Authors for Oklahoma ~ Book Bundles #1-3

Authors For Oklahoma started up in the wake of the Moore tornado in the spring that was so devastating in the area. We decided to put together a book raffle, with proceeds heading to the American Red Cross, which continues its work in the area. Authors have donated books and ebooks for the cause, and today in advance of that, we’re going to show you the first three book sets, with details on each book. The sets are bundled with five or six books, some titles turning up several times, as some of our authors donated several copies.

Book Set #1

Norma Beishir, Angels At Midnight

Suspense-thriller, ebook

Ashley Hollister’s fairy-tale world fell apart when she lost custody of her only child. Collin Deverell’s vast inheritance was all but destroyed by his devious twin brother. Together, Ashley and Collin vowed to reclaim what was rightfully theirs.

Mary Yungeberg, Consummate Betrayal

Thriller, paperback

FBI Special Agent Rowan Milani doesn’t expect his life to be turned upside down when he arrives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for an Anti-Terrorism Task Force operation. But the clandestine side of his life catches up with him as he circumvents the target on his back one too many times.

Rosanne Dingli, According To Luke

Thriller, ebook

Shattered by the breakdown of yet another romance, Jana Hayes becomes a recluse in her tiny Venice apartment and buries herself in her work as an expert art conservator, until an ancient religious icon brings Roman Catholic priest Rob Anderson into her life. The secret they discover hidden in the mysterious artifact is not only devastating, but deadly.

Jamie Eubanks, Hidden Doors, Secret Rooms

Mystery- thriller, ebook

A ground-breaking and unsanctioned surgical procedure results in a cure for a dying woman’s Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The surgery, however, is not without its negative ramifications for Jillian Braedon. On the run with her young daughter, Jillian finds herself stranded in a blizzard and at the mercy of retired musician, John Mills. John finds himself caught up in her torment and the danger arising from the pursuing covert agents, who will do anything to keep the surgery a secret, and to see the woman and her child dead.

Nancy Thompson, The Mistaken

Thriller, ebook

Tyler Karras is an honest man, a transplanted Brit living the American dream, but his charmed life takes an unexpected turn when his brother, Nick, is coerced into joining ranks with San Francisco’s Russian mafia. Ty intervenes to secure Nick’s freedom, yet only succeeds in incurring their wrath.

Barry Parham, Blush: Politics and Other Unnatural Acts

Comedy, ebook

Online humorist Barry Parham is back with another acute collection of satire, targeting politics and other, less evil things. And when Barry’s in the beltway, no party or platform is safe.

Book Set #2

Rosanne Dingli, Camera Obscura

Thriller, ebook

Photojournalist Bart Zacharin’s camera doesn’t lie … but his mysterious new lover Minnie Cuff lies for a living. Love-struck Bart can’t get that into focus until he follows her from Australia on her flimsily excused trip to Europe and becomes embroiled in an obscure web of international organised crime, deception and death.

Tabatha McGowen, The Tied Man

Erotica- contemporary fiction, ebook

Lilith Bresson, an independent, successful young artist, is forced to travel from her home in Spain to the wild borderlands of northern England, to repay her feckless father’s latest debt by painting a portrait of the enigmatic Lady Blaine Albermarle. On her first night at Albermarle Hall she meets Finn Strachan, Blaine’s ‘companion’, a cultured and hauntingly beautiful young man who seems to have it all. But Lilith has an artist’s eye, and a gift for seeing what lies beneath the skin.  She soon discovers that Blaine is more gaoler than lover, and if the price is right, depravity has no limits. In a dark, modern twist to an age-old story, Lilith Bresson proves that sometimes it’s the princess who needs to become the rescuer. Please note that this storyline contains depictions of drug abuse, violence and non-consensual sex.

Jamie Eubanks, Hidden Doors, Secret Rooms

Mystery- thriller, ebook

A ground-breaking and unsanctioned surgical procedure results in a cure for a dying woman’s Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The surgery, however, is not without its negative ramifications for Jillian Braedon. On the run with her young daughter, Jillian finds herself stranded in a blizzard and at the mercy of retired musician, John Mills. John finds himself caught up in her torment and the danger arising from the pursuing covert agents, who will do anything to keep the surgery a secret, and to see the woman and her child dead.

Mary Yungeberg, Consummate Betrayal

Thriller, paperback

FBI Special Agent Rowan Milani doesn’t expect his life to be turned upside down when he arrives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for an Anti-Terrorism Task Force operation. But the clandestine side of his life catches up with him as he circumvents the target on his back one too many times.

Lucy Pireel, Red Gone Bad

Short stories- adult fairy tales, ebook

Once upon a time … Little Red Riding Hood took matters in her own hands And the miller’s daughter struck a flawed deal with Rumpelstiltsken In these–and two more–twisted fairy tales there are no happy endings and you’ll find out those heroines are not what you might expect from them. Parents, read them but let the children keep their dreams.

Lucy Pireel, Bound

Erotica, ebook

A young, successful woman finds herself attracted to a man who is known for his promiscuity. She has no idea he wishes to play with her the way she wants him to. While working together, they become closer. When she dares to reveal her wishes, he only only asks her if she’s ready to say ‘please’. After she does, the games begin. But where will they end?

Book Set #3

DeAnna Felthauser, A Million Wishes

Romance, ebook

Mikayla Johnson… Growing up in a poor, abusive household after her father is killed in a car wreck; Mikayla had very few things in life that gave her joy. Her writing, the old oak tree, her big brother Callum and her childhood crush Noah. Could he help her heal from her past and give her the family she has always wanted? Noah Cane… Noah is a Navy seal war hero coming home to the Georgia peach plantation he was raised on to recover from losing his leg in war. His heart was stolen by Mikayla the moment they met under a peach tree where she was stealing peaches off his parent’s property. Can she help him heal from his injuries and give him something worth fighting for?

DeAnna Felthauser, Reflecting On Wishes

Romance, ebook

Six years ago, Dakota was adopted by Noah and Mikayla Cane. Even with a close-knit, loving family, nothing prepared him for falling head-over-heels in love with Angel Vega. When a game of cat and mouse begins between the pair, Dakota is persistent in what he wants. It may take him months to win her over, but he knows she is worth the effort. Deemed the Latina Goddess of the race track, Angel is a Pro-Stock Motorcycle racer that has been burned by love more than once. Letting down her walls and believing in a man again, was the last thing on her mind. Just as Angel finds herself falling for the ruggedly handsome Dakota, tragedy strikes and shatters her racing dreams. Devastated, Angel retreats into a world of doubt, fear and broken dreams. Will Dakota do as she wants and walk away, or will he be the strength she needs and fight for the girl that owns his heart?

Charlotte Kent, A Clue For Adrianna

Romance, ebook

The first novel in the women’s fiction series Captain’s Point Stories, A Clue for Adrianna, written by multi-published, internationally known From Women’s Pens authors Annie Acorn and Juliette Hill under the pseudonym Charlotte Kent, offers the reader romance, mystery, humor, and adventure in a story of love and personal growth. Forced to return to her ancestral home in Captain’s Point, a small town on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Adrianna Montgomery receives a shock and a challenge when the terms of her great-aunt’s will are read. Faced with a haughty attorney, a crumbling old house and a clue, she must draw upon the resources found in those around her as well as her own inner strengths in order to solve the riddle and secure her inheritance. Little understanding the adventure and danger she will encounter along the journey ahead, she accepts the challenge and ultimately learns who she is destined to be and discovers the meaning of true love. Don’t miss this chance to fall in love again!

Tarah Scott, My Highland Love

Historical fiction- romance, ebook

How does a woman tell her betrothed that she murdered her first husband? Shipwrecked in the Scottish Highlands, American heiress Elise Kingston quietly plans revenge for the deaths of her daughter and the brother who sacrificed his life to save her. When Marcus MacGregor, Marquess of Ashlund, returns to his Highland home to discover a stunning American woman has been taken in by his clan, his attraction is instant and he resolves to make her his–no matter what secret she’s keeping. Elise is shocked by her need for Marcus and, too late, discovers that her feelings make him a target of her enemy–a man powerful enough to destroy even a Scottish nobleman.

Tarah Scott, My Highland Lord

Historical fiction-romance, ebook

London Heiress kidnapped by the Marquess of Ashlund, reads the headlines. Yet no one tried to save her. Phoebe Wallington was seven years old when a mass assassination attempt rocked Regency England. Her father was the only accused traitor to elude capture. Now as a grown woman and a British spy, she is no closer to learning what really happened that day. Phoebe’s quest for the truth takes a sudden turn when she’s kidnapped by a suspected traitor. But Kiernan MacGregor, the Marquess of Ashlund, may not live long enough to stand trial. Someone wants him dead. And Phoebe stands in the killer’s way.

Our Crowdrise Link, for Authors For Oklahoma:

http://www.crowdrise.com/AuthorsforOklahoma

This is a giveaway for 10 dollar donations to The American Red Cross, for Moore Oklahoma.

This will run through to July 22nd. One can make as many donations as they wish since your names will be drawn at the end. We also ask that you let us know what bundle or bundles you are interested in along with your email address. Also, please make your donation in the
Crossrise link before the comment boxes. This lets us know immediately that you’ve made your donation.

A Celtic Tapestry: Mist And Magic

Hunter S. Jones has been busy as of late, collaborating with seven fellow writers on A Celtic Tapestry, an anthology of short stories. Moon Rose Publishing will be releasing the book on the 21st of March, and you can find details on the release through her blog http://www.thehuntersjones.blogspot.ca/.

Here’s a taste of what you’ll find it’s about:

The wheel of the year turns, bringing the joy of spring, the warmth of summer, the richness of autumn, and the merriment of winter. But eight Celtic festivals link these seasons together, bringing with them romance, lust, danger, and even magic. From a city under threat from night-time creatures at Ostara, to a selkie caught by the light of the Lughnasadh moon, to a writer caught in the flames of a fiery goddess at Imbolc.
Eight authors have come together to give their own twist on these festivals, weaving each story with a blend of myth, magic, and contemporary telling…to create A Celtic Tapestry

Authors:
                                                             Livia Ellis
                                                         Hunter S Jones
                                                         Laura De Luca
                                                         Elodie Parkes
                                                          Elle J Rossi
                                                        Miranda Stork
                                                        Carolyn Wolfe
                                                   Tara Stogner Wood

Guest Interview: Joann H. Buchanan

Today I’d like to welcome my special guest, Joann H. Buchanan, a member of WMD on Facebook. She has come here today to tell us a little bit about herself, her life in radio, and her writing.

1. What or who inspires you to write?

I just love stories and the way they take me away to another time and place. I love reading as much as writing and vice versa. I think what inspires me the most are those simple moments in life. My family is the most inspiring thing in my life. They are always full of energy and imagination. They are the center of my world.

2. You have a large family. How do you find the time to write with all that you have to do for them?

I write every night from 10 pm to 1 am no matter what. It doesn’t mean I keep everything I write, but that’s how I’m able to make sure my family is taken care of and how I’m able to get my writing done.

3. What genre do you write in?

I write in several genre’s. Science fiction, fantasy and horror are the ones I tend to lean towards. I love the thought of a great adventure with a little chill up the spine…lol.

4. You’re the host of a radio show. Can you tell us more about it?

It’s called The Eclectic Artist Cave. It airs Monday through Friday on The Shark Radio Network at 11 AM EST.

http://sharkradionetwork.com/

Every other Tuesday the show is all about writing tips. Jack Remick is my co-host on that day. He is one of the authors of http://www.bobandjackswritingblog.com. It is a place chalk full of some of the best writing tips you will find. The cool thing is that he comes on the show and shares them with my listeners and on those days we do live workshops.

On the opposite Tuesdays, one of the best reviewers in the business joins me for cool reviews and we talk about some of the coolest things coming out. His name is Bennet Pomerantz and it has been a fun getting to know him. He is also a writer and has a cool story coming out. I have more information to come about that. It will be posted on http://www.theeclecticartistcave.com.

On Wednesdays, I have what I call Writer Wed. Every week I choose a theme and writers can send in flash fiction to be read live on the show. I also post those to my blog for the show. It’s a lot of fun and allows writers to really showcase their talent.

Monday, Thursday and Fridays are reserved for guests. I play a half hour of some of today’s hottest music and then bring on my guests and we talk about their work and what it means to be a writer. We try to cover marketing tips and writing tips as well.

5. What kind of guest do you typically have on your show?

I generally have writers on, but I’m open to other creative endeavors. To me, the art of life is all around us and expressed in many ways.

6. What made you get started in the radio program? How long as the show been on the air?

A couple years ago, I had a friend who was being published and I wanted to figure out a way to promote him. I went to blog talk radio and found out I loved doing my show. The show aired for a half hour on Saturday at 10 am cst for a half an hour. On my ninth show, I had Brian Byers on the show to talk about marketing. When the interview was finished, he invited me to be on Fate Radio. About a year ago, Fate was absorbed into Shark Radio. Now I average between 5 to 10 thousand listeners a day. The show has been on the air for about 2 years. I’m so honored to have had the opportunity to learn from so many cool people.

6. When does your radio show run, and how can our readers find the show?

Information about the show can be found on http://www.theeclecticartistcave.com and you can hear it everyday Monday through Friday on The Shark Radio Network.

7. What kind of support system do you have?

I have a wonderful support system both at home with my fiance John Buchanan and with Audrey Hamilton from For You PR. Also my friends from The Shark Radio like Daniel Bautz and Jim Malliard are always willing to tell me whether or not something works.

8. Can you tell us about what writing project you’re working on right now?

I AM WOLF, book 1 of The Children of Nox is slated to be released on January 15th. So I have been working on giveaways on things that are related to the story itself. It has been a lot of fun meeting new people. Also I’m working on Book 2 of The Children of Nox called The Kiss. All I can say about this one is, can a kiss trap a soul? I can’t wait for the release of this series. 😀

9. What do you have planned for the future?

In the future, I have plans to simulcast the radio show on another station and hopefully a few more. 🙂 Also I have a 9 book series I really love writing called Night Walkers. I can’t tell you what it’s about yet…but soon I hope. Also I have Chaos and the Beltane which is a modern day horror/fantasy novel…more to come about that as well. Finally I have a book called Heartbeat. It’s the first real romance I’ve written and can’t wait to see what happens next. 😀

The other thing I’m hoping to announce will be that the options are sold for I Am Wolf, Book 1 Children of Nox.

9. Do you have a blog/website where our readers can find out more about what you’re doing?

http://www.theeclecticartistcave.com has all my information about everything I’m into. I also have an author’s page, http://joannhbuchanan.blogspot.com/ and last but not least, www.nightmaresandheartbeats.com.

I’m supposed to ask you a silly question…I know…just go with it!! LOL

10. Have you ever thrown your panties/underwear at a rock star or celebrity?

No I haven’t….lmao. I have thought about it though…he he he

If so, which one(s)? If not, which one(s) would you throw your panties/underwear at, given the opportunity?

It would have to be 30 Seconds to Mars or Marianas Trench, Fighting for Ithaca.

Thank you Joann, for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer these questions. Everyone has been eager to find out all about you and your radio show. I know I was.

Thank you Beth for this opportunity. You have been such a cool inspiration to so many people. Huge hugs and Merry Christmas. 😀

Merry Christmas to you, Joann!

An Interview With New Author, Missy Davis

I recently completed my first interview with Lisa Olsen, author of The Touch and Pretty Witches All In A Row, and got some amazing answers to my questions. This time out, I’ve interviewed Missy Davis, a new author who hasn’t yet published any of her works, but will be soon.

She recently participated in NaNoWriMo and successfully completed a novel in the month of November. She is currently in the middle of edits.

Please join me in welcoming Missy Davis.

You’re a new author, just starting out. What inspires you to write?

That’s a tricky question, actually, because it has two parts to it. The first part is why did I want to be a writer.  I was an avid reader from the moment I could read my first words.  I read everything I could get my hands on.  In third grade I remember getting a notebook as a prize from a teacher and I started writing poetry where every line had to rhyme. Something like “The little kitten lay, fast asleep in the hay.”  The other reason I started writing was that it was an escape from life.  Reading and writing got me through some very difficult times growing up.  There is nothing like getting lost in another world to avoid the one you live in.  In many ways I want to provide that outlet for others.

As far as what inspires me to write my stories, it’s different all the time.  Sometimes it’s a certain feeling I get that there is something inside just itching to come out.  A lot of ideas pop in my head right as I am working on another project.  In the past, these ideas have distracted me from finishing whatever writing I was working on at the time.  Now I just write down the general idea and promise to come back to it when I can devote adequate time to it. Here lately, it’s the inspiration of fellow writers that gets me moving.  Seeing that others believe in you and have walked the path before you really helps when you are just starting out.  Having people who appreciate what I write and give me feedback has been so helpful since I’ve been terrified to share my work with others.  You know how it is, we’re always our worst critic and we sometimes expect others to treat our work as critically as we treat it.

I’ve really enjoyed writing flash fictions to get the ideas flowing too.  Participating in Writer Wednesday with Joann H. Buchanon has inspired me with new ideas every week.  http://theeclecticartistcave.blogspot.com/ I find that challenging myself to write things I would not normally write has actually given me more ideas for stories to pursue in the future.

You have a young family. How do you juggle writing while doing all the home life things you need to get done, too?

Actually so far it has been easier than I thought it would be. My daughter is about 15 months old right now and she is extremely active, so it has been a challenge.  I take advantage of naptime.  She gets a good two hours of sleep in the afternoon which is a good chunk of time.  I sometimes put cleaning on the back burner and make meals that last a couple of nights so I have more time to focus on other things.  My husband has been very helpful too, especially during NaNoWriMo. I have left the house with the laptop or camped out in the bedroom away from family life for a few hours at a time. Weekends have become my friend as I let daddy take over caring for baby.  It gives me time to work on things or take a break while he gets to bond with our daughter.  The biggest chunk of time that I have is when my child goes to bed for the night.  When everyone else is asleep I finally get the quiet time that I need to focus on writing.  My house may not be as picture perfect as the in-laws, never clean enough to pass the white glove test, but it’s enough for us to function and certainly a lot cleaner than it was when we were both working desk jobs.  Sometimes we sacrifice for our craft.  That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

What genre do you write in?

I actually have so many ideas that I am not sure where I fit anymore.  I have ideas for children’s books, romance novels, and fantasy novels.  I just have so many ideas that it could take me in different directions and I really feel like I cannot limit myself to one.  The two that I have worked on recently have been fantasy novels.  One is a fantasy novel in which I had to construct the whole world from scratch.  This book has been a challenge to write.  It was so difficult to create a world that I expect others to believe in.  It’s taking me a while to get through revisions because my writing has changed so much since I first started it.  The other one is a contemporary romantic fantasy with a little paranormal in the fact that I am writing about the Shadow people.  I wrote this story for the NaNoWriMo challenge and fell in love with it from the start.  It’s so much easier to write a story when you do not have to create the whole world it belongs in.

Do you work outside of the home? If so, what kind of work do you do and do you incorporate your work life into your writing?

I used to work outside the home before I had my child.  I’ve taught middle school and elementary school, so I think in the future when I write children’s novels, I will pull greatly from that experience.  I will be kind to the teachers when I write my books, because we often read about the evil, nasty teachers and never hear about the ones that put their heart and soul into the classroom.  I also worked a desk job, so I guess it is easy to say that I could incorporate the daily frustrations of dealing with people and working in a small cubicle that sucks the life out of you.  Currently I am a stay at home mom, and am thoroughly enjoying raising my daughter. It allows me to watch her grow and encourages me to be the best role model I can be for her.  Someday I know she will be proud of me for pursuing my own dreams. I hope to encourage her to do the same.

You’ve just completed NaNoWriMo, completing a full length novel in one month. Did you already have the idea ahead of time? Would you do another one NaNoWriMo?

I actually started this novel a few years ago.  It was a spur of the moment idea and I had only written about 3 pages.  I pulled it up a few weeks before the challenge began and was surprised to see I had started it in first person.  The challenge for me was to continue along this route.  I have always written in third person, because it is easier to distance yourself from the characters.  I learned that it can be easy to put more of yourself into it if you try writing from a more personalized perspective.  I intend to go back to Terrahtu and try to instill a deeper honesty like my Nano.

I would like to devote more than November to writing a novel in a month.  It was a great experience for me.  It provided me with the evidence that I needed.  Can I write a book in a short period of time?  Yes.  Would I like what I wrote?  Absolutely. Would I have as many problems as I did with the first book, seeing as how it took me almost ten years to complete? No.  Actually I feel like I had less problems because I was not able to over think the writing process.  I’m excited to go back and edit this Nano.  It was a lot of fun to write.  I will definitely do this again next year, but this time I will come up with an idea and not start it before November 1.

What kind of support system do you have?

I have my wonderful husband and some really awesome friends that encourage me to keep going everyday.  My husband likes to say that I am the next JK Rowling, and while I giggle every time he says it, I think it is incredibly sweet.  He knows that my goal for writing is not to make an absurd amount of money. It’s simply to be read and appreciated.  He wants me to follow my dreams and every day he works to support our family so that I can stay home with our daughter and work on my writing.  My closest friends celebrate every landmark I reach with me.  Having a writing community like WMD also has been a godsend.  I was accepted within the folds quickly and treated as if I had always been one of them from the start.  It’s amazing to share my work with them and not worry that they will do anything but appreciate the work of a former writer.  I don’t cringe and wait for the criticism, because they are authors too, and know that while writing is a certain percentage art, the majority of it all is defined by heart.

When did you start writing creatively? What were some of the early writings that you did? Would you ever use any of them now?

I think I sort of answered this on a previous question.  I have been writing for a very long time. I have never written professionally before though.  When I was a child, I loved reading and escaping into other worlds.  My favorite books when I was a child were written by C.S. Lewis, Judy Blume, and Jean Craighead George.  I very much wanted to live on my own and survive in the forest. When I was in third grade I wrote a fanfiction story for Highlights Magazine, but it was never published. The title was Superfudge Junior, and you can probably guess it was all about Farley Drexel Junior and how he was very much like his father as a child.  I did not understand copyright infringement at the time, which is why I think they never responded to my inquiry.   From there I continued to write more poetry.  I remember when my mom attended a parent teacher conference for 8th grade.  My English teacher told her how impressed she was with my writing and told her that I wrote like a 20 year old.  It was the best compliment I had ever received at the time, and it made me want to do even better.

When I entered high school I started writing short stories, mostly for school assignments.  By the time I was a junior in high school, my English teacher encouraged me to enter for a chance to attend the Illinois Summer School for the Arts.  At that point in time I had already been writing longer short stories, one of them being a ghost story, which I entered as an example of my writing.  I won a scholarship to attend the two week summer camp, and had the time of my life. I decided from then on that I wanted to be a writer.  The funny thing is that I had such a logical head on my shoulders and decided since writing was not a guarantee that I had to have a profession to fall back on.   So I attended Illinois State University and got a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education.  I became a teacher, who put everything I had into my work and had very little left over to work on the book that I had started when I was in college.  When I was finally able to quit teaching, my writing became my focus again.

What else would you be doing if you couldn’t write, and why?

Well, I’ve already done it.  I was a teacher.  I loved teaching, but the dealing with administration and bureaucratic imbeciles that had never spent a day in the classroom literally sucked the soul right out of my body.  I would probably find a desk job if I could no longer write.  Or just stay home and raise my children and let my husband take care of us.  One day he says I will keep him in the manner to which he should be accustomed.  Ha ha ha!  Dare to dream I tell him.

Have you got ideas for more books that are just itching to get written?

Absolutely.  I have two children’s book ideas, a romance novel, and another fantasy romance novel. Then there is the sequel to Terrahtu, which is several chapters from the original version of the book.  I had way too many characters and ideas going on in the very first version, so I split it into two books.  I just have to go back and start on the other one.

Who inspires you to write?

I think it is fair to say that the people I know and love inspire me every day to write, but every part of my past is a stepping stone to another story.  It is true that writers suffer great melancholy, and I have had my fair share which I think allows me to put more emotion into my writing.  I also think that everything I have gone through in this lifetime has inspired me to be who I am.  I waited most of my life to get to the point where I believe in me and while having others like what I do is nice, I have to be the one to inspire and motivate myself to continue.  There was nothing like finishing the first book, being proud of myself, and knowing that I could repeat the process anytime I wanted.

I’m supposed to ask you a silly question…There was an underwear challenge going around awhile back…here is one of the questions: How many bloggers does it take to put panties on a goat?

Well I think it takes at least six, maybe seven.  One to distract the goat with food, while two others pick up the back feet.  One more padded like a hockey goalie, who struggles to put on the underwear without being kicked.  Two giggling on the side hysterically while they take photos for Beth’s funny picture blog and one more viciously texting ideas for their next sci-fi blog titled “Attack of the Killer Goats” in which evil underwear wearing goats come after the WMD writers for even thinking they could put underwear on a goat without retribution.

Thank you, Missy for the great interview. It was wonderful getting to know you.  Her blogs are at www.daenira.wordpress.com and www.iwroteabooknowwhat.wordpress.com

>Judging a Book by its Cover

>It’s a cliche, sure. But it’s a truth of this business: a good–or bad–cover is the first impression a book makes on a potential reader.  While nothing can save a poorly-written book,  a good cover can help a good book find its audience.


Back in December, CBS Sunday Morning ran a segment on the evolution of book covers and their importance. Editors were interviewed, giving their opinions. Cover artists explained the hows and whys of cover design. 

I’ve been open about my feelings with regard to the covers of my own books. On the plus side, they were certainly eye-catching: bold colors and lettering. On the negative? With the exception of Angels at Midnight, they didn’t tell the potential buyer much about the novel. But this was the eighties–greed is good and all that. The glitz and glamour wouldn’t play well today, which is why we’re changing the covers (and in some cases, the titles) for the e-book editions.  Here are the covers for A Time for Legends, which will be e-published under its original title, The Unicorn’s Daughter–about a photojournalist searching for her spy father in Libya at the time of the US air strike in 1986:

I’ve never read any of the books in the Twilight series. I’m just not into teen angst, with or without vampires and werewolves. But the covers certainly did catch my eye in Borders. They made me pick up the books and check them out:

When Collin designed the cover for Chasing the Wind, I wanted a representation of the two opposing forces of the story: faith and science. He used a parchment background and Papyrus font to represent the ancient text discovered on the archaeological dig. Science? The DNA strand that runs down the center of the cover.

Mike Saxton’s 7 Scorpions: Rebellion is an example of cover art that’s eye-catching and speaks volumes about the story:

One of Collin’s best designs is for William Kendall’s upcoming Heaven & Hell–simple but elegant, it would stand out anywhere:

A favorite of mine is the cover Collin designed for his own upcoming novel, ELE (Extinction Level Event): 

And he’s done five covers for Beth Muscat. Here are two of them:

It’s been suggested that with the growing popularity of e-books, cover designs would lose their importance. I disagree. I see cover art  as being as important as ever, certainly as a tool for promoting one’s books online, whether it’s on the books’ product pages, blogs, author websites, or elsewhere on the Internet. They remain useful on press releases and ARCs (advance reading copies). And of course, for the paperback editions for those die-hards who still want a printed book….


SPECIAL THANK YOU to Erin Lausten for her very generous blog today. My ego has now swelled to ten times its normal size and is making like Godzilla trampling Tokoyo!