Twenty-two year old Cammie Adams knows one thing for sure – life isn’t fair. She’s still an emotional wreck from the tragic loss of her parents seven years ago. Right after she gets her PI license she is not only robbed, but abducted, only to find her life was all a lie. When she finds her mother’s diary, she discovers she was only a pawn in her mother’s dangerous game. Now she must get back what is rightfully hers from the man that murdered her mother.
Hot and mysterious, Simon Fisher has really only loved one thing – jewels. This ex-jewel thief, now bodyguard, doesn’t even know what hits him when he rescues Cammie as a favor to her father. Simon must protect her, but soon finds out where there’s trouble, Cammie isn’t far behind. She will not only steal his prized jewel, but his heart.
–ooOoo–
Christy Newton’s debut novel Stolen Hearts released in June with Front Porch Romance. And wow, isn’t that a lovely cover.
Today, I’m going to begin by chatting with Christy’s characters. I have some questions just for them.
CHARACTER INTERVIEW:
I’m sorry about the tragic loss of your parents, Cammie, but tell me, how did you manage to meet your writer so your story was told?
Cammie: I came to her while she was sleeping so strongly that I woke her up and made her start typing. I refused to be ignored and stayed with her until my story was told.
Ah, you have a strong personality. I love that in a heroine. So, this question’s for you, Simon. What was your favorite thing to do in your book?
Simon: *looks at Cammie as a sly smile crosses his lips* We better skip to the next question, Joanne.
Hey, no fair. You bodyguards can get quite tight-lipped when you want to. Oh well, here’s a question I want huge elaboration on. If you could rewrite any scene in your book, what would it be?
Simon: *Tilts his head in thought* I would have met Cammie sooner.
Okay, so you’re sticking to your guns. I’m heading back to Cammie. She certainly had a lot to lose if she didn’t get back what was rightfully hers. So, are you happy with how everything turned out, Cammie?
Cammie: *looks over at Simon and smiles* Yes, I am so happy. *Simon winks at Cammie* Things couldn’t be better.
Ahh, I have feeling there was a happy ever after to your story, and I’m sure there was ton of adventure along the way. Which leads me to the next question. Would either of you care for a sequel?
Simon: Yes, I’m ready for more adventure.
Cammie: *takes Simon’s hand and squeezes it* Of course! I feel like our love story is just beginning!
Hey, you two, now take it easy. Wait right there while I pull a chair up for your writer.
Welcome, Christy. As the writer, is there anything you’d like to say in response to your characters’ interview?
I want to thank Cammie and Simon for staying in my head until their story was told and shared with the world. Without my very first characters, I would have never been published and found what I was meant to do in life!
I’m so excited for you, and huge congratulations on your first book’s publication. Are you working on anything new at the moment? And if you are, when can we expect to see it?
Yes, I am working on the final book in the Simon & Cammie’s Series. Hopefully by the end of the year!
Here’s an excerpt:
Cammie wanted to cry. Why did she even come? Now they were both in danger. She pressed her lips together to hold in the emotion that threatened to escape.
Simon put his hands on her shoulders. “We’re going to find a way out, okay? I need you to trust me.”
She swallowed and nodded. Afraid for both their lives, she followed him, her feet growing heavy from the wet mud that clung to her boots and pants. The air was thick the further they went making it difficult to breathe.
“Look.” Simon pointed to a round opening in the ground to the right of them. It must have been ten feet wide and twenty feet deep. The bottom of the pit looked like gravel. He took out a small flashlight and shined it down into the hole. She looked down at what she had thought were only rocks but instead saw various shapes of dirty chunks of ice mixed in.
“Diamonds.” He shut off the flashlight and they continued through.
Cammie felt a crunch beneath her feet. She looked down and a scream slipped out. Simon put his hand over her mouth and looked down to see what caused her alarm.
“Is that human?” she asked looking down at half a rib cage.
Thanks so much for joining me. How can readers find you and your book?
Christy Newton is a hopeless romantic writer, inspired by art, love and hope. She was lucky to have the support of her family and friends in her journey to publication. She’s always been a creative person, but until she started writing, she had no idea what she wanted to do with her life. Once her first novel was complete, it felt natural to continue writing. Christy just might be the only writer out there that doesn’t drink caffeine. Dark chocolate and warm cookies are her weaknesses. She loves to read books that make her laugh out loud or make her want to live in the place they are set in.
The most important thing I’ve learnt, is if I want to become a successful writer, there’s one thing I must do.
You’ve probably guessed it, right?
It’s write. Write. Write.
Writing one book won’t bring in the bucks.
Writing two probably won’t either.
Oh, but having three, now that’s usually the turning point.
Yep, I’ve heard a lot of authors, as well as professionals in our industry, say with an author’s third book’s release, comes the change we’re all after — an increase in readership numbers. As writers, that’s what we’re all after. We want our books to be read, for people to enjoy them, to embrace our stories as we have.
So, I’m counting down those days. My second book, WARRIOR, releases in only eight weeks. My third book follows a few months after that, and my fourth, in the first half of next year. And so it shall go on…
Or at least that’s the plan. Within another week I’ll have my fifth novel completed, and I’ve already begun work on my sixth. That’s right. I’m writing. Writing. Writing.
Even my hubby can’t keep up with which book I’m currently talking about when I mention my schedule. He’s like, “Ah, so which one is that? I’m getting lost.”
I jumped up and down the first time he said it, because that means I’m heading in the right direction.
So how about you? How’s your writing going? Perhaps you’re still working on getting to publication? Or maybe you’re there. If so, how many books do you have out? Did that third book see you hit a turning point in an upward direction? Or are you still heading there like I am? I love hearing from you, so drop a comment and let me know.
And lastly, I’d like to announce the winner of “The 4th of July Blog Hop.” That’s Katie Cross. I’ll be getting in touch with you to organise your e-copy of PROTECTOR. Congratulations, Katie.
I’m here to celebrate this day with you even though I’m a Kiwi from New Zealand. I checked out exactly what Independence Day means to Americans and discovered the 4th of July 1776, was the day history was made as the United States declared its independence from Great Britain. I love that you celebrate this day with parades, shows, games, sports, bonfires, bells and all sorts of other whistles. And the 4th of July is right in the middle of your summer months. Wow. The perfect time to do so.
Although, with it being the middle of winter Down Under, I’m trying to ignore the rain, sleet and snow, and visualize a summer’s day so I can really get into that festive mood.
Hmm, I’ve almost got it.
Nope.
Let me just crank up the heater a little bit more.
No, still not working.
I’ll just shut the curtains so I can’t see the frost covering the ground.
Yep, done. 🙂 I’m there.
Happy 4th of July everyone! Have loads of fun. And to continue the celebrations, if you leave a comment WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS you can go into the draw for a chance to win an ebook copy of PROTECTOR. Simply let me know what you’re doing this 4th of July since I’ve never celebrated one before. 🙂 Also, the winner will be chosen on July 9th 2013, and I’ll contact you via email to organise your prize.
PROTECTOR
To love and protect…across worlds.
Eighteen-year-old Faith Stryker is prepared to leap out into the unknown world beyond her home shores of New Zealand to experience life. Only she never expected to encounter Magio, a planet with two warring countries, where its people reach adulthood at eighteen by coming into their strength and prophetic abilities. Only after Faith discovers she’s a Halfling–thanks to her warrior father she’s never met–does her own skill of forethought develop.
Peacio’s Prince Davio Loveria is sent to the young Faith Stryker by his grandfather, but not all goes as planned. Davio discovers Faith isn’t just a Halfling, she’s also his soul-bound mate–an intense relationship he cannot, nor will not, give up.
With two wars now waging…one of land and the other of the heart…can the young lovers find their place in the world?
Keep hopping–You can find the complete list of participating authors right HERE.
Also, and only if you wish to, please consider “liking” my Facebook author page. For your convenience the link is just over on the right-hand sidebar. 🙂
If you’d like to add Protectorto your TBR list, here’s the link for Goodreads. Or it’s on the sidebar as well.
And for those keen on checking out Protector’s trailer on YouTube,it’s just below–>
Book Trailer:
Thank you so much for dropping by, and I wish you and yours a wonderful day.
I’m a voracious reader, working my way through two to three books a week. I either purchase new e-books because I like to get them instantly on my Kindle, or re-read favorites from my heavily stocked bookcase.
Right now I’m looking at all the books I have. It’s an extensive collection and actually catalogued by author name then title. I can see instantly my love of series. When I read a book by an author I enjoy, I quickly pick up every other book in the series if there is one.
I’m also always on the lookout for new authors. There is such an amazing array of talent out there, but how do we as authors, ensure readers of our genre find us?
Growing your AUTHOR BRAND is certainly one way, and even better, here’s a simple approach on how to make a start.
Six months ago I began to analyze my own author brand. I have three separate series underway, in three separate genres:
Magio-Earth series — YA fantasy romance.
Bodyguards series — Heart-pounding romantic suspense.
Highlander Heat series — Highlander time-travel romance.
I took those three series and came up with the following tagline–
Where Romance meets Fantasy and Adventure…
(I added that tagline right after my name, on my website’s header.)
Now, the idea behind a tagline is to display it everywhere you can. It describes what you write, or the image you want to portray, or what simply makes you, you. Here’re some places an author’s tagline can go:
In your blog/website header.
As your email signature.
On your Amazon author page.
On your Facebook header.
On your Goodreads page.
Somewhere in your book. It’s just a tagline, so it could go in the “about the author section,” or “title page” right after your name.
On your Twitter profile.
On your Pinterest profile.
And I’m sure there are a ton of other places as well. Your tagline represents what you do. It’s a catchy phrase, with the intention to become memorable.
Here’re some great taglines I’ve seen:
Nalini Singh, New York Times Bestselling Author. (Yeah, just had to pop that one in. I’d sooo like that one for myself.)
Jessi Gage, …A Time to Love.
Jennifer Probst, A little bit naughty…a little bit nice.
Sondrae Bennett, Love stores that sizzle off the page.
Jennifer Lowery, Where Happily Ever After is Only the Beginning…
Karen Y. Bynum, …Fate be damned.
Sonya Clark, Where magic and music cast a spell on the night.
Shannon MacLeod, Writer of romance, teller of tales, weaver of dreams.
So, have you begun working on your author brand? Do you have a tagline? Drop me a comment and let me know yours.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s post. Have a fabulous week.
This week I’ve baked two birthday cakes, packed twenty school lunches, cooked seven dinners, washed a gazillion clothes, fed the dog, cleaned the car, vacuumed the house, and I also walked into a cobweb by accident and became an instant karate master. 🙂 Yeah, that’s what my son said as he watched in awe, and I’m going with that.
On top of all that, I’m an author, an artist, unwavering, setting aside eight hours a day to write. I’m completely organized, not that you’d tell it from the piles of work sitting everywhere in my office, but I am. And lastly, I’m real.
All authors are. We have family to care for, usually a secondary job (because that pays the bills,) and a ton of other commitments, yet we’re tireless in our dedication to our craft.
This week that’s really hit home as I worked my butt off to finish line edits, and proof the galley of WARRIOR’s final file. In amongst that, I had another book going through its final round of content edits, and yet another going through pre-edits. My fabulous editor worked equally as hard as me, and the morning I received my book’s final files from my publisher, it was to discover all that hard work had paid off big time. My publisher notified me she’d moved WARRIOR’s release date forward by two months. Yes, two months, to September 2nd, and all due to being so ahead of deadlines. Yee-ha! It was totally unexpected, and it totally blewme away.
So, over the weekend I launched into promotion mode for WARRIOR’s upcoming release. I emailed files to YA reviewers and spent several hours creating a book trailer, although that’s just the beginning. Yep, those authors who’ve released books are right now nodding their heads. It’s a big job to promote, and it takes a lot of time. Time we’d rather spend writing.
But this participation in promoting our own work, whether authors go traditional, or self-publish is the reality for all writers. We not only have to write, but we have to promote and sell our work. We can’t get away from it. It’s the simple truth.
Which is the reason for this post. AUTHOR: Artist, Unwavering, Tremendously Hard-working, Organized, Real.
Click “like” on this blog post if you agree and you’re one of these AUTHORS.
Lastly, if you have a moment, take a look at the youtube video I created for WARRIOR. I had a ton of fun making it, and couldn’t wait to share it with you all.
WARRIOR TRAILER:
Have a fabulous week. If you want to drop a comment, make sure you do. I love hearing from you all.
I love when I’m reading and a new location comes into play within a scene. The visual description the author brings to the reader is so important. And as writers we have ensure we cover all the elements we need for the reader to have the same image in their mind that we do in ours.
Each time I have to describe a new location, from a simple passageway, to a bedroom, or a sweeping panorama, I ask myself the following questions.
What are 2 to 4 key components of this place? These are the items which stand out with clear emphasis. Use more if you need them.
What are 1 to 3 small features that will take this description and make it something special? Examples of this are like the stitching in bedcovers, the fabrics used on furniture, or a cobweb in the corner of a room. Find something unique that will push your description in the direction you want it to go.
Is this place important? What’s its history? (Sometimes, only the author needs to know this question, but there are times when this is shared with the reader during the description because it’s important to the storyline.)
Remember the five senses. Sight, smell, taste, feel and speak.
And ensure you show your reader what you’re seeing. This is so important.
Now, not all the answers will be used, but most of them will within the scene. Most importantly, these detailed descriptions I’m speaking of come when you show your location for the first time. When you bring this same location back in another scene, there will be less description needed because you have already drawn it. So, let’s jump to it and see some examples, because I find it’s so important to add a showing to my posts.
Example one: To set this scene, the heroine is out riding in the outback.
We rode, our surroundings still beautiful in spite of the harsh drought. Brilliant colors shimmered around us, red the predominant, with the dusty landscape broken by the towering gum trees. Beyond the rocky hills, the Ridge rose steeply to meet the rich blue of the sky. The sight enthralled, because the Ridge was like a slab of stone appearing out of nowhere.
Example two: To set this scene, the heroine is relaxing on the beach of a small private island with her brother. Here, her brother becomes part of the scene description to describe the relaxed feel of the location.
For miles either side, the land was all high, jagged cliff faces with only one single track leading inland through the jungle. Near the beginning of the track, her brother had slung a colorful hammock and rested, his straw hat drawn low over his head as he rocked in the gentle breeze.
Example three: To set this scene, the heroine has never been to this place before. She’s walking down a passageway and into a bedroom that’s far more than what she’s used to seeing.
The passageway was wide, yet dimly lit with wall sconces holding candlelike bulbs. She didn’t slow since all the doors were closed, but at the fifth which she’d been told was hers, she halted. The ornate brass knob was curved, and she pushed it open. Wow. The room was three times the size of what she had back home. And from the size of that bed, she’d get lost in it.
She headed across the polished wooden flooring and gripped one of the four carved hardwood posts that rose high above the bed to support a canopy of sheer lace netting. She pushed one corner of the lace aside, and smoothed her hand over the violet silk covers. So pretty, with detailed stitching in mauve and gold thread.
Example four: To set this scene, the heroine is standing on a rocky cliff face before a large palace.
She stood on the precipice and stared down its craggy side. The ocean was eerily beautiful, almost beyond magnificent in its violent splendor.
Turning on her heel, she saw the palace. Wind whipped her hair about as she gazed up. So unreal. It was four floors in height and constructed of large blocks of gray-black stone. From each of the many corners, a slender tower rose to double the height of the palace, at least a dozen towers visible from her position. This residence was a fortress, although a stunning one with light shining from behind stained glass from the largest of the windows.
So, in writing detailed location descriptions, your goal is to bring your reader into the location you’ve set. Have them standing there, touching, feeling and seeing what you do. I hope you enjoyed this post, and that it aided you in some way.
Have a fabulous week. If you want to drop a comment, make sure you do. I love hearing from you all.
Twenty-two year old Cammie Adams knows one thing for sure – life isn’t fair. She’s still an emotional wreck from the tragic loss of her parents seven years ago. Right after she gets her PI license she is not only robbed, but abducted, only to find her life was all a lie. When she finds her mother’s diary, she discovers she was only a pawn in her mother’s dangerous game. Now she must get back what is rightfully hers from the man that murdered her mother.
BIO:
