read n Review  Book Review

Dec. 13^th – W.I.P. It – Author Interview

Dec. 15^th – Shout with Emaginette – Author Interview / ebook giveaway

Dec. 17^th – J.C. Martin – Author Interview

Dec. 18^th – Laurie’s Thoughts & Reviews – Author Interview

Dec. 18^th – Concise Book Reviews – ebook giveaway

Dec. 19^th – Ash Krafton’s Blog – Author Interview / ebook giveaway

Dec. 20^th – Tenaya Jayne’s Blog – Author Interview

Dec. 21^st – Illusions of Intimacy – Guest Post

Dec. 21st– Vanessa Chapman  Combined author interview

Dec. 24^th – Burning Impossibly Bright – Author Interviews / Review / giveaway

Dec. 26^th – Novel Obsession – Guest Post

Dec. 27^th – Boyce’s Blog – Guest Post

Dec. 27th – Hysperia Loves Books  Story Spotlight

Dec. 28^th – Once Upon A Time – Review / ebook giveaway

Dec. 29^th – Mythic Scribes – Guest Post

Dec. 31^st – Kindle & Me – Review / ebook giveaway

Jan. 3rd – Known to Read  Giveaway

Jan. 4^th – That’s What I’m Talking About – Review / Author Interview

Jan. 8^th – Red Headed Bookworm – Guest Post / Author Interview

Jan. 10^th – The Secret Writer – Book Promo / ebook giveaway

I decided to choose two winners for the swag packs I had up for grabs. And they are ...

Ana D. & Kristia M

Thank you everyone for participating & helping to get the word out about Make Believe!!

Purchase Links:  

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Amazon UK / All Romance  /  Diesel eBooks /  Books on Board 

Ever Toot Your Own Horn?

I'm taking a break today from all the blasts, interviews, tours, & giveaways for a little personal tidbit. It's time to:

No, I'm not sneezing. I'm gunna toot my own horn real quick-like.

Make Believe, I’m proud to say, is earning some great reviews. Of course, as a whole this antho rocks.

*Cease tooting cuz it's hurting my own ears*  

On an individual story level? Not always a 5 star. My story, Sacrificial Oath, has received a few 3 star reviews of its own. Reviewers have their reasons—and I’m alright with that.

You can’t WOW! every reader every time.

What might resonate within one reader will annoy another. While one ‘gets’ my character and her reasons for doing what she does, another wrinkles their nose.

No biggie. Grain of salt, right?

Alesuela told me her story. Told me who she was, what drives her. (Yes I’m one of those strange writers who hear their character’s voices in their head.) I put that onto paper & tweak as needed to fit the plot and my characters.

So why does negative feedback hurt? Because the stories we write pour forth from the deepest parts of us. We put all our longing - all our emotion and effort - into the written words. When someone rejects them, in a way we feel as though WE are being rejected.

But hey … if that rejection is from cyber space & cyber peeps who don’t even know us on a personal level? Dust off those shoulders says I.

Write another story. Hopefully they at least liked something about our voice or story telling that they’ll give us another go.

If not?

Their loss.  ;)

How do you deal with negative feedback? Shut down? Try harder the next time?

Meet The Headliner of #MakeBelieve J.A. Belfield

Welcome to the final interview of my week-long Meet The Author fest! We're focusing on the six lovely ladies of the Make Believe Anthology from J. Taylor Publishing that released December 3rd!

Today we're meeting with the headliner.

 J.A. Belfield

Author of the Holloway Pack Series.

Thanks for joining me here at SS. First off, tell us why we should read your story.

Because it rocks! Ha! Okay, more sensibly: because it’s pretty insane: action, hawt dudes, supernatural happenings, extortion, crappy exes, tension, twists & turns, friendship & loyalty, romance … all wrapped up in 14000 words.

What is the first thing you thought of upon seeing the picture prompt for the Make Believe Anthology?

That I needed to alter my story a little? Ha!

Okay, fess up time: I actually already had the inkling of a storyline in my head from the moment I was asked to front the anthology—at which point I hadn’t seen the picture prompt. So then, when the picture prompt came through, I realized I had some tweaking to do to try and incorporate the image into the story in my head.

Which came first: The story or the character?

Definitely the character. I had Cole, my MC in my head, and I knew she’d be booking an escort for the night—enter Benjamin Gold—but I had no idea at this point what her reasons for booking one would be, just that some crazy stuff would end up happening and the evening wouldn’t go exactly as planned/expected. So I opened up a Doc, started typing, ended up with an opening scene that I could work with and that gave me a decent feel for the MC, then wandered off and left it to stew. By the time I returned to it, I had a clearer feel for where it was headed—though I did get so far through, decide I didn’t like where I’d taken the characters, and so deleted around 2000 words and altered their course. I got it how I wanted in the end, though. J

How did you choose your setting?

My settings are usually chosen by picking whichever English county takes my fancy, and then creating a fictional town/village and venues and planting them down in there—that way, I can write the scenes however I need them to be without totally angering the locals with my lack of accuracy.

Is there a moral behind your story?

Yes! Booking an escort is a baaaaaad idea! Ha!

Nah, I’m just kidding. It’s more like: everyone has an inner strength; sometimes a person has to be put to the test before they look deep enough within to find their own.

What was your favorite food when you were a child?

When I was allowed to make my own sandwiches for school (usually when my parents were still in bed and couldn’t see what I was getting up to), I’d first smother my bread in ketchup instead of margarine, then place millimeter-thick slices of cheese on there, and then meticulously slice pickled onions to layer over the cheese. Looking back, I can’t believe nobody ever complained about my breath, lol.

What is your favorite body part?

O_O

You mean my own? Or in general? I think pretty much the entire rear end of a bloke is the ultimate eye candy (if they’re fairly toned)—from his shoulders, down over his blades, to the small in his back just above where they nearly always have twin dimples to lead the way to their arse … Nom. ;)

As for my own? Dude! I dunno. I have nice clavicles?

If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be?

30. I’d had my kids but I didn’t look so much like I had had kids. ;)

If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?

Probably cry. Then scream. Then have a heart attack. *snort*

If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?

Merit from the Chicagoland Vampires series. But not forever. Just for the good bits. Ha!

What would you name the autobiography of your life?

Do You Have Any Syrup To Go With That Waffle? (<<all thanks to Aimee Laine

Look out for it, guys! Coming to a store near you soon! *snicker*

What did you do growing up that got you into trouble?

Where I grew up was not only on the edge of the town where I lived, but also on the edge of our village within that town. And walking around 80 yards to around the corner would take me to a view of nothing but farmers’ fields. From there, walking a little ways right would take me to the road to the countryside, as well as to the entrance to Langley Mill.

Langley Mill wasn’t the kind of place parents wanted their kids hanging around. Naturally, I tended to go there quite a bit. I was never very good at concealing it, though—especially when I’d turn up with a bucket of frogspawn I’d caught. ;)

What is something you learned in school that you think is useless to you today?

Algebra.

I mean, dude, come on … what was the point?

If you could move anywhere, where would you go and why?

I’d move into The Rectory—a house I’ve seen for sale in Pembrokeshire (but way out of my price range, lol).

Why? Well, it’s just so serene and peaceful. Whilst there are only a handful of other properties on the lane, the Rectory has a high stone wall surrounding it, with a circling brook that you need to drive through to hit the driveway, and the neighbor opposite is a traditional church. To the rear of the property is a matted woodland and a couple of fields … Do I need to say more?

Can you keep secrets? Describe a time you didn't.

Yes! *Nods head*

What do you mean, describe a time I didn’t? (Psst, I can’t fess up to those. My friends might read this. Ha!)

Lovely Link List For Ms. Belfield

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads 


Meet the other ladies of Make Believe:  Lynda R. Young, J. Keller Ford, Jennifer M. Eaton, Kelly Said

Want a signed cover & bookmark? Enter the rafflecopter HERE.

There's still over 24 hours left for a chance to nab a freebie copy of Make Believe HERE.

Can Kelly Said Keep A Secret?

Welcome to my week-long Meet The Author fest! We've been  focusing on the six lovely ladies of the Make Believe Anthology from J. Taylor Publishing that released December 3rd!

Today we're meeting with one of my oldest (time-wise!!!) beta buds.

 Kelly Said

YA Author, Cookie Monster, & Caffeine Sipper.

Tell us why we should read your story.

For the mystery and magic, hehe!

What is the first thing you thought of upon seeing the picture prompt for the Make Believe Anthology?

I was very curious about the object in the background, it looked like a natural rock formation, but upon closer examination, I thought I saw a castle in those jagged peaks…

Which came first: The story or the character?

The character came first, the girl in the red cloak. I spent a lot of time wondering about her, how she got there, what she was doing in the middle of a snowy field, leaving no footprints or any trace of her travels. The story spiraled out from there.

How did you choose your setting?

I let the photo prompt dictate the setting.

Is there a moral behind your story?

Well, I had no particular moral in mind when I wrote it, but I suppose after reading it, the story unfolds as a gentle reminder to be thankful for the time we have with each other.

What is your favorite body part?

My hands, even though my fingers are a bit short they’re mighty strong, flexible and gentle when needed. 

If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?

Pay off everything, give huge to my favorite charities and then travel the world on a private jet, stay in posh hotels, order room service, and shop for gifts for friends and family.

What is your favorite holiday and how do you celebrate it?

Birthdays are the most fun, it’s so awesome to get together and celebrate the day your favorite someone came into this world. 

If you had to spend a day not using any technology, what would you do?

REEEEAD! :D hehehe, I would read all day long, by candlelight if I had to.

What habit would you be willing to give up if it guaranteed you would live to be 100?

Exercise.

Can you keep secrets?

Yes, yes I can, hehe! 

Describe a time you didn't. (Keep a secret.)

Confession, at church. ;)

Stalk Kelly Said

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Meet the other ladies of Make Believe:  Lynda R. Young, J. Keller Ford, Jennifer M. Eaton, J.A. Belfield