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Archive for November, 2012

The Man With the Green Suitcase. Paranormal, mystery, by Dee Doanes. What does a prostitute, a corrupt businessman, and a disfigured young woman have in common with a mysterious, old homeless man who carries a green suitcase? The old man gives them visions – visions that even he doesn’t understand. More info:
http://www.facebook.com/DeeDoanesAuthor

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Thank you Melanie Toye for nominating my blog for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award! I am honored to be nominated for writing about what’s important to me – family life and writing.

The rules for receiving this award are as follows.

1. Provide a link and thank the blogger who nominated you for this award.
2. Answer 10 questions.
3. Nominate 10-12 blogs that you find a joy to read.
4. Provide links to these nominated blogs and kindly let the recipients know that they have been nominated.
5. Include the award logo within your blog post.

The Questions to be answered

  1. Your favorite color – Green.

2. Your favorite animal – If mammals can be included, then it’s dolphins. I swam with one once. It was a wonderful experience.

3. Favorite non-alcoholic drink – Hot chocolate, served with marshmallows.

4. Facebook or Twitter – Both. Twitter is great for one-liners, while facebook allows for longer posts.

5. Your favorite pattern – Wavy patterns.

6. Do you prefer getting or giving presents? Both! I love browsing and choosing presents for others and wrapping them. I have a ritual at Christmas that involves watching Miracle on 34th Street in front of a fire with the Christmas tree lit while wrapping presents. And of course I love unwrapping presents for myself and guessing what’s in them beforehand.

7. Your favorite number? 3.

8. Your favorite day of the week? Tuesday, as that’s the evening I go to Java’s Cafe to meet up with the Java Writers.

9.Your favorite flower? Although not much of a flower person I do enjoy receiving the occasional bouquet. Roses are best as they are so romantic.

10. What is your passion? My family and my writing. It’s so much better when I can combine both – I’m currently writing a children’s book and am including my children in my research. It’s great to tell them what I discover each day when researching my new book.

… and in no specific order the nominees are:

http://songoftheseagod.wordpress.com/ – Chris Hill – An Author with great things to share about literary life.

http://joannewadsworth.com/ – Joanne Wadsworth – An Author who has lots of info to share about the art of writing, and plenty of tit-bits about New Zealand life

http://seanmchandler.com/ – Sean Chandler – An Author who shares his writing know-how with more than a touch of humor.

http://www.jordynredwood.net/ – Jordyn Redwood – An Author who supplies other writers with her medical research.

http://marlamadison.blogspot.ie/ – Marla Madison – An Author who shares her tips on the art of writing.

http://deedoanes.com/ – Dee Doanes – An Author who blogs for writers.

http://lisaday.weebly.com/ – Lisa Day  – An Author with a humorous look on life.

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6533956.Jessica_Kong/blog?auto_login_attempted=true – Jessica Kong – An Author who puts others in the limelight.

http://popstorygimi.blogspot.com.au/ – Winsome Campbell-Green – an inspiring blog, an inspiring person.

http://paigebleu.blogspot.com.au/ – A woman who has an original slant on everything she writes.

http://melanietoye.wordpress.com/ – Melanie Toye – A dedicated writer and mother who writes to inspire.

http://paulamariemills.wordpress.com/ – Paula Mills – writes with humor about life, chocolate, and – well, what else is there in life?

The last six of these are already nominated, but worth nominating again and again.

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Entice Me is a fun, thrilling read that will not only make you want to read more but inspire you to follow your passion in life. Romance, drama, suspense set in Australia see these characters visit Spain and France for a real interesting time. Read more about Melanie’s books here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/M-Toye/146863872056871

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Infusions

I am proud to announce the publication of the anthology of poetry, short stories and haiku of my writing group, Java Writers. We are a group who get together every Tuesday night in Java’s cafe in Galway to write, eat, drink, and discuss our writing.

Just published, and available on CreateSpace eStore in paperback: https://www.createspace.com/4047641. Available soon on amazon.com and amazon Europe. Also soon available as an ebook.

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If you still use your microwave oven for re-heating your cooked meals or preparing your TV dinners, let Wancy Ganst show you how to utilize your microwave oven to cook (braise, steam, simmer, pan-friy, stir-fry, bake, grill, roast, etc) the cuisines of different countries, some even can be done within 15 minutes.

To know more about Wancy Ganst, and her cookbooks and recipes, please click:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wancy-Ganst/119507164786823

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 I’m delighted to have Melanie Toye here today, all the way from Australia, to talk about her book, Entice Me.

What is your book about?

Entice Me is about three women who are living their lives unsatisfied and unfulfilled but are unsure how to break free and live the life they really want. Which begs the question – what do they want from life? It is not until life forces them out of their daily routines that they are forced to discover what the world has to offer. Complication arises when one woman is set out to be the best in the business and when things don’t go her way no one suspects what she will do next.

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

Entice Me was created when I had just left a very demanding job that I loved but was treated very poorly. I had never felt fulfilled in any of the jobs I worked in and had spoken to many people who had worked in their careers for decades yet were unfulfilled, they were stuck. I wanted to create Entice Me to hold a motivating message through an entertaining story to not wait for life to force you to change paths, but to think about what are your ultimate dreams in life and each day work towards it.

After writing Entice Me, it seems my life has also changed directions, writing is my dream and at the time I didn’t realise it. I wanted to escape the rat race but I was not sure what I wanted to do. It seems I have been writing and telling stories all my life I just never realised it was my dream career until recently. Now I want more than ever to share with everyone to chase their own dreams. It can be daunting and push you out of your comfort zone to the max, but it is incredibly rewarding.

What makes your book different than others in your genre?

Entice Me is a chick lit novel that pushes the boundaries that this genre would not normally write about. Drama, suspense, eating disorders, fraud and even suicide make this chick lit a book that will have you hooked to your seat wanting to read more.  What makes Entice Me even more compelling are the characters which can relate to anyone in any stage of life.

 Who is your favorite writer? Why?

Currently it is Janet Evanovich, I love her characters, her writing style and the fact that I can’t put her books down.

What strange writing rituals do you have?

Now, I write mainly in the evening, so I like to have a cup of herbal tea and something to eat as I sit down and write. For sanity purposes I have a pen and notepad in every room of the house as well as in my bag and in my child’s pram because when I get a thought for a good story or just a conversational piece, I have to write it down as soon as possible.

Is your writing style similar to any well-known writers? If so, which one(s)?

A good chick lit novel is one filled with girly fun and adventure, which is light and entertaining that will leave you smiling throughout the read. Entice Me portrays this and adds even more thrill to your read.

I don’t think I could really compare my writing to any one else’s, as all writers add their own uniqueness and specialty. I would say my story telling is combined with self-help as I want to inspire and send a message through my novels to chase your dreams in life but be sure to have fun on the way.

Who is your Muse?

My motivator is my son. I was writing before he was born but he motivated me to self-publish my novel and become a freelance writer. I love that I am showing my son that I am chasing my dreams and he can too.

What are your hobbies?

Writing! Generally all my spare time is spent on writing and marketing. But I love it. I love spending time at the beach and exploring new adventures and places too.

Does your main character resemble anyone in your family or circle of friends?

Most likely, one cannot help but write about personalities and traits that are known to the person. When my husband and brother read the first two chapters, they said ‘this sounds just like you’. Not that I would ever go around sleeping with strangers in a drunken manner and throw my underwear on their bed (as I am happily married!) but I guess my voice came through the novel, which is great.  Although once the characters where created the story just flowed through me, these characters created their own paths.

How long did it take you to write your book?

Longer than one would appreciate. I spent two years writing Entice Me, when my computer crashed I lost everything except for three chapters. I took four months off, when a friend suggested perhaps it was a sign to start again. Then I rewrote Entice Me again adding in Sally and Mr Perfect to really spice up the storyline. I believe most of the story changed but for the better. Took me another 1 year and a half to write Entice Me again. I was also working full time in another role. I would write in lunch breaks, at night time and on weekends.

What are some writing goals for the future?

My immediate goals are to become an International Best Selling Author. I would love for my novels to be turned into movies. And I will be aiming to write and self-publish some short stories and non-fiction eBooks as well as release my next fiction novel by the end of next year.  My main goal at this stage is to earn a full time living from writing.

If you were stranded on an island which book would you bring with you?

I would be sure to pack a notepad and pen so I could write my own story.

What was the most difficult thing you have learned being a writer?

When writing Entice Me I had to be absolutely focused to finish the novel. Then once I finished it, I had to let go of all my fear of rejections and go out and spread the word to the world about Entice Me.

What makes a good chick lit?

To find out more about Entice Me be sure to check out the following links:

Entice Me Fan Page – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Entice-Me/491350774212219?ref=ts

Entice Me on Amazon.com only $2.99 –http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008VBTWZO

 

Entice Me on Smashwords only $2.99 –https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/234817

Entice Me on Goodreads –http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16034263-entice-me

Entice Me onWordpress: http://enticemenovel.wordpress.com/

Author blog: http://melanietoye.wordpress.com/

Author Fan Page – http://www.facebook.com/pages/M-Toye/146863872056871

Don’t just hide Entice Me to yourself tell all your friends they have to read it too. Then discuss which character each of you are most similar to.

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I’m delighted to have Paige Bleu here today to talk about her writing and help us to get inside her head a little.

Paige Bleu is an Indie-Author, currently working on publishing and promoting her supernatural, fantasy series-‘The Ameryn Chronicles’. Volume 1-‘Finding Summerland’-became available in July 2012. This is the first officially published work of Paige’s, who was a ghost writer previously, as well as many other things! Paige is on her own journey of self discovery…learning the ropes of marketing, social networking, and self publishing simultaneously. She shares the experience with followers through blogging…candidly dishing over the perils of juggling work, life, and her passion for writing. Her style is unconventional and unique, reflecting her own eclectic, ‘free bird’ personality.

Right now Paige is working on the second installment of the ‘Ameryn’ series, ‘LivEternal’. Future projects include another young adult, paranormal series, as well as a few short stories and memoirs. Beyond that could be anything…that’s the beauty of being an indie-author…you never know what might come next!

What is your book about?

Follow the journey of two star crossed souls as they explore who they are, and the ties that bind them. Enter a world intentionally forgotten. A place buried by history, where only the chosen are aware of its existence. A place covenants are made and broken. Where myth leads to truth. And forbidden love threatens to destroy, or be destroyed. Becoming just another casualty in their shadow war.

Edgy enough to engage readers who enjoy unravelling a mystery…Sweet enough, to grab onto the hearts of the romance lovers! Stretch the bounds of ordinary imagination…Where legends breathe and dreams are alive.  A ‘trippy’ journey to a new reality…

If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?

Definitely the past. I’ll see my own future soon enough and to be frank, beyond that scares me! I would go back and see the building of the megaliths and the other wonders of the world. Maybe back even further to when it all began. That would be amazing.

If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?

1-The Dali Lama: He fascinates me

2-Karl Pilkington: He tickles my funny bones

3-Alexander Skarsgrard: YuMmY

4-Nikola Tesla: My hero

5-Neil Diamond: Don’t laugh! I’ve loved that man since I was 6!

If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?

1-Aquaphor: I hate chapped lips!

2-A Bible: I would want good reading material and I figure you can never read it too many times.

3-Sunscreen: I’m very pale!

What is one book everyone should read?

Jane Eyre. It was written so beautifully. The language, the symbolism, it’s unlike most books you would find today. It’s timeless.

If you could have any superpower what would you choose?

Invisibility. Think of all you would learn.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

This is like a trick question! Only one? Come on….really!! How bout 1/5 rocky road-1/5 chocolate mint chip-2/5 nutty coconut-and 1/5 Oreo. See how I foiled you. Seriously, I would buy that ice cream if it existed!

If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose?

My Grandfather who died before I was born.

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?

I never eat breakfast. Coffee is my breakfast. I love the chocolate chip frappes from Micky D’s!! Breakfast of champions. Usually Lucky Charms are my 4 am snack though.

Night owl, or early bird?

I’m psycho in the morning before my frappe and a moment alone. Def a Night Prowler! I write a lot at crazy hours. Some of my best (perhaps full of typos!) work.

One food you would never eat?

Oysters….gross

Pet Peeves?

Lying with no good reason. Everybody lies from time to time but usually for a legit reason…not just for sport. Errr!

Skittles or M&Ms?

M&Ms hands down. I’m a chocolate girl. I’m a vegetarian…I eat enough real fruit!

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.

I’ll cry a lot if you don’t and do you really want that on your conscience?

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?

LivEternal, the second book in the series is in full swing…hopefully ready for release by December. My goal is to find the time to finish all 5. Then I have another series up my sleeve.

What inspired you to want to become a writer?

I always wrote. It was in me when I was born. I was a weird kid who daydreamed a lot and had imaginary friends! Then when I grew up I assimilated for awhile. Now I’m back like a phoenix!

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

An email from my first real fan. She’s a 13 year old girl struggling to become a writer. She said she looked up to me and asked me about my challenges so far…it almost made me cry. Even though I’ve never met her and I’m nobody’s hero, it touched me. Someday I know I’ll be reading her books!

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world which would it be?

Narnia. That would be a trip!

What is your dream cast for your book?

A bunch of raw, Indi artists. People you’ve never heard of. Although I would make Alexander Skarsgard Sabian. He would be too hot to refuse!

Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters?

Hurt by Johnny Cash. It sums Wes up in book one.

What’s the craziest writing idea you’ve had?

To write a non fiction. I’m very private but I have some truly amazing stories. Don’t we all?!

FOLLOW ME:

GOODREADS:

BOOK PAGE- http://bit.ly/PzxL9v

AUTHOR PAGE- http://bit.ly/SpZeJ7

FACEBOOKS:

AUTHOR FAN PAGE- http://on.fb.me/RSzWR4

BOOK FAN PAGE- http://on.fb.me/Vwg0Vi

TWITTER:

http://bit.ly/Pzy2t9

BLOGS:

PAIGE BLEU- http://bit.ly/RhMHGi

BLEUS’S REVIEWS- http://bit.ly/TctMif

BUY THE BOOK:

AMAZON PAPERBACK LINK:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1477420363?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1477420363&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

http://amzn.to/Qsi6sM

AMAZON KINDLE LINK:

http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Summerland-Ameryn-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B008MINPG8/ref=tmm_kin_title_0

http://amzn.to/Rj7d9j

SMASHWORDS:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/214058

WEBSITE:

http://paigebleu.wix.com/paigebleu

 

 

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In a world where science and magic are one and the same, the fate of the world is placed upon a seventeen-year-old’s shoulders. Can Izanami live up to what is expected from her? Will she survive to see the balance of harmony restored? Read “The Awakening” by Sarah Buchynski and see for yourself.

To know more about the book ‘The Awakening’ by Sarah Buchynski, please click:
https://www.facebook.com/BeforeTrueLight

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Still using microwave oven just for re-heating food? Wancy Ganst shows you how to utilize your microwave oven to cook (braise, steam, simmer, stir-fry, bake, roast, etc) different kind of cuisines, some even can be done within 15 minutes. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wancy-Ganst/119507164786823

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Imagine slowly being awakened to a world where myths are real, and the rabbit hole goes deeper than you could ever have imagined. Check out Paige Bleu’s supernatural, indie-novel ‘Finding Summerland’ to discover what it would be like to find out that everything you thought you knew was just the beginning. To know more about Paige and her books please click: http://www.facebook.com/PaigeBleuFans

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