I’m currently rereading Donald Maass’s Writing the Breakout Novel. It’s my third time. Every time I read it, I get something new out of it. I feel like I can re-read it every month until the day I die, and I’ll still learn something new. Just an incredible book.

DD’s novella The Kandy Shoppe is out now. Yay! Congrats, DD!

There’s more to life than playing make believe.

Sandra Moyer has a good reason to distrust actors. She was once married to one who left her and her child. However, she’s desperate for publicity to help her struggling preschool. Hollywood playboy Ben Capshaw’s request to access her classes to prepare for a role is an offer she can’t refuse.

Sandra second guesses herself on that decision until she sees Ben in action with the children. Her apprehension turns to wonder, and then to feelings she’d thought were closed off forever. Yet how can she trust that what she’s seeing is real?

As a boy, Ben learned that acting was the answer to everything. The role he’s up for now will enhance his career and, he’s sure, secure his happiness. But spending time with Sandra and her daughter stirs up emotions that—for once—aren’t pretend.

Ben’s ready for a lifetime role as husband and father—if he can convince Sandra not to typecast him.

I’m totally surrounded by some truly talented ladies. I’m sure you remember me calling Bettie crack. Well…Jennifer’s The Role of a Lifetime is not. But then it’s to be expected. She write sweet romance.

Her book reminded me of homemade chicken noodle soup in winter, the kind that leaves you feeling warm, fuzzy and contented. It’s wholesome and smooth and has two lovely leads who are very real. Sandra is no super-duper assassin, but she’s a real woman dealing with very real problems of raising a child on her own, dealing with money problems, trying to be independent (financially or otherwise) and keeping her family together. Yes, she makes mistakes — but then who doesn’t? — and she has flaws, but that makes her HEA that much more poignant. Furthermore Ben’s transformation from a player to someone capable of showing real emotions felt totally believable, and you can’t help but root for those two people to be together.

So if you’re looking for a fast-paced romance with likable characters that leave you feeling happy and satisfied, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Jennifer’s The Role of a Lifetime.

P.S. Jennifer didn’t pay me to write this. Nor did she give me a free copy to pimp. But for those of you who are wondering, she is my crit partner (no, I’ve never critted this for her) and I think she’s a very lovely and talented writer.

My CP Jennifer’s book is out.

Enter her contest here. And don’t forget to check out her special blog post here.

DARK MASTER is officially released today. At last! You can buy your copy from online retailers (Amazon, Barnes and Noble) or at your favorite brick and mortar store today!

SURRENDERING COMPLETELY ALWAYS LEADS TO…

Completely broke, Regan Roslund is stuck selling bondage gear to a kinky clientele in order to pay her bills. She has no interest in her salacious merchandise until she feels a leather choker tight against her neck–and gets a glimpse of the muscular, model-gorgeous man who holds her captive. Suddenly, temptation ignites…

THE MOST INTENSE PLEASURE…

Newly crowned king of the undead, Shadow Sorenson knows he can protect himself by taking a wife. He hopes Regan, with her new-found curiosity, will be unable to resist obeying even his most deviant demand. But Shadow would prefer she surrender willingly. For thirty nights, he’ll show Regan what it’s like to lose control as he explores every inch of her naked flesh, leaving her hungry for release–and moaning in anticipation of an ecstasy she never knew existed…

Warning! This is a REALLY HOT book (Sexually Explicit)

“A thoroughly entertaining tale by a talented new voice.” Kate Douglas

Read a HOT excerpt at: tawnytaylor.com/darkmaster.html

For her May release: The Role of Lifetime

From Angela James’s Blog

Yesterday was the release day for a really special charity project, Nothing But Red. (Giveaway at the bottom of the post)

The purpose of Nothing But Red is to bring attention to the issue of violence against women worldwide, as well as the continuing need for equality, through art—both written and visual—and by raising money for a charity that strives to help women of all faiths, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds, with the support of dedicated volunteers who share a desire to promote equality.

From the Press Room section of the Nothing But Red website:

Nothing But Red, the anthology of literary and visual arts inspired by the impassioned plea of Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon in response to the “honor killing” of 17-year-old Du’a Khalil Aswad, is now available for purchase. Sales of the anthology, which is currently available in multiple formats at www.lulu.com/nothingbutred, will benefit the international human rights organization Equality Now.

“I’ve met some amazing people who’ve worked incredibly hard to put this book together over the last year, whether as contributors or volunteers,” said Skyla Dawn Cameron, originator and editor-in-chief of Nothing But Red. “We can’t change Du’a’s fate – but we can let the world know that there are people who still care. That’s where this fight really happens: with each of us, challenging ourselves to do something to make the world better.”

The 313-page collection, which can be purchased as a trade paperback for $15.95 or as a pdf-format e-book for $5.95, is being released on the one-year anniversary of the death of Aswad. An Iraqi adherent of the Yazidi religion, Aswad was stoned to death by family members and neighbors; her brutal beating and murder was captured in a graphic video and spread on the Internet.

Shortly after learning of the murder, Joss Whedon, creator of the television shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly, penned an emotional response on the website Whedonesque.com. His post, which built from the topic of Aswad’s murder to the contemplation of misogyny’s transcendence of culture, religion and era, ended on an appeal to his fans to do something active to change the cycle.

“True enlightened activism is the only thing that can save humanity from itself…” Whedon wrote. “Her face was nothing but red.”

Taking its title from those words, Nothing But Red is a response to Whedon’s call to action, which is included as an essay in the volume. A full list of contributors can be found at nothingbutred.wordpress.com.

Equality Now was chosen as the recipient of the anthology’s proceeds due to Whedon’s public support of the organization and its mission to “[voice] a worldwide call for justice and equality for women,” as stated on Equality Now’s website.

I had a very (very, very) small part in helping with this anthology–in fact, it might make some of my authors happy to know that I actually missed a deadline. Very frustrating (but I do tell you all that it happens, and now I’m proof of that, unfortunately). But I got to read some of the pieces included in this book and they’re a mix of fiction and non-fiction, but all are moving and powerful.

Please buy a copy of Nothing But Red and help raise awareness for violence against women. Visit www.lulu.com/nothingbutred to purchase your copy! The full colour eBook is $5.95, and the black and white trade paperback is $15.95. All profits (about $4 per book) will go to Equality Now.

I thought it was interesting how Amazon is making a bunch of changes, one of which is that Lightning Source PODs aren’t going to be sold via their website. Some readers and authors are very unhappy with this, and I can see their POV. Some of them are even planning to boycott Amazon.

Me?

I can’t.

One of the things that changes you when you live overseas is book buying habits. (Maybe I should clarify this since I’m talking exclusively about non-English speaking countries.)

Browsing is almost non-existent. Most bookstores in my area don’t carry any decent selection. I must rely on Amazon to get the books I want, or else forget it. Of all the online bookstores, Amazon has the most inexpensive shipping. And it matters a lot. I rely on reviews, word of mouth, buzz, etc. to decide on what to buy. And honest online reviews really really matter for someone like me. (That’s why it really annoys me when cheaters pay money to generate positive reviews for their books!)

BTW — I love going to bookstores when I’m in the States. It’s just the best feeling ever.

Like a Thief in the Night is like crack. Or a box of Belgian truffles. You think you can have just one, but before you know it, you ate all, including the box.

Don’t read it if you have work to do.

You’ve been warned.

I must confess something: Bettie is in my crit group. So if I’m biased, so be it.

When Bettie applied to the group in February, she sent the first chapter of Ember to showcase her writing level. I liked it. A LOT. But I never got around to reading the rest because I was just too busy, etc. So today, I was like “I think I’m gonna check out the rest”. I was going to read one chapter a day because I really don’t like reading for pleasure on my laptop. (Alas, I don’t have a PDA or ebook reader.) Instead I ended up reading the entire thing in a couple of hours.

It’s just an amazing tale, a wicked twist on Cinderella. Ember is a hard heroine, very unusual, but she’s someone I can sympathize with. Rian too is just wonderful, and I think it’s incredible that Bettie was able to make it all work in such a short format. (It only has ten chapters.) I think Bettie’s working on the sequel. Come on, girl, hurry up!