Sara Daniel Romance Author

Thursday, February 12, 2015

#CharacterInterview from Captivating the CEO #officialtranscript @DecadentPub

In honor of Congenital Heart Defect month, I have asked Willow Jefferies and Colin Vanderhayden from Captivating the CEO to interview each other. Here is the transcript:

Colin: I made up a list of questions for us. Do you want to ask me first, Willow, or should I interview you first?

Willow: You made up a list of questions? Are you serious? Let’s just wing it. It’ll be more fun.

Colin: I’m expecting a call in five minutes. We need to cut to the chase. First question, what are your plans for the future?

Willow: *rolls eyes* Definitely to take you to the back room and strip you out of this suit and discover if your underwear matches your blue tie.

Colin: You need a serious answer. This interview is going to be printed. For example, my plan for the next year is to increase my portfolio by ten percent, and my ten-year plan is to—

Willow: *yawwwwwn* My massages to work out your tension are obviously not having an effect. How about your plans for this weekend? You want to go skydiving and then I’ll seduce you?

Colin: *chokes on his coffee*

Willow: You’re right. Who wants to wait for this weekend? Let’s do it now.

Colin: We’re in the middle of an interview. Can we at least attempt some professional decorum and maybe one more question?

Willow: Of course. You’re running the show. How about this question? Why did you hire me as your massage therapist when I am constantly blowing off that professionalism you try so hard to maintain?

Colin: Because your hands on my neck and shoulders are heaven.

Willow: Yep, it’s definitely time for me to put my hands somewhere else that’s proven to reduce stress. *wink*

*phone rings*

Colin: That’s my call. This interview is over.

Willow: Oh yes, it certainly is. And you’re not answering that call either…


Captivating the CEO
By Sara Daniel
Genres: contemporary romance, office romance, medical romance, new adult
He only plans for the future. She might not have a future.

When live-for-the-moment massage therapist Willow Jeffries bursts into Colin Vanderhayden's office, she makes it her mission to loosen up the future-focused CEO, knowing each moment of the present is too precious to waste. Despite her immediate attraction, the only future she can offer is one full of heartache.

The last thing Colin needs is a flighty woman messing up his carefully-constructed plans, but her heavenly massages and addictive personality prove hard to resist. But he has no idea how sick she is.

No longer able to ignore her life-threatening medical condition, Willow slips away to spare Colin a miserable future with her. Is Colin willing to sacrifice his well-laid future plans to get Willow back?


Excerpt:

Cupping her face with his hands and angling his mouth, he poured the intensity she'd previously only seen him devote to his work into turning her body into a tingling, craving mass of need. She loved the way he cradled her-so gentle, yet firm.

Stars danced in front of her eyes, but she willed them away to press her tongue between his lips. No matter how light-headed she became, she refused to miss a moment of the kiss. Colin's mouth made the opportunity to enjoy worth the risk of passing out.

But, too soon, he broke off, panting, his eyes dilated with desire. “I have to get that.”

“Get what?” His words made no sense, then her ears started ringing. No, not her ears. His damned phone.

“Of course you do.”

But he'd already turned his attention to a conversation he gave far more importance to than anything she offered.

Sinking onto the couch, she pressed her fingers to her still tingling lips. Dear God, she hoped she didn't affect him as strongly as he affected her. If he became emotionally invested, she'd bring pain and misery into his life.


Author Bio:

Sara Daniel writes irresistible romance, from sweet to erotic and everything in between. On the personal side, she's a frazzled maid, chef, chauffeur, tutor, and personal assistant. She battles a serious NASCAR addiction and was once a landlord of two uninvited squirrels. She follows research and new developments concerning tricuspid atresia and other congenital heart defects, and she holds a special place in her heart for “heart kids” and their families.

Contact Details:



Monday, February 9, 2015

Thumbs-Up Ham and Potato Soup #recipe from #kidlit author @sharonledwith

Guest Post by Sharon Ledwith

In my book, Legend of the Timekeepers—the prequel to The Last Timekeepers series—Istulo, a high priestess from the Black Land is a whiz when it comes to concocting potions and elixirs. But I bet she’d trade an arcane secret or two just for a taste of this mouth-watering ham and potato brew. Easy to prepare with a prep time of 20 minutes and cook time of 25 minutes, this heavenly soup will get a thumbs-up from even the fussiest high priest or priestess in your brood.

Thumbs-Up Ham and Potato Soup
3½ cups peeled and diced potatoes
⅓ cup diced celery
⅓ cup finely chopped onion
¾ cup diced cooked ham
3¼ cups water
2 tbsp. chicken bouillon granules
½ tsp. salt, or to taste
1 tsp. ground white or black pepper, or to taste
5 tbsp. butter
5 tbsp. all-purpose flour
2 cups milk

Combine potatoes, celery, onion, ham, and water in a stockpot. Bring to a boil. Lower temp to medium heat. Cook until potatoes are tender, about 10-15 minutes. Stir in the chicken bouillon, salt, and pepper.

Melt butter over medium-low heat in a separate saucepan. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring constantly until thick, about 1 minute. Stir in milk lowly as not to allow lumps to form until all. Continue stirring over medium-low heat until thick, 4-5 minutes.
Stir the milk mixture into the stockpot, and cook soup until heated through.

Serve immediately.

Now, while you’re waiting for the potato and ham soup to digest why not put your feet up and relax with a good book? Ready for a trip to Atlantis?

There is no moving forward without first going back.

Lilith was a young girl with dreams and a family before the final destruction of Atlantis shattered those dreams and tore her family apart. Now refugees, Lilith and her father make their home in the Black Land. This strange, new country has no place in Lilith’s heart until a beloved high priestess introduces Lilith to her life purpose—to be a Timekeeper and keep time safe.

Summoned through the seventh arch of Atlantis by the Children of the Law of One, Lilith and her newfound friends are sent into Atlantis’s past, and given a task that will ultimately test their courage and try their faith in each other. Can the Timekeepers stop the dark magus Belial before he changes the seers’ prophecy? If they fail, then their future and the earth’s fate will be altered forever.

To read an excerpt from Legend of the Timekeepers please click here.

Legend of the Timekeepers Buy Links:
MUSA PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀ SMASHWORDS ׀ APPLE


BONUS FREE READ

Download the free PDF short story The Terrible, Mighty Crystal HERE.

Check out The Last Timekeepers series Facebook Page.


Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/YA time travel series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, available through Musa Publishing, and is represented by Walden House (Books & Stuff) for her teen psychic series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, yoga, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, one spoiled yellow Labrador and a moody calico cat.

Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Meet my Promo Besties - #ShareTheLove Giveaway Hop #writerslife

We're Sharing the Love this week and surprise bombing bloggers and authors we adore with a little love! Hop by all of the blogs for chances to win great prizes at each stop and find out which authors and bloggers we think are so darn special!

Writing might be a solitary endeavor, but marketing and promotion certainly are not. Below are my promo "besties" who deserve a very loud shoutout for all they do.

Sloane Taylor will not only help you get the word out, she'll also help you cook dinner. Seriously, she is that awesome.

Sharon Ledwith not only has my back in every promotional effort, she also links to the most helpful professional articles on the web, constantly improving my A game.

Lizzie T. Leaf has a monthly Behind-the-Scenes interview column for Night Owl Reviews with industry professionals, which is a source of great information.

Emilia Mancini and Marci Boudreaux know publishing from every side and angle, and they're not only generous with their knowledge, they're a great inspiration, as well.

I've linked to all their blogs above for you to check out at your leisure. To enter to win a copy my paranoral Wiccan Haus novel, Psychic Lies, be sure to follow everyone on Twitter and subscribe to my newsletter.

Fiona must keep her ability to read minds during sex a secret from those determined to exploit her, especially a sexy truth-finding investigator who needs her psychic power to save his job.




#LoveSpanks 2015 - #FreeRead F/F romance "The Briefcase"

Love Spanks 2015 is here!

The rules, in brief (full version here):
1.      Register here
2.      Visit all 17 blogs and leave a high-quality comment responding to the story content. Deadline: Midnight EST (UTC-5) Sunday, February 8
3.      Add VIP, FF (F/F author), A (non-F/F author), or Amb (Ambassador) to your comments
4.      Join the Facebook/Twitter author chats and parties
5.      Prize announcements Saturday, February 14!
For more information, updates, and a list of participating authors, please visit Governing Ana (main page) or Love Spanks 2015 (announcement page)

Like us on Facebook!
Twitter hashtag: #lovespanks

(The Briefcase free read has been removed from this blog but can be read in its entirety in the Love Spanks anthology)


Author Bio: Sara Daniel writes what she loves to read—irresistible romance, from sweet to erotic and everything in between. She battles a serious NASCAR addiction, was once a landlord of two uninvited squirrels, and loses her car keys several times a day. This is her first F/F romance. Subscribe to Sara’s newsletter: http://eepurl.com/rx_AL

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Award-winning #paranormal "Between" by @ClarissaJohal @MusaPublishing

Welcome to the Virtual Book Tour for BETWEEN!

Follow the Tour to Read Exclusive Excerpts, Interviews, and Reviews, and Make Sure to Enter the Giveaway!!

Second Place - Preditors and Editors Readers Poll 2012 
Clarissa Johal’s novel BETWEEN is a “haunting” paranormal novel that will have you on the edge of your seat!



How far would you go to redeem yourself?


About BETWEEN:

As a young girl, Lucinda was able to see spirits, a gift that didn't come without its problems. Now, a dedicated young veterinarian, she is committed to the idea that every life can be saved.

After a devastating accident, Lucinda tries to escape her past by moving to a small town. There, she meets a newcomer and feels an immediate connection with him. But there is another mysterious stranger to the small town, one that stirs within her a mixture of unease and desire.

As Lucinda is drawn into a bitter tug-a-war from the forces around her, she is likewise pulled into a dangerous twist of past and present events. Forced to make difficult choices, she finds that the two men are locked in not only a battle for her life...but a battle for their salvation.

Amazon

About the Author:

Clarissa Johal has worked as a veterinary assistant, zoo-keeper aide and vegetarian chef. Writing has always been her passion. When she’s not listening to the ghosts in her head, she’s dancing or taking photographs of gargoyles. She shares her life with her husband, two daughters and every stray animal that darkens the doorstep. One day, she expects that a wayward troll will wander into her yard, but that hasn’t happened yet.
*Member of the Author's Guild

Coming May 19, 2015 from Permuted Press
VOICES, a paranormal psychological horror

STRUCK
(2014) Musa Publishing
*Indie Book of the Day Award
*Nominated for the Preditors and Editors Readers Poll 2014

BETWEEN
(2012) Musa Publishing
*Second place in the Preditors and Editors Readers Poll 2012
*Paranormal Reads gives BETWEEN 4 out of 5 Bats

PRADEE
(2010) CreateSpace
*Second round finalist in Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Award Contest 2012

Short stories:

PIGEONS
Susurrus Literary Journal
THE ROPE
Susurrus Literary Journal

Non-Fiction:

A WAY OF LIFE
The Sacramento Bee newspaper


Praise for BETWEEN:

Paranormal Reads gives BETWEEN 4 out of 5 Bats

Escape Into a Book "I loved how original the idea was for this book, I haven't read a book like this one...fast paced and kept my interest till the very end."

MommaSez "Creepy, scary, haunting–just up my alley...gothic romance that makes the hair stand up on my neck!"

Musings from an Addicted Reader "It was haunting, unpredictable, and intriguing. All the characters were unique and draw you in from the first chapter. Excellent read."

Shut Up & Read "I love a good ghost story, and this one did not disappoint...I've heard the saying painting a picture with words, and that is exactly what the author does here. Each sentence is vivid and alive."

Happy Tails and Tales "I would recommend it to my fellow ghost lovers, Gothic lovers, and historical paranormal lovers alike. There are some interesting paranormal characters...I wasn’t expecting them...a really well done plot twist. "

Demons Do it Better "Between kept me guessing. I had no clue where the story was going to end but I made a couple of guesses along the way and I was wrong."


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


How did you come up with the idea for BETWEEN?

Three years ago, I was working on a sequel to a fantasy novel when I had this weird “calling.” Two characters came to me in a rush; Lucas and Cronan from BETWEEN. They weren’t fantasy characters nor they didn’t fit into what I was writing but they wouldn’t go away. I kept setting them aside but they’d come back, stronger than ever. I put the fantasy sequel on hold, wrote non-stop for a month, and finished the first draft. That never happens! It usually takes me months to finish a first draft. A year later, my edits were finished, and two months later, BETWEEN was picked up by Musa Publishing. I’ve got my feet firmly planted in the Otherworld now, the ideas come faster than I can write them down.

What first inspired you to become a writer? And what compels you to continue your career as an author?

I wrote my first short story in grade six. I was asked by the teacher to read it aloud to the class, which terrified me. After I was finished, I realized that I actually had everyone’s attention! I was shy and we moved every year, so I was always the new kid. When you’re in that situation, it’s kind of like being invisible. Finding my voice through story-telling made me realize how powerful writing could be. As far as continuing—truthfully? I think I’d go nuts if I didn’t write.

What made you choose the genre of paranormal gothic horror?

I started out writing fantasy fiction. I was working on the second installment to my PRADEE series when there were two characters that kept showing up on the page, over and over. They didn’t belong in fantasy novel, nor did they belong in my story! But their backstory came to me so vividly, that I set aside my series and wrote my first paranormal novel, BETWEEN. I’ve been pulled into the Otherworld permanently now. The ideas come faster than I can write them down.


Follow the Tour:



Enter the Giveaway:



Tour Coordinated by:


~ Amber M. ~

Promotions Specialist and Media Contact at Musa Publishing amber.musa.ps@gmail.com

Owner of Sapphyria’s Book Promotions saphsbookblog@gmail.com

Monday, February 2, 2015

February $.99 Sale: #Wiccan Haus Psychic Lies @MusaPublishing #pnr

$0.99 Sale
February 1-28 (Regularly $2.99)
Psychic Lies

Fiona must keep her ability to read minds during sex a secret from those determined to exploit her, especially a sexy truth-finding investigator who needs her psychic power to save his job.

Fiona has spent her life hiding her sexual mind-reading power at the risk of being exploited by the government. Instead, she pretends to have lifebond vetting powers like the rest of her family. When her fake power results in the death of an innocent woman, her life of lies unravels and she retreats to the Wiccan Haus.

Armando is the head of the Department of Truth-Finding for the Syndicate. To prove his unit’s worth to the government, he follows Fiona to the Wiccan Haus to expose her as an infiltrator of an enemy faction. The truth about Fiona is even more valuable to his people and his career.

Fiona uses her power to seduce Armando and stop his plans to betray her. But nothing is strong enough to keep her from falling in love with this man whose power threatens to destroy her. Now she must trust him, not only with her life and her psychic lies, but also her heart.

Buy Links:

Reserved for Psychic Lies February $.99 Sale #WiccanHaus @MusaPublishing

$0.99 Sale
February 1-28 (Regularly $2.99)
Psychic Lies

Fiona must keep her ability to read minds during sex a secret from those determined to exploit her, especially a sexy truth-finding investigator who needs her psychic power to save his job.

Fiona has spent her life hiding her sexual mind-reading power at the risk of being exploited by the government. Instead, she pretends to have lifebond vetting powers like the rest of her family. When her fake power results in the death of an innocent woman, her life of lies unravels and she retreats to the Wiccan Haus.

Armando is the head of the Department of Truth-Finding for the Syndicate. To prove his unit’s worth to the government, he follows Fiona to the Wiccan Haus to expose her as an infiltrator of an enemy faction. The truth about Fiona is even more valuable to his people and his career.

Fiona uses her power to seduce Armando and stop his plans to betray her. But nothing is strong enough to keep her from falling in love with this man whose power threatens to destroy her. Now she must trust him, not only with her life and her psychic lies, but also her heart.

Buy Links: