Sneak Peek Sunday - T.M. Franklin

Today, we get a DOUBLE Sneak Peek at TWO upcoming releases from T.M. Franklin

 

Frequent Flyers

Coming November 1, 2014!

Romance flies the friendly skies in this diverse collection of short stories from a talented group of best-selling and up-and-coming authors.

There’s something for everyone in this mile-high compilation – from a love story born in a blizzard to a steamy encounter spawned by a series of crazy events. For supernatural fiction fans, how about the tale of an airport that’s also a portal to another world… or a scheduled flight that takes a detour into an alternate reality?

From an unexpected trip that reignites a twenty year old flame, to a quirky liaison between a ticketing agent and an adorable doctor, Frequent Flyers takes you on a journey that will touch your heart and leave you flying high!

...and appearing in Frequent Flyers...

Unscheduled Departure by T.M. Franklin

Rowan Elliott is devastated when her boyfriend, Finn, tells her he’s moving across the country to take over the family business, and thrilled when he changes his mind at the last minute and gets off the plane.
But then things get . . . weird. Finn’s acting strange, and Ro’s getting mysterious phone calls that have her questioning if her boyfriend’s really who she thinks he is.  As Ro races to figure out what’s going on, she discovers it’s more complicated than she could have ever imagined.
And if she’s not careful, she could lose her Finn forever.
Add Frequent Flyers to Your Goodreads Shelf!

Join Us for the Frequent Flyers RELEASE PARTY on November 1st! And ENTER NOW to Win One of Six Amazon Gift Cards - or One of Six ARCs of Frequent Flyers!

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But wait...there's MORE!

The action-packed conclusion to the MORE Trilogy is here!

Ava Michaels is gifted, powerful, and — whether she likes it or not — part of a plot to take over the world.

It’s only been a few months since Ava Michaels discovered she has ties to an ancient people living in the shadows of the human world, despite their superior gifts and abilities. A select few don’t like hiding, however, and think it’s time to take control.

Now Ava’s caught up in a conspiracy in the works before she was even born. In fact, her birth was an integral part of the plan. She’s one of the Twelve, the most powerful Race ever created, and they were created for a purpose.

Turns out, Ava doesn’t like being told what to do.

All she wants is to start a new life with her boyfriend, Caleb Foster, but before they can even think about that, they must join forces with former enemies, seek out some powerful new friends, and figure out what exactly the Twelve, and their power-hungry leader, are up to.

Then, they have to find a way to stop them.

Add TWELVE to your Goodreads Shelf!

 Excerpt

Outside a nondescript brick building housing a nondescript high school in a nondescript town in the middle of nowhere, North Dakota, Tiernan Ross leaned against a scraggly elm tree and cursed his life.
He could have done anything, really—moved to Europe, spent some time on a quiet beach, and ignored anything and everything that stank of politics and power plays and the ridiculous mess he’d gotten himself involved in.
Katherine had said he was getting soft, and although he’d greeted the statement with his trademark glower, deep down he had feared she was right. He felt a strange sense of responsibility to the band of outlaws hiding out in the Canadian wilderness, and to the girl who pushed all his buttons, but still managed to get under his skin.
Tiernan let out a heavy sigh and checked his watch again. School would be out in three minutes.
Finally.
It had been almost a month, and he didn’t know what he had been thinking, offering to be an ambassador to the Council on behalf of the Guardians. It was a delicate proposition, and Tiernan, as a rule, didn’t do delicate. Still, he’d been meeting with Council leaders, first Rafe and Naomi, to help ease the way, then Kaeden, for what good it did him. It was slow going, and Tiernan was going insane with the waiting, so he’d taken an assignment, in no small part to get on Madeleine’s good side, as Kaeden had suggested, which was what led to standing outside a high school, cooling his heels, and waiting for a Half-Breed. It was strange. A few months ago, it would have been business as usual, but now . . .
A feeling of unease combined with a strange twist in his stomach he couldn’t identify left him antsy and riddled with—
Okay, maybe I can identify it. Guilt. It’s guilt.
Tiernan, as a rule, didn’t do guilt either.
He’d been fine—doing his duty, living his life—until Ava came along and started to break down the walls that kept out irritating things like guilt and compassion and . . .
Well—
The bell rang, driving away the unsettling thoughts, and Tiernan straightened, eyes zeroing in on the door of the school and the blue Honda he’d already identified as belonging to one Isaiah Bennett.
He scanned the uniformed teenagers streaming out of the building for the face he’d committed to memory from a series of recon images he’d received earlier.
Tall, thin, dark-skinned with hair trimmed close to his scalp . . . there.
Of course, it was the middle of the afternoon, so he couldn’t just grab the kid and make a run for it. Instead, Tiernan started the motorcycle he’d liberated from a Walmart parking lot in Bismarck and waited as Isaiah waved to his friends and tossed his backpack into the car before climbing in. He knew where the boy lived but tailed him anyway, hoping for a detour along the way that would make it easier to apprehend him.
Take him. Kidnap him.
Tiernan’s jaw clenched, and his fists tightened on the handlebars, the motorcycle engine revving in protest. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves.
It’s just an assignment. Another job. Grab the kid. Take him to the Council. Let them deal with the rest. Like dozens before.
It was all part of maintaining the peace. Rafe had said it would be a show of goodwill to the Council.
Tiernan wasn’t convinced.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes |  TWCS Publishing House

If you haven't read the first two books, now is the time - all three books are ON SALE for a LIMITED TIME on select platforms! 

 MORE - Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | iTunes | Kobo | TWCS

The Guardians - Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | iTunes | Kobo | TWCS

TWELVE - Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | iTunes | TWCS

  

T.M. Franklin started out her career writing non-fiction in a television newsroom. Graduating with a B.A. in Communications specializing in broadcast journalism and production, she worked for nine years as a major market television news producer, and garnered two regional Emmy Awards, before she resigned to be a full-time mom and part-time freelance writer. Her first published novel, MORE, was born during National Novel Writing month, a challenge to write a novel in thirty days. MORE was well-received, being selected as a finalist in the 2013 Kindle Book Review Best Indie Book Awards, as well as winning the Suspense/Thriller division of the Blogger Book Fair Reader’s Choice Awards.
In addition to MORE and its sequel, The Guardians, Franklin penned the Amazon best-selling short stories A Piece of Cake and Window, which also won a Blogger Book Fair Reader’s Choice Award for Short Story/Fantasy. Her new YA romance, How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You, is Franklin’s first love story without a paranormal or fantasy element, although she believes love is the best kind of magic.
TWELVE, the final installment in the MORE Trilogy will be released October 9, 2014.

Connect with T.M. Franklin

Website | E-mail | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest | Goodreads 

And yes... ANOTHER Giveaway!

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Sunday Sneak Peek - T.M. Franklin

Today, we get a sneak peek of T.M. Franklin's upcoming release - TWELVE, Book Three in the MORE Trilogy...and she has a special guest to help her out.

 Well, Bond (James Bond) must be more of a chick-lit guy. T.M. assures us that he was definitely causing trouble, as you could hear in the background, but nothing valuable was destroyed. This time.

Want to get your own SIGNED paperback ARC of TWELVE? Enter now!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

TWELVE

by T.M. Franklin

Giveaway ends August 21, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Sunday Sneak Peek - T.M. Franklin

Today we get a sneak peek of How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You, the new YA release coming from T.M. Franklin on June 12th!

“You realize you’re forgetting one very important thing, don’t you?”
“What’s that?” I followed Viney’s gaze to the auditorium doors in time to see Ian Buckley stride into the room, all sun-bleached hair and tanned skin, with broad shoulders and biceps perfectly wrapped up in a letterman’s jacket. “Oh. Ian.”
“Yes. Ian.” Viney leaned against the console next to me. “Good-looking, popular jock. How do you compete with that?”
“Looks and popularity aren’t everything.”
“Right. He’s also rich and has a great car.”
“His family owns a dealership. Hardly a great personal achievement.” Still, I chewed on my thumbnail as Ainsley waved to Ian, a bright smile on her face. Ian was a bit of a challenge. More than a bit, actually. Not insurmountable, though. He wasn’t perfect either, and definitely not perfect for Ainsley, even though she had yet to see it.
“He thinks pi was named after, you know, pie,” I told Viney.
It took a minute for him to get it. “Seriously? Apple or blueberry?”
I laughed, shaking my head. “I’m not kidding. I heard him talking to Nathan. He said that’s why it’s used to find the circumference of a circle. Because a pie is a circle.” I mean the logic wasn’t entirely flawed, but still. Pie. Really?
Viney’s mouth twisted as he watched Ian clowning around with Nathan in the front row of seats. “So he’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer. He’s still Ainsley’s boyfriend.”
“On-again-off-again.”
Viney grimaced as she bent down to kiss him. “Looks like it’s ‘on-again’ to me.”
I sighed heavily. The truth hurts. “I know. She’ll see the light, though. It’ll just take some convincing.” I hoped I sounded more confident than I was.
Viney eyed me sideways. “You’re going to bad-mouth her boyfriend?”
“Of course not.” Not only would that be unethical, it would also be ineffective. I’d seen enough romantic comedies to figure that out. Not that I liked romantic comedies. I did have a mom, though, and every now and then she got the pick on Movie Night, so my dad and I had to endure it all with side eyes and quiet huffs. (She got annoyed if we huffed too loud.) I figured it was good research fodder, anyway, although there were definitely as many items for a not-to-do list as for a to-do one in one of those movies.
So, yeah, bad-mouthing the current boyfriend would definitely fall on that not-to-do list. Ian wasn’t a bad guy anyway, not really. Just not right for Ainsley. Not like, well, me.
“I simply mean to show her that she has options,” I said.
Ainsley burst out laughing as Ian swept her off the stage and swung her through the air before wrapping her up in a tight hug.
“Good luck with that,” Viney muttered.

The Ainsley Blog Tour is underway! Don't forget to enter the giveaway to win a signed paperback, or some other fun prizes!

Seventeen-year-old Oliver Wendell Holmes (Yes, his parents are just that peculiar, but his brother's name is Sherlock, so it could have been worse) knows that he's different. He's quirky, awkward, and he's okay with that. Oliver also likes making lists-meticulous procedures for achieving his goals, step-by-step. Whether it's "How to Get an A in Chemistry" or "How to Get Accepted to MIT," he has a process, and it's worked for him so far. He doesn't even care that the popular kids mock him. Oliver's got his eye on the prize.
So when he decides it's time to declare his feelings for Ainsley Bishop, the girl of his dreams, it's only natural for him to make a list-a point-by-point strategy to win her heart. He knows it will take a grand gesture for her to see all he has to offer, and her approaching birthday provides the ideal opportunity for Oliver to put his plan into action.
Finding the perfect gift is a challenge Oliver meets with his usual dogged determination. He'll need to watch her carefully for clues to pinpoint exactly what he should give her. And along the way, he might just learn that what Ainsley really needs is not quite what he expected.

 

Ainsley is available now for Pre-Order!

Amazon |Barnes & Noble |iTunes |Kobo | TWCS

 

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T.M. Franklin started out her career writing non-fiction in a television newsroom. Graduating with a B.A. in Communications specializing in broadcast journalism and production, she worked for nine years as a major market television news producer, and garnered two regional Emmy Awards, before she resigned to be a full-time mom and part-time freelance writer. Her first published novel, MORE, was born during National Novel Writing month, a challenge to write a novel in thirty days. MORE was well-received, being selected as a finalist in the 2013 Kindle Book Review Best Indie Book Awards, as well as winning the Suspense/Thriller division of the Blogger Book Fair Reader’s Choice Awards.
In addition to MORE and its sequel, The Guardians, Franklin penned the Amazon best-selling short stories A Piece of Cake andWindow, which also won a Blogger Book Fair Reader’s Choice Award for Short Story/Fantasy. Her new YA romance, How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You, is Franklin’s first love story without a paranormal or fantasy element, although she believes love is the best kind of magic.
TWELVE, the final installment in the MORE Trilogy will be released in the fall of 2014.

Connect with T.M. Franklin

Website | E-mail | Facebook | Twitter

Sneak Peek Sunday - T.M. Franklin

Today, we get a sneak peek at the fun upcoming release from T.M. Franklin!

Summary

Seventeen-year-old Oliver Wendell Holmes (Yes, his parents are just that peculiar, but his brother’s name is Sherlock, so it could have been worse) knows that he’s different. He’s quirky, awkward, and he’s okay with that. Oliver also likes making lists—meticulous procedures for achieving his goals, step-by-step. Whether it’s “How to Get an A in Chemistry” or “How to Get Accepted to MIT,” he has a process, and it’s worked for him so far. He doesn’t even care that the popular kids mock him. Oliver’s got his eye on the prize.

So when he decides it’s time to declare his feelings for Ainsley Bishop, the girl of his dreams, it’s only natural for him to make a list—a point-by-point strategy to win her heart. He knows it will take a grand gesture for her to see all he has to offer, and her approaching birthday provides the ideal opportunity for Oliver to put his plan into action.

Finding the perfect gift is a challenge Oliver meets with his usual dogged determination. He’ll need to watch her carefully for clues to pinpoint exactly what he should give her. And along the way, he might just learn that what Ainsley really needs is not quite what he expected.

Excerpt

I hesitated for a moment, scanning the parking lot as I tried to decide whether I should approach her or continue on. On the one hand, it was a chance to interact with Ainsley without interruption. On the other hand, it was a chance to interact with Ainsley without interruption. I gulped, my mouth suddenly dry. After all, it was one thing to have a list, a plan of action. It was often another thing to implement that plan when the object of your affection made you feel like you might throw up at any moment.

I was pretty sure that would not aid my cause.

On the other hand, she was sitting there all alone and looking a little sad, if I wasn’t mistaken. And yes, I realized that was three hands, but I was kind of panicking a bit and unsure what to do and counting hands was a low priority at that moment.

“Oliver?” Ainsley looked up and waved, effectively making the decision for me.

I took a deep breath in a fruitless attempt to calm my racing heartbeat and put on what I hoped was a casual, yet friendly, expression as I made my way to her. She smiled, and I remembered that might be a good idea. To smile. So I did.

“Hi,” I said, my voice cracking. It always chose the most inopportune times to do that.

Ainsley was too nice to point it out, though. “Hi,” she said.

“Are you, uh . . .” I could do this. I could be brave. I could take the bull by the horns or the girl by the . . . whatever. “Do you need a ride or, uh, something?”

Good. That was good. Not too pushy, but helpful. I was a helpful guy. I could be helpful. Of course, then she’d be in the cab of my truck with me. A closed-in area where I’d have to make conversation without making a fool of myself. I felt the panic edging up again.

“Oh, no, that’s okay,” she said, waving a hand toward the football field. “I’m waiting for Ian. He’ll be done soon.”

Oh. I wasn’t sure if I felt disappointed or relieved. Disappointed. A little relieved. But mostly disappointed. “Okay then. I’ll just . . .” I made a vague gesture over my shoulder as I started to back away. I really needed to practice these interactions in front of the mirror or something.

“I was surprised to see you at practice,” she said, stopping me in my tracks. “I mean, no offense, but Drama Club doesn’t really seem like your kind of thing.”

Despite my strongest efforts to keep it down, a flush inched its way up my neck. “Oh . . . no. Yeah. It’s totally. My thing that is. Drama Club. Very Drama-clubby. I am. I mean.” I reached up to tug at my hair. Why couldn’t I form complete sentences? “I like plays,” I said finally, pleased that at least that made some kind of sense.

Want to read more? Well, here's your chance - a signed print ARC of How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You is up for grabs - so Enter now for a chance to WIN!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You

by T.M. Franklin

Giveaway ends April 22, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

BLOGGERS: If you'd like to request an ARC of Ainsley for review - or sign up for the blog tour in June - do it here!

Ainsley will be released JUNE 12, 2014!!

The Wednesday Word

Author To Author’s Newsletter                                                    

November 20, 2013

Writing & Publishing Tips

 

Time Management

When you're an author, the phrase "time management" can seem almost laughable. Especially if you have another demanding job that doesn't always allow you the time you wish to have for putting work into your writing. I have met many people along my writing journey who tell me that they would love to write a book and even have a few great ideas but simply don't have the time.  My response is always the same. Make the time.

If writing is something important to you and you hope to someday make a career out of it, you must dedicate yourself despite the numerous other demands that life presents to you. This can be a difficult task and at times seem impossible. I am here to tell you that it is possible.

My best ideas come to me when I am short on time. It seems that when that rare occasion comes along, a day in which I can completely focus on nothing but writing, I end up spending most of my time either staring blankly at a computer screen, or shuffling through the many interesting posts by my friends and followers on blogs, Twitter, and Facebook.

Perhaps it is because I work well under pressure? However, the reason doesn't seem to really matter. What matters is that most humans perform their work well when they have no other option but to simply get the required tasks completed.

When working a fulltime (or more) job, it seems there isn't any time left in the day for writing. After household chores, dinner, and family obligations, most of us desire nothing more than to simply let our heads hit the pillow and start again tomorrow. It is at this exact time that you need to discipline yourself. You will be happy you did.

Some days, I only have about a half hour or so to dedicate to my author career. Whether it be a quick 500 words typed into Microsoft on my phone while on break at work or scheduling blog posts for the next week, any work is good work and keeps your creative juices flowing.

Don't let time be an issue. Use every minute of every day to be as productive as you can.

Using tools to stay organized helps greatly in this area. Things like calendars, planners, social media schedulers, and email reminders will prompt you to keep working even when you're exhausted. Trust me, these assets make life a lot easier.

Another issue that can hinder your time management skills is a lack of belief that your work is important. From time to time I think that may of us authors question whether or not a certain task really needs to be completed. If you originally thought at one point in time that it was important, chances are it still is. Don't let your mood dictate your decisions. Fatigue and stress can greatly influence our choices. If it was put on your "to-do" list, do it.

Lastly, if you skip a day because you just couldn't accomplish one more ting, that's ok. Remember there is always tomorrow. Just don't give up.

 

By Author to Author Member and Contributor, Andrea Goodson. You can learn more about Andrea on her website, www.andreagoodson.wordpress.com

Exciting News for Author to Author Group Members

Sydney Logan's Giveaway & New Release

Sydney Logan is publishing another holiday story! The Little Drummer Boy is set for release on November 29th! In the meantime, visit Sydney's website to enter her giveaway for a $10.00 Amazon gift card and a hand-crafted bracelet! http://www.sydneylogan.com/2013/11/giveaway-little-drummer-boy-by-sydney.html

Ninety-Nine in November

Author L.V. Lewis has put her first book in the Ghetto Girl Romance Quadrilogy on sale for 99 cents the entire month of November! If you are a Fifty Shades fan and would like an exciting twist from a cultural perspective, then this book is for you! Check it out! http://www.amazon.com/Shades-Jungle-Ghetto-Romance-Quadrilogy-ebook/dp/B009ZL7DJQ

 

Author Lindsey Gray Celebrates New Release

Lindsey Gray's new release, Not The Same Season, went live yesterday! Download your copy today! http://www.amazon.com/Not-Same-Season-Lindsey-Gray-ebook/dp/B00GRGZMM2

 

Meet Up With T.M. Franklin in Seattle

T. M. Franklin will be at the Barnes & Noble at 600 Pine St. in Seattle, WA signing books, chatting with readers, and doing giveaways from 2:00pm-4:00pm on Friday, November 22nd! Make sure to pay her a visit if you're in he area!

T.M. Franklin Hosts Giveaway & Blog Tour

Author T.M. Franklin is on tour and hosting a giveaway! Visit her blog for details- www.tmfranklin.com and enter the giveaway here - http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/YWY2YzM5YWI0MWE1NWIzOGZhNzVjMDg5MTliMGJkOjE1/

Andrea Goodson to Reveal Cover for To Be Loved

Join author Andrea Goodson on Thursday, November 26th as she reveals the cover to her upcoming YA new release, To Be Loved! You can also enter for a chance to win a signed paperback! All bloggers are invited to participate. Contact Andrea via her website for more information. www.andreagoodson.wordpress.com.

Wednesday's Weird Word

Atrabilious

Definition: referring to somebody who is gloomy, morose, irritable or bad-tempered.

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Thank you for reading this week's edition of Author to Author's, The Wednesday Word! Visit us again next week for more news and savings to refresh your bookish pleasures! As always, feel free to share and spread the word!

The Wednesday Word

Author To Author’s Newsletter                                                    

November 6, 2013

Writing & Publishing Tips

Using Strange Words

This is part two of a three-part series on Researching and Writing Historical Fiction originally written in 2012.
 

---

How to Best Use Appropriate Terminology in Historical Fiction

---

As a child, I was taught to use proper terms for everything.  When I had a question about what a word meant, my mother would send me to (drumroll, please) The Dictionary.  This 1935 dictionary was about five inches thick and weighed…well, I don’t know how much it weighed, but it was heavy. And it was my best friend all the way through my undergrad studies.

 

When I began writing fiction (in my thirties, but early training can stick with one) the insistence upon using the proper terms, with full knowledge regarding their appropriate application, was important to me.  But, like most any nerdy know-it-all, I tended to overuse all that I knew at first.

Don’t Overwhelm

Readers of historical fiction want to have a flavor for the era in which they find themselves. An historical tale about the Scottish Highlands, for example, should definitely mention men in kilts.  They will want to hear a bit of an accent, too.  Some “braw shoulders” would not go amiss. Nor do “yon brogues” in the mention of footwear.  Readers want to know if the claymore is the weapon of choice in a battle. They might even be interested to know it is sometimes more accurately written as claidheamh mòr.

 

Terms like these are enough to flavor the historical fiction story.  Using too many, however, is like adding far too much cumin to your curry, garlic powder to your stuffing, or gravy to your mashed potatoes. The essence of the story is overwhelmed by the accents.  This is not a good idea.

Speaking in Tongues

Hard and fast rules about characters speaking in their “native tongues” are not to be found, but there are some common sense notions on this subject.  Remember, as a writer, that your first priority is to share a story with your readers.  To that end, your narrative should flow and dialogue (internal and external) should suit the characters.  You should endeavor not to draw a reader out of the story if possible.

 

It is fun to hear a character speaking the occasional word in “their” language.  An occasional word of Irish Gaelic (Gaeilge) or Old Norse or Latin is flavorful.  Readers will enjoy knowing that a woman’s long tunic/dress is a léine, but they probably don’t need to hear an entire conversation about pulling teeth in Gaeilge.

 

Another concern some authors might find is when to use native languages. Should the reader only read the words as “foreign” when the characters speak or should the words be sprinkled throughout unspoken narrative?  This is purely author’s choice (at least until your editors get a crack at your manuscript), but remember that if one is hearing a “foreign” word, it isn’t always comprehensible.

Keep it Real

As I mentioned earlier, I tended to be a nerdy know-it-all when I first started writing historical pieces. (Some might argue that I still am!) For history geeks like myself, there is a certain kind of joy in sharing the minutiae one encounters during research.  Words that were hard to find to suit a situation, a rare term or expression indigenous to a people or place, newly-discovered slang—these things can make the true history geek giggle gleefully as they seek paths where the new information can be shared.

 

Which is fine, when it works.  A scene can be structured to include the new findings, true, but as a writer, you want to make sure (again) that the focus is on your story rather than the accents you bring to it.  Keep the flow organic, natural, not forced just to include the new information.  Historical fiction is storytelling.  Educational? Sure.  But remember that the goal is not to teach a college course in, say, Koine, a Greek language.  The goal is to tell the story about people that might speak that language.  Make sure the terms and language usage are “real” for that time and purpose, not forced to conform to some new—and extremely cool!—information you found in your research.

 

When your readers reach “The End” you want them to come away satisfied, intrigued about a different time and place.  You want them to feel as if they’ve been immersed in a new experience, but not uncomfortably so.  Bring them with you, but don’t overwhelm them with details.

 

If you find that, after your story is complete, you still have a lot you want to share?  Blog it! Because there are history geeks out there just like me who will want to read what you’ve found.  We’ll all benefit and have a good time, which is really what it’s all about.

 

By Author to Author Member and Contributor, Sandi Layne. You can learn more about Sandi on her website, http://sandyquill.com

Exciting News for Author to Author Group Members

Ninety-Nine in November

Author L.V. Lewis has put her first book in the Ghetto Girl Romance Quadrilogy on sale for 99 cents the entire month of November! If you are a Fifty Shades fan and would like an exciting twist from a cultural perspective, then this book is for you! Check it out! http://www.amazon.com/Shades-Jungle-Ghetto-Romance-Quadrilogy-ebook/dp/B009ZL7DJQ

 

Author Lindsey Gray's Cover Reveal

Lindsey Gray has revealed the cover to her upcoming new release, Not The Same Season. Take a look at her blog to see this fantastic cover and read an excerpt! http://lindsey-gray.blogspot.com/?zx=6b126e5e8f412c90

 

T.M. Franklin to Release The Guardians TOMORROW!

The highly anticipated sequel to MORE will be available for purchase tomorrow! Stay tuned to T.M.'s website for the buy links or to preorder a signed copy! http://www.tmfranklin.com/

Andrea Goodson to Reveal Cover for To Be Loved

Join author Andrea Goodson on Thursday, November 26th as she reveals the cover to her upcoming YA new release, To Be Loved! You can also enter for a chance to win a signed paperback! All bloggers are invited to participate. Contact Andrea via her website for more information. www.andreagoodson.wordpress.com. *Note: Cover Reveal date has been changed from 11/7/13 to 11/26/13*

Wednesday's Weird Word

Cabotage

Definition: coastal navigation; the exclusive right of a country to control the air traffic within its borders


Origin: Greek/ French

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Thank you for reading this week's edition of Author to Author's, The Wednesday Word! Visit us again next week for more news and savings to refresh your bookish pleasures! As always, feel free to share and spread the word!

Sunday Sneak Peek - The Guardians

Today, a Sneak Peek of The Guardians, Book Two in the MORE Trilogy

Coming November 7, 2013

Ava's life is . . . complicated.

After all, it's not every day a girl learns she's not entirely human, or unlocks hidden powers strong enough to make even the First Race sit up and take notice. After surviving an attempted kidnapping and standing up to the Race's Ruling Council, Ava Michaels returns to college and what she hopes is a normal life. But Ava quickly realizes that for her, normal may not even exist anymore.

In fact, the Council wants her under their control, and they're not the only ones. The mysterious Rogues have a plan of their own, and it turns out Ava's a big part of it, whether she wants to be or not. On top of that, her new relationship is tested in ways she never expected. Her boyfriend, Caleb Foster, has disappeared-accused of betraying the Race-and Ava herself stands implicated in a crime she didn't commit.

Clearing both their names will mean uncovering a web of deceit and intrigue with Ava woven right in the center. To unravel the strands, she joins forces with some unlikely allies; a Protector who once haunted her nightmares, a young girl with secrets as unexpected as Ava's, and a group of rebel Guardians who have their own fight against the Council. Together they stand in a battle to find the truth, bring Caleb home, and secure Ava's freedom-not to mention save her life.

“Did Balaam tell you how this works?” he asked.

Evan swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing as his gaze darted toward the slimy walls and down to the littered ground. He finally focused on Caleb and seemed to square his shoulders. “He said you could . . . teleport us?”

He’d said it more as a question than a statement, and Caleb grinned. It wasn’t the first time he’d had such a reaction. “Yeah. We’re going to have to get close, I’m afraid.” He waved the boy over and turned him around. Men generally tended to be more comfortable if they weren’t face-to-face. “Cross your hands over your chest,” he said, folding his arms over Evan’s firmly. “This will be quick, only a few seconds, but take a deep breath and close your eyes. It can be a little disorienting.”

Evan nodded.

Caleb could feel his heart racing under his arm. “It’s okay,” he said. “Try and relax and it will be over before—” Caleb stiffened at the familiar tingle of a Race presence nearby. He cursed under his breath.

“What is it?” Evan asked.

“Someone’s coming,” he whispered, his hold on Evan tightening in urgency. “Brace yourself; we’ve got to go now.”

They shifted, reappearing in an empty field. Evan staggered as Caleb’s knees buckled and he leaned into him.

“Sorry,” Caleb said, his voice cracking as he reached into his pocket for some R-cubes. “That was a long one. I need a minute.”

“Are you okay?”

Caleb chewed and swallowed with a nod. “Yeah. You?”

Evan nodded, still looking a bit stunned. He turned around in a circle. “Where are we?”

“About fifty miles north of—damn.” Caleb shot to his feet. “They’re here.”

“Who?” Evan paled. “How?”

“I don’t know. Balaam was wrong. They must have a shifter . . . and a tracker of some kind.” He reached for Evan. “I won’t be able to get us far, but we need to shake them. I’m going to try several short shifts instead of a long one.” He popped another cube. “Ready?”

Evan closed his eyes, his hands trembling under Caleb’s. “Ready.”

Caleb took a deep breath and shifted, beginning to wonder if this was one mission he would fail.

The Guardians will be available November 7th, but you can pre-order today!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | TWCS

(Coming soon for Kindle & iTunes)

Add The Guardians to Your Goodreads Shelf

You can also Pre-Order a SIGNED copy of The Guardians HERE.

Join the Release Day Party on Facebook and/or Twitter all day on RELEASE DAY - NOVEMBER 7th for a chance to win fun swag like t-shirts and necklackes, signed bookmarks and Amazon gift cards. You'll get more excerpts, and some guest authors will be stopping by to chat and give away eBooks.

Follow @TM_Franklin on Twitter and join the Facebook Event for more chances to win!

Sunday Sneak Peek - The Guardians

 

Today, a little something different - an actual peek inside T.M. Franklin's copy of The Guardians, which releases November 7th!

Want to read more? Well, it's available NOW for PRE-ORDER!!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | TWCS

(Coming soon for Kindle & iTunes)

You can also pre-order a signed copy of either MORE or The Guardians (or both, at a discount) on T.M. Franklin's web site. Quantities are limited.

And mark your calendars for The Guardians Release Celebration, starting October 25th at The Book Spot in Round Rock, Texas and including the Texas Book Festival in Austin, NW Book Fest in Kirkland, WA and a release party at Barnes & Noble in Kennewick, WA. T.M. Franklin will be on hand to sign copies of MORE and The Guardians at all of the events, so stop by if you're in the area. Get more details on any of the events HERE. 

There will also be a big Facebook/Twitter party ALL DAY on RELEASE DAY, November 7th. Join the Facebook party HERE, and follow T.M. Franklin on Twitter (@TM_Franklin) for a chance to meet some new authors, win eBooks, gift cards, & swag, and have a lot of fun! 

Hope to see you there!

The Wednesday Word - September 18, 2013

Author To Author’s Newsletter                                                    

September 18, 2013

Writing & Publishing Tips

Picking a Title

Finding the right title for my books is something I spend a lot of time contemplating. Often a title doesn’t come to me for a particular book until I sit down to write the book blurb for my publisher.

Need and Truth, books two and three in my Finding Anna series, were like this. The right title wasn’t coming to me no matter how many minutes—hours—I spent thinking about it. I was at a total loss. I was discussing Finding Anna, Book 2 with my editor one day, and she suggested I go ahead and write book summaries for marketing, and see if a title came to me. Sure enough, after I finished, I noticed a theme. Need. Could she be what he needed? Could he be what she needed? Could they find what they needed in each other?

Red Zone, my newest novel, was the exact opposite. I knew even before I started writing what the title would be. The hero, Gage Daniels, is a professional football player. I knew I wanted to utilize a football reference in the title, I just had to find the one that would be the best fit. It’s a romantic suspense novel, and I wanted something that would reflect that. In football, the red zone is the stretch of field between the twenty yard line, and the end zone. They are the last yards that stand between the offense putting points on the board. It’s the part of the field that either makes or breaks a team. They pull together and score, or they fall apart, and lose the precious opportunity.

Every story is different, but for me, it’s important to take the time to find the right title for a book. It should say something about the story whether it be the overall theme, or something more vague. Either way, the title should mean something, and shouldn’t be rushed. It’s better to take the time to find a title that works, than to pick something generic that has no meaning.

By Author to Author Member and Contributor, Sherri Hayes. You can learn more about Sherri and her book at http://www.sherrihayesauthor.com/

Exciting News for Author to Author Group Members

Lissa Bryan Hosts Ghost Story Contest

To celebrate the one year Book Birthday of Lissa Bryan's, Ghost Writer, she is hosting a ghost story contest! Visit Lissa's blog for information on how to enter, rules, and bust out your notebook and pen! There are some fantastic prizes at stake! The winner will be chosen on Halloween! http://www.lissabryan.com/2013/09/ghost-story-contest.html

Andrea Goodson to Rerelease The Riverbend Trilogy

It's almost Riverbend's first Book Birthday! In celebration, Andrea Goodson is rereleasing the entire trilogy, Riverbend, Rapid Water, and Waking Tide, as a one-book boxed set the week of October 6th! Any bloggers interested in reviewing the entire collection prior to rerelease are invited to contact Andrea via Facebook or Website for an ARC. www.andreagoodson.wordpress.com

Sydney Logan's 2000 Likes Giveaway

Sydney Logan has hit 2000 Likes on her Facebook page! She is still celebrating and hosting an amazing giveaway with books and swag from some awesome authors! Visit her website to enter! http://www.sydneylogan.com/p/giveaways.html

 

Fall into Reading Giveaway!

Stay tuned to Author to Author's Blog for the upcoming Fall Into Reading Giveaway! Enter for a chance to win a $25.00 Giftcard! Giveaway takes place September 22-29. Don't miss it! www.author-to-author-blog.blogspot.com    

Sherri Hayes Hosts Newsletter Contest

Want a chance to win a bookmark from Sherri's book, Behind Closed Doors? Visit her blog and sign up for her newsletter to enter! While you're there take a look around and explore some of her other work...that is if you like sensual romance. Who doesn't? http://sherri-hayes.blogspot.com/2013/09/weekly-update-contest-announcement.html?zx=71f71efc3854ef20

Allie Jean and T.M. Franklin Host Vine Challenge

Are you an Instagram junkie? Don't feel bad, most of use are! Take a look at Allie Jean and T.M. Franklin's websites to enter the Vine Challenge and win a prize pack of books! The contest runs September 12th to October 17th! http://alliejean.net/ and http://www.tmfranklin.com/

Allie Jean To Release New Book Trailer

Author Allie Jean is all set to release the book trailer of Book 2 in The Dreamer series...tomorrow! Visit her website to watch! http://alliejean.net

Lorenz Font Releases Tormented

The second book in Lorenz Font's The Gates Legacy has been released! Check out Lorenz's website to read the summary and check out the first book in her series, Hunted! http://lorenzfont.com

Wednesday's Weird Word

Borborygmus

This one sounds as though it should be from the world of Harry Potter!

Definition: Medical term, referring to a rumbling in the gut. Origin: French, Latin, Greek

Savvy Savings

We seem to be running low on coupons this week, but take a look at the ultra low-priced reads hand picked by A2A members on Kindle! *covers are never posted without permission from the author*

Katrina, The Beginning by Elizabeth Lorraine

4 STARS $0.99

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004K1EVY6/

Gingerbread Man by Maggie Shayne

4.5 STARS FREE

http://www.amazon.com/Gingerbread-Man-ebook/dp/B00EHI1MDK/

Out in the Country by Kate Hewitt

4 STARS FREE

http://www.amazon.com/Out-In-The-Country-ebook/dp/B008EV1C9U/ref

Thank you for reading this week's edition of Author to Author's, The Wednesday Word! Visit us again next week for more news and savings to refresh your bookish pleasures! As always, feel free to share and spread the word!

Tempting Tuesdays ~ Chicken Marsala from "Bet Me" by Jennifer Cruise

This weeks post is so delicious, we just had to borrow it from Author to Author contributor, T.M. Franklin. This post was originally posted as Why I Blame Jennifer Cruise for These Extra Ten Pounds on T.M.'s blog. Enjoy!

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Okay, so I know this blog is supposed to be about writing and publishing and my journey in that world, but tonight, I made my FAVORITE dinner ever - Chicken Marsala. And I happened to learn how to make it here:

So that counts, right? Kinda? Throughout the book, the main character, Min, talks about this mouth-watering Chicken Marsala, and I was THRILLED to find that Crusie put the recipe in the back!

Once you try this recipe, you'll jump on board, I guarantee it. It's so easy - and SOOOOOO delicious!

So here's all you need - chicken (I use chicken tenders because they cook up so quickly, but you could use chicken breast if you want), sliced mushrooms, olive oil, butter, a bottle of marsala, salt and pepper, and I forgot to take a picture of it, but some flour.

  

Put the chicken tenders between two pieces of plastic and pound the heck out of them! Sprinkle with salt and pepper...

Heat some olive oil and add a chunk of butter.

Dredge the chicken pieces in some flour...

 

Then brown them and drain on paper towels. You don't need a ton of oil. You're just trying to brown them, not deep fry them, and they will cook up pretty quickly.

Don't wipe out the pan - this is where all the yumminess is!

Now it's time for the Marsala. I love it, so I use the whole bottle...

I love mushrooms too, so I add the whole box. Now let it simmer until the mushrooms are cooked and the sauce is reduced by about half. Season to taste.

Add a little more butter to thicken the sauce, then put the chicken pieces back in.

Warm the chicken through...

...and serve with some crusty bread to sop up all that yummy sauce.

Some people enjoy adding garlic, onions or shallots, but I like it just like this. Enjoy!

And if you put on a few extra pounds, don't blame me. Blame Jennifer Crusie.

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Thanks T.M. for taking on this Food-Lit recipe for all of us! I know what's going on my table Tuesday night. What about you?