The Secret Life of an Author: Bunny Slippers and ReaderLove

All my life I had one dream: To be a published author.

Much like being a parent, there are so many things no one bothered to warn us about. The late nights, the bleary eyes, the temper tantrums.  Yeah, those all hold true in parenting too.

For some reason, I had this vision in my head of being an author. I would blithefully write my books, send them off to a grateful editor and receive buckets of praise and adulation for the brilliance of my work. And then, magically, I’d make a bazillion dollars and end up on some talk show with a (very handsome) host (who wanted to father my babies). There would, in all likelihood, be movie deals which would, of course, result in me winning an Oscar.

I’m nothing if not realistic.

Cut to reality.

I am happy to report that I do gleefully write my books—in bunny slippers and pajamas, most of the time. Having recently turned to writing full time I can write them even faster and don’t even have to shower if I don’t want to. I do receive buckets of praise and adulation (more, perhaps than is good for my ego), but I am only making a fraction of the bazillion dollars.

It’s the other elements of my life that surprised me. Specifically, how much time and energy promotion can take. We’re talking Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest, Goodreads and a host of other outlets. We’re talking research (not for my stories but of the IINDUSTRY), networking, blogging and more. We’re talking author loops and conferences and swag and chats and Facebook events and cover reveals and launch calendars. I could go on.

It’s all part and parcel of the job.

The fact of the matter is, author success is all about connections. Connections with readers and reviewers, authors and publishers, bloggers and service providers. To keep those connections alive, I make it a point to try and be personal. That means responding to emails myself. When I wake up, I will have 75 to 100 (or more) messages that require my attention. One of them may be a cheerful message from Goodreads that I “have 375 new messages.” While I am working my way through the list, another 25 may pop up.

Overwhelming? A little. But each and every one of these messages MATTER. Every reader matters. Every connection makes a difference.

But the personal touch does take a toll. Now, instead of putting in eight hours at the day job and coming home to write for a few (if I have the energy for it) I am putting in 12-16 hour days. Three to four on social media, and eight to ten writing and editing.

I never thought I would be working so hard.

So why do I do it?

Because I love it. Every minute. I love writing and editing, I love connecting with industry cohorts and I absolutely LOVE interacting with readers.

The best part of my job is hearing from readers, people who really love my work. THAT makes it all worthwhile.

If you have an author you love, know she is probably doing the same—if not holding down a day job as well. Authors make anywhere from pennies to a couple dollars on each sale, depending on the publisher, price and distributor cut.

What can you do to help?

A lot.

As a reader, you have more power than you may realize. Here are a few ways you can wield your muscle:

• Tell your favorite author you like her work. An email, a Facebook message, a tweet, a comment on a blog. It doesn’t matter. It will make her day.
• Buy your favorite author’s work. Don’t download it from a pirate site. Aside from the fact that some of these “freebie” sites are merely Trojan horses carrying viruses into your device, it’s just good Karma. Authors can only afford to write if they make some money at it.
• Share your faves with your friends. Industry studies show this is the #1 way readers discover new authors.
• Like their Amazon page. Believe it or not, that makes a HUGE difference in their author ranking, which in turn increases the discoverability of their books.
• Write honest reviews.
• Comment on blogs. Nothing is more depressing than working on a blog and having no one comment. In fact if you comment here, I’ll enter you in a contest to win your choice of one of my books—just as a thank you for reading this far!)
• If you really love an author, join her street team and band together with other fans to help your favorite author gain momentum. Momentum is gold in our world. It effects everything like a ripple in a pond.

So readers, take up the banner for your favorite author! Share the word. Help her achieve success as only YOU can. It is, after all, all about YOU. Without readers, we’re just talkin’ to the computer all day. Seriously. And that’s hardly any fun at all.

About Sabrina York

Her Royal Hotness, Sabrina York is the award winning author of over 20 hot, humorous stories for smart and sexy readers. Her titles range from sweet & sexy erotic romance to scorching BDSM. Connect with her on twitter @sabrina_york, on Facebook or on Pintrest. Check out Sabrina’s books and read an excerpt on Amazon or wherever e-books are sold. Visit her webpage at www.sabrinayork.com to check out her books, excerpts and contests. Free Teaser Book: https://sabrinayork.com/home-2/sabrina-yorks-teaser-book/ And don’t forget to enter to win the royal tiara!

FOLLOW SABRINA

Like my Facebook Author Page https://www.facebook.com/SabrinaYorkBooks
Follow me on Twitter @sabrina_york
Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5817917.Sabrina_York
Check out my Pintrest boards: https://www.pinterest.com/sabrinayork/boards/
Like my Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sabrina-York/e/B00856PDEO/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1382929432&sr=8-2-ent
Check out my Barnes & Noble Author page: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/sabrina-york
Follow me on Ellora’s Cave: https://www.ellorascave.com/index.php/authors/index/author/slug/sabrina-york/

CURRENT PROMOS

Most recent release! DARK DUKE, Steamy Regency https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Duke-3-Noble-Passions-ebook/dp/B00ID8MAJU/ref=la_B00856PDEO_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394219319&sr=1-10

Free Teaser Book: https://sabrinayork.com/home-2/sabrina-yorks-teaser-book/

Newsletter & tiara contest: https://sabrinayork.com/sabrinas-contest-and-newsletter/

Enter to win a signed print copy of scorching Regency romance, Dark Fancy on Goodreads! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17409083-dark-fancy

Books by Sabrina York
Adam’s Obsession (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)
Dark Duke (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave) —Coming soon
Brigand (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave) —Coming soon Read the rest of this entry »

Hello and thanks for letting me visit, Delilah.

When I planned my last book series, The Wild Randalls, it was to be four books only long and center around one family. One book for each sibling—to bring them home after they’d been forced apart through no fault of their own, to give them the HEA they need to heal themselves. I thought when the last book was finished and published I’d done everything I needed to do. I’d tied off loose ends and had made the right love matches for the characters in those books—Leopold, Tobias, Oliver and Rosemary. And yet…my fan mail indicated otherwise.

Readers of Hunting the Hero requested one more book. They wanted a story for Arabella, Lady Farnsworth—a well-meaning best friend character who set up the hero and heroine in the last Wild Randalls book.

I do love a challenge but the request created a problem I hadn’t a ready solution for. You see Arabella’s story didn’t belong with the Wild Randalls set (she wasn’t a Randall), and most of my stories belong to one series or another. I could have left it as a stand alone but in the end I concluded was that Arabella needed a rogue, and a distinguished one at that. My readers had once asked if I’d be writing more books in the Distinguished Rogues series so I guess now I am. Here’s the result of a little gentle persuasion—an accidental book—An Accidental Affair…

Widowed beauty, Arabella Lawson, Lady Farnsworth, knows the value of independence after being trapped in a marriage that left her unfulfilled. Although she longs for a lover at last, she’s expected to chaperone her flirtatious niece during her first season. However, given the way the girl keeps disappearing every chance she gets, there is little hope of a good or speedy result. While searching for her charge yet again, she blunders into one of Lord Rothwell’s scandalous assignations. This time it’s Arabella’s turn to be on the receiving end of his hungry kisses, and she’s far from prepared to make the most of the opportunity.

Gossip may paint Merrick Bishop, the Earl of Rothwell, as a notorious scoundrel when it comes to women, but this season his intentions are honorable. Duty bound to marry, he’s determined to discreetly court an open-minded bride and prove the gossipmongers wrong by being on his very best behavior… until in his frustration, he mistakenly kisses the wrong lady and discovers that everything about the encounter feels so very right. Merrick never once believed he had a chance with shy Arabella, and when the unthinkable happens, she turns to him not for an affair or hopes of marriage but for his friendship and protection from her own family.

Can a rogue with a reputation for breaking hearts convince a widow who only hopes for an affair that their feelings are not only the stirrings of desire but the beginnings of the deepest and truest love?

Want to know more? You can read an excerpt from An Accidental Affair on my website or download a sample from your retailer of choice. Thanks so much for reading and taking part in my release day fun.

AUTHOR BIO:

Bestselling historical author Heather Boyd believes every character she creates deserves their own happily-ever-after, no matter how much trouble she puts them through. With that goal in mind, she weaves sizzling English set love stories that push the boundaries of regency era propriety to keep readers enthralled until the wee hours of the morning. Brimming with new ideas, she frequently wishes she could type as fast as she conjures new storylines. While writing full time north of Sydney, Australia, Heather collects dust bunnies in all corners of the house and does her best to wrangle her testosterone-fuelled family into submission. You can catch up with her at www.heather-boyd.com, Facebook and Twitter.

BUY LINKS:
Heather on Amazon: https://amzn.to/1gmKOn1
Heather on Apple iBooks: https://bit.ly/1cjMtwJ
Heather on B&N: https://bit.ly/1gJMEOI
Heather on Google Play: https://bit.ly/1i2ZTzr
Heather on Kobo: https://bit.ly/1gOQDfn
Heather on Smashwords: https://bit.ly/NfUVBn

Why I Went Indie

In a little over a week, I’ll celebrate my third publishing anniversary. In late 2013 I made the difficult decision to go almost totally indie. I still publish with one publisher, Twenty or Less Press/Sybarite Seductions, and owe Loose Id one more books, but at this point I’m about 90% an indie author. Why did I do it?

1. I was getting frustrated at not being able to do anything if a book languished. I couldn’t change the price, the cover, or any of the other little things I experiment with now.

2. I was tired of giving a publisher half of my royalties (sometimes a little less). On books priced $2.99 or more, Amazon pays 70%. Of that, most publishers pay the author 35-45%. So overall, out of a $2.99 book, if you make a 40% royalty, you’ll have $1.09 (or so) per book. If you’re indie, though, that number rises to $2.10. Yes, almost a dollar more for each book.

3. I can get works to the market faster if I don’t have to wait for the book to be read and accepted by a publisher, sign the contract etc, etc, etc.

There are other reasons, but those are three that were most important to me. Now, I want to be clear: publishers are great—for some writers. Publishers, specifically Loose Id, gave me my start and I’m grateful to them. This decision had nothing to do with hating publishers or thinking they’re ruining the industry. It’s about me, not them.

I’ve released several books in 2014 already and have another coming 3/19. One of my recent releases is Public Affairs, a 50k spicy contemporary single title. Here’s the blurb for it:

Nate O’Halloran is a PR superstar, an expert in crisis management for his image-conscious celebrity clients. When his college roommate, now a hospital director in Buffalo, calls to beg for his help– a cancer researcher on staff has disappeared with millions of dollars’ worth of government research funds– Nate agrees to help right away, though this situation is pretty small potatoes for him.

Val Chase, the hospital’s PR director, is none too thrilled when Nate shows up; does it mean her boss doesn’t trust her to handle this mess herself? Against her better judgment, Val decides she and Nate have to work together to save the hospital’s reputation, though the explosive attraction they feel is making any actual “work” difficult…

Buy links:
https://amzn.com/B00HTBY05O
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/public-affairs-cassandra-carr/1117961200?ean=2940148180258
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-publicaffairs-1395188-149.html

Author Bio:
Cassandra Carr is a multi-award winning romance writer. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out online. Cassandra’s books have won numerous “Best Book Of” awards and her novella Unexpected Top was nominated in the E-book Erotic Romance category of RT’s Reviewers’ Choice Awards.

She thinks the best part of being a writer is how she writes about love and sex while most others struggle with daily commutes, micro-managing bosses and cranky co-workers. Her inspiration comes from everywhere, but she’d particularly like to thank the Buffalo Sabres, the hockey team near and dear to her heart.

To learn more about Cassandra, check out her website at https://www.booksbycassandracarr.com; like her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraCarr, or follow her on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/Cassandra_Carr.

All About St. Patrick’s Day

It’s often said that on St. Patrick’s Day, everyone has green blood… now there’s an idea for a horror novel, or at least a paranormal thriller. Apart from knowing it’s an Irish holiday when people tend to drink too much, what else do you know about it?

Here are some myths and fun facts:

• Wear something green so you don’t get pinched. If you do get pinched, it was probably a leprechaun that did it.
• If you wear a “kiss me, I’m Irish” T-shirt, be ready to be kissed.
• The potato has always been a staple in the Irish kitchen. French fries are called chips, and potato chips are called crisps.
• Irish craic (having a blast) has nothing to do with American crack. If an Irish person says let’s have a bit of craic they want to have fun, not do crack-cocaine.
• The cow was an honored and respected creature in Ireland, and a main form of wealth in ancient Ireland.
• The little people, fairies and leprechauns, do exist. Leprechauns are the Tuatha de Danann (tribe of the goddess Danu) who moved below ground into the Otherworld when Ireland was invaded. They still come and go, and can bless or curse you depending on whether you amuse or irritate them.
• St. Patrick (whose name was Maewyn Succat) is the patron saint of Ireland and is said to have brought Christianity to Ireland. The ‘holiday’ has been celebrated for approximately 1,500 years as a religious holiday but only in the past few decades as a party event.
• St. Patrick is said to have driven all the snakes from Ireland. Snakes stood for wisdom and transformation, and were often associated with the Druids and pre-Christian beliefs that included gods, goddesses and otherworldly beings from other dimensions such as fairies, leprechauns and banshees. Many believe the true meaning of the phrase is that he drove the wise old pagans from the land. Snakes have returned to Ireland, and the old ways are flourishing again.
• The shamrock is said to have been one of his teaching tools. He demonstrated the three aspects of one God by way of the shamrock. It could have been used to teach of the ancient triple goddess of Ireland, too.
• Churches were erected on as many ancient sacred sites as possible to lure the pagans to switch over to Christianity.
• A fine traditional Irish meal is boiled ham and cabbage with mashed potatoes. You can wash it down with Irish beer or an Irish coffee.
• Respect all trees if you don’t want trouble with an irate leprechaun.
• If you actually travel to Ireland to celebrate the Green, White and Gold (flag), be careful where you walk! If you fall down a fairy hole it’ll lead you through a portal to The Otherworld and you may never make it back!

Perhaps March 17^th is St. Patrick’s Day, but being a rebel by nature, I tend to honor all things Irish, including the old ways, on that day. It’s more like “all things Irish” day.

If you’d enjoy a light and entertaining story to stoke your Irish spirit – a novella that will take you into the world I just described, I’ve got just the thing for you! To Kiss A Leprechaun is a grand and magical adventure, a sweet romance that can be enjoyed by all ages. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Think “Beauty & The Beast meets Sleeping Beauty”…

Lorcan, Prince of the Leprechauns, has been cursed by an ugly spell for centuries. Every year around St. Patrick’s Day he chooses a village girl to kiss. It brings prosperity and wellbeing to the seaside village of Glen Kisswich. This year Aine Byrne is the lucky lady – not! She doesn’t want to kiss a guy who’s uglier than a toad, prince or not. Besides, she’s got a crush on another guy. What’s a girl to do?

Only the kiss of Lorcan’s soul mate can lift the curse. What are the chances he’ll find his true love with a bloodline that blends human, fairy and mermaid? To make matters worse, somebody is determined to stop The Kiss from happening.

You’ll find alpha heroes in the Sheikhs of the Golden Triangle series and modern heroes in To Kiss A Leprechaun and Autumn Masquerade. More stories coming soon!

GEMMA JULIANA is a multi-published author who lives in an enchanted cottage in north Texas with her handsome hero, brave teen son and a comical dog who is really a human in disguise. She loves making new friends and hearing from readers. Exotic coffee and chocolate fuel her creativity. She writes romance, mystery and suspense with a splash of the paranormal.

Buy Gemma’s books on Amazon. Most are also available on BN, Kobo and Apple.

Connect with Gemma
GemmaJuliana.com | Twitter | Facebook

An Apocalyptic Hero

A hero is strong. He’s kind and sometimes ruthless. He’s protective of those who need to be safeguarded and, though he can be very tough, he’s also extremely fair. By definition a hero is larger than life…someone who goes above and beyond what most of us would do.

In romance fiction a hero is all of these things. He’s also a strong jaw, a muscular pair of arms, a broad chest, and a cut pair of abs. He’s sexy because of his strength as well as his physical attributes. So how do you take a romance hero to the next level?

Drop him into an apocalyptic world.

In a world plunged into chaos, where there are no rules to influence his actions…no guidelines for how to live…an apocalyptic hero unerringly finds his way along the right path even as his domain explodes around him.

Great physical strength, a finely tuned sense of right and wrong, and a soft heart hidden beneath a rock hard exterior…these attributes have even more significance in a deadly environment where it would be oh so easy to take the wrong course. Worse, in a world where everyone is fighting to survive, it’s a constant battle not to abuse power, succumbing to greed, hate, and selfishness. The true hero…the one with his moral compass firmly tuned toward North…is not only easy to love. He’s impossible to resist.

My hero, Audie Kord, in the soon to be released Tall, Dark & Apocalyptic, is just such a man. I can’t wait to share him with you on March 8th! In the meantime, here’s a taste:

A grand passion in an apocalyptic world. A love beyond reason and without boundaries.

He’s a warrior, a bounty hunter in a world turned upside down. She’s a target, a creature of dark magic. His job is simple. Kill the target. Her goal is more complex. She must stay alive until she finds and destroys the source of death magic staining the twenty worlds. But the passion burning within them may be their undoing. It’s going to take an apocalyptic will to overcome the distraction their bodies are creating…and not lose themselves in the process.

Book page with excerpt
Watch the video

5 Shooting Stars! Redz World Reviews:  “…reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet with a post world war feel. Even the secondary characters were unforgettable… Tall, Dark and Apocalyptic by Sam Cheever will engage you on multiple levels; many you won’t even realize until long after you finish the tale.”

EXCERPT

Yeira screamed as the delicious invasion sent her past the point of return. “I’m…” She screamed again as wave after wave of pleasure assaulted her…spinning her thoughts into formless creatures. Overwhelmed by a fireworks display of sensations repeatedly pelting her awareness, Yeira’s muscles tightened and the knot in her belly opened like a flower, letting the bliss it had been hoarding flow like lava through her unresisting body.

She barely hit the bottom of her orgasm before Audie had her in his arms. He carried her a few feet and lay her on the bed of leaves, covering her with his big body and clasping her hands in his, holding them above her head. Her knees opened of their own accord and she shimmied, trying to get his lovely cock between her legs.

But the hunter held her gaze, his face tense with need. His navy-blue gaze was serious, intense. “Are you sure, Yeira? I’ll suffer no regrets from our joining. I want you in my core. But I won’t do this if you aren’t certain.”

Yeira looked up into that penetrating gaze and felt a jolt of despair. Why was he asking her that now? She’d pushed her doubts away…hadn’t she? Of course she had concerns about what they were doing. It wasn’t smart…it wouldn’t end well…but she wanted him. So badly. Oh god, she didn’t want to think…

The hunter’s handsome face had turned more the iron mask with every thought that passed through her mind…as if he could hear each, damning one. Finally, frowning, he pushed away from her and stood.

Yeira sat up, terror clawing her throat. “Wait! Where are you going?”

Audie grabbed his discarded pants. “I told you, I’ll not take you if you aren’t fully sure it’s what you want.” He started to walk away.

“But I am…why are you leaving?” Even as she leapt to her feet, Yeira realized how desperate she sounded. She couldn’t seem to stop herself.

He turned back, closing the distance between them in two, large strides, radiating frustration. Every muscle in his body seemed made of iron. But his voice when he addressed her was filled with pain rather than anger.

It was like a razor across her heart.

“I’ve no doubt your body wants me, woman. I can smell your need…taste it on your lips. But it isn’t only your body I mean to claim. It’s your mind.” His lips opened as if there were more he wanted to say…but he shook his head and turned away from her.

Yeira watched his fine, naked form stalk away from her until it was consumed by the velvet darkness, and felt everything inside her melt down into a puddle of despair.

What had he seen in her eyes? And, whatever it was, why the hell hadn’t she hidden it better?

Available March 8, 2014!

Book page with excerpt
Watch the video

Tall, Dark & Apocalyptic will initially release as part of a box set entitled Tall, Dark & Alpha. As the name implies, this set features 10 hot Alpha heroes and the women who keep them on their toes.

Tall, Dark & Alpha Box Set

He makes your heart pound and melts your resistance away. He promises you a world of passion and you find it impossible to resist his dark charm. When he catches your eye across the room, you know he means business. He could be an executive, cop, shape shifter, or a bad boy looking for a little fun. Once he has you in his sights, you can’t get away—and after one sizzling night in his arms, you won’t want to. He’s Tall, Dark & Alpha. The alpha male is the ultimate indulgence…the richest dark chocolate…and we’re offering him to you in abundance.

Delve into the sensual worlds of award-winning authors: Randi Alexander, Koko Brown, Sam Cheever, Delaney Diamond, Eve Langlais, Afton Locke, Dawn Montgomery, Farrah Rochon, Paige Tyler, and Eve Vaughn. Immerse yourself in the alpha male experience.

Book page with blurbs

BIO

Award winning Sam Cheever writes romantic paranormal/fantasy and mystery/suspense, creating stories that celebrate the joy of love in all its forms. Known for writing great characters, snappy dialogue, and unique and exhilarating stories, Sam is the award-winning author of 50+ books and has been writing for over a decade under several noms de plume.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Blog | About.Me | Amazon Author Page

What is it about a print book?

For one thing, I’ve never had a print book go completely crazy and lock up because the cat walked across it, like my Kindle did last night. That was a moment of panic, let me tell you. I know all the books are backed up in the cloud so all wasn’t lost even if the device was somehow screwed up beyond redemption. But I was in the middle of a book and had just reached a suspenseful point when my big ginger cat managed to hit way too many buttons at once and confuse the poor device. I didn’t want to be interrupted to deal with a technology fail!

Books, on the other hand, don’t care if you drop them, sit on them, even spill your drink on them within reason. For several years, I had a copy of Interview with the Vampire that I’d left out in the rain. It looked funny, but was still perfectly readable, and since I was just out of college and on a tight budget, I hung onto it until I found another copy at a yard sale. Can’t do that with an ereader.

And of course, it’s easy and perfectly legal to lend a print book you’ve just finished to a friend or loved one, thus spreading the love, while only some ebooks are legally shareable. (We do not advocate book piracy!)  I have a long list of urban fantasy books I need to seek out in print just so my husband can read them. He’s not a fast reader and I don’t want to let the Kindle out of my hands long enough for him to use my device to read them.

But more than those practical factors, I find physical books comforting. Sometimes I actually cuddle them, like a child and her favorite stuffed animal. Piled up around me, they make me feel rich. (Drowning in clutter, but rich.)

All of this is a long way of getting to the announcement that Knowing the Ropes, a BDSM contemporary romance, is now available in print. Get one to hug and love. Share it with your friends. Send a copy to your technophobic elderly mom. (Okay, maybe not. But if your mom, like mine, is open-minded and unflappable and likes the occasional sexy book, it’s an option)

They’ve got the sex factor in spades. But can love survive the “ex” factor?

Selene has harbored kinky, submissive fantasies most of her life, but her experience as a domestic abuse counselor leaves her leery of giving up that much control. Case in point: the ex-fiancé she didn’t love quite enough to test the limits of trust.

At a BDSM meet-and-greet, she sets out to learn how far is too far. Nick seems like the ideal dom to show her the ins and outs of ropes, floggers, and paddles—with no commitment clause.

After losing a sub he loved too much, Selene’s country girl common sense and smoking sensuality is like a dream that Nick never dared to have—a perfect blend of kink and long-term domestic bliss.

Yet it’s tough to figure out just how far they can push their limits when they’ve both agreed to a no-strings affair. Especially when an ex needs Nick’s muscle and Selene’s counseling skills to get out of a dangerous situation. By then it may be too late for love to survive all the things they’re afraid to say.

Warning:  Sexy, kinky, geeky dominant guy. Smart submissive woman. Crazy ex. A little experimentation between girlfriends. And lots and lots of kinky sex.

Samhain|  Amazon| Barnes and Noble 

Excerpts at Samhain and here

Visit Teresa at www.teresanoelleroberts.com, like her FB author page , https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTeresaNoelleRoberts, and follow her on Twitter @TeresNoeRoberts. Be warned she talks a lot about cats, gardening and yoga, as well as books, at all these locations.

I recently released A Saint’s Salvation on February 10, 2014.  It is a military romance near and dear to my heart as I’m a Navy Veteran, my husband is a Navy Veteran and my son is a Marine. He is currently active duty in the Middle East.

My son had gotten a tattoo, St. Nicholas, before he went to Afghanistan.. Well, that tattoo just seemed to resonate with me, NOT that I wanted him to get one. But the stark black of the ink against his skin started my brain churning.

This book all started as a catharsis. I just started playing around and before I knew it, I had started A Saint’s Salvation. I missed him; we were buddies gaming together and generally being a pain in the butt to each other because we could. My hero ‘Saint’ took on characteristics of my son. ACK! I ended up putting it on the back burner because face it, it’s a romance and just ACK! No way could I write this kind of romance starring my son! LOL. So, when he came home safe and sound, I was able to separate my son from my character.

The beginning was pure emotion of his time there and the hurt he felt when his long time girl sent him a ‘Dear John’, over Skype. I could hardly contain my rage over his hurt. I’m pretty easy going but this was the first time he had been dumped. To make it worse, he was deployed with no contact and no recourse. Poor baby. I think I spent some time of everyday talking him through it. Combining it with things he saw he still refuses to talk about and a young man can get pretty messed up. But he came through it like the champ he is.

My son is a charming rogue, much like my character. At one point I know he was dating three girls. Periodically a young lady has come up to me and said ‘Your son’s an Asshole.’ Sadly I know this, and he makes no bones about it. Yet, they keep coming back like bees to honey. My son is a born Marine.  I don’t think he was meant to be anything else.

I tried to portray this in A Saint’s Salvation. I mixed up his emotions, what I observed of his behavior and came up with the charming rogue ‘Saint’ Nicholas Santiago.  According to one Marine that has read it, ‘Saint’ sounds like every Marine she has ever known.

The time with his family healing had me pulling characteristics from my family.  My mother in law really does bless us every time we leave to come home. She is a wonderful woman who is the matriarch of a wonderful family.

But the rest of the story is pure fiction. I have a vivid imagination, a pen that tends to write with steam and once I’ve figured out where I want it to go, I keep chugging along until I’m done. 5 beta reads, 3 editor back and forth sessions and a proof reading session and A Saint’s Salvation was ready for the spotlight.

So, here it is. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

A SAINT’S SALVATION
by Beverly Ovalle

Published by Secret Cravings Publishing
Released February 10, 2014

Angel’s life changed the minute Saint saved her from a grenade. Now Saint has a second chance to prove he’s the man for her.

Corporal Nicholas ‘Saint’ Santiago needs to go home to reclaim the man he used to be. To be the man he was before Operation Enduring Freedom slowly hardened his heart. He needs to reconnect to the values and the reasons he is doing what he does. Saint also needs to try to forget the courageous woman he knows was meant to be his.

Petty Officer Angelina Jones’ life changed the moment Saint saved her life. She survived the blast but now has to deal with the fact that she will never be whole. Knowing Saint received a ‘Dear John’ letter, Angelina has no intention of being his rebound romance. She needs to be loved for herself. She needs to forget about the one man she knows was meant to be hers.

They each try to find someone to help them forget.

But what does fate have planned for them?

Excerpt:

A shout from Hamilton brought him back to the here and now. “Hey, Saint, do you see any trouble coming?” On guard at the west wall, Nick shook his head. Not that it was much of a wall, a couple of sandbags holding up a makeshift bullet riddled wooden fence, an illusion of safety and security.

“No, it all looks clear.” Well, as clear as normal, Nick thought. The Seabees and the Army Corp of Engineers had done their best to give them a clear line of site, but the rubble of buildings and piles of rock where there used to be a town never seemed to go away. Rebels constantly hid there, randomly firing at their FOB, a forward operating base in Helmand Provence, making it almost impossible to build a more secure perimeter.

Nick could see kids playing in the dirt. In the distance the locals were harvesting the poppy fields. Some of the largest poppy fields in the world were right outside the walls of the FOB. Beautiful when in bloom, they were more pervasive and did more damage than the terrorists.

“Anymore threats?”

“When aren’t there threats?” Every damn day there were threats. “Why, is there a problem?”

“The brass is making noise. When they do something stupid, we end up paying for it.” Hamilton sounded disgusted. As Hamilton spoke, shots were fired over and through the fence, adding more holes to the dilapidated barrier. Nick and Hamilton hit the ground, rolling toward the sandbags to return fire through the cracks. “See what I mean?”

“Yeah it’s been a while since they shot at us, at least a couple of days.” Nick’s sarcasm caused Hamilton to laugh.

“Probably someone is coming to pick up something from the poppy fields and they want to keep us from seeing who.” Hamilton glanced at him. “You doing okay?”

“Gettin’ there. It was just a shock, ya know?”

“Yeah, damn women. The least they could do is be faithful while we’re out here fighting.”

“Yeah, it sucks. I just can’t help thinking it’s my fault.”

“Fuck. How the hell could it be? You weren’t even there. The bitch knew you were gone, were going to be gone.” They fired shots, aiming at the muzzle flash in the distance. More Marines headed their way, sprinting from cover to cover. Perez came running, bringing out ammo and providing more fire power.

Another crack and Perez went down with a cry.

“Fuck! Medic! Man down!” The cry went out, passed through until the call went to the corpsman, while Nick tried to stem the blood flow. Hands pushed his away. Nick looked up. Petty Officer Jones, better known as Doc, had bandages ready.

“Help me roll this on until we can get him out of here.” Her voice sent a ripple through him. Nick had always ignored the attraction he had felt for her. He’d had his girl back home, and fraternization out here could get him thrown in the brig. Not to mention the brig out here was a hell hole.

Nick was leery about approaching Doc now. The Dear John letter had been a shock. He had known Leila for years. Hell, they had been friends since they were little. Her betrayal was unexpected. Nick didn’t even really know Doc. He could trust her with his life, but he wasn’t ready for another go around with his heart, no matter the attraction he felt.

Nick looked toward the fence line, rifle at the ready. Shots were firing sporadically around him. That’s when he saw it, the trail from a grenade launcher, unmistakable. Shit!

Buy Links:
https://www.amazon.com/A-Saints-Salvation-Beverly-Ovalle-ebook/dp/B00II8OTU8/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-saints-salvation-beverly-ovalle/1118637570?ean=2940148157076
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-asaint039ssalvation-1425306-149.html
https://www.bookstrand.com/a-saints-salvation
https://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=824&zenid=0273b80c166317bb654c8145d5a109c2

Book Trailer:
https://youtu.be/yy8xo3zzFCU

Author Bio:

Beverly Ovalle lives in Wisconsin with her husband Edmond of 24 years and two Chinese Water Dragons. Having her own Dragons is expected as she is dragon crazy and anyone that walks in her house can tell. Her son Nicholas visits when he is on leave from the Marines.  Her daughter Susannah visits to grocery shop in the pantry and to see what might be cooking for dinner.

Beverly has traveled around the world thanks to five years in the US Navy and has worked for the government in one capacity or another for the past 30 years. Beverly and her brothers have travelled most of the continental United States as children due to the station wagon from Hell.  Still active with veterans, she is adjutant for her local AMVETS.

Beverly has been reading romances since her Aunt introduced her to the gothic romance in the fourth grade and is still reading every chance she gets.

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