Welcome Cate Beauman w/ #RomanticSuspense #series ‘Bodyguards of L.A. County’ @CateBeauman @GoddessFish

On October 20, 2016October 15, 2016 By Casey's CornerIn Authors & Books, Goddess Fish Promotions10 Comments

vbt_tourbanner_bodyguardsoflacountyseries

Today we have author Cate Beauman visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* International bestselling author Cate Beauman is known for her full-length, action-packed romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County. Her novels have been nominated for the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, National Indie Excellence Award, Golden Quill Award, Writers Touch Award, and have been named Readers Favorite Five Star books. In 2015, JUSTICE FOR ABBY was selected as the Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Gold Medalist, while SAVING SOPHIE took the Silver Medal. SAVING SOPHIE was also selected as the 2015 Readers Crown Award winner for Romantic Suspense and FALLING FOR SARAH received the silver medal for the 2014 Readers’ Favorite Awards.
* Cate makes her home in North Carolina with her husband, two boys, and their St. Bernards, Bear and Jack. Currently Cate is working on her twelfth full length romantic suspense novel.

Today Cate Beauman will be talking about “Long Story Short: Grow From Rejection.”
* I often hear others in the industry mention their love of the written word or how they knew they wanted to write stories for as long as they can remember. In my case, neither of those statements quite rings true. I hated reading as a young girl. It wasn’t until I was twenty that I had any desire to pick up a book and read for pleasure. I also never knew I wanted to be a storyteller until five short years ago.
* For most of my adult life, I worked with children with moderate to severe special needs. I loved it. Then we moved to a new state and the career I had chosen turned into a nightmare. My new job was awful and I resigned after a month of coming home in tears every day. For about two weeks, I binge ate chocolate and reread my favorite Nora Roberts novels. And then an idea clicked. I decided I was going to be a writer and tell fascinating stories just like my most favorite author.
* My husband came home from work and I shared my new ambition. I think he thought I had lost my mind, but he supported me anyway and has continued to be my biggest champion.
* For weeks I sat at my computer, typing away, having no real idea of what I was doing, but I loved it and how hard could it be, anyway? For a long time, I thought I was a storytelling genius—that one person who could write down their words and would instantly be picked up for a writing contract as soon as I got my work into the right hands. Wrong!
* I finished my first draft and joined an online writing community where I could trade critiques with other writers. I learned so much and realized I had a long way to go to improve my craft. I rewrote my novel twice before I sent it off for professional editing. And the editor emailed me the next day to tell me not to give up my day job and refused my manuscript.
* For a good two weeks I went back to the chocolate and Nora books and was ready to give up, but my champion reminded me that an editor is just a human being with an opinion. Thankfully, I resubmitted my work to a new editor and he got started right away. While my editor helped me clean up my project, I got started on the next story, then the next. Within a year and a half, I had three completed novels on my hands and wavered on what I should do with them.
* After doing much research, I decided I could spend months writing query letters or I could put my work out there on Amazon and the several other vendors available to indie authors and see what was what. This was the right decision for me.
* One nail-biting weekend in October 2012, we made all three books—Morgan’s Hunter, Falling For Sarah, and Hailey’s Truth—live and by weekend’s end, they were climbing Amazon’s ranks and made the bestseller list.
* Now, here I am less than three years later and I’ve begun work on my eleventh novel. I wake up every day thanking my lucky stars that my new job in a new state had been truly wretched, that I had the courage to try something different, and that I have loyal readers that eagerly come back for each new adventure in the Bodyguards of L.A. County series.
* With lots of hard work and a healthy dose of divinity thrown in, I’ve managed to become an international best seller, the runner up and winner of several very cool awards, and the writer of well-rated novels.
* Long story short: never be afraid to learn, go after what you want, grow from rejection, and be thankful every single minute for your tragedies and triumphs.

A look into…

db-cover

* Ethan Cooke Security and their bodyguard team return to action in Deceiving Bella – book eleven in Cate Beauman’s Bodyguards of L.A. County series.
* With over 7700 reviews and a 4.4 rating for the entire series, see why the Bodyguards of L.A. County is a multi-award winning series.
* New to the series? No problem! Each book in the “Bodyguards” series is a stand-alone title. Although reading the books in order is preferred, it is not necessary. Each title features brand new primary characters and limited overlapping secondary characters. Don’t hesitate to jump right in!

~ Blurb ~

* Isabella Colby has always yearned for normalcy. Now that she’s settled in LA, she finally has it. Good friends, a pretty home, and her thriving career as the Palisades’ top skincare specialist are a dream come true. Bella is content until she meets her hunky new neighbor, but her attraction to the blue-eyed cutie is the least of her worries when contacting her long-lost father threatens to destroy her happy life.
* Reed McKinley is more than ready to forget the past. His seven-year stint as an NYPD detective nearly got him killed. His wounds have healed and he’s starting over as Ethan Cooke Security’s latest recruit. With sixty-hour workweeks and little time to himself, the last thing on his mind is a relationship. Then he bumps into the gorgeous woman next door.
* Reed and Bella become fast friends. Before long, Reed discovers that Bella is keeping dangerous secrets. Bella may have the answers to decades-old questions he’s been searching for. Reed will risk it all to uncover the truth, but he soon realizes that the deeper he digs, the direr the consequences.

~ Excerpt from Deceiving Bella ~

* Should we get started?” Bella gestured to the kitchen.
* “After you.”
* She walked in front of Reed, hurrying to the table to pull out a chair. “Does this work?”
* “Yeah, it’s fine.” He sat down.
* She immediately draped him with the black cover, wanting to get to his hair while it was still wet. “So, what are we doing here, exactly?”
* “Just a cleanup, especially on my neck.”
* “Sure.” She grabbed the sheers and took her place by his side, sliding her fingers though his short hair and stopped. “Oops.”
* His shoulders tensed. “What?”
* “Just kidding. A little haircutting humor.”
* He tilted his head up, meeting her eyes. “A comedian.”
* She laughed as he smiled. “I haven’t even started cutting yet.” She gave him a bump. “Try to relax. I promise you’re in good hands.”
* “Chop away.”
* “Thanks.” She combed her fingers through his hair once more, using small snips to freshen up his look. Silent seconds ticked by as she breathed in the masculine scent that was Reed. He didn’t seem to wear cologne or use any fancy shampoos, but he smelled good just the same. “So, how was your day?”
* “Not too shabby.”
* She worked her way around his head, finding his cut a breeze to clean up. He easily could have gone another week without any problems. “What did you do?”
* “Worked a little. Boxed.”
* “Fascinating.”
* “I could make up something about stopping a bank robbery in progress or rescuing a cat from a tree.”
* She smiled. “The truth is fine, thanks.”
* “What about you?”
* “It was pretty much a normal day at the office—a second-session tattoo removal, a microdermabrasion, two stretch mark reductions, the usual stuff.”
* “What’s the tattoo of? The one you’re taking off?”
* “A woman’s name. Genevieve. The relationship didn’t work out.”
* He winced. “Ouch.”
* “Triple ouch. Tattoo removal is not a pain-free procedure, nor is it cheap—and he went pretty ornate with Genevieve. Hopefully next time he’ll pick a woman with a shorter name or abstain from getting himself tatted up altogether.”
* He laughed.
* She grinned, loving that sound. Did he have any idea how gorgeous he was when he smiled like that? She picked up the clippers off the table and let her knees rest against his as she leaned in and gently lifted his chin, evening out his sideburns. She swallowed, feeling his breath on her skin and his eyes studying her face. Licking her lips, she met his gaze. “You better hope I get this part right, or you’ll have to tilt your head for the next four days.”
* He sent her another one of his pulse-pounding smiles. “You’ll have to help me decide if I should lean more to the left or right.”
* Oh, this cutie had the potential to be trouble. Her eyes darted to his mouth mere inches from hers as his five o’clock shadow tormented her sensitized fingers. She took a step back and a steadying breath. It was a good thing they were just friends—currently the only relationship status she was interested in.
* Did you enjoy the excerpt? You can read the first chapter on my website, www.catebeauman.com, or you can finish the whole book with the links below!

Buy the books here…
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

10-book-bodyguards-of-la-county-series

Find Cate Beauman here…
Amazon Author Page | BookBub | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Website
Do you like to win free stuff? Sign up for Cate’s Newsletter to be notified of monthly giveaway offers and new release information. For a limited time: new subscribers will receive a free copy of Morgan’s Hunter and Falling for Sarah, books one and two in the Bodyguards of L.A. County series!

Thank you for joining us here today, Cate Beauman! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

ANNOUNCEMENT! Cate Beauman will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour! So be sure to leave a comment AND use this RAFFLECOPTER LINK to enter the drawing. Also, visit the other tour stops for a greater chance of winning!

Welcome to Sara R. Turnquist & ‘The General’s Wife’ @sarat1701 @GoddessFish #Historical #Romance

On October 12, 2016October 3, 2016 By Casey's CornerIn Authors & Books, Goddess Fish Promotions18 Comments

fs_tourbanner_thegeneralswife

Today we have author Sara R. Turnquist visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* Sara is originally from middle TN. After a short stint in Memphis, where she earned a degree in Biology and began a career as both a Zoo Educator and a Sleep Technician, she then followed a dream to work for a large zoo in Orlando, FL as an Educator. Once she and her husband started their family, they moved back to Tennessee. Sara and her husband now enjoy a full life with their three beautiful and very active children. Sara enjoys many creative outlets – singing, piano, drawing, drama, and organizing anything. And even though she has enjoyed her career as a Zoo Educator, Sara’s great love of the written word continued to draw her to write. She has always been an avid reader and, for many years, has been what she terms a “closet writer”. Her travels and love of history have served to inspire her to write Historical Fiction. Sara has made several trips overseas to the Czech Republic. Her time among the Czech people and the landscapes of the country inspired her and greatly influenced her work on her debut novel, The Lady Bornekova, set in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. Sara is also a member of the ACFW.

Today Sara R. Turnquist will be talking about — THE WRITE STUFF: THE BENEFITS OF A CRITIQUE GROUP.
* I cannot say enough good things about my critique group. Or about the benefits of a critique group in general. No matter what stage of writing – whether a newbie or a seasoned professional. My critique group is made up of all stages and places. And I love that. So, what can a writing group do to benefit me? I’ll spill the beans here…
* Provide Instant Feedback. This is one of the most basic and obvious reasons anyone joins a critique group. I encourage everyone to be bold enough to share his or her work. That’s the only way to improve. Let the group see it and give feedback. The more eyes, the more they can catch. This is not because the writing is bad, it’s because there are only so many things the writer can catch. We tend to be too close to the work. This is, however, where I advise everyone to be choosy about his or her critique group. No one wants a group that is vicious or tears others down. If that’s the vibe, don’t go back; but try another group.
* Broaden Your Horizons. By this I mean that we can learn more about our craft from others who are further along in their careers. I can benefit from others who have editors that have taught them different things. What can I glean from someone who attended a conference workshop that I didn’t have access to? These are all things to think about.
* Teach. There may even be an opportunity to teach others. This not only brings on the warm fuzzies, but it solidifies your knowledge of craft and gives anyone a confidence boost. As we learn and grow in our craft, we should turn around and teach others.
* Connect. Those in the group that are published and going to conferences can connect newbies in the group with people in the industry they have met. This can be extremely valuable. During my time in my critique group, I have come to see the necessity of going to conferences and workshops and even taking online courses. All of these things have grown me in my craft. But I never would have known where to find these things had it not been for my critique group’s fearless leader, who encouraged and connected me with other writers.
* Accountability & Support. That regular check-in keeps everyone accountable to continue working, so we have something to share if nothing else. But the groups’ support and encouragement helps everyone strive to complete projects and move further along in their career.
* These are just a few of the benefits. As I said, I could go on and on (but I won’t). The next question you are bound to ask is “how do I find a critique group?”. I would look in your city or surrounding area through local publications, or check with the public library. Utilizing your computer to search for local groups can also prove fruitful. If there isn’t anything promising, try to find an online critique partner, or critique group. I would look for these through a search as well. The important thing for me is that I am in a group led by or at least regularly attended by a published author.

A look into…

mediakit_bookcover_thegeneralswife

~ Blurb ~

* “Go home!” Ismene is speechless as she reads those words written in blood on the walls of her new home. The young, raven-haired Grecian beauty had traveled all the way from her homeland to marry the Pharaoh’s top general. But she never expected this. The hatred of the Alexandrian mob for their Greek rulers is right in front of her. It is the first of many threats she will receive.
* Things are escalating out of control. Damaged crops and horses turned loose at night are one thing. But when Ismene receives a death threat, it becomes clear that there is a spy within her own household. She would turn to her husband to deal with this issue, except he left for battle by order of the Pharaoh. Not knowing whom to trust, she fears for her safety as well as the entire ruling class of Egypt.

~ Excerpt ~

* “Can you please take this blindfold off?” Ismene loved surprises, but couldn’t stand the waiting. Alistair had risen early to prepare a special breakfast for them and served her in bed. Then he had told her that he had something special planned for them today—a special place for them to visit.
* “Not yet,” Alistair said as he gripped her waist. Their chariot went over a bump which caused him to pull her to him even more tightly. She smiled at the feel of his secure embrace; even after this short time it still caused butterflies in her stomach.
* She felt the chariot continue to move down the smooth path with a little rocking here and there as the wheels found imperfections in the road.
* “We’re almost there, I promise,” he assured her. His voice was close to her ear and it gave her warm chills. She thought of the feel of those lips on her neck. There wasn’t much time to daydream, though, because, true to his word, it wasn’t much longer before she felt him slow the horses and still the chariot.
* “Ready for your surprise?” he asked.
* “Yes!” She feigned exasperation.
* Only then did he reach up, untie her blindfold, and let it fall. “The great Library of Alexandria.”

Buy The General’s Wife here…
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords

Find Sara R. Turnquist here…
Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter | Website

Thank you for joining us here today, Sara R. Turnquist! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

ANNOUNCEMENT! Sara R. Turnquist will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour! So be sure to leave a comment AND use this RAFFLECOPTER LINK to enter the drawing. Also, visit the other tour stops for a greater chance of winning!

Welcome to CJ Perry & ‘Dark Communion’ @DarkCommunion @GoddessFish #epicfantasy

On October 10, 2016October 8, 2016 By Casey's CornerIn Authors & Books, Goddess Fish Promotions8 Comments

vbt_tourbanner_darkcommunion

Today we have author CJ Perry visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* My deep and abiding love of fantasy began when I was six when I first saw the 1981 film Dragonslayer on VHS with my father. He loved fantasy movies too, but didn’t have the courage to be a dork about it like I did. That movie was a gateway drug that led me straight to the hard stuff – CS Lewis. I was far too young for such potency but by the time I was ten I had read the whole series. That’s when I found my first Dungeons and Dragons group. When I started playing, my friends and I used pre-made campaign settings and published adventures, but I quickly grew restless with their limitations and trite story lines. I needed my own persistent world: something adaptable to my whim and that no one else owned.
* Back in my day, there was no internet, so I took out every book about castles and medieval history from the school library and read them in Math class (I’m still terrible at math as a result). I came up with an entire world and brand new history. I read books on cartography and hand drew maps of my new world. I created a cosmology, a hierarchy of gods, and the tenets of their religions. I read the Dungeon Master’s guide a dozen times, and every fantasy novel I could get my hands on.
* Then, one day, I sat down and told my friends, “Hey guys, wanna try my story instead?” Even 15 years after the original D&D campaigns ended, former players tell me that they share our incredible stories with their children. I’m honored to say that most of those players still have their original character sheets 16-20 years later, and a couple have even named their children after them.
* Now, I’m 39 years old and a loving father of 2 girls, and I still play those games on occasion. My passion has evolved into putting those ideas and amazing stories on paper for the whole world to enjoy. My first novel took me and co-author DC Fergerson 10 years to write and topped out at 180,000 words. Being too long and too complex, I finally ended the project and took its lessons to heart.
* I learned that Dungeons & Dragons did not translate well into a novel. D&D made for great times, but also for some meandering plot lines, pointless encounters, and poor character motivations. No matter how memorable some of the moments were, if I wanted anyone to read my story, I needed to learn a lot more about writing.
* I threw myself into being a full time student of novel crafting. I read every book on writing by Dwight Swain I could find. I paid Chuck Sambuchino (Editor for Writer’s Digest) to critique and edit my older work. I took James Patterson’s Masterclass, went to college, and joined online writing communities. All the while, I read my favorite fantasy novels again, only this time with a mental highlighter. I reworked my stories, outlined them, and decided to start from the beginning.
* Many, many years later, I am in the final edit and proofreading stage of Dark Communion, the first installment of the Shadowalker Chronicles. My role as a father of two girls heavily influenced the characters I’d known for over 20 years, shaping them into women that my own daughters could respect. My characters took on a depth and quality that brings them off the page and into the minds of readers, because they have become all too real. I was privileged enough to work on two careers at the same time to accomplish this feat – a fun-loving and involved stay-at-home dad, and a full time writer.

Today CJ Perry will be talking about the first book that had a big impact on him.
* The first book to have a big impact on me was Pet Sematary by Stephen King. I read it when it came out in 89, when I was only twelve. When I picked it up, I couldnt imagine ever being truly scared by a book. I understood that movies could scare me, but the idea of printed words on a page having the same impact seemed ridiculous. At least, that’s what I told my parents. My father laughed and let me buy it. I had no idea what I was in for.
* I read Pet Sematary in two days. I stayed up late with a flashlight under the covers. I read it in school. No book had ever gripped me like that one did. I had read Christine, Carrie, Salem’s Lot, The Stand, and the Gunslinger. I loved them all, but not one of them had scared me. When I finally closed Pet Sematary, I couldn’t sleep without a nightlight. I didn’t even have one as a toddler, but I had my parents put one in my room and the bathroom. When the movie came out, my father asked me if I wanted to go see it. I refused, but my father went to see it. When he came back he finally understood what he let his pre-teenage son read.
* I had nightmares for years and the nightlights stayed in my room and bathroom until I was in High School. Then, one day, in the library I decided to try my hand at my own story – a sci-fi horror about an alien invasion of my little suburban town in upstate NY. It took me a couple of days to finish, but when I did, the nightmares stopped. I should have realized then, how powerful and therapeutic writing was for me. But at that age, it didn’t occur to me that the nightmares stopped when I wrote. I just never made the connection.
* To this day I still won’t pick up Pet Sematary. I just have no desire to go back to that place. Stephen King traumatized me, but somehow in the midst of scaring my hair white, he also inspired me. I didn’t know books could create such powerful emotion in the reader. I have no interest in scaring my readers half to death, but I want people to feel that deeply for my characters and my story. I want them to take Ayla’s struggles with them in their hearts and dreams when they click off the light after reading Dark Communion and close their eyes.

A look into Dark Communion…

mediakit_bookcover_darkcommunion

~ Blurb ~
* The minotaurs have kept Ayla and Deetra’s people in chains for 200 years. With nothing left to live for, and a death sentence in her womb, Ayla trades her soul for a chance to break the curse which holds her people in slavery. Armed only with her faith, she and Deetra start a revolution, and bring about the return of the Goddess of Darkness.

~ Excerpt ~

* Ayla lifted the woman’s chin with her finger. “What is your name?”
* “Ava.”
* “How far along are you?” They both knew what she really asked; are you carrying a calf?
* The woman met Ayla’s eyes and did not look away.
* “Three months.”
* Ayla’s heart ached with pity. Judging by the size of her womb, if she had carried a human child, she would only have two months to go. Horses clopped up the drawbridge until the other wagon stopped behind the first. The people on the back leaned to see what went on up ahead. Ayla knelt down in front of the pregnant woman on the cool stone of the gatehouse.
* Her voice echoed off the stone walls. “Who is this man with you?”
* The woman bowed her head. “My brother, Gaelan, milady.”
* Butch’s chest rumbled. “It’s Priestess.”
* The woman looked up, then back down and hurried to correct herself. “He’s my brother, Priestess.”
* Ayla shook her head at Butch with a stern look and he dipped his head in silent apology. She lifted the woman’s chin again. Her voice kept the compassion it had before, but with an edge.
* “You are too far along for any surgeon to help you.”
* “I know, Priestess. That’s not why I came.” The pregnant woman’s green eyes held Ayla’s gaze and did not waiver. She set her jaw. “I want to fight.”

Buy Dark Communion here…
Amazon

Find CJ Perry here…
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Website

Thank you for joining us here today, CJ Perry! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story. Stephen King had a big influence in my reading and writing life as well. I, too, remember reading Pet Sematary. It was 1984, my freshman year of high school {the book was published in ’83 & the film came out in ’89}, and I’d borrowed the paperback from a friend–who happens to be my husband now. I’d read it as I walked the halls between class and would even get a few pages in during them. 😉 I really fell in love with the horror genre back then, both in literature and film. And yeah, I have to agree, the movie Pet Sematary is pretty creepy.

ANNOUNCEMENT! CJ Perry will be awarding a $10 and a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to two randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour! So be sure to leave a comment AND use this RAFFLECOPTER LINK to enter the drawing. Also, visit the other tour stops for a greater chance of winning!