PUBLISHING ANNOUNCEMENT
Lindsay Detwiler's fun chick-lit romance will be hitting the shelves February 2017. TBR: www.goodreads.com/book/show/32879696 “I guess that’s the thing about high school reunions, though. They make you snap a little.” In the ten years since high school graduation, Maylee’s career, living arrangements, family, and especially her love life are at a standstill. When her twin brother, Mitch, falls for her high school enemy at their ten-year reunion, Maylee’s life is catapulted into chaos. Maylee’s hatred for the redheaded Josephine isn’t the only thing she discovers at her reunion. Benson Drake, the introvert from high school, has matured into a sexy intellect. Now a writer and bartender, Benson’s grown into a man with a perfect balance of quirky wit and sex appeal. After a wardrobe malfunction, a spy mission gone wrong, and a dangerous cup of coffee, Maylee and Benson explore something they never even thought about during senior year. Along the way, they find out that reconnecting with the past can change you… or maybe just help you find your true self.
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You're all in on this novel writing idea. You're going to do it--you're going to write your first book. There's just one problem: What will you write about? Over the past few years of my writing journey, I've chatted with so many people who desperately want to see their name on the cover of a novel, who want to achieve the ultimate goal of writing a book. However, many of these people never accomplish their goal. It's not because they don't want to, they don't have the drive, or they don't have the talent. It's just that "the" idea hasn't struck them. So how do you get around this? Unless you're J.K. Rowling who dreamed up Harry Potter on a train or Stephanie Meyer who had a dream about Edward, most of us can't just wait for inspiration to fall into our lap. We have to find it. I've been fortunate that the idea train keeps on driving through my brain. Right now, I have more ideas for novels than I have time to write. This power for inspiration, however, only unlocked after novel one. Honestly, the more you write and the more confidence you gain, the more you realize that ideas are literally everywhere. As a new writer, though, I know it doesn't feel that way. Below are my five tips for finding inspiration and ideas to get your novel started. 1. Ask yourself what you find intriguing.A novel is a huge investment of time. From writing to editing to marketing, you have to be passionate about your subject matter. Ask yourself what you find intriguing or interesting in the world around you. For me, my first novel Voice of Innocence came to be because I was always fascinated with wrongful conviction. Once you have your topic, try to think of a different angle on your topic. Many books had been written about wrongful conviction, but few focused on the loved one of a wrongfully convicted person. I saw the potential for romance from the idea. Try to think about your topic in a different way, and you just mind find an angle that will work for a new novel. 2. Look to your real life.While many see real life as humdrum or tedious, there is actually a lot of story potential in the world around you. Keep a notebook with you and jot down ideas, events, people, or places you find interesting. Sometimes even a stranger on the street can inspire your thought process if you're paying attention. Our own lives can also jump start ideas. One of my novels came to be when I ran into my husband's best friend from elementary school. Just like that, an idea for a new romance came to me. You must be open and willing to see inspiration in order for it to come. Be receptive, be open-minded, and be looking for it. You never know when it might strike. 3. Look to your favorite authors and books.Let's be clear--I'm not suggesting you plagiarize. If you are going to invest your time in a novel, you want to make sure it is completely your own. However, reading in your genre can serve to inspire you. For me, it's about seeing what "holes" there are in the market. What are the tendencies of the books in your genre? Can you break those tendencies and still be marketable? Who is being left out in your genre? These are questions that can create idea possiblities. 4. Free write frequently.Even now, after publishing five novels, the best inspiration I get is from free writing frequently. Putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboards is the best way to keep the creative juices flowing and the storytelling alive in your own mind. Don't force yourself to write for a purpose. Let your mind wander. Sometimes, just the act of writing will create inspiration for a new story or book. 5. Give an idea time to breathe.Found an idea you think might work?
Excellent. Now take the pressure off and give your idea time to generate itself more fully. The way I know I've found an idea worthy of writing about is that it continues to haunt me weeks, months, even years after I've developed it. If this is your first novel, obviously you don't want to wait years to start writing. However, give your idea some time. If in a few weeks, it still is something you're passionate about, pursue it. If not, giving it time to breathe may help you develop it and make it more complex. Developing an idea you feel confident enough to write a novel about isn't an easy task. For some authors, the idea simply seems to fall from the sky, the heavens, or any other transcendent place. For some of us, though, it takes effort to scavenge for the novel-winning idea. Be patient with yourself, keep your eyes open, and don't be afraid to grasp at straws for a while until you find "the" idea. All I can tell you is that when you do find it, there will be no doubt that you've found "the" idea you're willing to put your heart out there for. Enter to win a Then Comes Love Gift Basket! Just go to my Facebook page and like/share the post to enter! If you tag a friend in the comments, they'll also be entered to win an ebook copy of Then Comes Love!
The gift basket includes:
I'll pick a random winner on November 11th!
The Martian by Andy Weir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars I was hooked on this book from the very beginning. Weir's writing style, a mix of serious drama and suspense along with humor, is captivating. I loved how easily I connected with Watney and his predicament. His position is truly unimaginable, yet Weir manages to make it imaginable. The science and accuracy behind this book is astounding. At times, I was lost because of all of the "space speak." It was a heavy read as far as the intellectual capacity required to comprehend what was happening. Still, Weird managed to show the human, emotional side of the science through Watney's struggles and humorous outlook. I enjoyed the overall format of the book. Although at the end I felt inundated with science and wanted it to move faster, I felt like Weird did a good job at capturing the tale with an attention to detail rarely found in fiction. This book reminds us to have faith in humanity's capabilities and to never give up hope. This is truly an amazing first novel by an author with an amazing career ahead of him. View all my reviews
Author: Lindsay Detwiler
Title: To Say Goodbye
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 24, 2016
99c SALE
Feisty Sophia never shies away from life. Playful, romantic, connected—her marriage was the thing of fairy tales. But when tragedy strikes, Sophia is left to pick up the pieces of her life.
After leaving the army, Jackson is ready to start afresh. But when he returns home, his life spirals out of control. As Sophia and Jackson find themselves in each other, they start to see redemption is possible. Trying to piece together a new life, they must answer the question: Should they forge a life together and say goodbye to their pasts completely, or should they loyally go their separate ways to avoid heartache? Amazon: US I UK I CA I AU iTunes I Nook I Are
A high school English teacher, an author, and a fan of anything pink and/or glittery, Lindsay's the English teacher cliché; she love cats, reading, Shakespeare, and Poe.
She currently lives in her hometown with her husband, Chad (her junior high sweetheart); their cats, Arya, Amelia, Alice, and Bob; and their Mastiff, Henry.
Lindsay's goal with her writing is to show the power of love and the beauty of life while also instilling a true sense of realism in her work. Some reviewers have noted that her books are not the “typical romance.” With her novels coming from a place of honesty, Lindsay examines the difficult questions, looks at the tough emotions, and paints the pictures that are sometimes difficult to look at. She wants her fiction to resonate with readers as realistic, poetic, and powerful. Lindsay wants women readers to be able to say, “I see myself in that novel.” She wants to speak to the modern woman’s experience while also bringing a twist of something new and exciting. Her aim is for readers to say, “That could happen,” or “I feel like the characters are real.” That’s how she knows she's done her job.
Lindsay's hope is that by becoming a published author, she can inspire some of her students and other aspiring writers to pursue their own passions. She wants them to see that any dream can be attained and publishing a novel isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
Rafflecopter Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ea80a6ed189/
8 NORTH AMERICAN AUTHORS 8 FRIENDS-TO-LOVERS TALES Amy K. McClung -Vanessa Morse - Gabbi Grey - S. Hartley Dahlia Donovan - Lindsay Detwiler - Randi Perrin - Gen Ryan
Unintentional: North American Edition
Their eyes had met a thousand times, their smiles always easy and honest. All it takes is that one moment for everything to change. When their eyes are opened, no longer does "just friends" seem good enough.
THE TUES-DATE - Vanessa Morse
Through the years, Adam and Tara have grown to depend on each other and share a love deeper than either is willing to admit. Roommates, best friends, unmistakable soulmates... until one day, one date everything changes.
WHERE SHE BELONGS- Lindsay Detwiler
When Emeline Jackson's life plans crumble, her best friend Brent helps her rediscover herself in their hometown. She didn't come home to find love, but a lot can change in a summer.
JUST WHAT I NEED - Randi Perrin
It started out innocent enough, one friend lending a shoulder for the other to cry on. But when Brad wakes up next to Jules the following morning, it stirs an awakening in him, and he’ll go to great lengths to prove she’s everything he needs.
CARESSA'S HOMECOMING - Gabbi Grey
When Caressa comes home from volunteering as a nurse in Africa, she knows she will reunite with her friend Michael. What she doesn't expect is just how much he missed her and how glad he is that she's finally home.
PATIENCE - S. Hartley
Patience is more than just a song to Madison—it's what her rocker best friend has given her for years. Finally ready to be more than friends, will Cale have any left give?
BENEFITS WITH FRIENDS - Amy K McClung
Zoey makes the ultimate request of her best friend Rex. Though she never imagined the impact it would have on their relationship.
ALWAYS AND FOREVER - Gen Ryan
Hadley and Todd have always been there for each other, especially through their countless dead-end relationships. Will they both finally accept they are destined to be each other's always and forever?
ALL LATHERED UP - Dahlia Donovan
Vi has known her best friend, Geoff, since childhood, though growing up meant being separated by distance and decisions. Neither realizes the impact exchanging postcards will have on their growing feelings. Could it be love?
Rafflecopter Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ea80a6ed187/
Flying. Invisibility. X-Ray vision. These are the superpowers most people wish for. Mine are a little bit less conventional, though. If I could have a superpower, it would be one of the following things:
Growing up, I think the third bullet has been the “superpower” I’ve always felt was within reach… minus the “without ever styling it” part. It feels like that perfect Taylor Swift or Reese Witherspoon or Jennifer Anniston hair is always just within my grasp… but not quite close enough to touch. Since junior high, I’ve gone through so many fads and phases trying to find that perfect hair. I’ve failed quite a few times. Even to this day, getting closer to 30 by the minute, I haven’t found that signature style I love, that perfect, envy-worthy hair. And I still keep trying to find the elusive product or style or hair color to give me a Princess Diaries type of transformation. Through the years, I’ve had more than my share of hair disasters. I’ve had my best intentions and optimism be shattered by horrific experiences. I have quite a few pictures to prove my hair has taken a beating through my hairbrained (haha) scheme to master it. I’m sure I’m not alone. I’m sure we’ve all made some of these horrific mistakes….right? 1. The “Oh, how hard can a bang trim be” DisasterI don’t mind dropping time and money to get a complete overhaul done on my hair. But a simple bang trim? Who wants to make an appointment and drop $20 just for a few snips? Isn’t that what Youtube is for? I’ve had quite a few mishaps over my bangs. A few snips suddenly turns into a few too many snip-snip-snips. Before you know it, you’re sporting the superdork bang look… and they’re crooked, to boot. Tip One: Make sure you use real hair cutting scissors, not your kid-safety shears from your junk drawer. Tip Two: Upward snips make it easier to mask screw ups. Hold your scissors vertically. Tip Three: If you're hesitant, just don’t do it. Seriously. 2. The “At-Home Dye is Fine” DisasterI blame the soap operas for this one. Every time I see those perfect golden locks on those actresses, I have serious hair envy. They seamlessly change from a chocolate brown hair color to a honey color in the span of a day. And suddenly, I find myself critiquing my own chocolate brown locks, feeling like honey-colored would be just perfect. Then there comes the moment of no return—the decision to just do it yourself. After all, those commercials make the at-home kits look so easy. The model on the box is, of course, gorgeous. Surely they wouldn’t put her on the box if it wouldn’t turn out like that, right? Before you know it, the caramel highlights you wanted turn mildew green or the chocolate brown is actually a purpley black. The honey color looks more like vomit-color mixed with streaks of Bozo the Clown Red. Six bucks at CVS might seem like a bargain… until you have to spend $106 to get it fixed. Been there, done that one. 3. The “I’ll Just Spin the Hairstylist Wheel at Random” DisasterI’m antsy, if you can’t tell from the last two. I hate waiting. When I decide I want a change—I want to change it yesterday. So frequently, I find myself not wanting to tediously make the call and schedule an appointment for the next week. Walk-ins Welcome becomes my new favorite phrase. Tried and true? Nope. I pass straight to the random world of walk-in hairstyling. And I tend to walk-out with severe buyer’s remorse. I’ve rocked a 1980’s style poof instead of the smooth, Kelly Clarkson look I was hoping for. I’ve rocked puffy, frizzy curls instead of the Taylor Swift spirals. I’ve cried, wanting to put a bag over my head for the drive home because I don’t want anyone even getting a glimpse of me. Trust what you know…or at least what you’ve heard good feedback from. 4. The “Thinning Shears” DisasterOkay, I feel like I’m probably not going to get too many “I’ve done that” stories on this one. I am embarrassed to say I might be alone here. I got the idea once that my hair was super thick…which it is. But I got the idea it needed thinned out and no hairstylist knew just how to do it right. They never took out enough bulk. So I made a very, very bad decision. I put a pair of thinning shears at Sally Beauty. And then I used them. A few days before student teaching began. Thinning was fun. I kept going. Chop, chop, thin, thin. Wispy pieces flew everywhere. And then I stopped, glancing in the mirror. Tears came. I looked like I was very, very sick. I had thinned my hair so much that I barely had any left. So away went my now long locks. I had to go for an above chin-length cut just to make my hair look even. I cried. I cried some more. But did I throw out the shears? Nope. They’re actually still in my vanity, waiting for another moment of weakness and for time to dull the lesson. 5. The “What Was I Thinking Picture” DisasterIt’s so hard to see your hair objectively. Until you look at a picture. We’ve all been there. We think we’re rocking the hair-do. We think we’ve mastered it. Until we see that photograph. Suddenly, the sophisticated wave we’ve been rocking actually looks like a George Washington style wig. The messy bun we think looks Kardashian sexy actually looks greasy and frightening. The sheak black hair we’ve been wearing for years suddenly reminds us of Morticia. The slicked back pony looks more like a greasy oil slick. Sometimes it takes a picture for us to do the facepalm and ask “What the hell was I thinking?” Unfortunately for many of us, the picture reveals the truth… a truth we haven’t faced for years or even decades. Pictures are worth a thousand words…and sometimes a thousand new hair products. We’ve all had our hair disasters, right? We’ve all been chasing the elusive hairstyle that will transform us, that will give us the ah-ha moment we’ve been waiting for. For some of us, it’s a long road of don’ts to get to the one do. To celebrate the release of my fifth novel, To Say Goodbye, I’m giving you the chance to win some hair goodies to help you master your perfect do. Sophia, the protagonist in this contemporary romance, is a hair stylist. To enter, you just have to comment below! Tell me your worst hair disaster and be entered to win an e-copy of To Say Goodbye (now available for pre-order) as well as the hair goodie box from Ulta! *US residents only. Ulta not affiliated with this contest. ****CONGRATULATIONS TO KRISTIN, YOU ARE THE WINNER! EMAIL ME TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE Be sure to follow me on Facebook to stay up-to-date with my new releases and contests! Preorder To Say Goodbye for only 99 cents! This contemporary romance, my fifth novel, releases September 24th. Get your hands on a copy today, though, at 75% off!
Feisty Sophia never shies away from life. Playful, romantic, connected—her marriage was the thing of fairy tales. But when tragedy strikes, Sophia is left to pick up the pieces of her life. After leaving the army, Jackson is ready to start afresh. But when he returns home, his life spirals out of control.As Sophia and Jackson find themselves in each other, they start to see redemption is possible. Trying to piece together a new life, they must answer the question: Should they forge a life together and say goodbye to their pasts completely, or should they loyally go their separate ways to avoid heartache? VISIT MY FACEBOOK PAGE AND ENTER TO WIN A $5 AMAZON GIFT CARD IF YOU PREORDER! JUST SEE THE PINNED POST :) The cover is here for To Say Goodbye! It's releasing September 24th with Hot Tree Publishing. Add it to your Goodreads list today.
Feisty Sophia never shies away from life. Playful, romantic, connected—her marriage was the thing of fairy tales. But when tragedy strikes, Sophia is left to pick up the pieces of her life. After leaving the army, Jackson is ready to start afresh. But when he returns home, his life spirals out of control.As Sophia and Jackson find themselves in each other, they start to see redemption is possible. Trying to piece together a new life, they must answer the question: Should they forge a life together and say goodbye to their pasts completely, or should they loyally go their separate ways to avoid heartache?
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars "Life is a funny thing. We only get so many years to live it, so we have to do everything we can to make sure those years are as full as they can be." It Ends With Us is the first book by Colleen Hoover I've read...and it won't be the last. She is truly an amazing storyteller, weaving masterful webs of emotions from words on a page. This book made me feel every single emotion known to humanity--I felt sorrow, love, anxiety, fear, anger, and happiness in the span of the pages. I really can't tell you a lot about the plot without spoiling it. There are so many twists and turns in this book, which kept me flipping the pages. I love the main character, Lily. I really felt connected to her and loved the fact she wasn't a perfect character. She made flawed choices, which made me frustrated sometimes. But it also made me see her as a real human being. None of us are perfect, especially when it comes to love. I loved details in Hoover's writing. She did an amazing job at tying everything together and creating some really beautiful symbols throughout the book. This book is in some ways a love story, but it's also about so much more. It's about finding what you want in life, about moving on, and about figuring out the right answers in this crazy thing called life. Most of all, it's about making decisions that will affect you for life. I loved the depth of this book, the beauty, and the raw emotion it stirred. Hoover did a beautiful job at portraying a side of major issues that few get a chance to understand. View all my reviews |
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