Writer's Revolution: July 2014

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Renaissance Wench Excerpt Part 1

Welcome everyone to another big week on the Writer's Revolution. I am your host, the author of The Phoenix Blade, Andrew Hess. This week we have the author of Renaissance Wench, Melanie Macek

The handsome one made no attempt to shield his gaze as he watched her. Her insides quivered in acknowledgment of the offer held in those glittering eyes. Biting back the sudden desire and frustration, she wiped the table in front of her a little more vigorously than normal.

Once the last thundering pop sounded overhead, she made her way back to the bar and locked the taps for the night. A shadow obscured the tent opening, causing her to look up from her task.

"I'm sorry, sire. No more draughts may be pulled this eve."

Though only six inches taller than her five-ten-frame, he seemed to tower above her in the darkened area.

"I don't want another beer."

Inwardly sighing, she found herself somewhat disappointed that this gorgeous specimen would follow the footsteps of so many before him.

"Oh? Then what would ye like?"

The man's cheeks flushed slightly, redeeming him a fraction in Callie's eyes.

"I would like to ask you out on a date."

His loafer shuffled in the dust, his unease surprising her. She didn't figure he would worry about her answer. It took great effort not to give in and indulger her curiosity about the man in front of her.

"I'm sorry, sire. Thy request may not be granted."

"Not tonight. In two weeks. I'll be back in town…if you're available. By the way, I'm Simon."

The name didn't fit the slight hint of a Cajun accent she heard. The inconsistency piqued her interest further. He extended his hand and she reluctantly put her hand in his. Her fingers tingled with the contact, sending vibrations throughout her body.

"Callie...sire"

Want to learn more about Melanie? Check out some of her sites and check out the rest of her books

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MelMacekauthor Author promotion page

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melanie.macek.58 author profile, a place to hold conversations.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Melanie_Macek

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/melaniemacek/

Blog: http://featherpenstartandreams.wordpress.com/

Authorgraph: http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/MelDFMac

Email: mel_macek@yahoo.com

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/6899613.Melanie_Macek

Victoria Writers Guild: victoriawritersguild.wordpress.com/vwg-melanie-macek

Grab your copy of Melanie's latest book; Renaissance Wench now available on Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Renaissance-Wench-Melanie-Macek-ebook/dp/B00LS61CSE/ref=la_B00B44HEPA_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406554326&sr=1-6
and make sure you pickup your copy of The Phoenix Blade: Project Justice: http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Blade-Project-Justice-ebook/dp/B00J2HG2H2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400788203&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Phoenix+Blade

And remember to rate and review the books on Amazon.com. Everyone has a voice; let it be heard.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Melanie Macek Interview Part 2

Welcome everyone to another big week on the Writer's Revolution. I am your host, the author of The Phoenix Blade, Andrew Hess. This week we have the author of Renaissance Wench, Melanie Macek

Now a little more about you:

I’ve been writing novels for twenty years now but didn’t feel confident enough in my stories to publish them until the beginning of 2013. Renaissance Wench is my 4th full novel. I’ve also released 6 novellas.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you bring (excluding family, laptop, or writing utensils)?

Does a series of books count as one thing? If so, then I would bring the Outlander series, if it doesn’t, then I would bring the Outlandish Companion, a knife, and my How to live like a Pioneer book.

We find out the world is going to end tomorrow. How do you live your last day?

Spending time with my husband, our cats, and trying to talk with distant family and friends one last time.

If we were to make a movie of your life. Who would play the part of you?

Oh, I hate this question. I’ve never been able to equate my life to a screenplay nor think of who would play me.

Okay, crystal ball time. Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?

Retired from, or getting ready to retire from, my day job and making enough from my writing to be able to sustain our current lifestyle and traveling to Europe.

Do you have any questions for me?

How did you start writing? Who influenced you?

Initially I started writing when I was in 5^th grade and continued it the following year by creating my own newspaper that I wrote and sold to my classmates. For many years that followed, I put it on the back burner until I entered college. There I found my passion for writing and came up with the idea to write my, what would eventually become my debut novel: The Phoenix Blade: Project Justice.

As for who influenced me…For authors I would say Edgar Allen Poe because of his cryptic and dark writing style and also James Patterson who has such attention to detail and was one of the main authors that made me interested in reading again…Personal influence had to come from my 5^th grade teacher who said I had such a creative imagination and could write a lot better than I spoke.

Where can our readers find you? (Please provide links for everything Twitter, Facebook, Blog, Website etc).

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MelMacekauthor Author promotion page

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melanie.macek.58 author profile, a place to hold conversations.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Melanie_Macek

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/melaniemacek/

Blog: http://featherpenstartandreams.wordpress.com/

Authorgraph: http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/MelDFMac

Email: mel_macek@yahoo.com

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/6899613.Melanie_Macek

Victoria Writers Guild: victoriawritersguild.wordpress.com/vwg-melanie-macek

Grab your copy of Melanie's latest book; Renaissance Wench now available on Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Renaissance-Wench-Melanie-Macek-ebook/dp/B00LS61CSE/ref=la_B00B44HEPA_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406554326&sr=1-6
and make sure you pickup your copy of The Phoenix Blade: Project Justice: http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Blade-Project-Justice-ebook/dp/B00J2HG2H2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400788203&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Phoenix+Blade

And remember to rate and review the books on Amazon.com. Everyone has a voice; let it be heard.

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Melanie Macek Interview Part 1

Welcome everyone to another big week on the Writer's Revolution. I am your host, the author of The Phoenix Blade, Andrew Hess. This week we have the author of Renaissance Wench, Melanie Macek

Let’s get to know you a little more. Tell us a about yourself.

I was born in California, raised in Texas and California and have been back in Texas for the last 17 years.

What inspired you to write?

I’ve written poems and songs from as early as I could remember but I didn’t attempt to write a novel until my mom passed away when I was 21. It helped get me through dealing with the loss and restructuring of our family.

Tell me a little about your book. (Title, plot)

Renaissance Wench is a Contemporary Romance set in Houston and New Orleans. Callie is a college student working three jobs to put herself through school. She meets Simon English at her weekend job at the local Renaissance Festival which inadvertently turns into a life changing meeting for her, in more ways that one.

How did you come up with the story?

I was going to school for my creative writing degree. I was a little panicked about finishing a novel in four months, which I had to do for my Capstone project in order to graduate. A fellow writer told me about National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) which challenges you to write 50,000 words in a month. I decided to try it and came up with the premise of the book on the way to our yearly visit to our local Reniassance festival.

Tell me about your main character. Who is he/she, what makes them special to you?

Callie Houston. She’s a hard worker, a dreamer who keeps one foot firmly grounded in reality, and a woman who knows her self worth. She’s not afraid of going after what she wants even if her family doesn’t approve of her choices. She’s earned everything she has and is a better person because of it. She hasn’t let the lows in life cancel out the highs.

Who has been your greatest writing inspiration?

That’s a tough question. I’ve been influenced by so many people and instances that it’s impossible to pinpoint one major turning point. I guess it would be my parents. They always supported whatever artistic endeavor I wanted to follow and dealt with everything from driving me to guitar lesson to listening to the screech of a clarinet until I got the hang of it to buying whatever paper or paints I asked for to practice drawing. They listened to my made up stories and read my poems.

Want to learn more about Melanie? Check out some of her sites and check out the rest of her books

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MelMacekauthor Author promotion page

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melanie.macek.58 author profile, a place to hold conversations.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Melanie_Macek

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/melaniemacek/

Blog: http://featherpenstartandreams.wordpress.com/

Authorgraph: http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/MelDFMac

Email: mel_macek@yahoo.com

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/6899613.Melanie_Macek

Victoria Writers Guild: victoriawritersguild.wordpress.com/vwg-melanie-macek

Monday, July 28, 2014

Preview: Melanie Macek

Welcome everyone to another big week on the Writer's Revolution. I am your host, the author of The Phoenix Blade, Andrew Hess. This week we have the author of Renaissance Wench, Melanie Macek

Melanie Macek is a transplanted Californian desert rat living in Texas. She and her husband are owned by two Bombay cats - Murphy (Smurph) and Charlie (Midget). Luckily her husband shares her love of travel and they are slowly checking off destinations. Many vacations have turned into story ideas. Vacation ideas are welcome!
After trying her hand at poetry, song writing, and short stories, she started writing her first novel after the death of her mother. The urge to commit words to paper became undeniable, though life and work frequently put it on the back burner. It took 14 years to complete that first novel and another 4 to edit and fine tune it enough to release. Melanie currently writes contemporary romance but would love to eventually write historical romances. Her love of history does show up somewhat in her contemporary novels, so keep an eye out for tiny tidbits of trivia.

Want to learn more about Melanie? Check out some of her sites and check out the rest of her books

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MelMacekauthor Author promotion page

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melanie.macek.58 author profile, a place to hold conversations.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Melanie_Macek

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/melaniemacek/

Blog: http://featherpenstartandreams.wordpress.com/

Authorgraph: http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/MelDFMac

Email: mel_macek@yahoo.com

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/6899613.Melanie_Macek

Victoria Writers Guild: victoriawritersguild.wordpress.com/vwg-melanie-macek

Friday, July 25, 2014

Souls Entwined Review

Welcome everyone to another big week on the Writer's Revolution. I am your host, the author of The Phoenix Blade, Andrew Hess. My guest this week is Romantic and Paranormal Writer and author of Souls Entwined, Anne B. Cole

I received a copy of Souls Entwined for a review and found the writing style incredible for a first time novelist. The imagery displayed in the words made you feel like you were in the story as it was happening. It has many twists and turns, pirates, time travel, action and romance.

The plot itself was very unique. From the beginning you are thrown into an unfamiliar setting and know that this would be an intriguing story when it opens in a spiritual world where Roxanna desperately tries to escape in order to reach her great great great great granddaughter Gretta to warn her of a curse that was placed on the ring she wears. To break the curse, Gretta and Sam must have their souls entwined with Anya and Lorenzo from the 19th Century to track down who placed the curse on the ring.

For me the story started out a little slow but quickly picked up and turned into an incredible tale that any fan of romance books should read.

To follow Anne’s publishing journey and connect with her, check out her website and find her on Twitter and Facebook.

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Click on the Buy Link below to see Souls Entwined on Amazon which is now on sale for only $0.99
BUY LINK

and make sure you pickup your copy of The Phoenix Blade: Project Justice: http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Blade-Project-Justice-ebook/dp/B00J2HG2H2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400788203&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Phoenix+Blade

And remember to rate and review the books on Amazon.com. Everyone has a voice; let it be heard.

How the Deal was Done

Here in her own words is Anne B. Cole as she describes her publishing process

I love the blog by Aussie Owned and Read

http://aussieownedandread.com/

and here’s why…

Three years ago, I found myself without a book at my kids’ swim meet. I love watching my kids swim, but this meet was over five hours long. In between their events, I turned the heat sheet over and jotted down ideas for a story. What started as a hobby grew into an addiction. I carried composition books everywhere, writing a chapter here and there until I had my first draft.

I did some research and became a member of Romance Writers of America. Through RWA, I entered four writing contests in 2012. Even though I did not final in any of the four, I received invaluable feedback from the judges. One suggestion by two different judges caught my eye; “Get a critique partner.”

In January of 2013, I posted on a ‘find a critique partner’ site. It worked. Deborah contacted me, and we connected right away. The third member of our critique circle, Joan, joined us soon after. The three of us spent winter and spring reading, critiquing, and sharing thoughts about writing. We also shared life’s ups and downs and became very good friends.

In June, Deborah emailed, asking if it would be okay for her to enter a pitch of my story in the “Pitch your Mate” contest by the Aussie Owned and Read Blog. She had already made it to the editors round with her story in the “Pitch-A-Rama” segment of the contest. Needless to say, I was thrilled when my story, Maledicta, was selected as a finalist and went to the editors’ round.

A day later I received my first two requests; one partial and one full. To say that I was thrilled is an understatement. Two weeks later I received my first rejection from the partial request. Two weeks after that, I received an email from Soul Mate Publishing saying they liked my book so much they wanted to publish it!

More good news came the following month when Deborah received a contract from a different publisher. Together, with Joan cheering us on, we released our first novels in April 2014. Three Wishes by Deborah Kreiser on April 15th and Souls Entwined by me, Anne B. Cole, on April 30th. Yep, my title changed but the story didn’t.

My advice to aspiring authors…Enter Aussie Owned and Read’s Pitch-A-Rama contest held each year in June. And if you have a critique partner…Pitch Your Mate. They will forever love you for it. It worked for me. It can work for you!

To follow Anne’s publishing journey and connect with her, check out her website and find her on Twitter and Facebook.

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Thursday, July 24, 2014

The Inspiration for Souls Entwined

Inspiration behind Souls Entwined.

When I was about 10, my grandmother gave me an heirloom ring. She told me that it was her great, great grandmother’s ring and that her brother had brought it over from Europe when he was a sailor in the early 1800s. When I realized how old it was, I tried to give it back. She insisted that the stone was only a garnet and that it wasn’t worth much, but it was the oldest thing she ever owned and wanted me to keep it safe. Since it was too big for me to wear, I put it in my jewelry box for years.

Fast forward to 2003. Gotta love Time travel!

My husband and I researched the family tree and noticed that a branch of my grandmother’s side had a few holes. My grandmother was in a nursing home then and we went for a visit. She told us about a tiny family cemetery in the middle of nowhere and proceeded to give us directions to the cemetery which included the following: “Drive down this dirt road a few miles, pass over a little creek, and find two big hemlock trees. The cemetery is in the woods a ways behind the hemlocks.” Then my grandmother added with a glint in her eyes, “If you find it, watch out for witches.”

Witches!? YIKES!

Surprisingly enough, we did find the little cemetery and luckily one of my ancestors fought in the war of 1812, so the local American Legion places a flag at his marker every year.

The unkempt cemetery sits nestled in the woods, unseen from the dirt road. If you were not looking for it, you’d never know it was there. Years ago the property was turned over to the state game commission. Today it remains protected from development due to surrounding wetlands.

Not one car passed when we were there.

It was very creepy, even in the daylight.

I was more intrigued than scared since there were only a couple dozen graves, and all were my ancestors. We read the names and I found the grave of the original owner of my heirloom ring—talk about getting the shivers! She lived for 90 years, and so did her husband. Back then that was crazy old!

Despite the eerie location and my grandmother’s warning, I did not see a witch or a ghost that day. When we arrived back at the nursing home, I pressed my grandmother for more information about my ring and why she told me to watch out for witches. She just giggled at me and said, “You never know. I heard stories about her.” My grandmother passed away a year later, so those memories and my ring are very special to me.

In 2009, I decided to rite a story about my ring based on the little bits of information I remember. I wasn’t writing for publication, just for something to do while I waited at my kids’ sports activities. My hobby grew into an addiction and on April 30th, 2014, my story was released on amazon.com. Needless to say, I dedicated my book to all grandmothers.

To follow Anne’s publishing journey and connect with her, check out her website and find her on Twitter and Facebook.

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Click on the Buy Link below to see Souls Entwined on Amazon which is on sale for only $0.99
BUY LINK

and make sure you pickup your copy of The Phoenix Blade: Project Justice: http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Blade-Project-Justice-ebook/dp/B00J2HG2H2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400788203&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Phoenix+Blade

And remember to rate and review the books on Amazon.com. Everyone has a voice; let it be heard.

Souls Entwined Blurb

Souls Entwined Blurb

When a cursed family heirloom sends Gretta Dobbs back in time, a hunky construction worker, Sam Daggett, suddenly finds himself love struck and joins her adventure. Their souls entwine within the bodies of young lovers on a Greek island in 1829, where they begin to unravel the mysteries behind Gretta’s ring all while avoiding a bloodthirsty pirate who is determined to seek revenge. Gretta and Sam must find the secrets needed to save her and her relatives from an afterlife in purgatory and return to their own lives---or risk becoming prisoners of the past, continuing the evil cycle of the ring’s curse.

To follow Anne’s publishing journey and connect with her, check out her website and find her on Twitter and Facebook.

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Click on the Buy Link below to see Souls Entwined on Amazon which is only $0.99
BUY LINK

and make sure you pickup your copy of The Phoenix Blade: Project Justice: http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Blade-Project-Justice-ebook/dp/B00J2HG2H2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400788203&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Phoenix+Blade

And remember to rate and review the books on Amazon.com. Everyone has a voice; let it be heard.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Anne B. Cole Interview Part 2

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you bring (excluding family, laptop, or writing utensils)?

If I was truly stranded on a deserted island…I would have what is in my pockets and or purse…let’s see…Today, that would be my cell phone (pretty much useless without cell towers), my Kindle (batteries would run out), and a pack of gum (three sticks left). I guess I would have to find a stick and write in the sand.

We find out the world is going to end tomorrow. How do you live your last day?

I would make some popcorn and watch movies with my kids and husband.

If we were to make a movie of your life. Who would play the part of you?

My oldest daughter would have to play me. Almost daily, people tell us that we look very much alike. (I love the compliment, but it drives my daughter crazy being compared to a 40 something year old!)

Okay, crystal ball time. Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?

Wow… That is truly going to be a big change in my life. In five years, my boy will be graduating high school and my two girls will be in college. In ten years, they will all (hopefully) be finishing up with college, and my house will become an empty nest….Sounds terrifying and thrilling in the same moment! I believe I will have a ton of more time to commit to my writing and hope to have at least four books published.

Do you have any questions for me?

Of Course! Since I am a preschool teacher, and I am currently submitting a children’s picture book to publishers, I am very interested in favorite children’s books.

What are your three most favorite books that you read when you were a kid?

Mine would have to be:

The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe

Mine are:

Go, Dog Go! by P.D. Eastman

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

The Black Cat by Edgar Allen Poe

To follow Anne’s publishing journey and connect with her, check out her website and find her on Twitter and Facebook.

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Phoenix Entertainment and Development

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Monday, July 28, 2014

Friday, July 25, 2014

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Wednesday, July 23, 2014