Cover of the Year - Asking for Your Vote

I just scanned the covers for Cover of the Year on Erin Aislinn's website and saw a lot of familiar covers - many were on my Judge A Book By its Cover blog last year :)

I invite you to visit http://www.erinaislinn.com/BookCoveroftheYear2007.htm and I hope that you will vote for Lady Lightkeeper which is one of my covers and it is listed as the winning cover for September.

If you prefer the easier route - feel free to email webmail@erinaislinn .com and put "VOTE for Lady Lightkeeper" in the subject line. I appreciate every vote :)

Nikki


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"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
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When I'm You by LaConnie Taylor Jones

Tell us about your heroine --- the female lead in your book.

What's her name? Caitlyn Thompson

Why did you pick that name?

I've always like the name Caitlyn. Since I didn't get the chance to name my only girl child (my husband did the honors), I decided to use the name for my first fictional female character.

Give us a brief description of how she looks.

Caitlyn is only four feet, eleven inches and weighs roughly a hundred pounds. She has ebony skin that's the same shade as dark chocolate.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance?

Yes, she has beautiful slant, brown eyes.

Who does she love? Why?

Although she's been on the run from a stalking ex-boyfriend for the past three years, she meets and falls deeply in-love with Marcel Baptiste. At first, she was extremely gun-shy of becoming involved with him, despite their instantaneous attraction. However, as the weeks past, she becomes better acquainted with Marcel and is further captivated by his genuineness and willingness to earn her trust as well as erase the demons from her past.

Does this person love her?

Oh, absolutely!! Marcel is a man who's use to getting his way. It took him by surprise that Caitlyn told him the one word he never accepts - no. Also, Caitlyn's fear of another relationship makes him even more determine to win not only her trust, but her heart.

Tell us about her family.

Caitlyn was placed in foster care after the death of her mother at the age of five. She bounced through the system for twelve years until she was placed with the woman she considers as her mother, Ms. Ruby.

Where is she from?

Newark, New Jersey

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude?

Yes, they do. Caitlyn grew up in inner city of New Jersey and spent a great deal of time at a neighborhood youth center. She eventually becomes the director of a youth center in East Oakland.

What does she want out of life?
To find the father she never knew.

What's her biggest secret? (Only share if it isn't a spoiler in the story.)

It would be a spoiler to the story!!

Did you write more than one story about her?

No

How would she describe you?

As the one person who truly understands her fears, strength and determination to get her life back on the right track after a disastrous relationship involving domestic abuse.

Is there anything else about your heroine that we need to know? Feel free to share.

Caitlyn admits she was vulnerable to the attention and gifts her ex-boyfriend lavished on her because she grew up without anyone to depend on other than herself. However, once she realized their relationship escalated to violence, she had the courage to leave.

Please provide your website link.

http://www.laconnietaylorjones.com/

What is the link to buy your book?

http://www.amazon.com/When-Im-You-LaConnie-Taylor-Jones/dp/1585712507/

It was wonderful to meet her. Thank you for bringing her to meet us.

Check out LaConnie's website at http://www.laconnietaylorjones.com/ to see how you can win a $100 gift certificate to Amazon.com!

In the Arms of the Enemy by Patricia A. Guthrie

In the Arms of the Enemy

Heroine interview

Tell us about your heroine --- the female lead in your book.

What's her name? Maggie McGregor (Margaret, but nobody calls her that

Why did you pick that name? I didn't. Maggie picked it for herself. Nothing else fit. She was a Maggie.

Give us a brief description of how she looks. Maggie's about five foot three-four inches. She has red hair, light skin that sunburns and freckles if she isn't careful, blue eyes like the Caribbean, fit from riding horses and doing barn chores. Wears mainly jeans, tank tops and over shirts, but "cleans up well."

Is there anything unusual about her appearance? Her hair. Curly, shoulder length and the color, as described by Adam, of a fire framing her face. (well, maybe he didn't exactly say that, but I'm in a poetic mood.)

Who does she love? She was engaged to Ricki Lane the owner of Lane Training Stables because he taught her to be a successful trainer. She was young and fell in love with not only his looks and manners, but what she thought he stood for. (Boy was she wrong)

Through the course of the story she falls in love with Adam Blakely a horse owner who brings his horse into her father's barn. Something about him moves her, he's there when he needs her, and something about his is like a Greek tragedy."

Does this person love her? Ricky Lane was more involved with himself and promoting himself and didn't mind screwing Maggie at the right opportunity. So, I'd say no to him. But he's not important, because he's murdered in the beginning.

Adam Blakely, despite a huge amount of misgivings falls in love with Maggie. He's smitten with her caring and fun-loving nature, her love of horses his attraction to her. But Adam has a secret. (see hero interview) and his secret makes it dangerous for him to fall in love with whom he thinks Maggie is.

Tell us about her family. The only family Maggie has left is her father Cullum McGreggor. He's very protective about his daughter especially with what happened before the story began. The community has also taken an interest and everyone interacts, has gone to school together and will protect "their own." They're like extended family. what happens to one of them, happens to all of them.

Where is she from? Michigan

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude?
Yes they do. they've always come together in friendship and trouble. You can see that with the keen interest the sheriff has in stranger, when an elderly horsewoman cross-examinated Adams intent toward Maggie on the trails and the threatening way the farmer questioned Adam at the hospital. Asking him if he was her boyfriend trainer and if he'd beaten her up. Fortunately, Adam was able to say no on both counts (Maggie fell off an intentionally broken ladder at the barn)

What does she want out of life? Maggie wants a career as a horse trainer. She's a loving woman who needs to be loved in return, and she won't settle for being second best.

What's her biggest secret? (Only share if it isn't a spoiler in the story.) Maggie thinks Ricky Lane killed Black Autumn and whoever killed Ricky might be after her too. There are forces at work who would destroy her.

Did you write more than one story about her? No.

How would she describe you? I think she'd like to put me in a straight jacket and deposit me someplace where I can't take over her life and give her all those problems. She sees me coming and wants to run and hide.

Is there anything else about your heroine that we need to know? Feel free to share. Maggie is naive about a lot of things, but she's had to grown up fast between the prologue and the first chapter. She's wary of people and, although basically being outgoing, now she wants to shrink away. She feels guilty about leaving Black Autumn, a horse she'd loved and trained, to a man (Ricky Lane) she thinks might have killed him. Now, she's scared that someone might be after her.

Please provide your website link. www.patriciaanneguthrie.com www.paguthrie.blogspot.com

What is the link to buy your book? www.lightswordpublishing.com www.patriciaanneguthrie.com www.amazon.com, www.borders.com

It was wonderful to meet her. Thank you for bringing her to meet us. Maggie says as soon as things are back to normal, she would love to go out for lunch. Her treat. And--she'll even invite her author-mommy. (that's me.) That is if I haven't put her in the middle of another murder. In the

Mystick Moon by Terry L White

Tell us about your heroine --- the female lead in your book.

What's her name?

Rebecca

Why did you pick that name?

It was a commonly used name for the times.

Give us a brief description of how she looks.

Rebecca is a child of wealth who has journeyed to New England where she lives a hard life taking care of her mother and raising herself against all odds. Her stepfather abuses her and leaves her alone much of the time. She has a pretty face with worried eyes and wears her dead mother’s cut-down clothing and the skins of animals she and her servant catch to eat.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance?

Rebecca looks like she had to grow up far before her time.

Who does she love? Why?

Rebecca loves her mother. She loves the Pequot woman, Squirrel because Squirrel teaches her how to survive. She also loves Adam, a young boy who befriends and helps her, and his mother Anneke.

Does this person love her?

These people all love Rebecca. Adam loves her as a boy and returns from a time at sea to love her as a man.

Tell us about her family.

Rebecca is alone in the world. Her mother died in childbed and her stepfather abandoned her. Her servant Squirrel is the closest thing to a family member she has.

Where is she from?

She is originally from London and lives in colonial Mystic Connecticut.

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude?

The people of Mystick want Rebecca to go to church and school as they do, but she is much too concerned with survival. She is only befriended and loved by people who are as different as she. The townspeople call her a witch and accuse her wrongly.

What does she want out of life?

Rebecca wants a home and to be loved.

What's her biggest secret?

Rebecca has developed more than one personality and the other persons inside her help her survive.

Did you write more than one story about her?

No. One was it.

How would she describe you?

I don’t think Rebecca would know what to make of me. Our worlds are too different. She would probably think I am a witch!

Is there anything else about your heroine that we need to know? Feel free to share.

Rebecca doesn’t give up, even when facing death, and she never stops believing in love.

Please provide your website link.

www.terrylwhite.com

What is the link to buy your book?

www.ebooksonthe.net

www.amazon.com

Blog Tours - What Would You Like to Know

I'm doing a tele-seminar next week about blog tours and I would love input from you all.

There are many things to discuss about blog tours and I worked out some initial questions to get people thinking - they are:

Discover Ways to Promote Your Book on a Virtual Blog Tour to Gain Greater Visibility and Sales

• What are the benefits of doing a blog tour?

• Should you promote your book in a blog tour?

• Should fiction and non fiction books be promoted differently in a blog tour?

• Should you organize your own blog tour?

• Why hire a publicist to organize your tour?

• If you hire a publicist, will you still need to work on the tour?

• Can you use a blog tour to promote anything besides books?

• Is there a new option in book blog tours?

But, now I need to create a couple of handouts and I'd love your input. Is there any specific info about blog tours that any of you think would be most helpful? Some folks here have done tours, some have hosted touring authors and I bet some of you have thought about doing a tour. So, since many of the people here are authors, I figured it would be a great place to pose the question. What information would you suggest I offer in handouts? Thank you all for your thoughts. There will be plenty of blog tour info coming very soon .

Nikki Leigh

PS - The answer to the last question is - most definitely. Stay tuned for much more information about that option - SOON. Or, contact me to be added to the mailing list - nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com with Mailing List in the subject line.

"The Second Line" by Sheryl Nantus

Tell us about your heroine --- the female lead in your book.

What's her name?

Jacklyn Amanda St. George (Jackie for short!)

Why did you pick that name?

It's classy and she's a classy broad. Can I say broad?

Give us a brief description of how she looks.

Young redhead with an attitude - jeans, torn combat jacket or leather jacket to get around; doesn't dress up. Ever.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance?

She looks very normal - which is good when you're a corporate spy!

Who does she love? Why?

No one yet... but there's someone on the horizon!

Does this person love her?

Maybe... there's a chance!

Tell us about her family.

Mother passed away from cancer; father... well, you'll have to read the book to find out. She's alone in the world.

Where is she from?

Toronto, Canada! (Parkdale, for the Canucks who know of where I speak!)

Does her hometown affect her behavior, thoughts and attitude?

She loves her city and knows it inside and out - she loves the bars, the nightlife as well as the businesses she has to break into.

What does she want out of life?

Inner peace. Which is hard to get.

What's her biggest secret? (Only share if it isn't a spoiler in the story.)

Ah... can't say. In book!

Did you write more than one story about her?

Just the one book so far... but there's always a chance for more!

How would she describe you?

A fellow Canuck who should really get out more.

Is there anything else about your heroine that we need to know? Feel free to share.

Jackie's a self-made woman - a corporate spy who knows how to get what her clients want and how to make good money. She has money to burn, but doesn't show off. She loves her steak.

Please provide your website link.

www.sherylnantus.com

What is the link to buy your book?

www.mundania.com

www.sherylnantus.com

Late Night Sessions

What's her name?

Vicky

Why did you pick that name?

She’s named after Vicki Williams, a favourite folk singer of mine. My Vicky is a folk enthusiast living in the Midlands, and a flautist, while Vicki Williams is a singer songwriter from Wales who gigs with her husband Trefor – so aside from the folk connection they don’t have much in common.

Give us a brief description of how she looks.

Vicky isn’t a great beauty, but is pretty in her own way. She’s on the tall side of average height, with curly, reddish brown hair that falls to her shoulders. Grief has taken a toll on her, and at the outset of the book, she looks gaunt and weary. Despite her relative youth (26) you can tell from her eyes that she’s been through a lot. Slow to smile, and prone to fits of deep melancholy, Vicky isn’t an approachable young woman, but when she plays her flute, you can see something of the joy and passion she had before everything went tragically wrong.

Is there anything unusual about her appearance? Aside from the marks of sorrow and hard experience, Vicky looks quite unremarkable. She is a typical, bright twenty something young woman, with jeans, doc martin boots and skimpy tops.

Who does she love? Why? Vicky’s life used to centre around her flatmate and best friend, Kirsten. Death has not destroyed her attachment, but she needs to move on. Her affections are engaged by Dan – a much older folk musician who has his own difficult past to contend with.

Does this person love her? Initially, Vicky has no idea what to make of Dan – he seems interested, but his personality is full of contradictions and he reveals little about himself. He isn’t an easy person to trust, and it takes Vicky quite a while to determine how he feels about her.

Tell us about her family. Vicky grew up in Malvern – a small town on the edge of the Malvern hills, in the UK Midlands. Her mother is an unpredictable matriarch, her father is laid back to the point of seldom bothering to communicate. Vicky has a younger sister, with whom she is on good terms, and a large extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins who all live in the same area. Although they are nice enough people, Vicky seldom knows how to relate to them.

Where is she from?

Malvern is an old town spread along the side of some very big hills. It’s a spa town, with a reputation for health giving mineral waters. Vicky grew up hankering after city life, and greater possibility. Having gone to Birmingham University for her degree, she stayed on in the city, only to find that wasn’t what she wanted either. Being the sort of person who can feel isolated anywhere, she’s never really found her place in the world.

Does her hometown affect her behaviour, thoughts and attitude? Vicky has struck out on her own, moving away from her hometown and trying to find her own ways of doing things. She rejects a lot of her parents’ attitudes, but is affected by the small town values she acquired growing up.

What does she want out of life? At the outset of the novel, Vicky has no idea what she wants. She isn’t happy with her job, she doesn’t like the city and has let a lot of her friendships falter. She’s single, but not really looking for love. Still trying to get to grips with her recent bereavement, she can’t yet plan for the future. Only when she knows herself a little better will she be able to figure out what she wants.

What's her biggest secret? Vicky still talks to Kirsten, even though the other girl is some months dead. Sometimes Kirsten seems to answer her, but this isn’t something Vicky feels able to share with most of the people in her life.

Did you write more than one story about her?

Vicky has the lead role in ‘Late Night Sessions’ but also turns up as bit part in the book I’m currently working on – ‘Hazel Arden’ which is also set in the Midlands.

How would she describe you? I’m very likely someone Vicky would enjoy jamming with as her flute playing would compliment me singing and playing the bouzouki. She would describe me as a fellow folky, and a druid like her friend Kirsten. I am the sort of person she could sit up late talking with, and would get along well enough with her eccentric older man.


Is there anything else about your heroine that we need to know? Feel free to share.

Vicky is on a challenging journey, one that will bring insights, self awareness and hope. It takes her a while to discover her own strength.

Please provide your website link. http://bryncolvin.mysite.orange.co.uk

What is the link to buy your book?

Late Night Sessions

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Late-Night-Sessions/dp/1934446076/ref=sr_1_1/202-6559455-6676664?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191227563&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Late-Night-Sessions-Bryn-Colvin/dp/1934446076/ref=tag_dpp_lp_edpp_ttl_in/105-8048599-4428442?ie=UTF8&qid=1191227046&sr=8-8