Celebrating!

The last few weeks have held some fun adventures, and I've celebrated a variety of things. But first, let me celebrate someone else. My crit partner and long-time writer friend DL Hammons has signed with an agent!! I've known Don for several years through blogging, and his epic Write Club contests, and since summer I joined a crit group he started, so I'm very familiar with his awesome book Moving Fear. I am SO SUPER STOKED to announce this awesome news!!

EDIT! THIS JUST IN! One of my other long-time writer friends released her debut novel today! Congrats to Beth Sanderson for Dying Embers! A juicy revenge story :) Check it out here.

Moving on to me, I'll express the last few weeks in some pictures:

 

  

Some yummy things I made.

Celebrating 31 days in a row of yoga!! I completed my challenge. Also, it was a pre-celebration of awesome stuff happening soon. I don't know exactly what yet, but it's happening :)

 

 

A fun trip to Atlanta, including the Georgia Aquarium.

And last but certainly not least, another celebration - my boyfriend successfully completed the test for his black belt in Judo a few days ago, so we had some dessert and champagne. 

What are you celebrating (or pre-celebrating!) this month? Do tell!

Friday with the Fun and Fabulous Talli Roland!

Today we have bestselling author Talli Roland! Talli's book, The Hating Game, came out on December 1st and made quite a splash on the Amazon Kindle bestseller list.  It continues to rock the charts; Talli reported that it sold 1,400 copies in January alone! 

Talli lives in England (dreamy sigh - how fun would that be?). She loves coffee and wine just like me, so I knew she was a cool gal instantly!  If you don't know Talli, you definitely want to.  Go check out her awesome blog, or you can purchase the e-book version of The Hating Game on Amazon.  The print version will be available next month, for those of you (like me) that don't have an e-book reader yet.  Oh, and Talli also has an official website!

Okay, so read this yummy description of The Hating Game:

When man-eater Mattie Johns agrees to star on a dating game show to save her ailing recruitment business, she's confident she'll sail through to the end without letting down the perma-guard she's perfected from years of her love 'em and leave 'em dating strategy.

After all, what can go wrong with dating a few losers and hanging out long enough to pick up a juicy £200,000 prize? Plenty, Mattie discovers, when it's revealed that the contestants are four of her very unhappy exes.

Can Mattie confront her past to get the prize money she so desperately needs, or will her exes finally wreak their long-awaited revenge? And what about the ambitious TV producer whose career depends on stopping her from making it to the end?

What is your writing story?

I’ll sum it up in almost 140 characters, just like Twitter: Three years, five (or six?) unpublished manuscripts, lots of rejections - then acceptance! Now I've had two non-fiction books published, as well as my debut novel.

The Hating Game has a rather untraditional publishing story. Since I already knew the publisher, I just wrote up the synopsis and the first three chapters and it was accepted (yay!). I wrote the first draft in about two months, then spent another few months revising and editing.

What was the most exciting point in your writing journey?

Definitely the release day for the Kindle version of The Hating Game. I had so much support from bloggers, Tweeters and Facebookers around the world -- it was overwhelming.

How did you get The Hating Game to be in the top 25 Amazon Kindle downloads, and number 1 on the Amazon Kindle Movers and Shakers list?

It only takes a few sales over a short period of time to rise in the rankings on Amazon Kindle. So, I thought how great it would be if I could get as many people as possible to buy my book on release day, and see how far up the rankings it could climb! I started my campaign about three months before my release day, and over time more and more people signed up. The results definitely exceeded my expectations!

What was the first thing you did when you woke up on the day The Hating Game was released?

Cursed my husband’s snoring (a typical morning)! I remember waking up super early that day, because I was so excited and nervous that I’d made a big deal out of it – what if no-one bought it and the whole thing tanked? The first thing I did was fire up my trusty little laptop and check the sales rank on Amazon!

Did you have a book release party or other celebration?

Not for the Kindle release, although I did take my husband out for a no-holds-barred Chinese dinner (you don’t even want to imagine the amount we ate!). I’m debating whether to do one for the paperback launch in March.

What are you working on next?

I’m just about to start working on Watching Willow Watts, about a country girl whose life is transformed when she becomes a YouTube sensation. It’s due out for release in November – I really must get my butt in gear!


Thanks so much for stopping by, Talli! You are awesome and I can't wait to pick up a copy of The Hating Game when it comes out in print. 

Free stuff people!  Don't forget about the Amazon gift cards I'm giving away.  Leave a comment on this post to be entered.


Wednesday with the Wickedly Witty Jennifer Hillier!

Happy Wednesday, writer friends! Today I welcome Jennifer Hillier, whose thriller Creep is being released by Simon & Schuster in July. Jennifer was another one of my first followers, so I feel like I’ve known her a long time though I only started blogging seriously in September.

It’s been soooo fun getting to hear Jennifer’s journey and find out what happens after you get an agent and a publisher. She spills it all on her blog, so you should definitely check it out! I’m a regular stalker. And what’s mega fun is that you can pre-order Creep on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Chapters Indigo. Jennifer also has an official website (don’t you love the sound of that?), which you should visit, too.

Okay, so read this deliciously tantalizing description of Creep:

Dr. Sheila Tao is a professor of psychology. An expert in human behaviour. And when she began an affair with sexy, charming graduate student Ethan Wolfe, she knew she was playing with fire. Consumed by lust when they were together, desolate and depressed when they weren't, she realizes the three-month fling with her teaching assistant has to end. After all, she's engaged to a kind and loving investment banker who adores her, and her life is about to change for the better. But when she attempts to cut the affair dead in its tracks, Ethan Wolfe won't let her walk away.

Ethan has plans for Sheila, plans that involve posting a sex tape that would surely get her fired and destroy her prestigious career. Plans to make her pay for rejecting him. And as she attempts to counter his every threatening move without her colleagues or her fiancé discovering her most intimate secrets, a shattering crime rocks Puget Sound State University: a female student, a star athlete, is found stabbed to death. Someone is raising the stakes of violence, sex, and blackmail . . . and before she knows it, Sheila is caught in a terrifying cat-and-mouse game with the lover she couldn't resist — who is now the monster who won't let her go.

Interview time!

What have you experienced thus far in the publishing process that you didn't expect?

I honestly didn’t expect things to happen so quickly! I was prepared for it to take years to see a book in print, and I was prepared to write lots of books before even getting close. I spent fourteen months total writing and revising CREEP. I signed with an agent three months after I started querying, and I was submission for only two months (which, admittedly, felt like an eternity at the time) when my book sold. When I look back at 2010, I can’t believe so much happened within such a short time frame. I feel very lucky, and very blessed.

When might we see the inevitably awesome cover for Creep? Do you get any input in this process?

I haven’t heard anything about the cover art yet, though the cover copy (the back cover blurb and opening pages) was sent to me back in November. I wake up every morning expecting to see the cover art in my inbox! I don’t get any input in the graphics or design, but I definitely trust my publisher to know what will best sell the book. In my head I picture it being very edgy, very slick, very broody, with giant letters that shriek “CREEP”! It’ll be interesting to see how far off the mark I end up being.

**Editorial Note: since the interview Jennifer has gotten her cover art! She can’t let us see it yet, but read all about her initial impressions here.

What do you have planned for Creep's release date? Will there be a book release party?

I actually don’t have anything planned at the moment. I currently live just north of Seattle, WA, but most of my family and friends are in Toronto, Canada. So I might do something back in my hometown to celebrate, since I know way more people there than here.

Now that you have an agent, how you do propose future projects? Do you just shoot her an email, or call her up and share your ideas? Does she give you timeframes for when she'd like to see your next book?

My agent and I have already had a few discussions about my current work-in-progress, and she’s ready to see it whenever I’m ready to show it to her. Which I so am not! It’s a first draft, and like most first drafts, it’s in rough shape. I’d be embarrassed for her to read it as it is now. Most of our discussions are via email because with the time difference (she’s in New York), it’s just easier, and she’s always lightening fast with her email responses. We’re hoping to submit a proposal for the first book to the publisher (who has first right of refusal) before CREEP is out, but I want it to be the best it can be before anybody sees it.

If you were in one of your books, what would be your weapon of choice?

Ah, my favorite question! Definitely an ice pick. You can buy one for $2.99 (very practical for this economy) and for just a bit more, upgrade to one with a rubber handle (which of course I would do – who wants calluses?). In my stories, my villains are always hands-on. Death is always personal to them... and messy.

Thanks so much for the awesome interview, Jennifer!  I'll definitely be in line to get Creep in July (for my birthday!).
 
Don't forget to drop in Friday for my interview with Talli Roland! And, if you want to enter the drawing for a $15 Amazon gift card, go to this post and leave a comment.

Let's Get It Started!

Welcome to the grand revealing of the previously top-secret and greatly anticipated (right?) lineup for my 100 followers celebration!!



You have your choice of a martini or some bubbly:

But first, before I blow your minds with all the fun we’ve got planned, let’s toast to you! Because without all of you awesome peeps that stop by, we wouldn’t be having this super cool mega rad party. You guys rock!

So, without further ado, I give you the schedule:

(Do you hear the angelic voices singing in the background over the Black Eyed Peas?)

Monday, January 31st – The ever fabulous and amazing queen of the blogosphere, Jen Daiker of Unedited!

Wednesday, February 2nd – The release of her thriller Creep is swiftly approaching, and the super cool Jennifer Hillier is going to tell us all about it!

Friday, February 4th – She knocked the socks off the Amazon sales charts with her book The Hating Game. Yes, I’m talking about the delightful Talli Roland!

Wednesday, February 9th – A very special guest from the other side of the writing spectrum - publishing professional Eric from Pimp My Novel!

And! And! Prizes?

Yes, of course, writer friends. You guys are just that totally awesome. There will be two $15.00 Amazon gift cards awarded by random draw. To be entered in the contest you must a) be a follower, and b) comment on this post. The contest ends Wednesday, February 16th, and I will announce the winners that weekend!

Now, I also want to pass along the Stylish Blogger Award! This was awarded to me by Lindz of Rapturous Randomocity, a really cool blog which you should definitely check out.

I am supposed to pick 15 bloggers to pass it along to, but since this is a party and I always have a hard time choosing amongst my awesome bloggy friends, I would like to award it to all of you. The award rules are that you share 7 things about yourself. Since we’re having a party here, I’m going to list my 7 favorite things to nibble or gulp at a party:

1) A fruity cocktail
2) Cheese
3) Mini quiche
4) Spinach artichoke dip
5) Tomato tartlets
6) Mini desserts (key lime pie, petit four, etc)
7) Black bean salsa

So, I will see all of you on Monday (hopefully your hangover will be gone by then) for the start of the interview extravaganza! Have a great weekend!

Significant Other Blogfest!

Before my hubby gets his turn, let me just say I am super excited to have reached 100 followers! Now I'm in the 3-digit club!  Thank you to everyone who comes by to visit and listen to me.  You guys are all awesome!!

Of course, I love parties, so there is going to be a huge celebration.  It will last for many days.  There will be interviews.  There will be a contest.  It will rock!  So, stay tuned for the grand revealing of the full lineup I have planned for you guys as a thank you for being the coolest followers ever.

And now, I will hand it over to my beloved husband, Keith:

Well fellow significant others and aspiring writers, where to begin? I was asked (with a bit of uneasiness and hesitation) to participate in the “Significant Other Blogfest.” I must confess that I enter this undertaking with a cautioned trepidation. For you see, I, like you, risk the wrath of the spouse if too many grumblings are put to paper (or virtual paper in this case).

First let me begin by saying that I UNEQUIVOCALLY support my beautiful wife (points for flattery?). She works at a hellacious pace at her day job, and deals with some of the most pompous and idiotic people I’ve ever heard of. Does she take it out on me though? No (the official answer although, sometimes yes). Instead, she opens her laptop and the fury flies from her fingertips like the killing curse from Voldemort’s wand.

Everyone has their tension release or creative outlets. Mine for instance (and most men’s) will remain unmentioned at the risk of mortally embarrassing my wife. For others, it is the literary art. It is the eloquent translation of dreams, emotions and the make-believe into the written word that helps maintain her sanity. Unfortunately, the seemingly never-ending journey to publication robs me of the “quality time” that we used to enjoy.

Now, I must endure a certain amount of shunning while the blogging and typing go on. For all of you feeling “left out,” I truly understand. I try and find the occasional diversion to fill the void, but I do dearly miss her. Hopefully, when all is said and done, I will look back and remember that it was all for the greater good. And more importantly, I pray she won’t hate me for my pouting and run off to Greece with her publisher. But if (and when) my wife becomes the next J.K. Rowling, her penance for my suffering is a 1968 Mustang Shelby GT350. If not, I will love her just the same and remain her biggest fan.