Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Shoutout to Children Authors! #giveaways sci-fi fantasy KidLit

Today on The Maze I am pleased to feature 
Children Authors!



Read more »
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Tuesday, December 9, 2014

This candle burns, and my heart breaks.


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Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Spotlight on Everybody's After Love by Lyssa Layne

Today's spotlight shines on sweet contemporary romance Everybody's After Love by Lyssa Layne!


TITLE: Everybody's After Love
AUTHOR: Lyssa Layne
GENRE: Contemporary Romance 
PUBLICATION DATE: December 3, 2014
COVER DESIGN: Kelly Walker
LENGTH: 60,000+ words
CONTENT WARNING: Some adult content




Jules Rossi’s world is about to be turned upside down when her big brother, Paulie, announces his engagement. Having been raised by her brother after their parents died, she’s used to him being her knight in shining armor and isn’t ready to share him with anyone else.

Throughout all the wedding festivities, Jules’ path continues to cross with Paulie’s future brother-in-law, Bentley Ladner. Bentley soon begins to take on Paulie’s role in Jules’ life, which neither of the Rossi siblings is too sure about. Can Jules cope with the secrets Bentley is keeping? Or will she lose his support when she finally decides to give love a chance?



As much as I wanted to dislike Bentley as much as I did his sister, I just couldn’t. He was easy to talk to, he pushed me to go outside my comfort zone, and he challenged me to let go of my past, something Paulie’s been begging me to do for years. Not to mention, he was easy on the eyes and I still can’t forget the way I felt with his hands on my waist.

Taking my turn in the portable bathroom, I hurry as the stench of the warm, small area is overwhelming. Swinging the door open, I step out quickly. Combined with my natural clumsiness and the couple beers I’d already had, I trip and fall into a broad body that grips my arms.

“Julianna Rossi,” he says. I cringe from his touch, his words, and the alcohol on his breath. “I’ve missed you, babe.”

Kevin tries to pull me in for a kiss, but I firmly plant my hands on his chest and push away. My eyes drift up and down his body and I have to admit, his muscular physique looks good in the too tight red Cardinals shirt he’s wearing.

“Let me go,” I say quietly, trying not to cause a scene.

His grip on my arms gets tighter, making me feel uncomfortable. Suddenly, that fear I had when I was with him last, riding in that tiny elevator, starts to creep back. His fingers curl stronger around my upper arms, pain throbs through my biceps and my body starts to tremble.

Leaning in close to my ear, he whispers, “I don’t think so.”

Frantically, darting my eyes around the party, I am hoping that my brother or one of our friends is close by. As if I willed them to be there, behind me I hear someone calling my name. Kevin and I both twist around to the voice drawing our attention. Just as quickly as I was relieved, I’m shocked when I see who it is.

Walking toward us in jeans, a red t-shirt that isn’t too tight but definitely shows off his bulging biceps, and a camo baseball cap with a STL logo on it is Bentley. His dimple and sideways smile greet me until he sees Kevin’s grip on my arms and probably the fear in my eyes. His stride gets a bit quicker and I feel Kevin’s fingers let go of me as he gets closer.

The moment I’m free of his grasp, I step toward Bentley who pulls me under his arm. It’s only the second time I’ve ever met him, but I feel more comfortable with him by my side than my ex. Glancing up at Bentley, I can see in his eyes that he’s wondering if I’m okay. I give a slight nod to let him know I’m alright. My arm slides around his torso as I try to steady my body from shaking. Adrenaline races through my body because of both the men standing before me, for two totally different reasons.






Lyssa Layne is first, and foremost, the proud momma to her precious daughter, AR. In addition to working full-time and being a mommy to AR, she is also an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, a runner, blogger, and an infertility survivor.

Having watched one too many medical dramas and being inspired by author Rachelle Ayala, who introduced her to the world of indie writing, Lyssa decided to try her hand at writing a romance story. Her attempt turned into the Burning Lovesick series. You can find Lyssa's own interests throughout her stories although all stories are fictional.






The jewelry being offered in this giveaway is from Rosey Johnny.



MoB Promos
Email

For more chances to win, you are invited to...
— Follow Kim Headlee on Twitter
— Add Kim to Google+
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of Liberty. Please enter often, and good luck!
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Monday, December 1, 2014

Cover Reveal of Liberty by @KimHeadlee (The Dawnflier, Dec. 2014)

Happy Holidays from The Dawnflier!

 Today I am excited to report that I have decided upon a new cover for Liberty, which is available for pre-order on Amazon.com and releases on December 16th. Liberty was first published in 2006 by HQN Books (an imprint of Harlequin) under the pseudonym "Kimberly Iverson," and I have given it a thorough revision for this new edition. But first I would like to invite you to join me in some special activities!

If you live in southwestern Virginia, please join me at one (or all!) of the following book signings:
  • Saturday, December 6th, noon to 2 p.m. at the Appalachian Mountain Spirits and Mercantile of Marion, VA.
  • Saturday, December 13th, 9 a.m. to noon at the Wytheville Farmer's Market
  • Saturday, December 13th, noon to 2 p.m. at the Farmer's Daughter gift shop on Main Street, Wytheville.
At all these events I will be signing Snow in July, Dawnflight, and Morning's Journey -- possibly with the gorgeous new cover for Morning's Journey too; please keep your fingers crossed that the layout gets finalized in time!

 The LIBERTY Pre-Release & Launch Blog Tour and Giveaway is scheduled for December 8-19, and I would be thrilled to get more bloggers to sign up. I totally understand if you don't have time to read & review the book on such short notice, but even a spotlight post will be greatly appreciated. The link to the signup form is here. Thank you very much for your participation and support!

 Secondly, I now have a Street Team! If you're not familiar with the concept as it relates to supporting authors, it entails a series of "missions" -- everything from "liking" my Facebook page and following me & sharing my work on various social media platforms to receiving items in the mail for distributing to your local libraries and bookstores. All missions are optional, but team members earn points toward special prizes such as free e-books, autographed print books, audiobooks, artwork, exclusive sneak peeks, and special mention in my next book! I invite you to "Kim's All-Stars" by joining the Facebook group, and thanks!

 And now for the new Liberty cover. Deciding between the final set of choices was the toughest creative decision I've had to make in a long time, and I wish to thank everyone who gave me their input via Facebook and Twitter! The winning design is:
"When the legend becomes fact,
print the legend."
The Nook, Kobo, iTunes, and print editions of Liberty will be available as soon as possible, and don't forget to pre-order your Kindle copy today!

 I hope you and your loved ones enjoy a safe and blessed holiday season.


 As always, for more chances to win, you are invited to...
— Follow me on Twitter
— Add me to Google+
— Subscribe to my YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of Liberty. Please enter often, and good luck!
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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Bringing in the Sheaves with The Dawnflier (Nov. 2014)

The Queen Visits Her Brother (c) 2014 by Jennifer Doneske
Writers often talk about creating the book of their heart. Please permit me to introduce you to King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court: the book of my soul.

Today marks a milestone in the seven-year journey to create the sequel to Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court—the e-book edition's release. The watermarked illustration on the left is but the first of many wonderful works of art created by Jennifer Doneske and Tom Doneske. The e-book edition contains fifteen original pieces; the hardcover edition, to be released in another year, will contain more than 100. The audiobook edition is also forthcoming, and I will keep you updated on its progress.

I call King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court (KASIWC) the book of my soul because it forced me to examine and overcome my deepest insecurities as a writer. We are fragile creatures at best, and in my case, the single doubt that I could successfully emulate the father of American literature caused me to halt all my writing projects for three years. I played a lot of electronic mahjong during those three years. I'll not belabor how I overcome this particularly pernicious bout of writer's block, but you may read about it in KASIWC, the section titled "About the Ghost's Writer," if you feel so inclined.

All month I invite you to celebrate with me by visiting the blog tour stops arranged by My Family's Heart, where you'll find spotlights, guest posts, character interviews, reviews, and more.

And don't forget to enter the giveaway to win a KASIWC e-book; the Rafflecopter box is below the tour schedule.

Speaking of giveaways, please join me in congratulating the winners (already notified) of last month's contests: Shaina, Michael (Dawnflight e-book); Kimberley, Laura, Angie, Becca, Lourie, Tori, Amy, Diana, Kimberly, Miranda (Snow in July e-book); Jody, Mary, Brandi, Kai, April, Victoria, Niki, Shadow, Raeline, Laura (Snow in July note card); Jaime, Angie, Erica, Rochelle, Sarah (Snow in July autographed paperback). There are more chances to win this month!

Tour Schedule

a Rafflecopter giveaway



As always, for more chances to win, you are invited to...
— Follow me on Twitter
— Add me to Google+
— Subscribe to my YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of KASIWC. Please enter often, and good luck!
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Monday, November 24, 2014

Plotting and Planning by Suz deMello

Plotting and Planning: a #Writing Manual
Just in Time for #NaNoWriMo! (@suzdemello #MFRWAuthor #iamwriting)

Hey there, aspiring authors! Ever wondered how an author plots and writes a book?

Wonder no more! Suzie deMello is visiting The Maze today to tell you the secrets, or at least a few of them.

Plotting, point of view, character creation, conflict and much more are examined in this brief but pithy writing manual.  A must for the serious writer who wants the basics without boredom.

Excerpt:

How does an author write a book?

Unfortunately for aspiring authors, this is not an easy question to answer. It's tantamount to asking, Where do authors get their ideas? which, believe me, is our least favorite question. I often tell people I get them at Sears—they're sold by the dozen in the basement between the barbecues and the bikes.

In reality, I get my ideas from almost anywhere. Maybe a magazine article about a place or event. Perhaps someone I meet or something a person says may trigger a train of thought that will eventually lead to a book. Maybe travel to someplace new ignites the creative spark that will inspire me.

Here's a better question: What are the building blocks of plot and story?

Buy Planning and Plotting at Amazon.com

 About Suz deMello:

Best-selling, award-winning author Suz deMello, a.k.a. Sue Swift, has written seventeen romance novels in several subgenres, including erotica, comedy, historical, paranormal, mystery and suspense, plus a number of short stories and non-fiction articles on writing. A freelance editor, she’s held the positions of managing editor and senior editor, working for several including Totally Bound and Ai Press. She also takes private clients.

Her books have been favorably reviewed in Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and Booklist, won a contest or two, attained the finals of the RITA, and hit several bestseller lists.

A former trial attorney, her passion is world travel. She’s left the US over a dozen times, including lengthy stints working overseas. She’s now writing a vampire tale and planning her next trip.

Check out Suzie's site: http://www.suzdemello.com
And her blog: http://www.TheVelvetLair.com


This month The Maze is running a giveaway for 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And as always, for more chances to win, I invite you to...
— Follow me on Twitter
— Add me to Google+
— Subscribe to my YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of KASIWC. Please enter often, and good luck!
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Thursday, November 20, 2014

#FallingintoLove with Tova's Dragon by Lyndi Lamont

The most notorious sorceress and seductress of all time, Queen Morgan le Fay, has graciously granted me leave to share her limelight on The Maze today with erotica author Lyndi Lamont and her fun, sexy tale of magic and a man whose shape-shifted form has neither fur nor fangs in Tova's Dragon!

Tova's Dragon by Lyndi Lamont
Amber Quill Press
Genres: Shapeshifter Erotic Romance
Heat Level: 3
Length: Novella (20k words)

Synopsis:

Tova, an earth mage, rejuvenates through sex magic. She's on a mission to save her homeland, but her magical energy is running low--closing in on empty. How is she to know the handsome half-naked man she encounters is not only a condemned man, but also a dragonshifter? Talk about hot and steamy sex. And nothing is simple after that...

Kane has always loved Velosian women and their sex magic. Tova's warmth stirs his passions and her courage touches his heart, but he dreads telling her of his true nature, certain she will recoil. But Tova is made of sterner stuff.

Together, Kane and Tova have the power to save Velosia. If they survive, can an earth mage find happiness with a dragonshifter? In a land where sex and magic are intertwined, anything may be possible.

Excerpt:

Tova awoke to find herself on a soft bed wrapped in the embrace of a very hot, very aroused man. She opened her eyes and looked around the dimly lit chamber. “Where am I?”

“In my cave. You fell and hit your head.”

She squirmed around to stare at the man, and it all came back to her—the climb up the mountain, the lightning storm, being guided to the cave, and falling in the tunnel. “Your cave,” she repeated. “And you are?”

“I am Kane.”

Why did his name sound so familiar? She studied the face just inches from her own. He was older than she, perhaps in his third decade. Long black hair hung down to his shoulders and his eyes were a warm shade of amber under straight black brows. Her gaze dropped to sensual lips above a cleft chin. He was handsome as sin and naked to the waist. A shiver traveled up her spine and her heartbeat increased.

Around his neck he wore a heavy gold chain with a large, luminous pearl dangling from it. When she reached out to touch the pearl, she sensed power radiating from it, from him. “It was you who guided me to the cave, was it not? I thank you.”

“It was my pleasure, daughter of earth.”

She smiled at the apt nickname. “I am called Tova Svensdottir.”

“How are you feeling, Mistress Tova?”

She assessed the situation. Though she was warmer, her head still hurt and her energy was depleted. Self-healing would take a long time in this state. “Weak, a feeling I can ill afford.”

“Where were you headed in such a hurry?” he asked, his voice casual. “What on earth brought you to my mountain?”

She hesitated, not certain whether or not to trust him. Mutti Zee’s instructions echoed in her head. “I seek the Lord of Drakkenberg.”

Kane raised his brows. “You have come to the right place, though the old lord is dead.”

Suddenly, she realized who he was and scooted away from him. ’Twas just her luck to be rescued by the most feared outlaw in the land. “Please do not hurt me, Kane of Drakkenberg.”

With a sigh, he rose from the bed, clad only in his breeches and hose. “I would never hurt you, Lady Tova. I am not the monster legend depicts me. Well, not entirely.”

You've done it now, Lyndi! Queen Morgan is working on a spell to travel into your story to check out Kane for herself. :-D

Buy Tova's Dragon:

Author bio:

Lyndi Lamont is the racy alter ego of author Linda McLaughlin, who writes historical and Regency Romance. Since becoming Lyndi Lamont, she has discovered that writing sexy romance is a license to be naughty, at least between the pages of a book.

Find her online at:
Website/blog: http://lindalyndi.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LyndiLamont
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/LyndiLamont
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+LyndiLamont/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LyndiLamont

Today don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway 
for KASIWC ebooks and artwork!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


For more chances to win, you are invited to...
— Follow me on Twitter
— Add me to Google+
— Subscribe to my YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an ebook copy of KASIWC. Please enter often, and good luck!
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