Almost April. Really? -- ROW80

Usually the holidays fly by, and I stare down the face of winter and know the days will drag until spring break. Not this year. Although, living in California takes away the winter effect. 

I truly have no clue what happened to the first quarter of 2014 and round one of A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80). 

Yes, I'm neck deep in preparations for my newest YA book, Chasing Shadows, to debut. And I have been quite busy with proofreading and editing jobs. 

Wait, I guess I do know where the time went. 

I'm actually pretty happy with my ROW80 Round One achievements. 

Speaking of which, tomorrow (gasp--tomorrow!) I will be revealing the cover of Chasing Shadows. I am so fortunate that some amazing authors and bloggers are helping me out and showing it off starting tomorrow through 4/5. SO excited!

Normally, in April, I participate in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. As much as I hate to miss, I am focusing on writing my novella this month. It's 25,000 words or bust!

Wishing everyone an amazing Monday. Please check back tomorrow for the cover reveal. 

Oh, and I saw Divergent last night. I thought it was great, and I rarely feel that way when I've loved a book. But this has a lot to do with why...

Yum!

Magic Unfolds by NL Greene Cover Reveal

Today I'm thrilled to host N.L. Greene and help with her cover reveal for Magic Unfolds. 

About Magic Unfolds (The MysticSeeker Series, Book 2)

For the first time in her life, Becky had hopes of fulfilling her own dreams when Blaine Winters inexplicably arrived into her quiet life, teasing her with astounding possibilities she never thought imaginable.  Not only did he reveal that magic was indeed real, but he also stirred feelings in her that she had only read about in clichéd romance novels.  But just as quickly as he appeared, he was gone.  Then Becky’s life was turned upside down by a family emergency.  With the overwhelming demands of running an elite law firm as well as her ex becoming more of a threat each day, she didn’t have time for whimsical thoughts or personal exploration anyway.

Now that Blaine has mysteriously disappeared from her life, she can put her family first and focus on what she needs to do.  If only it were that easy.  Blaine may be gone and all of Becky’s little girl dreams of a world filled with magic with him, but that doesn’t mean all’s forgotten.  Nightmares are plaguing her, someone is watching her, and there are powers within her that she can’t seem to control.

Will Becky finally get her chance at magic after all, even if she doesn’t want it?

Buy Links: Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords. 

*** Note: Magic Unfolds is available now for Pre-order on Barnes & Noble and I-tunes and is only 99 Cent until April 20th!! Illusions Begin will be 99 cents from 3/25-4/20/14 as well. ***

About the Author

Author N.L. Greene is a writer of YA and NA Contemporary and Paranormal Romances. She currently lives in Florida with her husband and two beautiful daughters. When she isn't writing or reading, she enjoys traveling around the world with her family, shopping and doing other girly things with her girls, or playing video games with her husband. She is a lover of dogs, chocolate, and anything pink!

Author Links: Amazon Author Page, Facebook, Goodreads, Blog, and Twitter.

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Wishing everyone a happy Tuesday!

Help Wanted for Cover Reveal: Sneak Peek Included

I am so excited that Chasing Shadows will be out soon. 

But guess what is done and ready to share with everyone?

The cover!

I am planning a cover reveal for 4/1-4/5 and could really use some help. If you could post the cover and an HTML-ready post during that time (or heck, even within a few days after), I'd greatly appreciate it. Like jump-up-and-down-for-joy appreciate it.

To entice you, this is a portion of the cover...

I promise I'll send you everything you need... it'll be a simple cut-and-paste. 

If you can help, please fill out the Google Doc form here. Or, if it's easier, just leave your email in the comments below and a date you can post, and I'll sign you up. 

Thanks in advance!!

Oh, and check out my Mom in Love with Fiction blog today for information about a new release from fellow indie author, Bethany Lopez.

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A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) Update

I'm grooving on getting ready for the release of Chasing Shadows. So exciting, but marketing always makes me nervous. Wish me luck!

Giveaway Extravaganza: Eva Pohler

 

It's that time again! Time to celebrate another Facebook milestone: 2000 likes at Eva Pohler's Book Page. 

To help with the celebration, twenty-five authors and fifteen bloggers have joined together to offer readers an ebook extravaganza! 

Enter the rafflecopter below to win, and stop by the Facebook Event for additional Flash Swag Giveaways (t-shirts, buttons, pens, and other fun swag) going on from March 20th to March 24th. 

Winners will be announced on Tuesday, March 25th! And don't forget that release day for The Gatekeeper's Secret: Gatekeeper's Saga, Book Five is April 1st! We will be celebrating that day, too, with my April Fool's Isn't Just for Fools Party with the Olympians! Details to come.

And there's an eCopy of Chasing Memories up for grabs as part of the fun! Happy Friday!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Breaking Fences by Juliana Haygert Cover Reveal

Breaking Fences (The Breaking Series, #2)

by Juliana Haygert 
Genre: NA contemporary romance

Word Count: ~80,000

Release date: June/2014

Cover by: Okay Creations

Summary from Goodreads:
All Beatriz “Bia” Fernandes wants is to prove herself—to her family and friends—though it’s hard to prove anything with an overbearing father and three famous polo-playing older brothers. After her acceptance into college results in a heated family argument, the Brazilian girl leaves everything behind to find her own American dream.

College life away from home is perfect until the people she believes to be her friends turn on her. With lies and rumors threatening to suffocate her, Bia turns to her only freedom. Riding.

But one thing gets in the way of her escape. Garrett Blackwell and his bad cowboy attitude. Working at the ranch is his obligation, bugging Bia is his newfound hobby. His thick skin and easy grin don’t hide what Bia already knows—this misunderstood and lonely cowboy fights his own demons. Brushing horses’ coats and mucking out stalls shouldn’t be this sexy, and it isn’t long before he becomes a part of her distraction.

However, escaping won’t solve her problems, and it’s up to Bia to break down the fences around her and prove her strength—not to her family and friends, but to herself … and for Garrett. Because standing on her own doesn’t have to mean standing alone.

** Companion novel of Breaking the Reins. Can be read out of order.**

Check out the Pinterest board!

 

Companion Book:
(cover linked to Goodreads)

About the Author

New Adult author and contributor at NA Alley blog.

While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

Author Links:

    

Cover Reveal Organized by:

A Woman Loves: ROW80

Source

I read a lot of genres and enjoy different types of characters, although I admit I'm drawn to the female voice and its complexity. 

When I read a female character, I sometimes get agitated. Why did she make that decision? Why does she ignore every warning sign? But then I remember how complicated our minds work (having three daughters, I get reminded of this fact many times a day).

At the end of the day, I need to feel passionate about characters. Sometimes that means I want to wring their neck. Actually, I best remember the characters that challenge the way I think. Who make choices I wouldn't necessarily make. 

Women see life through a complicated lens. Consider the following lyrics:

A woman loves beyond her questions

And dreams beyond her doubts

Her heart will lead and she will follow

Even when there's no way out

Her eyes refuse to see the danger

As she walks right through the fire

A man may give himself to passion and desire 

But a woman loves

(from Steve Wariner's A Woman Loves)

What do you think of the lyrics above? Does it give women too much credit or not enough?

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A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) Update

Cover & synopsis. Done and done. If you don't know who Jo Michaels is, you should check her out on her blog and at Indie Books Gone Wild. Mastermind, she is. 

I have a favor to ask: Can you help with my cover reveal? I would be so grateful. If you can post anytime 4/1-5, please sign up here. 

Also, if you would be willing to read an ARC eCopy of Chasing Shadows (hopefully to you in the next two weeks) in exchange for an honest review posted around release time, please fill out my form here. The first ten who leave a review will get a signed paperback copy when it releases.

Thanks! I'm so excited to see Chasing Shadows released! 

Attempting a Writing Irish Proverb: ROW80

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Source

Always remember to forget
The things that made you sad.
But never forget to remember
The things that made you glad.

Always remember to forget
The friends that proved untrue.
But never forget to remember
Those that have stuck by you.

Always remember to forget
The troubles that passed away.
But never forget to remember
The blessings that come each day.

For my writer friends, my poor attempt at a similarly-themed writing proverb

Always remember to forget
The days when words pass you by.
But never forget to remember
Times when words from your heart fly.

(That's the best my poetry gets on a Monday!)

Today on Facebook, you can join the event for Cassy Roop and Casey Bond's Release Day Extravaganza from 10am-11pm EDT here. There will be many amazing prizes and some great fun.

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Mondays are also my A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) check-in days.

Synopsis. Almost check. One more round of running it by my fave writing buddy should do the trick.

Cover for Chasing Shadows. Almost check. Waiting on above.

Request ARC reviewers. Why do I find asking for favors so hard? 

Off to get some stuff done. Wishing everyone a week of productivity!