FOR NICK IS FREE FOR THE WEEKEND!!

Grab your copy of FOR NICK this weekend!

It will be free on Amazon Kindle on Friday thru Sunday, Jan. 31-Feb. 2nd.

Enjoy!

To get your copy, click here!

FRIDAY FAVORITES

Friday Favorites include my favorite images on reading or writing!

(taken from Facebook)

 Enjoy!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Congrats to last week's winner of Wordless Wednesday: Christy

Wordless Wednesday is actually filled with words--the words, thoughts, and feelings that pictures or images evoke within each of us without uttering a single word!

Image courtesy of [Dan] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What WORD/WORDS does this picture evoke within you?

I'll start: The Gift of Love

MONDAY MUSINGS

Busy week!

I finished my final edits on my next novel, I'm With You, and it has been sent off to my editor.

Now I'm playing the waiting game till the manuscript is returned and I'm back to another week of editing. (That's when I'll really be doing the final edits!)

Meet my editor and her super cute bio:

I'm Jules! A writer/designer/photographer lady. I worked as a copywriter for two years before becoming a married mom person, so now I do freelance design work here and there. Right now I mostly help my mother, the romance novelist, with her marketing/website/book-covers (Taylor Dean!). I also make posters for my husband's shows, cuz he's a theatre teacher. I've also published some short stories and read at art festivals, hooray! And now I'm writing novels, double hooray! I hope to be published within the year.

Yep, my daughter has agreed to take on the job of being my editor. I love that the money I pay her for her work will directly benefit my grandchildren.

I think the novel she is writing will be amazing. She has spoken to me extensively about her plot and I LOVE it! No worries, when she is published, I will advertise it here on my blog!

I love being self-published. In the Kindle Direct Publishing Newsletter this month, author Keith Houghton said:

"I am in complete control of my writing career. What's more, I get the kind of royalty rate unseen in the rest of the publishing world. But perhaps the best thing in KDP's favor for me is the absence of literary snobbery. Anyone with a story can publish it and have people on the other side of the planet reading it the next day. 

"Your only judge is your readership. 

"And that's the way it should be."

Well said, Mr. Houghton. Well said.

I cleaned out my files this week and came across my huge pile of rejection letters. They reminded me that it has been a long journey to publication.

Thanks to wonderful readers like each of you, I've far surpassed the success I imagined I'd achieve!

Thanks for enjoying my books! It has been my absolute pleasure to share them with you!

FRIDAY FAVORITES

Friday Favorites include my favorite images on reading or writing!

(taken from Facebook)

 Enjoy!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Wordless Wednesday is actually filled with words--the words, thoughts, and feelings that pictures or images evoke within each of us without uttering a single word!

Image courtesy of [Salvatore Vuono] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What WORD/WORDS does this picture evoke within you?

I'll start: CLOSURE

My favorite answer wins a Kindle ebook of their choice from the Taylor Dean Books collection! Don't forget to leave your email!

Winner will be chosen by Thursday at midnight.

Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is sponsored by Taylor Dean Books. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

IS FOR NICK BELIEVABLE?

I entered FOR NICK into a contest: the Writer's Digest Self-Published eBook Awards.

I didn't win.

But each contestant receives a brief judge's commentary and I thought I'd share mine with you.

Judges Commentary:

There's some nice writing here, although you slip into telling the reader more than showing sometimes (e.g., Camille was a little minx, but she was one of Emily's dearest friends. It would be better to let the reader see this through Camille's actions; in fact, you do that to an extent by showing her flirting with Zach).

Dialogue is nicely written. The characters seem clearly defined by the way they speak.

The setup for the main story that Zach has to find someone to marry or he can't inherit the firm, so he hires someone to be his wife seems rather contrived, and the ending is a little obvious. Given the value of property, it's hard to see how his grandfather would find this an acceptable plan of action. At the same time, it's sufficiently farfetched that it makes an entertaining story, provided the reader doesn't take it too seriously.

You seem to hit the right cliches for a romance novel: the gorgeous, seemingly flawless male and the beautiful but vulnerable young woman. It might be interesting to actually try crafting the story against these stereotypes: make the man vulnerable and the woman dominant. But within the context of mainstream romance, what you've done works very well.

There is one comment I dislike greatly when I receive reviews and that is: the story is not BELIEVABLE. 

Although I often deal with serious issues in my novels--and For Nick is certainly no exception--they are written to be entertaining, an escape from the world. They are meant to allow the reader to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride--a sometimes fascinating and crazy ride.

 

Hence, I love that the judge says:  It's sufficiently farfetched that it makes an entertaining story, provided the reader doesn't take it too seriously.

Above all, my goal has always been to entertain the reader. 

I realize that this type of novel does not appeal to everyone and that's okay!

As for me, I say believable is for real life. Unfortunately, real life is far too unbelievable sometimes.

That's why we need an ESCAPE!

What type of book do you LOVE?

MONDAY MUSINGS

This week all of my time will be dedicated to editing my newest novel, I'm With You. I have a stack of notes from my wonderful early readers with lots of helpful feedback.  Every single one of my early readers said to me, "I LOVED it!" and that's exactly what I needed to hear from them. The 'waiting' was killing me and I'm very ready to get back to work! I'm so thrilled with the response. Due to the subject matter, this was a difficult book to write, although highly therapeutic. 

To add I'm With You to your WANT TO READ list on Goodreads, go here.

Can three little words irrevocably change your life? 

When the doctors inform Chloe Brennan that her pregnancy is “incompatible with life,” her subsequent choices will change her path forever. 

She becomes one of the quiet, unsung heroes of this world, incredibly strong, yet somehow wrongly looked upon as damaged. 

Three people will pierce Chloe’s existence: her husband, a stranger, and a precious baby. 

One will say goodbye, one will say hello, and one will say both at the same time. 

I’m With You is a novel about selfless love and the sacredness of life.

This past week I received a message from a reader on Facebook that made me smile from ear to ear. I LOVE when I receive this kind of feedback. It means SO much to me.

Here it is:

Just finished The Middle Aisle yesterday, so have read all your books. First came across For Nick in July, and can't get enough of your books!!! I was a bit worried about Lancaster House series, and it really had me questioning myself throughout it all. But WOW once again! Thank you for writing such good, clean, enjoyable books!

To all that have ever reached out to let me know you enjoyed my books, THANK YOU! You have no idea how happy you make me!

FRIDAY FAVORITES

Friday Favorites include my favorite images on reading or writing!

(taken from Facebook)

 Enjoy!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Wordless Wednesday is actually filled with words--the words, thoughts, and feelings that pictures or images evoke within each of us without uttering a single word!

Image courtesy of [89studio] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What WORD/WORDS does this picture evoke within you?

I'll start: This brings to mind the age-old question: "Love or Money?"

Which is most important to you?

As for me: LOVE!

Granted, we need money to survive in this world. But if I was rich and I didn't have love in my life, I'd be very, very unhappy.

MONDAY MUSINGS

Life is now back to normal. 

(I had children home for three weeks. Bear with me, Christmas vacation just barely ended around here!)

The house is clean, the sheets have been washed, the floors have been mopped, the bathrooms have been cleaned, the wash is all caught up, the bills have been paid, and all things Christmas have been put away until next year. 

Then why am I so sad?

After all, the house is quiet and my time is my own once again.

I miss my kids and my grandson, that's why!

Which is entirely silly. I couldn't survive if Christmas vacation lasted all year round. It's a lot of fun, but it's also a lot of hard work!

But, having my children home is such a rarity nowadays and I miss them.

This week, I had to say goodbye to my son as he went back to college. We had all day Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday together and we had so much FUN! We ate too much junk food, bummed around the Mall and Target and World Market, and laughed and laughed and laughed. No one makes me laugh the way my son does. 

He's a Chemistry major at college. Obviously he didn't inherit my inability to comprehend math.

So, back to work for me it is. I haven't looked at my newest book, I'm With You, for nearly a month now. 

But, this is a good thing. I needed a break from it. Now I can look at it with fresh eyes and see mistakes that I wouldn't have seen when I was so totally absorbed in the writing process.

Also, my early readers promised they'd send me their feedback by Jan. 13th. I'm just about ready for the final round of edits and final read through before sending the manuscript off to my editor. I still have my work cut out for me!

So, no more sadness. My time with my children and grandson was wonderful. Time to cherish the memories and move forward.

Here's a little something to make you smile on a Monday morning:

(My daughter blew my grandson a kiss and for some reason, it tickled his funny bone. My hubby grabbed his camera and we all sat silently so we didn't distract the baby. It's the first time we've heard him giggle like this! Enjoy!)

How about you? Are you relieved the Christmas rush is over? Or are you like me and still missing it?

Until next year, Christmas vaycay. Looking forward to it already!

FRIDAY FAVORITES

Friday Favorites include my favorite images on reading or writing!

(taken from Facebook)

 Enjoy!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Wordless Wednesday is actually filled with words--the words, thoughts, and feelings that pictures or images evoke within each of us without uttering a single word!

Image courtesy of [Natara] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What WORD/WORDS does this picture evoke within you?

I'll start: "Tread Carefully"

MONDAY MUSINGS

Well, the holidays are over and it's back to the grind!

I had a wonderful holiday season, with a houseful of family. Three of my children were able to come home for the holidays, as well as one grandson! It was busy and crazy at times--okay, most of the time, but I loved every minute of it. Now I need a break to recover! My son is still home for most of this week, but then he leaves to go back to college. The house will seem so empty and quiet.

But, the memories will linger forever . . .

And my proof copy of my next book, I'm With You, has arrived. So far, one of my early readers has finished the book and she said: Just finished it. I love it! You had me crying at the end. 

Exactly what I LOVE to hear! (She said much more, but I don't want to give away anything!)

I hope your holiday season was amazing!

FRIDAY FAVORITES

Friday Favorites include my favorite images on reading or writing!

(taken from Facebook)

 Enjoy!

A HAPPY NEW YEAR WORDLESS WEDNESDAY!

MAY YOU EACH FIND LOVE AND HAPPINESS IN THE NEW YEAR!

There are no better words than those!

Image courtesy of [luigi diamanti] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net