The Writing World: April 2013

Monday, April 29, 2013

Interview with author Jessica Jaster

Welcome and I'm please to introduce Jessica Jaster to the blog for an interview.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Can I? Yes. The better question is, will I? Hahaha. Hm. Let’s see, I currently live in small town Iowa with my husband, our two children and our cat. I’m a stay-at-home mom working on my dream of being a writer. So far, I have self-published two books, both young adult and of the same series (Delta Project: Hide and Delta Project: Rescue). I should have plenty more to come in the future – lots of stories stuck in this head of mine and they all want out!
What do you do when you are not writing? Besides wrangling my one and two-year old or cleaning? I used to draw a lot, but haven’t had as much time for it lately.
When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book? Well, I started writing in my late teens. I wrote a couple of beginnings to books, but never really got that far into them. Then college happened and writing got put on hold. It wasn’t until after my youngest was born that I really got back into it. I finished my first book last October.
How did you choose the genre you write in? Hm. I don’t think I actually chose it. I think it kinda chose me. I just go with whatever pops in my head and most of the stories that do that are young adult oriented, so that’s what I write.
Where do you get your ideas? Oh, lots of places and sometimes nowhere. I might get an idea from something on TV, on a movie, in another book, in a song, a news story…OR sometimes an idea for a book literally just pops into my head and I really have no idea where it came from.
Do you ever experience writer’s block? Yes. So frustrating. When I do, I try switching to one of the other books I’m working on, so that I’m at least writing something.
Do you work with an outline, or just write? A little of both. I try to write out an outline, but a lot of the time, I will be in the middle of an outline and I’ll get a detailed scene in my head, so I just start writing.
Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published? I’m self-published, so none of mine have been traditionally published. I would love to have them traditionally published though.
Can you tell us about your upcoming book? The one I hope to release next is Wicked Sacrifice, the first book in a three book series called Wicked Things. Here is a little blurb on it: “Only you can stop it.” – “Sometimes we are called upon to make great sacrifices. Sometimes those sacrifices hurt us. Cut us deep. Sometimes. Sometimes those sacrifices are worth it.” Those words were some of the last that Ava remembers passing through her mother’s lips the last time she saw her, when she was just 5 years old. She had made a promise to her mother that day. Now, 11 years later, in a completely different country, living with abusive adoptive parents and ridiculed at school as a freak – Ava finds it more and more difficult to keep that promise. The voices she has heard in her head all her life are getting louder and harder to ignore. How long can she keep living like this? Then he moves to town. Gavin O’Connor and his family are Curators – guardians of the human race. They’ve been given the ability to sense the supernatural – or, the Wicked, as they call them. All things supernatural are wicked and to be hunted down and killed – that is what Gavin has been taught since he was in diapers. But, what happens when he finds himself doubting that very thing when he meets Ava?
Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination? All pure imagination.
What project are you working on now? I have a few in the works. I’m working on the third book of the Delta Project series and like I said, I am also working on the first book of my Wicked Things series. I also have another series called Fox and a standalone novel, Murder At Thirteen, that I am working on.
Will you have a new book coming out soon? That depends on your definition of soon. I hope to have Wicked Sacrifice out by some time in July.
Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with? There are several themes I would like to work with. Werewolves, aliens, dystopian, just to name a few. I’m planning on getting to those eventually, but I’ve got enough in the works right now.
Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers? Don’t give up and keep writing.
Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans? You guys are all awesome and you ROCK! Love you al!!
Do you prefer fuzzy or tub socks? Tube socks
Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point? Sometimes I do, but rarely. I don’t see much of a point.
Do you go out of your way to kill bugs? Are there any that make you screech and hide? No. Bees and wasps kind of freak me out because my mom is allergic, but I don’t really screech and run away from them.
Coffee or Tea? If I had to pick – coffee – but I rarely drink it.
What’s your biggest pet peeve when it comes to social media? (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) People sharing way too much personal information or people getting into an argument with someone over something that should probably be discussed privately.

Where you can find me:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaJasterAuthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6605875.Jessica_Jaster

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaJaster1

Website: http://jljaster-yaauthor.weebly.com/index.html

Amazon Author: http://www.amazon.com/Jessica-Jaster/e/B00A943NJM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Where you can buy my books:

Delta Project: Hide for Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A84PG3O

Delta Project: Hide on Createspace: https://www.createspace.com/4030022?ref=1147694&utm_id=6026

Delta Project: Rescue on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CC2VH4M

Delta Project: Rescue on Createspace: https://www.createspace.com/4196453

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Interview with author Tracee Ford

Lets take a moment to welcome Tracee here today for an interview. It's a pleasure having you here.

First I want to thank you so much for interviewing me!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I live in rural Ohio near of the Scioto River. I am from a very small town and have lived in small towns settings throughout my life. I am a wife and mother and have a successful career outside the home. I love traveling and seeing new places. I also love meeting new people. My job is extremely stressful, but writing is my outlet. Trying to juggle my career, my family, and writing hasn't been easy, but apparently I am a superhero. LOL :)

What do you do when you are not writing?

I am always working or doing things with my family. Sometimes there's very little time for me to write quite honestly. I also do a lot of promoting and marketing in my spare time to get the word out about my current titles and about my publisher.

Do you have a day job as well?

Yes. As I said, I work outside of the home. I work in the field of child protective services as a supervisor/director. I've been involved in this field since 2005 and was promoted in 2012.

When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?

I have always loved writing and anything involving fine arts. I started writing my first book at age sixteen. That book is completed but needs a really good overhaul. The first book I published was finished in the spring of 2012.

How did you choose the genre you write in?

Originally, my interests swayed toward crime novels. However, as an adult, I've been drawn to the paranormal; not vampires and werewolves, but ghosts and demonology. I also have a master's of arts in forensic psychology, so there's still a criminal element lurking about in my work. Nonetheless, in my first published book, Between Worlds Series, volume 1: The Fine Line there isn't a criminal aspect. In fact, that book is solely to introduce the characters. In fact, I wasn't going to even make that book into a series, but I've decided to after all.

Where do you get your ideas?

I get my ideas from just about anything. Dreams, music, situations, movies, TV shows. I can be inspired from just about anything.

Do you ever experience writer’s block?

All of the time.

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

I am not very good at sugar coating anything. After being rejected multiple times from publishers and then nearly being picked up by a major publisher and then getting dumped by that major publisher, I guess you could say I was desperate. I didn’t know what to do or where to look. I was alone in the author community and I hadn’t started networking yet. Looking back on it now, if I would have networked I probably wouldn’t have picked BookLocker, but nonetheless, I did. I am also not one to bash companies or individuals, so I’m going to say this to all of you who are searching for publishers: READ YOUR CONTRACT AND ASK ABOUT COSTS! I don’t regret completely the decision to publish with BL because if it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have learned some very valuable lessons and it brought PDMI and me together. So, it’s all good.

PDMI Direct Publishing/Injected Ink coming into my life was nothing short of a miracle. I actually submitted my second title (a stand alone book) to them. They signed me for a traditional publication immediately. Then I told them about my first book, so they signed that one for a traditional contract and it re-released April 12th. That publishing experience has been much better I love the company deeply. They are loyal, personal, and we talk constantly. I would recommend them to anyone who is considering getting published. They not only offer traditional, but also freelance/self publishing.

How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre?

Now that you think I’ve bashed BL, I’m going to give you some positives about them. They provided to me a marketing guide to help me through bringing attention to my work. Granted, most of it has not worked well, but some things have. I set up a Twitter account and have learned (and am still learning) how to use it. I set up on LinkedIn and joined groups. Shelfari, Amazon, GoodReads, Facebook, there’s your social networking giants. I got my own website and this blog. I also interviewed with local newspapers after blowing up their phones. I have announced it everywhere I can that I published something. I have also held a contest and there is a give-away that I sponsored in the month of March to bring attention to my work. I also donate SWAG to fellow author events. I have been involved in local events as well and a radio show. Interviews and reviews also help get the word out. My goal isn’t to become rich. My goal is to give people hope when they read my stories. So if I don’t become a best seller, I’m okay with that. I just want to inspire people.

As far as what avenues seem to work best for me, I'm still tracking that data. I'm still in the very beginning stages of all of this, so honestly, I'm not sure what works best.

Can you tell us about your upcoming book?
My second title, Idolum: Visions of the Undone will release in late 2013. Here is the synopsis:

A hedonistic serial killer is on the loose targeting and abducting strong, independent college women. Once he snatches his prey, he sets the woman loose in the woods, hunting her as if she is wild game. When each one is caught again her hope of escape quickly disappears as soon as she awakens buried alive in a plastic sarcophagus.

Lauren Hillard, a brilliant and nationally respected forensic psychologist, is called upon by the FBI to help track down and stop this murderer known to the public as The Phantom. It’s then that she meets Nicholas Bennette, the newly promoted director of the Dayton, Ohio FBI field office. A southern gentleman originally from North Carolina, he finds it difficult to work with Hillard because of her social awkwardness. It doesn’t take long, however, for their trust in one another to grow, realizing that it’s going to take teamwork to track down and stop The Phantom.

To solve the crime, Lauren must not only rely on her training and education, but also her supernatural empathic abilities. Through visions she sees, smells, and hears the crimes through the eyes of the victims and hopes that these fragmented visions will help her bring peace to the dead and stop the killings. The deeper she gets into the investigation, the more detailed the visions become, but she knows she can’t possibly solve the case through paranormal means alone. Lauren confides in Nick hoping he can use both her gifts, as well as, more accepted methods to bring justice to the victims. Yet, this isn’t Lauren’s greatest challenge. Making sense of the visions and trying to understand what the victims are telling her is the most difficult part. Lauren is overwhelmed to the core because the victims feel so much has been left undone in their lives.

As time passes and the body count continues to rise, Lauren fits the puzzle together and discovers the identity of the killer. She soon learns she’s been targeted by The Phantom and she comes face to face with him. When Lauren Hillard finds herself at the mercy of the psychopathic serial killer she realizes she’s left much undone in her own life.

What project are you working on now?

Right now I'm working on the second installment in Between Worlds. The second volume is entitled Through Glass Darkly. The book will follow Olivia Gregory into her adulthood. Because it is in the very early stages, I'm going to leave it at that. I will tell you that there are aspects of the paranormal that will be coming into play and there will be a new cast of characters along with a cameo appearance from Dr. Lauren Harris from Idolum.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

DO NOT GIVE UP! And RESEARCH! Don’t get sucked into something that you don’t have peace about. Think everything through. Make sure the decision you’ve made feels right. If it doesn’t keep looking. PDMI is my home now and I’ve waited a long time to find them. I’m not saying they’ll accept what you send them, but I highly recommend them. They are honest and will do things right. DREAM BIG!

Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?
THANK YOU so much! I couldn't have come this far without your encouragement and support!!!!

I’ve now started some FUN and Wacky questions for those interviewed on my site.

1. Do you prefer fuzzy or tub socks? Neither: flip flops please!

2. Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point? I prefer to make it, but when my husband is still laying it, that makes it sort of hard.

3. Be honest, how often do you wash your hair? At least every other day to every two days.

4. Do you get road rage? Y E S!!! I have problems with this. :)

5. Coffee or Tea? Coffee, decaf; caffeine gives me a horrible headache.

6. What’s your biggest pet peeve when it comes to social media? (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
I hate seeing depressing, sad, horrid images. I despise animal abuse and child abuse. When I see images of this, I hide the story and often go to the notifications and take that person off my list. Life is too traumatic to see this on social media. There's a difference between making people aware and just making people sick. I see enough tragedy every day in real life; I don't want to look at it all evening. Blah!

Where to buy:

Amazon: (ebook)

http://www.amazon.com/The-Fine-Line-ebook/dp/B00C6AA4GM/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365165721&sr=1-1&keywords=injected+ink+the+fine+line

(paperback) http://www.amazon.com/Fine-Line-Between-Worlds-Volume/dp/0615799396/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366200453&sr=8-1&keywords=tracee+ford+the+fine+line

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/302129

BLURB FROM Between Worlds Volume 1: The Fine Line

The day wore on. Troubled by the conversation with her husband, Robin knew staying busy was her best option for keeping her mind off of things. So she continued with her laundry chores. Standing in the basement at the long table with towels scattered about, she listened to the music playing on her phone. Suddenly, the music faded out and then stopped. She grabbed the device and shook it. “Damn,” she whispered. She assumed the battery went dead.

Quickly, the room temperature dropped and the hair on her arms and neck stood up as the goose bumps peppered her skin. The fog from her lungs expelled from her mouth. She realized she was seeing her breath. An invisible strength wrapped around her neck unexpectedly and the gasps for air were futile. Terrified, she clutched her throat trying to remove whatever was choking her. Coughing and panting, the tears began falling down her face. Her feet felt as if they were lifting from the ground and the grip around her neck worsened. Unable to scream or even speak, she realized the urgency of the moment.

Finally, she felt the release and bent over the table trying desperately to catch her breath. When her ability to speak returned, she screamed for Matt and heard him running through the house. The basement door swung open so hard it shook the drywall at the top of the stairs. He thundered toward her as she continued resting her elbows and torso on the laundry table.

“Robin!” he shouted.
She still struggled to breathe. “I felt like I was being hung.”
“Hung?”
“Yes. My music on my phone completely stopped and the next thing I knew the room got cold. I felt like something was hanging me. I felt my feet lift off of the ground,” she cried.
She stood up and dropped into Matt’s chest, sobbing uncontrollably.
“I’m here now,” he said softly as he caressed her hair. “It’s okay. I’m here.”

BACK OF THE BOOK:

Set in Southwestern Ohio, Dr. Matthew Gregory and Robin Hillard meet, fall passionately in love, marry, and settle into their newly restored historical dream home originally constructed in the 1800’s. However, their dreams of a happy life together are challenged by misfortune surrounding the purchase of the home. Soon, they realize that they have stepped into another world, filled with spirits, paranormal phenomenon, and unexplainable realities. The stark realizations as well as other traumas challenge their personal beliefs, the stability of their marriage and, most of all, their sanity. Matt’s logical, scientific certainties are defied when his daughter, Olivia, realizes she is a psychic medium and is able to communicate with the dead. Robin recognizes that her dreams are actually visions of the past directly associate with the previous owners of the home.

The Gregory family soon learns that there is a fine line between the world they live in and the world they can’t see. They seek direction through organized religion as well as through unconventional methods in an effort to understand the strange world of the paranormal. Ultimately, the family grows stronger and the relationship between Robin and Matt becomes unbreakable. They finally realize that they can face anything as long as they are together and have faith.

Website: http://traceeford.com

Blog: http://traceeford.wordpress.com

Social Media connections:

Linked in: www.linkedin.com/pub/tracee-ford/63/56/753/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/httpgoodreadscomTracee_Ford

Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/traceeford

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tracee-Ford/e/B00AXL5538/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1361899330&sr=8-1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FordTracee

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/tracee.ford.75

http://www.facebook.com/AuthorTraceeFord

http://www.facebook.com/tracee.ford.thefineline.2013

RebelMouse: http://rebelmouse.com/FordTracee

ScribeTrailer: scribetrailer.com/members/traceefordw

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Silenced: The Overtaking by RaeBeth McGee-Buda Blurb Reveal

Title: Silenced 2: The Overtaking
Author: Rae Beth McGee-Buda
Genre: Young Adult, Suspense, Christian
Release Date: Late Summer 2013

Blurb: In life when one thing goes wrong, it can feel like everything goes wrong. Secrets come to the surface while friendships twist out of control, romantic relationships end, and even a dear loved one can die!

In Silenced: The Overtaking Amber’s life turns to chaos when she finds out Sarah, her childhood friend dies suddenly, her stepfather reveals another devastating family secret, and her boyfriend begins pushing her away.

After all the truth comes out, Amber turns to her darkness for comfort when her worst fear becomes reality. Her secret with cutting is discovered when she loses control and ends up in the hospital. Amber’s long journey to recovery begins with a battle. While she’s fighting her way to freedom, she discovers the one love she’s been missing her entire life.
Will Amber overtake her darkness of cutting or will the darkness overtake her?

Official Book Trailer Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPxPfvrJMqk

About the Author

RaeBeth McGee-Buda was born in southwestern Pennsylvania in 1987, the second daughter of Rachel Yost and Arthur Curtis McGee. RaeBeth grew up loving to read and write poetry, as well as short stories. Her childhood dream was to become a teacher. Rae Beth's dream of writing was created in her eleventh grade literature class where writing became her passion.

RaeBeth married in August 2012 to her husband, Gregory Stephen Buda Jr. and resides in a small Pennsylvania town of Fairchance. RaeBeth is a full time mother of one and is expecting her second.

She graduated from American Intercontinental University with her associates in business administration. She enjoys spending her time writing and feels that connecting with readers is her main goal.

RaeBeth published Silenced under her maiden name but plans to continue writing under her married name with any other works.

Author Facebook Page Link

https://www.facebook.com/raebethbuda

Email:

raebeth.buda@gmail.com

Blog link:

http://raebethmcgeeswriting.blogspot.com/

Twitter ID:

https://twitter.com/raebethmcgee

Website:

http://raebethmcgee.weebly.com/

Purchase Links for Silenced (1st book in Series)

Each book(s) Amazon page links

Silenced in Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Silenced-Volume-1-RaeBeth-McGee/dp/1480254665/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1355696968&sr=1-1

Silenced for Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Silenced-Series-ebook/dp/B00ANRBNDS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355696968&sr=1-1&keywords=Silenced+by+raebeth+mcgee

Link on Barnes and Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/silenced-rae-beth-mcgee/1022945794?ean=2940015999945

Additional information
Here is my author page on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/RaeBeth-McGee/e/B00ANXH6PG/ref=la_B00ANXH6PG_rf_p_n_feature_browse-b_0?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_82%3AB00ANXH6PG%2Cp_n_feature_browse-bin%3A2656022011&bbn=283155&ie=UTF8&qid=1355839606&rnid=618072011

Friday, April 26, 2013

'Playing Patience' Release Day Blitz

Book Title: Playing Patience

Author: Tabatha Vargo

Release Date: April 26th 2013

Genre: New Adult/Romance/Contemporary

Presented by: As You Wish...

BLURB

Sometimes all you need is Patience.

Life’s been hard for Zeke. Being a punching bag for his alcoholic father has turned him into stone. Not even the dodgy trailer park he lives in can scare him. Fighting is his release and sex, drugs, and his guitar bring him peace, but deep down Zeke isn’t quite as hard as he makes himself out to be. When he meets Patience, she finds all his broken pieces and puts him back together, but she’s a ray of light in his shadowed life and the last thing he wants to do is bring her into his dark world. Playing careless is easy, playing the bad guy can be fun, but playing Patience is impossible, especially when she can see right through him.

Zeke isn’t the only one who’s broken, and for the first time, in a long time, Patience feels alive. Her black and white world gets a shot of color when she meets Zeke. He’s unlike anyone she’s ever met with his tattoos, piercings, and blunt honesty. She wants nothing more than to let go and ride the wild side with him, but some wounds never heal and the broken pieces of Patience aren’t so easy to find.

***Warning: this book contains graphic language, sex, and violence. Mature readers only. Not intended for young adult readers.***

EXCERPT

Her cheeks turned pink and a frown pulled on her pouty mouth.

“I shouldn’t have come here. I just wanted to say thanks.” Her eyes cut me before she turned and walked away.

She made it to the hood of the waiting car, before my conscious peeked out and slapped the shit out of me.

“Hey,” I called out to her.

She stopped and faced me again. Instantly, I felt like the biggest dick in the south when I saw her eyes brimming with tears. Someone so sensitive didn’t stand a chance around a person like me, but knowing that I’d probably never see her face again made it okay for me to kind of apologize for being myself for some reason.

“I’m rude, but you’ve seen first hand what happens to shiny things in a chop shop,” I gestured to the world around us. “Your best bet is to stay away from these parts, princess. A pretty thing like you wouldn’t last two hours out here. How long were you at The Pit last night before you were dying on the bathroom floor? An hour, tops? Think of my rudeness as a blessing.” I adjusted my guitar case in my sweaty palm and turned toward my trailer door.

I looked back to get one final glimpse of her. The contrast between her and the trailer park around her was alarming, although, with her fair skin, white hair, and pale, blue eyes, I’m sure she stuck out just about anywhere she went. She was unique, a single snowflake with her own icy patterns, and if she stayed in my hell any longer she’d melt.

“Have a nice trip back to Wonderland, Snowflake,” I said, as I opened my the door,

“My name is Patience,” she snapped.

Patience…it was as unique as its owner. I liked it, although, I’d never admit that out loud. Instead, I shook my head and laughed like she had told me a joke, walked inside, and shut her out.

PLAYING PATIENCE BOOK TRAILER

AUTHOR BIO

Tabatha's been writing since she could pick up a pencil. Her first publication was a little poem in her elementary school paper, from that point on she was hooked. When she was a teenager, she traded in her girly magazines for personalized writing notebooks.

At nineteen, she met her own personal prince charming and writing took a back burner for a while. She's now married to that prince and the mother of a beautiful seven-year-old princess/rock star. Once her daughter was born, writing came back into her life, and she finished her very first novel, Wicked Fate, in May of 2009.

She's now pursuing her English degree and she hopes to one day teach while continuing to write.