Yes!!!  The secret is out.  Some of the best visitors are those that stop by here, but then, I am quite biased.  Why else would I be getting requests from authors that they would like to stop by, visit and tell us about their newest book.  Today, we have just such a guest.  So, please help me in welcoming YA author, Ms. Stephanie Void !!

She loves hearing from readers; you can contact her at her website: stephanievoid.com.

1) TIME FRAME- I can get a book available to readers in a fraction of the time a publishing house would. Publishing houses can take up to 2 years to get a book on the shelves. All I have to do is put it together in the proper formats, and I’m done.
2) DISILLUSIONMENT- After reading some pretty terrible books and finding out that some of them were almost immediately snapped up for publication, I’ve largely lost my faith in the publishing industry as a quality filter. If I can’t trust publishing houses and agents to screen out the sub-par fiction, then what are they for?
3) CONTROL- I can design my own cover (I’m a graphic designer) if I want, and can keep the book the way I want it. It’s 100% MY vision, not that of an overstressed editor.
4) OWNERSHIP- The books are mine. If I want to give you a free e-book, I can.
5) MONEY- Amazon gives me 70% of the cover price. My royalties from a publishing house would be a mere fraction of that. I can charge you less and still make more money. We both win.
6) STICKING IT TO THE MAN- Being indie makes the rebel in me smile.
7) CHANGING INDUSTRY- People don’t just buy books at their local bookstores anymore. Now there are e-books and e-readers, even I-Pod applications that let you read books on the go. And sales are going up. This is the future.

Running from Secrets is a young adult (or YA) fantasy e-book. If you like dark fantasy about possessed queens, wind chimes with a secret code, naked paintings, mysterious professors, gutsy girls, and even a Dark Lord…. you’re going to LOVE Running from Secrets.

Bethany has never felt as alone as she feels in Linwood—until she dreams up Chime, a woman on the run because of a magic crime she didn’t commit. The dreams get more and more urgent, so Bethany tries to banish them by writing them down, only to discover she’s stumbled into the role of unwitting controller of Chime’s world.

Chime is real here, and so is the possessed queen, minion army, mysterious professor, Vault Five, wind chimes with a secret code, child’s rhyme that can kill, the naked painting, and other things Chime’s story leads her to.

She has to fix the story without erasing Chime and her world, because if she erases Chime, she will die as well.

Yes!!!  The secret is out.  Some of the best visitors are those that stop by here, but then, I am quite biased.  Why else would I be getting requests from authors that they would like to stop by, visit and tell us about their newest book.  Today, we have just such a guest.  So, please help me in welcoming YA author, Ms. Stephanie Void !!

She loves hearing from readers; you can contact her at her website: stephanievoid.com.

1) TIME FRAME- I can get a book available to readers in a fraction of the time a publishing house would. Publishing houses can take up to 2 years to get a book on the shelves. All I have to do is put it together in the proper formats, and I’m done.
2) DISILLUSIONMENT- After reading some pretty terrible books and finding out that some of them were almost immediately snapped up for publication, I’ve largely lost my faith in the publishing industry as a quality filter. If I can’t trust publishing houses and agents to screen out the sub-par fiction, then what are they for?
3) CONTROL- I can design my own cover (I’m a graphic designer) if I want, and can keep the book the way I want it. It’s 100% MY vision, not that of an overstressed editor.
4) OWNERSHIP- The books are mine. If I want to give you a free e-book, I can.
5) MONEY- Amazon gives me 70% of the cover price. My royalties from a publishing house would be a mere fraction of that. I can charge you less and still make more money. We both win.
6) STICKING IT TO THE MAN- Being indie makes the rebel in me smile.
7) CHANGING INDUSTRY- People don’t just buy books at their local bookstores anymore. Now there are e-books and e-readers, even I-Pod applications that let you read books on the go. And sales are going up. This is the future.

Running from Secrets is a young adult (or YA) fantasy e-book. If you like dark fantasy about possessed queens, wind chimes with a secret code, naked paintings, mysterious professors, gutsy girls, and even a Dark Lord…. you’re going to LOVE Running from Secrets.

Bethany has never felt as alone as she feels in Linwood—until she dreams up Chime, a woman on the run because of a magic crime she didn’t commit. The dreams get more and more urgent, so Bethany tries to banish them by writing them down, only to discover she’s stumbled into the role of unwitting controller of Chime’s world.

Chime is real here, and so is the possessed queen, minion army, mysterious professor, Vault Five, wind chimes with a secret code, child’s rhyme that can kill, the naked painting, and other things Chime’s story leads her to.

She has to fix the story without erasing Chime and her world, because if she erases Chime, she will die as well.

Thanks to Brianne from The Hachette Book Group, we have a special treat in store for you, a Double Trouble Treat.  And here to talk about it is the very talented author, Ms. Katie Lane!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Hope Scroggs is finally ready to get hitched. After years of sowing her wild oats, the former head cheerleader and homecoming queen has returned to Bramble, Texas, to marry her high school flame. But her perfect wedding plans are stomped to smithereens when her adoring cowboy two-steps down the aisle with someone else. Now Hope is stuck with the one man from her past she can’t shake: Colt Lomax, an irresistible bad boy whose sultry kisses are hotter than the Panhandle in August . . .
  Colt lives for freedom and the open road; he never gets attached, never looks back. Still, he can’t forget the night of passion he once shared with Bramble’s sweetheart–a night he wouldn’t mind repeating. So, he piles on the Texas charm to tease the feisty beauty back into his bed, while she tries her darnedest to resist. But something unexpected is about to tie their fates together . . . and oh, baby, will it ever!



Thanks to Brianne from The Hachette Book Group, we have a special treat in store for you, a Double Trouble Treat.  And here to talk about it is the very talented author, Ms. Katie Lane!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Hope Scroggs is finally ready to get hitched. After years of sowing her wild oats, the former head cheerleader and homecoming queen has returned to Bramble, Texas, to marry her high school flame. But her perfect wedding plans are stomped to smithereens when her adoring cowboy two-steps down the aisle with someone else. Now Hope is stuck with the one man from her past she can’t shake: Colt Lomax, an irresistible bad boy whose sultry kisses are hotter than the Panhandle in August . . .
  Colt lives for freedom and the open road; he never gets attached, never looks back. Still, he can’t forget the night of passion he once shared with Bramble’s sweetheart–a night he wouldn’t mind repeating. So, he piles on the Texas charm to tease the feisty beauty back into his bed, while she tries her darnedest to resist. But something unexpected is about to tie their fates together . . . and oh, baby, will it ever!



What an honor I have been given today!!!!  Back in August, I was asked if I would consider reading and reviewing a book, The Lies We Told, by this very author and it was phenomenal. A 5/5 in my opinion.  So when Tricia, from Meryl L. Moss Media, contacted me again, not only to read and review Ms. Chamberlain’s newest novel, but also introduce her to all of you, I was thrilled.  So please meet and welcome, here today, Ms. Diane Chamberlain!!!

Diane is the award-winning author of 20 novels published in more than 11 languages. She writes complex stories about love, compassion and forgiveness.

Her books, which are often set in her home state of North Carolina, feature a combination of family drama, intrigue and suspense.

Diane was born and raised in Plainfield, New Jersey. She also lived for many years in both San Diego and northern Virginia before making North Carolina her home.

Diane received her master’s degree in clinical social work from San Diego State University. Prior to her writing career, she was a hospital social worker in both San Diego and Washington, D.C. She also was a psychotherapist in private practice in Alexandria, Virginia, working primarily with adolescents.

Diane’s background in psychology and her work in hospitals have given her a keen interest in understanding the way people tick, as well as the background necessary to create real, living, breathing characters.

Several years ago Diane was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which has changed the way she works—she sometimes types using voice recognition software. She feels fortunate that her arthritis is not more severe and that she is able to enjoy everyday activities as well as keep up with a busy travel schedule.

Diane lives with her partner, photographer John Pagliuca, and her shelties, Keeper and Jet.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Bestselling author of The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes and The Lies We Told, Diane Chamberlain returns with her twentieth and most gripping novel to date, THE MIDWIFE’S CONFESSION (Mira Books; May 2011, $15.95), about two women who embark on a investigation of their best friend’s untimely death, ultimately revealing a powerful secret that threatens to destroy everything they thought they knew about her.

When Noelle Downie is found dead of an apparent overdose, her best friends Tara and Emerson are left blindsided by her death and struggling with burning questions. Everything they knew about their longtime friend—her natural calling as a midwife, her passion for causes, her love for her friends and family—portrayed a woman who completely embraced life, not someone suicidal.

Clearing out Noelle’s small home, Tara and Emerson encounter old photos, handwritten birth records, and sincere thank you notes from Noelle’s former patients—no hint that Noelle had been unstable during the years leading to her suicide. But among Noelle’s belongings, an unfinished letter is discovered—a clue to a disturbing past and an unbearable secret. With just one piece to the puzzle, Tara and Emerson commit to digging deeper for clues, slowly peeling back years of hidden deception that had been silently tearing apart their best friend.

Read my review of this novel, The Midwife’s Confession, below.

What an honor I have been given today!!!!  Back in August, I was asked if I would consider reading and reviewing a book, The Lies We Told, by this very author and it was phenomenal. A 5/5 in my opinion.  So when Tricia, from Meryl L. Moss Media, contacted me again, not only to read and review Ms. Chamberlain’s newest novel, but also introduce her to all of you, I was thrilled.  So please meet and welcome, here today, Ms. Diane Chamberlain!!!

Diane is the award-winning author of 20 novels published in more than 11 languages. She writes complex stories about love, compassion and forgiveness.

Her books, which are often set in her home state of North Carolina, feature a combination of family drama, intrigue and suspense.

Diane was born and raised in Plainfield, New Jersey. She also lived for many years in both San Diego and northern Virginia before making North Carolina her home.

Diane received her master’s degree in clinical social work from San Diego State University. Prior to her writing career, she was a hospital social worker in both San Diego and Washington, D.C. She also was a psychotherapist in private practice in Alexandria, Virginia, working primarily with adolescents.

Diane’s background in psychology and her work in hospitals have given her a keen interest in understanding the way people tick, as well as the background necessary to create real, living, breathing characters.

Several years ago Diane was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which has changed the way she works—she sometimes types using voice recognition software. She feels fortunate that her arthritis is not more severe and that she is able to enjoy everyday activities as well as keep up with a busy travel schedule.

Diane lives with her partner, photographer John Pagliuca, and her shelties, Keeper and Jet.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Bestselling author of The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes and The Lies We Told, Diane Chamberlain returns with her twentieth and most gripping novel to date, THE MIDWIFE’S CONFESSION (Mira Books; May 2011, $15.95), about two women who embark on a investigation of their best friend’s untimely death, ultimately revealing a powerful secret that threatens to destroy everything they thought they knew about her.

When Noelle Downie is found dead of an apparent overdose, her best friends Tara and Emerson are left blindsided by her death and struggling with burning questions. Everything they knew about their longtime friend—her natural calling as a midwife, her passion for causes, her love for her friends and family—portrayed a woman who completely embraced life, not someone suicidal.

Clearing out Noelle’s small home, Tara and Emerson encounter old photos, handwritten birth records, and sincere thank you notes from Noelle’s former patients—no hint that Noelle had been unstable during the years leading to her suicide. But among Noelle’s belongings, an unfinished letter is discovered—a clue to a disturbing past and an unbearable secret. With just one piece to the puzzle, Tara and Emerson commit to digging deeper for clues, slowly peeling back years of hidden deception that had been silently tearing apart their best friend.

Read my review of this novel, The Midwife’s Confession, below.

 

Margaret spent many rewarding—but rather wearing—years in jobs devoted to improving services for abused children and care for the elderly. Not long ago, she surprised (shocked?) her friends and family by abandoning her legal career—and steady job—to write novels. She is thrilled to spend her days writing stories of love and adventure, instead of going to endless meetings. After all, she has always loved romantic tales, heroic deeds, and happy endings. And, at long last, she can satisfy her passion for justice by punishing the bad and rewarding the worthy—in the pages of her novels.

With her two children off to college, Margaret spends most of her time working on her next books. She loves to hear from readers.
You can visit her at http://www.margaretmallory.com/index.html
Like her at Facebook http://www.facebook.com/margaretmallory.author

THE RETURN OF THE HIGHLANDERS: BOOK I
Four fearless warriors return to the Highlands to claim their lands and legacies. But all their trials on the battlefield can’t prepare them for their greatest challenge yet: winning the hearts of four willful Scottish beauties.
PASSION IGNITED
After years of fighting abroad, Ian MacDonald comes home to find his clan in peril. To save his kin, he must right the wrongs from his past . . . and claim the bride he’s long resisted.

As a young lass, Sìleas depended on Ian to play her knight in shining armor. But when his rescue attempt compromised her virtue, Ian was forced to marry against his wishes. Five years later, Sìleas has grown from an awkward girl into an independent beauty who knows she deserves better than the reluctant husband who preferred war to his wife. Now this devilishly handsome Highlander is finally falling in love. He wants a second chance with Sìleas – and he won’t take no for an answer.

READ AN EXCERPT:

 

Margaret spent many rewarding—but rather wearing—years in jobs devoted to improving services for abused children and care for the elderly. Not long ago, she surprised (shocked?) her friends and family by abandoning her legal career—and steady job—to write novels. She is thrilled to spend her days writing stories of love and adventure, instead of going to endless meetings. After all, she has always loved romantic tales, heroic deeds, and happy endings. And, at long last, she can satisfy her passion for justice by punishing the bad and rewarding the worthy—in the pages of her novels.

With her two children off to college, Margaret spends most of her time working on her next books. She loves to hear from readers.
You can visit her at http://www.margaretmallory.com/index.html
Like her at Facebook http://www.facebook.com/margaretmallory.author

THE RETURN OF THE HIGHLANDERS: BOOK I
Four fearless warriors return to the Highlands to claim their lands and legacies. But all their trials on the battlefield can’t prepare them for their greatest challenge yet: winning the hearts of four willful Scottish beauties.
PASSION IGNITED
After years of fighting abroad, Ian MacDonald comes home to find his clan in peril. To save his kin, he must right the wrongs from his past . . . and claim the bride he’s long resisted.

As a young lass, Sìleas depended on Ian to play her knight in shining armor. But when his rescue attempt compromised her virtue, Ian was forced to marry against his wishes. Five years later, Sìleas has grown from an awkward girl into an independent beauty who knows she deserves better than the reluctant husband who preferred war to his wife. Now this devilishly handsome Highlander is finally falling in love. He wants a second chance with Sìleas – and he won’t take no for an answer.

READ AN EXCERPT: