Rula Sinara's Blog, page 7

Happy July, everyone! This month is all about celebrating. My friends up North kicked it off with Canada Day and here in the U.S. we're getting ready for an 'Independence Day' Friday full of fun and fireworks. July is also an extra special month for the romance writing community because, on July 23rd, the Romance Writers of America annual National Convention kicks off. So many opportunities this month for friends and family to gather together...and what's more heartwarming than that? ;)



The Harlequin Heartwarming authors want to help spread the 'sweet and heartwarming' spirit, so we're doing a month long giveaway of 50 spirit bracelets like the one shown in the photo above. Details, rules, regulations and all that jazz can be found at the Heartwarming Authors blog HERE. But to give you an idea of how this giveaway will work, here's a copy of the main part of that post:

Tell us via social media how much you love Sweet and Heartwarming Romance! Post a comment here. Post a comment on our Facebook page under our Sweet and Heartwarming Posts (and like us!). Share our post on Facebook with the#GoHeartwarming hashtag. Tweet about our giveaway: I love Sweet and Heartwarming Romance! #GoHeartwarming. Spread the word on Goodreads. Every comment/post/share/like/tweet/hashtag is an entry. We'll track entries each week!  We're giving away 50 bracelets to our social media supporters during the month of July!  To our sweet romance fans and our writing sisters who'll be attending either the RWA Literacy Booksigning July 23rd in San Antonio at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter OR attending the RWA conference July 23-26, if you come across a Harlequin Heartwarming Author wearing a pin like the one shown below (green beads and the distinctive "H"), all you have to do is say: I love Sweet and Heartwarming Romance! And you're an instant winner!
Sharing the love on blogs and forums counts too! All you have to do is leave a comment on the 'Sweet and Heartwarming' post on the Heartwarming Authors blog and/or here...and be sure to include a link back to where you mentioned your love of sweet and heartwarming romance. We just need to be able to keep track for the weekly drawings (again, check the link for details).
And for those of you who read the fine print and are bummed that winners have to live in the U.S., I'm going to add a separate (international) giveaway that includes anyone who leaves a comment and 'link back' here on this blog. If you spread the spirit through social media, as stated above, but aren't a U.S. resident, then leave your 'I love sweet and heartwarming' comment here on this blog with a link back to where you spread the word...plus, state your country (no specifics, just country)...that way we'll know which giveaway it's for (note: if you're a U.S. res. then you'll be entered for the bracelet too). On July 28th, I'll randomly draw one winner. The prize: An autographed copy of my Harlequin Heartwarming, The Promise of Rain, along with a matching bookmark. Be sure to check back here on July 31st so that I can get contact info from the winner!

Now, go spread the spirit of all things sweet and heartwarming! :)

I'm thrilled to be participating in my dear bloggy friend and wonderful author Carol Kilgore's latest cover reveal! For anyone who doesn't 'know' Carol, take a sec and pop on over to her happenin' hangout, Under The Tiki Hut. She's always so welcoming...and funny ;). And I absolutely love her tag line 'Crime Fiction with a Kiss'. Does that say it all or what?

And thanks to the talented Linda Kage at Kage Covers, Carol's latest book, Secrets of Honor (due to release September 2014) has a beautiful cover. Drum roll...

Life was so simple—until she had to save one.



BLURB for SECRETS OF HONOR:

By the end of a long evening working as a special set of eyes for the presidential security detail, all Kat Marengo wants is to kick off her shoes and stash two not-really-stolen rings in a secure spot. Plus, maybe sleep with Dave Krizak. No, make that definitely sleep with Dave Krizak. The next morning, she wishes her new top priorities were so simple.

As an operative for a covert agency buried in the depths of the Department of Homeland Security, Kat is asked to participate in a matter of life or death—locate a kidnapped girl believed to be held in Corpus Christi, Texas. Since the person doing the asking is the wife of the president and the girl is the daughter of the first lady’s dearest friend, it’s hard to say no.

Kat and Dave quickly learn the real stakes are higher than they or the first lady believed and will require more than any of them bargained for.

The kicker? They have twenty-four hours to find the girl—or the matter of life or death will become more than a possibility.
BIO:
Carol writes grocery lists, texts to her family, new lyrics to old songs for her dogs, love notes to her husband, and novels for herself. And for you. In between, she blogs weekly at Under the Tiki Hut and is active on Facebook and Twitter.

She sees mystery and subterfuge everywhere. And she’s a sucker for a good love story—especially ones with humor and mystery. Crime Fiction with a Kiss gives her the latitude to mix and match throughout the broad mystery and romance genres. Having flexibility makes her heart happy.

You can connect with Carol and her books here:
blog . website . facebook. twitter . goodreads . amazon

'M' is for May, Mega-May Giveaway, Mother's Day and Memorial Day! There's still time to enter the Harlequin Heartwarming NINE BOOK GIVEAWAY over at Goodreads. Honor your mom and get entered for a chance to win a set of Heartwarming books, including the Australian duo release of The Promise of Rain (by me :) and The Weather Girl by the awesome Amy Vastine! Check out the Mega-May Giveaway!

Another 'month of May' opportunity you can't miss is the Brenda Novak Auction for Diabetes Research. It's an incredible cause with incredible items to bid on. Don't forget to check out the Harlequin Heartwarming page for books, baskets, editor evals and more!

May also brought me a wonderful review of The Promise of Rain on ROMANCING THE BOOK. I'm talking about the kind of review that's better than chocolate with whipped cream and strawberries :). Thank you, Maria and RTB!!!

And today I'm trying to stay on karma's good side with a few laughs over at the Harlequin Heartwarming blog. Check out my post HERE if you have a sec. Other than that, I hope everyone has a wonderful, long Memorial Day weekend. Many, many thanks to the heroes who gave their lives to protect ours.

Big apologies to all for disappearing on you, except for the very occasional tweet. The bottom line is that one of my kids recently had major surgery...one that required a week in the hospital and a painful recovery that is still underway at home. He's doing well and getting better on a daily basis. Spring break has given him extra recovery time without missing more school, but we've also had a lot of family visiting (he's loving the attention ;). Needless to say, I've had to put a lot of things aside in order to focus on the family front. And I'm exhausted.

I am, however, slowly re-surfacing :). I have a post up at Revising & Editing on 'A Writer's Hindsight and the Secret that Sold' (thank you, Nas Dean of Romance Book Haven, for the blog tour!). Plus, author Kate James interviewed me recently and you can check it out HERE.

On the chicken front...they're growing really, really fast! I ended up with 18. Yes, they're addictive. With everything that has been going on, we're behind on coop building, but it is happening (because it has to ;). I'll post pics when it's done.

I've missed you all! :)

We're nearing the end of March and I've been MIA, but I'm hoping to make up for it with a giveaway! I'm over at the awesome Romance Book Haven blog this week talking about what we'd be willing to live without in the name of happiness. Leave a comment on my 'Happiness is a Bucket Shower' post and you'll be entered in a drawing for an autographed copy of The Promise of Rain, along with a pen and matching bookmark! The winner will be announced next week at Romance Book Haven.

In other news, it snowed again yesterday (I'm starting to wonder about April), the chicks are doing well (I now have 18 and, yes, I know they get bigger lol) and I'm juggling a lot at the home front with the kids...which is why I've been scarce. But, hopefully, you'll see more of me soon!

For now...come visit me at RBH!

Happy Friday! Here's a little something to brighten the winter we've been having...



And they're mine! I have six total and I'm in love. Yesterday, I did an entire post with more pictures and why I want chickens. Check it out at the Heartwarming Authors blog here: THE BACKYARD CHICKEN BUG

To top that news, I have an interview with Harlequin Superromance and Romantic Suspense author Kimberly Van Meter up today at USA Today's Happy Ever After blog! Here's the link: HEA INTERVIEW WITH KIMBERLY VAN METER.

On that note, I'm off to figure out what chicken coop design I should build (or try to ;). I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

My latest interview is up at USA Today's Happy Ever After blog! Hop on over and meet Harlequin author, Melinda Curtis. Her latest release, Summer Kisses, is here just in time for a sweet Valentine's Day read. Read the interview HERE .

And another huge thank you to all who have posted awesome reviews for my debut, The Promise of Rain, on Amazon , Goodreads and elsewhere. You have no idea how much I appreciate it. Best early Valentine's treat ever :).

If I'm not back by Friday...Happy Valentine's Day to all!

Happy Friday and National Wear Red Day!

Yesterday, I wrote a post at the Harlequin Heartwarming Authors blog called:

Be a Heroine: Go Red for Women

It explains why Go Red for Women and National Wear Red Day are so important in spreading awareness and fighting heart disease in women...the #1 killer of women. I'm at risk. Are you? Love your heart and check out the post and all the links I included.

ALSO...(drum roll for cover fashion show)

As you all know, my debut, The Promise of Rain, released in North America on January 1st, 2014. Since Harlequin Heartwarming is a new line, up until now, its books have been available everywhere that sells digital/ebooks, but only available in print through Harlequin.com. Well...February 1st was the official UK/Australia release day and today, Feb. 7th, is release day for a test run of Harlequin Heartwarming in print overseas (UK)!!! Therefore, you can now buy the print version off Amazon UK. You'll notice the covers are slightly different depending on where you buy it, but here are the links (note: as I'm writing this, the Amazon UK site hasn't switched from pre-order on print but it should soon)...

Original cover (North America): 
Amazon
Harlequin


Mills & Boon AUS: M&B AU
Mills & Boon AUS duo in print with Amy Vastine's The Weather Girl: M&B AU

Mills & Boon UK:Amazon UKM&B UK
So what do you think of the cover variations? Which one do you like best? I've had readers telling me that they wish they could walk into a book store and buy a print copy. Do you gravitate towards ebooks or do you like the 'brick and mortar' book store experience?

Happy Monday, everyone! I know some of us are covered in snow yet again, and yesterday's Groundhog's Day forecast called for more winter, but it's a fabulous Monday because award winning author J.L. Campbell is here and I'm hoping she brought some warm, Jamaican sunshine with her :). Joy is both a talented writer and beautiful person. Whether she's writing suspense/adventures, women's fiction, young adult or romance, she brings Jamaica to life with vibrant, and sometimes heartbreaking, authenticity. I'm not at all surprised that Joy's middle grade novel, Christine's Odyssey, was awarded the 2008 bronze medal for creative writing in YA by the Jamaican Cultural Development Commission. Her latest romance, Chasing Anya, just released in January. Congrats and welcome, Joy!
Rula: It's such a thrill to have you here, Joy. You're holiday novella, Anya's Wish, was a prequel to Chasing Anya, book 1 in your romantic Island Adventure Series. Once again, in this series as with your other books, you transport readers to Jamaica, but what's fascinating is that in each genre you write--whether middle grade, romance or adventure--we get to experience a completely different side of Jamaican society, including economic status and lifestyle. Which, if any, did you find to be the most rewarding to write and share with readers? 

Joy: Thanks for having me, Rula. It’s a pleasure to be here. One of the good things about being a writer is that I get to share my island home with the world. Jamaica is a character in each story, which allows me to give readers an inside view. I think readers get an unspoiled and wondrous view through the eyes of a child and the middle-grade series has allowed me to do that.
Rula: Absolutely. I'm a huge fan of your middle grade Simms Siblings series. Both Christine's Odyssey and Saving Sam were poignant stories that had me by the heart. I fought tears in every chapter and every page made me want to go give my own children hugs. The setting was vibrant and beautifully authentic, the psychology of the child characters heart wrenching and real...and the writing style deliciously skilled and organic. What was writing from the perspective of a traumatized child like and what, if any, research has gone into these books?
Joy: Christine’s Odyssey was the first novel I wrote and it took a nine-year route to publication. As I've grown as a writer, my stories have evolved. That novel came out of a conversation I had with a friend whose brother had died and she was given care of his daughter. My mind went into ‘what if’ mode and the story grew from there. My research came at the back end, in that after I’d written the story, I contacted a guidance counselor, lawyer, police officer, doctor and social worker. These conversations, along with research, took care of fact checking and getting accurate information on things such as physical injuries to the local legal system. 


Rula: I really enjoyed the blog posts you've done introducing various Jamaican foods and facts. From the boiled green bananas in Christine's Odyssey to the fried plantain chips Anya snacks on, to all the tropical ice cream the Simms siblings savor on hot Jamaican days...it all makes me hungry. What's your favorite Jamaican dish and is there a particular snack you reach for when writing?
Joy: The national dish Ackee & Saltfish (cod fish) with fried dumplings hits the spot for m every time. If I have to eat when I’m writing, I like banana chips. They’re made from sliced green bananas.
Rula: Mmm. You're making me hungry. I've been following your journey as an Indie author for awhile and I'm so impressed with how prolific you are. The writing experiences you've shared on your blog, The Character Depot, have been inspiring and invaluable. How have you managed to find that illusive balance between promotion, social media, magazine articles, family and actual writing time? 
Joy: Rula, much to my distress, I haven’t really found a balance, but writing things down helps tremendously. I've come to realize that there will never be enough time to do all that’s required, especially since I decided to self publish. Since I don’t make enough time for social media interaction, I take advantage of author sponsored group promotions.
Something else that has helped me is that before I was published, I had more than six stories already written. This meant that when I was eventually published, I was adding more books to those I had already written. This is one of the best forms of promotion a writer can utilize. In looking at my books on Amazon, I can tell that people who read them tend to buy others that I've written.
I've accepted the fact that I’ll also never have enough time to write, so I've learned to make the most of those periods when my stories are flowing. My family is supportive, which makes this journey a lot easier. 

Rula: Is there anything you would have done differently along the way or any tips (or warnings) you have for writers considering Indie publishing (or publishing in general)? 


Joy: I’d just caution writers to study the business of publishing before jumping off. I was caught flat-footed when I was first published because I didn't understand that I was expected to do a huge chunk of marketing. There is so much information online that there’s no excuse not to know what’s happening in publishing today. Alex Cavanaugh’s brainchild, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, is an excellent starting point for anyone who wants to make their writing a business. It also serves the needs of anybody who wants to know what’s new in the world of publishing.  
My best piece of advice is to study the craft of writing. There’s nothing better that a writer can do to improve his/her skills. Just like anything else we’re serious about, we all have to put in a period of apprenticeship.
Rula: March will bring the release of Taming Celeste, book 2 in your Island Adventure Series, and readers are also looking forward to the third book in your Simms Sibling series. It's going to be a busy year for you! Can you give readers a hint at what they'll find in these two books?
Joy: Celeste is a firebrand and that quality will land her in trouble. Her story is even more exciting than Anya’s as she accidentally gets in the middle of a software piracy deal that turns her into a target. What made this story more interesting to write is that Celeste’s love interest is Mark, the troublesome cousin from the book Contraband. 

In For Love of Cass & Jamie, the girls come under threat when their adoptive parents face trouble in their marriage. The sisters deal with their problems in different ways and sadly, one of them becomes bulimic. All I’ll say is that they’re kids and deserve a happy ending.  
Rula: I can't wait for those releases. Books are a formidable way to raise awareness and battle ignorance. This is in part because books are a universal transport system. Anywhere you want to go. Any adventure, culture or way of life you want to experience. Books connect people in so many ways. You've done a brilliant job bringing Jamaica to life for those who haven't been able to visit (it's one of my dream destinations...one of these days!). If you could hop on a plane right now (no deadlines to worry about ;) and visit any place on earth, where would you go? Was this choice inspired by a book you read? :) 
Joy: I agree with you there, Rula. I've been to many places complements of books. I’d love to visit Egypt and incidentally, some of my fascination with that land was inspired by Mark Twain’s adventures.
Thanks so much for having me, Rula. It’s been fun. 

Rula: It has been great having you here! Thanks for hanging out with us today! 
BLURB: Chasing Anya  (w/a Jayda McTyson) 


Been there. Done that.

Feisty and independent, Anya Davies lives by her own rules. The one thing she's hell-bent on avoiding is a conventional relationship, thanks to her abusive ex who refuses to stay in the past. As far as she's concerned, romance is a no-no. 

The second complication in her life is a secret that condemns her to constant guilt and a solitary life. A series of near misses and escalating threats are a third and worrying factor. Only a special man would understand or live with Anya's challenges and demands.

Casual sex...so not having that.

Enter Christophe Mondesir. Two years ago, Anya dumped him without explanation. An accidental meeting shoots Anya back on Christophe's radar. He refuses to be denied and plans to breach the fortress Anya has built around her heart--if she'll commit to more than a casual liaison. He's also determined to find out what she's hiding. That's if the stalker who's after Anya doesn't end her life first.


BUY IT: Amazon

FIND OUT MORE ON JOY'S AWARD WINNING SIMMS SIBLINGS SERIES: (w/a J.L. Campbell)

Christine's Odyssey (Book 1)
Saving Sam (Book 2)
Jamaican Kid Lit blog

HANG OUT WITH J.L. CAMPBELL:

Website/Blog Twitter Goodreads

This has been quite the month! Although I haven't had a fresh post, I was updating the links on my last post to all my release month stops so if you're curious, scroll down or check it out HERE. I'm not sure I've ever revealed so much about myself!

I'm also soooo grateful for all the wonderful reviews folks have taken the time to write! I have links on my website, but the latest one the made my entire year was a USA Today's Happy Ever After 'Recommended Read' on The Promise of Rain just this week. You can read what contributor Kathy Altman had to say HERE (it's the third one down).

AND today I'm 'Setting the Scene' and giving away a signed copy of The Promise of Rain over at The Pink Heart Society! Come see photos of Africa and find out why I chose Kenya's Serengeti as my setting.

I'm so excited that the incredible J.L.Campbell will be here. She was kind enough to let me interview her so don't forget to stop by on February 3rd!

I'm just catching my breath, so I promise I'll be visiting your blogs soon :).