Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Love, Romance and Angst


Happy Valentines week everyone! Flowers, chocolates, romance – it lasts at least a week, right? What it doesn’t? Someone get on that, it needs to be a thing. Anyway, all of this love in the air got me thinking about love in literature. I’ve read a lot of books, and no matter the genre I think almost all stories have at least a little romance. 

Sometimes love isn’t expected.


Sometimes we don’t realize friendship is love.


Sometimes love is confusing.


Any good romance has a little angst, right?

Seriously though, even though angst isn’t fun in real life, it makes for a great story. I love the feeling that goes along with not knowing if the characters will hook up; my heart picking up a faster beat with the brush of a hand, a stolen glance, some witty banter or the rush of a first kiss. That’s the stuff that keeps me turning pages. Then there’s the heartache of twists in the plot that makes it difficult for characters to be together; maybe a confusing triangle, misunderstood intentions, or outside complications. This angst is so heart wrenchingly good that it keeps me up way too late at night reading. I think the trick is the power of ‘what if’. If I’m left wondering what if it doesn’t work out, what if they can’t make it work, what if the love is unrequited, then I NEED to read more.

 But just like everything else, angst can be done wrong. Sometimes the angst is unrealistic, the drama overdone or forced, even clichéd. When I can see that there’s really nothing keeping the characters apart, that it’s drama for drama’s sake then the trope just becomes irritating. I need to care about the characters to feel it. Maybe that’s just me though.

Any good story, even a romance needs a little angst to keep it going. Don’t you think?


BUY THE BOOK AT:





Monday, February 17, 2014

KILLING HONOR by S.M. Butler’s!

I'm so excited to bring you the cover for KILLING HONOR, the first book in S.M. Butler’s new Lucky Thirteen series! KILLING HONOR is a New Adult Romantic Suspense due to be released March 24, 2014!
Killing Honor
KILLING HONOR will also be in print, available and orderable from all major retailers!
Killing Honor Full Wrap

Book Info

Title: Killing Honor
Series: Lucky Thirteen, #1
Genre: New Adult Romantic Suspense
Cover Design: Shield Creative Designs
Release Date: March 24, 2014
eISBN: 978-1-938927-12-6
Print ISBN: 978-1-938927-13-3
**A BRAND-NEW SERIES OF NEW ADULT MILITARY ROMANCES FROM S.M. BUTLER**

Only she ignites the passion within him…
Navy SEAL Brody Battles’ last mission ended with him shot twice. He’s made enemies he’d like to forget ever existed all over the world. He’s more than ready to go home to the family he left behind, but when he returns, he faces sleepless nights, a possible security breach and the fear that his family has moved on without him.

Only he fills the void left in her heart…
Marrying her childhood sweetheart sounds like a fairy tale dream come true, but not for Devyn. Thanks to his job, her husband has been off on a secret mission for so long, he’s never even seen his daughters in person. But now he’s back, and the fairy tale life is in sight, but Devyn’s not sure the man that returned is the same man who left.

…and only death will quench their enemy’s thirst for revenge.
Stitching their broken family back together proves difficult when nightmares and secrets build a wall between them. And while they’re adjusting to being a family again, an enemy waits in the shadows, salivating for the sweet taste of revenge.

This New Adult title includes adult situations and language and may not be suitable for readers under 18 years.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Rush Into You - Cover Reveal!


RUSH INTO YOU
Debut By Brianna Lee



A New Adult Contemporary Romance
Releasing April/May 2014
Cover designed by Okay Creations
I had it all. I was captain of the cheerleading squad and star of the debate team. I was smart and popular and living the dream. Until that night. That one fateful night changed everything. Now everyone hates me—everyone. They stay far away.   It’s safer. Drugs numb the pain, and sex pays for the drugs. Being alive is my punishment. Then I meet him. Ryker Rosse. Tattoos, sinful body…and his eyes. His eyes are irresistible. He is captivating. He treats me with respect. He sees me. Ryker brings happiness into my life of regret, but I don’t know if I deserve happiness. Some mistakes can never be forgiven. Or can they?  photo goodreads-badge-add-38px11_zps1ae6e47f.jpg  


  About the Author Brianna Lee is an avid reader and flavored ice coffee addict. She is also a book reviewer and blogger for Brianna Lee Book Reviews and lives in Massachusetts with her beautiful daughter. As a busy, single mom, and aunt, she often has to write her stories in a notepad app on her cell phone, but late at night you will find her typing on her laptop until she passes out on her keyboard...literally. Brianna encourages readers to contact her as she loves to hear from you! Email her at authorbriannalee@live.com.   Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads  
 photo AToMRToursC66a-A00aT03a-Z_mdm_zpsa3cc6896.jpg

Saturday, February 1, 2014

S.E. Gilchrist: Star Pirate's Justice Reveal and Giveaway!

S.E. Gilchrist and I sat down for a chat about her novels and writing life. She's an interesting person and great author and I'm overjoyed to have her stop by.

Your currently released Novel is Star Pirate’s Justice. What are you working on now?

My next sci fi single title in my Darkon Warriors series, When Star’s Collide, a novella in the same series, Star Smuggler’s Gold a post-apocalyptic romance, Beyond Aquarius and a hot fantasy novella, Spellbound In Moonlight in the Moonlight Cravings Anthology.

When you wrote Star Pirate’s Justice, did anything happen in the story that you didn’t expect?

Yes, and it happened to my heroine’s sister but unfortunately I don’t want to give any spoilers. I had to do a fairly big soul search to decide whether to go with it or not. In the end, I kept it in the story.

Are you a quick writer? About how many words a day?

I’m happy if I get the time to sit in my study every day since I have a full time day job – I try to go for a minimum of 10k words per week rather than a daily count. Depending on the scene I’m writing will also affect my word flow. Plus, often I need to research something, like futuristic weapons for example.

Where is your ideal writing place?

My study and preferably, home alone.

Cats or Dogs?

Dogs.

Have you ever written something that shocked you when you read back over it? If so, what?

Definitely, twice now! First time was in Legend Beyond the Stars, when I had one of my minor characters commit suicide and the second time was in Bound by Love with a very, very explicit love scene.

In Star Pirate’s Justice which of your characters would you most like to have lunch with? 

The bounty hunter, Pinsku.

What would they want to eat? 

Probably some alien form of worms.

What tattoo would you get, to celebrate your novel? 

I’m not into self inflicted pain – I prefer chocolate or red wine.

Which is the more enjoyable to write, a hero or villain? 

A villain as I can make him / her as nasty, evil, twisted as I want then give them a ‘good’ trait, like a love of puppies or a passion for cooking.

Have you used a personal tragedy or difficulty as basis for a scene? 

I prefer not to comment here (the answer is yes, but I will not go into details ).

Give us an item on your bucket list. 

England.

Have you ever written vicariously? 

Oooh, yeah! Apart from the naughty bits, I’d have to say flying a space ship. I’d love to zip around the stars and planets – as long as I can get home again .

What is your favorite attribute in a person?  

Kindness

And your least favorite attribute in someone?

Dishonesty.

Did you include either of those in your current novel? 

Yes, both actually .


Your personal or favorite motto.  

Live a good life and be kind to others.



S. E. GILCHRIST

SE can't remember a time when she didn't have a book in her hand. Now she writes stories where her favorite words are ...'what if' and 'where'? Having spent several years traveling around Australia, SE now resides in the beautiful Hunter Valley. She has visited Asia and the US and has many other countries on her bucket list.

Her writing features stories in the romance genres of futuristic/sci-fi, fantasy, ancient history and post-apocalyptic. She has now added contemporary rural romance to this list. The heat level of her stories varies from scorching to sweet and everything in between. SE is published by Momentum Moonlight and Escape Publishing and is an indie author. Current works in progress are: more stories in the Darkon Warriors series, an apocalyptic/sci fi New Adult book and another 'Bound' historical/fantasy novella.

LINKS

http://www.segilchrist.com

Twitter - @SEGilchrist1

http://www.amazon.com/S-E-Gilchrist/e/B009F6LGXA

https://www.facebook.com/SE Gilchrist-Author

http://hunterromancewriters.wordpress.com/

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6587665.S_E_Gilchrist



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