September 5, 2013

Chewing the Fat With...Chicki Brown

Chicki Brown has a new eBook out!  A Woman's Worth kicks off a new series about the Stafford family of Atlanta.  She's here to tell us a little about it and whet our appetites...

Bettye:  What's A Woman's Worth about?

Chicki:  School media specialist Gianne Marvray has been through the worst two years of her life, physically and emotionally.  After a battle with cancer and all it entails, she is finally ready to start living her life again.  She wants to see new places, meet new people and experience new things, but she isn't ready for the roller coaster ride she's about to embark on when she meets Las Vegas personal trainer and raw vegan foods advocate Marc Stafford.

After a four-year absence, Marc comes home to Atlanta to attend a family celebration in one of his brother's honor.  He's not thrilled about seeing his father, but he has promised his mother that he won't throw off the family balance by being the only one of their six sons absent.  All Marc wants to do is make an appearance at the event and spend a little time with his brothers.  Little does he know that this is the night he will meet the woman who will forever change his life.

Bettye:  What was your inspiration for writing this book?

Chicki:  My story ideas always start with the hero.  I get an idea of what he looks like or what his profession is, and I run with it.  My role model for Marc Stafford was Marcus Patrick, who used to play Jett Carver/Derrick on Days of Our Lives.  He left Hollywood nd moved back to Great Britain to become a personal trainer.  He is also a raw vegan who is zealous about teaching others how to live the raw lifestyle.  I found his story so interesting, I decided to steal his new profession and give it to my male protagonist.  The first question I asked myself was, "What would make this guy's life miserable?"  The answer I came up with was for him to have a longstanding conflict over his career with his father, who is a doctor.  To exacerbate his woes, the woman he falls for is one of his father's patients.

Bettye:  I really like that twist...it's different from the same old, same old.  Did you happen to bring an excerpt along? 

Chicki:  I sure did!  Here it is: 
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By the time Marc returned to Charles’ condo, his brain was buzzing with a plan. Before he arrived in Atlanta, he’d devised a mental schedule of how he’d be able to spend time with each of his brothers. Now that he’d met Gianne, all of those warm and fuzzy sibling reunion ideas had gone right out the window.  In five days he would be flying to Vegas. His attraction to her was undeniable, and he was certain she felt it too. Acting on the attraction was probably a bad idea, but all he wanted was to spend as much time with her as possible. He’d almost kissed her, and he had less than a week to discover if it was more than mere sexual desire.

Marc found Charles waiting up for him when he returned to the condo. “Well, Daddy and Uncle Rod didn’t show out too much today.”

“Really? You think?”

“I didn’t hear everything, though.” 

Seeing Gianne and his mother engrossed in an animated discussion, for reasons Marc didn’t understand, pleased him immensely. Why did it matter whether or not his mother liked her? He’d only known Gianne for a matter of hours, and he’d only be in town for another few days. He shook his head at the thought and went into the kitchen.

“How did Gianne enjoy herself?”

“She’s an only child, so she asked a lot of questions about how we all get along, but she said she had a good time.”

Charles sat back and folded his arms across his chest. “What’s going on, man? I saw the way you were gawking at her when I came to the table at the hotel. You looked like Michael Corleone when he got hit by the thunderbolt,” he said, recalling their favorite movie, The Godfather.

“What are you talking about?” Marc asked, knowing exactly what he meant. They had probably watched the film together a dozen times.

“The thunderbolt.”

 Marc shook his head. “There’s something special about her.”

“Yeah, she’s fine as hell. A little skinny, but fine just the same.”

“I’m not talking about her looks. It was something else I can’t explain.”

“The thunderbolt,” Charles repeated and laughed. “Are you seeing her again before you leave?”

“Yeah. I’m taking her to lunch tomorrow.”

“I hope you plan to feed that girl some real food. Remember, she’s a woman not a gerbil.” He gave Marc’s back a playful slap. “I’m going to bed. Check you in the a.m.”

“You’re going to the gym with me, right?” Charles nodded. “I think I’ll take in your view for a while,” Marc opened the doors to the terrace and stepped outside. It was only May, yet the Atlanta evenings were already warm. He sat and propped his feet on the railing and gazed at the skyline. The view was so different from his view at home. Although he lived in Las Vegas, his house was built in the desert eight miles from the strip. He had gotten used to the flat landscape with its backdrop of the Spring Mountains. As his eyes took in the twinkling lights, he considered his twin’s words.

When he’d first seen Gianne sitting at the table, he’d be lying if he said what he felt was anything other than a thunderbolt. And he knew it had nothing to do with how pretty she was. Ever since college he had been attuned to his spiritual nature, which is what eventually led him into the vegan lifestyle. His spiritual sensibilities had been shaken. A connection existed between them he didn’t understand, and he’d learned to never dismiss those spiritual jolts. No way was he going back to Nevada without discovering the nature and depth of that connection. Tomorrow was his chance to learn more about her. Health-wise, she clearly needed his professional help. Gianne needed to counteract the effects of her medical treatments through nutrition and exercise, and he knew he was able do that for her. But the natural help wasn’t what it was all about. The moment they’d met, he had the strong sensation that they somehow needed each other. 

-------------------------

Chicki:  I'll also give a complimentary download of A Woman's Worth to a commenter on this blog.

Bettye:  All right, now!  Did you hear that, readers?  It's time to post a comment for a chance to win this exciting new eBook!  Chicki will be announcing the winner's name sometime tomorrow (Friday, September 6th), so be sure to check back by tomorrow evening to ee if you're the lucky winner so you can contact Chicki with your information.

For those of you who don't win, A Woman's Worth is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and Kobo, so all devices are covered!

August 24, 2013

Chewing the Fat with...Reon Laudat

Author Reon Laudat has a new book out!  The Mommy Group was published earlier this week.  An established romance writer, this is Reon's first foray into mainstream women's fiction (in the subgenre of chick/mom lit).  Her voice has been missed, and her readers will be glad to know she's back on the literary scene.  Reon answered a few questions for me, playing catch-up, talking about life as an indie publisher and, of course, about her new offering.

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Bettye:  From what I see on Amazon, your last book, It's In His Kiss, was published in 2009. Is that accurate?  If so, what have you been doing all these years?

Reon:  The 2009 version of It's In His Kiss was a reprint of an older book with a new cover. My last new release was actually the romance Wanna Get to Know Ya in 2005, so I had a long, dry spell. I was feeling burned out and disillusioned about the business and more excited to be a new mom so I planned to take a short break from writing/publishing. That "short" break stretched longer than anticipated, but all the while my writer's brain never shut down. I enjoyed chick lit, particularly mom lit, but I could not find many novels in the niche featuring African-American women. Light bulb moment!  I started plotting and writing with excitement again. And it felt great to be back.

After completing an early version of The Mommy Group in 2008, I sought to have it published traditionally with new representation for a fresh start with a brand new genre. I sent out sample chapters and received swift, enthusiastic requests for the full manuscript from four of my "wish list" agents. One offered representation the same day the full was received, so I really felt I was onto something. Everything was cranking along, but then the business was changing, the market tightening. You know the rest. The rejections started rolling in from editors--"Chick lit is dead," "Mommy lit is so yesterday," "The 'four friends' books are out." But then, after I'd almost given up hope...a yes from a Big Six publisher. It was an opportunity to get the story out there, but I wasn't thrilled about the offer, so I had to pass. No more offers after that one, but I did not give up on this manuscript. I kept working on it, rewriting, tweaking like a madwoman. I was obsessed, LOL! When indie publishing became a viable option, I was glad I'd hung onto it. I believe I made it a stronger novel.

Bettye:  Yes, I know a thing or two about rejection...What's The Mommy Group about?  Obviously, it's about motherhood, but a little more detail, please!

Reon:  The Mommy Group is about four women dealing with the complexities of friendship, finances, and new motherhood. But you don't have to be a mom to like the book. I reveled in the opportunity to write more flawed lead characters. I'll admit I'm a pop culture/reality show junkie ("Survivor," "Big Brother," "Shark Tank"), and I might have been a tad influenced by shows of the "Housewives" ilk. Ducking for cover now, LOL!

Bettye:  I'll confess that I have never had any interest in mom lit (not being a mom myself), but that cover is sooooo adorable, I can't wait to read this! The cover looks like it clearly came from a Big Six (I think it might be Big Five now) publisher, but you actually indie published this book. What do you think of the process?

Reon:  The freedom feels amazing. But it's a lot of work! I had help with various aspects (the cover, editing, and formatting, etc.) Dealing with other people's schedules can be frustrating.

Bettye:  Will readers have to wait another eight years for your next book?

Reon:  Absolutely not. LOL. The "baby" is in third grade now.

Bettye:  Did you happen to bring an excerpt with you?

Reon:  I sure did!  Here it is, from Chapter 1:

“Hey, y’all, focus!” Taryn tapped the table and took a bite of the sandwich Nicole had passed to her. “As I was saying, most rich people aren’t born that way.” A big wad of sausage and bread rolled around inside her mouth. “I need to stay on track. I know exactly where I want to be professionally and financially in the next ten years. My initial goal was to have a million saved up for retirement, not including home equity. I’m talking savings and checking accounts, certificates of deposit, mutual funds, stocks, bonds, retirement accounts, and such. If Jon and I retire in our sixties, the plan is to have enough to stretch about thirty years.”

“Thirty years?” Nicole asked. “You think you’ll live well into your nineties?”

“The point is not worrying about running out of cash if I do,” Taryn said. “A million dollars doesn’t go as far as it used to. I need to double or triple that…at a minimum. Shoot, even Oprah once hoarded $50 million in what she called her ‘bag lady fund’ in case the national talk show host gig didn’t pan out.”

“That makes me nervous,” Nicole said. “I ain’t trying to be no bag lady either.”

Courtney shuddered. How could she have been so shortsighted and self-indulgent? She’d slashed her family’s financial cushion in half after insisting on handling their savings/checking accounts and bill payments. Rob managed their pension/retirement investments and the baby’s college fund. Though both earned great salaries, their ballooning monthly expenditures far exceeded their net monthly income. Rob probably wouldn’t complain about her charitable donations, because of the tax write-off, but if he knew exactly how much she’d squandered on designer clothes, jewelry and soirees…She might have gone a tad over the top on Taryn’s recent spa bash baby shower with its numerous white-uniformed attendants treating the guests to mani-pedis and foot/neck rubs. Her colleagues at Dermatology Associates were still buzzing about the Christmas dinner she’d hosted for them and their families two years ago. Chateaubriand, costumed carolers, and a Santa with a red velvet suit, real beard, and pot belly. Courtney’s breath caught as she imagined Rob’s big hands wrapping around her neck and squeezing until her eyeballs popped out. Time for a change of subject, but Taryn was like one of those darn desktop printing calculators spewing a never-ending roll of paper tape stamped with numbers.

“And there’s college tuition to think about.” Taryn patted her middle swollen with her first child, due in twelve weeks. “I don’t want my kid graduating with a ton of student loan debt the way I did. I didn’t think I’d ever pay off that fifty grand. Then there are possible medical bills that come with advancing age. But I plan to be ready for it all!” She reached for her plastic cup of water, added lemon wedges swiped from Courtney’s and Nicole’s drinks, and sprinkled three packets of sugar on top. “Why pay $3 for a cup of lemonade when I can make my own for free.” She stirred and tasted, hammily smacking her lips until she had it just right. “Ahhhh.”

Bettye:  What online retailers carry this book?

Reon:  I'm doing KDP Select for this one, so it's just on Amazon for now.

Bettye:  Sorry, Nooksters...I have a Sony eReader myself, and while I love it, I've decided to ask Santa to bring me an inexpensive tablet that I can load the Kindle app on and get Kindle-only eBooks and deals. Thanks for stopping by, Reon!

Reon:  Thanks for featuring me on your blog, Bettye!

Bettye:  You're very welcome...and welcome back to publishing!

Readers, download your copy of The Mommy Group today from Amazon!

July 25, 2013

Chewing the Fat with...Deatri King-Bey

Deatri King-Bey has been a published author since 2006. She’s one of the hardest-working women in publishing, being on the organizing committee for the Romance Slam Jam annual conference for at least the last five years, moderating several Facebook groups, operating an editing service, and somehow finding time to write those books readers love!

Deatri's newest release (available in both print and eBook formats) is The Only Option. In the words of the review of author Angelia Vernon Menchan, The Only Option is “an interesting, entertaining look at arranged marriage, family ties and secrets.” Now, if that's not intriguing, I don't know what is! (of course, novels about family secrets are one of my favorite themes…) So check out what Deatri has to say, and show her some love by leaving her a comment!

 

Tell us a little about The Only Option.

Deatri says:  Sane, upwardly-mobile women don’t agree to enter into arranged marriages…or do they?

Control freak Jonah Tazi comes from a long line of arranged marriages, but the thought of his parents picking his bride never sat well with him. Time is working against Jonah, so he reluctantly agrees to allow his father to find him a proper bride. Then he meets Isis and becomes infatuated with the vibrant, funny, and talented woman. A powerful man used to getting exactly what he wants, exactly when he wants it, he is unprepared when Isis doesn’t agree to his proposal immediately. Now he is determined to convince her (and everyone else) that he and Isis belong together. Jonah intends to be her only option.

Isis Michaels has always been sheltered by her father. The tables have turned, and now she must shelter him. Isis rearranges her life and will do whatever it takes to please her father during the time he has left—almost anything. It becomes clear that he wants to see her settled before he passes. Is marrying Jonah, a man she’s emotionally and physically attracted to but just met, her only option?

Please share with us your inspiration to write this story. 

Deatri says: I’m a tad bit psycho (as most authors are). I have voices in my head. It’s kind of like multiple personality disorder. Anywho, there is usually a triggering event that brings a new voice forward. For example, when I saw my grandson playing with the puppy, Gloria from my Write Brothers Series, popped into my head and started telling me about her family. The first book started off with her grandson playing with a puppy.

For The Only Option, there was no triggering event. The opening of the first scene just appeared in my mind’s eye and plagued me like a bad dream for years. I say bad because it was driving me crazy. I only saw the opening of the first scene and no dialogue. I knew what the profession of the hero and heroine were and I knew her name, but that was it. Then a few months ago, Isis demanded I get to writing their book. So, without knowing where the characters would lead, I just started writing and the result was The Only Option.

What romance subgenre would you say this book is, or does it defy classification other than contemporary romance? 

Deatri says: It’s a contemporary romance.

Will this be a series, or will there be future books featuring other characters introduced in this story? If yes to either, any approximate timeframe for the next book? 

Deatri says: This book will not be a series, but I will be writing the stories of some of the secondary characters.

Do you happen to have an excerpt with you that you can share with us?  

Deatri says: I surely do. Here is the opening of the first scene, the one that plagued me for years. For me it was like a silent movie that they forgot to put the captions on. Don’t worry, I’ve given you the dialogue. 

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Chapter One

“Dad, you’re not choosing my wife.” Adjusting his earpiece, Jonah exited the elevator. Fifteen minutes early for an acquisition meeting, he considered himself late.

“You’re a lot closer to forty than thirty. People are starting to talk.”

“I don’t care.” Artwork lined either side of the hallway. The priceless collection had taken Jonah years to build and there were more pieces to acquire.

“Well, I do. Three years. Three years ago you promised to dedicate time to finding a wife.”

“I’ve been busy running a multibillion-dollar corporation.”

“I was just as busy as my father and his father before him. We’ve always had arranged marriages. That didn’t change when my father moved to this country. He did an excellent job of choosing my wife.”

“You’re divorced.” Jonah’s grandfather had moved his wife from Morocco to the United States shortly after their marriage. The majority of the family remained in Morocco and Spain along with many of their traditions. Jonah’s selection of a wife went beyond tradition. As the only son, Jonah believed it was his duty to produce at least one heir to carry on the Tazi name. Time had slipped by too quickly for him to find a wife. A control freak, he hated the idea of his father choosing his wife, but he didn’t see an alternative.

Attracted to the maturity of women his own age, if he waited much longer, the type of woman Jonah wanted wouldn’t be of childbearing age. “Fine, I’ll get married. I take it you have suitable options in mind?”

“Of course I do. I’ll have your assistant set up the meetings.”

“Speaking of meetings, I have one in thirteen minutes. We can talk later.” Jonah disconnected and continued along the hallway. Originally, he’d tried to acquire D. M. Solutions two years ago, but the owner wouldn’t consider his offer.

He rounded the corner, then stopped in his tracks. Few people had access to his private floor, so seeing a woman standing dangerously close to his Auguste Rodin sculpture shocked him. What drew him even more than her presence were her legs. Quite tall himself, he rarely met a woman who reached his shoulders. He’d give his Rembrandt to have her legs wrapped around him as he pushed into her.

Soon he’d be selecting a wife and other women would be off-limits. Currently a free man, Jonah had no intention of allowing the long-legged lovely to pass him by.

*********

How can readers purchase The Only Option?

Deatri says: Print, Kindle, and Nook/ePub (via Barnes & Noble) formats.

Thanks for the continued support, everyone. I hope you enjoy Isis and Jonah’s story.  And please help spread the word.

You can find me online at: http://www.DeatriKingBey.com, https://www.facebook.com/deatri, http://www.Twitter.com/DeatriKingBey my dangerously-sexy suspense is written as L. L. Reaper http://www.LLReaper.com

Bettye, thank you so much for the continued support. I appreciate all you do.

April 23, 2013

Chewing the fat with...author Michelle Monkou

Authors Michelle Monkou and Marcia King-Gamble have teamed up to write a series about Carnival celebrations all over the world.  Whether you call it Carnival, the Mardi Gras, the bacchanal, or something else, the pre-Lenten celebration is held all over the world, with some of the most festive and famous held in Brazil, Trinidad, and New Orleans, with varying degrees of indulgence, from harmless frivolity to debauchery that would rival that shown in a Cecil B. DeMille movie.

I recently chatted with Michelle about the series, which began with one of her contributions, Carnival Temptress, released last month. And be sure to see the Special Announcement at the end of this post!

Bettye:  Welcome, Michelle!  I have to tell you that Black Orpheus (1959) is one of my favorite movies.  Tell us about this new series.  How many books will there be, approximate publication dates or span of publication, and which settings will they take place in?

Michelle:  I consider myself a rabid movie buff, but (ducking head in sand) I had never heard of Black Orpheus. After your comment, I read up on this movie and wow, what a history it has. I also can’t believe that I haven’t seen it or heard of this play (and I had to read a lot of plays for my English undergrad major).  So, Bettye, you have given me homework—LOL.

Carnival Temptress is a Carnival-themed novella under the series name—The Revelers. The story’s creation started out as a steamy romance, but quickly had a suspense/thriller thread that not only wove through this story, but will weave through the entire series (well, so far; with my author-mind, you just never know). The first in my series was released in March with four in the total set: June, August, and October publication months. The plan is then to bundle them into one volume with possibly a bonus story, in time for the holidays—an  ambitious plan given all my other commitments.  My series started in Trinidad—the granddaddy to all Caribbean Carnivals, followed by Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Bridgetown, Barbados; Notting Hill, England, and the bonus city hasn’t been determined.

Bettye:  I hear they get down in Bahia, but of course that's still Brazil, so you might want to consider something different for your bonus city.  You'll never believe this, but as I prepare this chat for publication who should pop up on my MP3 player but Cassandra Wilson singing A Day in the Life of a Fool (the theme from the aforementioned Black Orpheus); the studio version, not the live one I linked to.

Anyway, the concept of collaboration is a fascinating one for me (I plan on doing one next year).  Whose idea was this series?  How did it come about?  Did you and Marcia use the same cover designer to achieve a a similar look?  The same editor?

Michelle: Marcia King-Gamble and I both share a common heritage of the West Indies. My birth mom is Jamaican who has lived in England since she was an adolescent and my adoptive parents are Guyanese-born.  I was born in England, but grew up in Guyana and finished the rest of that growing in the U.S. While I used to wave my Guyanese flag at Carnival events, I guess I need to have a tiny Jamaican patch on my clothing, too—LOL.  

Marcia and I have wanted to work together for many years. Life and commitments usually delayed any significant push until we kicked around this idea and it took hold. You couldn’t possibly live in the Caribbean and not have experienced Carnival.  I have never participated in it or if I did, I was a teeny child and can’t remember Guyana’s Mashramani. But I do remember sitting on the verandah watching the bands go past and the thrill and fear (I don’t like the stilt-walkers).  I’m proud of the richness of the Caribbean culture, its worldwide contributions to the world’s economy, and its talented and gifted people. I also wanted to set the Caribbean on the pedestal of romantic settings. And that it is just as important a setting as any other European or American settings commonly used in romance stories.

My story set in Trinidad was decided to be the first. Again, Trinidad has the biggest Caribbean Carnival and a lengthy colorful history.  I have friends who participate annually in the Carnival and leave their day jobs in the U.S. to head back “home” to celebrate for that week. They were my eyes and ears to get the real experience. I lived vicariously through them. Thanks, Michelle “Trinibaby” Buckmire, a Carnival reveler to her core.

Marcia and I decided to use the same cover artist to keep that unified look, and it was easier to communicate and toss around ideas with one person. Author Christy Carlye did a fantastic job.

As far as editing, Marcia and I went to our individual resources. Our voices and styles are different—a good thing. Readers will not get a regurgitation of story or style.

Bettye: Marcia is a peach. She was the very first of my fellow writers to reach out to me when I was first published, a kindness I never forgot. I hope to work with her one day as well.

Tell us specifically about Carnival Temptress (uh-oh, there's Cassandra Wilson again, singing a cover of the James Taylor tune Only A Dream In Rio, but hers has a real Brazilian beat to it...can you tell she's one of my favorites?).

Michelle: Carnival Temptress, The Revelers series novella, takes you to the wonderful, sunny island of Trinidad to enjoy Carnival. Micha Lindsey and her friends are heading to the annual festivities that promise to make them forget their worries and heartbreaks. Out of a job, and out of a relationship, Micha is ready to have Carnival work its magic on her. What she didn’t expect was for sexy, brooding Amar Jaikaran, her youthful crush, to be the one with the magic touch.

Amar Jaikaran feels invaded by his sister and her friends who noisily barge into his life. From the first day, he’s appreciative of Micha’s transformation from the giggly teen who he remembered to this stunning, curvaceous beauty. Separately, they have experienced their share of pain and loss. Would a few days of tossing aside inhibitions and celebrating life’s pleasures heal their wounds and steer them toward each other to fall in love? Note: This eBook contains steamy scenes and graphic language.

Bettye: Ah, the freedom of being on vacation! My sister took an island vacation over 40 years ago and eventually married the man she met there. In my single days I had some nice flings when visiting my sister and brother-in-law, but I digress...

You published this series independently, and you are also indie publishing backlist titles while remaining traditionally published.  What do you like best and least about indie publishing?

Michelle: I went the indie route because I didn’t have a choice. Shrinking and/or constant advances, stagnant or decreasing distribution, and lack of career movement in the traditional publishing whether at my doing or the publisher’s forced me to look at other options.

Almost twelve years ago, when I got published, I didn’t come with the plan to be fitted with several labels: black writer, black romance writer, romance writer, contemporary romance writer. I had a desire to write various kinds of books. The idea of branding by the reader or more so by the publisher meant that someone had to anoint me to come into the circle of the published, then for me to conform and enjoy the view, or that, after a tap on the head, I can now write other stories or take the ascent on the slippery career ladder.

For better or worse, I’ve stepped onto the diving board, taken a deep breath, and doing a swan dive into indie publishing. My spirit to write whatever I want may result in a romance book that continues any one of my Harlequin Kimani series; an erotic romance about a modern-day Indian princess and a Greek tycoon (1^st draft done), a horror novel (believe it or not, I wrote horror before romance), an epic style historical about a Moor (my first work that I tried to get published. I think I still have the bruises on my nose where the doors slammed, hard and fast). As far as the box of my current author life goes, it has been opened, and good luck to anyone trying to put me back in.

Now, for traditional publishing, I’m still under contract with a new series—the Meadows family—under Harlequin’s Kimani imprint. It is definitely less of a headache to have on board the editor, cover artist and salesperson.  Having work in print and eBooks with the traditional publisher covers bases and helps with keeping my name out there.  Now, more than ever, I have options.

Bettye: Tell me about it! I love the freedom of indie publishing. I do feel that being a hybrid, with a foothold on both traditional and indie, is best for the reasons you state, but I've pretty much ruled out a future in traditional publishing (actually, I don't think it's possible for someone like me whose publisher cut me loose...both of them). 

Tell us, what's next for Michelle Monkou?

Michelle: I have spent many years on the board of a national romance writing organization and immediately before that I was on the board of a local writing chapter. I have had my sleeves rolled up for a long time. All those hours of commitment were done out of selflessness. But it also took the focus off of me and my career.  Now it’s time to take what I’ve learned and what I already know and go inward.

I recently posted on social media that I was practicing saying no to various requests. It’s not out of self-importance, but out of survival. I was the go-to person, the honey-do person without the “honey.” Now I’m focusing on my career with aggressive goals for the indie side and very pointed strategic goals for the traditional side. That takes focus and time that I can’t share readily with completing other tasks. Hence, my new inclination to say, thank you, but I have to say no.

So stay tuned, because short of illness and/or death, I’m not done.

Bettye: Good for you! You were up there with my friend Deatri King-Bey as a candidate for the title of "hardest-working woman in publishing." I can readily understand why you have to put a little more emphasis on your own personal goals. 

How can readers stay in touch with your goings-on?

Michelle: I have the usual social media available to keep track of my career and some aspects of my life:

Facebook: Author page--http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Michelle-Monkou/274955788064?ref=hl

Twitter: @MichelleMonkou

Website: http://michellemonkou.blogspot.com

Bettye: Anything else you’d like to say to your readers?

Michelle: Thank you for taking a chance with the first book you read by me. If you still are hanging in there for the long haul, thank you even more. I hope that I have managed to be an auto buy. Your support is always appreciated, and I will ask that when you’ve read a book to post an honest review to assist others who may be picking up my book for the first time.  You, readers, are an important part of this equation in my writing life and contentment.

And to you, Bettye, thank you for this opportunity and for your support.  Wishing you continued success with your writing life and books.

Bettye: Thanks for coming by and chewing the fat, Michelle!

Readers, for an excerpt of Carnival Temptress, please click here.  Enjoy!

Carnival Temptress (e-novella) available for Kindle and Nook; 99 cents.

Special Announcement:  The second book in the Revelers Series, Marcia King-Gamble's Seducing Circe, is now available!  Not only that, but Marcia and Michelle are hosting an online launch party tonight (April 23rd) from 7:30-9:30PM Eastern Time at Marcia's Facebook Page. There'll be fun and prizes, so do stop by. And Lord, don't stop the carnival! 

February 13, 2013

The Valentine Interviews:  Shirley Hailstock

Author Shirley Hailstock wraps up the Valentine Interviews with a mini-interview about her latest offering, Legacy.

Bettye: Shirley, what's your story about?

Shirley: Legacy is the story of Michael Lawrence, a traumatized attorney who’s turned his back on the law.  Discovering he is the heir to a fortune, he must return to the city and work with Erika St. James, the beautiful new president of a multinational corporation.  While his thoughts of her stray from the boardroom to the bedroom, someone else has plans to make him pay for past deeds.  And Erika is the pawn he’ll use to force Michael into the open.

Bettye: I don't know how I missed this when it was first published as an Arabesque romance, but now that it's available as an eBook, I'm going to pick up a copy. Can you share with us your inspiration for writing this particularly storyline?

Shirley: Often stories just pop in a writer’s head.  This didn’t happen with Legacy.  The hero, Michael, popped into my head.  He sat on that mountain in Maryland for three years before I found a story for him.  I was on my way to Philadelphia.  I can’t remember why, but I was driving South on Route 95 and the city appeared before me on an extremely clear day.  I looked the skyline of huge building and thought, money; that’s how I’ll get him to come down.  I’ll make him an heir.  Once Erika showed up as the heroine, the story congealed in my head and I plotted it out and wrote.

Bettye: I'm so happy to hear I'm not the only one who gets partial ideas that marinate for years before it all comes together! What would you say to those readers who haven’t read your book about why they would like it?

Shirley: I believe they would like it for the same reason I like it.  I love strong women characters.  I love men who can be vulnerable, but are equal to the heroine.  I love a mystery along with the romance.  So if a reader likes Sandra Brown, she’ll probably like my books.

Bettye:  Forget those semi-abusive alpha males and give me a vulnerable man any day! Do you have any special plans for Valentine’s Day?

Shirley:  Unfortunately, I don’t.  There’s no special man in my life right now and I have a deadline very close to Valentine’s Day.  I’ll probably be writing/editing/polishing the book to get it in on time.

Bettye: Good luck meeting that deadline, Shirley!  Thanks for stopping by.

Readers, Legacy by Shirley Hailstock is now available at Amazon, BN.com, and Smashwords. Download your copy today!   

February 11, 2013

The Valentine Interviews:  Lynn Emery

There's been a lot going on in the world of author Lynn Emery, and she's here to tell us about her latest eBook plus a new audiobook!

Bettye: Lynn, tell us about your new projects.

Lynn: Sweet Mystery is about a woman coming home back to her hometown to bury her father. She is pulled into unraveling a fifty-year-old family “Whodunit?” and the mystery of making love last. My audiobook, A Darker Shade of Midnight, is about an interracial crime fighting couple facing down supernatural and human villains.

Bettye: I read Sweet Mystery when it was initially published under the Arabesque line of paperbacks, and I enjoyed it immensely.  It had a lot of atmosphere, and your writing transported me from my home environment to the Louisiana bayou.  I could practically smell the Spanish moss on the trees!  

What inspired you to tell these stories?

Lynn: Rae Dalcour, the heroine, is a blues musician. I love the blues and tangled family mysteries. A Darker Shade of Midnight is about the Cajun/Creole cultural beliefs about the paranormal world.

Bettye: I admit to enjoying the blues myself (I didn't always, but I married a blues lover and have learned to appreciate the art), and I absolutely adore tangled family background stories.  What would you say to someone not familiar with your work to try to get them to give you a try?

Lynn: Readers who love a good mystery, colorful characters and a flavor of Louisiana culture will enjoy Sweet Mystery. Those who like a good mystery with a little other worldly flavor will enjoy A Darker Shade of Midnight. Both have sensual love stories woven in.

Bettye: And don't forget the atmosphere!  I love the way the settings are incorporated into your cover designs.

Any special plans for Valentine's Day?

Lynn: I can’t say I’ll do anything special on Valentine’s Day, as I’m single at the moment.  :-)

Bettye: And you've certainly been busy...Lynn, thanks so much for stopping by.  

Readers, Sweet Mystery is available in print and Kindle formats at Amazon, in Nook format at Barnes & Noble, and in all eBook formats at Smashwords.  The audiobook of A Darker Shade of Midnight (this title is also available in print and eBook) is available at Amazon.