Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Featured Author: Reba White Williams

The Story Plant brings Reba White Williams here on her tour for Fatal Impressions, the second book in her Coleman and Dinah Greene mystery series. Check out Reba's tour page to find out about her other stops in the tour and to read an excerpt from the book.

About the book

Coleman and Dinah Greene are making names for themselves in the art world. Coleman's magazine publishing empire is growing and Dinah`s print gallery is gaining traction. In fact, Dinah has just won the contract to select, buy, and hang art in the New York office of the management consultants Davidson, Douglas, Danbury & Weeks – a major coup that will generate The Greene Gallery's first big profits. However, when Dinah goes to DDD&W to begin work, she discovers a corporate culture unlike anything she`s ever encountered before. There are suggestions of improprieties everywhere, including missing art worth a fortune. And when two DDD&W staff members are discovered murdered, Dinah and Coleman find themselves swept into the heart of another mystery. Revealing the murderer will be no easy task...but first Dinah needs to clear her own name from the suspect list.

Interview with Reba White Williams


Reba, how long have you been writing, and how did you start?

I started telling myself mystery stories when I was a toddler. When I learned how to read and write, I began to put them on paper. By junior high school, I was writing a little column for the local newspaper. I got a medal for writing my senior year in high school, and took my first writing class in college.

What’s the story behind the title Fatal Impressions?

An “impression” is what we call one of a batch of prints. If an artist makes prints, he might make five impressions, or ten, or 100. The most important art in Fatal Impressions are the Stubbs, but the prints Dinah hangs are all impressions. People die by “impressions,” in a different sense of the word. They make wrong judgments about other people—-false impressions. The story is the summary of all these impressions encountered in the book.

How did you create the plot for this book?

When Dinah competes for the contract with a corporation, she enters a new world. The plot grows out of the corruption of that corporation.

How do you get to know your characters?

I got to know my characters, Coleman and Dinah, by writing about them as children in Angels.

What’s your favorite line from a book?

From Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice: “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”

Which character did you most enjoy writing?

Simon in Restrike—-he was such a creep—-and Moose in Fatal Impressions. He was my “Wolf of Wall Street”—-over the top.

What would Coleman, your main character, say about you?

She wouldn’t think I’m nearly as daring as I should be. (Coleman is more reckless than I am.)

Are any of your characters inspired by real people?

The girls’ aunt and grandmother in Angels were like my grandmother and aunt in some ways. Dinah’s a lot like girls I knew in high school and college.

Is your book based on real events?

There are always real events in every book. For example, in Fatal Impressions, there are rather shocking, pretty horrific events that the Dinah finds herself seeing in the corporation—-those are taken from real life.

Are you like any of your characters?

I’d like to think I’m a loyal friend like Coleman. I think I’m as hardworking and determined as she is.

One of your characters has just found out you’re about to kill him off. He/she decides to beat you to the punch. How would he kill you?

I hope she would do it with drugs that put me to sleep.

If you could be one of your characters, which one would you choose?


I’d like to be a different character in each of my books. In Fatal Impressions, I’d have enjoyed being Loretta Byrd-—she was a good detective. If I was a married character in one of my books, it would be Bethany, not Dinah.

With which of your characters would you most like to be stuck in a bookstore?

Dinah and Coleman are both readers, but Coleman prefers to read in the bathtub, so I choose Dinah.

With what five real people would you most like to be stuck in a bookstore?

Sue Grafton, Dan Henninger, Dave Williams, Jane Austen, and Agatha Christie.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

My favorite scene in Fatal Impressions is when Moose first appears and introduces himself. Again, he’s my “Wolf of Wall Street,” a caricature of an investment banker.

What song would you pick to go with your book?

“Someone’s in the Kitchen with Dinah” and “Doing it my Way” for Coleman.

You get to decide who would read your audiobook. Who would you choose?

At one time I’d have said Joanne Woodward. I’d want someone with a good Southern accent.

Do you have a routine for writing?

No, I write whenever and wherever I can.

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

Early a.m. in Connecticut or Palm Springs.

Where’s home for you?

Connecticut, New York City, Palm Springs, and London.

If you could only keep one book, what would it be?

Pride & Prejudice.

You’re leaving your country for a year. What’s the last meal (or food) you would want to have before leaving?


Pasta with pesto or pasta primavera.

Would you rather work in a library or a bookstore?

Library.

Where is your favorite library, and what do you love about it?

My favorite library is the Center for Fiction, known when I first encountered it as the Mercantile Library. Why? Open stacks, great card catalogue, and can check out all the books you can carry for a small fee.

You’re given the day off, and you can do anything but write. What would you do?

Read, go to a film, go someplace nice for lunch.

What would your dream office look like?

Small, cozy, no distractions.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?

“If you can keep your head when all about you/Are losing theirs and blaming it on you...” by Rudyard Kipling from "If."

What’s your favorite candy bar? And don’t tell me you don’t have one!

Snickers.

What three books have you read recently and would recommend?

•    Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen—a marvelous book. It’s a great story, and I learned a lot about photography, seeing photographs through Rebecca’s eyes.
•    A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy—a truly delightful book, heartwarming, charming, cozy. I enjoyed every minute of it.
•    The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd—a fascinating book that is beautifully written, with fascinating female protagonists, both white and black.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?


Read, travel, garden, visit gardens.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?


As I live now, in New York City, Connecticut, Palm Springs, and London.

What are you working on now?

Book 4 in my series, with book 5 beginning to move around in my head.


About the author

Reba White Williams worked for more than thirty years in business and finance—-in research at McKinsey & Co., as a securities analyst on Wall Street, and as a senior executive at an investment management firm. 


Williams graduated from Duke with a BA in English, earned an MBA at Harvard, a PhD in Art History at CUNY, and an MA in Writing at Antioch. She has written numerous articles for art and financial journals. She is a past president of the New York City Art Commission and served on the New York State Council for the Arts.



She and her husband built what was thought to be the largest private collection of fine art prints by American artists. They created seventeen exhibitions from their collection that circulated to more than one hundred museums worldwide, Williams writing most of the exhibition catalogues. She has been a member of the print committees of several leading museums. 



Williams grew up in North Carolina and lives in New York, Connecticut, and Southern California with her husband and Maltese, Muffin. She is the author of two novels featuring Coleman and Dinah Greene, Restrike and Fatal Impressions, along with the story of Coleman and Dinah when they were children, Angels. She is currently working on her third Coleman and Dinah mystery. 


Website | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Indigo

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Featured Author: Leti Del Mar

Leti Del Mar's fourth book, Secrets of the Unaltered, a young adult dystopian romance, has just been released, and she's here today to talk about the book, herself, and writing. This week, Leti is celebrating release week, and the book is available for $0.99.



About the book:

The fate of the entire Confederation rests on their shoulders.

Only they have what it takes to uncover the secrets that have imprisoned their land, but can they survive a truth more disturbing than they ever imagined?

Rose and Flynn have left the Land of the Unaltered on a mission to discover the truth behind who created the genetically engineered super army and stop it before the Rebellion is doomed. Time is ticking, but soon capital life begins to pull them in different directions. Flynn struggles to fit in with the self-indulgent and fashion obsessed populous while the expectations of Rose’s influential family tests their fragile and newly formed relationship. Will they let the capital pull them apart?

Everyone is counting on them, but in this time of discord, can they count on each other?

Secrets of the Unaltered is a Young Adult Dystopian Romance and is the second installment of The Confederation Chronicles.


Interview with Leti Del Mar

Leti, welcome back to A Blue Million Books. Your bio says you teach math and life science to teenagers. That's like a foreign language to me. Do you like the work?

I love it (most of the time), and I think it gives me an edge on the inner workings of the teenage mind. I also love to include a wee bit of science in all of my works.

Which character did you most enjoy writing?

I love Flynn.  He is so socially awkward, but smart and hardworking and unselfish. I just want to tell him to shut up and then give him a big hug.

That's probably a familiar sentiment with teenagers! Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

I love when Flynn gets a makeover after getting to the capital. There is nothing like a Pretty Woman scene mixed in with a budding “Bromance” to put a smile on my face.

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

Whenever my toddler is asleep and wherever she is not sleeping!

Where’s home for you?

Southern California. It is almost always sunny, close to everything I love; be it shopping, museums, or mountain trails and beaches. I love it here!

Let's pretend you’re leaving the country for a year. What’s the last meal (or food) you would want to have before leaving?

I’ve put some serious thought to this one and I’d have to say Baja Style Fish Tacos. They are beer battered, have lots of lime, are fried, and have this special Baja California sauce that is a mystery and a delight. I don’t think I can go too long without them.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?

“A life lived in fear is a life half lived.” Although it sounds better in Spanish.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I could see myself in the UK. I already watch way too much BBC America. I just need to figure out how to import Baja Sauce.

What are you working on now? 

I am working on three projects at once. I am outlining the sequel in my Romantic Suspense series called The Inexperianced Thief, and I’m outlining the final installment in the Confederation Chronicles, a YA Dystopian Romance called The Rise of the Unaltered.  Also, I am in the very beginnings of planning a YA Sci-Fi trilogy about a summer camp for kids with superpowers.

Wow. And you teach, and you have a toddler! Please come back and tell us more about these projects and how you do it all!

About the author:


Leti Del Mar lives in sunny Southern California with her husband, daughter and abnormally large cat. When she isn’t writing, reading or blogging, she is teaching Biology and Algebra to teenagers. Leti is also a classic film buff, passionate about Art History and loves to travel.

Connect with Leti:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads |Mailing List

Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Featured Author: Melissa Bourbon

Great Escapes Book Tours brings Melissa Bourbon here today with her cozy mystery, A Killing Notion. Enter the Rafflecopter at the end of the post to win a Nook or a Kindle, value approximately $100, a Sewing Gift Basket, value approximately $75, or The Lola Cruz mystery series in print or digital, winner's choice. She is also offering gift digital copies of book 1 in the Magical Dressmaking mystery series, Pleating for Mercy, or book 1 in the Lola Cruz series, Living the Vida Lola, winner's choice. Want a chance to win? Just leave a comment!

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About the book:

Harlow Jane Cassidy is swamped with homecoming couture requests. If only she didn’t have to help solve a murder, she might get the gowns off the dress forms...Harlow is doing everything she can to expand her dressmaking business, Buttons & Bows—-without letting clients know about her secret charm. When she has a chance to create homecoming dresses with a local charity and handmade mums for several high school girls—-including Gracie, whose father, Will, has mended Harlow’s heart—-she is ready to use her magical talents for a great cause.
 
But when Gracie’s date for the dance is accused of murder, Harlow knows things won’t be back on course until she helps Gracie clear the football player’s name. If Harlow can’t patch up this mess before the big game, her business and her love life might be permanently benched.
INCLUDES SEWING TIPS


Other books by Melissa

Magical Dressmaking Mysteries

Pleating for Mercy

A Fitting End

Deadly Patterns

A Custom-Fit Crime


Lola Cruz Mysteries

Living the Vida Lola

Hasta la Vista, Lola!

Bare-Naked Lola


Interview with Melissa Bourbon

How did you create the plot for this book?

Our family moved from California to Texas almost six years ago. My older boys were in high school and one of the first things we experienced was homecoming...and the homecoming mum. I knew I wanted to write a book that incorporated these elaborate concoctions, but I needed time to understand the culture behind them. The Magical Dressmaking series began, and when I was several books into it, I knew I had the background to bring in mums, and they were the perfect backdrop for the mystery.

What’s your favorite line from a book?

I don’t really have many that I remember, but one of my favorites is and will always be, “After all, tomorrow is another day.”  --Gone with the Wind

Are any of your characters inspired by real people?

A lot of my characters are conglomerations of people I either know or have met in passing. Interesting qualities stick with me, and they mix and match in my mind as new characters are born. No one character is based on any one person, though I’ve actually tried that. They end up taking on a life of their own and become who they want to be!

Are you like any of your characters?

I do believe that both Harlow and Lola (from the Lola Cruz mystery series) have qualities that I possess (or vice versa). They are both strong women, determined, committed, family-oriented, and they have strong female relationships. However, they also have qualities that are uniquely their own and that I wish I had--crime-solving and a whole lot of gumption being two of them!

I like writing characters who do and say things I never would, as well as characters who do and say things I wish I could. Do you have characters who fit into one of those categories? Who, and in what category do they fall?

I think both Harlow and Lola, as detectives (amateur and professional) do things I never would, but wish I could. Being bold enough to investigate a murder (not that I want murder in my world, or a murderer in my path!) takes courage and cleverness, as well as logic. It takes me time to create the situations and responses to situations, but of course Harlow and Lola work through it all in the blink of an eye.

If you could be one of your characters, which one would you choose?

I suppose Harlow Cassidy is the closest fit, and I’d love to:

a)    have Meemaw as a ghost in my life
b)    be a descendant of Butch Cassidy
c)    have a magical charm

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

I don’t know if it’s my favorite scene, but the first one that comes to mind is Harlow’s battle with Thelma Louise, the grand dam of Nana’s goatherd. Thelma Louise gets hold of one of the homecoming mums, there’s a tug of war, and Will Flores is there to help. It’s a fun scene!

And what are you working on now?

I’m currently working on revising book 6 in A Magical Dressmaking mystery series (A Seamless Murder). After that, I’ll be completing the proposal for the next few books in the series, planning a proposal for another series, plotting a women’s fiction novel, and maybe delving into Lola’s world again. I have no shortage of projects!

You certainly don't! Good luck with them, and please come back and tell us more!

About the author:


Melissa Bourbon, who sometimes answers to her Latina-by-marriage name Misa Ramirez, gave up teaching middle and high school kids in Northern California to write full-time amidst horses and Longhorns in North Texas.  She fantasizes about spending summers writing in quaint, cozy locales, has a love/hate relationship with yoga and chocolate, is devoted to her family, and can’t believe she’s lucky enough to be living the life of her dreams.

She is the Executive Publicity Director with Entangled Publishing, is the author of the Lola Cruz Mystery series with St. Martin’s Minotaur and Entangled Publishing, and A Magical Dressmaking Mystery series with NAL. She also has written two romantic suspense novels, a light paranormal romance, and is the co-author of The Tricked-out Toolbox, a practical marketing and publicity guide for authors.



Connect with Melissa:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads 

Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Monday, April 21, 2014

Featured Author: Savannah Page

Savannah Page is on tour with CLP Blog Tours and she's stopping here today to talk about her chick lit novel, When Girlfriends Take Chances. Don't miss the Rafflecopter at the end of the post--enter for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card.


About the book


A novel about exploring love and life's path, and taking chances along the way.

Emily Saunders has never thought twice about grabbing her passport, rucksack, and camera and trekking across the globe. If there's an NGO, a study abroad program, or simply the travel itch, Emily's on the first plane out. Free-spirited, open-minded, and eager to explore, it's no wonder Emily's hardly in one spot (or relationship) for long.



For the past year and a half, though, Emily's found herself planted in her college hometown of Seattle. She's surrounded by her best friends, has steady work as a photographer and at her friend Sophie's café, and is certainly kept busy by the wild antics of her BFF Jackie. Life's enjoyable, but Emily's looking for something more. She's ready for a change, for adventure!



But when Emily tells her girlfriends she's ready for something new she does not expect Operation Blind Date!



Sure, Emily's single. Sure, she hopes to some day find true love. But being thrown into an insane challenge like this is not exactly the adventure she had in mind! Couldn't she just travel and focus on her photography? Or volunteer in Africa? Will a string of eligible bachelors lined up by her friends--a shot at finding a real and lasting love--really be that change she's searching for?



This is a spirited story about seeking adventure while being true to yourself, wherever you are in life. It's a story about love, risk, and self-discovery. About what happens when girlfriends take chances.

Other Books by Savannah Page

When Girlfriends Let Go
When Girlfriends Chase Dreams
When Girlfriends Make Choices
When Girlfriends Step Up (On SALE 99 cents!)
When Girlfriends Break Hearts
When Girlfriends Collection, Books 1-3 (On SALE 99 cents!)

Interview with Savannah Page

Savannah, you have a long list of books to your credit. How long have you been writing, and how did you start?

I started filling up notebooks with shorts stories at the age of six, and I haven’t stopped writing since.

Do you have another job outside of writing?

I consider writing to be my full-time profession. In addition to being an author, I blog and manage the social media marketing for a wedding and event florist back in my college hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. So when I’m not writing novels I’m writing about wedding flowers and trends and design. I can’t think of two better gigs!

Pretty sweet gigs. How did you create the plot for this book?

Emily is my most whimsical and well-traveled character so there were a lot of directions I could have taken her story. I knew right away that I wanted to keep her in Seattle longer than she had planned, thereby making her antsy and unable to avoid some fun plot twists and episodes that I had in mind for her. Her story is about taking chances...and that doesn’t just mean strapping on a backpack, grabbing a passport, and heading overseas for an adventure. Sometimes grand adventures are right in your own backyard (and can involve the heart).

Tell us a book by an indie author for which you’re an evangelist.

I really enjoy Rachel Schurig’s chick lits. She’s a great author, her stories are fun and entertaining, and on top of that she’s a real sweetheart. She helped me out quite a bit in the early stages of my self-publishing journey, encouraging me to start my When Girlfriends series and crank out one novel after another. She’s one of my biggest inspirations as a fellow chick lit indie author.

How do you get to know your characters?

I spend a lot of time acting out scenes in my apartment. To the outsider (and probably neighbors when the windows are open), I look like a crazy person. Or perhaps a practicing actress. I have to really act as my characters, say their lines, make their gestures, and even figure out how they’d react to a particular issue in the news to understand who they are. My editor has a great and easy tip for helping define characters’ voices: Ask, Who would they vote for/how would they vote on an issue, and why.

Which character did you most enjoy writing?

She’s my damaged and most controversial character, Jackie. She has a very strong voice and personality and writing her is a blast. Sometimes she does things that shock me and give me a headache, but that’s one of the reasons I love her. She’s alive! She elicits emotion.

Sophie holds a special place in my heart with her OCDness and controlling personality, plus she was the girlfriend who got the first book (When Girlfriends Break Hearts) and will also get the last (her second book, When Girlfriends Find Love, out May 2014). But Emily, the protagonist of When Girlfriends Take Chances, is caring, daring, open-minded, and fun. I really enjoyed getting to write her story and voice.

Are any of your characters inspired by real people?

As I move on from my seven-book When Girlfriends collection and on to a new series, I’ve learned that I always write a novel with some real personal or life event in mind. I need that tangible inspiration and experience to really feel a work. For WG I took my own group of college girlfriends into account, thinking about the fascinating idea that an eclectic group of women could be such great friends, and that time and distance could wedge their ways in, but our friendship remains strong. From there the entire WG collection took off.

With which of your characters would you most like to be stuck in a bookstore?


Emily. She belongs to a book club, like myself, and has a similar taste in reads. We both love travel narratives, memoirs, and a good adventure story. Although, she’s not much a fan of Jane Austen so we could have a bit of a bickering session there.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

Writing the scenes with Emily and Ben were fun because Ben’s attractive, a little mysterious, a bit of trouble. Those kinds of emotional or edge-of-the-seat scenes with such characters are fun to write and read. But the last chapter is one of my favorites!

What book are you currently reading and in what format (ebook/paperback/hardcover)?

I always have a number of books I’m reading at one time, and in different formats. Right now my paperbacks are Candace Bushnell’s Trading Up and Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s. In ebook format I recently finished Maria Semple’s Where’d You Go, Bernadette and loved it!

Where’s home for you?

I may enjoy travel like Emily, but home is not wherever I hang my hat. Home is Berlin in our cozy apartment in the centre of the city. I love long getaways, but luckily home is an adopted city I absolutely love, so I never feel like, “Drats! Vacation’s over and we’re back home.” Of course, as soon as I step foot in California or get some tasty Mexican food or go to a Target, I’m also home!

Neil Gaiman said, “Picking five favorite books is like picking five body parts you'd most like not to lose.” So…what are your five favorite books and your five body parts you’d most like not to lose?

Haha! Books: 1) My entire Emily Giffin collection. She gets her own shelf and I’d die without her books. 2) My Gossip Girl collection. 3) My Harry Potter collection. 4) My Sophie Kinsella collection. 5) And since I’ve so been cheating with these collections, I’d like to say my F. Scott Fitzgerald collection as number five, but if just one, it’d be the one and only The Great Gatsby

Body Parts: 1) Eyes. I had a serious vision scare and surgery a few years ago. My eyes are my most prized possession! 2) Hands. (Because writing—and doing just about anything else—without them would be a major challenge.) 3) I suppose all of my vital organs. 4) And my brain. 5) And feet come in handy when wanting to run around...

You’re leaving your country for a year. What’s the last meal (or food) you would want to have before leaving?

I left the US for a permanent move to Germany in 2010 and had both In-N-Out and a feast of Mexican food that week before I left.

Where is your favorite library, and what do you love about it?

I loved my university’s library (The University of Tulsa), McFarlin Library. It’s large and beautiful and has so many little alcoves where you can read and study in peace. It holds a lot of college memories for me, too.

You’re given the day off, and you can do anything but write. What would you do?

Read, shop, and go for a drive.

What would your dream office look like?


Just as it is! I have a lovely little office in my apartment with everything I need, including a nice, big window that lets in a lot of natural light.

Are you happy with your decision to self-publish?

Absolutely! In addition to becoming self-employed with my blogging business, choosing to self-publish my first book and not look back has been the best career move I could imagine!

What steps to self-publication did you personally do, and what did you hire someone to do? Is there anyone you’d recommend for a particular service?

Every writer needs an editor. You can be the best speller, the know-it-all grammarian, or the top of your English graduating class at university, but you’ll still benefit from an editor’s extra set of eyes and skills. I use Invisible Ink Editing and am so happy with the work they do. They practice attention-to-detail while maintaining my voice with all of their edits.

I also recommend indie authors hire someone to do their cover art. Unless you’re a graphic artist, I would outsource this. As I tell my husband (my cover artist), “I’m an author. Give me a pencil and I’ll write you a story. Don’t ask for me to draw you anything.” Many people judge books by their covers, period, and while a book’s content may be the next best thing since sliced bread, if it has a very amateur cover on it, unfortunately many readers may pass it by, thinking the content will also lack in professionalism and promise. Don’t let your cover turn potential readers away! There are plenty of indie book cover artists, like indie editors, formatters, and proofreaders, who are affordable and produce fabulous work. Your novel is an investment and your baby, so give it some love!

As for formatting, that can be tricky work. But if you’re patient and learn the steps, you can save some cash and do this yourself. (Again, there are others in the indie community, such as editors who offer this as an extra service, who can be an affordable and easy option.) I choose to do this myself. I invested a good 15+ hours to learn the ins and outs of Scrivener (only the best writing software that I’d be lost without) and in a flash can format any ebook and paperback.

I love Scrivener too! What’s your favorite candy bar? And don’t tell me you don’t have one!

Spiced jelly beans and circus peanuts. Yes, two very weird but delicious candies.
 
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I can’t read enough books or watch enough television. I enjoy Pilates, crocheting, gardening, shopping (from groceries to shoes), listening to Rick Steves podcasts, pinning wedding flowers on Pinterest, and cafĂ©-frequenting.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Right now I love living in Berlin, but NYC, or on a sailboat in Florida, or Santa Barbara, California would be nice, too.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on releasing the seventh and final When Girlfriends novel. I’m also working on two new series, both chick lit and women’s fiction, which I plan on publishing this year.


Excerpt from When Girlfriends Take Chances

“That’s a fantastic idea!” Jackie blurts out.

“How come I didn’t think of that?” Sophie says.

“That’s not a bad idea, Claire,” Robin says with a nod.

“Perrrrrfect,” Claire sings, returning to her position on the floor by the coffee table. “Such a superbly perfect idea.” She claps her hands together several times. “What do you think, Emily? Brilliant idea, right?”

There are two words that incite major worry and panic, even in someone like me who’s as open to dating, well, just about anyone. One is “blind” and the other is—you guessed it—“date.” God help me.

We’re not just talking a blind date, but several—hear me, plural—blind dates.

“Think about it,” Sophie says, abandoning her wine, her eyes going all star-gazey. “You could meet all sorts of guys. You could dispense with the annoying and time-wasting ‘nice to meet you’ stuff.”

“Yeah!” Jackie cuts in. “Like you wouldn’t have to waste your time on meeting someone and striking up that first conversation that would lead to a date. It’s just, BAM, a date!”
BAM is right.

All right, I’m single, and I have been for a while. And, sure, it’d be nice to find someone I could really connect with and, yeah, fall in love with. But easier said than done. I mean, if I’m going to find someone I can be really and truly serious with then they’ll have to keep up with me, so to speak. I’m not a let’s-get-a-mortgage or even a let’s-have-a-career kind of woman. My lifestyle isn’t exactly what men who are looking for a serious and lasting relationship go for.

Besides, I’m not so hard-up for a date or budding romance that I need to sign on for a round of blind dates—a series of awkward meet-and-greets, an exchange of interests and goals and accomplishments, that unavoidable question about a second date, that unavoidable expectation come the third or fourth date. My mouth suddenly feels dry. I reach for my wine and take a heavy slog.

“I think this is brilliant,” Claire says. She crosses her arms, looking extremely pleased with herself. “This is revolutionary!”

“No,” Lara finally pipes in.

Oh, thank you for coming to my rescue, finally, Lara! I think, still draining my wine.
“It’s not quite revolutionary…yet.” A sly smirk is playing Lara’s lips. “We’re missing something that’ll revolutionize the blind dating experience.”

“I know!” I toss out. All eyes simultaneously turn to me. “I know what would revolutionize this experience.”

“Yeah?” Jackie asks eagerly.

“Totally...” I drag out. “...not...doing...it!” I smile brightly. “Brilliant way to revolutionize blind dating, right? Do away with the whole buggy thing.”

“Oh, whatever,” Claire scoffs. “Don’t be a sourpuss. We’re doing this, Emily. It will be amazing, just you wait.”

About the author:


Savannah Page is the author of the continuing When Girlfriends collection, heartfelt women's fiction that celebrates friendship, love, and life sprinkled with drama and humor. When she isn’t writing, Savannah enjoys a good book with a latte and jazz tunes, Pilates, and exploring her home of Berlin as an American expat. Currently she's working on the seventh and final When Girlfriends novel, and is cooking up something delicious for her next series.




Connect with Savannah:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo 


Book Blast: Double Alchemy



 Title: Double Alchemy
 Author: Susan Mac Nicol
 Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
 Release Date: 25th March, 2014
    
As well as attending all tour stops, Susan will be doing a one-hour Tweetup with Virtual Writers, where she will share some of her writing secrets and publishing tips on Twitter on Sunday, May 4th at 6pm (UK time).

Susan and her publisher (Boroughs Publishing Group) will be awarding a copy of Stripped Bare and a copy of Cassandra by Starlight to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.  To increase your chances of winning, stop by each of the scheduled stops and leave a comment.

In addition to the tour stops, they have created a party page on Facebook where they will be setting some fun challenges and games. Log on and you may even catch Susan chatting with her fans. For more details and the full schedule & giveaway entry form, check out Susan’s official tour page.
      

Praise for Double Alchemy

“I love Paranormal stories & I'm a huge fan of Susan Mac Nicol's M/M books. In this book, she brings both genres together & gives us this amazing story. With her master storytelling, she takes us into the mystical & magical world of Witches, Warlocks, Withinners & Feys. A world where danger lurks in the shadows.” - Maria Recchia

“I stayed up all night reading this story. Susan has a way of writing that is different than anyone else. She's uniquely brilliant at weaving a tale that brings out my emotions. I have laughed in every one of her stories. That's incredible for me. Not just a smile, but a laugh. I love that. This book needs to be read. You won’t be disappointed.” - Author Kindle Alexander

About the book

Powerful yet tormented modern warlock Quinn Fairmont must initiate the silver-eyed Cade Mairston into the world of witchfinders, Withinners, and what can happen when two men fall truly, madly, deeply in love.

THE WORLD IN SHADOW

In modern London there lurks a warlock, Quinn Fairmont. Dangerous, powerful, tortured, sharing his body with the soul of an ancient Welsh sorcerer, Quinn is never alone—and never wholly himself. He fights against all those who would exploit his kind. He takes pleasure where he can find it.

In the forest of Hampstead Heath, Quinn’s hometown, Cade Mairston appears to him like a waking dream. Lithe, lean and silver-eyed, he evokes feelings in Quinn unlike any other: lust with true affection, immediate and shocking. Cade is clearly more than he seems. And yet, if a man of the world, Cade is innocent. He knows nothing of warlocks, witchfinders or Withinners. He knows nothing of what he is, what he might be, or what he might feel. For him, the story is just beginning. Magyck, peril and passion await. More awaits in book two…

Praise for Susan Mac Nicol

"We have to re-iterate that this Author will always be an automatic one-click for us. Her writing is flawless and her flawed characters are completely lovable. There’s always something quirky and fun in her stories as well as drama, angst and heaps of passion! We can highly recommend!!" - Gitte & Jenny - Totally Booked Blog

"Susan has been hailed as a genius writer of male/male literature. Her Saving Alexander has been nominated for several awards and has been reviewed widely. Congrats on all your success, Susan. You have earned it." - Gay Lit Authors

About Susan Mac Nicol

Susan Mac Nicol was born in Leeds, UK, and left for South Africa when she was eight. She returned to the UK thirty years later and now lives in Essex. Her debut novel Cassandra by Starlight, the first in a trilogy, was published last year by Boroughs Publishing Group in the US. Sue’s latest story, Double Alchemy is her fifth m/m romance.

Sue has written since she was very young, and never thought she would see herself becoming a Romance writer, being a horror/psychological thriller reader all her life. But the Romance genre is now something very close to her heart and she intends continuing the trend.

Sue is a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Romantic Novelists Association here in the UK.

Susan Mac Nicol is also author of The Magick of Christmas, Confounding Cupid, Cassandra by Starlight, Together in Starlight, Stripped Bare, Saving Alexander, Worth Keeping and Waiting for Rain.

Connect with Susan
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest





Buy the book
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA | Buroughs Publishing | Smashwords | All Romance


Book Trailer



Friday, April 18, 2014

Featured Author: Susan Israel



"Smart, witty, and delightfully unpredictable, Susan Israel's Over My Live Body is a truly wonderful debut. Highly recommended."
– Doug Corleone, author of Good as Gone


About the book:


Delilah is accustomed to people seeing her naked. As a nude model – a gig that keeps food on the table while her career as a sculptor takes off – it comes with the territory. 

But Delilah has never before felt this vulnerable. 

Because Delilah has an admirer. Someone who is paying a great deal of attention to her. And he just might love her to death.


 The debut of a shockingly fresh voice in suspense fiction, Over My Live Body will work its way inside of you.

Interview with Susan Israel

Susan, how long have you been writing and how did you start?



I wrote my first (really bad!) "novel" when I was in 7th grade and 
wrote even before that; it was a way to cope with feeling bullied. I
 thought about writing professionally when I was in high school, but had
 no outlet and little encouragement, save for an English teacher who 
recognized that the sentences I wrote as exercises had a plot and I had
 the temerity to name one of the characters Jane Austen! It wasn't until
I went to college that I dove in head-first and found an audience.



What's the story behind the title Over My Live Body?



I didn't have any title per se when I started writing what would turn
out to be Over My Live Body, I referred to it as "work in progress."
 For a short time I gave it the working title "The Object Of My 
Affection" but that didn't stick either. There was a movie I hadn't 
seen by that title and I didn't want it to be confused with that.
 Furthermore, since the book is written from Delilah's point of view, I 
wanted a more Delilah-centric title, and Over My Live Body fit in more
ways than one.



How did you create the plot for this book?




I was a by-the-seat-of-your-pants writer, writing every day and letting
 the characters do as they willed, and when I had the finished product,
I went back and revised and polished. I had a synopsis before I started 
writing my second, but to a certain extent, the characters still take
over.

Is your book based on real events?


Nothing in my book is based on actual events, but some similar
 incidents have occurred in the course of writing the books, a case of 
"life imitates art." I listen to 24/7 news a lot and punctuate my
 narrative with what I hope are realistic references to daily police 
activity in the city; sometimes all too realistic. But none of the 
incidents in my books are based on anything real.



Are you like any of your characters?



I would say I'm a lot like Delilah except she is younger and taller.




Who are your favorite authors?



There are many but I'll touch on a few. When I'm reading, I love a sense of place as well as characters and plot, whether it be fiction or nonfiction. One of my favorite books has always been A Moveable Feast, though Hemingway isn't my absolute favorite author. I would include F. Scott Fitzgerald, who also captured the 20s so well, a decade I wish I had lived in. For mysteries, I love the Paris settings and characters of Cara Black. I'm a big fan of Peter Matthiessen, who I had the good fortune to have as a writing professor.



Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?



My favorite time to write is at night, when it's generally quieter outside, when the sun isn't in my eyes, when there's less extraneous noise that I can't control. (My own TV or radio doesn't bother me.) Daylight Saving Time is not my best friend, though I like the weather that goes with it. I wrote all of Over My Live Body in a generic computer cluster, but that cluster doesn't exist any more.



Where's home for you?



Home is where my dog is.



Where is your favorite library and what do you love about it?



My favorite library is Yale's Sterling Memorial Library (except during periods of renovation every few years). I love the reading rooms with the cushy leather chairs and the mezzanine floors of the stacks where you can literally hide from the world and write or read something you never knew existed. I feel safe and cloistered there.



What's your favorite candy bar?



I love Lindt bars, especially dark chocolate, and Sky Bar. But especially anything Lindt.

About the author:

Susan Israel lives in Connecticut with her beloved dog, but New York City lives in her heart and mind. A graduate of Yale College, her fiction has been published in Other Voices, Hawaii Review and Vignette, and she has written for magazines, websites and newspapers, including Glamour, Girls Life, Ladies Home Journal and The Washington Post. She's currently at work on the second book in the Delilah Price series, Student Bodies.

Find Susan:
Facebook | 
Goodreads | 
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Story Plant

Happy 1st Birthday, France Book Tours!

France Book Tours Banner 1st anniversary

France Book Tours is celebrating its first anniversary on April 18!

  France Book Tours has been thrilled to present amazing books related to France for a year. To thank the authors who submitted their books and the bloggers who read and reviewed them, France Book Tours organizes a mega giveaway from April 18-25! Depending on the number of entries in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this page, they may give away up to 10 books, so spread the word! The winners will be chosen on April 26. Here are all the books available to win! Click on each cover to know more about it. Please note what format the book is available in. Note also that some books are only available for US/Canada residents. If nothing is specified, it means you can receive the ebook or the print copy where ever you live.

Historical fiction

Spirit of Lost Angels Wolfsangel_CoverFinal Becoming Josephine
Spirit of Angels = print + ecopy Wolfsangel = print + ecopy Becoming Josephine = print for US/Canada only
Unravelled Ambitious Madame Bonap
Unravelled = print The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte = print for US/Canada only

Mystery

The Paris Lawyer The Mona Lisa Speaks
The Paris Lawyer = print for US/Canada only + ecopy The Mona Lisa Speaks = print for US/Canada only + ecopy

Fiction

I see London cover Paris Rue des Martyrs - cover final
I See London I See France = print for US/Canada only Paris, Rue Des Martyrs = ecopy

Romance

The Paris Game Moonlight & LoveSongs City of Jasmine
The Paris Game = ebook Moonlight & Love Songs = ebook City of Jasmine = signed print copy for US/Canada only
Promise of Provence
The Promise of Provence = ecopy

Nonfiction - memoir

Confessions of a Paris Party Girl - cover
Confessions of a Paris Party Girl = ecopy

AND THERE WILL BE 4 EXTRA BOOKS OFFERED DURING OUR TWITTER PARTY!

April 23 at 5pm Central Time #franceBT

Spread the word!

AND NOW PLEASE ENTER THE GIVEAWAY BY CLICKING ON THE RAFFLECOPTER LINK:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, April 14, 2014

The Writing Process Blog Tour


Paul Anthony
was kind enough to tag me in the Writing Process Blog Tour. In addition to be a prolific writer, Paul is one of the biggest supporters of indie authors I know, and I am always grateful and flattered when he asks me to participate in a blog hop.

Paul Anthony is the pseudonym of a man born in Southport, Lancashire. He has written a number of fictional novels and a collection of poetry in print, Amazon Kindle, Apple iPad and PDF Download. He has also written television scripts, screenplays and film scripts as an individual or with the award wining scriptwriter, Nick Gordon. The son of a soldier, Paul Anthony settled in Cumbria before becoming a police cadet. Seconded to Haigh Colliery in Whitehaven, he mined the pit face and then worked at a biscuit factory, in Carlisle, as a machine operator. He also worked with deaf people and was trained in the treatment of drug addicts and alcoholics. Paul went to Eskdale Outward Bound School but eventually joined Cumbria Police proper. Working as a detective, he served in the CID, the Regional Crime Squad in Manchester, the Special Branch, and other national agencies in the UK. He has an honours degree in social sciences, and diplomas in management and office management.

Please visit Paul at his blog, and find out how he answered The Four Questions and to find out more about his books. Follow the participants in the tour to meet some great authors and read about their writing processes as well as their fantastic books.

The Four Questions

Every author in the Writing Process Blog Tour must answer the same four questions. So without any further ado, here are my answers to the four Q's:

1)    What am I working on?


Right now I’m working on several projects. I’m doing final edits for the second book in my Goose Pimple Junction mystery series, Heroes & Hooligans, in which Martha Maye and Johnny Butterfield are the main characters. Louetta, Tess, Jack, and Pickle will be back, but the story will be centered around Martha Maye and her soon-to-be ex-husband, who doesn't want to be an ex. Add some new characters--big flirt Honey Winchester and Louetta's sister Ima Jean, who has left the store without all her groceries, if you know what I mean. And then there's the thief who's stealing the town blind, and Martha Maye's stalker...

I’m almost finished writing a GPJ novella, Short & Tall Tales in Goose Pimple Junction, that will go in between GPJ books one and two; and every once in a while I work on the third book in the series, Rogues & Rascals, although it’s slow going.


2)    How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I think what’s different about my GPJ series are the quirky characters and the quaint but idiosyncratic small southern town in which they live. They’re a right neighborly sort, full of colorful talk and good intentions. And they don’t let little things like murder and mayhem get them down.


3)    Why do I write what I do?

That’s a darn good question. Actually, my idea for Murder & Mayhem came from family history involving--what else but--murder and mayhem. I wanted to write about the stories I’d heard all my life. 
But I decided I wanted the town to be a little kooky. My father and grandfather were always coming up with colorful southern phrases, such as “I’ll be there if the good Lord’s willing and the creek don’t rise.” Why answer with a simple "fine" to the question "How are you?" when you can say, “I’m still buying green bananas?” or "If I were any better I'd have to be twins." Those sayings and more stuck with me, and when I started writing, I researched and found gobs more. So that's how I started writing humorous mysteries. When I finished writing the first book, I found that the characters wouldn't go away. They kept coming up with new ways to create murder and mayhem, so as long as they hang around in my head, I'll keep writing humorous murder mysteries.

4)    How does my writing process work?

The first drafts are bare bones. I try to get down the gist of the plot as it comes to me. After that, I go back and start layering. I add details and reword things. After that I go back and start layering. I add details and reword things. Yes, I really did say that twice. But actually, I add details and reword things over and over and over until I’m sick to death of the story. I also do this after each beta reader gives me feedback. And I continue to do this as I go through for typos and errors. I’m learning not to give the manuscript to an editor until I’ve layered about a hundred times. After an editor looks at it, and I make changes due to her suggestions, I go over it again. And again. Knowing when to stop is my biggest problem.


Thank you again, Paul Anthony, for inviting me to this blog hop. What better time to be in a blog hop than the week before Easter? Sorry, bad joke. At the top of this post, I said Paul is one of the biggest supporters of indie authors I know. Also on that list are three authors I invited to the blog hop. Check out their blogs and their books. You'll be glad you did!

Next up...

I have tapped Leti Del Mar, Christoph Fischer, and Billie Thomas to take part in the Writing Process Blog Tour. Watch their blogs next Monday for their posts.




Leti Del Mar lives in sunny Southern California with her husband, daughter, and abnormally large cat. When she isn’t writing, reading, or blogging, she is teaching Biology and Algebra to teenagers. Leti is also a classic film buff, passionate about Art History, and loves to travel. Find Leti at her blog, Words With Leti Del Mar.

Leti's Amazon author page






Christoph Fischer was born in Germany, near the Austrian border. After a few years in Hamburg he moved on to the UK where he now lives in a small hamlet, not far from Bath. He and his partner have three Labradoodles to complete their family. 
Christoph worked for the British Film Institute, in Libraries, Museums and for an airline. He completed the historical Three Nations Trilogy last year and will publish his first contemporary novel Time To Let Go in May. Find Christoph at his blog.

Christoph's Amazon author page





Billie Thomas is the pseudonym of Birmingham-based author, Stephanie Naman. Her debut novel, Murder on the First Day of Christmas, is the first in the Chloe Carstairs Mystery Series. Stephanie's day job is in the advertising industry (which might explain why she’s constantly thinking up ways to kill people without getting caught). Connect with her at her blog, Chloe Gets a Clue, or on Twitter.

Billie's Amazon author page
                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Friday, April 11, 2014

Featured Author: Emily Sue Harvey

Emily Sue Harvey is on tour with The Story Plant and she's here today to talk about her contemporary romance novel, Cocoon



About the book

New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry has said that, “Emily Sue Harvey has a sure touch and strong voice. She's a talent to watch.” New York Times bestselling author Jill Marie Landis called Harvey’s first novel, Song of Renewal, “an uplifting, heartwarming story.” Now Harvey returns with a tale as rich in drama as it poignant in the truths it tells.



When widowed Seana Howard meets Barth McGrath, a newcomer to their little town, she never dreams she’ll fall in love again. Despite his somewhat quirky ways, she falls for the man. The only problem is that her married children do not trust the mysterious stranger. Who is he? Where exactly did he come from? Why are there so many questions about his past? 



Against their wishes, Seana elopes with Barth and is happier than she’s been in years. Then her happiness shatters when a mysterious illness suddenly befalls her, exiling her once brilliant mind to a dark nightmare from which she may never return. The eclipse is startling and complete. Will Barth, with such a short history with Seana, love her enough to endure the trials of caring for someone under such dire circumstances? Can her family get past their suspicions and trust his motives and love for their mother? Will Seana ever escape her dark cocoon and reclaim her very purpose for living? Will life give her a second chance to spread her wings, like a beautiful butterfly?



Cocoon is a life-affirming story of travail, obstacles, and the extraordinary lengths that undying love will travel.

Interview with Emily Sue Harvey

Emily, how long have you been writing, and how did you start?



I’ve been writing since college days. The tragic death of my eleven-year-old Angie turned my life from teaching aspirations to writing. I began writing for therapy and discovered it to be a gift, as well as a passion. I connected with Southeastern Writers Association in the late eighties, winning twenty plus awards before joining the Board of Directors and eventually serving as president. I served there for twenty-five plus years. During that time, I gained dozens of short story credits in anthologies such as Chicken Soup, Chocolate for Women, Woman’s Day, and True Story, to name a few. I then launched out into mainstream fiction novels. In 2009, Story Plant published my premiere novel, Song of Renewal. Later that year, I signed a six book contract with Story Plant. I’m currently working on my seventh book for them, entitled, Twilight Time. 



What’s the story behind the title Cocoon?



The title, Cocoon, symbolizes both the dark steroid psychosis imprisonment of the heroine, Seana McGrath and later, her miraculous metamorphosis into the beautiful butterfly.



Do you have another job outside of writing?



Writing is full time for me.



How did you create the plot for Cocoon?



The Cocoon plot is based on a true to life story. This happens to a degree with many of my books but in Cocoon, the medical details remain authentic. The characters, though fictionalized, in some aspects are like Gerald and Kay Turner, the real life couple. All else is pure fiction. 



What’s your favorite line from a book? 



A quotation by Andy Andrews from the Butterfly Effect:

 “A butterfly can flap its wings and set molecules of air in motion, which would move other molecules of air, in turn moving more molecules of air—eventually capable of starting a hurricane on the other side of the planet.”



How do you get to know your characters?



I fall in love with each of my characters in the beginning of creation and delve into their hearts, minds, and souls as a way of understanding their choices in the story. I don’t give up on even the vilest of characters, knowing anyone can be redeemed. Each of my stories has components of love, betrayal, forgiveness, and redemption.



Which character did you most enjoy writing?



Wow! That’s tough because I love all my characters. But I think I enjoyed writing about Seana because she was so complex. The steroid psychosis transformed her into someone else entirely, taking her “away” from her loved ones. In the story, I had to get inside Seana’s head while she was experiencing the psychosis, which lasted several years. I did this by talking extensively with the real life victim and her caretaker. It was definitely a challenge.



Are any of your characters inspired by real people?



Cocoon characters are based on composites of many different people I know and have known. Some are based entirely on actual people I know. For instance, I’ve already revealed Seana and Barth McGrath to be based on Kay and Gerald Turner. Billy Jean is based on my friend, Billie Jane McGregor, who, like the book’s character, battles bone cancer. I love to profile true heroes because they encourage those battling the odds to keep on keeping on.



Are you like any of your characters?




There’s a little of me in all my characters. Else, how could I create and understand them? I like to think that I’m a loving, merciful, forgiving person and so most of my characters eventually find those traits in themselves. But not before plodding through some valleys because only then can one appreciate the mountain tops.



If you could be one of your characters, which one would you choose?



I would be Zoe, Seana’s wildflower daughter. She’s a lioness, yet later she reveals a more gentle, compassionate side when she falls in love with hunky Scott, the coach who finally tames her.



With which of your characters would you most like to be stuck in a bookstore?



Oh, I would definitely like to be stuck in a bookstore with Barth. He’s such an intellectual guy who knows all about—well, just about everything, from homeopathic medicine to how to cook up a fantastic, healthy gourmet meal! I love men who can cook!



With what five real people would you most like to be stuck in a bookstore?



That’s really a fun question to mull over. Being stuck in a bookstore with them, huh? In this order: Pat Conroy, Ann Rivers-Siddons, Jan Karon, Jill Marie Landis, and  Lisa Gardner. Ask me next week and the names may vary except the first one.



Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.



My favorite scene is the one in which Seana is awakened suddenly in the dark of night by a mysterious, extraordinary light that envelopes her, at once soothing and warming her and causing a prickling. Yet is isn’t fear. It will be a life-changing, miraculous experience for the woman who’s been entrapped in a cocoon for several years.



What song would you pick to go with your book?



"Through it All" by Andre Crouche.



Who are your favorite authors?



Pat Conroy and Ann Rivers-Siddons top the list.



You get to decide who would read your audiobook. Who would you choose?



Pat Conroy.

I'm sensing a pattern here! 

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)? 



Paperback: Veronica Roth’s best-seller, Divergent. My teen grandson, Jensen, wanted me to read it, and it’s a page turner.



Do you have a routine for writing? 



Depends on whether I’m working on a book project. If so, I work regular hours, like from ten a.m. until two in the afternoon. Or from four p.m. until eight in the evening. When not working on a book, which is not often, I usually do my blogs and etc. mid-morning.



Where’s home for you? 



Startex South Carolina, the mill hill setting for my national bestselling novel, Unto These Hills. The old mill hill name was Tucapau, which I use in the book.



If you could only keep one book, what would it be?



The Bible.


Are you happy with your current publishing choice?

I’m extremely happy to be with Story Plant publishing house. Lou Aronica originally helped me edit (cut 100 pages) from a novel with the Peter Miller Literary and Film Agency in New York. Later when Lou and Peter Miller formed Story Plant publishing house, they loved my writing and put me under contract to write for them. I feel truly blessed to be where I am with Story Plant. I’m in very good company.



What’s one of your favorite quotes?



“To love and be loved is the greatest blessing on earth.” --Unknown.



What’s your favorite candy bar?


Giant Snickers with almonds...

That's mine, too! 

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?



Right here in Startex, South Carolina.



What are you working on now?


I’m finishing Twilight Time as you read this. It’s the story of a couple simultaneously battling trauma and Alzheimer’s. Deepening shadows gather splendor over Peter and Rachel, and they fall in love again, as they did then.


About the author


New York Times bestselling author Jill Marie Landis called Song of Renewal “An uplifting, heartwarming story of forgiveness, commitment, and love, and Kay Allenbaugh, bestselling author of Chocolate for a Woman’s Soul says “Emily Sue Harvey’s work will linger in the memory long after readers put it aside.” National bestselling author Harvey, who has written numerous inspiring works of nonfiction, writes intensely romantic novels that thrill the heart as they inspire the soul. Her stories have something to say to every family.




Connect with Emily:
Website

Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes