Blog Archives
At Home With… Annie Seaton [Plus Giveaway!]
To celebrate the January 1st release of THE JANUARY WISH, the first book in my small coastal town series set in Tarrin’s Bay; The Town of New Beginnings, I’ve started a new interview segment called ‘At Home With…’
Today, we’re paying a visit to bestselling author from Entangled Publishing, Annie Seaton!
1. Hi Annie where are you from and how long have you lived there?
I live in a small town on the mid north coast of New South Wales and have lived here for over twenty years.
2. What do you love about the place you call home?
Family around me makes it home. As well as that, the proximity to the ocean is very special to me. The water inspires my writing.
3. Do you have a favourite local cafe, restaurant, bar, club, business, or store? Give them a plug here!
LOL… the coffee machine in my kitchen. I have been so busy with deadlines, I lead a fairly cloistered life….I even grocery shop online!
4. Do you have any pets? If so, what are their names? (Feel free to share a photo)
I think most readers are familiar with Bob Dog and Boy Cat and Girl Cat… but here is a photo too!
5. What is your favourite room in the house and why?
The living room where my writing chair overlooks the ocean and my garden
6. If you had to evacuate your house, what three items (apart from people and pets!) would you take?
Laptop, iPad and my gold jewellery (All my important documents and photos are stored electronically!)
7. If you had a magic wand, what’s one thing you would change about your home or your town?
I would beautify the public areas that the local council cannot afford to look after.
8. It’s movie night at your place, the popcorn’s out, and everyone’s nabbed their favourite couch corner or armchair… what movie/s will we watch?
Love Actually or Billy Elliott.
9. Imagine you have the luxury of a chef for a night and you’ve invited people over for a dinner party, what would you have the chef cook?
Creme Brulee! Forget the main course.. . straight to the dessert for me.
[Juliet ~ why not? ;)]
10. Name three books on your To Be Read bookshelf or e-reader:
~ Books 3-10 in the Sullivans series by Bella Andre (Can we count that as one?)
~ Jackie Underdown-Beautiful Illusion
~ M J Stedman –Light Between Oceans
[Juliet ~ I have a couple of those on my list too]
11. Name something unique or uncommon that you have in your pantry or fridge:
Home made pickles… I think that is a rarity these days!
12. If you could live anywhere for one year, where would you go?
New Zealand… I love it and would love to spend a year exploring the country.
13. You’ve just received a phone call from a friend or relative, and they’ll be arriving in five minutes for a visit. What do you do?
a) Relax on the couch until they arrive.
b) Put the kettle on; place some (probably homemade) snacks onto a tray; set the table; put flowers into a vase; and light a candle (and maybe even make some place cards with your super calligraphy skills).
c) Put the kettle on; tip out a few cookies onto a plate; check your reflection in the mirror, and wait.
d) Freak out; shove excess household clutter under beds, in cupboards, drawers, and the garage; trip over something in the process; hold an ice pack to your bruised forehead while swearing profusely; check the mirror to see if you’re still in pyjamas; frantically change into suitable clothing whilst simultaneously holding ice pack to your head; fall over again; alternate ice pack between head and location of new injury; then shove ice pack under bed and greet visitors with the fakest smile of pure calm you can muster.
None of the above. Chill the wine!
[Juliet ~ it’s all about priorities, right? ;)]
Thanks Annie!
Even though Annie would probably love you to pay a visit, why not visit her online right now?
Website: http://annieseatonromance.com
Blog: http://annieseaton.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnieSeatonAuthor
Twitter: @annieseaton26
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5779458.Annie_Seaton
And help her pay for that in-house chef by buying a copy of her book, Outback Affair, here:
OUTBACK AFFAIR:
Jessica Trent wants to be a full-time writer for Cuisine magazine, but in order to land the gig she has to snare a one-on-one with the reclusive Alessandro Ricardo, a man hell-bent on staying out of the limelight. The last thing she expects as she heads to Crocodile Springs resort in northern Australia is to end up traveling across the Outback with a rugged and far too sexy barramundi fisherman.
Ex-lawyer Alex Richards protects his privacy and his heart in equal measure. So when a Yankee bombshell in need of a ride turns up and threatens both, he decides to teach her a lesson. As they make their way through the wild country together, the attraction between them ignites. Alex must choose between his heart or letting go of his past … and will Jessica understand why he lied once she finds out who he really is?
>>WIN! Annie’s giving away a copy of the first book in her affair series, Holiday Affair. Comment below to enter (bonus entry if you tell us where you would like to go for your ideal holiday!). Open worldwide and winner will be drawn on 15th Nov and notified by email.
Good luck!
Ten Awkward Questions with Zee Monodee
In this segment, authors will be subjected to a list of awkward questions that may reveal more about themselves than they really wish to share, and they will receive a score on the ‘Braveometer’. If they choose to answer only five questions, they are a ‘Brave Author’, if they answer 6 to 9 questions they are a ‘Mega-Brave Author’, and if they answer all 10 questions they are an ‘Ultra-Brave Author’!
Please welcome, author, Zee Monodee!
1. If only one of your books could have been / could be published, which one would you choose? (C’mon, I don’t want to hear ‘Oh, I love them all, there’s no way I could choose.’ Time to be ruthless, these are the Ten Awkward Questions after all!)
The Other Side. It was my first ever story, the tale that prompted me to plunge into writing. My original plan was to write this story and be done with writing, so if I had to bring it down to one, this would win. 🙂
2. Okay, now which one of your children/family members would you… nah, just kidding! Which of the following words most accurately describes your best personality trait (you must pick only one!):
Punctual. Good listener. Neat. Graceful. Generous. Cheerful.
Cheerful
3. Which of the following words most accurately describes your worst most challenging personality trait (even if you’re perfect, you must pick one):
Always late. Blabbermouth. Slob. Complete klutz. Scrooge. Grumpy pants.
Slob (just ask the dust bunnies in my house, lol)
4. Have you ever had a romantic crush on one of your characters? Who and why?
*secret* All of them. 🙂 I cannot conceive of writing a hero if I’m not crushing/half in love with him already. And they’re not called heroes for nothing; I mean, if you’re not falling for them, how can you expect your reader to root for these guys?
5. When writing an important scene, do you act it out to allow you to better describe what’s happening?
Act, no. But I daydream all my scenes, kinda like a director imagining the perfect unrolling of every element. I have, however, acted out a few fight scenes from my espionage books, just to know if the actions I’m writing about are plausible or not.
6. Do you talk to yourself when writing or coming up with plot ideas?
Out loud? No. But I’m always having discussions with myself in my head. My husband says he can figure out exactly when I’m in my ‘bubble’ because of the ‘look’ I get on my face.
7. Who would be ideal to play YOU in a movie of your life?
I see someone like Glee’s Lea Michelle. We’re of the same height/build, have the same darkish physical looks (and she could pass for Indian-origin, like me), pretty much the same age, and I tend to break into song at odd moments (especially in my kitchen). She also has that innocent or mischievous/troublemaker look that my husband says echoes mine, too. My life’s also been filled with drama (a divorce and then two brushes with cancer before I was 28) and Lea can do comedy as well as drama/emotion very well.
8. If you could be any book character for one day, who would you be and why?
Serena Van der Woodsen or Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl. New York/Upper East Side, endless shopping, walk-in wardrobes, designer clothes, fabulous jewellery, more shoes than you can ever hope to wear, glamorous parties, chic residences, not to mention the hunks that gravitate in their world. Yes, I’d love to be this vain and carefree for a day (and get to shop without a care about money/savings). 🙂
9. You’re about to be left on a deserted island for a year, and while your basic food and water needs will be met, you can only bring one extra thing from the following. Which would you choose?
a) A pen and notepad that never runs out
b) An unlimited supply of books
c) An unlimited supply of chocolate, coffee, or alcohol (your choice)
d) A gorgeous man/woman depending on your preference
B. An endless supply of books. I’ll always have my imagination to come up with stories, and also with that ‘ideal’ man. *grin*
10. If you had the attention of the whole world for two minutes, what would you say?
Hmmm, toughest one, this…. Always try to follow your heart, because the voice there (whether you call it your conscience, inner soul/being, God, or something else) will never lead you astray. You have to believe in yourself before anyone else will believe in you.
Thanks for taking part, Zee, you have been awarded Ultra Brave Author on the Braveometer!
Visit Zee online at her blog, facebook, and twitter.
>>WIN! Be a character in one of Zee’s books in her small-town series set in Surrey or Yorkshire (England), simply by leaving a comment below! Open worldwide, winner drawn 25th October.
Past, Present, & Future with Jami Deise [Plus Giveaway!]
In the spirit of my debut novel, Fast Forward, I’m doing a series of interviews with authors about their past, present & future. Today, please welcome author of humorous women’s fiction, Jami Deise!
PAST:
1. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A doctor. But I never had any aptitude for math and science.
2. What did you do before you became a writer?
My only non-writing jobs were before graduating college with a journalism degree. I worked at McDonald’s. I was an RA in my dorm at the University of Maryland. I babysat.
3. What is one of your most treasured memories from the past?
I won a poetry contest in the 5th grade. That was pretty cool.
PRESENT:
4. What’s your latest/upcoming release about and/or what are you currently working on?
Right now I’m plugging “Keeping Score,” which is humorous women’s fiction about a divorced mom, her 9-year-old son, and his first summer playing travel baseball.
5. What’s a typical day like for you? (If there is such a thing!)
Walk the dog, go the gym, spend the afternoon writing. Make dinner for my son. Spend the evening reading or watching TV. Most of my days are typical!
6. Name three things you are grateful for in your life right now:
That my son is living with my husband and me and is doing well. That we haven’t been affected by economic turbulence or Congressional shut-downs. That my parents are healthy.
FUTURE:
7. If you could fast forward in time to any age or year for just one day, what would you choose & why?
66. My son will be 40. I want to know how his life is going to turn out.
8. If you could have any new technology or invention in the future that would make your life a whole lot easier (or more fun), what would it be?
A robot to make dinner and do dishes.
9. What are your hopes & dreams for the future?
To be able to support myself as a writer or with a job in the publishing industry, and that my son is successful in a job that he loves.
Thanks for taking part, Jami!
>You can visit Jami online at her blog, facebook, and twitter pages, and you can buy her latest book Keeping Score here. It’s only 99c for a limited time!
>WIN! Jami is also giving away 2 ebook copies of Keeping score… to enter, simply leave a comment below! Winners will be drawn on 11th October and contacted via email and notified in the comments.
KEEPING SCORE:
When her 9-year-old son wanted to play summer travel baseball, Shannon had no idea the toughest competition was off the field….
When her son Sam asks to try out for a travel baseball team, divorced mom Shannon Stevens thinks it’ll be a fun and active way to spend the summer. Boy, is she wrong! From the very first practice, Shannon and Sam get sucked into a mad world of rigged try-outs, professional coaches, and personal hitting instructors. But it’s the crazy, competitive parents who really make Shannon’s life miserable. Their sons are all the second coming of Babe Ruth, and Sam isn’t fit to fetch their foul balls. Even worse, Shannon’s best friend Jennifer catches the baseball fever. She schemes behind the scenes to get her son Matthew on the town’s best baseball team, the Saints. As for Sam? Sorry, there’s no room for him! Sam winds up on the worst team in town, and every week they find new and humiliating ways to lose to the Saints.
And the action off the field is just as hot. Shannon finds herself falling for the Saints’ coach, Kevin. But how can she date a man who didn’t think her son was good enough for his team … especially when the whole baseball world is gossiping about them? Even Shannon’s ex-husband David gets pulled into the mess when a randy baseball mom goes after him. As Sam works to make friends, win games and become a better baseball player, Shannon struggles not to become one of those crazy baseball parents herself. In this world, it’s not about whether you win, lose, or how you play the game… it’s all about KEEPING SCORE.
RELEASE DAY! Starstruck in Seattle [plus bumper giveaway!]
Wow, what a month! Last month my novella I Dream of Johnny was released, and this month, today, sees the release of another novella, STARSTRUCK IN SEATTLE!
I’m so excited for this one as it was written quite a while ago, and is my first story not set in Australia, so it’s good to see it finally out in the world. And if enough readers like it, I’ll write more in the series, each with a new stand-alone story set in different cities but linked by the reappearance of the quirky and loveable character of Lulu and her dog, Spark (see pic below). Lulu has a very important job in bringing soulmates together, so the story possibilities are endless.
Here’s the blurb:
Aspiring actress Anna Hilford might only have a small role in a leading television drama, but she longs to be dreamboat Karl Drake’s leading lady. Sick of being loveless and overlooked, Anna seeks the help of intuitive love coach, Lulu, from LuluTheLoveAngel.com to give her the courage and determination to follow her destiny. But fate has different ideas, Lulu has undisclosed power, and Anna is about to realise that life happens while you’re busy making plans…
I got the idea for this story when Sleepless in Seattle was on TV. I thought, instead of a call-in-radio show where people ask for advice, what if there was a website that specialised in helping people anonymously with their love dilemmas (and there might be, I just haven’t looked!). So I thought up the idea for a Love Coach, but as I like to do in many of my stories, I decided to give it a slight magical twist. That’s right, Lulu, known as Lulu the Love Angel, might just have more power than people know. 😉
This story is slightly different from my previous two books, in that it’s a bit more ‘romancey’ and not as much of a giggle-fest, though it does have some humorous moments.
I hope you’ll enjoy reading about Anna’s search for love and how, unknowingly, Lulu helps her along the way.
BUY NOW: >> STARSTRUCK IN SEATTLE is available worldwide and you can buy it from all ebook retailers, including:
Amazon / Amazon UK / iTunes iBookstore / B&N Nook / Kobo / Booktopia / JB Hi-Fi / Google Play / ebooks.com / All Romance ebooks
GIVEAWAY: >> And now, I have a fantastic giveaway for you all! You could win four Escape Publishing ebook packs, using the rafflecopter links below and following the instructions. Competition closes midnight on 10th October and is open worldwide.
Here’s what you could win. Enter one or all of them!
#1 Fun, Fast, & Fabulous novella pack:
Christmas Wishes, New year’s Kisses, and Valentine’s Dates by Rhian Cahill; I Dream of Johnny by Juliet Madison; The Virginity Mission by Cate Ellink; and Bonjour Cherie by Robin Thomas.
Enter prize #1 here >> a Rafflecopter giveaway
#2 Escape from Reality pack:
Fast Forward by Juliet Madison; Red Moon by M.A. Grant; Fish Out of Water by Ros Baxter; King Hall by Scarlett Dawn.
Enter prize #2 here >> a Rafflecopter giveaway
#3 Out and About pack:
Matilda’s Freedom by Téa Cooper; Getting Wild by Sarah Barrie; Swift Runs The Heart by Mary Brock Jones; Riding on Air by Maggie Gilbert; Dark Oil by Nora James.
Enter prize #3 here >> a Rafflecopter giveaway
#4 Emotional Rollercoaster pack:
Forget Me Not by Nina Blake; Bound By Her Ring by Nicole Flockton; Her Man from Shilo by Robyn Richards; Finding Home by Lauren McKellar; Under The Hood by Juanita Kees.
Enter prize #4 here >> a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck, and happy reading! 🙂
Click here to visit the STARSTRUCK IN SEATTLE page at Escape Publishing.
Click here to add STARSTRUCK IN SEATTLE to your Goodreads shelf.
I Dream of Johnny, & Johnny, & Johnny [3 Wishes Blog Blitz!]
WELCOME to the official post for the Three Wishes Blog Blitz to celebrate the release of I Dream of Johnny, my new novella out now with Escape Publishing!
From 2nd to 6th September you’ll have the chance to win some awesome prizes at all the blogs participating in the blitz, including mine. All you have to do is follow my instructions below for winning the prizes I have on offer, and click on the links of any or all of the other blogs taking part (list is below) to enter their giveaways as well. How cool is that? Why is it called the Three Wishes Blog Blitz? My new romantic comedy release, I Dream of Johnny, is about three wishes, a high-tech genie in a lamp, and one very unfortunate typo that proves magic isn’t all it cracked up to be…
Three Awesome Johnny’s:
Do you have a favourite Johnny, real or fictional? Here are my top three…
1. Johnny Depp: Okay, he’s in Captain Jack Sparrow mode here, but it’s such a great picture. How can you not love good ol’ Johnny? My first memories of him were when he was in 21 Jump Street and Nightmare on Elm street, in his pin-up-boy days. Such a great actor who’s made a great career for himself doing things his own way.
2. Johnny Castle (played by Patrick Swayze): Ahh, probably my favourite movie of all time: Dirty Dancing. I love the forbidden romance between Baby, an upper-class good girl, and Johnny, a guy from the wrong side of the tracks trying to make a living as a resort dance instructor. Patrick Swayze was great in this movie (R.I.P.), his character Johnny saying one of the most popular lines in movie history: “Nobody puts Baby in the corner.”
3. Jon Bon Jovi: My first celebrity crush, I was so excited when I bought my first poster of him for my bedroom wall. And I must know how to pick ‘em, because this Johnny has stood the test of time. Still rockin’ and rollin’ as we speak, and I still love Bon Jovi’s music.
So who is the Johnny in my book? I don’t want to give anything away, so here’s the blurb instead 😉
I DREAM OF JOHNNY…
Getting three wishes isn’t all it’s cracked up to be when an unfortunate spelling error in Mandy’s high-tech magic lamp changes her wish for a Greek God into a Geek God. His fashion IQ is in the negatives, he’s clingier than cling wrap, and he has a penchant for breaking into song at inappropriate moments. Before Mandy can request a replacement wish, she has to put up with him for twenty four hours, and the timing couldn’t be worse – – it’s her friend’s wedding day, her ex will be there, and the God of Geeks insists on coming along for the ride.
Buy the book via any of the following retailers: Amazon, Amazon UK, iTunes, B&N/Nook, Kobo, Google Play, JB Hi-Fi, Booktopia, ebooks.com, Escape Publishing.
Want to win some awesome prizes? Here’s how…
1. Simply leave a comment below and tell me which of the above three Johnny’s you’d love to have dinner with (yes I know we unfortunately don’t have Patrick Swayze/Johnny Castle with us anymore, but this is all about making wishes ;)), or perhaps there’s another Johnny/John/Jonathan you’d like to share a meal with instead?
2. Also, let me know whether you’re from Australia or International so I know which prize you’re eligible for.
Since this is all about 3 wishes, I have 3 prize packs! You could win:
1. AUSTRALIA ONLY PRIZE: just for the Aussie’s…
Gift box containing a selection of paperbacks, including: The Book of Tomorrow by Cecilia Ahern, The Perfect Hero by Victoria Connelly, That Gallagher Girl by Kate Thomson, and Mounting Desire by Nina Killham.
Plus, handmade earrings from an artist in my local area.
Plus, an organic skin care pack containing body buff, body balm, and hand cream.
Plus, three postcard-sized magnets of my book covers – Fast Forward, I Dream of Johnny, and Starstruck in Seattle.
Am I generous or what? 😉
2. OUTSIDE-AUSTRALIA PRIZE: Sorry Aussie’s, this one’s for the overseas entrants only…
Two large paperbacks from Australian authors, including the very popular Man Drought by Rachael Johns & A Duchess to Remember by Christina Brooke.
Plus, three signed postcards of my book covers – Fast Forward, I Dream of Johnny, and Starstruck in Seattle.
Plus, winner’s choice of 3 ebooks from Escape Publishing.
3. WORLDWIDE PRIZE: Anyone could win!
Winner’s choice of 3 ebooks from Escape Publishing.
Plus, winner’s choice of either a 5 page critique of a sample of your writing, or have a character named after you or your pet in one of my future books (don’t worry, if you choose the pet option, I will name a pet character after it, not a human, although… you never know 😉
>>Enter now by leaving a comment below and telling me which Johnny you’d like to have dinner with and whether you’re in Australia or International. Winners will be chosen after midday on 6th Sept and must respond to the notification email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.
>> PLUS, if you want a bonus entry into the draw, buy I Dream of Johnny and forward your receipt to me before 12pm 6th Sept at jtmauthor(at)gmail(dot)com with BONUS ENTRY in the subject line.
Once you’ve entered my giveaway, visit any or all of the other participating blogs listed below to enter more prize draws. You could potentially win a whole heap of prizes! Good luck! 🙂 Competitions close midday Sydney time on 6th Sept.
LIST OF PARTICIPATING BLOGS– WIN MORE PRIZES! Click the links below to see what other bloggers have written using the ‘three wishes’ theme, and see what prizes they have to give away!
1. Tahlia Newland, reader, writer & reviewer.
2. Jennifer Scoullar – Rural Author.
3. Iris B.
6. Ever On Word ~ The blog of author Danielle E. Shipley.
7. Georgina Troy.
8. Amber A. Bardan.
9. Téa Time Treat.
11. Cate Ellink.
13. S.E. Gilchrist.
14. Jennifer Joyce.
15. Words, Windmmills and Plot Wrinkles.
16. The Ecstasy Files.
18. Between The Lines.
19. Coleen Kwan.
20. My Written Romance.
21. Monique McDonell.
22. Becky on Books.
23. Sarah Belle.
24. Eva Scott.
25. Lily Malone – Contemporary Romance Author.
26. Writing Under Fire.
27. Flying Pony.
28. Nora Snowdon – writer of elegant smut.
29. Kerrie Paterson.
30. Zee Monodee – Author’s Corner.
32. Ms. Stuart Requests the Pleasure of your Company.
33. Book Babe.
34. A Slice of Tart.
35. The Official Website of Nicole Murphy.
36. Imogene Nix.
37. Lisa Swallow.
38. Lauren K McKellar.
39. J’aimee Brooker.
40. Wise Words – Book Blogger.
PLUS, my fabulous publisher has jumped in with a special blog post about three out-of-this-world book related wishes! A must-read, check it out here.
And remember to leave a comment below and enter the prize draw!
Pre-orders available for I Dream of Johnny, plus a multi-book giveaway!
Just a quick post today to let you know that I DREAM OF JOHNNY is now up for preorder at Amazon, Amazon UK, and iTunes. Of course, you can wait until release day on the 1st September if you like, but for those eager little munchkins here are the preorder links:
- Amazon, click here.
- Amazon UK, click here.
- iTunes, click here (or search the title in the app store).
- You can also visit the book page at the Escape Publishing website which has links to all the other online stores it will be available from.
I DREAM OF JOHNNY is a fun romantic comedy novella you can read in about an hour; a great way to spend a lunch break, waiting at the doctors surgery (because they always take an hour don’t they?), read while breastfeeding or soothing your child back to sleep (hang on, scrap that… there are some funny moments in the book and I wouldn’t want you to wake the baby with a burst of laughter!), or catching snippets of on coffee breaks. Novellas are also a relaxing way to spend an evening, knowing you can finish it in one sitting and feel really accomplished that you’ve knocked over another book on that To-Be-Read pile! 😉
Here’s the blurb:
Getting three wishes isn’t all it’s cracked up to be when an unfortunate spelling error in Mandy’s high-tech magic lamp changes her wish for a Greek God to a Geek God. His fashion IQ is in the negatives, he’s clingier than cling wrap, and he has a penchant for breaking into song at inappropriate moments. Before Mandy can request a replacement wish, she has to put up with him for twenty four hours, and the timing couldn’t be worse — it’s her friend’s wedding day, her ex will be there, and the God of Geeks insists on coming along for the ride!
Now onto other news… namely, news involving prizes, prizes, prizes!
I’m giving away a copy of FAST FORWARD and a heap of other authors are giving away copies of their books and swag over at Riverina Romantics. If my maths is correct there are 38 books up for grabs! What are you waiting for? Head on over and enter the draw to win. Oh, here’s the link.
And remember, on 2nd September here on the blog I’m hosting another huge giveaway with around 50 blogs participating and offering prizes, so I’ll see you back here on the 2nd!
Happy reading! 🙂
~ Juliet
Brooke Moss answers my Awkward Questions, PLUS a giveaway!
In this segment, authors will be subjected to a list of awkward questions that may reveal more about themselves than they really wish to share, and they will receive a score on the ‘Braveometer’. If they choose to answer only five questions, they are a ‘Brave Author’, if they answer 6 to 9 questions they are a ‘Mega-Brave Author’, and if they answer all 10 questions they are an ‘Ultra-Brave Author’!
Please welcome Brooke Moss, author of fiction for adults and teens…laced with whimsy, humor, and heart…
1. Which of the following words most accurately describes your best personality trait (you must pick only one!):
Punctual. Good listener. Neat. Graceful. Generous. Cheerful.
Generous.
2. Which of the following words most accurately describes your worst most challenging personality trait (even if you’re perfect, you must pick one):
Always late. Blabbermouth. Slob. Complete klutz. Scrooge. Grumpy pants.
Grumpy pants.
3. Have you ever had a romantic crush on one of your characters? Who and why?
Gabe Parker, of Keeping Secrets in Seattle. Because he looks like Jesse Williams from Grey’s Anatomy. Um, hot.
4. Do you talk to yourself when writing or coming up with plot ideas?
Absolutely. All the time.
5. Who would be ideal to play YOU in a movie of your life?
Melissa McCarthy.
6. If you had the attention of the whole world for two minutes what would you say?
Stop watching the Kardashians. They’ll never go away if we don’t start ignoring them.
Thanks for taking part, Brooke! You have been awarded Mega-Brave Author status on the Braveometer!
>>GIVEAWAY! To win an ebook copy of Brooke’s latest romantic comedy release, Baby & Bump, please comment below and answer the following question: Where is the most awkward place to meet a man?
*Competition is open worldwide & will be drawn Wed 7th August and announced in the comments. The winner will also be notified via email. Good luck!
Visit Brooke at her website, facebook, and twitter.
BABY & BUMP:
Have you heard about the Three Wishes Blog Blitz?
On 2nd September at 12pm (Sydney Aus time) I’ll be hosting the Three Wishes Blog Blitz, and over 40 blogs will be participating in a whole lot of fun and giveaways! The blitz will run from 2nd-6th September 2013, and you have a chance to win some fab prizes at each of the participating blogs, as well as mine.
On the day I’ll post a link to all blogs taking part so you can not only enter my giveaway but enter theirs as well, so you could potentially win a heap of prizes! (and discover some great new authors and blogs too).
The blog blitz is to celebrate the release of my new novella, I Dream of Johnny, released 1st September, and yes, it is a story about three wishes 😉
Here are just a few of the awesome bloggers and authors that have registered to take part so far (and if you’ve registered, you’ll be receiving an email from me very shortly with all the details, so let me know if you don’t hear from me!):
Daystarz books, Nicola Moriarty, Coleen Kwan, Kate Belle/The Ecstasy Files, Jennifer Scoullar, S.E. Gilchrist, Monique McDonell, Mochas Mysteries & More, Tea Cooper, Lily Malone, Nicole Murphy, Alissa Callen, and more!
>>If you have a blog and would like to participate, it’s not too late! Fill out the registration form here. And you can read the details of what’s involved in taking part here.
If you’re not taking part as a blog but would like to enjoy the blog blitz and win prizes, make sure you come back here on 2nd Sept. You might wish (ha!) to subscribe to the blog via email on the right hand menu in order to be notified on the day so as to not miss out!
See you back here in 7 weeks, and remember… be careful what you wish for! 😉
Sign up for the Three Wishes Blog Blitz!
Want more visitors to your blog?
I’m holding a joint blog event to encourage cross-promotion and increased blog traffic to authors and bloggers. This is on 2nd September 2013 to coincide with the release of my novella, I Dream of Johnny on 1st September. Rather than just promote the new release, I wanted to do something where everyone’s a winner – authors, bloggers, and readers.
How would it work and why is it called the Three Wishes Blog Blitz?
As you may have guessed from the title of my novella which is play on the TV show, I Dream of Jeannie, the story involves a virtual genie in a magic lamp granting three wishes. For Mandy, one of these wishes goes hilariously wrong (she ends up with a Geek God instead of a Greek God). So I thought I’d do a ‘Three Wishes themed’ blog event.
How it would work is that interested authors or bloggers would create and schedule a blog post for 2nd September, and link it back to mine which will contain links to all the participating blogs. Each participating blog (and mine) will offer some sort of prize to readers who leave a comment, and the winners will be drawn a week later at the conclusion of the blog event.
The blog posts can relate to the theme of three wishes, wishes in general, or something to do with magical elements in fiction, romantic comedy, or even geeks as characters. For example, you could simply have a blog post titled: ‘My Three Wishes’ and write about what you would wish for if you had a magic lamp. The answers could be serious (world peace…etc) or funny (the ability to always find good parking spots)…etc, whatever you like. You could even have a photo blog post with pictures of three things you would love, three celebrities you’d love to meet, or three places you wish you could travel to…etc. You create the title for the post, and simply include the blog event title in brackets, eg: My Three Wishes [Three Wishes Blog Blitz]
What’s in it for you?
- Increased exposure and visits to your blog and/or books from cross-promotion. My official blog post will link to all the participating blogs and I’ll encourage people to visit as many as they can to take part and go in the draw for prizes. One person could potentially win multiple prizes, so it’s an enticing blog event.
- Potentially increased number of blog subscribers and new readers.
- Offer value to your existing blog subscribers and readers.
- A way to blog without having to come up with yet another idea for a post! (I’ve done the idea-part for you ;))
- Chance to win prizes yourself! Even participating blogs can enter the prize draws on other blogs.
- Chance to win a special ‘blog participant’ prize, reserved for one of the lucky bloggers who take part.
- You never know, your three wishes might even come true! 😉
Plus, it’ll be fun and we’ll all benefit from the combined marketing efforts during the week of the event.
I participated in a similar blog event through Book’d Out last January, and that post remains one of my top five most popular blog posts this year, thanks to the cross-promotion through all the participating blogs.
>>If you’re interested, sign up here, and feel free to share this opportunity with others. The more the merrier!
[UPDATE>> As of Thurs 4th July, 40 blogs have signed up. More are welcome!]
(Participating blogs will receive more details via email and will receive a reminder when the event is approaching).
Tweet this post (copy & paste into a tweet):
Want more visitors to your blog? Sign up for the Three Wishes Blog Blitz! via @Juliet_Madison https://julietmadison.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/three-wishes-blog-blitz/
Looking for something to blog about? Here’s an idea: via @Juliet_Madison https://julietmadison.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/three-wishes-blog-blitz/
Bloggers! Authors! Cross-promotional blog event coming up. Sign up here: via @Juliet_Madison https://julietmadison.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/three-wishes-blog-blitz/
Free Critiques over long weekend!
Attention writers! Fancy a free, fast, five-page critique of your work? The first ten people to buy or gift a copy of FAST FORWARD and forward their receipt to me will get one!
I’ll critique five standard pages (word document, 12 point font, double spaced) of anything fiction-related you’d like feedback on: the first five pages of your manuscript, a synopsis, back cover blurbs, or a brief synopsis and a few pages of a chapter – whatever you can fit into five pages in total. Any genre.
Here’s how to score a critique:
1. Buy FAST FORWARD anytime from now till the 10th June (Queen’s Birthday long weekend), or if you’ve already got it you can gift a copy to a friend.
2. Send your receipt or a screenshot of your proof of purchase to me at fastforwardbook(at)gmail(dot)com – replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .
Receipt should be dated 8th, 9th, or 10th June, or if you’re international and not yet up to Australian time and it’s still the 7th, I’ll accept that too. Basically, from the moment this blog post is live you’re eligible.
If you’re one of the first ten, I’ll let you know and you can send me your five pages.
Easy! 🙂
The critique will be via Microsoft word ‘track changes’ (comments in the side margins and some suggestions within the manuscript), and will include general feedback on the story as well as grammar, showing vs telling, dialogue…etc. It may also include the odd smiley face and exclamation mark. You have been warned. 😉
You can keep updated on the contest by following me on twitter or facebook.
Get in quick! Buy FAST FORWARD worldwide via…
Escape Publishing, Amazon, Amazon UK, iTunes/iBookstore, Kobo, Google Play, B&N/Nook, JB Hi-Fi.
Then forward your receipt to fastforwardbook(at)gmail(dot)com
I look forward to reading your work!
~ Tweet this post by copying and pasting any of the following into a tweet:
Want a 5 page critique? Get in quick at @Juliet_Madison’s blog! http://bit.ly/ZxQmp8 #critique #amwriting
Writers! 5 Page critique of synopsis &/or manuscript to first 10 people! Details here via @Juliet_Madison: http://bit.ly/ZxQmp8
JULIET MADISON 