Monday 18 November 2013

SUN CHARA'S CALL STORY AND BOOK COVER FOR HER DEBUT NOVEL MANHATTAN MILLIONAIRE'S CINDERELLA


CALL STORY/Chara

Last year, 2012 I entered the Harlequin Fast Track contest when the editors read and respond within a couple of weeks instead of three months or longer. Everybody had gotten their response from the editors, but I, and a couple of others hadn’t.
I waited, one week, two weeks, three weeks…when I still didn’t hear anything, I emailed one of the editor’s, and she was surprised I hadn’t heard because they’d requested a partial of Manhattan Millionaire’s Cinderella.  So, I sent it in.  I waited some more.  Then, it was time for the Harlequin global contest, SoYouThinkYouCanWrite ’12, where writers from around the world participate; the prize is a publishing contract with Harlequin…yes it can change a life for the good! J  Readers, editors, and the public got to vote online for these entries. I got the second most votes and likes in the contest, but still the editors had the final say. 
Out of 700 entries they chose the top 28 finalists…I made it on this list with Manhattan Millionaire’s Cinderella. Yay! Then it went to the top 3 (which I didn’t get to), then to the one winner, the lovely Jennifer Hayward!  However, the editors were scouting for manuscripts and a bunch were bought from across the contest, but not necessarily from the top 28.  I hadn’t heard about mine so I went online to the Harlequin Forums and asked on the Editor thread if they could trace my submission, because I hadn’t heard either from the Fast Track nor the SYTYCW contest. (Through all this I had a good feeling about Manhattan…)
I got a nice email from an editorial assistant saying that Charlotte/editor loved the story, voice etc. and she was looking at it.  I waited some more. Finally, I heard from another editor that my SYTYCW top 28 entry was turned down, something about it had too much story. (what?!)  But hey, I roll with the punches!  Shortly after, I heard that my Fast Track entry (same ms, as in sytycw), the one that Charlotte loved, was also turned down. But I could send them another story.  I sent them another partial and this too was turned down, but I could still send another.  Hmm!  It didn’t feel right somehow (what I didn’t know at the time was that Charlotte had left Harlequin, and Manhattan... must’ve got lost in the shuffle for both Fast Track and SYTYCW’12), but I continued on… 
One day about mid July, 2013 I was on the Harlequin forums, and I came across Lori Connelly’s post that she’d just sold her western historical romance to another publisher, but because it was a Harlequin forum she couldn’t name the other publisher; but we could go on her blog to read her
‘call story’.  I read that the editor who bought Lori’s story was Charlotte, the
same editor who had expressed interest in Manhattan Millionaire’s
Cinderella.
But where did Charlotte go?! Lori wrote that another writer on the Harlequin forums, Bronwyn had suggested that she try to track down the editor/Charlotte who liked her work and find out where she went.  Lori did, sent in her story, Charlotte remembered her, and offered her a two-book deal. Yay, Lori!  And thank you, Bronwyn!
Aha!!!  Do I, don’t I?  I figured okay, I’ll send Manhattan Millionaire’s Cinderella to Charlotte at Harper Impulse, the digital branch in the UK for Harper Collins, one of the big five pubs.  Maybe she’ll remember me, and if not, it’s worth a go anyway.  Charlotte did remember, called 8:00 a.m. July 25th/Christmas in July! offered me a three book contract, and then she spoke words of wonder: 'I really feel it's meant to come to me having picked you out of SYTYCW!'  I thought, wow!

Manhattan Millionaire's Cinderella - available from Amazon and all other e-retailers. Coming soon in POD. http://tinyurl.com/kv5f5ok
Sun Chara
'pure passion...global thrills'
https://www.facebook.com/sunchara3
https://twitter.com/sunchara3     @sunchara3
https://wattpad.com   ~   https://linkedin.com



Wednesday 9 October 2013

ANNE BIKOV DEBUT NOVEL WHAT GOES AROUND COVER REVEAL AND EXCERPT






Here are my links:


This is my blurb(synopsis) from the back of the book:
What if your loved ones kept ending up hurt, in danger, or even dead?
After Randie Duncan’s brother is killed in a suspicious industrial accident, leaving behind a pregnant fiancée, Randie leaves her dream life in NYC and comes home to Cullville, WA to mourn and heal with her sister, but has no intention of staying there permanently. 
Following a painful break-up, Joe Baxter guards his heart carefully, but when well meaning friends match him up with Randie, he can’t fight his immediate attraction to her. As they grow closer, Randie finds herself debating the idea of returning to NYC, but Joe isn’t the only one who finds her magnetic. When a suspected stalker attacks her, things heat up. Joe believes the attacker may be the town’s troublemaker and mill owner’s son, Jared, who is paying too much attention to his late friend’s fiancée, but will he be able to prove it before someone else gets hurt?

This is my excerpt 
Jumping out of his seat Joe interrupted Roger. “They don’t care Roger, they like to do things the way they think things need to be done. They’re impatient.” Everyone watched Joe in shock, as he seemed to storm away from the circle and walk up into Al’s home.
The door shut behind Joe as he entered Al’s home. The ladies were all sitting on the couch while the kids sat and watched a kid’s movie and ate chips. Joe turned away and walked to the fridge. Opening it, he grabbed a beer and opened it up, taking a big swig. The ladies were sitting there watching him, waiting to see what he was going to do. He shut the refrigerator door and walked back over, standing in front of the couch and finally raised his eyes to Randie. They were all sitting there in anticipation.
“Randie, would you be interested in joining me Saturday night for dinner and a movie?” Randie, looking a bit shocked, looked over at Kay who gave her a quick nod to go ahead and then looked back at Joe.
“Yeah, sure, that sounds like a great idea.” And then she smiled at Joe, who was holding his breath because he finally exhaled in relief. And then he smiled back.

Thursday 19 September 2013

Popping the Cherry By Aurelia B Rowl Release day Blitz

About Aurelia…

Aurelia B. Rowl lives on the edge of the Peak District with her very understanding husband, their two fantastic children, and their mad rescue mutt who doesn’t mind being used as a sounding post and source of inspiration. She regularly wows them all with her curious, hastily thrown together meals when she gets too caught up with her latest writing project... or five!... and she has developed the fine art of ignoring the housework.

Aurelia writes Young Adult/New Adult crossover fiction and contemporary romance. She is currently busy writing the standalone companion novels to both Popping the Cherry and Christmas is Cancelled.

To find out more about Aurelia, you can visit her website: www.aureliabrowl.com or you can find her hanging out online, far too often, at the following:

Blog  ¦  Facebook  ¦  Twitter  ¦  Google+  ¦  Pinterest  ¦  BlogLovin  ¦  Tumblr  ¦  YouTube  ¦  Linked-In  ¦  Amazon  ¦  Goodreads

About Popping the Cherry…

Description: 9781472017123_Cover
Mature Young Adult/New Adult fiction
Release date: 19 September 2013
Publisher: Carina (Harlequin UK)
ISBN: 978-1-472-01805-2


Blurb

You only get one first time . . .

From driving tests to relationships, Valentina Bell thinks she’s a failure, with a big fat capital F. At this rate, she’s certain she’ll be a virgin for ever. So Lena’s friends plan Operation: Popping the Cherry to help her find the perfect man first time.

Yet somehow disastrous dates with bad-boy musicians and fabulous evenings with secretly in-the-closet guys aren’t quite working out how Lena planned.

Soon Lena’s avoiding Operation: Popping the Cherry to spend time with comforting, aloof Jake, her best friend’s older brother, who doesn’t make her feel self-conscious about still clinging to her V card. But could Jake show Lena that sometimes what you’re looking for most is right by your side?

A Forever for the twenty-first century

Book trailer(s)...

Short version (02:09)

Link:
http://youtu.be/IGoweYg1eOM

Embed code (copy and paste in html):
<iframe width="459" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/IGoweYg1eOM?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Extended version (03:21)

Embed code (copy and paste in html):
<iframe width="459" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/MdcKqy-w_2M?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Links...


Buy links:

Carina  ¦  Amazon UK  ¦  Amazon  ¦  iTunes  ¦  Google  ¦  Sainsburys  ¦  Nook  ¦  Kobo 

Widgets...

Giveaway widgets
Embed code (copy and paste in html)

Release Day Blitz:
<a id="rc-4fb03d13" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4fb03d13/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>

Main blog tour – two codes:

UK giveaway:
<a id="rc-4fb03d14" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4fb03d14/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>

International giveaway:
<a id="rc-4fb03d15" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4fb03d15/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>

<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>



Sunday 21 July 2013

HER SECRET HIS CHILD COVR AND BLURB

HERE IS THE BLURB TO MY NEW RELEASE WITH FRONT PORCH ROMANCE




Journalist Chloe Townsend returns to her childhood home for her best friend's wedding. It's been six years since she left Lancing in West Sussex and she's hoping her past will stay right where it is. Will the secrets and lies she took with her be revealed, or will she be able to leave with her heart unscathed?
Ex playboy Lee Grant has only ever had one woman walk away from him, he didn't know it then but she had been the love of his life and now she's back in town. He is determined to try and win her over but Chloe is equally determined to stay as far away from him as possible. Can he put all his past mistakes behind him and show Chloe just how much she means to him?
CHECK OUT MY PUBLISHERS WEBSITE FOR A GREAT SUMMER SALE WHERE YOU CAN WIN A KINDLE FIRE. 
https://www.frontporchromance.com/index.php?main_page=index&zenid=c78gm375b8mpenor1kpmg1l0d7

Friday 14 June 2013

TASHA TAYLOR ANSWERS MY QUESTION'S AND EXCERPT OF HER DEBUT NOVEL THE ROCK STAR'S GIRLS



I'D LIKE TO WELCOME TASHA TAYLOR, GRAB A CUP OF TEA, SETTLE DOWN AND ENJOY :) X

Q1 how does it feel to have your first full length novel published:

 It feels a little surreal, to be honest - whilst I know it's me who has written it, it is published under my pen name and so only a few of my nearest and dearest know it's me. I am chuffed to nuts though, to finally have it out there. I know it's not the best novel ever, but it's mine and I hope people enjoy it as a love story, pure and simple.

Q2 tell us a bit about yourself

 I live in the UK, on the south coast, and I write contemporary romance and am a fiction addict. It is not unusual to find a book open in my house – next to the bath, next to the bed, in the office, on the stairs and then there’s the e-reader, smart phone and laptop. I am mother to my son and future ex-wife to my partner. Other duties include cat lover and dog washer. 

I started writing at 15, creating my own little world where everybody went to boarding school and found true love in their teens. I've since moved on grown-up romance. No love is ever without its difficulties, but it’s the strength of that love that sees us through the good, the bad and the mornings when mascara alone just won’t cut it. I also have an alarming addiction to social media.

Q3 can we have a snippet of your book

Excerpt: Leah, shrugging on an over-sized sweater, heard the doorbell. Passing a mirror on her way downstairs, she cast a look at her appearance. Her face looked pale and drawn, and to spite herself for wasting sleep over Nathan, she hadn’t bothered to make much of an effort to cover the effects of her sleepless night.
“What a mess,” she muttered, continuing on her way, and she wasn’t just referring to her appearance. Her whole life seemed to be falling at her feet.
“Lost your key?” she asked brightly, expecting to see Louise and Pippa. 
Then she saw Nathan. Her smile disappeared and her heart began to hammer as she fought to catch her breath. Leah was standing face to face with a ghost from her past on her own front doorstep. It was something she had never planned for. Her home was the one place where she did not have to maintain her cold facade, didn’t have to worry about anyone hurting her fragile heart. And now, he was here, in her safe place. 
“I don’t suppose you’d like to ask an old friend in for a cup of coffee? It’s a bit nippy out here.”
“What are you doing here? How did you get my address?” 
She wanted to sound forceful, get rid of him, but her voice sounded weak. She was beginning to feel any fighting spirit she possessed was dissipating fast. 
“That’s not a question I usually get asked. Most people would be thrilled to have me turn up on their doorstep.”
Leah heard the narcissism in his voice, and it did not sit well with her. She remembered then why she disliked the effect fame had on people. In her eyes, any trace of humility was gone. Gone for sure was the man she had known.
“Well, I’m not most people, Nathan. I thought you would have taken the hint last night.”

Q4 have you any advice to give a new author

 Just write and sub, write and sub, you'll get knock backs, but keep at it. Don't put it off today what you'll never have time to do tomorrow.

Q5 what did you find most difficult whilst writing your novel.

ha ha ha, you as my CP will know the hardest part was finishing it after a break of many years.


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