What me - funny? Guest Post by Amanda Forester withand Giveaway

What me - funny?

by Amanda Forester

Two years ago I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the reviews of my first book, The Highlander's Heart.  I was thrilled when Publisher's Weekly gave me a favorable review writing, "the talented Forester has constructed a highly entertaining debut romantic comedy."   Great!  Wonderful!  Wait... comedy?  I wrote a comedy?

Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good laugh as much as the next person, but I have no idea how to write anything amusing.  If someone asked me to write something funny, I would stare blankly and edge for the door.  Fortunately, I am not the one in control.  My characters are.  And they are infinitely more amusing than I could ever be. 

Take this moment in True Highland Spirit where my heroine, Morrigan, is trying to spark a little romance in her life:

Etiquette books were of no use whatsoever. Morrigan rummaged through her mother’s things trying to find something useful. She had spent the past two hours struggling to read a book that purported to be a guide for ladies but it was no help.

“Morrigan? Are ye… reading?” asked Alys.

Morrigan glanced up at her sister-in-law. “I think I might show my earlobes.”

“Pardon?”

“This book is no’ verra helpful, but it did warn showing the earlobe may send a man into an uncon­trolled, lustful frenzy.”

“Ye canna show yer earlobe. ’Tis no’ proper.”

“Hang proper. I’m looking for uncontrolled, lustful frenzy.”

I do enjoy reading humor.  In fact, I started reading romance during a particularly difficult time in my life and I naturally gravitated toward books that could make me laugh.  I already had enough of things that could make me cry.  It is the amazing power of humor to lift the spirit and to give the gift of laughter even in difficult circumstances.  Those books were vital and life-affirming to me - so important during the rough times. 

So when I write, I naturally write things I would enjoy reading.  This includes action, adventure, romance, and even if I don't intend it, a moment or two of humor to make it all the more enjoyable.  I especially enjoy characters who are able to laugh at themselves - a very important attribute we all could use!

Do you enjoy humor in books?  What authors have you read that make you laugh out loud?  I love books that make other people in the room stare at me because I'm suddenly overcome with giggles and they have no idea what is wrong with me.  Good times...

Comment for a chance to win a copy of True Highland Spirit!!

Stop by to visit Ms. Forester here.

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on March 30, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on March 31. 
Winner will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

The 'R' Word: Guest Post by Chris Karlsen - with Giveaway!

The ‘R’ Word

by Chris Karlsen

As a writer, one of the questions I am most often asked about is: research—the ‘R’ word. I’m asked how much do I do and how do I go about finding what I need to know.

Love research, hate it, or resigned to it, for many of us, it is necessary. Personally, I enjoy research. In addition to books in my personal library, I keep three-ring binders of research material for all my stories.

I start my research before I start the book. For my first book, “Heroes Live Forever,” I began three months ahead and continued to do research throughout the writing of the different drafts. I found as I read, that new information sometimes led to a new scene in the story or new conflict. Part of that story is set in 14th Century England and France. The Battle of Poitiers is the setting for the prologue. Another setting was a Norman-style castle in Norfolk. I needed to know about medieval armor of the period for the battle, weapons, and also tactics. My research continued as some of this same information would be used again in the sequel, “Journey in Time,” much of which is also set in 14th Century England.

One source, which I’ve had modest luck with, is emailing an expert. In “Heroes Live Forever,” the issue of armor weight was a factor in one scene. I had the late Ewart Oakeshott’s series of books on medieval armor and weaponry. He was considered an expert in this field. As luck would have it, after I wrote my scene, the History Channel ran a program on medieval armor, which stated a completely different weight, substantially different. I wanted clarification. I emailed the curator of the Royal Armouries at the Tower of London. (It was a shot in the dark. I wasn’t at all confident the busy curator would respond.) I received an email back the next day verifying the weight I used and clarifying why the difference. Another time, I needed to know how to drain a moat using medieval equipment and manpower. Again, it was a shot in the dark, but I emailed the Army Corps of Engineers. Not only did I receive a quick reply with two solutions but the person who responded commented on how excited their group was to solve such an unusual problem. They found it “fun.”

If I know I am going to use information again and again, I will purchase books for my library. This can be expensive, I know, but for me it’s more practical. I’ve gone back dozens of times to various books I own. As I read them or consult them, I use color sticky tabs to mark off the different sections for faster referral.

I don’t bother buying books for some bit of information but search out archived articles on the topic at magazine sites like: Archaeology Magazine, Smithsonian, National Geographic, American Journal of Archaeology. Those articles I printout and keep in the binders. Since “Journey in Time,” is a time-travel I wanted to include a possible theory for the opening of the time portal. For that I sought out articles from Omni, Scientific American and Nova. I also purchased two books: one written by several theoretical physicists and one written by an astrophysicist.

Because my books are set outside the United States I like to include a fair amount of information regarding the area. In my opinion, there’s no point in using a foreign setting if you as a writer are not going to give the reader a real flavor of the place. I’ve traveled to England and France often so I could write from memory and use personal photo albums when I wrote “Heroes Live Forever” and “Journey in Time.” My next book to be released in mid March is set in Turkey. Again, I have traveled there a number of times and could use my experience. What I didn’t know very much of personally in spite of my travels, was flora and fauna, or sometimes little details about a region, or the ingredients in a popular dish and how to prepare it. This is especially true when I wrote the Turkish setting.

I go to the official online sites for gardens in the region open to the public as they often list the different seasonal exhibits. The same is true for zoos that feature local wildlife. A commercial guidebook, like Fodor’s or Frommer’s will mention both popular and not so popular local places to visit. Most libraries have guidebooks available. For cuisine, I find archived articles related to different countries in various food magazines.

Speaking of the History Channel, I found many excellent and informational DVD’s from the various specialty channels are sold in their online shops. Foreign newspapers are also a good source for articles and the Op-ed sections offer some revealing insight into how the people of the country feel about local and global issues.  

Yes, I am a research geek who’s easily amused by a dear writer friend who tears her hair out whenever she’s forced to do research.

Chris is giving away 10 ebook sets of Journey in Time and Heroes Live Forever.

If you have any trouble entering the form below, here is the direct Link:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFVwNUtuTDdwWEJtOWxkVkxjWm1zemc6MQ

You can find the full blog tour list at Bewitching Blog Tours.

Guest Post: Books and Bellies by Olivia deBelle Byrd

BOOKS AND BELLIES

by Olivia deBelle Byrd

Author of Miss Hildreth Wore Brown

      A funny thing happened before a recent book signing of my published book Miss Hildreth Wore Brown—Anecdotes of a Southern Belle. A new library had just been built in my hometown and the library foundation had graciously asked me to do a book signing.  The event would be complete with a Southern tea and beautiful belles in antebellum dresses using the catchy theme “Books and Belles.” The Sunday before this lovely event, the announcement came out in our local newspaper, but due to a sleepy proof editor the event was billed “Books and Bellies—A Taste of the South.” The head of the library foundation immediately called with the words, “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. My friend said to look on the bright side—maybe a lot of people will come just to see exactly what she is going to do!”

      I assured this gracious gal that if they were expecting a belly dance they would be sorely disappointed. As I explained, “I was raised by a host of Southern women and threatened within an inch of my life if I ever showed my belly in public. I am still not over it. This belly has yet to see the light of day.”

      As my birthright, I passed this on to my daughter. It is true I had to give in to bikinis, but if she were not within two inches of a beach, her belly was not to be seen. Before she left the house, I even made her perform the “belly test,” as she exasperatedly called it. She had to raise both arms so I could be sure her shirt covered every inch of her belly. If you are raised by a slew of Southern women, some lessons stick for life. Trust me on this one!

      I have had book signings where tea, homemade pound cake, cheese straws, and Mississippi Mud were served. I have spoken at book clubs, luncheons, garden clubs, and discussion groups. I have been on blogs, guest posts, facebook, and twitter. This author has dressed in a straw brimmed hat, white gloves, camellias, and a brown suit. But I stand my ground on this one. I do not care what the newspaper says. This Southern Belle is not displaying her belly—not even to sell a book!


Olivia deBelle Byrd is a self-proclaimed Southern Belle who resides in Panama City, Florida, with her husband, Tommy. She is the author of Miss Hildreth Wore Brown—Anecdotes of a Southern Belle, which is her first collection of humorous essays. Like many Southerners, Olivia has a penchant for turning ordinary happenings into entertainment. Visit her website at www.oliviadebellebyrd.com

I want to share that Ms. Byrd spoke at a Women's Luncheon I attended in December. She was a fun speaker and even more attractive than her lovely picture. She wore the same suit as on the cover of the book!  Check my Review Post for a chance to win this charming book.

Guest Blog by Anita Clenney with Giveaway!

I am pleased to welcome 

Anita Clenney, Author of Embrace the Highland Warrior

to Reviews by Martha’s Bookshelf.
Thank you for sharing some of your writing wisdom - and humor - with us today.

Adding a Touch of Humor

I love humor in stories. Of course it has to be tailored to the story or it can feel out of place, but even a dark paranormal or a thriller can benefit from stirring a grin in the reader. But funny is a funny thing. It’s difficult to tell if it really works, or if it just sounds funny to you. It usually takes some outside opinions to see if the humor hits the mark.

I always include some of these lighthearted moments in my stories to balance out the warriors and demons and vampires battling for the world. Brodie is my prankster. He’s a tough warrior, but he loves jokes; refilling a wine glass, slipping a fake snake into a female warrior’s bed. Bet he won’t do that again, because the warrior was Anna, and Anna doesn’t like snakes, real or plastic.

In the second book of my Scottish paranormal series, Embrace the Highland Warrior, the humor is even stronger, thanks to two old ladies. One is the heroine’s aunt. I should say, the heroine THOUGHT Nina was her aunt. But there are lots of things in Shay’s life that aren’t what they seem. Matilda, the aunt’s cousin, is the real kicker. Matilda has brilliant red hair, wears garish clothing, can’t hear worth a darn, loves gambling, and she’s claimed to be 49 years old since Shay was in elementary school. Matilda causes more trouble than a wound up toddler. Here’s what happens when Nina and Matilda try to play matchmaker.

  

Shay woke in the night. She heard a thumping sound downstairs. The noise didn’t concern her as much as the fact that she was draped over Cody and they were both naked. She lay for a minute, reliving what they had done, wondering how different things might have been if she had known he hadn’t ignored the letters. Would she have forgiven him for hiding her identity and moved on? Maybe to this? His life? His bed?

Cody nudged her shoulder. “Don’t follow me this time,” he said, untangling his limbs from hers and slipping out of bed.

She watched him pull on his boxers and pick up a gun from under a pillow on the sofa before easing out the door. Shay scrambled quietly for her clothes. She crept down the stairs, not far behind him. She couldn’t see his face, but she felt his glare. The front door was cracked. The chill of night air brushed her skin. As they slipped outside, busy little whispers met her ears, a grunt, and then another thump. Cody turned on a bright flashlight. She didn’t know where he got it. Shay saw a flash of red and heard a squeal as Matilda’s hands flew up in the air. The wheelbarrow dumped over, and Jamie rolled out like a sack of flour.

***

“We panicked,” Matilda said, between gulps from her water bottle. “So I thought if I gave him a little of my sleeping medicine—”

“A little?” Shay said, her voice shrill. “He’s out cold.”

Cody had carried Jamie back to bed and was with him, making sure Jamie was only drugged, not dying.

“Well, I may have given him too much. We didn’t want him to wake up in the car. He’s big, and he looks strong. That’s a nice, sturdy wheelbarrow. I need one of those to move rocks in my garden,” Matilda said.

“Where were you taking him?” Shay asked.

“Somewhere safe,” Nina said. “We didn’t want to hurt him. He seems like a nice boy. We just wanted him out of the way.”

“Out of the way of what?” Shay asked, exasperated.

“You and Cody,” Nina said.

“Cody and me?”

Nina clutched her robe tighter. “Here you are, back home after all these years, and we’re thinking you finally came to your senses, and Jamie shows up to ruin it all.”

“He wants to marry you,” Matilda said. “We couldn’t have that.”

Oh, heavens. “You think Cody and I are…?”

“But of course, dear,” Nina said. “We’ve always known. We were just waiting for you two to realize it.”

Matilda clutched her water bottle. “For a smart girl, you can be slow sometimes.”

Playing matchmaker is bad enough, but when Matilda is thrown into the middle of a group of covert warriors who must secretly protect humanity from demons, and are now faced with vampires as well, she becomes as much of a threat to the clan’s existence as the demons.

Cody headed to the kitchen and met Duncan. “Anybody seen Matilda? She’s missing again.”

Coira stopped wiping the kitchen table. “Bloody hell.” She slapped her hand over her mouth and then frantically crossed herself.

“It’s all right, Coira. Matilda could make a saint curse.” Cody sighed. “Nina hasn’t seen her?”

“She’s the one who alerted us.”

“She’s probably out terrorizing the guards,” Ronan said. “She asked one of them if this was some kind of gigolo set-up.”

Cody grimaced. “We’ve got to get her out of here before she destroys thousands of years of secrecy.”

“I saw her headed toward the library earlier,” Coira said. “Her and that giant cat.”

“The library? Damn it. The secret passages.” Cody hurried down the hall with Duncan and Ronan behind him. The hidden door stood open.

“Blimey,” Duncan said. “Might as well start offering tours.”

Cody stuck his head inside. “Matilda? I hear something,” he said to the others. “Anybody got a flashlight?”

“Here.” Ronan pulled one from his sporran and turned it on. The three men entered the stone passage, following the narrow beam of light.

“That way,” Cody said. “Matilda?”

They heard running, and a second later, Matilda flew into Cody’s arms. “Oh, thank heaven.” Her hair stood on end, covered by cobwebs. Red lipstick was smeared down her chin. “I got lost. I couldn’t figure out which way I came in. I don’t know what to do. I think I killed a man.”

“You killed a man down here?” Ronan asked, glancing at the others.

“Over there, around that corner. But I don’t think he was a man. I saw this shadow and thought it was one of you. I called out, and he leapt at me. He hissed. I’ve never heard a man hiss.”

“You sure it wasn’t the cat?” Duncan asked.

“No, I was holding the cat, only because it was dark, and my flashlight was dying,” she said, defensively.

Cody moved toward the corner where Matilda pointed. “Nothing here.”

“How did you kill him?” Ronan asked, eyeing Matilda doubtfully.

“Holy water.”

“Where the hell did you get holy water?” Duncan asked.

“Well, I was clutching my bottle of water to my chest. I carry one with me so I don’t get dehydrated. The doctor said I need to stay hydrated. And I got lost, like I told you, and I started praying somebody would find me, and since I was holding the water, I guess the praying must have blessed it. Or it might have been the cat.”

“The cat blessed the water?” Duncan asked, scratching his head.

“No. Killed the man. When he hissed at me, the cat hissed back and jumped at him.”

Cody caught Ronan and Duncan’s worried gazes.

“Then I threw my water bottle at him.” Matilda held her hand over her heart. “I think I might faint.”

“Come on, Matilda,” Duncan said. “I’ll take you up. Ronan and Cody will check it out. I’m sure it was just a shadow.”

“I’ve never seen a shadow with red eyes.”

“It couldn’t be,” Ronan said, his voice somber, as Duncan led Matilda away. “Maybe she’s insane.”

“She’s not normal, but she’s as sharp as your sword.”

“What the hell did she see, then?”

Cody aimed his light along the walls. “Damn.”

“What is it?” Ronan joined him, his gaze on the beam of light on the floor. A bottle of water lay in a pile of dust.

GIVEAWAY!
Sourcebooks is giving away two copies of Embrace the Highland Warrior to random commenters. My question is: What’s the funniest story you’ve read, or the best example of adding in humor?

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada but anyone can answer the question. :-)  Please let us know with your comment if you are not eligible for the giveaway.
Giveaway ends December 2, 2011 at 10pm Central.

Embrace the Highland Warrior by Anita Clenney—In Stores November 2011

They were driven apart by a timeless secret…

Cody MacBain let the woman of his destiny slip away. A member of an ancient clan of Scottish warriors, he grew up beside Shay Logan as her secret protector, but his heart compelled him to become more. Until Shay’s true identity was revealed, and the fated pair’s chance was gone…

But danger will drive them back into each other’s arms…

Shay fell for the boy next door, suspecting nothing of the ancient secrets he guarded. After a stinging betrayal, she’s determined to banish the memories of her first love forever. But the past can’t let go, and the boy she once loved has returned to her a warrior determined to protect her from the unspeakable evil fate has planned…

About the Author

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Anita Clenney writes mysteries, and paranormal romantic suspense. Before giving herself over to the writing bug, she worked in a pickle factory and a preschool, booked shows for Aztec Fire Dancers, and has been a secretary, executive assistant, and a real estate agent. She lives with her husband and two children in suburban Virginia. To find out more information, please visit http://www.anitaclenney.com/, follow her on Twitter @anitaclenney, or like her on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/anitaclenneyAUTHOR.

And Embrace the Highland Warrior can be purchased here:

http://www.amazon.com/Embrace-Highland-Warrior-Anita-Clenney/dp/1402251262

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embrace-the-highland-warrior-anita-clenney/1100076266

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Embrace-Highland-Warrior/Anita-Clenney/9781402251269

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/embrace-the-highland-warrior/id468777516?mt=11

Guest Post and Giveaway by Lisa Renee Jones

Please welcome Lisa Renee Jones, Author of The Story That is Sterling who shares a Guest Post on Planning the Series. Make sure you read to the end to find out how to enter for Lisa's Giveaway!

Thank you for having me here today at Martha’s Bookshelf to celebrate the release of THE STORM THAT IS STERLING! 

Today I’m talking about planning the series or letting it happen since Sterling is a part of a series. I’ve written a number of series but probably the most comparable to my Zodius series is my KNIGHTS OF WHITE with Harlequin. With both my Zodius series and my Knights of White the books each lead to the next book in the series. With my Knights of White I usually left a bit of a cliffhanger. The main story was resolved with a HEA but the next character got into some sort of mess. This made it especially important to have planned the next book in the series. I knew from book 1 of that series that a romance I hinted at in book 1 would be headed a certain place in book 6. My readers jumped on that and had lots of questions after each book about that teasing storyline. I had something about that couple in all of the books. 

In the Zodius series, I’ve planned in advance and I’ve known where I was going from the beginning. However, I have to say, that the leader of the Renegades, Caleb, hasn’t cooperated. I had his story planned a certain way and a female character has demanded she be his love interest and I just didn’t see that coming. It doesn’t fit my plan but yet, it is the plan now. In DANGER THAT IS DAMION you will have a very good idea who Caleb’s love will end up being. So, while I’m for planning, I do let my characters lead me. That is part of the fun of writing and living the story as I write it. 

In DANGER THAT IS DAMION you will meet Chale and he is my planned hero for book 4. I love Chale who is a Harley riding, wild and wicked, man with a Sterling like sense of humor. I hope you will get as attached to him in book 3 as I did. Now, in Sterling’s story Damion is a HUGE part of the book. You will know him well by the end of book 2. 

To celebrate Sterling’s release I have a bag of books and yummy holiday treats. All you have to do is comment. Tell me what you like, or dislike, when you are reading a series. And how many books into a series do you read? 3? 10? What makes you lose interest?

Lisa

Here is the buy link for Sterling! 

http://www.amazon.com/Storm-That-Sterling-Renee-Jones/dp/1402251599/ref=tmm_mmp_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1320559147&sr=1-1

Booklist review:

The Storm That Is Sterling.

Jones, Lisa Renee (Author)

Nov 2011. 384 p. Sourcebooks/Casablanca, hardcover, $6.99. (9781402251597).

The exciting Zodius futuristic suspense series features soldiers enhanced by a GTECH secret military experiment. Sterling Jeter, who is assigned to guard Rebecca Burns, the scientist working on an antidote for the highly addictive and fatal drug ICE. But Rebecca is also the high-school dream Sterling was never able to realize. She has cancer and tangling with bad guys who want her science skills for their ends has left her an ICE addict, too. She wants to take advantage of her time left with Sterling, while Sterling wants to protect her. As danger mounts, they try to sort out who is trustworthy. The GTECH and science details can best be followed with the help of the index, but they do not overwhelm the appealing characters or action. Jones’ suspense truly sizzles with an energy similar to FBI tales with a paranormal twist by Julie Garwood or Suzanne Brockmann. Alpha, military, and paranormal romance readers will want Jones’ entire series.

  

Sterling Jeter has remarkable powers and has shown himself

to be just about indestructible. But beautiful, brilliant Rebecca

Burns knows that even a Super Soldier needs comfort, and so

much more…

But she can see that deep down,

he’s just a man…

Sterling and Rebecca’s teenage romance was interrupted,

but years later the heat between them flares back to life.

Even though it endangers everything they’re fighting for, it’s

impossible to resist picking up right where they left off…

Read an extra excerpt HERE:

http://www.lisareneejones.com/books/the-storm-that-is-sterling/sterling-excerpt/

Blog Tour Guest Post by Jennifer Harlow, Author of Mind Over Monsters

See below for Tour wide Giveaway chance.
Doesn't this look like a fun read for October and Halloween?!

The Soundtrack to Our Lives (Or a Book) by Jennifer Harlow

I don’t do silence. I can’t. I grew up surrounded by chaos instrumented by three demons by the names of Ryan, Liam, and Trevor, my three younger brothers. These were not, and still aren’t, studious, well behaved darlings who liked nothing better than to sit down with a good book or play with her dolls like their angel big sister. No, these boys had enough energy and testosterone to supply an entire Starbucks and bodybuilding gym with some still left over to attempt to “kill” or “wrestle” their sister and each other. Screams, whining, and loud bangs on the television were staples of my youth. So when I moved out on my own, I soon discovered I needed the noise. There is always a television or radio on, even as I fall asleep. This is true when I’m writing as well. I can write pretty much anywhere (if you have a strong desire to stalk me, see the acknowledgments page of my book Mind Over Monsters to see where I write), but the one thing that helps get my creative juices flowing the most is music. The right song can make or break my scene, even inspiring me on some occasions.

As I was writing Monsters, I found that certain songs really helped pump up the visuals and mood. They helped me get to a place where I needed to get inside my head to convey what was going on in my imagination and translate that to the page. Music just adds so much more to the experience. So I started compiling playlists for the books. Like the book, the soundtrack has a narrative flow in line with the book. You don’t have to like all the songs, I have eclectic taste, but at the very least if you sample them, you’ll get a feel for the book. So here it is:

MIND OVER MONSTERS: THE SOUNDTRACK

1.     Magic to Do- Ben Vereen from the musical Pippin

2.     Edge of the Ocean- Ivy

3.     Cold- Annie Lennox

4.     If It Wasn’t For Bad-Elton John & Leon Russell

5.     Shadows of the Night-Pat Benatar

6.     Four Minutes – Madonna fet. Justin Timberlake

7.     Tainted Love – Soft Cell

8.     Say It Right – Nelly Furtado

9.     Fields of Gold – Sting

10.  Ordinary World – Duran Duran

11.  Savin’ Me – Nickelback

12.  Precious – Depeche Mode

13.  Home – Depeche Mode

Please download legally. All songs are available on iTunes.

Jennifer Harlow is the author of the paranormal mystery Mind Over Monsters, the first in the F.R.E.A.K.S Squad series. You can read her blog “Tales From the Darkside” at her website www.jenniferharlowbooks.com. Also friend her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter at jenharlowbooks.

Mind Over Monsters
A F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad Investigation
By Jennifer Harlow

ISBN-10: 0-7387-2667-2
ISBN-13: 978-0-7387-2667-0
US $14.95 • CAN $16.95
Trade Paperback Original • 53/16 x 8 • 288 pp.
October 2011

Paranormal heroes take on zombies in this funny and thrilling debut.

Very few people know the truth about Beatrice Alexander. She’s no ordinary schoolteacher with a fondness for classic movies. Beatrice can move objects with her mind, an embarrassing and dangerous skill that she’s never learned to master — or embrace. After nearly killing her brother by accident, she joins F.R.E.A.K.S. The Federal Response to Extra-Sensory and Kindred Supernaturals is a top-secret offshoot of the FBI that “neutralizes” ghouls, trolls, and other monsters threatening humanity.

Beatrice has no desire to become Buffy the vampire slayer. But F.R.E.A.K.S. offers training to control her power. Also, she doesn’t feel like such a freak next to the other supernatural members, including a cute former detective who’s a werewolf and an unbearable vampire determined to seduce Beatrice. Despite a natural instinct to flee from hideous, bloodthirsty zombies, Beatrice must prove herself on her first mission to find a cunning necromancer.

Praise for Mind Over Monsters:

“A wonderful debut! Jennifer Harlow has written a gritty, dramatic police-procedural with a compelling heroine and a fascinating group of sidekicks. Looking forward to the sequel!” —KAREN CHANCE, NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF CASSANDRA PALMER SERIES

“Mind Over Monsters is funny, scary, and creepy—and ridiculous amounts of fun!” —KAT RICHARDSON, AUTHOR OFTHE GREYWALKER NOVELS

“Monstrously fun! Monstrously suspenseful! Monstrously good! Jennifer Harlow's debut novel had me laughing and gasping from start to finish!"“ —VICTORIA LAURIE, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE GHOST HUNTER MYSTERY SERIES AND THE PSYCHIC EYE MYSTERY SERIES

See full blog tour list here. Tour and Contest end 10/31.

5 copies of Mind Over Monsters are being given away tour wide:

Open to US Shipping

Link to form

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGp1VVJqdGF1Y2RNYkVVQWV5LUliMUE6MQ

embed form

Guest Post by Isable Cooper, Author of No Proper Lady

Isabel Cooper Guest Blog, Author of No Proper Lady
Reviews by Martha’s Bookshelf; September 22, 2011

Let me get started by saying that it’s great to be on Martha’s Bookshelf, and that I really appreciate the chance to talk a little about No Proper Lady and my writing process in general.

Science fiction and fantasy has been a huge influence on my work, both No Proper Lady and, well, just about all the other fiction I’ve ever written. I started out with fairy tales and Disney movies, moved on to Lord of the Rings and similar epic fantasy pretty quickly, and had gained a pretty good familiarity with the horror end of the spectrum, largely via Lovecraft and King, by the time I was a teenager. My own tendencies are more along the fantasy end of the spectrum, as I like woogy spiritual stuff, but I can definitely appreciate some good space opera as well.  At the moment, as well as the works I mentioned above, my favorite fantasy authors include Robin McKinley, Terry Pratchett, Jacqueline Carey, S.M. Sterling, E.E. Knight, Mercedes Lackey, Jim Hines, and a slew of others. Being extremely nerdy, I’m also more than passingly familiar with roleplaying games and video games, and with the fantasy worlds portrayed there.

When I think about writing No Proper Lady, I can point to quite a few fantasy and science fiction works that definitely had an influence. There’s Terminator, of course—thus the tag line of the novel—but the beings Joan and Simon end up fighting owe a whole lot to Lovecraft and King. Sterling and Knight (and King as well, via the Dark Tower and The Stand) contributed to my fascination with post-apocalyptic Crapsack Worlds (tm TV Tropes, and you should only Google *that* site if you have a lot of time on your hands) and to the way Joan’s ragtag band of doomed future heroes constructed their society and traditions. Lackey’s Elemental Masters series is a great one for Victorian occult weirdness, and everyone else…well, I can’t point to anything specific, but my mind, magpie-like, picks up anything shiny and keeps it around for later. Add to that a general interest in the Victorian Age and the high weirdness that was going on there—or that people thought was going on there—and a general love for the badass warrior woman archetype, and I was pretty well off to the races.

I like to say that I write the way that a friend of mine mixes cocktails: you take a little from here, a little from there, the end of the bottle of peppermint vodka, and add a bunch of Hershey’s Syrup. Hopefully it’ll end up tasting good. At least you’ll have fun in the process. I immensely enjoyed writing No Proper Lady, and I owe all the authors I mentioned a lot for giving me the inspiration to, er, put everything in a blender and hit “frappe”. I hope you’ll have as much fun with the final result.

NO PROPER LADY BY ISABEL COOPER – IN STORES SEPTEMBER 2011

It’s Terminator meets My Fair Lady in this fascinating debut of black magic and brilliant ball gowns, martial arts, and mysticism.

England, 1888. The trees are green, the birds are singing, and in 200 years demons will destroy it all. Unless Joan, a rough-around-the-edges assassin from the future, can take out the dark magician responsible. But to get close to her target she’ll need help learning how to fit into polite Victorian society to get close to her target.

Simon Grenville has his own reasons for wanting to destroy Alex Reynell. The man used to be his best friend—until his practice of the dark arts almost killed Simon’s sister. The beautiful half-naked stranger Simon meets in the woods may be the perfect instrument for his revenge. It will just take a little time to teach her the necessary etiquette and assemble a proper wardrobe. But as each day passes, Simon is less sure he wants Joan anywhere near Reynell. Because no spell in the world will save his future if she isn’t in it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Debut author Isabel Cooper lives in Boston and maintains her guise as a mild-mannered project manager working in legal publishing. She only travels through time the normal way and has never fought a demon, but she can waltz. Her next book, No Honest Woman, will be in stores in April 2011. For more information, please visit http://isabelcooper.wordpress.com.

Ted Saves the World Blog Tour Guest Post and Giveaway

Description of Ted Saves the World by Bryan Cohen (Available for just $0.99):

A possessed cheerleader. A cursed gang of criminals. Mysterious telekinetic powers. An angry ex-girlfriend in gym class? One second, sophomore in high school Ted endures his first breakup in his favorite place in town. The next, a mysterious blue light turns him into a worldwide superhero sensation for taking down a posse of grisly murderers. As his views on YouTube increase and his friend Dhiraj tries to capitalize on the marketing potential, his dangers increase as well when a presumed-dead cheerleader begins taking a personal interest. Can Ted survive his first week as a superhero in the public eye? This novella is the first taste in a series of full-length novels about the adventures of Ted Finley and Erica LaPlante. The book is also available on Barnes & Noble and Smashwords for $0.99.

Guest Post
The Writer's Social Life

By Bryan Cohen

I'm writing this blog post while I'm sitting alone in my bedroom. This isn't extremely surprising since most people writing tend to write alone. Sure, there are writing groups and clubs, but in most cases, the prolific writer tends to spend a good chunk of time alone. I imagine that some successful authors are out hobnobbing with the stars, but if most writers are like me, they are staying in on Friday and Saturday night in an effort to get a little writing in the next morning.

In addition to being a bit lame on weekend nights, I also tend not to drink when I go out. While Poe and Hemmingway seemed to gain a noticeable boost from their alcoholic cavorting, drinking mostly makes me sleepy and lethargic for the next 12 hours or so. When I feel like that, I'm not as much for stringing words together as I am stringing Zs together. I also don't smoke or do drugs. So, how does a writer like me keep friends from conveniently forgetting my phone number?

First of all, I pick my friends wisely. My best friends are hard working folks just like me. They aren't writers but they know that dropping off the radar for a bit is less a sign of bruised loyalty than it is a simple need to do the work. Secondly, when I am out with a group of people I try to make sure that I am present in the moment. If every time I'm out with people, I'm just thinking about my writing, they will know that I'm not truly paying attention to them. By listening to them and focusing on the conversations at hand, I am much more likely to be considered a welcome addition. Last but not least, I make an effort to be the life of the party. I'm a comedian through and through and I love making an entire room laugh. If I am able to keep a room light and fluffy because of my jokes, my friends and acquaintances will want to invite me back over and over again.

It's not easy being in a profession that is so naturally ostracizing. It can be difficult on your more social pals and over the years you may lose one or two of them. But if you pick the right kind of friends, listen to them and entertain them every so often, they will not only keep you social but they will also be your biggest support when you need it the most.  

~~~~~

Giveaway:

Bryan Cohen is giving away four $25 Amazon gift cards, one for each week of his month long blog tour. To enter, simply comment with your e-mail address (feel free to substitute @ with (at) or other tricks to stop spammers from getting it). Bryan will draw the four names at the end of the tour, picking one entrant at random from each week’s set of blog posts. Entries will be counted through Monday, August 15^th, 2011. Enter on as many sites as you want, follow the tour at Build Creative Writing Ideas. If Ted reaches the Top 100 on Amazon at any point during the tour, a fifth $25 card will be added to the giveaway.

Biography:

Bryan Cohen is a writer, actor and comedian from Dresher, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2005 with degrees in English and Dramatic Art and a minor in Creative Writing. He has written seven books including 1,000 Creative Writing Prompts: Ideas for Blogs, Scripts, Stories and More. Contact Bryan through http://bryancohen.com, his Ted Saves the World blog, his Build Creative Writing Ideas site or Twitter.

Guest Post by Phillipa Ashley: How Filming Was Different From Expected

How filming was different from expected

By Phillipa Ashley

Wish You Were Here is my second book published in the US by Sourcebooks. The first was called Dating Mr December published in November last year. Both it and Wish You Were Here have been Amazon.com Top 20 Romance bestsellers this month – yes, people have been reading a book about Mr. December in June!

 

In 2009, Dating Mr December was made into a Lifetime movie called ‘12 Men of Christmas’ and Martha asked me how the filming of the movie was different from what I expected.  Well the first thing is, I didn’t expect my book to become a movie at all! Most authors dream about it but I never imagined it would actually happen.

In October 2007, the novel was optioned by Fox. Someone told me that only a fraction of movies optioned actually get made into films so I got on with writing my other books. Finally on May 27 2009, I got an email telling me that the book was going to be the flagship holiday movie on Lifetime. I almost fell off my office chair...

In July 2009, I took my family to the Rockies to visit the set and meet the cast and crew. Our daughter had just finished her degree and had the whole summer off so we took the chance to enjoy a unique experience as a family.

So what were the differences? Well, first the movie is set in Montana but was actually filmed over the border in Alberta. Coming from a small island like the UK, where our highest peak is 5,000 feet, we were blown away by the landscape.

Although my book is set in England, the premise of my book: big city PR exec moves to a small town, translated very well to the US. For London, substitute New York, for the Lake District, substitute the Rockies.

The film is very much a romantic comedy whereas my novel has more emphasis on the romance. In a book, there’s more time to explore the emotions, feelings and thoughts of characters. In romantic comedy, the funny stuff leads! 

The producer/writer did come up with some great lines that I wish I’d thought of. He also kept some of my dialogue and hearing that was totally surreal. The plot was changed quite a bit but it was still recognisable as my story.

The main thing I would have liked to see more of was the motivation of the hero, Will, which is crucial to the plot and characters in my novel. But again there isn’t a lot of time to delve deeply into emotion in a short movie.

Lots of people have asked if my other books are going to be made into films and it would be fantastic to see Wish You Were Here on screen. Wish You Were Here is set in Corsica, which would make a spectacular setting for a film with its bone-white beaches, crystal seas and lush mountains. I do like to imagine who would play Jack, the hero. He could be played by an American actor as Jack has been working in the US for several years and has a ‘transatlantic’ accent. 

The heroine, Beth, is a warm-hearted, outdoorsy young woman who puts her family above all else. She’s blond in my book and I don’t really mind who would play her. If anyone has any ideas, please suggest them!
 

Here is a quick fun trailer form the movie.
Check out my review and ARC giveaway of Wish You Were Here.