Thursday, July 27, 2017

Summer Readers Circle: Marsha R. West's Act of Betrayal, Giveaway

Welcome mystery author Marsha R. West to the Readers Circle!

Hello. Thank you for joining us in the Summer Readers Circle. My friend and mystery author, Marsha R. West, takes her seat in the circle this week. I've enjoyed reading Marsha's Second Chances series. Looking forward to the third book, ACT OF BETRAYAL, coming in September. Let's catch up with Marsha and her writing projects.

Welcome, Marsha!! What's next in your writing projects?

Catching Up with Marsha R. West
Thanks, Janet.


I'm excited to be back on JQ’s blog and a part of her Summer Readers Circle. Thanks so much for your help with the 99 Cent sale we just concluded, JQ. But don’t despair if anyone missed out on that. Leaving a comment on JQ’s blog gets you a chance to win a FREE copy of VERMONT ESCAPE or TRUTH BE TOLD, the two books that were just on sale last week.

Now about what’s next? I’m releasing my 6th book in September. ACT OF BETRAYAL is Book 3 in the Second Chances Series. Have only just released the cover yesterday on my own blog. Love what my cover artist, Charlie Volnek, does with the limited info I send her.

The series involves the lives of four friends in their 40's who met when they were kids in summer camp. Each woman has loved and lost and had struggles. The books reveal how they deal with those struggles and also show the joy of having close friends who will do anything for you. Each book is a stand-alone, but common characters show up in each one. (This will probably be my last series. Book 4 will come out next year. But oh, golly, it’s hard to write a series, keeping up with where everyone was in the last book and does it make sense in the current one. LOL I, too, love reading them for the familiarity, but goodness they are a pain to write.)
ACT OF BETRAYAL by Marsha R. West
Releasing in September!
Back of the Book: ACT OF BETRAYAL by Marsha R. West
A self-employed cosmetics company owner in Dallas, Devon Moore, wants to save her company from bankruptcy, but her ex-husband’s embezzlement sends her into dangerous waters trying to pay back his clients, replace the money he stole from her company and keep her, her daughter, and her parents safe.
Private Investigator, Brett Townsend, wants to find who is threatening his new client and locate the missing money. He suspects the beautiful Devon hasn’t been completely honest with him. A wife, even an ex-wife, has to know, doesn’t she? When she is attacked twice and her daughter is kidnapped, he adjusts his thinking. 
Despite Brett’s initial doubts about whether Devon really knew about the money her ex-husband stole, still he’s attracted to the redheaded beauty and admires her love of her daughter for whom she will do anything. Their attraction for each other sizzles under the surface of all they do.
Will they reclaim the hidden money and find the bad guys in time to save her business and the lives of her daughter, parents, and Devon?

Soon, ACT OF BETRAYAL will be available for Pre-Order on Amazon, B & N, and KOBO.  
I’ve gotten about 10,000 words toward book 4, ACT OF SURVIVAL, but I think I may have started in the wrong place. ☹ I’ll take a short break from it to concentrate on publication of and marketing for ACT OF BETRAYAL. 

I’m also getting ready for a 4-day presentation in October at Texas Christian University on Indie Publishing. I haven’t used what few skills I had in making a Power Point in many years. Should be fun after I get through the technology part.
VERMONT ESCAPE by Marsha R. West
Romantic suspense

TRUTH BE TOLD by Marsha R. West
Romantic suspense

Remember, a comment gets you in a drawing for an e-copy of either VERMONT ESCAPE or TRUTH BE TOLD.

Thanks again for hosting me, JQ. I appreciate being a part of your Summer Readers Circle.

Does the prospect of a Free book prompt you to comment on a blog or FB or does it depend on what kind of book it is? Love to hear from you.

Visit Marsha's Interview on the JQ Rose blog here and 

her travelogue about Red River, NM here.


About Marsha:
Author Marsha West
Marsha R. West, writes Romance, Suspense, and Second Chances. Experience Required. MuseItUp Publishing released her first book, VERMONT ESCAPE, in July 2013. Marsha released the print version of the first book in the fall of 2014. Her second book, TRUTH BE TOLD, was e-released by MIU in May 2014. Both of these are now also out in print. She released (both in print and electronic) her third book, SECOND ACT, Book 1 of the Second Chances Series, in March 2015, Find out more at  www.marsharwest.com She’d love to hear from you.

Connect online with Marsha--
Sign up for Marsha's NEWSLETTER at http://eepurl.com/bBcimz
Check out Marsha's web site marsha@marsharwest.com ,
Sign up for Marsha's blog https://authormarsharwest.wordpress.com/
https://www.pinterest.com/marsharwest/

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Join us next Friday, August 4, in the Readers Circle
when another dear friend and talented
author Miss Mae joins us in the circle.

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

What IS Hybrid Publishing?

Hello and welcome to the J.Q. Rose blog! 

Today we're discussing hybrid publishing and all the possibilities for publishing your book. Let's discuss this idea by leaving comments below. We'd like to hear how you publish your book(s) and your opinion on hybrid publishing. We can learn from each other's experiences. If you haven't published a book yet, what are your plans for publishing?



The Definition of Hybrid Publishing

The term, hybrid publishing, is used in two instances.

1.      Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords defines hybrid authors as “one who publishes books both with conventional publishing (traditional publishing) and who also self-publishes.”

2.      The second definition is when an author uses a company which will allow the author to pick and choose services such as book cover design, editing, formatting, distributing, etc. She Writes Press for women writers or Bookbaby are examples of companies who provide these service menus.

k    Let’s begin the discussion about hybrid publishing using Mark Coker’s definition--“one who publishes books both with conventional publishing (traditional publishing) and who also self-publishes.”
.

What are the advantages of using both traditional and self-publishing?
Traditional publishers benefit from self- published authors because they can sign authors who have stretched their writing and publishing muscles to complete a book. They have learned about distribution and marketing and established an audience of readers through self-publication.
Indie authors can supplement their income because they reap a bigger royalty percentage as a self-publisher.
A word of caution: you aren’t going to make a ton of money on self-published books and an author needs to sell at least 3000 e-books for a traditional publisher to look at your work.

I come from the retail business world where the saying is you can’t sell out of an empty cart. I believe the more books you have on your amazon page for sale, the more books you will sell. If a reader likes your book, then she’ll return to find more of your writing no matter how the books have been published.


Self-publishing
The stigma attached to self-publishing books is fading due to the improved quality of the ebooks and the fact that well-known authors are doing it too! The MOST IMPORTANT advice I can give you is to write a really, really good story to attract and keep readers, edit thoroughly, and wrap it all up in an attractive professional looking book cover.

Self-publishing pros and cons
PROS
+Hone writing and marketing skills
+Build your platform (your brand)
+Royalties up to 70% on books from $2.99-$9.99 on amazon
+No printing costs for e-books-(Createspace told me to expect to spend at least $400 when publishing a print book)
CONS
-You are in charge of making all the decisions and doing all the work to get the book into hands of readers.
-You need a network of people you can depend on to shout about your book to the world.
-Most self-pubbed books sell only about 50 books.

If you are interested in learning more about self-publishing, here are two books that have been helpful to me.

Mark Coker’s Guide Smashwords Style Guide - How to Format Your Ebook FREE and Crush It on the Kindle by Michael Thomas

Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) has a lot of information on their site for formatting and uploading a Kindle ebook.

Do you have resources that have helped you? Please share them in the comments below.

Traditional publishing pros and cons
PRO
+You don’t pay for anything. The publisher takes care of cover design, editing, formatting, and distribution. 
+You will still have to do the marketing, but you have a network of authors who will help you spread the word about your book on their blogs and social media.
CON
-The publisher will take longer to get the book ready for publication. 
-Royalties are less.

Hybrid Author for you? Here are a few examples how authors use this model.

1.      Each author will have to decide for herself what is best. I started with the traditional publisher and have kept my mysteries there and then chose to self-publish non-fiction titles.

2.      Another author may want to self-publish first to get her name known, develop a network, and gather readers—all of which may attract traditional publishers who could offer a contract for your writing. Publishing a short story or information guide related to one of your books and making it permanently free is a good way to attract attention to your books.

3.      A third author may have a contract with a traditional publisher for print books, but self-publish his e-books by not giving up electronic rights to the books. It’s much cheaper to publish an e-book when compared to publishing a print book.

Whatever you decide, research any publisher first. Vanity publishers can charge you outrageous amounts to get your book out. Be sure to understand charges and services before you sign up for a vanity publisher. 

Successful hybrid author Hugh Howey offers 3 questions to help you make a decision.
1.      What are you willing to invest? (Consider both time and money)
2.      What do you want from your writing career?
3.      What should you expect?

Every author is different and will approach publishing in their own way.
Will you consider becoming a hybrid author? Why or why not? I'd love to read your thoughts on this discussion of hybrid publishing. Please leave a comment below. 

Connect online with me at these links:


Wishing you all the best in your writing career! J.Q. Rose

Every Friday join a guest author in the Readers Circle.
Meet the author. Discover great reads. Win prizes!
This Friday, July 28, mystery author Marsha R. West takes her seat in the Readers Circle. Please come on over. There's a chair in the circle reserved for you.

Click the cover to check out Crush It on the Kindle by Michael Thomas










Thursday, July 20, 2017

Summer Readers Circle: Katharine Pym's Pillars of Avalon (Canadian Historical Brides, Book 5), Giveaway

Join us every Friday for the Readers Circle.
Meet authors, discover books, win prizes!
Hello and Welcome to the Summer Readers Circle. Best-selling BWL author Katherine Pym joins us today to talk about Summers in the Northwest. She and author Jude Pittman have co-authored a historical romance that takes place in the seventeenth century! Now that's a lot of research for the book, Pillars of Avalon, one of the books in the Canadian Historical Brides series. 

JQ's Review: Pillars of Avalon is filled with rich people in the 17th century and rich in the telling of the story of David and Sara Kirke. Facing the storms and angry seas to travel from England to Newfoundland, Kirke falls in love with the New World's Newfoundland. The history making challenges in England affect the founding and occupation of this territory. Ms. Pym is masterful in tyingtogether the histories of the turbulence in England with the Kirkes making a life in Newfoundland. The culture of the times, the description of the filth and odors of London's streets and the magnificent wealth displayed in homes and clothing are so well-written, a reader will feel she has been transported to the 17th century. Definitely a must-read book for the history lover. 

A lucky commenter will win the PDF copy of the book. Deadline for entering the drawing is Tuesday, 10 pm EDST.

Pillars of Avalon by Katherine Pym and Jude Pittman

Summers in the Northwest by Katherine Pym

Living in the Seattle area has its challenges. There is a lot of water, with lakes, the Puget
Sound, and mountains clogging the landscape. This allows for fewer roads which make the
traffic in constant gridlock.

Rain comes in various forms that a person gives little heed to or stops him/her in their tracks.

“How’s the weather?” one will ask. “It’s spitting outside,” someone will answer. Or it’s a
heavy mist where you pop your hoodie onto your head, or a fine mist where you don’t think
of your hoodie. It doesn’t thunderstorm much, here.This last winter was rough and cold with almost 50 inches of rain from October to April. Furry moss covers everything. Mold streaks our car doors.

When the sun is out, people emerge pale and wilted from their houses. We take deep breaths
and turn our faces toward the sun. When it’s in the 60’s, we yank out shorts from the bottom
of our drawers. We wear socks and sandals. We dig out our short sleeved shirts and despite
the cool breezes, plunge into the bright but decidedly chilly air.

When the sun comes out, and the trees/bushes flower, it’s time for me to fling open the doors
and windows, sit outside in the sun and enjoy the Northwest beauty. I sit on a chair on the
patio with a cup of tea and breathe in the fresh pine and lilac smells, watch ants roam over the
peonies. I listen to gentle robin song or wonder what the raucous crows are arguing about.

Yes, after a hard winter as we’re still experiencing, this is what I enjoy the most about
summers in the Northwest.


Back of the Book:
Pillars of Avalon (Canadian Historical Brides, Book 5), 
story of Newfoundland, Canada in the 1700’s.

David and Sara Kirke live in a time of upheaval under the reign of King Charles I who gives, then takes. He gives David the nod of approval to range up and down the French Canadian shores, burning colonies and pillaging ships that are loaded with goods meant for the French. When Louis XIII of France shouts his outrage, King Charles reneges. He takes David’s prizes and returns them to the French, putting David and his family in dire straits.

Undeterred, David and Sara will not be denied. After years, the king relents. He knights David and gives him a grant for the whole of Newfoundland and Labrador. There David and Sara build a prosperous plantation. They trade fish and fish oil with colonies down the American coast, Barbados and ports of call in the Mediterranean. They thrive while England is torn in two by the civil wars.

Soon, these troubles engulf his family. David is carried in chains back to England to stand trial for being a malignant, a follower of Lauds high church. He entreats Sara to manage the Ferryland plantation, a daunting task. But with a strength that defies a stalwart man, she digs in and prospers, becoming the first entrepreneur of Newfoundland.
Author Katherine Pym

Connect online with Katherine at
BWL Author Page
Amazon Author Page
Kathryn's Blog

About Katherine:

Katherine shares her warm and cozy life with her husband and puppy dog. They reside in a Burb near Seattle, WA.




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You're invited to join the circle again next Friday, July 28 when mystery author Marsha R. West takes her seat in the Readers Circle!!

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Author Marsha R. West Celebrates Her Anniversary, 99 Cent Romantic Mysteries, Summer Readers Circle

99 cent sale on Marsha R. West's mysteries
Mystery author and my friend Marsha R. West is celebrating an anniversary. Marsha and I became friends when our books were published by MuseItUp Publishing. Meeting people and forming fast friendships is one of the perks of becoming a published author. I am so thrilled to celebrate with Marsha and to shout about her great mysteries. AND to offer you a real deal--only 99 cents for each e-book. 

Congratulations, Marsha!!


Thanks, Janet, for helping me celebrate the 4th anniversary of the publication of my first book, VERMONT ESCAPE. To make this fun for everyone, 

I’m offering VERMONT ESCAPE & TRUTH BE TOLD for 99 Cents each on Amazon for three days: Tuesday, July 18; Wednesday, July 19 (the actual date of publication of VE), and Thursday, July 20.


Below are the blurb & links for both books.

99 cent book sale!! on 2 great mysteries

          VERMONT ESCAPE by Marsha R. West

Jill Barlow has lost everyone she cared about except her grown children. Caught in her father's fight to keep casino gambling out of Texas, her husband and dad are murdered. She'll do what it takes to ensure her kids safety even if it means leaving Texas and moving to Vermont.
Jerrod Phillips, has come a long way in the 20 odd years since his wife abandoned him and their two children. With no room in his heart for love, he'll do anything to keep his family from being hurt again, especially when the threats come packaged in the form of the attractive Jill Barlow who he suspects is involved in murder.
Forced to trust each other when trouble follows her, they'll battle, not only killers intent on ending her life, but the attraction drawing them together.

MY REVIEW: Vermont Escape Marsha West weaves an intriguing story of romance and mystery that draws the reader in with her description of the picturesque Vermont small town and well-developed characters. I had to keep reading to discover who the bad guys were and, of course, to watch the romance develop into full bloom. Looking forward to the next romance/mystery from Ms. West.

TRUTH BE TOLD by Marsha R. West

Looking forward to a peaceful Christmas visit with her Fort Worth family, Meg Bourland is shocked to discover someone is blackmailing her father. When he rebuffs her offer to help, the Atlanta SWAT team member enlists her LA police officer brother and his former partner to uncover the truth. She fights her attraction for Scott McClaine and the immediate tug to her heart caused by his sacrifice. Her life is in Atlanta, and his is in California.

Scott McClaine, medically retired homicide detective, came to Fort Worth to recuperate from life-threatening bullet wounds he received saving the life of Meg’s brother. Hard enough to accept his new physical limitations, but they make him unacceptable for strong Meg. Regardless, he commits himself to helping her stop the blackmailer. Working closely with her, a bond forms. Could she feel the same?

In the search for truth, they uncover pieces of the puzzle, which threaten to ruin her father’s career as mayor and destroy the family she holds dear. Will Meg and Scott find their way through the maze of family secretes? Will they find the strength to make the sacrifices required for real love before the blackmailer makes good on threats to kill?

MY REVIEW: Truth Be Told West weaves romance and mystery into a tight fabric of love and suspense. I had to keep turning pages to discover how the story would be resolved. I would recommend this book to mystery buffs and romance readers.


Please sign up for Marsha's Newsletter http://eepurl.com/bBcimz , contact her at marsha@marsharwest.com , and follow her on her social media sites.

http://www.marsharwest.com 

https://authormarsharwest.wordpress.com/ for my Blog

https://www.facebook.com/#!/marsha.r.west  @marsha.r.west

http://www.twitter.com/Marsharwest  @Marsharwest

https://www.pinterest.com/marsharwest/


# # # #
Meet Authors, Discover Books, Win Prizes
Every Friday at the Summer Readers Circle!!

The Summer Readers Circle meets again on Friday, July 21 with guest author Katherine Pym. Katherine will offer a FREE eBook of her historical romance, Pillars of Avalon, one of the books in the series, Historical Canadian Brides from BWL publishing.

Then, Marsha R. West will be joining us on Friday, July 28 to get us up-to-date on her latest books in her Second Chance series.

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Readers Circle: USA Today Best-selling Author Diane Bator's The Bakery Lady, Giveaway



Summer Readers Circle
J.Q. Rose blog every Friday


Hello and welcome to the J Q Rose blog!

This week, USA Today Best-selling author Diane Bator joins us in the Summer Readers Circle. She shares one of her favorite places to go in the summer, Sauble Beach. 

Diane has generously offered to gift an ebook copy of the cozy mystery, Can't Keep a Brunette Down, to a lucky commenter. Be sure to leave a comment below before Tuesday, July 18, 10 pm EDST to get in on the drawing. 
Can't Keep a Brunette Down (Gilda Wright Mysteries Book 1)
Can't Keep a Brunette Down by Diane Bator
Cozy Mystery
Sauble Beach Summer by Diane Bator

One of my favorite places to visit in the summer is a great beach an hour and a half from my house called Sauble Beach. This quaint little beach town boasts 7km of white sand beach on Lake Huron. Since we moved to Ontario in 2005, it also became our yearly mecca each summer on my birthday. We’d spend the day playing and swimming at the beach, go to a fast food joint called Beach Burger for dinner, then to the boardwalk for ice cream before we’d make the trip home.
Beautiful glass wind chimes handcrafted by Diane's children.
One summer, the kids and I were blessed to be able to spend a few days with friends at their cottage in Sauble which was a short walk from the beach. The kids and I spent an afternoon creating beautiful glass wind chimes that I’m still trying to figure out where to hang in my little apartment. No matter where the chimes end up, the memories of watching my three teenaged boys figuring out how to assemble their little chips of glass was fabulous! We were fortunate to be able to wander by day and come back to the cottage for a delicious, home-cooked meal every evening thanks to our gracious hosts then roasting spider dogs and marshmallows under the stars. 

Even though the weather wasn’t fabulous until the day we left, the kids and I walked and talked and just generally hung out. It was our last real vacation together before my oldest moved away. 

The best part of the entire week was getting to spend those precious moments with my boys and falling asleep to the sound of the surf out the bedroom window. It’s one of those things I’d like to be able to do again one day. Only this time, we’ll rent our own little cottage and hopefully have better weather!

The Bakery Lady by Diane Bator
Mystery

Back of the Book: 
The Bakery Lady by Diane Bator, 
the third book in the Wild Blue Mysteries series.

“From the moment Leo Blue meets the local tattoo artist's sister Christina, he's drawn into a web of bread dough and lies. Christina Davidson has returned to Packham with a duffle bag full of secrets. Leo soon discovers her biggest secret is Christina's alter ego and her husband, who stands accused of murdering an up-and-coming artist. He promises to help set things straight and plans to bring husband and wife together for Christmas—even if it costs him his sanity and the love of his life.”

"I could visualize that bookstore, smell the coffee and pastries, and see the colorful characters. This book has lots of twists and turns, and I never knew who to trust, all the way to the end. I'll look for future books by this author." ~ Paul Carr

About Diane:
Diane Bator is a U.S.A. Today Bestselling author who was signed by Blue Ridge Literary Agency in 2010. Her first book was published after winning a mystery writing contest, which launched her passion for writing mysteries and helped
Author Diane Bator
earn her a nomination as Established Artist of the Year at the Orangeville 2016 Mayor's Breakfast for the Arts. Aside from writing, she also works in local theatre and loves hiking and photography.

Click here to connect online with Diane Bator.

Be sure to leave a comment below to win this FREE ebook.
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Summer Readers Circle
J.Q. Rose blog every Friday

Meet authors, discover great reads, win prizes!

Please join us again on Friday, July 21, when Author Kathryn Pym joins the circle. 
# # # #
Keep updated on the latest on the JQ Rose blog by following by email. Leave your email address at the top of the sidebar. I promise--"No SPAM." 

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

I Missed National Pink Flamingo Day, New Release in December


Hello and welcome to the J Q Rose blog!!
Proud flamingo
I am thrilled to learn there is a special day dedicated to pink flamingos. Unfortunately I just found out about it and missed the day which takes place in June. According to an article by boredpanda, "Pink Flamingo Day was declared in 2007 by Dean Mazzaralla, the mayor of Leominster, MA to honor the work of Don Featherstone, creator of the plastic lawn flamingo. Don Featherstone created the iconic piece in 1957 while working for Union Products."
I bet you've seen those pink flamingos in yards no matter if you live in Florida or Alaska. Our church youth group and many other organizations plant a huge flock of them in people's yards as a fundraiser. Pay $10 to the group and they'll "decorate" the "victim's" yard with the flock and the victim then pays the group $10.00 to "flock" another yard, or at least remove the lovelies from their yard,
Flock of REAL flamingos at Homossassa Springs State Park, Florida
I bet you're wondering why I'm excited about a National Pink Flamingo Day. Right? Some of you probably know my first novella, Sunshine Boulevard, was published in 2011 and the cover had a pair of pink flamingos on it. I requested the cover artist to use something that says Florida because the story takes place in a senior community in the Sunshine State, so she chose the flamingos.
Once friends and family saw the book cover, a wave of flamingos came my way in the form of jewelry, figurines, clothing, bags, etc. You name it. For awhile I was everything flamingo and I loved it! So of course, having a special day dedicated to flamingos fits right into my interests.
Flamingo bag handcrafted by my author and friend, Joselyn Vaughn
Now I'm re-visiting the original manuscript of Sunshine Boulevard and re-vising the story because Books We Love will re-release this humorous thriller in December.
Books We Love Author, J.Q. Rose
Do you think I should use flamingos on the cover again or something not quite so pretty and lighthearted? Afterall, it does contain a bit of terror and death and mystery. Somehow I just can't picture a dark and mysterious book cover for this quirky mystery story.
I hesitate to use alligators on the cover even if Florida is well known for alligators because what if friends/family decide to celebrate the new release by sending me alligators? Ewww. Let it be known I don't  want a collection of alligators in my house!
So if you have some suggestions, I'd appreciate any ideas for the cover. (except alligators.) BWL's cover artist, Michelle Lee, is an imaginative designer and I'm sure she can take your ideas and create the perfect cover. I'm re-titling the book, Terror on Sunshine Boulevard, because I like the contrast of terror against sunshine. 
Thanks for your help!!
* * * *
The Readers Circle series continues this Friday, July 14 with USA Today Best-selling Author Diane Bator! Please join us in the circle, leave a comment, and be the lucky commenter to win Diane's eBook!!






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