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6/25/2016 1 Comment Q&A with Kristina Knight author of Protecting the Quarterback and an excerpt from her new release Q&A with Kristina Knight 1. What was the inspiration for your novel Protecting the Quarterback? Football, all the way! I'm a football girl, and I wanted to dive deeper into the sport, the injuries, and the men and women who make the sport so much fun to watch. 2. When did you take up writing? I've been writing off and on for most of my life, but I began working toward publication about ten years ago; my first book was published in 2012. 3. How important is setting/place in your writing? Very important! I've had readers tell me that the setting of my books is like another character. I love setting, so hear that is always a boost! 4. Do you have a favourite character (s) in your current novel? Jonas and Brooks were equally favorites - because each of them is so strong. They can definitely survive on their own, but their willingness to change, to bend to become part of a couple made them so special to me. 5. What’s the best piece of writing advice you were ever given? To keep trying, and to find the right beginning point! 6. Do you have a schedule for writing? Yes and no. When my daughter is in school, the schedule is easier because I write while she's at school and my husband is at work. Summertime is totally different, and I try to keep a schedule, but having an 8-year-old in the house can throw a wrench into the best of schedules. 7. Are you a plotter or someone who tends to wing it? A bit of both - I create a rough outline that gives me direction, but most of the plot points are a mystery to me. 8. Can you name three of four of your current favourite books? Part-time Cowboy by Maisey Yates, The Collector by Nora Roberts, Every Time We Say Goodbye by Liz Flaherty and On Writing by Stephen King (I know that one isn't technically 'current' but it's a good one!). 9. Can you tell me a little bit about what you are working on now? I just turned in the first book in a brand new series (set in small town Missouri and with another football-ish theme!), and I'm nearly finished with the third of my Billionaire Cowboy books. Busy, busy! 10. What advice would you give to a fledgling writer to assist them on their journey? Don't every quit. Rejections happen to all of us and continuing to push forward in the face of those rejections is what takes all of us from unpublished to published.  Book Blurb: This is more than just a game...to her Sports broadcaster Brooks Smith has always been more involved with the game than the players. But after she shares the spotlight at an awards ceremony with tabloid sensation Jonas Nash, one night of letting her guard down around the infamous quarterback spirals into many heated days and nights together when she gets assigned to the story of the year… The hottest player in professional football is hiding a secret that could end his career for good. Now Brooks is caught on the sidelines between the job she loves and the man she is falling in love with. Excerpt: “I’m assigned to the Kentuckians, not to one player.” Brooks sat up straighter in her chair. Hard gaze or not, these two were not going to derail her assignment. With the veritable all-access pass she had with the team, she could create real buzz. Maybe land a spot at the network sports desk or maybe even in the booth during games. “I can’t report on the other players if I’m all the way in—” she looked from man to man. “Hyde Park,” Jonas said, reluctantly. The neighborhood was a ten-minute drive from the training camp facility. Not so far away she couldn’t report on what was going on, but something was off about this request. “And several team staffers will be on hand, talking to the boys about nutrition and proper training as well as the sport fundamentals,” Earl added. “Think of it as a team training camp, but with an emphasis on kids, not professional athletes.” With the right angle, this could be something the network would be interested in. There were several initiatives the league was involved in to get kids more active, and this camp sounded like a way to bridge league and team programs. But it could just as easily be covered by the local affiliate. They didn’t need her, and she did need an interview with Jonas. “Why me?” Earl studied her for a long moment, which was odd because Jonas seemed to be making a point of not looking at her. Not even a sideways glance. His chocolate-brown eyes were focused on the corner wall seam as if something magical might appear at any moment. Weird. He’d had no problem giving her a hard time in the locker room yesterday. He might not like her reporter side, but he liked other parts of her. After yesterday’s locker room incident, Brooks knew where she stood on the personal like-o-meter of Jonas Nash. The thought sent a shiver of excitement up her spine. She wouldn’t do anything with the knowledge; she’d stopped dating jocks in high school. But it was still nice to be noticed by a man like Jonas. “The interview.” Brooks’s breath caught in her throat. “I get the interview when you get the coverage for the charity camp.” “It’s not a charity, these kids deserve better than pot-holed streets disguised as basketball courts or football fields.” Finally, Jonas joined the conversation, although he still wasn’t looking directly at her. Instead, those deep, deep eyes were fixed on something just above Brooks’s head. “Again, not my assignment. I’m the beat reporter assigned to report on your team, not your charity work.” Jonas clenched his jaw. “You can report on the charity work or you can deal with a locker room full of men who won’t give you the time of day through early February,” he said. “Assuming we’re playing for the championship.” “You can’t shut me out.” “Oh, you can walk that fine ass into the lockers any time. Finding someone who will talk to you, that’s a whole other subject.” Buy Links: Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Protecting-Quarterback-Kristina-Knight-ebook/dp/B01767FSZQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1451499304&sr=1-1&keywords=protecting+the+quarterback BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/protecting-the-quarterback-kristina-knight/1122856806?ean=9780373609598 iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/protecting-the-quarterback/id1052693233?mt=11 KOBO: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/protecting-the-quarterback Harlequin: http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=64371 Author Bio: Once upon a time, Kristina Knight spent her days running from car crash to fire to meetings with local police--no, she wasn't a troublemaker, she was a journalist. Her career took her all over the United States, writing about everything from a serial killer's capture to the National Finals Rodeo. Along the way, she found her very own Knight in Shining Cowboy Boots and an abiding love for romance novels. And just like the characters from her favorite books, she's living her own happily ever after. Kristina writes sassy contemporary romance novels; her books have appeared on Kindle Best Seller Lists. She loves hearing from readers, so drop her a line! Author Links: Website: http://www.kristinaknightauthor.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kristinaknightromanceauthor Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/authorkristina Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/authorkristina/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5827833.Kristina_Knight Google+: https://plus.google.com/+KristinaKnightAuthor/posts
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Earlier this year I was on one of the many Facebook groups for authors that I belong to and another member Ashton Cartwright asked for people who'd like to be involved in a book to help other writers.
Naturally I said yes and now the book is available as both an e-book and a paperback. I'm one of the 36 authors who contributed to the book. (If you'd like to win a copy enter below). Now that the paperback is available I thought I'd ask Ashton about how the project came together. Don't you just love the cover? So pretty! 1. Ashton, how did you get the idea for the book ? I've been writing and publishing books now for about four years, and I get asked a lot of the questions, generally the same questions and fairly often; things like "How hard is it to become an author" or "I've got a good idea for a book, but don't know how to start." or even "I've written a book, but don't know how to get people to buy it." So I thought it might be a good idea to write some of my answers down, in the hope that new authors would get a bit of benefit from it, and would hopefully avoid some of the mistakes that I'd made in my own publishing career. 2.Where did you find the authors? I was very fortunate to be a part of several excellent online author groups, both for Australians and for international authors. Writing and publishing is a community in which everyone tends to do their best to help one another, particularly for self-published or indie authors. When I mentioned in a couple of places that I was looking for some authors to give their advice to new writers, there were lots of people very happy to oblige. (35 plus myself in fact!) 3. Did you learn anything interesting about the authors - something that they all had in common, something that separated them or anything surprising? The thing that most hit home with me was that even though we each had a different story to tell, we still had a lot of similarities. Nobody in the book had written an instant best seller and made millions of dollars. Some of us were able to write full time, but we worked really hard at it to make it happen. Some of us were just starting out, and were also working really hard at it to make it happen. I think a lot of times people assume that if you write a book, your work is done. You just get to sit around at home, waiting for handsome royalty cheques, and signing autographs when people meet you in the street. The truth is usually far different from that. Every author I know that has had even a modicum of success has had to work hard for it; they've had to stay focused, stay committed, and just keep learning, writing, and moving forward. Being a writer is definitely not a quick path to success, but it is definitely worth all the effort. :-) If you would like to get your own copy either e-book or paper back you can buy it here.  Yesterday I was responding to a blogger about an upcoming promotional opportunity and she wanted a summer themed book. My Upper Crust Series isn't especially seasonal (except Book 6 which isn't out yet) but lots of my stand alone novels are. It got me to thinking about those books and how I got started writing and well, why I write. Reasons I don't write (ie thinks that are not motivation for my writing): - financial success (Despite what you think most writers don't make a living from it) - fame (For every author's name you know there are thousands you don't) - recognition (Ah considering at social gatherings even the people who know and love me barely acknowledge my writing we can leave this off the list) * Disclaimer at various times I have thought my writing might bring me one or more of these things but I no longer believe that. So why did I start writing and why do I continue? I wrote as a child and in my twenties but then I stopped. Time, motivation and need were all lacking then. (I'll be honest my twenties rocked. I had a great social life with lots of friends in and out of work and lots of them lived near by me. we had disposable incomes and we ate out, drank like fish and danced until dawn often. Good freaking times!)
In my early thirties I had a child and struggled with the notion I was lucky to get that one and wasn't getting anymore, my husband was away around 50% of the time and most of my friends weren't married or were just married and didn't have kids. I was alone a lot. And I'll be honest with you, I didn't love it. Then my imagination came back to help me. Writing allowed me to create the sorts of friends I wanted to hang out with every day, the sorts of friends I had but missed. I got to write fund dates, romantic scenarios and parties. I drew on things I knew from my life, the good bits. My early novels particularly Mr Right and Other Mongrels and Hearts Afire had aspects of my personality in them, and my life. Dog phobia is all me. Living by the beach, that's my life. Meeting a hot guy on a tropical island - hey I did that. My writing was a really good way to draw on my experiences and the better, more fun parts of myself that were kind of taking a back seat to my day-to-day reality. Yesterday got me thinking about those characters and how much I loved them. I wondered why and realise it is because they represent the best parts of my friends, my life and my twenties. That's probably why Cassie and Jack from Hearts Afire remain among my favourite characters. They made my life less lonely more full and they didn't settle, they were characters who bounced back. I've always had a vivid imagination and a somewhat quirky world view....drawing on this was a way to connect my past to my future. My reasons for writing have changed over the years. I'm more pragmatic - although I still crush on lots of my own characters and mainly write characters I could see myself sharing a glass of wine or a plate of nachos with. Now though, my writing is a daily practice and an extension of who I am now rather than who I used to be. 
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Summary Sienna Harris is back and appears to be on top of the world! Her company, Sheer Happiness Events, is booming, but personally she’s a mess. She never imagined that with amazing success would come tremendous pressure. Although her professional life seems in disarray at times, her relationship with the dashing Ace Eckelund is finally progressing. Friendships are tested and so is her relationship when—once again—the past collides with the present. Sienna begins to question everything in her life and wonders if she should throw out her desire for constant certainty and live life on the edge for once. But, will she be able to change the person she has always been for who she wants to become? Find out in this captivating third installment of The Event to Remember series. Book Links - COMING Amazon US: https://amzn.com/B01GQLVE74 Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01GQLVE74 Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/641901 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29953685-not-quite-sheer-happiness Author Biography Melissa graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications; she has always had a love for writing. An avid journal keeper, she took her creativity to the next level by fulfilling her dream with her debut novel, An Event to Remember . . . Or Forget. Since then, she has written and published two more novels, Wedding Haters and See You Soon Broadway. Melissa resides in Florida, with her husband and young daughter. When she isn't writing, this multi-tasking master organizer is busy being a mother, wife, chauffeur, PTA President, and Fitness Trainer. When she has free time, she enjoys traveling, running, fitness, fashion, and taking a Disney Cruise every now and then. Social Networking Links Website: http://www.authormelissabaldwin.com/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8297292.Melissa_Baldwin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormelissabaldwin Twitter: https://twitter.com/mpbaldwinauthor Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mdpb/ Amazon Author: http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Baldwin/e/B012M1S100/ 
6/2/2016 1 Comment Release Day for Gamer Girl and a guest post by Glynis Astie (who has indeed got game)Got Game? A guest post by Glynis Astie I love video games. LOVE them! The catchy music, gorgeous graphics, engaging characters and exciting journeys—what’s not to like? Every time I turn on my console, I have countless choices in front of me. (I live with three boys who crave variety, so our library is rather extensive.) Am I in the mood for military strategy, martial arts or traveling through a fantasy world? Do I want to put the pedal to the metal or ski down a beautiful mountain? Or is it time to kick it old school with Pitfall or Donkey Kong? Simply asking these hypothetical questions makes me giddy. My fingers are itching to grab hold of my trusty controller! There’s just one tiny problem. I have no skills. I’m completely devoid of game, if you will. It’s sad, but true. I used to be able to fake it when I was younger, when the most I had to do was weave a small square through a maze in Adventure or shoot a few targets in Duck Hunt. I could even handle that crazy Centipede! But as technology advanced and video games became more complex, it was clear that I didn’t have what it took to keep up. This, however, did nothing to quell my fascination with all things gaming. For a number of years, I took the role of observer, living vicariously through my friends and family as they tackled the latest offerings from Nintendo, Capcom and Konami. Then I met my husband and he opened up a whole new world to me with games like Manhunt, God of War and Halo. To him, a new game meant spending the weekend lounging on the living room floor, glued to the TV, until his new adventure had been finished. While his games had way more violence than I was used to, I admired his dedication. Since I had no desire to shut myself off from the world, I spent those days sitting by the pool with a good book, waiting for the onslaught to be over. Then I became a mother and was forced to give gaming another try. When your three-year-old son hands you a controller and asks you to help him, you can’t really say no. I did my best, but it didn’t take long for his abilities to surpass mine. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen the disappointment in your little one’s eyes when you can’t bring Mario through his latest world unscathed. He has since developed quite the sense of humor about it, chuckling and saying, “silly Mommy” when I try to follow him on one of his video game adventures. (Until I fall too far behind and he asks me to exit. D’oh!)  Ever the astute child, he introduced me to The Simpsons: Tapped Out. Finally! A game I could play! All I had to do was tap the screen with my finger. The characters did all kinds of funny things and I earned money to buy tons of imaginary stuff. Woohoo! After a few months, my confidence grew and I tackled more challenging offerings like Candy Crush and Juice Cubes. Next stop: Plants vs. Zombies. Watch out world! Unfortunately, it’s doubtful I will ever be a true gamer, but this won’t stop me from obsessing over the gaming world. But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it was watching a documentary about the history of video games which gave me the idea for my latest book, Gamer Girl. Why not create a character who had the mad skills I craved? Brilliant! I started by designing a game I would want to play. I knew it would be an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) because I wanted the ability to create a second storyline for my heroine—the escapades of her online alter ego. Since I’m the only girl in my house, I may have gone to town with my love of magic, fairies and dragons. (I live in a world ruled by Lego, Transformers, army guys and toy guns.) Then I picked the brain of my favorite gamer--who also happens to write fantasy novels--and voila, my main character’s sacred gaming world of SpellBound was born. It was such a blast to write Gamer Girl! I sincerely hope it will be just as much fun to read. It’s a completely unique creation—part chick lit, part fantasy, with a dash of gaming and a whole lot of fun! And at least in the world of writing, I’ve got loads of game.  Gamer Girl Struck by tragedy at an early age, Meri Palmer escaped into the only world she understood. Within the virtual realm of online gaming, she lived a life filled with mythical creatures and thrilling adventures, where she was strong, powerful, clever, and beautiful—everything she believed she wasn't in real life. As the years went by, her desire to cling to her cherished fantasyland only grew stronger. But when Meri meets Morgan, equal parts gorgeous and goofball, she begins to wonder if the time has finally come to rejoin the so-called real world. Channeling the bravery of her fairy warrior alter ego, Meri slowly lets Morgan beyond the protective walls she’s built around her heart. Just as she finds a comfortable groove in an uncertain world, Morgan succumbs to insecurities of his own, leaving her lost and confused. Through her battle to regain her equilibrium, Meri will discover that even in reality, things aren’t always what they seem. Will Meri win the battle raging in her heart and summon the will to rescue her knight in shining armor? Or will she give in to the fear and find her game over?  About the Author
Glynis never expected in her wildest dreams to be a writer. After thirteen years in the Human Resources Industry, she decided to stay at home with her two amazing sons. Ever in search of a project, she was inspired to write the story of how, in only six short months, she met and married her wonderfully romantic French husband, Sebastien. The end result became her first novel, French Twist. As this was just the beginning of their epic love story, Glynis continued to chronicle their adventures in the sequel, French Toast, and the final installment in the series, French Fry. After she finished milking her life story for all it was worth, she decided to write straight-up fiction with Gamer Girl, which infuses her beloved chick lit with a hint of fantasy. When Glynis is not writing, she is trying to keep the peace amongst the three men and two cats in her life, finding missing body parts (Lego pieces are small!), supervising a myriad of homework assignments and keeping a tenuous hold on her sanity by consuming whatever chocolate is in the vicinity. Links to find Glynis on the web. Website: www.glynisastie.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glynisastieauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlynisAstie Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/glynisastie/ Global buy link for Gamer Girl: mybook.to/amazongamergirl  Cards from Khloe's Flower Shop Blurb:
As the owner of a successful florist shop, Khloe Harper trusts her instincts. She has a strong bond with her family and friends, but after being betrayed by her last love, she's kept herself at arms’ length from romance. When dashing entertainment attorney Derek Thomas walks into her store, Khloe’s interested is piqued. What at first seems like a business relationship quickly turns into romance, and Derek slowly plucks away the petals she’s been hiding behind. Just as Khloe lets down her guard, she discovers that Derek may not be worthy of her love after all... Frumpy Connie Albright has a faux fascination with an imaginary man named Walt, sending herself flowers from him to feel less out-of-place with the “mean girls” she works with. Gabby Lewis, a recently widowed senior, isn't ready to give up on love—which means releasing herself from survivor's guilt and taking a chance on finding happiness and companionship again. As these stories intertwine through flowers and cards sent from Khloe's shop, the three women begin to learn that love can only truly blossom when you trust your heart. Author Bio: Isabella grew up with a book in her hand, and to this day nothing has changed. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and has been featured on several blogs. While Isabella doesn’t blog a lot, she focuses her time on featuring other writers, along with working on her next book. She created Chick Lit Goddess to share the love of the following genres: Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance, Romance, and Romantic Comedies! She loves featuring authors and their books, and has a book business, Goddess Book Tours. Currently, she lives in Dallas with her husband. She enjoys spicy Mexican food and drinking margaritas, and can be found spending time with family and friends, cheering on the Texas Rangers, and reading. Isabella’s short story, Meet Me Under the Mistletoe, was featured in Simon & Fig’s Christmas anthology, Merry & Bright, in November 2013. The Right Design is her first novel. Author Contacts: Website/ILA: http://www.isabellalouiseanderson.com Website/CLG: https://chicklitgoddess.com Facebook/ILA: https://www.facebook.com/Isabella-Louise-Anderson-Author-253277964716883/ Facebook/CLG: https://www.facebook.com/chicklitgoddess/?fref=ts Twitter/ILA: https://twitter.com/ILA121209 Twitter/CLG: https://twitter.com/ChickLitGoddess Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/chicklitgoddess/ Snapchat username: mrsanderson1981 Find the books: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Isabella-Louise-Anderson/e/B00IWCNQFO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1 Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/isabella+louise+anderson?_requestid=1175848 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard |
Monique McDonell-AuthorI am a writer of light-hearted contemporary women's fiction. 
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February 2019
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