Judging a book by its cover

I admit I do. Many, many times I have picked up a book because the cover caught my eye.The cover for a book is like the model for a swimsuit.

The thin sexy beauty gets up there and struts her stuff across the stage. Clad in the designers swimwear. Sure we like the bikini, but what sells us on going to the store and trying it on is the model.

She shows us how good it makes her look and we think, “I would look so hot in that.”  At least until we get into the dressing room. Once we get our not so modelish form squeezed into the bits of spandex will we know for sure if we really like it.

The same goes for a book cover we look at it and say ooo that’s a great cover. Caught by color or image and reach out to “try it on.”

Opening the book becomes stepping into the dressing room. We read the synopsis, the first few pages. Maybe give it the old page 99 test. Then we know if it’s a keeper or makes our butt look too big.

But it was the cover that got us that far. The best covers are simple, to the point. Eye catching colors or a stark image that says, “I’m the perfect fit.”

As a designer myself it’s very important to find the perfect image to capture the feel or meaning of the book. I want the reader to know what kind of story their looking at. At the same time I want it to grab attention and say, “Pick me, pick me!”

Not an easy task. Having a good designer is as important as having a good editor. You want a designer that will choose materials to bring your work to life.

Readers judge books by their covers, just like we do clothing on a model. The perfect cover design is just like that swimsuit. It will make you look sleek and sexy for all to oogle on the beach… er the bookshelf.

Getting visible for authors and their books

The hardest part of being an author isn’t writing the novel or even publishing. The hardest part is getting visible. In the not really so distant past authors had to depend on road trips to different bookstores and venues to grab attention. If they were really lucky, someone would land a TV or radio spot. Possibly get reviews from newspapers and magazines.

Those venues are still there and can be successful in reaching readers, but they can also be expensive and possibly limited to local areas. In today’s digital age authors can reach not just one city but the entire globe. All from their computer and often in their pajamas.

Why yes, I am wearing my comfiest jams right now, complete with fuzzy slippers. So don’t judge. ;o) Now let’s get back on topic…

The problem with this global reach is… well, it’s global, global is huge. The ways to reach out and grab your audience in that vast sea of readers is huge too. So how does one author and their books become visible? Create your internet platform with two kinds of sites. Listings/Profiles and Social Media.

We all know about social media like G+, Facebook, Twitter, etc.… Those sites take constant checking and maintaining in order for them to work properly for the author. All that checking, posting and commenting can take a lot of time.

That’s where listing sites come in. There are many sites out there that allow you to sign in and list your profile and books then leave. You just have to come back every so often to make sure your page is updated and working properly.  Just dropping off a profile doesn’t sound very effective, but there are more of these sites than there are social media.

There are sites for every kind of genre, niche or just general book and author listings. People browse these

sites to find something new or interesting that goes with their interests, making it very easy to stumble upon your author page. Giving you the chance to snare a new reader, they may even share your page on their social sites brining more possible readers.

I know, I know your social media takes up so much time, how can you add one more place? The most time you’ll spend on a listing pages will be during the first time you sign up and create your profile. After that five minutes max every few months on on a need to do basis to update your page is worth the possibility of hooking more readers isn’t it?

Almost every niche you can think of has at least one listing site where you can put up a profile and gain more exposure. There’s another benefit to an author spreading themselves around the web, it adds more chances of the author’s name or book title being picked up by search engines. We all know that’s a plus.

Here are a few good listing sites to get started.

AuthorsdB

Maniac Readers

Literary Addicts

Author’s Den

And many more, so go find your niche and get visible.

Do you use any other listing sites you would like to share?

For the A to Z Blog Challenge for the letter G

Amazon introduces a new way to buy books without leaving Twitter

Amazon has a new way to shop for books with out leaving Twitter.  All you have to do is connect your Twitter and Amazon accounts.

Then, when an author tweets an Amazon link for their book all you have to do is reply to the tweet and include #amazoncart. The book will be added to the cart on your Amazon account. When you’re ready to check out, go to your Amazon account and sign in all your fictional finds will be in your shopping cart waiting.

Okay, #amazoncart can be used for more than just books. As long as the tweet contains an Amazon link you can add it to your account’s cart with this magical new hashtag without leaving twitter.  

This simple little tool is going to be a great way for authors, and other vendors to sell their wares. Our marketing on Twitter usually includes a link to our books, now if a reader thinks it’s interesting they can toss it right into their #amazoncart.

When tweeting your books for potential readers, be cautious of which link you’re using. The link must be the full Amazon link or link automatically shortened by Twitter. Not a bitly or other shortened link by an outside source. Remember don’t include #amazoncart in your own tweet unless your book added to your own Amazon cart a zillion times. :)

So what do you include in a book tweet to tease shoppers?

Book title

Brief teaser such as: Tag line, brief snipit of dialog or text

Book Cover (you can upload the cover to your tweet directly on Twitter or Tweetdeck                     

                     and it will show in Twitter streams as an image and not a link to the image)

Amazon link

Here is an example of one of my book tweets…

It takes a woman's touch to catch a killer. Don't Touch Psychic Thriller by now http://t.co/pTLP8Qtie9 #DontTouch pic.twitter.com/Yd0gvp5ph3
— Elise VanCise (@EliseVanCise) May 25, 2014

How cool is that! Amazon has made things easier for their customers to make purchases but also has given authors an awesome new marketing tool!

So what are you waiting for go HERE to link your Twitter account with your Amazon account then get to twitter and add some books to your #amazoncart!

7 Great Ways to Market Yourself Online on a Shoestring Budget guest post by Meet Advisors

7 Great Ways To Market Yourself Online On a Shoestring Budget (via Meet Advisors)

There’s never been a better time to be an entrepreneur than now. Unless you have a winning lottery ticket, you still won’t have the mega bucks a mega corporation spends for marketing. But what you do have is the Internet, with marketing possibilities…

---

Keeping up with your social media marketing platform

Out of the hundreds of ways an author can market their books, some of the most effective come from social media. A strong social media platform can mean sales through positive interaction with fans and getting discovered by other readers. The downside, it can eat valuable time out of the author’s writing schedule.

There are ways, to flip that and make social media do the hard work for us. So authors can get back to creating and less time selling.

Link it up.

Yes, it can be that simple to grab a chunk of time and head back to our favorite characters. Link your accounts with networking clients or managers. Here are a few of the best.

NetworkedBlogs: This client allows an author to syndicate their blog posts. Meaning this client program will send the link of your latest blog to Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedn without you having to lift a finger. Much better than copy pasting and running around the web slapping links on pages. NetworkedBlogs is a free to use program, but they do have a premium membership for more bells and whistles.

Hootsuite: This little gem of a site will allow you to link up nearly your entire profile. Including G+ and Pintrest. You can schedule posts to your platform, read and reply all from this one place, saving a ton of time going from individual site to site. 

Buffer: is also a social media client that will allow you to schedule posts to Facebook, Twitter, Linkedn, app.net and G+. Buffer only sends though, you can’t read any of your tweets or other media on this one.

Feed140: With this site you can schedule tweets on a 24/7 loop to feed to your twitter accounts. Just be careful not to have them post one after another within minutes. Flooding the Twitter stream is a good way to get unfollowed. Intervals of two or three different tweets an hour gets what you need out there without the deluge.

Triberr: Triberr isn’t really a client or manager, but it is a huge tool for getting your blog posts out there. You join a tribe and share each other’s blog posts to your chosen social media. Depending on how many tribes and how well your tribes share you can reach possibly millions of potential readers with a single post. Yes, really it is that powerful. My personal  experience saw 100 new blog followers and 500 new Twitter followers within the first month of joining and being active. It takes about 5 minutes a day to share posts and is absolutely worth every one.

All of these sites/programs are free to use. They do offer premium memberships for a fee with a few more bells and whistles to add to your marketing wizardry. 

Okay, now you know one secret to getting more writing time and less marketing time. Remember though, this only works if you can stay away from Candy Crush or Castleville while you’re surfing through your social media. *wink*

Getting visible for authors and their books

The hardest part of being an author isn’t writing the novel or even publishing. The hardest part is getting visible. In the not really so distant past authors had to depend on road trips to different bookstores and venues to grab attention. If they were really lucky, someone would land a TV or radio spot. Possibly get reviews from newspapers and magazines.

Those venues are still there and can be successful in reaching readers, but they can also be expensive and possibly limited to local areas. In today’s digital age authors can reach not just one city but the entire globe. All from their computer and often in their pajamas.

Why yes, I am wearing my comfiest jams right now, complete with fuzzy slippers. So don’t judge. ;o) Now let’s get back on topic…

The problem with this global reach is… well, it’s global, global is huge. The ways to reach out and grab your audience in that vast sea of readers is huge too. So how does one author and their books become visible? Create your internet platform with two kinds of sites. Listings/Profiles and Social Media.

We all know about social media like G+, Facebook, Twitter, etc.… Those sites take constant checking and maintaining in order for them to work properly for the author. All that checking, posting and commenting can take a lot of time.

That’s where listing sites come in. There are many sites out there that allow you to sign in and list your profile and books then leave. You just have to come back every so often to make sure your page is updated and working properly.  Just dropping off a profile doesn’t sound very effective, but there are more of these sites than there are social media.

There are sites for every kind of genre, niche or just general book and author listings. People browse these

sites to find something new or interesting that goes with their interests, making it very easy to stumble upon your author page. Giving you the chance to snare a new reader, they may even share your page on their social sites brining more possible readers.

I know, I know your social media takes up so much time, how can you add one more place? The most time you’ll spend on a listing pages is the first time you sign up and create your profile. After that five minutes max now and then to update your page is worth the possibility of hooking five maybe ten more readers isn’t it?

Almost every niche you can think of has at least one listing site where you can put up a profile and gain more exposure. There’s another benefit to an author spreading themselves around the web, it adds more chances of the author’s name or book title being picked up by search engines. We all know that’s a plus.

Here are a few good listing sites to get started.

AuthorsdB

Maniac Readers

Literary Addicts

Author’s Den

And many more, so go find your niche and get visible.

Do you use any other listing sites you would like to share?

YouTube Marketing

Everyone knows what YouTube is. Home of the hottest music videos and silliest cat videos, however it is also a great marketing tool for authors.

Many of us know about the use of YouTube for posting our book trailers. I have one there myself. I have also created vids for some of my Examiner articles. However there are more ways to boost your brand with YouTube than just book trailers.

How about asking readers for a video review? Read a chapter of your book or a short story aloud. If you’re not comfortable with being on screen yourself, you can choose appropriate visual images to enhance your tale. Just be sure that you have the right to use any images you chose.

Have someone do a video interview with you, or simply crank up the webcam and talk about your book, writing process or other subject that might take your readers interests.

You have everything you need right at your fingertips to create sensational videos.  If you look in the start menu of your computer, you will find a program called Windows Live Movie Maker. It’s a standard part of most windows platforms starting with Windows 2000. It’s very easy to use and has some fantastic tools to make your project stand out.

You can also create a slideshow easily with Microsoft Power Point. If you don’t have Power Point on your computer you can sign up for Microsoft Sky Drive for free. They have a free power point tool for users.

You don’t have to have any specialized equipment to shoot live video. Most smart phones take both still pictures and video. Use your webcam right from your computer or your digital camera to take video and upload it to your YouTube account.

Another plus to YouTube marketing, is the cost, free. They do offer a paid account that has a few extras, but it isn’t really needed and completely optional. YouTube is a versatile tool, with endless ways to utilize videos to market your brand and books. So what are you waiting for go get your director’s chair and get started!

Below are a couple of videos of mine. One the book trailer for Don't Touch and the second a slide show of  Eustis, Florida. Enjoy!

Have you created any vids or slide show? Leave a link in the comments, we'd love to see! 

Part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge for the letter Y

Opportunity Knocks by guest author Dahila DeWinters

Gladiator's Pen welcomes author Dahlia DeWinters to the Ludis. She's here to tell us about an up coming marketing workshop hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers. The camp and group is for more than just the romance genre. There's something for all writers trying to get their books into readers hands.  So pour a cuppa and enjoy. Don't forget to leave a comment! 

Opportunity Knocks at Marketing For Romance Writers Summer Camp. Open the door to our MOTTO: SEEK, TEACH, LEARN, SHARE, SUCCEED

Marketing for Romance Writers Summer Camp is July 14th – July 15th. To receive updates for the camp or learn more about it and MFRW, please sign up here:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MarketingForRomanceWriters/

“I had to let it happen
I had to change
couldn’t stay all my life down at heel
Looking out of the window, staying out of the sun.” – Evita (Lyrics by Tim Rice)

I’m a musical person.  I firmly believe that there are two kinds of music, good and bad.  That’s it.  I’ll listen to anything if it catches my ear.  My collection extends from Sinatra to the Spice Girls, so that’s pretty clear, right?

So, Dahlia, you may ask, what does this have to do with your post?  I’ll tell you.  Marketing For Romance Writers (MFRW) is a group that I accidently stumbled upon while looking for groups for romance writers on Yahoo. And am I glad I did.

The group is filled with so much support and information that is useful for the beginner to the “advanced” romance writer.  Places to request reviews, places to guest blog, things to avoid:  the members are so open and ready to share their experiences.  Too shy to ask a question?  No problem, run a search and I am sure you will find the answer to your question, or at least find a resource. They’ll even help you with your email signature.

Here’s where Evita comes in.  Marketing your book is about change.  You must change.  Accept change.  Initiate change.  It is only through change that we can learn, share our knowledge and succeed in this business. We can’t do the same old things that were done even last year and expect them to work.  We, as writers, have to keep up with the ever changing environment of the Internet, keep ahead of the trends,  so that we are riding the wave instead of drowning in it.

So are you going to catch a wave with us this summer?  I’ll bring the tunes. Not just showtunes either, I promise.

MFRW is sponsoring a free summer camp on July 14^th to July 15^th.  Two days, full of information.  To receive updates for the camp or learn more about it and MFRW, please sign up here:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MarketingForRomanceWriters/

Dahila DeWinters writes romance off the beaten path.  Check out her blog at http://thesultryscribe.com.

Author Chat with Mandi Casey

We have another special guest this week. Gladiator's Pen welcomes author Mandi Casey to the Ludus as she tells us a bit about herself and her new book Bizarre Life of Sydney Sedrick. So kick up your feet and visit a while.

Tell us three little known things about Mandi Casey 

Well, the obvious thing about me is that I love to write. I have 3 amazing dogs that act like naughty toddlers when they don’t get their way. And lastly, I play a lot of Frisbee golf. The courses in Wisconsin are very beautiful and full of wooded areas. I love the sunbeams coming through the tops of the leaf-filled branches.

  

Bizarre Life of Sydney Sedrick is your latest book. Was there a part of the book you found harder to write than the rest?

Probably the ending was the hardest for me. I didn’t want it to end, I was really enjoying this story.

  

Do you have a writing routine or ritual?

I try to write every day, but that doesn’t always happen. I tend to give myself a word-count goal to meet every week. That doesn’t always happen either, LOL.

  

What is your favorite coffee house drink?

I’d have to say the caramel high rise at Caribou Coffee. It’s Sydney’s favorite also ;)

  

Do you have a favorite scene from Bizarre Life of Sydney Sedrick you’d like to share?

 I love when Sydney meets Blake, the story’s hero. He’s a pureblood werewolf, the heir to the Midwestern Werewolf Pack, and he instantly thinks Sydney belongs to him as his mate.

  

What inspired you to write about Vampires and Werewolves?

 I’ve been a big fan almost my entire life. The paranormal genre is what I really enjoy reading.

  

 Are you a fan of the classic monsters?

 I am, I do prefer the classic monsters and how there was usually some mysterious, dark romantic element to the stories.

If you could live inside of your book for a day would you, and why?

I’d love to meet my character’s in real life. Sydney and I are a lot alike in our values, so I think we’d get along great. The dark romantic intrigue in the story and the war for power of the city between the vampires and werewolves would be very action packed, and I’d love to be in the thick of things.

 Where can we find you and your books?

I’m on Face Book, I also have a blog at www.whoareyoucallingavampire.blogpot.com. My book will be release in October 2011, and will be available through www.soulmatepublishing.com; www.amazon.com; and www.barnesandnoble.com 

  

Do you have any news or up coming events you would like to share? Or even just a message for your fans.

 I am currently working on the 2^nd novel in the Sydney Sedrick series, this one will be a little hotter, have a bit more edge to it, and you’ll all find out what Sydney finally decides where Blake is concerned.

Thank you so much Mandi for sharing with us We're looking forward to Sydney's adventures. 

Mark Everett Stone Shares Some Things to Do In Denver When You're Undead

Gladiator's Pen welcomes Mark Everett Stone to the Ludus. He's here for a chat and to celebrate the release of Things to Do in Denver When You're Undead. So refill your cuppa and enjoy our visit.

What do you think makes a good story?

I don’t believe it’s just one or two things. It’s a combination of all the elements…plot, pacing, dialogue, character development, efficient use of metaphors and similes, etc, etc.  It’s like cooking a great stew, if all the ingredients are there…wow, you’ve had a memorable meal. If one or two ingredients are off, no big deal, you still have a satisfying meal, but if you screw up or miss too many of the important ingredients, well…you have a mess.

Tell us about Things to Do in Denver When You’re Undead

It’s the story of Kal Hakala, a Finnish-American agent with the Bureau of Supernatural Investigation, an ultra-secret government organization that combats Supernatural creatures. The book delves into his past, his obsessions and his hatred, things that make him a great agent, but a very damaged human being. I like damaged people, they’re more…real to me somehow.

How did this story idea come to you?

I was lying in bed trying go to sleep when I began to think about a movie I’d just seen, Things to do in Denver when you’re dead, starring Andy Garcia. Now, I do like a good zombie book, so I idly added the ‘un’ to the ‘dead’ and, viola, the seed was planted. It was all gravy after that. I added the Finnish element to the story because I’m a Finnish-American, and decided on a dark, sarcastic tale.

Tell us about three things on your writing desk

1) The remote control to the tv. I find that the background noise of semi-quality television helps me write and provides inspiration when I need it. Not that I steal from what I’m listening to, even commercials can help jog the creative processes. Well, they do for me, but I’m a little twisted, so there you go.

2) A Christmas pic of my family. I know it sounds cheesy and contrived, but they’re my real inspiration. If I’m feeling down, or blocked, all I have to do is look at my wife and kids and wham! baby, I’m back.

3) My kindle. I read when I need to decompress. I wish I could read more, but I have a very busy life with 2 kids driving me to distraction.

Do you have a writing routine? Do you think it is important to have one?

Damn skippy I have a routine. I think it helps me maintain discipline when writing and discipline is very important for me or I’d never get anything written.

What made you choose writing for a career or did it choose you?

Writing snuck up on me, clubbed me over the head, hog-tied me and has never let me go. Hmmm…there’s an S&M joke in there somewhere.

What would you do for a Klondike Bar?

Vote a straight Republican ticket. Then, after I finished the Bar, I’d shoot myself in shame.

Do you have anything new you’re working on? Can you tell us about it?

Sure, I love talking about myself, it’s my favorite subject! The sequel for Things to do in Denver when you’re undead is almost finished. It’s called What happens in Vegas, dies in Vegas. Vegas is more action-oriented than Denver because I have no need for a lot of plot exposition, I can just dive on in and have fun. That was the one thing I wanted when writing the sequel was to have as much fun as possible, really sink my teeth into creating an enjoyable book.

What is the one thing you want readers to get out of reading Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead?

Hey, if the book can make someone forget the outside world for a few hours, be entertaining and fun, then I’ve done my job. I don’t expect it to appeal to everyone, that’s foolish, but I hope there are people who put it down with a smile on their faces.

Where can we find you and your books?

Camel Press, Amazon.com, B&N.com, Smashwords, etc. Hopefully it will catch on enough that it will go mainstream and hit stores across the U.S. I know that’s kind of out there, but a man can dream, right?

Thank you so much Mark for joining us. Looking forward to reading Things to Do in Denver When You're Undead. For more about Mark Everett Stone and his books check out his blog at Mark's Blog  

To purchase you can click one of the buttons below. 

Author Anna James Interview and Giveaway a Copy of Guilty as Charged to one Lucky Reader

Gladiator's Pen welcomes Author Anna James to the Arena! She's here to talk about her latest release Guilty As Charged : Book One of The Bradford Sisters Trilogy.  One lucky reader will get a free ebook! All you have to do is leave a comment below and we'll draw the name of our lucky reader on Midnight Wed. May 25th. The winner will be announced in a post on Thursday the 26th so keep an eye here!

Now prop up your feet and pour a fresh cup we'll get acquainted with Anna James and find out more about Guilty As Charged. And don't forget to comment for a chance to win a free copy of the ebook!

Your latest book Guilty As Charged was just released on April 16^tt. Please tell us about it:

Guilty As Charged is the first book in the Bradford Sisters Trilogy.

Nicole Bradford, the heroine, has had the responsibility of raising her two sisters since their parents died in a tragic accident seven years ago. Now her sisters are all grown up and she can finally concentrate on a life of her own.

Max Paradis, the hero, is returning home after two long years away. He left to escape the pain of a bitter divorce.  He’s back because he misses his family and friends. It’s time to start over.

Passion ignites between Nicole and Max the second they lay eyes on each other. Nicole is sweet and loving is sweet and loving and everything that Max is looking for. But when a secret from her past is revealed will she be found innocent or is she guilty as charged?

Do you have a favorite scene in the book?

I have two. Here is a short excerpt from both for your reading pleasure:

Favorite scene 1: There’s no one here, she noted as she got out of the car and made her way to the lobby door, although she hadn’t really expected anyone to be. She held her employee badge to the scanner. There was a buzzing sound and a click indicating the door was now unlocked. After retrieving the files from her office, she went to the conference room. There was a large table in there, which had plenty of room for her to spread out the information she needed to look at.

Several hours passed by and her stomach began to growl. It’s one-thirty now, she noted after a quick glance at her watch. It’s time for something to eat. Standing, she stretched from side to side, then walked down the hall to get the lunch she’d thrown together hastily before leaving this morning. A piece of leftover lasagna from Thursday’s dinner and the rest of the salad they’d had. She stopped at the microwave to heat the lasagna, then went back to the conference room to eat. Her eyes rounded when she noticed someone sitting at the table, his back facing her.

“Excuse me, can I help you?” The man turned around and gave her a brilliant smile. She frowned. “M-Max? But how? I thought you were out of the country?”

“Not anymore,” he drawled.

She had recognized him from the picture in Reed’s office, but he probably had no idea who she was. “I’m sorry, I’m N—”

Rising to his feet he said, “I know who you are. Reed told me all about you on the phone last night. But how did you recognize me? We’ve never met.”

Nicole blushed. “Oh, um, I’ve seen pictures—on Reed’s desk.”

“I see.”

“I don’t understand what you’re doing here. I thought you were calling from Saudi Arabia last night?”

“I was on the plane heading home, actually. When Reed told me about the engagement, I told him I would meet you here today.”

“But why? I don’t understand. Reed never said anything.”

He walked slowly to where she was standing, never once dropping his gaze from her. “You know, my brother didn’t do you justice when he described you. You’re not just beautiful—you’re gorgeous.”

Her eyes widened in astonishment. She didn’t quite know how to respond to a statement like that. No one had ever said anything like that to her before. She lowered her lashes and murmured hesitantly, “Thank you.”

She had always thought that Max was good-looking, but to see him in person, he was spectacular. He was taller than Reed—who was just under six feet—by about three or four inches. His eyes were a deep blue and mesmerizing, which drew her eyes back to his. His hair was thick, luxuriant and midnight black. She itched to run her fingers through it.

He tucked a stray lock of her own rich, chestnut hair behind her ear. The small gesture made her realize just how close he was to her; close enough that she could smell a hint of the expensive cologne he was wearing. She inhaled deeply. His head lowered to hers. He’s going to kiss me, she acknowledged inwardly. And I’m not going to try and stop him because I want him to. From the first moment she’d seen him in the picture on Reed’s desk, she’d wondered what it would be like to be kissed by him. His lips met hers and she closed her eyes and gave herself up to pure bliss. She lifted her arms around his neck and he pulled her closer. He’s an incredible kisser, she acknowledged dizzily, and that was the last coherent thought she had as he deepened the kiss.

Favorite scene 2: The door to Reed’s office burst open, crashing against the adjoining wall. Reed looked up. Nicole turned to see who had made all the noise. Max stood in the opening, a thunderous expression on his face.

“Well, big brother, what can we do for you?” Reed queried in a casual tone.

Max didn’t answer; he just stood glaring at Nicole.

“M–Max, you’re home early.”

“Surprise,” he said sarcastically.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Reed asked.

Instead of answering, he strode into the room and stopped in front of Nicole. 

Suddenly, she was on full alert. She noticed the large manila envelope in his hand. The letterhead on the front made her sick with shock.

“Care to explain this?” he drawled, his tone at odds with the aggression emanating from every fiber of his being.

“What is it?” Reed asked a confused look on his face.

It was what she feared most. Legal documents, containing, no doubt, her arrest record and everything else about that horrible incident that had happened so long ago.

“Well?” Max asked ominously.

Nicole couldn’t speak. What could she say? It was all there in black and white.

After several moments of electrifying silence, Max turned his attention to Reed. “Are you aware you’ve hired a convicted felon, little brother?”

“I am not a convicted felon.”

He turned toward her. “I stand corrected, you were never convicted, however¾” Nicole made to speak, but Max overrode her efforts. His attention was on Reed again as he continued. “As I was saying, are you aware that you’ve hired a drug smuggler?”

Reed’s eyes opened wide and Nicole cringed in her seat.

She shot to her feet. “That’s enough.  You know nothing about what happened.”

“Oh, you’re ex-lover Carlo was more than happy to tell me what happened when he met me at the airport this morning. He told me what you’re really like. You present this sweet, innocent façade to the world, but these—” He picked up one of the documents that lay strewn across the desk and threw it at her. “These tell the truth about who you really are.”

“Max, you can’t be serious. There’s got to be some mistake.”

“There’s no mistake, little brother. See, she’s not even going to deny it.”

Nicole glared at him, furious now, her body shaking with anger. “You think just because…” Her voice trailed off.  She threw her hands in the air, a gesture of defeat, and then slumped into her chair. What was the use in trying to explain?  He wasn’t going to believe her. No one had believed her before. No matter how hard she had tried to convince them that she was innocent of any wrongdoing. She stood again and addressed Reed. “You’ll have my resignation on your desk tomorrow morning. I’m sorry.”  She turned and walked out the door with her head held high.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I don’t write chapters sequentially. If I get a scene into my head I get it down on paper then go back during the editing process to make sure I have a cohesive story.

What do you think is the most important to remember when writing romance?

For me a story has to have passion, drama and romance. And, of course it has to have a happy ending.

Do you plot/outline a book before writing or write by the seat of your pants?

I write by the seat of my pants. I don’t use an outline but I do mull things over in my mind so that I have some kind of sequence of events but, as I mentioned above, I don’t necessarily write the chapters in sequence.

Have you always written romance or do you write other genres as well?

I have always written contemporary romance, although, I just finished a story that has a paranormal flavor to it. It’s entitled Visions and is out for consideration now (I’m keeping my fingers crossed and my toes for good measure!)

                                                                                                                                                  

What do you feel is the hardest part about writing or being a writer?

Getting published! 

If you could have a dinner- date with one of your heroes which one would it be and why?

That’s a tough one because I like all my heroes, but I think I’d like to have a romantic dinner with Max Paradis – the hero from Guilty As Charged. He’s a pretty sexy guy!

What is your favorite word?

Passion.

If your book Guilty As Charged were to be made into a movie, who would you pick to play your hero and heroine?

Rachel McAdams for the heroine- Nicole Bradford

Patrick Dempsey for the hero – Max Paradis 

What’s your favorite guilty pleasure?

Chocolate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you have any upcoming events? 

Right now I am on a blogging tour and chatting at some of my yahoo groups. Stop by my blog for updates on my locations. See the tab marked: “Calendar of Events” http://annajames1.wordpress.com/

I am hoping to have a book signing party in Mystic, CT over the summer but have not been able to firm up the date at this point on time. Check my blog for updates. See the tab marked:

“Calendar of Events”

Anna James can be found on:

Anna James Website 

Facebook

Maniac Readers

Yahoo Groups: 

Chatting with Joyfully Reviewed

Dark Diva Reviews

Erotic Readers and their Authors: 

Coffee Time Romance and More

 Guilty as Charged is available at:

Sugar and Spice Press:

Thank you so much Anna for joining us in the arena and sharing your book with us. Anna will be back for another visit in July so mark your calendars! 

Readers don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win your E copy of Guilty As Charged! 

  

Heather Kuehl Steps Into the Arena at Gladiator's Pen

Gladiator’s Pen welcomes author Heather Kuehl to the arena. Heather has several books out on the shelves but today we’re celebrating the release of her latest book Far and Away. So grab a cuppa and get comfortable as we chat with Heather.

 

Tell us about Heather Kuehl 

Well, I'm a stay at home mom who writes paranormal romance. When I'm not chasing my two year old monster around the house, I can be found gardening, clipping coupons (my newest addiction!) or plotting my next paranormal adventure.


When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I finally published Fade to Black. Before that I had published numerous short stories and poems, but it seemed to be more of a hobby than an actual profession. Now that I'm working so hard, constantly editing and writing, I consider myself a writer.


Do you have a specific writing style or genre?

I love writing paranormal romance because it's set in our everyday world. It's anything but ordinary. Anything can happen!

Writers are usually avid readers as well. What book are you reading now?

Right now I'm reading Switched by Amanda Hocking. So far it's alright, but I'm hoping that it'll start to pick up soon. The pacing is rather slow.


What are your current projects?


I recently started work on the fourth book in my Sarah Vargas series. I'm halfway through writing Gray Magic, a paranormal romance about my favorite witch, Tabitha Desdemona Drake. I'm also trying to find a home for a young adult paranormal romance entitled Of Wolf and Man.


Is writing your career or do you have a “day job”?

I'm a stay at home mom for a beautiful little boy. He's my world! I like to garden, and recently I've discovered couponing. Not the extreme couponing that you read about or see on TV. I make a list of the items I use, and try to get them for the best price possible.


Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

Far and Away took years to write. Stories, like "Hidden," I wrote back in 2001. While putting Far and Away together, I learned how to get all of the stories together in a way that made sure each story complemented the one that came before or after it.


Do you belong to any writing/author groups? Would you say your membership has been helpful?

I used to, when I first started writing, but I had a bad experience. I also found that I barely had time to edit my own writing, let alone someone else's, LoL.


What is the hardest scene you’ve ever had to write?

The hardest scene was within my short story "The Grave," which is in Far and Away. "The Grave" tells the story about a woman visiting her father and asking him to attend her upcoming wedding.


Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry?

How about all three? LoL If I had to pick just one, it would be strawberry. They're sweet yet tart at the same time.


What is your favorite Facebook game?

I am addicted to Bejeweled. If I start playing it, I can't stop!


If you could choose one character in your books to make real who would it be?

Sarah Vargas. I've spent so much time writing about her, I'd give anything to see her become real.


Your book Far and Away released today is an Anthology of short works and poetry. Do you feel readers get as much out of short fiction as they do a full novel?

Yes, I think they do. There's interesting plots and characters that readers become invested in. Just because it's short doesn't make it any less captivating.


Do you have a favorite story or poem from this collection?

My favorite story would have to be "Hidden" just because it's one of the first stories I've ever written.


Do you have anything that you want to say to your readers?

2011 is a busy year for me. I have several books and stories slated for release. On August 7, Dream Lover will be released from Eternal Press. "Raising the Dead" will be in the October issue of Aoife's Kiss. In December, MuseItUp Publishing will publish my short story At All Costs. Epiphany will be published by Decadent Publishing sometime this year as well, but I don't have the actual date yet. "Into the Dark" will be in Ruby Red Cravings, also due out sometimes this year.

Thank you Heather for sharing with us in the arena of Gladiator’s Pen. Wish you much luck and success with Far and Away.

Here’s where to find Heather and her books
Heather Kuehl.com

Blog

Facebook

Twitter 

Amazon

Smashwords

Eternal Press

MuseItUp Publishing

Anthology Builder 

  

Judging a book by its cover

I admit I do. Many, many times I have picked up a book because the cover caught my eye. The cover for a book is like the model for the swimsuit.

The thin sexy beauty gets up there and struts her stuff across the stage. Clad in the designers swimwear. Sure we like the bikini, but what sells us on going to the store and trying it on is the model.

She shows us how good it makes her look and we think, “I would look so hot in that.”  At least until we get into the dressing room. Once we get our not so modelish form squeezed into the bits of spandex will we know for sure if we really like it.

The same goes for a book cover we look at it and say ooo that’s a great cover. Caught by color or image and reach out to “try it on.”

Opening the book becomes stepping into the dressing room. We read the synopsis, the first few pages. Maybe give it the old page 99 test. Then we know if it’s a keeper or makes our butt look too big.

But it was the cover that got us that far. The best covers are simple, to the point. Eye catching colors or a stark image that says, “I’m the perfect fit.”

As a designer myself it’s very important to find the perfect image to capture the feel or meaning of the book. I want the reader to know what kind of story their looking at. At the same time I want it to grab attention and say, “Pick me, pick me!”

Not an easy task. Having a good designer is as important as having a good editor. You want a designer that will choose materials to bring your work to life.

Readers judge books by their covers, just like we do clothing on a model. The perfect cover design is just like that swimsuit. It will make you look sleek and sexy for all to oogle on the beach… er the bookshelf.

This post is part of the Fellow Writer’s Blog Hop and the A to Z challenge  Be sure to check out the other great blogs on the hop!

If you would like to see my design work please go to EV Designs.

Happy hoppingJ