Today we have author Becky Due stopping by while on her virtual tour. I am thrilled to have her visit with us.  Please help me welcome her to my blog !!

Becky Due, like the main characters of her novels, spent many years running from herself, looking for love, crying a little and laughing a lot along the journey of finding herself. Through writing, Due found her passion. She is the author of several books and is currently working on her next novel.

Happily married she and Scott live in Colorado, Florida and Alberta, Canada with their two “kids” Buddy the Cat and Shorty the Pug.

Becky has been a guest on national radio programs and has been the subject of numerous newspaper and national magazine articles for empowering women through her novels. She has served as a guest speaker at Women’s Resource Centers, Shelters, Colleges and High Schools within the United States. Becky has had extensive training at Victim Services, worked the 24-Hour Sexual Assault Crisis-Line and was a Victim’s Advocate where she offered one-on-one assistance and support to rape victims. In 2007, Becky started, Women Going Forward, the first national women’s telephone support group, which ran for almost two years. After receiving much recognition for her novels, Becky’s focus turned back to her writing and empowering women through her novels.

Becky’s latest book is a supsense novel titled Returning Injury: A Suspense Chelebrating Women’s Strength. You can visit her website at www.beckydue.com.

About Returning Injury: A Suspense Celebrating Women’s Strength

Rebecca’s life just keeps getting better. With Jack away on business, she’s looking forward to foud days alone to work on her new client’s PR campaign to help women take back their lives. But her past intrudes. Roy, the man who stalked and assaulted her years before, has been released from prison. Home alone in her big, beautiful house out in the country, Rebecca has to learn to take back her own life while facing her fears and regaining her strength. But will she be strong enough when she faces the ultimate test?

Watch the trailer !!

Hosted by Kayla at The Eclectic Element http://www.theeclecticelement.blogspot.com/
As part of Slapdash Sunday, and its premise, today started off as an idea and became a reality.  Vincent Zandri was going to do a Guest Posting regarding EReaders and Print from an author’s view and I was going to do it from a consumer, avid reader’s view.  Then he made a generous offer that he would spend the day with us replying to comments and questions that other bloggers have.   Being a semi newbie blogger, I wonder if this has ever been done before!?  So post your thoughts and questions here and during the day he will  respond.  I am beyond honored and pleased to introduce:

ImageChef.com
Mr. Zandri’s thoughts on EReaders and Print:
  E-Books vs Print?
It’s not a question of versus. It’s a question of living together. One of the reasons I still publish traditionally albeit with Indy publishers who embrace the new electronic model, is that they produce both E-Book and print versions of my work. Despite the exploding popularity of E-Books and their brilliant future, many of my fans prefer to read a real “paper” book. I like my fans. They put food on my table and often send me nice notes making me feel like a “real” writer. So even though I foresee a time when I will be publishing in E-Book format only (we all will be), for now anyway, I see myself mixing tradition publishing with major houses with that of the traditionally based indy presses along with self-publishing my OOP books and previously agented/edited manuscripts that never sold for one economically based reason or another.

How will I make the majority of my money down the road? Hands down, from E-Books. I make 50% off the price of an ebook. And they never go out of print. They are the gift that keeps on giving. We can control the price and never do I have to worry about a publisher giving up on it. Simply said, the E-Book revolution is going to bury the major New York publishers whose antiquated and broken publishing system is about to collapse not because of some bomb that’s about to explode in Times Square, but because of their model which allows for returns, and offers authors only a small percentage of sales. In fact, these houses, like the one’s I’ve published with have actually held me and my work hostage by retaining rights to books they pulled off the shelves years ago. In the words of one of my old Bantam/Dell editors, “They (the corporate head honchos) are PREVENTING you from selling books.”

My jumbled thoughts as a consumer and avid reader:
As a consumer and avid reader, I have mixed feelings with EReaders and Print.
  Let’s start with Print first since that is what I have used since I started reading. I love the smell of a book, only real addicts know what I mean, turning actual pages and sometimes just having a book in my hands. In the summer I love to sit in the pool with a paperback, that’s the only time I will allow the books to get a little abused. Cons and they are starting to pile up. Hard Cover…only have them if they have been passed on. I would never pay that kind of money for a book that I will probably be done with in a few days. Even the price of paperbacks, I feel are getting to be expensive for a few days of reading.  New releases, for library edition, will take many months to get after putting your name on the list, and by that time it is probably already in paperback. Clutter…won’t even go there. I have paperback books hidden by another level of paperbacks with even another level with newer paperbacks
  EReader…a lot more portable.  In this instant gratification society, there is a huge plus, to be able to purchase and dowload a book in seconds. So far, at least for me, ebooks are almost 1/2 price of a paperback. easier to read when in bed. easier to be mobile, no clutter..YES !!!!  The clutter can be in my EReader.  Dictionary, note taking all in one place. Cons..no backlight, would never use by pool or in pool. doesn’t have the smell of a book.
  Just a few of my pros and cons…but I honestly say within a year or so when newer models have all the features I would like and more that I haven’t even thought of, I will probably upgrade from the EReader I have now and using only my EReader to buy digital books.

OK…..it’s your turn.  What are your thoughts on today’s topic.  Or maybe you just have a question.  Either way…..POST HERE and lets start this LIVE discussion……….

Hosted by Kayla at The Eclectic Element http://www.theeclecticelement.blogspot.com/
As part of Slapdash Sunday, and its premise, today started off as an idea and became a reality.  Vincent Zandri was going to do a Guest Posting regarding EReaders and Print from an author’s view and I was going to do it from a consumer, avid reader’s view.  Then he made a generous offer that he would spend the day with us replying to comments and questions that other bloggers have.   Being a semi newbie blogger, I wonder if this has ever been done before!?  So post your thoughts and questions here and during the day he will  respond.  I am beyond honored and pleased to introduce:

ImageChef.com
Mr. Zandri’s thoughts on EReaders and Print:
  E-Books vs Print?
It’s not a question of versus. It’s a question of living together. One of the reasons I still publish traditionally albeit with Indy publishers who embrace the new electronic model, is that they produce both E-Book and print versions of my work. Despite the exploding popularity of E-Books and their brilliant future, many of my fans prefer to read a real “paper” book. I like my fans. They put food on my table and often send me nice notes making me feel like a “real” writer. So even though I foresee a time when I will be publishing in E-Book format only (we all will be), for now anyway, I see myself mixing tradition publishing with major houses with that of the traditionally based indy presses along with self-publishing my OOP books and previously agented/edited manuscripts that never sold for one economically based reason or another.

How will I make the majority of my money down the road? Hands down, from E-Books. I make 50% off the price of an ebook. And they never go out of print. They are the gift that keeps on giving. We can control the price and never do I have to worry about a publisher giving up on it. Simply said, the E-Book revolution is going to bury the major New York publishers whose antiquated and broken publishing system is about to collapse not because of some bomb that’s about to explode in Times Square, but because of their model which allows for returns, and offers authors only a small percentage of sales. In fact, these houses, like the one’s I’ve published with have actually held me and my work hostage by retaining rights to books they pulled off the shelves years ago. In the words of one of my old Bantam/Dell editors, “They (the corporate head honchos) are PREVENTING you from selling books.”

My jumbled thoughts as a consumer and avid reader:
As a consumer and avid reader, I have mixed feelings with EReaders and Print.
  Let’s start with Print first since that is what I have used since I started reading. I love the smell of a book, only real addicts know what I mean, turning actual pages and sometimes just having a book in my hands. In the summer I love to sit in the pool with a paperback, that’s the only time I will allow the books to get a little abused. Cons and they are starting to pile up. Hard Cover…only have them if they have been passed on. I would never pay that kind of money for a book that I will probably be done with in a few days. Even the price of paperbacks, I feel are getting to be expensive for a few days of reading.  New releases, for library edition, will take many months to get after putting your name on the list, and by that time it is probably already in paperback. Clutter…won’t even go there. I have paperback books hidden by another level of paperbacks with even another level with newer paperbacks
  EReader…a lot more portable.  In this instant gratification society, there is a huge plus, to be able to purchase and dowload a book in seconds. So far, at least for me, ebooks are almost 1/2 price of a paperback. easier to read when in bed. easier to be mobile, no clutter..YES !!!!  The clutter can be in my EReader.  Dictionary, note taking all in one place. Cons..no backlight, would never use by pool or in pool. doesn’t have the smell of a book.
  Just a few of my pros and cons…but I honestly say within a year or so when newer models have all the features I would like and more that I haven’t even thought of, I will probably upgrade from the EReader I have now and using only my EReader to buy digital books.

OK…..it’s your turn.  What are your thoughts on today’s topic.  Or maybe you just have a question.  Either way…..POST HERE and lets start this LIVE discussion……….

Hope you have put tomorrow on your calendar.  Vincent Zandri, author of Moonlight Falls, will be LIVE !!!  He will be posting his thoughts about EReaders and Print.  We, as consumers and avid readers, have had this discussion all over the blogosphere.  BUT tomorrow we will get an author’s perspective.  He is currently on virtual tour for Moonlight Falls.  He will be conducting “a revolutionary experiment” (comment from Dorothy Thompson of Pump Up Your Book) for his new book, The Remains”

Please stop by tomorrow for a fun day as Mr. Zandri has generously given us his time to reply to all comments and answer questions.  So get your thoughts and questions ready.  Either comments for the discussion of EReaders and Print.  Or questions regarding Moonlight Falls or
The Remains.  Post them here and he will answer them all.

Also, please BLOG ABOUT THIS EXCITING EVENT so that your followers may join in on the fun.  Please give them this link   http://cmashlovestoread.blogspot.com/.  I will be here to post comments ASAP so that Mr.Zandri can answer or reply, as he will be checking in all day.  Hope to see you !!!!!!!!   

Hope you have put tomorrow on your calendar.  Vincent Zandri, author of Moonlight Falls, will be LIVE !!!  He will be posting his thoughts about EReaders and Print.  We, as consumers and avid readers, have had this discussion all over the blogosphere.  BUT tomorrow we will get an author’s perspective.  He is currently on virtual tour for Moonlight Falls.  He will be conducting “a revolutionary experiment” (comment from Dorothy Thompson of Pump Up Your Book) for his new book, The Remains”

Please stop by tomorrow for a fun day as Mr. Zandri has generously given us his time to reply to all comments and answer questions.  So get your thoughts and questions ready.  Either comments for the discussion of EReaders and Print.  Or questions regarding Moonlight Falls or
The Remains.  Post them here and he will answer them all.

Also, please BLOG ABOUT THIS EXCITING EVENT so that your followers may join in on the fun.  Please give them this link   http://cmashlovestoread.blogspot.com/.  I will be here to post comments ASAP so that Mr.Zandri can answer or reply, as he will be checking in all day.  Hope to see you !!!!!!!!   

I am honored to have Mr. Leever, author of The University visit today so please help me welcome him to my blog.  He is also kind enough to giveaway one of my followers and/or visitors a SIGNED copy of his book, The University.

He is a former PR staff member for Colorado Governor Bill Owens, as well as former senior editor for a nonprofit organization. He now lives in Blue Springs, Missouri.

A Nebraska native, he wrote a college football column, the Scarlet Commentary, for several years. He holds a degree in English with a writing emphasis and is perpetually at work on his next suspense/mystery novel.

To learn more about the author and the book, visit his website at JeffreyLeever.com.

Ah, college life at Tremont University. A place for learning. Partying and dating. And murder.

When investigative journalist Kevin Gibson lets his cousin, a former cop, talk him into looking into a student’s disappearance at Tremont University, he gets more than he bargained for. A former student — injured in a brutal attack two years ago and in a coma — may hold a critical piece of information that can solve the mystery. Meanwhile, an attractive coed continues to hide a very dark secret.

Tremont junior Brett Duncan is determined to find out what happened to his best friend, who’s gone missing. Along with his girlfriend Ciera Kindle, Brett is drawn into a cunning world few know exist — a conspiracy involving faculty, students, and some well-connected people in high places.

Beneath the campus’ Hallmark-card exterior lie many secrets, and a pulse-racing mystery with plenty of chills along the way.

“Jeffrey Leever is giving away a signed copy of his book, The University, to one lucky tour visitor. Go to his book tour page, http://jeffrey-leever.omnimystery.com/, enter your name, e-mail address, and this PIN, 6123, for your chance to win. Entries from this blog site will be accepted until 12:00 Noon (PT) tomorrow. No purchase is required to enter or to win. The winner (first name only) will be announced on his book tour page next week.”  Don’t forget, put the PIN NUMBER 6123 for your chance to win.  GOOD LUCK !!!!!

ADDENDUM:  Watch for my review of The University that will be posted at a later date.

I am honored to have Mr. Leever, author of The University visit today so please help me welcome him to my blog.  He is also kind enough to giveaway one of my followers and/or visitors a SIGNED copy of his book, The University.

He is a former PR staff member for Colorado Governor Bill Owens, as well as former senior editor for a nonprofit organization. He now lives in Blue Springs, Missouri.

A Nebraska native, he wrote a college football column, the Scarlet Commentary, for several years. He holds a degree in English with a writing emphasis and is perpetually at work on his next suspense/mystery novel.

To learn more about the author and the book, visit his website at JeffreyLeever.com.

Ah, college life at Tremont University. A place for learning. Partying and dating. And murder.

When investigative journalist Kevin Gibson lets his cousin, a former cop, talk him into looking into a student’s disappearance at Tremont University, he gets more than he bargained for. A former student — injured in a brutal attack two years ago and in a coma — may hold a critical piece of information that can solve the mystery. Meanwhile, an attractive coed continues to hide a very dark secret.

Tremont junior Brett Duncan is determined to find out what happened to his best friend, who’s gone missing. Along with his girlfriend Ciera Kindle, Brett is drawn into a cunning world few know exist — a conspiracy involving faculty, students, and some well-connected people in high places.

Beneath the campus’ Hallmark-card exterior lie many secrets, and a pulse-racing mystery with plenty of chills along the way.

“Jeffrey Leever is giving away a signed copy of his book, The University, to one lucky tour visitor. Go to his book tour page, http://jeffrey-leever.omnimystery.com/, enter your name, e-mail address, and this PIN, 6123, for your chance to win. Entries from this blog site will be accepted until 12:00 Noon (PT) tomorrow. No purchase is required to enter or to win. The winner (first name only) will be announced on his book tour page next week.”  Don’t forget, put the PIN NUMBER 6123 for your chance to win.  GOOD LUCK !!!!!

ADDENDUM:  Watch for my review of The University that will be posted at a later date.

Reminder!!!!!  Tomorrow Jeffrey Leever will be a “Guest Author” and will be giving away a signed copy of his book The University !!!!

Reminder !!!!  This coming Sunday, Vincent Zandri author of Moonlight Falls, will be here live!!
He is currently on his virtual tour of Moonlight Falls and shortly will be trying a “revolutionary experiment” (comment by Dorothy Thompson of Pump Up Your Book) with his next novel “The Remains“.   He will be sharing his thoughts on EReaders and Print.  So have your thoughts, comments and/or questions ready and post them here.  He has generously offered to reply to all comments and answer any questions.  Would your followers be interested?  Then please blog about this event and invite them to join in the discussion.