#Covid-19 #99cent #eBook #Sale by Janice Seagraves

How is everyone doing?

Just in case anyone is wondering, I'm fine and just have an allergy. I'm working on my eBooks, dropped the price to .99 cents, and found one eBook which had the paperback version started but never finished. So, I'm working on that, too.

As of now, my eBooks in the Matrix Crystal Series (four-books) and Windswept Shores (two book) Series are all available for .99 cents each (book).

I dropped the price so everyone during the #covid-19 isolation time can have something to read.

Now only .99 cents 

Windswept Shores Two Book Series

 
Windswept Shores is back, and better than ever with a replaced missing scene. It’s something warm to read while it’s frosty outside. And better yet, there a sequel too.

Blurb: The sole survivor of a plane crash, Megan is alone on a deserted island in the Bahamas. Then she finds a nearly-drowned man. Another survivor, this time from a boat wreck.
With only meager survival skill between them, will they survive these windswept shores and can they find love?
For the first time available as a trade paperback: https://www.createspace.com/4084680
And for the Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AS9NDNO
Excerpt:
His hand lingered on her shoulder. Her trembling vibrated up his arm. Blimey, she’s all shaken up.
“S’kay, she’ll be right.” He grabbed her sleeping pallet, pulled it over, slipping an arm around her waist.
Her body went rigid. “What are you doing?”
“Relax, mate, I’m not trying to get a leg over. You need a bit of comfort so you can go back to sleep. My mum would cuddle me when I’d have a howler of a nightmare. It’s nice to know you’re not alone.”
“So, I’m supposed to think of you like my mom or dad?”
“Or like yer husband if that’ll help?” He grinned in the dark, wondering what kind of reaction he was going to get.
“I think not.”
“I noticed you weren’t wearing a wedding ring. Is it because yer husband drowned?” His heart beat a little faster when he asked the question. He really wanted to know if he had a chance with her.
“No, he’s not drowned,” she snapped. “I lost my ring in the ocean, but I’m not sure when. I just looked down one day, it was gone.”
She’s in denial about her husband’s death. I reckon it’s too soon. A little disappointed, he decided to change subjects. “So, you got any ankle biters at home?”
“Two boys.”
“How old?” he asked. They must be missing their mum, poor little nippers.
“Joshua is twenty. He’s in college. Eli is eighteen and just graduated from high school.”
“Blimey, how long have you been married to your bloke?”
“Twenty-three years this January,” she said.
“How old are you?” He positioned his head where he could breathe in the scent of her hair, and inhaled a floral fragrance. How does she manage to smell fresh in a place like this?
Megan moved a bit forward. “Do you know that it’s considered very rude to inquire after a woman’s age?”
“Not where I’m from, so spill.” He scooted up some, placing his knees behind hers.
She pulled away. “Humph, well, okay I’m forty-two.”
“You’re still spunky.” He wondered how far she’d move until she ran out of room in her tiny shelter.
“Uh, spunky, thanks.” Megan rolled onto her back.
Blimey, she out maneuvered me. Seth was forced to move back, but kept his hand on her tummy.
“You got hitched when you were a young ‘un?” He quickly did the math. She’s a bit older than me. More of a challenge.
“Yeah, I got married at nineteen, but I knew what I wanted, or thought I did. Have you ever been married?”
“Got hitched once.”
“What happened?” she asked. Her bed rustled as she shifted position.
“We got into a blue, she told me to shove off, so I left. So that was the end of that.” His hand drifted to her rib cage.
“Any kids?” she asked, pushing his hand down.
“A son named Nick. He just turned six.”
“Okay, now you have to tell me how old you are.”
“I’m an old prawn. I just had my thirtieth birthday.”
“That’s not old, especially not for a man.”
“I’m starting to feel it when I surf,” he admitted, smoothing a wrinkle on her shirt.
“Oh, you’re a surfer?”
“Back in Uni I got caught up chasing the good breakers on Spring Break. I headed out from Cali to Baja, then from there to Florida. I became a Surfie. That’s what you’d call someone who surfs more than they work. Then I met this old bloke, Bill, in a pub. He’s from Oz too, or so I thought, but it turns out he’s an apple.”
“An apple?” she asked.
“He hails from Tasmania. I was broke doing odd jobs. Bill hired me to help on his fishing boat.”
“Wait a minute, Oz?”
“Oz, short for Australia,” he explained, moving his mouth toward where he thought her ear was, saying softly, “It’s in the sound Au`z-tralia—Oz.”
———————————
Trade paperback: https://www.createspace.com/4084680
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AS9NDNO
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/446101
Janice Seagraves’s website: http://janiceseagraves.org/

---

Now only .99 cents

Windswept Shores Two

Blurb: Megan and Seth are finally rescued off their little island, but things are far from idyllic. Seth is arrested for murder, and Megan is order to return home to her philandering husband who is somehow still alive. Will they ever get back together again or see the life they envisioned?
Except:
“Megz, I thought you were going home?” Seth chided as she took the seat across from him at the old beat up wooden table.
“I have a flight in two hours. Time enough to see you before I leave.” She blinked back tears.
This is so unfair. This can’t be the last time I see him.
Megan folded her hands on the table. “We already checked out of the hotel, but I brought your luggage. The commissioner gave me the okay, so now you have a change of clothes for when you go in front of the judge. I also bought you a few necessities. Since soap and such are not provided, I was told it’s customary for family members to buy those items for the inmates.” She sat a white plastic bag on the table. “These have already been cleared for your use.”
He eyed the bag. “Did your boys pay for it?”
This is the last thing I can do for him, and he doesn’t want it? “Don’t you argue with me, Seth Dawson. You need these.” She fisted her hands. “I also put some money into an account here at the jail for anything else you might need.”
“Ta fer that, love. I’ll pay your sons back somehow.” Seth took one of her hands and uncurled her fingers. “I did want to see you one last time. I didn’t reckon with us parting this way. You to yer rotten bloke, and me here on charges.” He smiled. “Cuddling up on one of your siblings’ sofas sounded nice.”
“Crowded maybe, but we would’ve been together.”
“I heard you made a statement.”
“I did.” She sighed and looked down. I’m not sure what good it’ll do, Seth.
“Thanks for trying, love,” Seth murmured. “I don’t reckon on it being much since you didn’t know Bill before he died.”
“The commissioner said most of my statement is hearsay.” She shrugged. “The only thing I could really tell them was: Bill was dead when we found him and looked the same as the other drowning victims. Also, you never said a bad word about him and showed genuine grief at seeing his body.”
“Not much to go by.” Seth rubbed his thumb across her knuckles.
The slight touch sent a tingle through her, and she wanted to throw herself across the table at him. “The commissioner said he was going to contact the harbormaster where the Dinki-Di had been birthed to see if you two had gotten into any fights.”
“We didn’t.” Seth shook his head. “We got along.”
“Maybe he’ll make a statement too.”
“Gawd, I hope so,” Seth said. “I don’t have enough character references, being from out of town.”
“No, just me.” She tried to smile.
“And old Bill who’s gone.” He lifted her hand to kiss her fingers.
“Times up,” said a guard.
Megan stood and stared at Seth wanting to remember him. Not like this in the black and white jail clothes, but the way he was on the island, happily rumpled in his threadbare outfits.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/637092https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/637092
Buy Link: Amazon USA: https://www.amazon.com/Windswept-Shores-Two-survivors-story-ebook/dp/B01BPLNHTI/
Buy Link: Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.com/Windswept-Shores-Two-survivors-story-ebook/dp/B01BPLNHTI/

Formatting and Cover Design by Author Renee Vincent

• Are you an indie author, or even a hybrid author, who'd rather concentrate on writing your next book instead of learning how to professionally format it for print and digital format?
• Don't have the time to learn the skills it takes to design your own quality cover?
• Do you wish you could find a proficient designer without paying an arm and a leg for his or her service?
• Are you interested in finding a designer who's patient and eager to satisfy without making you wait months for the finished product?

Then perhaps you'd like to check out

GOT YOU COVERED DESIGNS!

I'm super excited to launch the GRAND OPENING of my new venture in publishing! And because I love my awesome Romance Books 4 Us peeps, I'm giving you an automatic 10% discount on all services rendered. But hurry, it's ONLY for services purchased today on October 21, 2016!!!

As well as formatting, I have historical, contemporary, western, and holiday pre-made covers available, with more on the way...but I'm also able to do a custom cover, if you're looking for something in particular.

I'd love for you to check out my website and see if there's something I can do for you while you concentrate on writing.

Click to go to GOT YOU COVERED DESIGNS, and don't forget to let your author friends know about the GRAND OPENING deal!

Christmas in July is coming at @RomanceBooks4Us #RB4U #Swag #Giveaway

Since it's inception, Romance Books 4 Us has been the place to celebrate the hot summer months by taking part in their annual Christmas in July Contest and Giveaway! 

In our continued effort to band authors together and wow our readers, the RB4U group has put together an awesome lineup of prizes. From gift cards, to eBooks, paperbacks and even swag there is bound to be some prizes you just can't wait to get your hands on!

So, don't forget to tune into our MONTHLY CONTEST PAGE once the calendar flips to July, because this one is going to be HUGE! 

~ The Romance Books 4 Us Author Group xox

A Little Bit Thankful. . .

It’s been quite the month, hasn’t it? So much has happened. I’m not even sure where to begin, lol.

On a global level, we had several terrorist attacks, the most famous were the attacks in Paris. I don’t know about anyone else, but watching the news unfold on television and social media made me realize just how thankful I was for family living close by and my health.

On a national level, we celebrated both Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving, two holidays that make us reflective and grateful for what we have. We always have Thanksgiving at our house, and it's nice to have all of us under one roof - even if it's only for a little while.

On a personal level, my oldest’s Cross Country Team finished for the year, and her Basketball team started practice. I was very thankful that he basketball schedule is a little less demanding than her running schedule. She also managed to finish a major school project about her ancestors, a project that made me realize just how far we have come from our humble roots.

On a professional level, I got some big news on two fronts, neither of which I’m allowed to share yet. (dang it!) If you want to be one of the first to know, then you might want to sign up for my newsletter here. I’llannounce it here first, as well as give subscribers a special surprise inDecember. So stay tuned!

The news has made me reflective as to how far I have since I started writing in 2008, and all of the amazing friendships I have made along the way. So I’d love to take a moment now to thank all of you, writers and readers, for an amazing 2015. Here’s hoping that 2016 is even better!

How about you? Is there anything you’re thankful for this holiday season? Tell me about it in the comments section. I’d love to hear from you!

Buy from the following vendors:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iBooks
Kobo
Google PlayIndiebound

More vendors coming soon!

“A fast-paced plot, appealing lovers awakening to their true feelings, unnerving antagonists, and entertaining sex scenes make this an absorbing, satisfying romance.” – Publishers Weekly

A sensual tale about the risks and rewards of falling in too deep-and loving it.

PASSION COMES WITH A PRICE.

Tired of living a lie, Arianna Perconti leaves her fiancé at the altar and runs into the arms of her family’s fiercest rival, Jason Stone. Hoping to cash in on their ‘friends-with-benefits’ arrangement while hiding out from bitter relatives, Ari instead finds herself falling deeply, desperately in love with the sexy hotelier. Jason is everything she never knew she wanted-yet she will do absolutely everything to show him she means business. In bed…

CAN THEY AFFORD TO LIVE WITHOUT IT?

Jason lives in the fast lane and has the race cars to prove it. A born adrenaline junkie, he must admit that Ari is the perfect partner for his heart-pumping bedroom games. The problem? The relationship is starting to deepen, but is Jason really cut out to be a one-woman kind of man? The question haunts his days, only fueling the passion he and Ari share during those hot, hot nights. But when an estranged sibling enters the picture, threatening to take away everything he holds dear, Jason is forced to make a decision: Say goodbye to his wild ways or risk losing Ari forever?

A lifetime New Englander, Suzanne married her college sweetheart and has been with him for over twenty years. Every summer she drags her husband and two daughters to Maine on a quest for the perfect lobster dinner. Every fall she can be found down in Foxboro, Massachusetts cheering on her favorite football team. In between those trips, she’s a chauffeur, a maid, a chef, an event planner, a hairdresser, a wardrobe stylist, a tutor and a sometimes masseuse. To keep her sanity, she often drinks copious amounts of coffee and stares at the blank screen of her laptop, dreaming of great adventures. Sometimes she even writes them down for others to enjoy.

For more information, please visit her website.

Do We Love Shifters at #RB4U ? ABSOLUTELY!

I mean, what's not to love about shifters, right? There's just something so intense and feral about them. I'll be totally honest here. While I do enjoy a good contemporary romance, my heart belongs to paranormals. One of my best selling shifter series, the Kyron Pack, helped me to find an agent. A second series, Jungle Heat, shot me to the NYTbest seller list. It's obvious that not only do I love writing shifter romances, but people love reading them, too.

As my contemporary romances took off over the past year, I had less and less time to write paranormals. This made me incredibly sad. While I had a lot of books out in 2014 and 2015, there wasn't a werewolf, vampire, or wizard among them.

That's all going to change, however. Recently I had the opportunity to return to the Jungle Heat series and play with my hot, Brazilian cat shifters. These alpha males not only love their motorcycles, but they love their women, too. They need strong ladies to tame their wild ways, and the heroines of these stories are more than willing to take on the challenge. 

In CRIA and CONQUISTA, the stage is set. Humans are destroying the Amazon rainforest and squeezing out the different shiftertribes in the area. In Cria, these tribes started fighting amongst themselves. In Conquista, they decided to come together. Now, these sexy shifters are ready to face the large construction company ruining their home. They set up thier headquarters in Rio de Janiero, the city where the construction company headquarters is held. What happens in Rio? Well, you'll just have to read the third book in the series, CORAZON, and find out! 

So tell me: what's your favorite type of shifter? I'd love to hear from you! 

While you're thinking of an answer, take a peek at CORAZON, coming October 22nd!

When Marissa infiltrates the notorious motorcycle club on the edge of town, she's prepared to destroy the shifters who are threatening her family. She isn’t prepared for their leader’s sensual proposition, or to play a dangerous bedroom game. As her heart softens, secrets come to light, and Marissa must choose whether to claim her brithright and carry on the family legacy, or follow her heart.

Coming October 22nd, but you can preorder now!

Amazon

Amazon UK

itunes

Kobo

Nook

Excerpt (Careful, it's hot!!):

Marissa had always suspected that kissing Navarro would be intense, but she had no idea just how intense until he had her in his arms. The man was sin on a stick, and with each passing second she was falling more and more under his spell. 

When he brushed his tongue against the seam of her lips, it felt like heaven. With a groan, she parted them in invitation. Navarro took advantage, planting his hand along the back of her head to hold her steady as he plundered her mouth. The kiss wasn’t gentle, but Marissa didn’t want gentle. All her life she had dated “gentle” men who her father found respectable. There was something wild and feral in Navarro. It called to a primal place deep inside her soul.

She was the one who was supposed to be seducing him, not the other way around. If she didn’t regain some control over this situation, she would never be able to use this moment to gain the information she needed. 

As Navarro lifted her up onto the bar and eased in between her thighs, Marissa attempted to disentangle herself. Somehow, her movements brought her closer to him, not farther away. That wild, testosterone part of him was turning her muscles to water. It had been so long since she had sex, even longer since she had good sex. Something about Navarro told her that one night with him would be extraordinary.

Giving up on her plan to take charge, she inched closer to the edge of the bar and slid her hands around his waist. As his erection pressed up against her inner thigh, she decided that she’d give herself over to the moment just this once. By giving herself over to him, she could gain his trust. Yeah, that’s it. Trust.

As he slid his tongue against hers, weeks of building tension exploded into her mouth. He tasted raw and masculine, a heady, leathery taste that matched his scent. He invaded her senses, pushing through the last shred of her defenses until the world around her faded away. She moaned and tilted her head, deepening the kiss. Within seconds there was only her. Only him. Only hungry mouths and skin touching skin. 

“Yes,” she gasped as he tore away from her. He kissed her jaw and neck, creating a hot, tingling sensation along her skin that fueled her desire. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes as he let go of her wrist and ran his large fingers down her back. Sliding her hands up his washboard abs and along his muscular chest, she slipped them under his black, leather jacket and pushed it off his shoulders. He pulled back and shed the jacket on a single, fluid motion. It fell to the ground in a heap around them as he leaned forward and kissed her neck once more.

“Navarro,” she whispered as she tugged his T-shirt from his jeans. After freeing the cotton fabric, she eased her fingers underneath and slid them over his skin. The hard muscle flexed under her fingertips as he inched closer to the edge of the bar. Digging her nails into his skin, she wrapped her legs around his waist and positioned herself until his cock pressed up against her center.

“What is it about you, Marissa?” His breath whispered over her skin, making her shiver. “From the first day we met, I felt the tension between us.”

“Yes,” she whispered as his tongue flicked over the sensitive vein in her neck.

“Ever since then, I’ve been watching you, trying to figure out why you have this affect over me.” He eased his hand up her side and covered her breast. Marissa moaned as he squeezed her sensitive flesh and kneaded the tip between his fingers.

“No other woman has captured my attention like this. Just your scent drives me mad with desire.”

“Navarro, please.” She tugged up on his shirt, eager for him to remove it. She wanted him, had wanted him from the first moment she stepped into Estrella’s. The tension between them that he mentioned was real. As he leaned her back onto the smooth surface of the bar, a sense of urgency rose up deep inside of her core. She shifted her fingers, sliding them around his torso and rubbing them over his rough skin. He growled in response, a throaty, masculine sound that sent a jolt of desire up through her core.

He shifted until his lips were inches away from her ear. “I need to be inside of you, querida.” He flicked his tongue over her lobe. “Before this night is over, I will make you mine. Only mine.” 

A lifetime New Englander, Suzanne married her college sweetheart and has been with him for over twenty years. Every summer she drags her husband and two daughters to Maine on a quest for the perfect lobster dinner. Every fall she can be found down in Foxboro, Massachusetts cheering on her favorite football team. In between those trips, she’s a chauffeur, a maid, a chef, an event planner, a hairdresser, a wardrobe stylist, a tutor and a sometimes masseuse. To keep her sanity, she often drinks copious amounts of coffee and stares at the blank screen of her laptop, dreaming of great adventures. Sometimes she even writes them down for others to enjoy.

Suzanne is represented by Deidre Knight of The Knight Agency and writes mainstream romances under the pen name Ava Conway.

 Connect with Suzanne online:Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Lauren’s Lovelies/ Suzanne and Ava’s Awesome Readers
Facebook Group
Romance on a Budget Blog
Romance Books 4 Us (30th of every month)
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Amazon UK Author Page
Amazon Germany Author Page
Barnes & Noble Author Page
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Coffee Time Romance Author Page

Interview of Indie Artist Press: Marjorie Jones Cooke #RB4U

This past month I had a chance to speak with Marjorie Jones Cooke from Indie Artist Press. I have to confess, before this chat I had never heard of Indie Artist Press  and had no idea what it could offer authors. After our conversation, not only did I come away with some new information (always a good thing), but I felt inspired by how much Marjorie and her team are invested in their authors. They're are up to some wonderful things. Check it out!

Q) Tell me about Indie Artist Press. What is it and what can it offer authors?

A) Thank you so much for having us in your blogosphere. Indie Artist Press is a real joy in my professional and personal life and I'm excited to share it with you and your audience.

First and foremost, Indie Artist Press is a publishing house. We're small, but we're growing. The kind of house we are is what sets us apart from other small presses. We are a hybrid publishing venture, bringing the very best of both self-publishing and traditional publishing together under one roof.

To the reader, we offer quality books that have been professionally edited, copy-edited, proofread and formatted to the highest industry standards they have come to expect from small and large presses.

To the author, we provide all the services of a traditional publishing house, such as editing, copy-editing, proofing, formatting, cover art, and marketing. The difference is this: a traditional publisher provides those aspects of the process for the lion's share of the book's proceeds indefinitely (usually for the life of the copyright.) Indie Artist Press only splits the proceeds with the author until the costs of those services have been recouped. After that, 100% of the continuing proceeds from the sale of the author's books go to the author.

As an added bonus, if the author prefers to invest in those services in advance, they have the opportunity to invest less capital and receive 100% royalties from the day the book is released.

Finally, and this is the most important aspect of what Indie Artist Press is all about, there is a vetting process for the books we'll add to our catalog.  We have an obligation to our readers and our authors to provide engaging, well-written and entertaining books. Our authors trust our brand to ally them with other self-published authors who put in the talent, time and investment to be successful.

Q) How did you come up with the idea for Indie Artist Press?

A) I've been traditionally published in the past and seen moderate critical success. After a hiatus during which time I reexamined by personal goals, I decided that self publishing was the right avenue for me.

I soon discovered that self-published authors really don't get the respect they deserve most of the time. After all, anyone with a computer, a modem and an Amazon account can publish a book, right? Some of these books are excellent! Some of them need a little work, and some of them give self-publishing a bad name.

My business partner and I created Indie Artist Press to establish a brand that says, "Yes, I have chosen to self-publish, but my work has gone through the same 'gauntlet' as any traditionally published book."

So, the idea came from wishing I had somewhere to go where I could maintain control of my literary destiny without being "shelved" with poorly formatted, unedited self-published books.

Q) Why get a barcode through Indie Artist Press and not Bowkers?

A) At IAP, we include the barcode with the overall investment plan. The author doesn't have to invest separately. When we create the barcode for the print edition of a book, we include the encoded price. If you look at the back of a book printed by Createspace, for example, you'll see that the last digits in the barcode read "90000." This is the generic code assigned to the basic barcode. It should have the price included so that bookstores can easily add the book to inventory stock and scan out for the sale.

At IAP, we'll take care of assigning an ISBN and barcode to your book, so you don't have to worry about it. IAP will be your publisher of record, rather than your name or the distribution venue. It is this professional and well-branded alliance to a publishing house that separates our "Indie Authors" from other self-published authors.

Q) Do you help with the promotion of a book as well?

A) We do! We have a vested interest in seeing an author's book do well. Our website is an affiliate store, so we earn a little bit on each sale. When it comes right down to it, IAP only profits on the sale of the books. The investment made by the self-publishing author goes to the artists, editors, formatters and others who work behind the scenes to make the product the very best it can be. The self-publishing author generally contracts for these services on their own, and they generally have to pony up the dough ahead of time. (Or, if they don't have the cash, they skip it altogether.)

Another reason promotion is so important to us is the fact that we offer the option of investing zero dollars until the book sells. There is no time limit on how long it takes to fulfill the investment. If we've done our job well, we believe we'll see the return on that investment relatively quickly. Here's the kicker: it doesn't matter how long it takes. There is no time limit on the traditional investment.

We'll keep splitting royalties, of course, but the author isn't "billed" for the difference at any time. Because we only take on books that meet our standards, we're willing to take that financial risk.

Q) How can an author tell if their book is right for Indie Artist Press?

A) We are incredibly diverse. We're looking for authors who want to self-publish not because they have to, but because they choose to. If an author has written a great book, we want to read it. That said, we're picky about content and an author can find our submission guidelines on our website.

We love everything from tasteful erotica to the most frightful horror and the most intriguing edge-of-your-seat thrillers. We also accept children's books, middle readers, and young adult fiction.

Currently, we have seven imprints.

Q) What’s new at Indie Artist Press? What are your goals for the upcoming year?

A) The biggest news right now concerns one of our titles, Witch, by Rebecca Little. It's a short book; in fact, it's so short we didn't originally put it into print. It was offered as an ebook only until an Indie production company, Oxford Comma Film Cooperative, optioned the movie rights. They have wrapped principle production and have moved into the home stretch. You can find out more about the movie version ofthis way-out-there story at the website.

Our goals for the coming year are simple: We want to establish IAP as a brand of quality with a great reputation in the publishing community. We will provide readers books worth reading and authors with a publishing experience that will be both traditionally professional and uniquely indie.

And for the immediate future, we have three or four titles coming out this fall. Two are brand new releases from author's Susan R. Hughes and Rose Anderson, and two others are First Time in Paperback re-launch titles from E. Ayers and P.T. Denys. We can't wait to reveal the fall line up!

Q) Is there anything else you’d like people to know about your company?

A) We are in it for the long haul. Self-publishing is taking the world by storm with more and more self-published authors hitting bestseller lists. With thousands of titles added to the market each week, we believe it is and always will be important to provide readers and booksellers with a means to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Hybrid publishing provides that means and allows for authors to maintain control of their bookish futures while taking advantage of the new global publishing community.

And now for some fun questions:

Q) What must you have by your side or next to your computer while you work?

A) Dr. Pepper. I know, it's terrible for me and it's full of sugar. I'm weak. At least I'm not drinking aspartame anymore. That stuff'll kill ya!

Q) When you aren’t working, what do you like to do?

A) I enjoy refinishing old furniture. Sometimes, I try to repurpose it, too. Most recently, I took a rather tacky side table with a faux mahogany finish (circa 1980) and turned it into a checker/chess table in turquoise and grey. It's gorgeous sitting on the front porch. The checkers are seashells and crystal pebbles. I may have to challenge someone to a game, now that I think of it.

Q) Quick, your house is on fire. What is the one thing that you grab and take with you out of the house?

A) It's funny you ask that. We have twins; Emily and Phillip whom I refer to as Thing 1 and Thing Squared, respectively. Phillip is a total geek in all the best ways, particularly in math and physics. That's where his moniker comes from. So, both Things, for sure. But when it comes to actual "things," I'd have to go with my suitcase of life. It's an antique suitcase from the 1920s filled with old family photos of great, great grandparents I've never met and every love letter my parents ever wrote to each other. My father was a Naval Aviator for many years and made more than ten deployments overseas while I was growing up. There are a lot of letters. I'm not allowed to read them until... well, you know. They just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, but those letters would definitely go with me. I'm just an old romantic when it comes right down to it, I suppose.

Q) What is your screensaver on your computer?

A) A slideshow of my grandchildren. They are getting so big!

Q) What is the one place you’d love to visit, but haven’t done so yet?

A) I'd like to visit Marble Bar, Australia. I used a little hotel there, the Ironclad Hotel, in one of my books, with their permission of course, and I'd like to meet the lovely gentleman who so kindly answered my questions about life in the Pilbara.

Q) You are also a published novelist. Could you tell us about your books?

A) Thanks for asking! My first book, The Jewel and the Sword, came out about 10 years ago, followed by a few more mass market and trade paperbacks. Most of them are out of print, but still floating around cyberspace as ebooks in various formats. The genres range from medieval historical, which was really big 10 years ago, to 20th Century historical set in the post WWI era in Australia.

I also write paranormal romance titles under the pen name Starla Childs. Most recently, since coming out of the proverbial closet about 5 years ago, I've been writing some lesbian romance, as well. I'm a firm believer that love is love and I plan to continue writing both lesbian novels and the good old-fashioned boy-meets-girl variety. My most recent release, and by far the best seller, is Loving the Heartland.

The greatest part of creating and operating Indie Artist Press has really been the ability to associate myself with so many other, amazingly talented authors. I am proud to list my titles right alongside theirs. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending time with us!

Folks, come on out and show some love to Marjorie. She'll be on hand all day to answer questions about herself and her company, Indie Artist Press!

Marjorie Cooke is a published novelist of romance fiction.  Twice nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, Ms. Jones has been published by several small press publishers.  In recent years, she has focused on professional non-fiction as a ghostwriter and content creator.  Writing as Tennille Webster, she was named a 2011 "Rising Star" by Yahoo! Voices for contributions to Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Shine, and Yahoo! Finance, and earned a "Top 1000" credential during the same year.  In 2005, she was awarded the Isolde Carlsen Award for Excellence in Writing and the Utah Chapter of the Romance Writers of America named her Utah Writer of the Year.  She was a founding partner and is a former owner of Mojocastle Press. In 2015, her IAP release, Loving the Heartland, earned the #1 spot on the Australian Amazon Lesbian Fiction best seller list, and reached a pinnacle of #3 on the same list in the US and UK markets. She writes fiction as Marjorie Jones, Starla Childs and Raleigh Kincaid.

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Interview by Suzanne Rock:

A lifetime New Englander, Suzanne married her college sweetheart and has been with him for over twenty years. Every summer she drags her husband and two daughters to Maine on a quest for the perfect lobster dinner. Every fall she can be found down in Foxboro, Massachusetts cheering on her favorite football team. In between those trips, she’s a chauffeur, a maid, a chef, an event planner, a hairdresser, a wardrobe stylist, a tutor and a sometimes masseuse. To keep her sanity, she often drinks copious amounts of coffee and stares at the blank screen of her laptop, dreaming of great adventures. Sometimes she even writes them down for others to enjoy.

Suzanne is represented by Deidre Knight of The Knight Agency and writes mainstream romances under the pen name Ava Conway.

Connect with Suzanne online!

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Lauren’s Lovelies/ Suzanne and Ava’s Awesome Readers

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Interview with Freelance Editor Leah Wohlfarth

According to RB4U's own Marianne Stephens, Leah Wohlfarth is new, fresh, eager, and does an amazing job. Authors always need a great editor, and we like to have a few extra names just in case our usual editor is unavailable. I’m delighted to interview Leah here today. Let's see how she approaches the process of editing works written by her clients.

 

BIO: Hello! My name is Leah Wohlfarth, and I graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Humanities, which really just means world literature. I love to read, and proof read. I was always editing papers for my friends, and classmates, during college which was a lot of fun for me. I live in Colorado Springs with my adorable dog, Combo, and my boyfriend, Brian, who is in the Air Force. I love to watch movies, go hiking, and crochet. I also speak German, so it is so much fun to add German fairy tales to my reading list!

Q: Describe your job, please. How do you go about your day?

A:  As an editor, I read over written work for spelling and grammatical errors, as well as inconsistencies, awkward sentences, and works that just don’t fit. It is my job to make sure the work flows correctly, and to fine tune the piece to amplify the author’s vision.

Q:  What’s one important thing you’ve learned about your job as you became more involved with it?

A:  I’ve learned that when you are editing, you need to understand the author’s voice. Every word carries a lot of meaning, so putting it in the right place is tricky, but important for amplifying the author’s vision, and voice.

Q:  How do you handle complaints/negative feedback from readers/authors?

A:  I have to take it as constructive criticism. They put their time, effort, and passion into the piece that I got to edit. I need to understand what they want, and take their feedback seriously to make their piece perfect for them. It can be hard, but it’s a necessary part of growing, and becoming better.

Q:  E-books or print. Do you read both? If you read e-books, what reader device do you have?

A: I read both. I prefer print, because there is nothing like the smell and feel of a new book, but I do have a kindle that I use. When I was in college, I used my Kindle for my fun books, that were not related to my classes so I could escape a little. 

Q:  What do you consider the best way for an author to do promos?

A:  In my opinion, the best way to do promos is through social media, and blogs. When I worked at a publishing company in Kansas City, one of my jobs was to search through, and compile a list, of blogs. Those lists were used for advertising, and even for recruiting authors. Blogs are a great way to put yourself out there, show your skills, advertise, and even network.

Q:  Conferences and conventions. Do you attend any and how do you decide which ones to go to?

A:  I unfortunately have not had the opportunity to attend any conferences or conventions. I would love to in the future, and would decide by looking into what is offered at the convention and consider what I would be able to learn.

Q:  What’s one of the most common mistakes you find over and over again, that you can bring to the attention of authors?

A:  It's mostly punctuation, or awkward sentences. When you write, and read through, what you've written so much you can easily overlook those simple things. Also when an author reads their work, they can read what they meant to write, instead of what was written.

Q:  Is there a common misconception authors tend to have about your specialized field or any unrealistic expectations authors have about what you can do?

A:  I haven't encountered any unrealistic expectations, but a misconception is that I will be offended if you don't chose to use a correction, or suggestion, that I made. It's my job to edit, and give another point of view, but it is ultimately the author's book, and the author's choice.

Q:  What’s the one most important thing a reader/author should know about your business?

A:  I am just starting out but I LOVE what I do, and I always have. When I look at a written work it is looking at a tile floor, and I can see when one thing is out of place, so I will do a great job for you.

Q:  What are your guidelines for a writer/author to submit a book/manuscript for an edit?

A:  I just need to know what kind of edit they want. Some people don't want anything changed as far as sentence structure, because it is important to their voice as an author, so I just look through and make sure everything is correct. Others want another point of view, and their content edited. It is just important that you communicate what you want from me. 

Q:  Can you tell us about the cost of using your editing services?

A:  Yes. Here’s a snapshot of my editing fees, which can also be found on my website.

Proofread: $2 a page. A proof read would include, checking for spelling, grammatical errors, punctuation, and typos. This will include one round of edits.

Copy Edit: $3 a page. A copy edit will not only include checking for spelling, grammatical, and punctuation errors, but will also include checking for tense, flow of the words, plot inconsistencies, formatting, awkward sentences, and overused words. This will include two rounds of edits.

Q:  Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc. Where do you appear?

A:  I have both a Facebook, and a twitter that I am active with.

Q:  Let’s get personal. Tell us a little about yourself… astrology sign, favorite food, drink, movie? A place you have visited that you’d like to return to? Favorite season? Do you prefer mountains or beaches, deserts or forests? Three items in your refrigerator right now are… and last but not least, name two things you wouldn’t want to be without if you were stranded on a desert island.

A:  I am a Scorpio. My favorite food is pasta, of any kind, any sauce, don't matter! My favorite movie is The Shawshank Redemption (also a great book). I studied abroad in Germany, and everyone around me knows I cannot wait to go back! I definitely prefer the beach, but I live in the mountains of Colorado. Three things in my refrigerator: Dr Pepper, a LOT of strawberries, and almond milk. If I was stranded on a desert island, I would HAVE to have a toothbrush, and a great book.

Website: http://leahwedit.weebly.com/

Blog: located on my website

Email: leahw09@aol.com