Ring in the New Year...

Hello Lovelies,

Another year is upon us and I look forward to 2013 with anticipation and excitement. I'm not a big resolution person because during the year I'm usually very goal oriented. I have my big vision plans and the little hopes and wishes I try my best to do. Therefore, a New Year doesn't require grandiose promises but a continual commitment of what I plan to do for myself. One of my major goals that I try desperately to accomplish is writing longer stories. I want 2013 to be the year I actually push myself to cross over the 60,000 word mark and pen a tale of awesome epicness. 

As always I appreciate you all, dear readers, and wish you health, happiness, and hope that you receive all the joy and peace one human body can sustain. Be safe and a little crazy, because that's what I plan to do. 

*Raises glass in a toast*

Here's to us!!

Happy New Year,

Janet

BTP Scavenger Hunt!!!

Well Hello!

If you're here I'm assuming that the BTP Scavenger Hunt brought you to me. If it didn't, well you're in for a treat. First I want to point out that this was my idea because I'm prone to bouts of genius on occasion. This one is particularly exciting for me because as an author I'm always trying to find fun ways to engage readers. Writing, though something I enjoy, isn't my day job and I find it difficult to go out there and meet my fans. See them face to face, shake hands, and exchange pleasantries. I'm not very good about creating swag and doling out prizes.  But this scavenger hunt, now this is something that I can do and best of all, I've gotten my fellow BTP authors to come along for the ride. 

Okay now that I've gushed a bit about why my idea is so cool I'm sure you're wondering what the hell you have to do. Simple, answer the riddle I've provided for you and follow the instructions below. Since I'm super tricky I've given the answer to the riddle in this blog. Now it's just up to you to figure it out...muaaaaahhhhhh

Riddle

What is it a man can do standing, a woman sitting down, and a dog on three legs?

You've come so far and yet have more to go. Click on the BTP author's names to collect more riddle answers. Once you have all 11 answers collected email btpcontests@gmail.com. Three lucky winners will be chosen at random to receive a $10 BTP gift certificate. Contest closes at 12 am 12.22.12.

Nikki Winter

Raelynn Blue

Serenity King 

Gynger Fyer

Shanayah Tailor

Shirelle Higgins

Janet Eckford

Drea Riley

Naomi Jones

Billy London

Nevea Lane

The dearly departed...

Hello Lovelies,

I've been quite the busy bee with the job that pays the bills, traveling across the country, sitting in airports and on planes. Traveling is both a blessing and curse because I do enjoy the people watching and the few hours of solitude that being in a plane or crowded airport afford but inevitably I catch a bug and have to spend a few days recouping. I was fortunate this time because I brought a good book along that I was able to start while traveling and finish up while being sick. The title is Handling the Undead and the author is John Advide Lindqvist and the book has left me feeling pleasantly melancholy.

I was pretty sure I'd feel this way because his other book, Let the Right One In, left me with a similar feeling but this one seemed to sink closer to home. The premise of exploring the livings connection to the dead resonated strongly with me because it seems I have begun to pick away at the threads of my past, in hopes a clear link to my present and future could be seen. I've become quite obsessed with searching out pictures of family that I've known and loved but aren't tangible to me in the same way that a photograph is, and putting them on display in my house as a reminder of their existence.

Summarizes the book seems far to complex for me because I've housed myself so deeply into the narrative of the story that it's hard to disconnect the two. Of course it's not the surface story of the dead rising but the deeper meaning of what does it mean for the living if our dead came back to us that I feel strongly connected to.  It seems a funny coincidence (or not considering the psychic connection I share with my mother) that when I was in a particularly emotionally part of the story my mother called to read a card she'd received from my grandmother several decades ago. It was a simple card, full of the tender endearments my grandmother was great at imparting, and as my mother choked up I could see how all three of us were connected and even though dead my grandmother still lived. She was in my mother and me and as my mother softly sobbed telling me how much she missed her mother, I realized that one day I too would cry with a broken heart for the loss of my own.

I think I'm going to sit in this happily sad place I have discovered for a bit longer and reflect on the beautiful simplicity of this story that has caused a well of emotion to churn inside of me. I may even look at pictures of my grandmother and read little notes I've tucked away from my mother. Text my sister, kiss Sig Other, and find a Christmas gift from my father. Revel in all the great little pleasures that come with being alive. Because now that I've had a chance to mourn the dead I really should focus on the living.

Janet

The Next Big Thing: Me!!!

Greetings!!!

The lovely Selah Janel sent out the call for writers to play tag with her in the The Next Big Thing blog hop and I of course answered. So here is my contribution!

What is your working title of your book?

Fire and Ice

Where did the idea come from for the book?

As with most of my books my publisher sent me a cover to seduce me into writing a story for it. 

What genre does your book fall under?

This book is more on the darker paranormal romance side and I'm so excited about it.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I can't really think of an actor right now....ummmm....have to put my thinking cap on.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

This is going to be a wild wide!

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

This book is going to be published by Beautiful Trouble Publishing.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Lord!!! It took me over a year and a half to finish this story. Sigh...and now I have to get through edits.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I've written a trilogy called The Goddess Chosen Trilogy that has strong female characters dealing with supernatural forces outside of their control that is within the same genre.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

When I was given the cover I was racking my brain trying to figure out what the hell I was going to write and I decided to read poetry for inspiration. I came across a poem by Robert Frost called Fire and Ice that got my creative synapses snapping and voila a story was born.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

This book is a roller coster of who done it and mystery. The poem was a major influence because it had me think about love, hate, and the thin line that separated them both. How strong emotions create strong actions and what it would be like for two people caught in that storm. This is a very dark story but I think all love stories have dark moments and I was really excited to explore that.

Who I've tagged!!

These ladies are my road dawgs and I find it only appropriate that you come to enjoy their work as much as I do. They each are wickedly funny with their own unique brand of storytelling that has you sighing with contentment once the story is done and eagerly awaiting for the next. 

Drea Riley

Nikki Winter

Billy London

Jeanie Johnson and Jayha Leigh