Monday, November 15, 2010

Shelia Lipsey's "My Son's Ex Wife: The Aftermath"

We're happy to have Shelia Lipsey with us today talking about her book, My Son's Ex-Wife. To learn more about Shelia and her book, read on!

Publisher: Urban Books

Cover blurb: The story of the Graham family continues in My Son's ex Wife. First Lady Audrey Graham is more than relieved when Stiles encounters the young, vivacious nutritionist Detria Mackey. Rena is equally captivated by recent divorcee, Robert Becton. Does the handsome, science teacher Robert Becton possess what Rena needs to give her life a much needed jump start? When Rena returns to Memphis for less than pleasant reasons, Stiles and Rena realize they still have deep feelings one another, but will their feelings overcome the past that severed their relationship? Will Audrey manage to come between them again or will other circumstances intervene that will give them cause to rethink their past and move forward to the future.

1) How did this story come to you?
It is the sequel to the novel My Son’s Wife

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I have been traditionally published with Urban Books since 2005. My Son’s Ex Wife:The Aftermath is another book I wrote under my publisher.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I love children, but there is an extra special space in my heart for boys. I am shy but I am never shy when it comes to speaking. I am the grandmother of ALL boys!

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am working on the sequel to my novel Beautiful Ugly which will be released December 2011.

5) Parting comments?
I love what God has assigned me to do.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Facebook, twitter, http://www.perfectstoriesaboutimperfectpeople.com/

Gail Pallotta's "Love Turns the Tide"

We're happy to have Gail Pallotta with us today talking about her book, Love Turns the Tide. To learn more about Gail and her book, read on!

Publisher: Awe-struck E-Books.

Cover blurb: Cammie OShea faces a traumatic split-up with her fiancé and has to leave family and friends to take a new job in Destin, Florida. Heartbroken and alone, she dreads meeting her new boss, editor of The Sun Dial, a new newspaper. But her real source of angst turns out to be Vic Deleona, the influential real estate tycoon she must write about to generate interest in the paper. She refuses to open herself to another painful relationship, and he attempts to court her. When she and a friend have break-ins at their condos, Vic comes to their rescue. He even launches his own investigation into the crimes. Cammie grows fond of him. But, she gets an offer to return home to her old job. Will Vic solve the crimes and win Cammie’s heart, or will she leave Destin?

1)How did this story come to you?
For some people finding the right person to love isn’t easy. After I grew old enough to notice boys and had friends noticing them, I learned of hurtful dating relationships and break-ups from my girlfriends and guy friends. There are some men and women who meet, date, walk down the aisle and live happily ever after. But others get their hearts broken again and again before they find the right person. Cammie is one of those people. But God had a plan for her life just as he does for each of us, and I wanted to show that. My idea was to create an entertaining book of faith and hope that took the reader to a romantic place.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
 I didn’t have an agent, so I searched on the internet to see if there were any publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts. I found Awe-Struck Publishers. They were having a contest for short, inspirational romance. I entered and won the prize, which was publication.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. I love to spend the day bargain shopping with my daughter.
2. I once attended a cattle auction. At the time I put out a magazine for a cattle association.
3. My favorite exercise is swimming.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
 I’m writing a teen novel and another Christian romance set in the Florida Panhandle.

5) Parting comments?
I’d like to mention two bookstores that are now selling E-certificates for Love Turns the Tide. The certificates have codes that can be downloaded to a computer or an e-reader. The stores are Eagles’ Wings in Destin, Florida, and Sweet Sprit in East and West Cobb County, Georgia. I’d also like to thank you for having me on your blog.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My Web site is http://www.gailpallotta.com. My blog is http://www.gailpallotta.blogspot.com/  and my book can be ordered from my publisher at http://www.awe-struck.net/. It’s in the inspirational category.

Get Staci Stallings' "A Work in Progress" free...

We're happy to have Staci Stallings with us today talking about her book, A Work in Progress. Staci has been kind enough to give us the link so we can all read it free! To learn more about Staci and her book, read on!

Publisher: Spirit Light Publishing through The Spirit Light Works Blog

Cover blurb: Rebecca Avery has never been one of “them”—the popular kids, the beautiful people. With less than fashion-plate looks and an off-beat, quirky style to living life, she has been relegated to finding “alone” activities to fill her time throughout high school. Unfortunately, college hasn’t changed that. Then she meets Eric Barnett, a nice guy who seems a little quirky himself. The only problem is, he’s in love with her roommate—one of the truly beautiful people. When Rebecca finds herself falling for him, she must find a way to break out of her shell or risk losing him forever. Who will win out in this mixed up jumble of feelings and loyalties? Find out in “A Work in Progress”—Book 1 of ~ The Faith Series ~

1) How did this story come to you?
This book took longer to write than any book I had written prior to it or since. It took 7 years from the first word to the last. In that time, I would work on it, write a few scenes and then jump to another project—not because I wanted to but just because I did. For a time, I thought this one would never actually get finished. Then one day about 18 chapters into it, the final pieces fell into place. In six months I had this one and the next two in the trilogy finished.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I chose to put this book out through my blog (serialized 2 chapters on Tuesdays and Wednesdays) because frankly I’m overrun trying to get my books out fast enough. I have another one coming out in print (The Price of Silence) soon, and then I have five more ready to go out in-print after that. I began to realize if I didn’t find a way to put out these books, they were going to sit on my computer and be virtual prisoners there… maybe forever. So, I decided that putting it out on the blog was better than not putting it out at all.

Strangely as I began to read through this one and its two sequels, I started to be very thankful for my decision. These books are important. They point to many truths about how God will work in our lives if we let Him. These books deserve a hearing even if they only get it on the blog and Kindle. Plus, I like the fact that readers can get them for free. I don’t have to do massive marketing or a bunch of book signings. They are just… there… for anyone who is interested in what God can do in a life that’s willing to take a chance.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I am a recovering control freak.
I read about 6 books at any given time.
I have written 31 books (29 novels; 2 short story books), and right now I’m writing 6 news ones and publishing 6 others.
And I love to skateboard on the Wii.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Lots of things! Right now, I am readying three books for the Spirit Light Works blog. I am getting ready to put out two in-print titles, and all of these on Kindle. I am working on the sequel to a book I finished earlier this year and one that so far is a stand-alone. The stand-alone book is interesting because it features a dyslexic character who loves to write books—what a challenge! Mostly I’m trying to keep up with all of the awesome opportunities to grow and learn and be that God puts in my path!

5) Parting comments?
The more I read things I’ve written, the more convinced I become that I didn’t write them. I believe these stories came from God’s heart and that He sent them through me to whisper to others that there is another way—that you don’t have to live stressed out, going on your own power, alone, scared, and helpless. His Power and His Peace really do make a huge difference when you allow them to work in your life. I love how that message comes through these books—making fiction not just a pleasant read, but really helping the reader to grow from the experiences of the characters.

The best part is… even I can’t put them down. Guaranteed all it takes to get irrevocably hooked on these books is reading the first page. You won’t want to put them down! (Just don’t blame me when nothing gets done until you finish them!)

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My website is: http://www.stacistallings.com/
My main blog is: http://spiritlightbooks.wordpress.com/
The blog with the books (there are 5 complete books here: If You Believed in Love, Coming Undone, Theirs is the Kingdom, The Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and The 9-12 Project… and the newest release “A Work in Progress”) is at: http://spiritlightworks.wordpress.com/

Finally, I have a book called “Being God Positive in a Spirit Draining World” that is in serialization right now at: http://godpositive.wordpress.com/

EVERYONE can get “A Work In Progress” FREE at: http://spiritlightworks.wordpress.com/

Jenness Walker & Tracy Bowen's "Bliss"

We're happy to have Jenness Walker and Tracy Bowen with us today talking about their book, Bliss. To learn more about them and their book, read on!

Publisher: Written World Communications

Cover blurb: When the universe lets you down, it’s time to go over its head. Following the stars, Indie Moore sets off to find ultimate happiness in South Florida. But in her quest for comfort and fortune, she encounters mishap and mayhem. She finds a home in a trailer park, a job scrubbing toilets, and a moody roommate-not quite the glamorous world she'd envisioned for herself when she left Rabbit Hole, Kansas. But maybe bliss looks a little different than she'd thought. Laugh and cry with Indie, the Miss Adventure of misadventure, as she blunders on land, by sea, and in church, seeking love and a sense of belonging...seeking true Bliss.

1. How did this story come to you?
J - The story started with this question: what if a girl was addicted to horoscopes, but every time she followed the advice it ended up in disaster?
T - The original premise came from the brilliant mind of Jenness. She approached me with the idea and asked if I would be interested in helping her bring the story to life. There were a million different ways that the book could have gone. After a very long beach walk together we mapped out the rest of the story. Our main goals were to reflect our belief that God is the source of true happiness in our lives, and to have fun in the process.

2. Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Hmmm. You probably don’t have enough room here to get into all of the details of that long saga.  Bliss placed in the 2007 Genesis contest, but it took a while to complete it, as it was our first book to write together and we had other projects going at the same time. We finished it just in time to miss the chick lit boom. But we loved the book and didn’t give up on it. New publisher Written World Communications decided to take a chance on us and Indie. We hope you’ll enjoy the result.

3. Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
J – 1. I won a contest in first grade, so my drawing was used in a newspaper to advertise a baseball game. 2. I can’t drink coffee. I wish I could. I love the smell and the whole idea of it, but I just can’t like the taste no matter how much I doctor it. 3. I don’t like to drive. If I’m out of familiar territory, I have to turn the music way up and sing along to steady my nerves.
T - I am fairly new to the party and most things about me would be a surprise since I am “unknown”.  1. I am terribly afraid of heights. This is a result of a little incident in my childhood that involved me being aboard a plane that crash-landed in a soy-bean field in a town called Santa Claus, Georgia. 2. I avoid a movie if I know that it has the potential to make me cry. Seriously, who puts money into buying a ticket or a DVD if they know it will make them sob? I can look at my checkbook and do that for free. 3. For most of my life I was a faithful church-going wreck of a woman who secretly felt inside that there was no way that God could ever love me. I was the queen of the façade. And then someone reached out to me, and truly showed me a glimpse of His character. I was loved to Jesus.

4. What are you working on now and what's next for you?
We have a couple projects together that are in different stages of development and are waiting to hear back from an editor about one of them.
J – Meanwhile, I’m trying to finish up a story that’s very close to my heart. It’s a darker women’s fiction story, but I pray that the darkness makes the glimpses of hope and faith that much brighter.
T - I am working on a non-fiction solo project. Somewhere in the back of my mind I also have a great story line for a children’s series. There are not enough hours in the day to cover all of the material that is whirling around inside this crazy, blonde head! 

5. Parting comments?
Thank you so much for having us! We hope you enjoy Bliss.

6. Where can fans find you on the internet?
Drop by and see us anytime at http://www.tandjbooks.com/, our joint website We also have a facebook page (Tracy and Jenness Books) and Jenness has a personal website (http://www.jennesswalker.com/).

How to read ebooks without a Kindle


I read only ebooks. I have 30 ebooks in my BlackBerry right now and can read whatever I want when on the go. If you don't read e, check out our post below on how to download the free Kindle ebook reader to your computer or netbook. It'll change the way you read forever!

The following is the link to a listing of free bestselling books on Kindle this week. If you don't have a Kindle, follow the steps below to add the app to your PC, which will allow you to read any Kindle book on your computer. It's free and it's easy!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/ref=pd_dp_ts_kinc_1

When the Amazon page opens, the list to the left is the top 100 ebooks, the list to the right is the top free 100 ebooks. While you're browsing, please check out my new release by clicking on the link below.

Follow these steps to download the Kindle app:
1) Go to my Amazon page
http://www.amazon.com/Killing-Time-ebook/dp/B003XYE8K8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1287437471&sr=1-3
2) Scroll down. You'll see "Kindle for PC" to the right
3) Click to download the Kindle app
4) Go back to my page above and you can download my book to read the first few chapters for free by clicking on SEND SAMPLE NOW. This will let you know it's working. When it downloads, you'll see the number "1" in the Archive at the top left.
5) Click on Archive to move the book over to your library.
6) Enjoy!
7) If you want to look at the bestsellers, click on "Kindle Books" on the toolbar at the top of the page. Click on "Kindle Bestsellers" to the left or follow the link above.
8) If you like the free viewing of "Killing Tiime," I'd appreciate your supporting my work by buying the book. Thanks so much and enjoy the Kindle books!



Interview with Barbara M. Britton and spotlight of Lioness...

We're happy to have Barbara M. Britton with us talking about her book Lioness . To learn more about her and Lioness, please read o...