Sunday, March 24, 2013

Love is in The Air Blog Hop

There is that something special in the air.  You can feel it.  It can't be denied.  The hair on the back of your neck rises, goosebumps gather, and you feel just a bit hot, a bit parched.  It all happens when he walks into the room or you catch a glimpse of him on the subway.  A little intake of breath, maybe an, "Oh my God!"  But there's one thing for certain.  For you.  Love is in the Air.

Now what are those prizes and how do you enter?

You must leave a comment with your email address.  It doesn't have to be anything big, but to be entered to win we need to have a way to contact you.  Then fill out as many of the Rafflecopter entries as you like (the more you do, the better the chances of winning.)  I will be offering two prizes open to everyone, including international. 

I'll choose a winner at random and contact by email after the giveaway is over.  Have a wonderful day!
 My Prizes 
 one $15 Amazon gift card
one ebook copy of any of the blog hop authors to read.

Grand Prize
one $25 Amazon gift card


Hop along with us and discover authors who create the type of reading experience that you're looking for. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Author Spotlight: Tracey Cramer-Kelly



Tracey is my first author guest.  Please make her feel welcome!


Please tell us a little about yourself.
Hi Zoe, and thank you for hosting me today! I’m writing from small-town Minnesota, where I live with my hubby and two kids, age 5 and 10. I work a full-time job, running our family motorcycle business.

At heart I am a storyteller; I love digging deep into a character and exploring how things that happen in their life impact and transform them. I’ve published two novels (both of which have been winners or finalists in contests), and my third will release this summer.

What is your favorite pastime, other than writing?
My favorite way to spend time is riding my motorcycle, especially if my kids and hubby are with me. Unfortunately, here in Minnesota I’m lucky if I can stretch that to seven months of the year.
I’m also a vocalist (I’ve released two cover songs and been featured on other albums) and play taiko drums, which is like a cross between martial arts and banging on BIG drums (great exercise!). I’ve even toyed with video and production; in fact, my second music video, featuring a female motorcyclist, was just released: http://www.traceycramerkelly.com/cool-rider-music-video/

What is a typical writing day for you?
There is no such thing as a typical day when you own a business and have active kids! So my writing time is “stolen” hours whenever I can get them (I’m writing this in a coffee shop). It makes it harder to get into the “flow” but I’m proof it can be done if you want it badly enough! I also daydream anywhere and everywhere, so that when I do sit down to write I have an idea where I want to go.

Do you use real events or persons in your stories or as inspiration?
I spent five years in the National Guard as a paramedic, and that figures prominently in my writing. I’m also a biker chick, so I started writing motorcycle-riding characters. Because of my hobbies and my military background, I’ve had the fortune of meeting, working and playing with some very interesting people! I think everything I write is affected by what I’ve experienced. Yes, there’s a healthy dose of imagination and plenty of creative license, but a seed has to be sown somewhere, and for me it is often a ‘human’ interchange.


Tell us about your books.
My first, Last Chance Rescue, is about two members of a search-and-rescue team who have a problem trusting each other with more than their physical safety.

True Surrender is a military romance with a wounded veteran hero whose struggle with an amputation and PTSD nearly destroy his relationships and career.


My upcoming novel, Take Two, is about an actor who is poisoned on set and forced to recover at the (rather older, ahem) director’s home with her two teenage daughters.

I understand you’re doing something special for Take Two?
Oh, this is the fun stuff! Starting March 6, I’m sharing a new “installment” of Take Two (for FREE) on my blog every week. I hope your readers will come and enjoy this. Click here for details: http://www.traceycramerkelly.com/read-my-next-novel-for-free-heres-how/

You mentioned an unusual tie-in between your books?
A fun twist to my writing is that my novels are intertwined.

For instance, the hero of True Surrender was briefly married when he was younger. His ex-wife is the heroine in my first novel, Last Chance Rescue.

In Take Two (my upcoming novel), the characters are filming a movie. I used True Surrender as the “movie” they are filming.

Take Two is also the second creative offering in what I call the “Cool Rider Project,” which (as you might conclude from the title) is biker themed. Details can be found at http://www.traceycramerkelly.com/biker-themed-writing/

What inspired you to write Take Two?
I like to say that my second book (True Surrender) led to my third. The first video I produced (“The Rose / Surrender Version”) features scenes from True Surrender. The experience of seeing my writing come to life was exhilarating and empowering but also humbling. The seed for Take Two was planted then, but as is often the case, the characters told me what would happen next!

What are you working on now?
I’m experimenting with short-story erotica, and I recently completed my first short script (a theater/film production). I’d love to write a movie script, but I only have so many hours in a day, so I’ve chosen to focus on novels and novellas. And I try to keep singing because it brings me such joy.

Tell us what excites you about writing and getting published.
When I hear from readers that my writing touched them in some way, it really makes my day. Sometimes it is hard to keep going. But ultimately, I have this need to share, and hopefully I’ll find readers who are receptive to my style of writing, which is not your formulaic romance.

And finally, where can we stalk you?
My “hub” is my web site (www.TraceyCramerKelly.com)

Take Two installments will be posted to my blog: http://www.TraceyCramerKelly.com/blog





About the Author:

Tracey Cramer-Kelly is an author and singer/musician. Her work fuses writing, music and visual imagery and includes novels, short stories and music videos.

Two of her novels, Last Chance Rescue and True Surrender, are Indie Book Awards Finalists. True Surrender also won a Gold Medal from the Military Writers Society of America.

Music videos include "The Rose (Surrender Version)," which tells the story of True Surrender (the novel), and "Cool Rider," a rock-n-roll video featuring Tracey as a biker chick (which she really is).

Tracey's writing draws from her experience as an Army Reserve paramedic and exposure to helicopter medivac. She obtained her helicopter pilot license in 2001. She owns a motorcycle accessories business and lives in small-town Minnesota with her husband and two young children.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Poison: The first Taste

The first time I held my first novel in my hands was a day I'll never forget.  It was a culmination of hard work, dedication, blood, sweat, and tears!  So when I heard about Bridget Zinn, I wanted to be part of the blog tour to announce her first book PoisonPoison was released on March 12, 2013, but, unfortunately, Bridget wasn't able to hold her book in her hands.  She won't get the satisfaction of seeing it in a tangible, fabulous, a-day-you'll-never-forget way.

Bridget died two years ago and after reading about her, all I can say is that I wish I had gotten the chance to know her.  I will read Poison and, through her written words, will get to know her better.  You can meet her at the end of the blog and I'm sure when you're finished getting acquainted, you'll want to read Poison, too!

Information about Poison and Bridget:


Poison


Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she's the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom's future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart…misses.

Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king's army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she's not alone. She's armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can't stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?
Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she's certainly no damsel-in-distress—she's the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.

Purchase your copy



IndieBound <http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781423139935>


Powell's Books <http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9781423139935-0>

Add Poison to your Goodreads pile! <http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8113512-poison>



Bridget grew up in Wisconsin. She went to the county fair where she met the love of her life, Barrett Dowell. They got married right before she went in for exploratory surgery which revealed she had colon cancer. They christened that summer the "summer of love" and the two celebrated with several more weddings. Bridget continued to read and write until the day she died. Her last tweet was "Sunshine and a brand new book. Perfect."

Bridget wanted to make people laugh and hoped readers would enjoy spending time with the characters she created. As a librarian/writer she loved books with strong young women with aspirations. She also felt teens needed more humorous reads. She really wanted to write a book with pockets of warmth and happiness and hoped that her readers' copies would show the watermarks of many bath time reads.
 

Please visit these blogs to read their thoughts on Bridget and Poison.


MARCH 12 E.M. Kokie Nyrae Dawn Julie "Manga Maniac Cafe" Abby Niles Pam "Bookalicious" van Hylckama Jennifer McAndrews "Honestly YA" MARCH 13 Kate Treadway "Verb Vixen" Martha Brockenbrough Cameron Y. - What the Cat Read Bobbie Gould Molly "Wrapped Up in Books" Eileen Li MARCH 14 Ashley Walsh "The Quiet Concert" Jennifer Rummel "YA Book Nerd" Tammy Hall Laura Kaye Melissa Simmons Shelley Bunnell Kate Bourne "The Book Monsters" Taneesha "A Diary of a Book Addict" MARCH 15 Caroline Starr Rose Lindsey Loucks Amy Alessio Elyana Noreme Rachel Patrick "Beauty and the Bookshelf" Sonya "Sony the Book Lover" Elizabeth Seckman MARCH 16 Sara Bennett Wealer Amy Plum Betty G. Birney Elizabeth Otto Ellen Faith Celeste Holloway MARCH 17 Janet Fox Erica "The Book Cellarx" Amy Stewart "Simple Love of Reading" Libby Fischer Hellmann Melody May Rebekah Faubion MARCH 18 Jon Goldhirsch MaryAnn Oprea @ Chapter by Chapter Jennifer L. Armentrout Brenna from Esther's Ever After Lauren Thoman "The Housework Can Wait" Annabelle Hammond "Read Write and Read Some More MARCH 19 Lucia "The Loyal Book" Jessica Miller "I Read to Relax" Melissa de la Cruz Sara Hayet "The Page Sage" Tara Hudson Rebecca Lamb MARCH 20 Johanna Wright Tara @ Shhh... Not While I'm Reading Michelle "Much Loved Books" Kristina Snyder Zoe Dawson Peter Salomon MARCH 21 Gwenyth Love "Rants n Scribbles" Sarah Evans Robin Bielman Mundie Moms (Katie) Cynthia Leitich Smith Tamson Weston MARCH 22 Lucy "The Reading Date" Carrie Ardoin "Sweet Southern Home" Tracy James Jones Nikki Wang "Fiction Freak" MARCH 23 Amy Thau "Tripping Over Books" Ashley G. "Wholly-books" jone "Maclibrary" Jaime @ Twisting the Lens Crystal "Winterhaven Books" Allison Kirk Jess "Book Rook Reviews" MARCH 24 Lucy Softich "Adventures in Bookland" Stephanie "Poetry to Prose" Caren Crane "Romance Bandits" Lori Degman Beth Saxton DJ MARCH 25 Michael Gettel-Gilmartin "Middle Grade Mafioso" Ruth Tenzer Feldman "Blue Thread" Lynne Kelly Hafsah "Icey Books" Samanthe Beck MARCH 26 Becca "I'm Lost in Books" Brook Gideon "Dead Gideons" Natalie J. Damschroder, for Everybody Needs a Little Romance Beth Revis Damaris "Good Choice Reading" MARCH 27 Amy G. (Kissed by Ink) Stephanie Ruble Angie Manfredi "Fat Girl Reading" Rachel Coyne Chris Miller MARCH 28 Natalie J. Damschroder Sara Shafer Audra "The Society" Laura Hernandez "Reviews at mse" Stephanie "Love Life Read"

The fabulous Inara Scott was the force behind this blog tour and I'd like to thank her for allowing me to be part of it. 

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Leashed is Unleashed!



Leashed is free for a limited only!  What's not to like.  Great Dane love, human love, puppy love.  Will all this love lead to happily ever after?  Check it out for yourself.  It's Free!



Here's the blurb:

And they call it puppy love!

When Jack falls head-over-paws for cute and cuddly Jill next door -- that creamy coat, those soft brown eyes, and, yowza, those long legs, he simply cannot help himself.  Bing, bang, boom, a few weeks later, Jack has some 'splaining to do when that cute female is with puppies.  Jack's going to be a father, trouble is his lady love's owner and his owner need a little shove into love.  Being a large and in-charge Great Dane, that's no problem for Jack.  With a little cooperation and a little matchmaking, some nudging, whining and puppy dog eyes, hopefully, everyone will live happily ever after together.


Don't miss the second book in the series that begins where Leashed left off...

Groomed for Murder

Here's the 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?


But there's more...Hounded book #3 will be out this summer.


Here's the blurb:
 

I’ll get you and your little dogs, too!

Veterinarian Poe Madigan enters The Fur Ball with her Jack Russell terriers (aka The Terrible Two) to compete for a cash prize that will keep her mother from losing her home.  But when her fabulous partner sprains his ankle, Poe must trade him and his talented Bichon for a muscle-bound hunky jock who can't dance and his Basset Hound named Lazy Daisy.  He's so not her type.  If that's not enough to make her despair, it seems The Terrible Two have angered someone and they're receiving death threats!

Security specialist Jared Taylor promises one of Poe's friends that he will go undercover as her dog dancing partner to protect her from danger.  What he didn't expect was to find that his staid, traditional life could be turned all topsy-turvy and he would find a soft spot for a neglected hound and fall for a Goth princess.  But will his omission of who he really is and his motivation  ruin the real prize - Poe?

The cover reveal is on June 1, 2013!  The Terrible Two....I mean Poe Madigan gets her story...okay she'll have to share it with her two precocious Jack Russell terriers.  But something tells me it'll end up in a happily ever after.