Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

Joanna Chambers is visiting me today. She’s a fellow Carina Press author and is celebrating a new historical release called The Lady’s Secret. Welcome, Joanna!

Hi Shelley, thank you for inviting me over to talk about The Lady’s Secret which has just been released by Carina Press. I thought today I’d talk about power dynamics.

My heroine, Georgy Knight is a failed-actress-turned-stagehand. When she discovers that she and her brother are in fact legitimate—and that her brother is therefore the true Earl of Dunsmore—she embarks on a quest to find evidence of her parents’ marriage. But the only way she can gain access to the ancestral home to search for evidence, is to pose as a valet of one of the guests. Thus Georgy becomes George Fellowes, passing herself off as a man to the hero, Nathan.

The power differential between Georgy and Nathan in The Lady’s Secret is huge. She is (officially) illegitimate, a member of the lower classes, and acting as his servant. He is an all-powerful aristocrat and the master in their master-servant relationship. He seems to have all the cards, but in truth there is more than one kind of power. Nathan might have economic and political power but from a personal perspective, his life is mapped out for him. In this sense, Georgy has more freedom, and hence more personal power than Nathan.

Eventually, both my heroine and my hero overcome their powerlessness and seize what they need. Georgy goes out and fights for what is rightfully hers and Nathan rejects society’s constraints to do right by the woman he loves whatever society may think.

I hope readers will agree that when the book ends, Nathan and Georgy have reached a sort of equilibrium of power, each of them matching the other, neither one of them in charge. Because I think that’s something that I—speaking as a reader now—like to see in romance novels: a H/H who fully deserve and match one another. Equality of Arms.

What do you think? What romance novel most encapsulates for you ‘equality of arms’ at the end?

Blurb: The Lady’s Secret

London, 1810

Former actress Georgiana Knight always believed she and her brother were illegitimate—until they learn their parents were married, making them heirs to a great estate. To prove their claim, Georgy needs to find evidence of their union by infiltrating a ton house party as valet to Lord Nathaniel Harland. Though masquerading as a boy is a challenge, it pales in comparison to sharing such intimate quarters with the handsome, beguiling nobleman.

Nathan is also unsettled by Georgy’s presence. First intrigued by his unusual valet, he’s even more captivated when he discovers Georgy’s charade. The desire the marriage-shy earl feels for his enigmatic employee has him hoping for much more than a master-servant relationship…

But will Nathan still want Georgy when he learns who she truly is? Or will their future be destroyed by someone who would do anything to prevent Georgy from uncovering the truth?

Purchase The Lady’s Secret

To learn more about Joanna and her books visit her website Joanna Chambers. You’ll also find Joanna at her blog, on Twitter as @ChambersJoanna and at Facebook.

Today I’d like to welcome debut author Julia Phillips Smith. I met Julia online several years ago and you couldn’t find a nicer person. She’s passionate about writing, music and the arts, and I love visiting her blog to see the world through her eyes.

Julia’s book, Saint Sanguinus, is due out next week. When you visit her website, definitely take the time to check out her book trailers, which she wrote and directed herself. Over to Julia…

For many artists, no matter what the medium, the sense of dancing to a different drummer began early in life and never eased off. If you were anything like me, when you were a kid, you didn’t do things the way the other kids did them.

It wasn’t out of a sense of being contrary, for contrary’s sake. I honestly wasn’t attracted to the white North Star sneakers with blue trim that everyone else just HAD to have. I did, in fact, have a pair of North Stars. But mine were blue with yellow trim. I just liked mine better.

When everyone else curled their hair back and blew it fluffy dry like Farrah Fawcett, I wore my hair straight and long with bangs, or in braids. I just liked my hairstyle better.

When everyone else was in love with Shaun Cassidy from The Hardy Boys, I was mad for Scottish lead singer Les McKeown of the Bay City Rollers. I just thought he was way cuter.

This has never stopped. When everyone couldn’t get enough of Rachel and Ross, I settled in to watch the expeditionary team of aliens posing as humans on 3rd Rock From the Sun.

So it’s been with my writing career. For awhile now, I made attempts at writing to the market so that I could sell my stories. My only problem? None of the books I was working on were like anything on store shelves.

I wasn’t writing purely for my own readership of one. I also wasn’t journaling. I wanted to tell stories that connected and resonated with readers.

Somehow, even though I kept trying to wrestle the giant python of my story into at least a cobra version, something told me to hold on, to wait. As I kept writing, a new technological breakthrough changed the publishing landscape for writers and readers.

The rise of e-publishers opened the door to time periods and settings that had been passed over by traditional print publishers. Suddenly, a story could be set in the West Indies in the 18th century, for example, if it was told well and featured compelling characters. Readers were no longer limited to London soirees and the Regency ton. The rise of the niche market made room for all sorts of authors to finally sell their un-sellable books.

In 2011, Amazon’s and Smashword’s self-publishing option has blown a hole so wide in the publishing world that there’s no longer any going back. I knew that it was finally time for my stories to step out and dance with the rest.

For all the other ‘me’s out there, who long for something a little different, the time is now. As a reader, as a writer—I don’t know about you, but I’m grabbing my plate and heading for the buffet.

Blurb: Saint Sanguinus

Do you want another life?

In Dark Age Wales, Peredur falls to a spear on the battlefield,but fights death to the last – until he is made an offer he can’t refuse, two fangs embedding themselves in his neck. Tanwen was his betrothed, and resists her father’s command to take another husband. When the wise woman’s son insists he can reunite her with Peredur, Tanwen must choose between a future that promises only misery, or set her on a dark path that whispers of her heart’s true desire.

Saint Sanguinus is out at Amazon next week. To learn more about Julia and her books visit her website at www.juliaphillipssmith.com

My guest today is Rachel Leigh. Rachel lives in the UK and has been married to her own sexy hero for thirteen years. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her reading, running after her two daughters or…playing with her husband.

Rachel is celebrating the release of her erotic romance, Coming Back, which is now available from the Wild Rose Press. Today she’s talking about a subject that I suspect more than a few of us worry about…a horrid sagging middle! Over to Rachel…

I am nearing the halfway mark of my latest work in progress and while for some writers that will be something to celebrate, for me it is the opposite. Why? Because it means the dreaded ‘sagging middle’ is right around the corner. Thus bringing my writing/plotting/creativity to a grinding halt and causing me to bang my head up and down on my desk all day, every day until I see light at the end of a very dark tunnel.

Now most of you would have heard of this ‘sagging middle’ phrase and know what it means, others won’t. Let me explain.

It is the part of my story writing that I hate the most and occurs every single time, with every single book. I am a blend of two kinds of writer. I am half plotter and half pantser. I always have a two to three page synopsis written as well as character sketches for my hero and heroine before I start writing. However, from page one to the end I continually write the first draft without stopping or editing. The hard work comes in drafts two and three.

The problem is no matter how much detail I feel I’ve put into the synopsis, no matter how much I have written it with my ‘sagging middle’ weakness in mind, there it always is. Bam, like a grinning little cartoon devil poised to poke me in the behind with his shiny trident as soon as I am about halfway through.

So the question is, how do I deal with it? The only way I know how. Keep writing. I dread going to my desk for these days. Have zero enthusiasm or belief in myself or my work. I sit my backside in the chair anyway. These days writing is like pulling teeth but I force myself to write at least a thousand rubbish words a day. The beauty of it is when I feel the sun reappearing as I climb out of the middle and start heading for the home run, I read back what I wrote through those torturous days and I can be guaranteed to keep at least half of it. Result!

So what about you writers out there? Do you suffer with the same weakness as me? Yes? What’s your trick for beating this particular devil?

Or are you a reader? Have you noticed a ‘sagging middle’ in books? Maybe you see them more often than editors do, lol! I love to hear from you.

Rachel’s latest release is “Coming Back” available now from The Wild Rose Press. Here’s the blurb:

Kelly Hampton loved once…and lost. After two years of looking for Sean MacKenzie in other men–and failing miserably–she takes a vow of celibacy. No sex until she finds love. Then Sean strolls back into her bar, reigniting old flames. No one has come close to understanding or satisfying her like he did. Her body burns for the passion they once shared, but her heart still remembers the pain.

Sean escaped Jessop Hill and his father’s fists in the middle of the night without a word–even to his love, Kelly–to protect his battered mother, but he never forgot the explosively erotic relationship he left behind. Now his father is dead and Sean is back for the only woman he’s ever wanted. Their reunion is full of fire – but can sexual attraction and noble intentions overcome years of heartache or will Kelly walk away to protect her heart this time.

Purchase Coming Back

Rachel can be found here:

www.rachelleigh.co.uk
www.rachelleighromance.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/rachelwriter

Today I’d like to welcome author Iris Deorre. Iris started to write when she was seventeen. At the time it was a form of escapism. By the time she hit her twenties she was writing short stories and got one published in a women’s magazine. She went on to write short plays but after meeting a well-known author who taught a writers class her focus changed to Erotica. Her love for paranormal is what makes her combine the two.

She resides in the UK with her little girl.

The Most Infuential Person in My Life

That would have to be my older sister. She’s the most amazing woman I know. She’s carried our family for as long as I can remember. Encouraged us and believed in all of us. When things got tough she was always there to encourage me and to give me guidance. She’s been with me through my divorce and other big parts of my life. She’s celebrated my first published work and has been my constant ever since I told her about my writing.

Ever since I can remember my sister has always encouraged me to do what I believed in. To follow my heart and my dreams, to never be afraid of what other people may think. She taught me that what’s important is what I think.

I’d been writing secretly when I was about seventeen. No one in my family knew about it. It was a difficult time for me and so I’d pen my words and somehow this got me through my bad time. It was hard then because my sister had gone off to university and I had no one to talk to the way I did with her.

When I was twenty one I went to live with my sister for a while. It was then that I shared my love for writing and my desire to become a writer one day. She didn’t laugh, bat an eyelid nor did she say I needed to get a real job. Instead she gave me a book called The Choice by Og Mandino. I’d recommend it to any writer who hasn’t already read this book. It’s an amazing book that show’s we always have a choice and we have options.

It was a Saturday mid morning. I can remember spreading out on the couch, the sun shining through the French doors. I opened the book as if it concealed a secret message and never left the couch the whole day except to use the bathroom and grab a snack. I’ve never read a book the way I read The Choice. That evening when I finally got to the final page and closed the book I had a splitting headache but had also found a new found confidence and drive to take my writing seriously.

It changed my life, changed the way I viewed myself as a writer. When my sister handed me that book, her actions said to me, ‘I believe in you! You can do it!’ Her faith in me pushed me forward to do what I wanted to do, be who I wanted to be all because she believed in me.

And even today my sister is my biggest cheerleader. She has been so supportive and a big influence in my life. I’ll never forget the words she said one evening driving from a day outing. I was sat besides her and she said, ‘If you want to something go out and get it. You won’t know until you try. And if you fail, get up, wipe your bruises, dust yourself off then keep going! The only reason anyone fails is because they stopped trying.’

I will hold onto her words everyday, when days seem hard and heavy, when I feel like giving up. I remember the words, ‘Don’t stop trying.’ and continue to be grateful that she is a great part of my life!

The Whitby Ghost is the latest story from Iris Deorre.

Blurb:

Roy has a past he’d rather forget. To overcome it he takes his girlfriend Melisa to Whitby, the very place of his past that he is trying to forget. Roy believes it’s the only way to move on and to forget it by moving on with his future, Melisa.

But something is lurking in Whitby, something that Melisa becomes sensitive to the minute they arrive. What she discovers is hard to swallow. What follows is a journey to the other side. Something she’d rather forget.

Will Melisa marry her boyfriend who refuses to talk about his past? Or will his past bring them closer?

Excerpt from the Whitby Ghost:

The B&B was engulfed in darkness except for the single light that burned to the right side of the door.

‘Are you sure this is five star accommodation?’ She queried as he unloaded the bags from the boot. She wrapped her arms around her body to keep warm.

‘Yes, I paid a five star price; this will be fun, spooky just how you like it.’

It looked deserted, not the same as it had done three years ago. The name had changed from The Blue Inn to The Winter Inn. The ratings had gone up since it had been taken up under new ownership. Roy was certain that this was the right place; he’d always loved Whitby and never wanted the fear of the past to hold him back from sharing his favourite place with the woman he loved at the same time fulfilling her love for the paranormal.

He pressed his lips against hers again and she weakened. She could never get enough of her tanned hunk.

There was a bleating sound that came from behind them.

‘Is that a sheep?’ She giggled.

‘I think we have company.’ He looked to his right where the sound had originated from. It was too dark to make out anything.

‘Shall we go inside, I’m freezing,’ she said.

They walked across to the cottage, the sound of pebbles crunched under foot. It felt eerie, quiet and unusual. Melisa could hear the sound of her own heart in her ears. She felt a little uneasy a little concerned that the place they were checking into didn’t feel quite right.

Buy links
The Whitby Ghost Amazon UK
The Whitby Ghost Amazon US
The Whitby Ghost DE

Visit Iris Deorre

The Rugby World Cup is currently taking place in New Zealand with the quarter-finals this coming weekend. I’m visiting Stephanie Burkhart’s blog today where I’m talking about rugby, my love of the sport and books.

I hope you’ll pop by and say hello. Go All Blacks!

My special guest today is author, Rachel Brimble who lives in England, not far from one of my favorite cities – Bath. Today, she’s celebrating her new Lyrical Press release, Paying the Piper and talking about a topic that many of you will totally understand and sympathize with. Over to Rachel…

I have been suffering with ‘working mother’ syndrome for the last two weeks and thought I’d seek solace with my visitors on Shelley’s blog today ;). How do we deal with that overwhelming sense of guilt that comes thundering down on us when we are being pulled every which way? I have two pre-teenage daughters who have hormones jumping around inside them. It’s as though a packet of out of control jumping beans have been poured down their throats! They are not afraid to tell me how they are feeling at any given moment, believe me.

If you’re hoping I can provide the solution to this age-old problem for anyone else suffering the same pressure, I am sorry to disappoint you.

With the popularity of the book and now film, “I Don’t Know How She’s Does It”, starring SJP, I know it is a universal issue a million and one mothers are dealing with on a daily basis. I tell myself this should make me feel better – it doesn’t, does it for you?

On my writing calendar alone this week, I have the following entries:

Complete two interviews
Write two blogs
Finish editing novel my agent is waiting for
Write at least 5,000 words toward my new work in progress
Start on the five entries I need to judge for a RWA chapter contest

Hmm…on top of that, I have a parents evening for my youngest daughter, clubs to take both kids to and from, ironing, housework, dinners to make and a night out with a friend. Stressed? You bet!

So that’s my plea today – do any of you guys have some time-saving formulas that work? How do you get your kids to help or even understand? I am literally pulling my hair out at the moment!

Or like me, are you partly to blame? Do you put too much pressure on yourself? I am massively guilty of this and it’s usually my kids who miss out on my attention. Tell me I’m not alone!! :-)

Okay, so I’ve had my moan and can’t wait for you all to provide me with the sought-after solution, lol!

Here’s the blurb for my latest release, enjoy! Paying The Piper is available right now from Lyrical Press:

Nightclub manager Grace Butler is on a mission to buy the pub where her mother’s ashes are scattered but the owner wants to sell to anyone but her. And that owner happens to be her father…who has a secret she will do anything to discover.

Social worker and all around good guy Jimmy Betts needs funds to buy a house for three special kids before their care home closes. Time is running out and he’s desperate for cash. He agrees to to a one-time ‘job’ for bad-man Karl Butler. But in a sudden turn of events, Jimmy finds himself employed by Karl’s beautiful, funny and incredibly sexy daughter, Grace. Their lives couldn’t be more different, yet one thread binds them: they’re both trying to escape the bonds of their fathers. Maybe the only way they’ll be free is by being together, instead of alone.

Purchase Paying the Piper

Rachel loves to hear from readers and can be found here:

www.rachelbrimble.com
www.rachelbrimble.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/rachelbrimble

This is the final day of my Lone Wolf virtual tour. I’m visiting Sara York’s blog and talking about authors, life experience and characters. Is there a connection between an author’s life experience and their writing?

Don’t forget–if you comment on my post at Sara’s blog you’ll be in the draw to win a $20 Amazon voucher.

I’m really excited to introduce my guest today. Maddy Barone writes romance and has a love of all things paranormal. In her own words, “I’ve been writing since junior high. Werewolves, time travel and handsome princes who can wield magic and lead armies are my thing. Any damsel in distress that I write can darned well rescue herself and if the hero’s ego can’t take that, then he’s not a hero. I want strong men who can respect their ladies and treat them like partners, not dainty little dolls. Is there anything sexier than a tough man who finds that one perfect woman and is willing to do anything for her?”

Maddy is also a keen member of SCA, a non-profit education organization that studies the renaissance and middle ages. She gets to dress up, mainly in garb from the Italian Renaissance but she has Japanese, Viking and Byzantine garb too. Just quietly – she has a rather cool steampunk outfit that I have my eye on. I’m very tempted to launch a surprise attack from New Zealand to nab it for myself!

Today Maddy is taking us through the process of making our own fascinator hat. Give her a warm welcome. Over to Maddy…

How to Make a Fascinator Hat

HRH the Duchess of Cambridge (nee Kate Middleton) has made fascinators the newest rage in headwear. Appropriate for every social event from weddings to the races to cocktail parties, a fascinator can add the perfect finishing touch to any outfit. But –gulp!—have you seen the prices?! Wouldn’t it be a lot cheaper to make it yourself? I made this one for $10.00 (USD) in 40 minutes.

Do you think you need to be a milliner to be able to make a fascinator hat? Well, you don’t! All you need are a few things you already have around the house and a couple things from a craft store.

Materials:

A round base. This can be a ready-made sinamay base available from some millinery supply stores and Etsy.com, or a small plastic lid covered with fabric.

Veiling. About 12-15 inches (30-37 cm) This can be purchased from bridal supply stores, eBay, Etsy. But you can do without it too. Use tulle or take a veil off some old hat from the thrift store.

Feathers. I bought mine at JoAnn Fabric & Crafts. I used:
a half-pinwheel of black feathers
a 3 inch piece of black and white marabou feather boa
2 red feather clumps

A focal piece. I used a brooch from my grandmother. You might use a silk flower, a fancy button, a cute bow, a rhinestone earring or clip.

Fastener. I’m using an old black plastic headband. You could use a comb, a clip, a barret or elastic.

Needle and thread or glue. I sewed my items on so I could remove them and re-make the hat with other items and colors, but you could easily use a glue gun if you prefer.

Directions:
1. If you will be using veiling, gather it to a length that will go half way around your base. Stitch or glue in place along the back edge. If it looks a little wonky that’s okay. The wearer can use hair pins to put the edges in place.

2. Begin adding your feathers, layering them in whichever fashion you like best. I sewed the pinwheel on first. See what big ugly stitches I used? I plan to take this off and remake it sometime to go with a different outfit. Big stitches are easier to remove, and who is ever going to see them?

3. When the feather layer is secured by stitching or glue, add your focal piece. I used my grandmother’s brooch. I can take it off and replace it with another one to change my color scheme.

4. Stitch or glue the fascinator to the headband or whichever fastening method you chose.

5. Try on the fascinator. Pretend your hair is perfect, your eyes are dramatically made up and your lips have that 1950s red pout. Use hair pins to arrange the veil in the most flattering way.

You’re done!! Congratulations! You have a fascinator hat to wear to your next cocktail party!

Wolf’s Glory

After the Crash, Book 2

When goth-girl Glory Peterson’s plane crashes she walks to find help. What she finds are people living in teepees like it’s the Old West. Wolf’s Shadow knows Glory is his mate. Glory’s happy to take a roll in the hay with him while she’s waiting for transportation back to civilization, but when she finds out she’s gone fifty years into the future and Shadow is a bossy werewolf who thinks he owns her, her attitude changes fast. Shadow is used to giving orders that are obeyed. Glory hasn’t obeyed an order since kindergarten. When two strong-willed lovers clash, who will win?

Available from Liquid Silver Books Now

Visit Maddy Barone to learn more about Maddy and her books.

CONTEST: Book one in Maddy Barone’s series, After the Crash, is actually one of the ebooks in the ebook bundle I’m giving away. The contest closes soon. Details of how to enter are on my contest page.

It’s Rugby World Cup year, and the tournament is taking place in New Zealand. Get in the mood!

I’m visiting JA Saare’s blog, Random Musings today and talking about my love of rugby. I’m also giving away a download of one of my rugby-set stories, Best Man or Issy’s Infatuation.

Come and say hello!

My special guest today is author, Maria Zannini who recently self-published a paranormal romance called The Devil to Pay. Maria has been out on the virtual road with the Indie Roadshow where she tells writers about her self-publishing journey and the things she’s learned along the way. Today Maria is talking about promotion, which I know is something many writers struggle with and don’t enjoy. Over to Maria…

Psst. Do you want to know the secret to good promotion? You might be surprised when I tell you because it’s been in front of you the whole time.

Ready for it?

You have to find the reader, rather than wait for him to find you. And when you do find him you have to talk to your reader and keep him engaged.

Book promotion is time consuming, expensive, and there are no guarantees that your efforts will bear fruit. But a lot of your labor can be cut in half if you focus on the reader and what S/HE needs.

Think about yourself as a reader. You just finished a fantastic book from a new-to-you author and you decide to Google the author to learn more about her. When you reach her blog, all you find are advertisements for more books. It feels like a bit of letdown, doesn’t it?

To attract the reader your best bet is to go to his haunts. And when it comes to indie publishing most of those avid readers will be found at book blogs, reading forums, book clubs, and book outlets (like Amazon).

Most of these outlets are free to you, though some might require asking for an invitation to appear. Others, like Goodreads and Shelfari welcome you as long as you keep the pimping low-key.

And there’s still room for legitimate advertising. LASR (Long and Short Reviews) and The Romance Studio are two I’ve used. Both offer low-priced packages and get a ton of traffic.

Here are a list of options for you to consider that are either low cost or no cost.

Buy advertising packages at a book-centric web sites. (Make sure they get a lot of traffic.)
• LASR (Long and Short Reviews)
• The Romance Studio
• Coffee Time Romance
• All Romance ebooks

Share yourself
• Guest blogging. Double your mileage and blog at places where you’re lesser known.
• Forums, such as Kindleboards, Absolute Write Water Cooler, and genre-specific forums

Talk to book bloggers about:
• Reviews
• Interviews
• Guest posts

Give your book away
Liz Fichera had a marvelous idea when she gave away her arc for Craving Perfect to ten people who would agree to review it. With an indie book, there are no limitations on how many books you can give away. Be generous. Word of mouth is priceless.

Go where the readers are like:
Goodreads
Shelfari
Facebook

Finally, don’t leave out television and radio. It might be difficult to nab a guest spot, but if you have a small station locally, you’ll reach an audience you might not otherwise find.

It’s scary to put yourself out there because you don’t always know how you’ll be received, but if you’ve written the best book you can, all that’s left is to be the kind of author people want to know.

And I’ll tell you my personal secret for promoting myself. I comment on many different blogs. Not a ‘hi, I like your site’ comment, but something personal and thoughtful. If you leave short and intriguing comments, I promise you, people will follow you back.

***

I hope you’ll follow along with the rest of the Indie Roadshow as I share the things I learned on my road to self-publishing.

The Devil To Pay is available at Amazon and Smashwords for only $2.99. It is the first book of the series, Second Chances.

Synopsis: The road to Hell is paved with good intentions and bad tequila. Shannon McKee finds herself at the end of her rope, and she bargains her soul in a fit of despair.

Shannon’s plea is answered immediately by two men who couldn’t be more different from one another. Yet they share a bond and an affection for the stubborn Miss McKee that even they don’t understand.

When Heaven and Hell demand their payment, Shannon has no choice but to submit. No matter who gets her soul, she’s not getting out of this alive.

Bio: Maria Zannini used to save the world from bad advertising, but now she spends her time wrangling chickens, and fighting for a piece of the bed against dogs of epic proportions. Occasionally, she writes novels.

Follow me on Facebook or my blog.