Tag Archives: virtual book tour


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Welcome my Guest Lillian Duncan

Christian fiction author, Lillian Duncan, writes stories of faith … mingled with murder and mayhem.

Lillian is a multi-published writer who writes the type of books she loves to read—suspense with a touch of romance. Whether as an educator, a writer, or a speech pathologist, she believes in the power of words to transform lives, especially God’s Word.

To learn more about Lillian and her books, visit: www.lillianduncan.net.  She also has a devotional blog at: www.PowerUpWithGod.com  as well as her personal blog, Tiaras & Tennis Shoes at www.lillian-duncan.com

I am very excited to have Lillian as a guest, you know how I love a good suspense. Her book Betrayed is one of those that will keep us turning pages and begging for more. To tweak your interest –

Our heroine is hiding in the Witness Protection Program that claims they can keep anyone safe if only they follow the rules so Maria follows the rules–every rule. She’s given up everything–her friends, her family, her past, even her name to ensure her daughter has a future.

Reborn as Veronica Minor in the sleepy little town of Sunberry, Ohio, she struggles to rebuild their life amid the beauty of her flower shop. She hopes for a life where her daughter can have a happy normal childhood and never know that her father was a monster.

When a child disappears, Veronica prays it has nothing to do with her past, but what if she’s wrong? Not knowing who to trust, she trusts no one…and that’s her first mistake.    Betrayed_h11347_300

 

I asked Ms. Duncan a few more questions that I thought would interest you. Tell us a little more about BETRAYED.

BETRAYED is the second book in my Sisters By Choice series and will be released in January 2014. In DECEPTION (the first in the series), there is a terrorist. I kept wondering what kind of woman could be married to a terrorist and not know it.

BETRAYED is the answer to that question. It is Maria’s story and her struggle to get past the betrayal of her husband and create a new life for her daughter.

What’s the setting for BETRAYED?

Most of the story takes place in or around a small fictional town in Ohio called Sunberry. Coincidentally, we have a small town in Ohio called Sunbury that is very similar to the fictional setting!

What do you want readers to take away from BETRAYED?

Bad things happen to all of us. How we react to those things will determine the quality of our future. We can make the choice to stay in the past and be angry and bitter, but a much better choice would be to forgive and move on with our own life.

Does BETRAYED have a theme?

Beauty for ashes is a phrase that comes up several times throughout the book and I consider it the theme. It comes from Isaiah 61: 3. A second theme is about honoring God with our choices and our actions even in the midst of a crisis.

What’s the SISTERS BY CHOICE series about?

This series definitely has romance in it, but I also wanted to explore the strong bonds that form between women—through blood or through the choices we make. Each story focuses on a relationship between two women that becomes as important to the story as the romantic plot.

DECEPTION was the first in the series and it focused on the broken relationship of identical twin sisters, Patti and Jamie. The lesson from DECEPTION was don’t waste time arguing with those you love—you may not get a second chance to repair that relationship.

In BETRAYED, it focuses on two strangers bonding and becoming friends as they face a crisis together.  One of the characters teaches Maria about how to honor God by her actions even in the most horrible of circumstances.

Thank you for visiting my blog and sharing your new book with me and my friends and visitors. You also have a giveaway going on this month. Could you tell us about it?

To celebrate the release of BETRAYED, I’m giving away a virtual gift basket at Tiaras & Tennis Shoes at www.lillian-duncan.com. The virtual gift basket includes a copy of my books, SERENITY SPRINGS, OHIO; DARK ALLEYS; and GEESE MATE FOR LIFE.  Along with the books, a $25 Amazon gift card is included plus a few books from some writer friends. To enter the contest, simply hop on over to Tiaras & Tennis Shoes at www.lillian-duncan.com , leave a comment on the post titled CELEBRATION! Winner will be chosen and announced on February 14.

 

 


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Welcome to my Guest, Marietta Taylor

I am so glad to have Marietta Taylor as my guest. She is a great author and has a great book out that I’m sure all you women will enjoy, and you guys can learn from, too.

I want to share a little about Marietta with you so you can get to know her along with me.

Marietta (Mari) Taylor resides in Raleigh, NC with her husband of seventeen years and her two teenage daughters. The move from Chicago, IL to Raleigh proved a breeding ground for dusting off her dream of writing. Mari is the author of  Surviving Unemployment Devotions to Go, released March 2010 and Girlfriends On…Surviving Unemployment, also scheduled to be released in 2010. Mari was also published in Penned From The Heart VOL XV, a devotional anthology. Her column, Frugal Elegance, appears in Girlfriend 2 Girlfriend, an online magazine published by Extreme Diva Media.

Mari strives to show women how to manage the critical aspects of their lives elegantly, frugally and cohesively. Now if she could just get her two high maintenance daughters and one high maintenance husband on board. That ultimately will be the true test of her skill!

Marietta Taylor’s book, “Surviving Unemployment Devotions to Go,” is a devotional that reads like an e-mail from a friend. She is candid, smart, and funny. She reveals to you the things that most people wouldn’t, just so you can learn from her experiences. Each chapter has a scriptural reference and a prayer focus that condition you to hold on to the Lord’s promises and obey His Word, even as the storm of circumstances make you a little unsteady.

“Surviving Unemployment Devotions to Go,” offers tips on thankfulness (Taylor’s family challenged themselves to find a ‘silver lining’ during the worst days), frugality and money-making (She never shopped without a coupon and sold to consignment shops for extra cash), and keeping a consistent relationship with God (She says that prayer is like anti-itch cream…re-apply as needed.)

The emotions and obstacles brought about by unemployment are some that many of us face each day in different situations. There is debt, marital discord, and the tough job of trying to meet the needs of everyone in the family. I would recommend this devotional to any woman who manages a household.

Taylor shows us that we can live, love, and laugh through our issues, and make the best possible decisions, while we trust God to lead us out of them.

Read an excerpt of “Surviving Unemployment Devotions to Go” at www.mariettataylor.net. Get your copy at www.edmbookstore.com.

Book Review by Adrienne Adams
President
The Write Vision Group
www.wtvmin.com

This review first appeared in Breathe Again Magazine

http://breatheagainmagazine.org/book-reviews/surviving-unemployment-devotions-to-go/

Contact information for Marietta and more about her books and writing career are at:

Personal Blog: www.marismorningroom.blogspot.com

My personal blog is a hodge podge of book reviews, inspirationsl posts, family and personal news nad whatever else I might think of on a given day

Website: www.mariettataylor.net

My website explains more about my life philospohy of “frugal elegance”. You can also find book release information and links to follow me on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter: www.twitter.com/raleighgirl

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Marietta-Taylor-Author/345681080001


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Continue the Book Tour – Discover New Books & Authors

Yesterday was the first day of this month’s virtual book tour where you can meet authors, learn more about your favorites, and find new books for yourself and your family.

Our February 2010 Author and Book Tour:

1st Dianne Sagan is hosting Vivian Zabel
2nd Karen Cioffi is hosting Margaret Fieland
3rd Kathy Stemke is hosting Dana Donovan
4th Lea Schizas is hosting Heidi Thomas
5th Vivian Zabel is hosting Lea Schizas
6th Nancy Famolari is hosting Dianne Sagan
7th Margaret Fieland is hosting Carolyn Howard-Johnson
8th Elysabeth Eldering is hosting Stephen Tremp
9th Helena Harper is hosting Dallas Woodburn
10th Liana Metal is hosting Maggie Ball
11th Carolyn Howard-Johnson is hosting Nancy Famolari
12th Gayle Trent is hosting Mayra Calvani
13th Mayra Calvani is hosting Elysabeth Eldering
14th Marvin Wilson is hosting Heather Paye
15th Stephen Tremp is hosting Marvin Wilson
16th Darcia Helle is hosting Helena Harper
17th Martha Swirzinski is hosting Gayle Trent
18th Heidi Thomas is hosting Martha Swirzinski
19th Dana Donovan is hosting Liana Metal
20th Dallas Woodburn is hosting Debra Eckerling
21st Linda Suzane is hosting Janet Ann Collins
22nd Debra Eckerling is hosting Darcia Helle
23rd Heather Paye is hosting Karen Cioffi
24th Maggie Ball is hosting Kevin McNamee
25th Kevin McNamee is hosting Linda Suzane
26th Janet Ann Collins is hosting Kathy Stemke


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Welcome My Guest, Kevin McNamee

Kevin McNamee is a writer and poet living in Yonkers, NY.   He primarily writes for the children’s market.  His work has appeared in Beyond Centauri and he has several children’s picture books being published by Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.  His first book, “If I Could Be Anything” is available at www.amazon.com, or ask your local bookstore.  Look for other titles by Kevin including The Sister Exchange, The Soggy Town of Hilltop, Lightning Strikes, Papa’s Suns, and more.

Thanks for being my first guest of the New Year, Kevin. I’m sure everyone would like to know more about you and your life as a writer.

  1. Can you describe the time you realized you were indeed a “real” writer?

Somewhere along the way, I stopped doubting my ability.  A rejection of my manuscript ceased to be a rejection of myself.  A rejection letter became an opportunity to send my manuscript somewhere else.  Comments and criticism became opportunities to strengthen my story, revise something unworkable, or something to ignore altogether if it didn’t fit with my vision of the story.  I was able to refer to myself as a writer without feeling self conscious and … oh yeah, someone was willing to pay me for what I wrote.

Tell us about how you got started writing.

I first started writing in the second grade.  I wrote a poem that was displayed outside the classroom and I liked seeing my poem and my name in public like that.  I found that I took to writing naturally.  Growing up, I was a constant daydreamer and would construct stories in my head all the time.  Eventually, I started writing them down.  Throughout my teenage years and throughout adulthood I always felt compelled to write.  Although there were many, many times that I put creative writing on the back burner, I found that I was still writing at my day job; memos, procedures, proposals, requests, and I was receiving recognition for it.  I realized that writing had been a constant in my life, but I wasn’t writing what I wanted to write.  Now I make sure that I write what I want as well.

Tell us about your childrens book, If I Could be Anything.   

Print ISBN: 978-1-61633- 011-8; 1-61633-011- 2
eBook ISBN: 978-1-61633- 012-5; 1-61633-012- 0

If I could be anything, what would I be?

I think that eventually I would be me.

A boy pretends to be different animals in this warm, rhyming, picture book. In the end, he chooses to be exactly as he is. Love is the anchor that draws him home.

What are you currently working on?

Right now, I have several stories in various stages of completion, one story that has been finalized and critiqued and needs a final revision, and a few that are finished and have been sent out to various publishers.

This book is available from guardianangelpublishing.com, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, or ask your local bookstore.

We look forward to seeing more of your books. How can someone find out more about you and your books?

To find out more about me, please visit my website at www.kevinmcnamee.com or my blog at www.kevinmcnameechildrensauthor.blogspot.com I also have a new child-friendly site with games and activities at www.kevschildrensbooks.com


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Why you need to get Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s “Frugal” books

I want to welcome Carolyn back today, as well as our visitors. I hope you all will become followers so you can learn about other authors and great books to read. You never know who you might see featured on my blog.

Carolyn has made a difference for writers everywhere – all steps of the writing career. Her savy information is invaluable. Here are some people whose endorsements make you want to run out and buy all of Carolyn’s books if you don’t already have them.

“Fruga” is a Herculean accomplishment! There’s something here for everybody, and it’s essential for new authors. – Rolf Gompertz, former publicist for NBC, author and speaker.

” . . . about 12 months ago, I began to read about do-it-yourself book publicity. One of the best books I came across was The Frugal Book Promoter: How to do what your publisher won’t by Carolyn Howard-Johnson. If you’re looking for ‘nitty-gritty how-tos for getting nearly free publicity,’ this is the book for you. ” – Tim Bete, Director, Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop, Dayton University

My success with promotion is all because of what I call the “Carolyn Factor.” What’s the “Carolyn Factor”, you ask? Well, whenever I have doubts about doing/writing/promoting/putting myself out there – I think about what you would say to me. You would show me how to do it and then, to borrow from Nike . . . you would say, “Just do it” . . . and then I do. – Leora G. Krygier, author.

It’s been great to have Carolyn Howard-Johnson with me this week.


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Welcome my guest – Carolyn Howard Johnson

I’m very excited to have Carolyn with me this week as a part of the virtual book tour.

For a taste of what Carolyn writes, check out this list of her books. The are awesome resources for any and all level of writers.

For: The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won’t
ISBN: 193299310X       Star Publish    Awards: Winner USA Book News, Irwin Award  $17.95 but discounted at:: http://www.amazon.com/Frugal-Book-Promoter-What-Publisher/dp/193299310X/

For only a few cents a day The Frugal Book Promoter assures your book the best possible start in life. Full of nitty – gritty how – tos for getting nearly-free publicity, Carolyn Howard-Johnson, an instructor for UCLA’s Writers’ Program, shares her professional experience as well as practical tips gleaned from the successes of her own book campaigns. She tells authors how to do what their publishers can’t or won’t and why authors can often do their own promotion better than a PR professional.

A recommendation from BarnesandNobel.com: Feather Schwartz Foster, an author, September 9, 2004,  

Packed With Wonderful Information!  For anyone who has written a book of any kind – this is a must-have, and must-keep guide! Every chapter is filled with insights and how-tos and a whole bunch of where to finds!
———

For: The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success
ISBN: 9780978515874.  Red Engine Press.  Awards: Winner USA Book News, Reader Views Literary Award, New Generation Marketing Award   $18.95        To Order:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978515870/ 

There are gremlins out there determined to keep your work from being published, your book from being promoted. They — resolved to embarrass you before the gatekeepers who can turn the key of success for you — lurk in your subconscious and the depths of your computer programs. Whether you are a new or experienced author, The Frugal Editor will help you present whistle-clean copy (whether it’s a one-page cover letter or your entire manuscript) to those who have the power to say “Yea” or “Nay.”

—-
For: The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need To Know To Sell Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less
ISBN: B000YG6O5U      Publisher, Amazon  $0.49 (or 49c!)  To Order:   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YG6O5U/ref=cm_arms_pdp_dp  

The perfect learning experience for those who want to learn to wow an editor in no time flat and only 49 cents out-of-pocket!

Thanks for coming Carolyn. I hope everyone will come back on Friday to learn some more about you and your books.


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Please help me welcome Margaret Fieland, guest writer

I want to welcome Margaret Fieland to my blog this week. Her friends call her Peggy.

She is a native New Yorker who has lived around art and culture her whole life, not only because she lived in one of the greatest cities for art, music, writers, theater, and museums, but because of the influences in her life.

I guess you’ve always loved music?

My father was a musician and I’ve enjoyed playing the flute and piccolo for years.

That’s great. I played the flute myself through school, but have always admired talented people like you who are accomplished players. Tell us about what you’re currently doing.

I moved from New York and live in the suburbs of Boston, MA. I write poetry, articles, and stories. Some of them have appeared in journals and anthologies, including Main Channel Voices, Echolocation, and Twisted Tongue. I’m currently working on a book.

Do you write full-time?

No, I really enjoy the time I spend writing, but I’m a computer software engineer.

I’m so glad to have you this week. I look forward to sharing more about you and your writing tomorrow – Tuesday, February 3.

Thanks, Dianne. I’ll bring a sample from my book “The Ugly Little Boy”.

You can learn more about this talented lady at her website http://www.margaretfieland.com


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Ransom Nobel – Guest Author

I want to welcome Ransom Noble to my blog as a guest author. What a smart lady you are Ransom. I don’t know about other women (especially Baby Boomers, which I am) but I love to see women succeed in life and Ransom is one of those great women.

Tell us a little about yourself, Ransom.

I love reading and writing. I can’t remember when it began, but I’ve always loved the written word from both positions. . I know I started making up stories around 1 year old, because we got a TV around that time. Mom would catch me watching it (when it was off) and asked me what I was doing. Apparently I told her it was more fun to watch when it was off because I was making up my own shows. I also enjoy movies and playing games with my husband and our friends.

Is it true that you are an engineer?

Yes, I earned an engineering degree at University of Iowa in Iowa City.

I think that’s great. So much for the old adage that women aren’t good in sciences and engineering. You are a great example to other writers and women. Tell me about your books.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Anthology: Ruins Metropolis, by Hadley Rille books
Upcoming: The Art of Science, YA novel by 4RV Publishing, LLC.

I’ll be watching for your upcoming book. How do you find time to write?

When I got out of college, I took a couple correspondence courses because I wanted to learn more and give myself an excuse to write, but work often made me too tired to do it on my own. Still, I finished my first novel while working as well as several short stories and some unfinished novels. Now I write full-time, as well as being a stay at home soon to be mom.

Congratulations, Ransom. Can you tell us where to find more information about you?

You can find me at http://www.ransomnoble.wordpress.com

Thank you for coming over to my blog today.

I’d like to invite everyone back tomorrow for more insight into Ransom and her writing.
Thanks for being here, Ransom.

Thanks for having me, Dianne.


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New Year Expectations

Hope everyone had a wonderful and joyous Christmas. I’m looking forward to the New Year 2009 with a new book coming out, Rebekah Redeemed, and other book deals in the near future.

I continue to ghostwrite and look forward to beginning projects with a new Legacy line of ghostwritten books open to clients. It isn’t your usual family scrapbook or memoir, it is a way to leave behind what you’d really like to pass on to your family and friends – what you’ve learned, your favorite experience, then and now, the things you love, business and personal, spiritual and temporal. Each one is a negotiated price for the ghostwritten book. You can find out more at my website Dianne Sagan – Writer.

I wish all you writers and readers a Happy and prosperous New Year.

Come back on January 2nd and meet another great writer. The Virtual Book Tour guests continue.


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Signed Book Contract

Well, the book contract for Rebekah Redeemed is signed and in the mail!! I can hardly wait for the release after the first of the year. I’m working away on my marketing plan fine points – planning to put it in the Virtual Book Tour and network, network, network.

I had a great Thanksgiving last week with most of our family and have been working away on my other writing projects and ghostwriting. Never a dull moment.