PRIZES and #GIVEAWAY – Spring Fling Blog Hop
In the meantime, if you haven’t swung Down Under to visit me before then welcome to my blog. I can’t believe it’s spring around the other side of the world. In New Zealand it’s autumn and the leaves are falling from the trees by the masses. A total opposite to most of you. Ever wondered though what spring is like in Kiwi land? I can tell you, with our twelve million sheep against only four million people, it looks a lot like this. Happy lambies everywhere, and jumping for joy. 🙂
For this spring hop, I’m going to join you in the lead up to your summer by bringing you a taste of my recent release WITNESS PURSUIT. This is book one in my Bodyguards series, of which I’m currently writing book two. Let me just grab a glass of water, because the cover coming up is quite hot. Witness Pursuit is set in the beautiful islands of Fiji, a short three hour flight from NZ.
Here’s a short sexy excerpt to keep heating us all up. (Caution: Quite hot. Grab yourself a glass of water too.)
Lydia’s chest tightened. Tyler looked dangerously gorgeous. “You gonna hop into bed? Or should I call you Mr. I-don’t-want-to-stick-it.” Yeah, that should hit a nerve.
“You’ll want to take that back.”
Lazing on her side, she played her fingers over the blue spread. His gaze narrowed and his hands flexed against his thighs. She liked. “Why? Because you’re hoping I don’t get comfortable and this isn’t a long night? Oooh, I’m shaking. You better not sleep naked, because that might really scare me into squealing all my secrets.”
“That’s it.” He let out a fierce growl, which sent a shiver of approval through her. “Close your eyes if you’re the sensitive sort.”
“Not a chance. This is your room after all. Do what you’d like.”
He yanked the silver buckle release on his belt then dropped his pants in one swift move. Next, he jerked his shirt over his head and she was left with the sight of smooth black briefs covering a bulky package she was certain was on the rise.
“Last chance.” He slid his fingers under the band of his underwear.
“I’m still good.” When he dropped his underwear and kicked them away, her lips went numb and she tried to rub some life into them. Talk about hot, not to mention that rise was now a full salute. Of a very grand fashion.
“So I have to get naked for you to pay attention?” He shoved the covers back then slid in and hooked an arm around her waist. He tumbled her into him. “Now what were you saying about Mr. I-don’t-want-to-stick-it?”
“I was wrong. Totally wrong.”
Buy WITNESS PURSUIT: Amazon Kindle / B&N Nook / Kensington Publishing / iTunes / Kobo
-oOo-
For those who’d like to enter my giveaway for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card, then simply leave a comment at the end of this post. If you wish to sign up for my exclusive newsletter, click the link below and enter your email address. That’ll give you an additional two entries into the draw. Already signed up? Let me know in the comment, so I can toss your name into the hat an extra two times. 🙂
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But that’s not all… In addition to my personal prize for this hop, don’t forget to enter the rafflecopter below to win a Kindle tablet, gift cards, paperbacks and swag.
~~ a Rafflecopter giveaway ~~
Keep hopping– The complete list of participating authors is on the list below
Highlander's Castle – Exclusive Excerpt.
HIGHLANDER’S CASTLE
Highlander Heat, #1
BUY THE BOOK: Amazon Kindle
I’m bringing you an exclusive excerpt today from Highlander’s Castle which released a month ago. I hope you enjoy.
Exclusive Excerpt:
Like an ethereal vision, Anne glided toward Alex. She reached him and he couldn’t help fingering her waist length locks. Even the sun’s rays feasted on her, setting her white-gold hair ablaze.
Damn. How would he keep his hands off her when she looked this edible? “You look…bonnie.”
“Thank you.” Her sapphire eyes burst with brightness. “You’ve washed up well yourself.”
Edible and delightful. He was in a world of trouble. He turned to his brother. “Do you have our plaid?”
“Aye, here.” James unraveled a strip of MacDonald tartan.
“Good.” This was it. The moment he’d not wished for, but now strangely did. He clasped his right hand with Anne’s right, and his left hand with her left then took a long, steadying breath. He looked into her eyes. She would be his wife, soon.
“It’ll be all right.” She squeezed his fingers. “This is meant to be. I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
’Twas as if she spoke to his heart. “James will wrap the plaid around our hands and bind us together.” He nodded at his brother and James tightened the strap around their joined hands. The symbolic gesture had his pulse racing. Nay, this was simply a handfast, which was real enough, but that’s all. There would be no marriage in a year’s time.
–ooOoo–
~~ Joanne Wadsworth’s Books ~~
HIGHLANDER’S CASTLE (Highlander Heat #1): Amazon Kindle
HIGHLANDER’S CAPTIVE (Highlander Heat #0.5): Amazon Kindle
WITNESS PURSUIT (Bodyguards #1): Amazon Kindle / B&N Nook / Kensington Publishing / iTunes / Kobo
ENCHANTER (Magio-Earth #3): Amazon Kindle / B&N Nook / Kensington Publishing / iTunes / Kobo
HUNTER (Magio-Earth #2.5): Amazon Kindle
WARRIOR (Magio-Earth #2): Amazon Kindle / B&N Nook / Kensington Publishing / iTunes / Kobo
PROTECTOR (Magio-Earth #1): Amazon Kindle / B&N Nook / Kensington Publishing / iTunes / Kobo
Yay! Here's the Cover Reveal for ENCHANTER, Magio-Earth Book Three. Releasing Soon.
I’ve been waiting eagerly to show you this cover.
ENCHANTER
Magio-Earth Book Three
Coming May 5th, 2014
With Kensington Books, Lyrical Press Imprint.
ENCHANTER
To love and protect…across worlds.
On planet Magio war rages between Peacio’s protectors and Dralion’s warriors. Friendships and soul-bonds are forbidden, yet deadly secrets lurk within a high-ranking inner circle.
Eighteen-year-old Peacian Silvie Carver’s worst problem is completing finals until her best friend receives forewarning that Silvie is the key to keeping her enemy king from making a decision that will escalate the war. Silvie must save her loved ones’ soul-bonds from being torn apart, and all without revealing her emerging and rare fire skill during the mission.
Dralion warrior and enchanter, Guy Moyer, has been fighting his soul’s demand to find his mated one…who also happens to be his enemy. Except Silvie shows up on Dralion’s off-world Australian Outback station and though they renounce their bond, his soul demands he aid and protect her.
When Silvie finds herself impersonating a warrior, she’s pulled to the fiery edge of her control as she seeks to influence the king’s decision. Can the mated pair turn the tide of the war and find their place with each other?
–ooOoo–
In ENCHANTER, the heroine Silvie, is Faith’s best friend and the sister of Hope’s soul-mate. Silvie featured regularly in book one and two, and I couldn’t wait to write her story. I knew exactly what I’d be putting her through, and that she’d be more than ready for every challenge I threw at her. Silvie learns she is not only mated to a warrior enchanter, but holds the most deadly of the battle skills.
I also have some fabulous news for fans of this series. I’ve been waiting for Protector and Warrior to re-release with Kensington Books/Lyrical Press Imprint. After two months, the first two books in this series have hit the market again. Here are the covers, and below the buy links. If you haven’t had a chance to try out this series, give it a go. This is fast-paced adventure, and all packed with sweet romance that has you gunning for these characters to work things out. Each book is stand-alone, so start anywhere you like.
Feel free to click the picture for the AMAZON buy link. The KOBO buy link is also below. (PS: These books will be available wherever ebooks are sold, including B&N and iTunes, but will take another 7 days to show.)
Magio Earth Series
Protector
Magio-Earth Series
Warrior
Magio-Earth Series
Hunter
Witness Pursuit has also re-released with Kensington Books/Lyrical Press Imprint, and the same applies as above.
Bodyguards Series
Witness Pursuit
–ooOoo–
~~ Joanne Wadsworth’s Books ~~
Buy HIGHLANDER’S CASTLE (Highlander Heat #1) at: Amazon Kindle
Buy HIGHLANDER’S CAPTIVE (Highlander Heat Novella) at: Amazon Kindle
Buy HUNTER (Magio-Earth Novella) at: Amazon Kindle
These books below are available on Amazon, but will be up on B&N, iTunes and Kobo within the next 7-10 days.
Buy WITNESS PURSUIT (Bodyguards #1) at: Amazon Kindle / B&N Nook / iTunes / Kobo
Buy WARRIOR (Magio-Earth #2) at: Amazon Kindle / B&N Nook / iTunes / Kobo
Buy PROTECTOR (Magio-Earth #1) at: Amazon Kindle / B&N Nook / iTunes / Kobo
Thanks for joining me. Take care this week. 
Kensington's Acquisition of Lyrical Press and What It Means For Me.
Hey everyone,
The new year has certainly rolled in and brought a ton of surprises along with it. On January 1st, my publisher Lyrical Press was acquired by Kensington Publishing Corp and is now a digital imprint for this large New York publishing house.
I’m so excited by this move forward by Lyrical, to grow and expand within the digital world. Lyrical will be bringing you more top quality books by fabulous authors and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.
Last week I signed contracts for my backlist of books, including Protector, Warrior and Witness Pursuit. They will be back on the market around mid-March once the contracts are received and the books relisted (hopefully sooner.) Enchanter, the third book in my YA/NA series, will also release with Kensington/Lyrical in May. I’m actually sitting on Enchanter’s cover right now, and I can’t wait to show it to you. The moment I’m given the go-ahead, I’ll be blasting that baby about.
Hunter, Highlander’s Captive and Highlander’s Castle are all available on Amazon, so you can grab copies of those whenever you like. And a huge thank you to all of you who have. Highlander’s Castle joined Captive in Amazon’s bestsellers charts within just a couple of days after release, so thank you. Thank you.
On another note, I’ve received several personal emails and messages from aspiring authors this month. I love helping other authors as I can, and I’ve had some great, thought-provoking discussions. I was particularly asked if I was now a hybrid author, a writer who is both traditionally and self published? And if so, how did I come to that decision and why? I’m bringing those questions to my blog this week, and to share the information on it.
As I see it, every writer has the choice of how they want to publish their books, it’s just traveling down that road and discovering how to negotiate all the twists and turns that’s the tough part. Do you want to seek an agent, cold submit to publishers, or self publish? There’s so much advice out there and it’s really hard to weigh everything up and make the right decision. That was the major concern these aspiring authors who messaged me had. They didn’t want to make a wrong choice, so what advice did I have?
I’ve been writing for six years and have been exactly where they are, and understand where they want to head. Writing a book takes time, dedication and love, but that’s only the beginning. Editing a book takes learning our craft, guidance and a ton of hard work. Publishing a book takes knowledge, knowledge and knowledge. Anyone these days can self publish a book, but the last thing you want to do is have a book out there which is not up to grade.
Knowledge is needed. That’s why there are publishers. Publishing is a business, and publishers have that knowledge. Traditional authors come by some of that knowledge as they traverse the path to publication with their publishers. Self published authors must seek that knowledge on their own, and I applaud them for all the hard work they do in getting there. No matter if we’re a traditional, hybrid, or a self published author, we all work hard.
Back to the question though? Why did I chose to become a hybrid author? Honestly, it kind of just happened, and snuck right up on me. First, I wrote a novella (Hunter) and I wanted to use it to market my YA/NA series. That’s what started it all.
I do though have a professional editor, and I’d never release a self published book without having my editor go over my books with the skill and finesse she does. I’m a professional author, and if you read any one of my books, you’ll get nothing but my very best. I will also continue to publish by both means, traditionally and self published. I just love the combination of the two.
I also believe 2014 will be the year we see a large number of traditionally published authors (like myself,) branch out and self publish some of their works. Why not? This is the best time to be a writer, and there are so many avenues open to us.
We just have to make sure we make the right decision at the right time so we keep things moving along smoothly. For aspiring authors. Only you know what’s best for you and your work. I’m sure you’ll seek advice and probably get a ton of information, but weigh it all up for yourself and see what feels right. If you decide though to self publish your first book, I highly recommend you seek an editor. I know they cost money, but is this a career choice or not? Beta readers and critique partners are fabulous people. They do an amazing job. Love them. But professional editors are like gold. Go for the gold. 🙂
If anyone else would like to offer advice, drop in a comment. Perhaps you’re like me and are now a hybrid author. Let me know. I’d love to hear about it.
–ooOoo–
~~ Joanne Wadsworth’s Books ~~
Buy HIGHLANDER’S CASTLE (Highlander Heat #1) at: Amazon Kindle
Buy HIGHLANDER’S CAPTIVE (Highlander Heat Novella) at: Amazon Kindle
Buy HUNTER (Magio-Earth Novella) at: Amazon Kindle
Buy WITNESS PURSUIT (Bodyguards #1) at: Amazon Kindle / B&N Nook / iTunes / Kobo
Buy WARRIOR (Magio-Earth #2) at: Amazon Kindle / B&N Nook / iTunes / Kobo
Buy PROTECTOR (Magio-Earth #1) at: Amazon Kindle / B&N Nook / iTunes / Kobo
Take care this week.