Get Ready for Romancing September

Get ready for the start of our Romancing September Across the World Tour, starting on Sunday September the 1st. 30 Authors, 30 Days, 2 Locations!

Stephanie Hurt and I are just finalising all the posts and checking that we have all the information for you.

First there will be a book based interview with the author on each day here at my blog, then ALSO on the same day, Stephanie will post more details about the author and their work PLUS get their views on “Writing Romance in Today’s Society”.

We have authors from across the board covering many of the romance style such as contemporary, thriller, historical, western, erotica and paranormal.

Here is a list of all our guest authors for you;

Sept 1st – Marin Thomas

Sept 2nd – E. L Lindley

Sept 3rd – V. Steele

Sept 4th – Erica Dakin

Sept 5th – Robynn Gabel

Sept 6th – Briana Vedsted

Sept 7th – Olivia Stocum

Sept 8th – Cheryl Koevoet

Sept 9th – Juliet Hill

Sept 10th – Annie Acorn

Sept 11th – Swarupa N Ovalekar

Sept 12th – Terry Tyler

Sept 13th – Kristy Feltenberger Gillespie

Sept 14th – Jean Fullerton

Sept 15th – Fenella J Miller

Sept 16th – Lizzie Lamb

Sept 17th – Marina de Nadous

Sept 18th – Layla Tarar

Sept 19th – Jade Reyner

Sept 20th – Hazel Osmond

Sept 21st – Sonya Loveday

Sept 22nd – Candace Knoebel

Sept 23rd – Fay Cunningham

Sept 24th – Kylie Sabra

Sept 25th – Ana Calin

Sept 26th – Cassandra Giovanni

Sept 27th – Camelia Miron Skiba

Sept 28th – Alison Morton

Sept 29th – Sherry Gammon

Sept 30th – Cynthia Harrison

So make sure you’re signed up for both our blogs and we’ll look forward to introducing you to some great reads. Stephanie can be found here and Rosie here

Guest Author Kathy Steinemann

After recently reading and reviewing “Vanguard of Hope” written by Kathy, she kindly agreed to give me her replies to the “Be My Guest” post  of questions, she has some excellent tips for writers and the last book that Kathy read sounds like a must read for authors, here are Kathy’s replies;

My name is Kathy Steinemann, and I hail from Alberta, Canada.

I started writing at an early age – when there was only black-and-white television, and books were made out of paper. I have written “how-to” books, but my preference is a good short story or novel.

My advice for other authors is:

1. Write about something you know or something for which you have a passion. It is easy to remain enthusiastic about a project that moves you intellectually or emotionally.

2. When authoring fiction, realize that if you laugh or cry at certain points in your writing, your readers probably will too.

3. Don’t forget that the cover of your book is the front door. If it looks shabby, people will be less likely to open it.

The last book I read was “The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide To Character Expression”, by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. I gave it a 5-star review at Amazon: “This is a short book, but the information packed in its pages is very useful. I would like to see a second book or an upgraded edition with more, though. The current publication covers over 70 emotions.”

My most recent book is “Vanguard of Hope”. http://kathysteinemann.com/Books/Vanguard_of_Hope/

Guest Author Mark Richards

Today my guest author is Mark Richards, congratulations on being the first gentleman to brave my questions!

Hi Rosie – hope this is the sort of thing you’re looking for…

Name:              Mark Richards

Live?               By the sea in Yorkshire

When?            Can’t remember a time when I didn’t write

Type?             I write a regular weekly blog at www.bestdadicanbe.com which started as a newspaper column ten years ago. I write about the everyday trivialities of family life, and I hope I give people five minutes’ amusement and a wry smile from time. So my books are an extension of my blog – they’re a funny look at family life from a Dad’s point of view and (hopefully) they strike a chord with parents everywhere.

Tips?              Sit down and write – inspiration, if that’s what you call it, will arrive

Writing a book is only 2% of the work, promoting it is the other 98%

Writing is re-writing. And then more re-writing

Book?             I’m reading the latest – and I suspect the last – Harry Hole book by Jo Nesbo, Phantom. Yep, it’s good but like books that are part of a series if you’re going to read one, start at the beginning of the series. And I’m looking forward to Bring up the Bodies when it’s in paperback, as I thought Wolf Hall was truly excellent.

Sample?         The best introduction to my books is Best Dad I Can Be. All of 77p on your Kindle or Kindle app. Here’s the link http://amzn.to/VnPVaT

Best regards

Mark

Friday’s guest author will be Hope Charles

Guest Interview with Julia Hughes

Today Julia Hughes is my guest. I plan to read and review Julia’s book here on the blog in the near future. I love the tip about pretending you are stuck to your seat with glue! Here are Julia’s replies;

1) Tell me your name

Julia Hughes – I write under my maiden name so I don’t embarrass the sons! 

2) Where do you live?

The last village in London – a fact that also annoys the sons – they’d much rather be living among the bright lights, but marching over the fields with my dogs is when I really have a chance to think, and see things as they might be – if only the story had panned out differently …

3)When did you start writing?

At a very early age. With another primary school friend I co-wrote a screen play for a television series – I remember it was about the French resistance. I cannot remember why we decided on that subject – but it became awfully complicated as it seemed the entire school wanted a part. 

4)What type of books do you like writing the most?

Without sounding flippant, if I don’t think my current WIP is my favourite book ever, I know I’m doing something wrong. I don’t write in any one genre, this is the beauty of being indie. “An Explosive Time”, the third in the Celtic Cousins’ Adventures was my attempt at writing a ‘thriller’ and that was a lot of fun, but I think most of the credit can go to Stephen Spencer who is a master at the craft of mystery/thrillers. 

5)Pass on 3 tips about writing or publishing.

1. Pretend there is glue on your chair, and if you can’t complete your word count for that day, write the equivalent word count in excuses. It’s surprising how quickly “Writer’s Block” skulks away and doesn’t trouble you again.  

2. Read the bestsellers in your genre – read as a reader, and then as a critic, and then break the story down – what works for you – what doesn’t – I’m not saying you should adopt another writer’s style, but you will become more knowledgeable about the nuts and bolts of story telling via the medium of print.  

3. Cherish your beta readers and critique partners. 

6)What was the last book that you read? How would you rate it?

Stephen King’s 11/22/63 – Excellent. I loved the way Mr King deals with the consequences of time travel, and meddling with pivotal moments in history. It’s fair to say I lapped it up. 

7)Now choose just one of your books and add a link to it.

“The Griffin Cryer” is my latest release, and is a YA fantasy suitable for everyone who’s ever dreamed of flying on the back of a griffin: One link serves all Amazon sites: viewBook.at/B00AM5GQUG

Monday catch my book review of “Tick Tock Run” by H Elliston and on Tuesday we are back with another guest author, Stephanie Hurt. Plus watch out for a new and exciting addition to the blog coming soon.

First Guest Interview with Jenny Worstall

Here is my first guest interview with a great author that I met online after I had read her book “Make a Joyful Noise”. You can read my review of the book by following this short link. My review of Jenny’s book is due to appear in the March Issue of “Fleet Life”.

http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-5F

Here are Jenny’s replies;

1) Tell me your name: Jenny Worstall.

2) Where do you live? London, more specifically Addiscombe in Surrey.

3)When did you start writing? As soon as I could hold a pencil.

4)What type of books do you like writing the most? I like writing about what I know, using the worlds I am familiar with – family, music and teaching. I like writing in a style that is sincere but has more than a touch of irony and humour too.

5)Pass on 3 tips about writing or publishing.

Use little bits of time as they crop up. If you wait for undisturbed time, you may wait forever, so carry your notebook around and use the time you spend waiting for the kids after school and queuing in the supermarket. I once wrote the first draft of a complete short story while waiting with my daughter in a hospital clinic for her to have a blood test.

Don’t be afraid to self publish, even if you are a bit of a technophobe like me. There will be someone out there who can help! In my case it is my long-suffering husband.

Thirdly, and I know this goes against most people’s advice, don’t show your book to too many people before you publish. You may want your punctuation checked, but don’t allow your authentic voice to be muffled. Keep your book’s individuality intact!

6)What was the last book that you read? How would you rate it? I have just read ‘Me Before You’ by Jojo Moyes and would give it 5 stars. It is heartbreakingly beautiful and I feel sure she must have shares in Kleenex tissues. Thoroughly recommended!

7)Now choose just one of your books and add a link to it. I choose ‘Lemon and Lace’, a collection of short stories that I have recently published for free download on smashwords. https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/284244