Guest Blogging with Lady Scribes

Hey guys - I'm over visiting with Lady Scribes on December 28th.  Come on over and let me know some of your Holiday traditions!

This Puppy's on Sale!

With the imminent release of my second book in the Going to the Dogs Series, Leashed is now on sale at a bargain .99 cents.  See how it all began.

Tag! I'm It!

I'm it because I got tagged by M.S. Spencer as an author in The Next Big Thing Blog Hop.  I'd like to thank her for tagging me.  That gives you, the reader, an opportunity to find out about M.S. and about me and four other authors.  Who knows?  You might find your favorite next big thing right here.

The trouble with some good books is that no one has heard of them.  Plenty of publicity goes to the top selling books, but while everyone may be reading and enjoying those books, there are some that might be missed in the rush.

We're attempting to get some exposure for some great books.  One author posts and tags other authors who link back to the blog the next week and tag new authors.  I'm sure you'll find some great books along the way.  So, yes, this blog is like a game of tag, but you don't have to count to ten.

I've been traditionally published since 1996, but I'm brand new to self-publishing.  A good friend of mine encouraged me to jump in with both feet and that's what I've done.  My plan is to have four books out by the anniversary of my foray into self-publishing.  That's the full Going to the Dogs Series.  So come back often to see what is going on with my gals, their heroes, and all the wonderful pets!

So this is the part about me.  I've answered ten questions about my current WIP:

What is the working title of your current/next book?

My current work in progress is Groomed for Murder which is at the end stages and soon will be uploaded.  I will then begin working on the next book in the series Hounded.

Where did you get the idea for that book?

This is the second book in the Going to the Dog Series.  I got the idea from the tight friendships of the women in the show Sex and the City.  New York City was a great place to set the stories, a nice cosmopolitan backdrop that is very dog friendly.

What's the genre of the book?

Contemporary romance with comedy and a little mystery.

If you could pick actors to play the lead characters in your story, who would you pick?

For my hero, Drew Hudson, it would be Alex Pettyfer.  He's got those great green eyes and that to die for curly blond hair.  And in this picture he looks like my corporate shark lawyer.

For my heroine, Brooke Palmer, I think Emma Roberts would be perfect.  she's fresh, innocent looking, and beautiful with just a gleam of spunky in her eye.  She's the perfect foil for my hero.








How would you describe your book in one sentence?

Brooke Palmer gets sued by a client for a bad poodle cut, requiring dog therapy, but the lawyer they send wants to settle out of court and savvy entrepreneur Brooke won't be wooed by a corporate shark in a sharp suit.

How will your book be published, submitted through the traditional route to a traditional publisher or will you be handling it yourself through Indie Publishing methods?

This series is self-published.

If you are an Indie Author, will you be publishing through your own Indie Publishing company or in a collective with other Indie Authors?

My own company, Blue Moon Creative.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of this book?

I had a goal to get this book up quickly after I released the first book, Leashed. So, I buckled down and wrote this book in a month.

What other books within your genre are similar to yours?

I think my books would be similiar to Susan Donovan or Susan Elizabeth Phillips, although these two writers write mainstream books, my book is more category.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

The tight bond of female friendship and the magic of falling in love with someone you thought might be an enemy.  I liked that challenge.

What about your book will pique the reader's interest?

This book is about two people who are afraid of change and think they're enemies when, in fact, they're perfectly right for each other.  They just don't know it.  Wink.  And, the dogs.  They have personalities of their own.

Here are the authors who will be joining the hop for the week of December 31, 2012.  Maybe one of them will become your new favorite author!

1/3: Athena Grayson

1/2: David Russell

1/1:  Jen Talty

1/2: Sydney Jane Baily

Laptop Cat

So does having a cat lighten your mood or decrease your efficiency?!  Enjoy!

Groomed for Murder Finished and Delayed

I just sent the book off to my editor for one last read.  The formatter is in place and the time on December 29th reserved.  But, there's a fly in the ointment.  I just found out today that Amazon and the other retailers are closing down from December 21st to January 2nd.  So, that puts a kink in my plan to release Groomed for Murder on December 29th.  Don't despair, I intend to upload it on December 29th at the off-chance it'll get published.  Otherwise, check for it after January 2nd.

Cover Reveal: Groomed for Murder!

Here it is!  My new cover!  Ta da!

Groomed for Murder, Book #2, Going to the Dogs

Can a dog have a bad hair day?

Brooke Palmer owns Pawlish, an exclusive doggie spa and grooming business in upper Manhattan, but when a client's champion poodle gets a bad poodle cut and has to undergo therapy, the client sues.  The lawyer they send is drop dead gorgeous, but Brooke won't be wooed by a corporate shark in a sharp suit.

Corporate lawyer Drew Hudson has better things to do then take on this ridiculous lawsuit, but since he works for the client's husband, he has no choice.  After meeting the beautiful, sweet-tempered owner, he can't keep his mind on the silly case.  But when the client turns up dog gone dead, Brooke may be a conflict of interest when she's charged with the murder.  All Drew wants to do is prove that this sexy entrepreneur is not dangerous, except to his heart.

Can she take a chance on him?

RELEASE DAY, DECEMBER 29, 2012!

Holiday Gifts of Love Blog Hop

I have to admit to a December guilty pleasure and that's the romantic holiday movies.  I love them all including the corny ones.  Yup, the implausible rom-com aspects, the uptight hero or heroine that learn lessons, the angels, the Santa cameos, and the elves.  I really like the elves.  The themes revolve around family, or finding someone special, love lost and found.  Some of my favorites are:

The Christmas List - It was everything she thought she wanted.  Little did she know, Santa put love on the list.

The Holiday - Jude Law, 'nuff said.

Santa Claus 2 - "There isn't a woman alive who doesn't want a piece of this." Tim Allen as Santa Claus.

 Loved all the facets of love in this movie.

This hop will be active from December 14th - December 17th.

Leashed Blurb

Jack has some ‘splainin’ to do!

That's right! Callie Lassiter's normally well-behaved Great Dane Jack has run off and done the wild thing with the neighbor's dog. It must be puppy love! It's doubly embarrassing since she's a professional dog trainer. Of course, the neighbor would have to be hot, hot nightclub owner bad boy   Owen McKay, just the kind of man Callie is determined to avoid.
 
Owen’s comfortable with his playboy status and the hype in the media. But the ground moves beneath his feet when he gets an eyeful of the girl next door. The Dog Whisperer never looked this good! How can he convince this wholesome honey that his player days are behind him? Maybe Jill, his Great Dane can help him with this dilemma now that she’s pregnant and Callie’s dog is to blame.
 
Is this bad boy a bad bet?

Find it On:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords

Also, I will be revealing the cover of my upcoming novel Groomed for Murder, Book #2 in the Going to the Dogs series on December 22. The book will be released in late December/early January. If you would like to help me spread the word on your blog or through any other social media, leave your name, site URL, and a contact email in your comment.  It's not mandatory to participate in the cover reveal to win either my prizes for this hop or the grand prizes.

Here's a placeholder image for you. 

My hero:  Drew Hudson

Groomed for Murder Blurb

Can a dog have a bad hair day?

​​Brooke Palmer owns Pawlish, an exclusive doggie spa and grooming business in upper Manhattan.  But when a client’s champion poodle gets a bad poodle cut and has to undergo therapy to recover, the client sues. The lawyer they send is drop dead gorgeous, but Brooke won't be wooed by a corporate shark in a sharp suit.​

​
Corporate lawyer Drew Hudson has better things to do then take on this ridiculous lawsuit, but since he works for the client’s husband, he has no choice. After meeting the beautiful, sweet-tempered owner, he can’t keep his mind on the silly case.  But when the client turns up dog gone dead, Brooke may be a conflict of interest when she’s charged with the murder. All Drew wants to do is prove that this sexy entrepreneur is not dangerous, except to his heart.

Can she take a chance on him?

If you can take your eyes off my placeholder, I'll tell you about the prizes for this hop. We are EACH doing a giveaway. There will be over 200 giveaways on each blog hosted by that Author or Blogger.

So what do you have to do to enter? First, be sure to leave a comment with your email address.  This one is mandatory.  It doesn't have to be anything big, but to be entered to win the grand prizes and to be sure I have a way to contact the winner, there has to be at least an email address. But I love comments too! Then fill out as many of the Rafflecopter entries as you like (the more you do, the better the chances of winning!).

I'll choose the two winners by random and contact them by email after the giveaway is over. Have a wonderful day, and happy hopping.

My Prizes

1 $10 GC to Amazon
1 print copy of At His Command (written by my alter ego)

But there's still more....

We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!

Now what are those grand prizes?

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $200 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

To find ALL the hoppers, go HERE!!

Happy Holiday Hopping!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

4.5 Stars Top Pick on NOR

Leashed received 4.5 stars Top Pick from Night Owl Reviews!  Diana Coyle said:  "This was a fun and enjoyable story that immediately drew me in and held my interest until the very last word."  Check out Night Owls Reviews for the full review.

Cover Reveal for Groomed for Murder

On December 22, I will be revealing the cover of my upcoming novel Groomed for Murder, Book #2 in the Going to the Dogs series. The book will be released in late December/early January.

(c) All rights reserved by madgaythumb

Here's a placeholder image for you. 

My hero:  Drew Hudson

Groomed for Murder Blurb

Can a dog have a bad hair day?

​​Brooke Palmer owns Pawlish, an exclusive doggie spa and grooming business in upper Manhattan.  But when a client’s champion poodle gets a bad poodle cut and has to undergo therapy to recover, the client sues. The lawyer they send is drop dead gorgeous, but Brooke won't be wooed by a corporate shark in a sharp suit.​

​
Corporate lawyer Drew Hudson has better things to do then take on this ridiculous lawsuit, but since he works for the client’s husband, he has no choice. After meeting the beautiful, sweet-tempered owner, he can’t keep his mind on the silly case.  But when the client turns up dog gone dead, Brooke may be a conflict of interest when she’s charged with the murder. All Drew wants to do is prove that this sexy entrepreneur is not dangerous, except to his heart.

Can she take a chance on him?

If you can take your eyes off my placeholder, and if you would like to help me spread the word on your blog or through any other social media, please leave me your:

Name

Blog site URL

A contact email

I'll be in in touch with the pertinent information.

Featured at The Book's Blurb Blog

A book blurb is a teaser that describes what the book is about.  There are a certain number of components you need to make sure are in your blurb.

Introduce the hero and heroine - This information allows you to give the reader some insight into who is going to play a role in your book.  Descriptive words are best here.  I use dog whisperer in my Leashed blurb to describe Callie and nightclub owner to describe Owen.  That already gives the reader a wealth of information as to who will be playing the major roles in the novel.

Setting - I don't do this in my blurb, but indicating where your novel is set is a good way to define the world you've built with your hero and heroine.  I could have mentioned somewhere in my blurb that Callie lives in New York City.  It already has a dog culture and reinforces the other two characters in my book, the Great Danes Jack and Jill.

Simple Plot Setup - Show what the story is about.  What brings these two people together.  What is happening in the story that the reader might be interested in.  What happens defines your story and gives it that concrete feeling.

Internal and External Conflict - In a romance, it's important to see who these people are.  What they're goals are and how conflict will change and make them grow.  So a glimpse of what will influence the couple tells the reader what difficulties they need to overcome.

Romantic Conflict - This element of your novel defines what is keeping these people apart.  For Callie, she gets involved with emotionally unavailable men and gets her heart broken.  She vows to stay away from them.  Owen is afraid of commitment.  It's intriguing to find out how this couple overcomes these obstacles in their lives and relationship to achieve their happily ever after.

Premise - This concept identifies not only the tone of your book, but it's a way to hook the reader into your novel.  My premise is comical.  Next door neighbors have to interact because their dogs have mated and fallen madly in love.  It's a cute setup.  The reader has to know that the dogs are smarter than their owners.  They know Callie and Owen are perfect for each other.

So, check out my book blurb and rate it.  Leashed is featured on The Book's Blurb Blog.  Don't forget to comment to be entered in their monthly contest.  Comments made on the blog will count toward the November contest and the winner will be announced on Thursday.  Happy reading and writing!

Sometimes You Have to Do Something Else

There comes a time when there needs to be a break from writing.  Yes.  You heard me right.  There needs to be time to fill up the well.  Time to renew.  Time to get some new ideas.  Here's a few ways that I do that:

Go to the Gym - It's a good way to disconnect from the current WIP and just read on the treadmill.  A way to undo your mind for a bit and get lost in someone else's world.  Physical exercise is good for the body and getting away from my current WIP is good for the creative well.

Surfing the Net - I love doing this.  I start off by reading one interesting article or following a promising link.  Before I know it, I'm miles from the beginning.  But that's okay.  Sometimes doing this gives me new ideas for books, adds to my wealth of knowledge, and once again, frees my mind to fill the creative well.

Paint - Painting involves concrete images transferred to paper.  I have many ideas for pieces that roll around in my head.  I have to admit that I haven't done this particular past time lately because I've been busy writing and working full time.  But it's on my mind and I really want to get to it soon.  Very soon.  Focusing on the concrete visual also fills my creative well.

World of Warcraft - I play an massive multi-player online role playing game (mmorpg).  I have a character named Starstrike.  She's a Night Elf Hunter.  You can check out her profile.  She can quest (get a task, complete the task, return to the quest-giver) or she can go into a dungeon (fight virtual monsters, get virtual loot, make my character stronger), or raid (fight harder virtual monsters, get better virtual loot, make my character much stronger) or engage in other pursuits in the game that give my character materials like mining, fishing, gathering, or collecting.  This takes my mind off my other imaginative world and also fills my creative well

 What do you do to fill up that creative well for whatever hobby or craft you like to pursue?