It's all about the books: Cut too Deep by Marissa Farrar

It's all about the books: Cut too Deep by Marissa Farrar: Release Date : 26th March 2015 Description : Guys like Ryker Russo don't notice girls like Jenna Armstrong. Constantly on the move, ...

Cover Reveal - Bye-Bye Baby by Morgana Pheonix

Today I'm  helping with the cover reveal of Morgana Pheonix's latest novel, Bye-Bye Baby! It's gorgeous, isn't it, and I'm sure the story will be awesome as well! The book will be out on the 21st of January, so check it out!

Title: Bye-Bye Baby

Author: Morgana Phoenix 

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Expected Release Date: Jan 21, 2015

Hosted by: Lady Amber's Tours

Blurb:
​Love has no expiration.

The morning Beth packed her bags and walked out of Cole’s life was the day he swore the only girl for him would be the six year old who called him daddy. He didn’t have time for love, not between raising his baby girl and trying to figure out what the hell he was going to do with his life. But fate has a funny way of coming around and kicking you when you least expect it. Cole’s new life was no exception.  

As a product of a severely broken home, Beth Doan knew better than to ever get married. She’d seen what that commitment did to people and she loved Cole McClain too much to let marriage destroy them. But the minute she boards that bus she knew she was making the biggest mistake of her life. Only maybe she wasn’t, not when she goes running back home to the only man she ever loved and finds him in the arms of another woman. 

When an unexpected accident throws them together four years later, the last thing either anticipated was to become responsible for a little person who needs them a whole lot more than they need their bitterness and hurt feelings. Can Cole and Beth forgive and forget long enough to save the life of a child neither one of them predicted falling in love with?

Or are some wounds just too deep to heal?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24329416-bye-bye-baby

Author Bio:

International Bestselling author Airicka Phoenix lives in a world where unicorns, fairies and mermaids run amok through her home on a daily basis. When she’s not chasing after pixies and rounding up imps, also known as her four children, she can be found conjuring up evil villains, bad-ass heroines and swoon-worthy heroes to play with. 

Airicka is singlehandedly responsible for her greatly anticipated collections, the Touch Saga, The Lost Girl Duology, The Regeneration Series, Games of Fire & Betraying Innocence. She also writes mature paranormal & contemporary romance under the dark guise of Morgana Phoenix. To date, she is responsible for the Sons of Judgment Saga, My Soul For You, & Kissing Trouble.

Author Links:

Website: www.AirickaPhoenix.com 
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/VgLqD
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/pub/airicka-phoenix/40/432/74/
Facebook:
Airicka: https://www.facebook.com/airicka.phoenix
Airicka Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Airicka-Phoenix/252135634831614
Morgan Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Morgana-Phoenix/148839731972606
Airicka's Mystical Creations: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Airickas-Mystical-Creations/462373910480084
The Dark Realm: https://www.facebook.com/TheDarkCourt
The Touch Saga Page: https://www.facebook.com/TouchSeriesByAirickaPhoenix
Twitter: 
https://twitter.com/AirickaPhoenix (@AirickaPhoenix)
https://twitter.com/AirickaPhoenix  (@Morgana_Phoenix)
Goodreads:

Airicka: https://www.goodreads.com/AirickaPhoenix
Morgana: https://www.goodreads.com/MorganaPhoenix
Google+
Airicka: https://plus.google.com/u/0/101248439681101533712
Morgana: https://plus.google.com/115636000442414081509
Booktropolous: https://booktropoloussocial.com/index.php?do=/profile-941/
Book Pages:
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Airicka-Phoenix/e/B00906AGHM
Amazon.ca: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Airicka-Phoenix/e/B00906AGHM
Amazon.de: http://www.amazon.de/Airicka-Phoenix/e/B00906AGHM
Amazon.fr: http://www.amazon.fr/Airicka-Phoenix/e/B00906AGHM
Amazon.jp: http://www.amazon.co.jp/Airicka-Phoenix/e/B00906AGHM
Barns & Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/airicka-phoenix
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/airicka-phoenix/id562768863
Scribd: http://www.scribd.com/airicka6phoenix
Inktera: http://www.inktera.com

My Wattpad Experiment

This month I find myself gloriously between books. I'm fairly regimented with my writing regime, and now that I'm having to book my editor months in advance, it means I have to stick to my writing plans come hell or high water. The good thing is with this, is that if I finish a project early, it leaves me with a little play time.

So, I'd had an idea for a story for a while now, one I'd written the title for, together with a couple of character profiles, and a brief outline, and then shelved because it wasn't one of my series books and I didn't have time to write it.

Then a couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine sent me a link to an article about Wattpad. I've been a member of Wattpad for several years now, but haven't really used it.

I tend to write my first draft in a big, old, funky mess. I write out of sequence, and I skip scenes that aren't quite working for me at the time, and I leave myself comments in places I need to do research. The result of  this is that I'm able to write a first draft fairly quickly, but when it comes to rewrites and edits, it takes me twice as long and is a real headache.

So I wanted to see if I could write something that would be decent enough for people to read along as I wrote it. I realise this is essentially still a first draft, and edits and rewrites would need to be done before actual publication, but I figured it wouldn't be anywhere near the sort of headache it normally is.
The thing I was worried about was that I would lose my momentum by having to go back through each chapter, and that my pacing would be off. I also worried (and still do) that something will need to happen in the plot line where I would normally go back and fill in the event. I guess that's the trouble with being a pantser instead of a plotter!

I'm now five chapters into my new work, 'Cut Too Deep'.  It's a romantic thriller, with a couple of twists thrown in. Here's the blurb:

Guys like Ryker Russo don't notice girls like Jenna Armstrong.

Constantly on the move, Jenna doesn't want to settle down anywhere. As long as her latest motel room has a television, wi-fi, and a vending machine, she will make do. It isn't just Jenna's curves that make her self conscious. Beneath her clothes she hides a secret, one that she is running from.

But when her car breaks down, leaving her without a mode of transport to get to the next town, mechanic Ryker seems to show an interest in her. With his muscles, tattoos, and piercings, Ryker has trouble literally written all over him. Jenna can't understand why he would want to be seen with a fat girl like her, and besides, she needs to keep moving. Time is running out and she's terrified if she stays in one place, her past will catch up to her.

I hope you'll come and read along on Wattpad. I haven't lost any of my momentum so far, and am posting around a chapter a day! It's great fun, and I'm enjoying feeling motivated and inspired by Jenna and Ryker's story. I can't wait to find out what happens!

Happy Halloween! Lily Harlem and Spooky Inspiration!

Happy Halloween everyone! It's one of my favourite days of the year, where I am allowed to indulge in my love of all things that go bump in the night without looking like a weirdo!

Today I have swapped blogs with the gorgeously sexy Lily Harlem. I'm over on her blog chatting about my top five sexiest werewolves (warning: hot, half naked men on display!). Lily writes some seriously smoking hot erotica and erotic romance and she's here today to chat about the creepy inspiration for her two paranormal novels, Bite Mark and Claw Mark. I haven't yet read these books, but I have read several of Lily's other novels and I highly recommend her work.

So, take it away, Lily!

Spooky Inspiration

By Lily Harlem

Thank you for inviting me over today, it’s great to be here. I love nothing more than setting my novels in my beloved London. I lived there for several years and for the entire time I felt immersed in history and surrounded by the echoes of the past.

One of the best parts about London is the fabulous old pubs, they have great names, are full of atmosphere and once you’re inside, with friends, it’s as if the rest of the world has melted away. Sometimes they’re a bit tatty, the floorboards wonky and more often than not you have to negotiate stairs to find the restrooms, but I love these places.

Non more so than The Butcher's Hook and Cleaver which is where I got the inspiration for Bite Mark. This old pub is set opposite Smithfield Market which has been trading meat for over 800 years and is now homed in a glorious Victorian building. Mr H and I were in the area on a cold, damp December day a few years ago. A thick fog was hanging around, it had been all week, and to be honest, it was pretty damn creepy outside. The market was quiet and still as it shuts up mid morning and there was a definite Jack the Ripper feel to the area with no one around and visibility diminished. The pub was so welcoming, warm and cosy and Mr H unexpectedly bumped into some people he knew. It was while he was talking and catching up that I looked out of the window and saw a man —posh suit, cane, top hat—walking purposefully with his head tipped upwards past the market. Aimery was born in my imagination! A vampire lawyer working for the Worshipful Company of the Ancient Order (Worshipful Livery Companies are a real thing in London BTW) who has a tendency to hang around the meat market, enjoying the scents of blood that lace the air.

Aimery has a friend, Ryle, equally gorgeous, equally vampish in his ways. And together they hook up with butcher girl Beatrice who seeks their help to find her missing friend, Denny. Beatrice is one lucky lady to have not one but two sexy vampires who are out to seduce her and keep her safe.

When I came to the end of writing Bite Mark I found myself leaving my characters in a bit of a pickle! You see The Carlton Pack—a group of wolf shifters who have history with the Ancient Order—demanded to have their story told too. Soon I was far from London, deep in the Canadian Rockies, letting them have their say in the novel Claw Mark , because after all, every story has two sides, and Beatrice is lucky enough to see both the vampires and the shifters.

I hope you’ll check out Bite Mark and Claw Mark. Remember, do read Bite Mark first. Oh, and if you’re around on Halloween then check out the Brit Babes Shivers and Tingles Facebook Party! It’s going to be great fun with contests, gossip, sexy pictures and steamy excerpts from all The Brit Babes.

Thank you for reading.

Lily x

Bite Mark

Life in London as a butcher girl is hard enough, but when my best friend Denny went missing it became miserable. So stumbling into the Worshipful Company of the Ancient Order while searching for him was like a breath of fresh air. Especially because sexy, sophisticated Aimery promised to help me.

But Aimery’s friend Ryle wanted in on the action. My head was spinning, my body reacting to theirs whenever they were around. But I had questions: What was their obsession with my rare blood type? How did they always appear when I needed them? And how old were they?

Learning the truth about my lovers brought new fears and delights. They could take me higher than I’d ever gone before, show me pleasures I’d never imagined and were prepared to kill to protect me. Being mortal had never been so much erotic fun—or so deliciously dangerous.

Claw Mark

This book is a sequel to Bite Mark; to ensure full enjoyment of this book, please read Bite Mark first.

Being married to two sexy vampires is as exciting as it is dangerous. One minute I’m on top of the world, the next I’m running for my life. But it’s okay with Aimery and Ryle at my side—they’ve sworn to love and protect me and keep me satisfied until I’m old and tray.

But when everything crashes down, literally, I can see no way out of the darkness—death my best option. Until two unusual men come bounding to my aid.

Gentle Caleb and prickly Isaac have secrets. They’re full of passion, desire, love and lust and their isolated lives are weaved with mystery. But I know what they are. I’m also craving some serious satisfying, a distraction from my dilemma, and it seems these guys are up for the job.

Will my life always be turbulent, terrifying and tempting beyond belief? Nothing is certain in a world of vampires and shifters.

Buy Links

Bite Mark

Ellora’s Cave http://www.ellorascave.com/bite-mark.html

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Bite-Mark-Lily-Harlem-ebook/dp/B00NFQO3QI/ref=sr_1_15?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1414399149&sr=1-15

Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bite-Mark-Lily-Harlem-ebook/dp/B00NFQO3QI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1414399637&sr=1-1&keywords=Bite+Mark

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23454339-bite-mark?ac=1

Claw Mark

Ellora’s Cave http://www.ellorascave.com/claw-mark.html

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Claw-Mark-Lily-Harlem-ebook/dp/B00O257WAK/ref=sr_1_13?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1414399681&sr=1-13

Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Claw-Mark-Lily-Harlem-ebook/dp/B00O257WAK/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0J2YKPFDZZQ48RX8XA3Z

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23414150-claw-mark?ac=1

Lily Bio

Lily Harlem lives in the UK and is an award-winning, best-selling author of contemporary erotic romance. She writes for publishers on both sides of the Atlantic including Ellora's Cave, HarperCollins, Totally Bound, Xcite and Sweetmeats Press. Her Hot Ice series regularly receives high praise and industry nominations.

Before turning her hand to writing Lily Harlem worked as a trauma nurse and her latest HarperCollins release, Confessions of a Naughty Night Nurse, draws on her many experiences while nursing in London. Lily also self-publishes and The Glass Knot and Scored have been blessed with many 5* reviews since their release in 2012.

Her novel, Breathe You In, a super-sexy romance with a twist that will not only heat you up but stay with you for years to come, was named a USA Today Reviewer’s Recommended Read of 2013.

Lily also co-authors with Natalie Dae and publishes under the name Harlem Dae - check out the Sexy as Hell Box Set available exclusively on Amazon - The Novice, The Player and The Vixen - and That Filthy Book which has been hailed as a novel 'every woman should read'.

One thing you can be sure of, whatever book you pick up by Ms Harlem, is it will be wildly romantic and down-and-dirty sexy. Enjoy!

Lily Links

Website http://www.lilyharlem.com/

Blog http://www.lilyharlem.blogspot.com/

Twitter https://twitter.com/lily_harlem

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lily.harlem

Facebook author page https://www.facebook.com/LilyHarlemAuthor

Pinterest http://pinterest.com/lilyharlem/

Raw Talent http://rawtalentseries.co.uk

BritBabes http://thebritbabes.blogspot.co.uk

Hockey Romance http://www.hockeyromance.com

Newsletter Subscription http://www.lilyharlem.com/newsletter-subscription.html

Hot Ice https://www.facebook.com/hoticeseries

Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/106837751333678531161/posts

Harlem Dae http://www.harlemdae.com

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4070110.Lily_Harlem

Unless You Can Be A Unicorn...

Happy Release Week Sale for Unless You Can Be A Unicorn by Delphina Henley!!!  Only $.99 for one week only!

Always be yourself... that was the last advice Scout's Grandma Nora gave her before she died. Scout has spent her life trying to be anything but, but she has a chance to start anew as she moves several states away to college. She had always thought the glowing aura she saw around some people was a childhood fancy, but when it starts coming back just as she's starting her new life, she learns there was much hidden about who she truly is.

Thankfully, she has a motley crew to help her along the way: a spunky bookseller, a trustworthy pub owner, a commanding grandmother, a possible best friend, and a hot rocker boy who only has eyes for her.

Unless You Can Be A Unicorn is a New Adult Paranormal Romance with content appropriate for a Young Adult audience.

 Amazon

Giveaway: Be sure to enter to win a Ginormous Gift Pack of Awesome including a GC, Books, swag and more :You can check out the prize pack on the FB Release Day Extravaganza page and join the fun!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Why Free Still Works...

I've found that marketing tactics among indie authors seem to go in waves. A couple of years ago, free ebooks were all a hit. Then this time last year, it was the $0.99 'deal' ebooks that were riding high. Now it seems to be $0.99 box sets that are hitting the best seller lists.

I have debated putting together a box set for some time now. To be honest, the only thing holding me back is time in formatting it, and also creating a box set cover. I'm sure I could figure it out if I had the time, but I don't right now because new books still take priority with my writing time. With the kids off school, so I now have three little ones under my feet all day, I need to stay focused.

However, that wasn't the point of this post today! No, today I wanted to talk about free ebooks and why as a marketing tool, they can still work.

May 2014 was one of my slowest months, sales-wise, that I've had for at least a couple of years. I had the third book in the Spirit Shifters series in the editing process, and I just thought sod it, I'll put the first book as free and see what happens. I did this by choosing the free option on Draft 2 Digital, and then within a few days, Amazon price matched.

Within a few days, I had over 14,000 downloads of Autumn's Blood on Amazon, and thousands more on Barnes & Noble and Apple. The sales of the second book took off, and as soon as I released book three, my sales jumped to a height I've not seen for some time.

Because my free book worked so well in this instant, I decided to take one of my other books, The Sound of Crickets, and put it into KDP Select. I've not been in KDP Select for eighteen months, but the book wasn't selling on any platform, so I figured I had nothing to lose. I set up a number of ads and set three of my free days on Amazon. Well, even these results surprised me. In three days, I had almost 20,000 downloads of The Sound of Crickets. I'd been hoping for a couple of thousand, so those numbers were overwhelming. When it went back to paid, the sales continued. Over the last few weeks they've begun to drop back down again, but I'm still getting more sales than I did before the KDP promotion.

One of the best parts of this free promotion hasn't just been the sales. When I started my give away, I had about fifteen reviews on Amazon. Now I have 35 reviews for the book, and all of them state that they're 'Amazon Verified Purchases' and all of them loved the book. I always expect at least a few negative reviews from such a big give away, but so far there hasn't been anything below a four star! (This may change any day though!).

So, here's a summary of the benefits of running a free ebook:

• Exposure. People who haven't come across you before may put your book on their kindle, or other e-reader.
• Sales. You may get continued sales after a free run, or the readers may buy other books in the series, if there is one.
• Reviews. Hopefully people will be good enough to leave a review once they're done reading.
• mailing list sign-up. I always include a link to my mailing list at the back of my books. 

Want to try one of my free books? I have several! Thanks for reading!

• Alone (Book one in the Serenity Series)
• Autumn's Blood (The Spirit Shifters, Book One)
• The Vengeful Vampire (Alone prequel)
• Go Back (Underlife prequel)

Free Novel on Amazon Today!

I've decided to take another little plunge into the world of KDP Select and so my women's fiction novel, 'The Sound of Crickets', is free on Amazon for the next three days only, starting today.

I think of this novel as 'Bridget Jones's Diary' meets 'Steel Magnolias'.There are no vamps or shifters in this book, but there is a touching story of friendship between four women on line, something I think most of us can relate to in this day and age.

 I hope you'll head over to Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk and grab yourself a copy. 

Here's the blurb and the new cover! 

Four women who have never met ... 
Four lives inextricably joined ... 
Four friendships that will last forever ... 

Named after Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, Amelia Thompson always thought life would have given her wings. Instead, she finds herself stuck at home with three small children, and a body she no longer recognises. Hoping to connect with like-minded people, she decides to reach out on a women's forum to try to find others with whom to start a blog. 
To her delight, she gets a response. Sara, a romance author whose elderly mother has just moved in with her. Kelly, whose husband only wants to spend time down the pub, and Charlotte, who is suffering from empty nest syndrome now her daughter has left home. 

Told in the medium of their blog posts and emails to each other, The Sound of Crickets is a touching novel of friendship in the digital age.