AuThursday – Karenna Colcroft

Please welcome Karenna Colcroft to the Clog Blog!  Karenna, can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I live in Massachusetts with my husband and split time between the home he and I share and the home of my committed partner. I’m a nonbinary, polyamorous human, mother of two kids and a son-in-law, and grandmother of three. I’ve been writing since I was five years old, and I love stories that take place in “the real world” but have fantasy elements and things that (probably) would never happen in reality. Like werewolves.

How do you make time to write?

I’m partially disabled, so I don’t have a “real job.” Writing and holistic wellness practices are my full-time work, and I drive rideshare to support my writing habit. Since I set my own schedule, I can write whenever I want, and work the other things around it.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

Absolutely, though I have a different take on it. For me, “writer’s block” means “my brain is occupied with mental health issues or other things, and I can’t spare the bandwidth to think about stories right now.” I just came off a nearly 7-year period where that was the case; my July book release is the first new romance I’ve written since 2016!

Tell us a bit about the genre you write and why you love it.

I write paranormal romance (and occasionally contemporary); as I said above, I love stories that take place in “the real world” but have fantasy elements. Under other names, I also write contemporary fiction for preteens and teenagers, and metaphysical nonfiction.

How are you publishing your recent book and why?

Indie publishing. The July release is a new book but is part of a series that was published previously. Those rights were reverted to me in 2016. Since the books were published before, and I’m a bit of a control freak, I chose to self-publish this time around, including a few new books that I’m working on that will be part of the series.

Are you an Introvert or an Extrovert?  How does this affect your work?

Introvert. The biggest effect is in trying to connect with readers and other authors; I find that very difficult. It’s also reflected in my writing; my characters often have very little social life, because I simply don’t think about that kind of thing.

What is your favorite motivational phrase?

I don’t have one…

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

If you feel blocked, write something. Anything. It might not be part of what you’re “supposed to be” working on, but even a sentence is more than nothing. Also, if you plan to pursue publication, do your research on the companies you hope to work with.

Where can readers find you on the World Wide Web?

My website is karennacolcroft.com;

my Facebook author page is https://www.facebook.com/KarennaColcroft

AuThursday – Mia Sivan

Please welcome Mia to the Clog Blog!  Mia, Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I’m an Israeli who writes in English, and I wrote a romance novel set in Tel Aviv. The book is based on actual events that occurred in the Israeli financial market, and it draws from my experience as an investment manager.

How do you make time to write?

I am now writing almost full-time.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

It happened to me – so yes. But I found a way to get out of it (I’m willing to expound).

Tell us a bit about the genre you write and why you love it.

Steamy romance. I love it because there is always a HEA – BUT! since it’s established that all will end well I can raise social issues that are important to me and discuss them.

How are you publishing your recent book and why? 

Indie. I wanted full control over the content.

Are you an Introvert or an Extrovert?  How does this affect your work?

I’m more an introvert than anything else, but not really.

What is your favorite motivational phrase?

Even five written words a day – are words.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Persevere.

Where can readers find you on the World Wide Web?

https://www.amazon.com/author/miasivan

Do you have an excerpt you’d like to share with us?

First kiss:

“I want to kiss you before I go.” Her eyes finally smiled at him, and he didn’t wait for a more literal consent. He caught her lovely mouth, the mouth that he’d been fantasizing about for months on end. She tasted like honey, sweet and rich. He made a small, needy noise, and maybe she made one too.

Her hands held his face in place, bossy, so Kelly-like, and she angled her head just a bit and demanded his surrender, which he gave so willingly.

Then he asked her for a little bit more, diving in a little bit deeper, darting his tongue, asking for her capitulation. Which, incredibly, she gave.

Slava moaned pitifully.

He wished so badly, for so long, for her lips, and now he had it and he wished he hadn’t. They were like a black hole, these lips, swallowing light and reason. He stopped thinking, he couldn’t tell how it had happened, but he was hoisting her with his arms, laying her on the sofa, and kissing her some more—on her neck, her shoulders, then coming back again and again to her addictive lips. His leg gathered her to him, his hand cradled her head, drawing her closer, nestling her in his arms, the long, dangling earrings tangling in her hair. He pulled up for air.

Cover Reveal – Hiding from the Truth

Title: Hiding from the Truth

Series: Finding the Truth Series

Author: A.B. Medley

Genre: Romantic Suspense/Small Town

Release Date: August 16, 2022

Cover Design: Cover Me Darling (Marisa Wesley)

Secrets don’t keep.

Lucy’s are life-changing and dangerous.

Her darkest one is an abusive ex who will stop at nothing to control her, leaving only a smoking ember of who she used to be.

She thinks she’s alone in the battle to get her life back.

Then she meets Tate.

The one man who seems to tear down every defense she’s built around her heart.

The problem is…he doesn’t want a relationship and she wants it all.

Tate’s no stranger to secrets, but he’s content until he meets her.

At first sight, he’s enamored by Lucy.

But the more he discovers, the deadlier her truth becomes.

Now he’s determined to keep her safe whether she wants his help or not.

Suddenly— the ice around his heart is melting, leaving him helpless to fight his feelings for her.

Can they overcome their pasts and the real danger they face to give love a fighting chance, or will they keep hiding from the truth?

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

 

A.B. Medley lives in Tennessee with the love of her life and two sons. Her husband stole her heart when she was sixteen and their relationship is one of those meant to be love stories you find in magazines and novels.

She is a dental hygienist who loves to read and has always dabbled in writing. When she’s not making people’s smiles shine, she enjoys belting out songs with her boys, dancing, raspberries, baseball, and anything vintage. Like any proper Tennessean, Sundrop is her drink of choice.

She loves her family and friends fiercely and believes in always chasing your dreams.

Deception in the Truth is her debut novel—but now she’s hooked, and there’s more to come.

HOSTED BY:

First Friday Lunch – Conferences

99 cents Sale

My publisher Book Boutiques is running a sale on “Beauty is a Beast”, the Second Story in My Dealing with the Dead Trilogy.

Beauty Is a Beast

Welcome to the future! The year is 3025, and humans are fast becoming extinct. Nizhoni of Mojave Earth Clan knows her spirit guide will protect by giving her the power of the wolf. When she unwittingly bites another human, she flees.

Michael of the Air Clan has searched for the woman he calls Beauty; the one who turned him into a creature of the moon. When he finds her living among the Mojave, he believes he can finally claim her. There’s only one problem. She’s already married.

Together Nizhoni and Michael must battle her former lover, the Yee Naaldlooshi, or feared skin-walker. The fate of their love and humankind hanging in the balance. If Beauty can’t have her mate and save the world, she’s going to be a real Beast.

Amazon| Google | KOBO | iBooks | NOOK

New Release – Snow by Any other Name

Title:  Tales From the Frozen North Anthology featuring “Snow by any other Name,” by Tina Holland

Series: A Brave the Elements Short Story

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release Date:  Kindle Anthology March 15th. 

Editor: Robin Pope Cain

Cover Artist: Anthology Tiffany Fier 

Blurb:

Holly Frost has a problem. She can’t make it snow in Innocent, Minnesota. As a descendent of Jack Frost, she should be natural, but something is very wrong. She needs help so she goes to Sheriff Andy Finn.

Andy Finn is a grouchy, not-yet hibernating bear shifter. All he wants is for the snow to fly so he can get some sleep, but it’s forty degrees in December. When Holly Frost approaches him for help, he sets aside his dislike of the Frost family and does his job by taking her to a powerful elemental.

Excerpt: 

Sheriff Andy Finn watched as trouble—AKA Holly Frost—made her way towards him. What did the woman want?  Why did she look as if she had him in her sights? All he wanted was to manage this town of shifters and humans and make sure everyone got along. Having the fae parked in his backyard didn’t help, and he didn’t want to tangle with them any more than necessary. 

Andy had a job to do, and he did not need the distraction of Holly. It was bad enough he was still awake. As a bear shifter, he needed to hibernate, but his clock was off until the weather dropped below thirty-two degrees. It was nowhere near freezing, not even a frost—unless he counted the Frost standing in front of him. 

“Sheriff,” Holly sounded out of breath. “I need your help.”

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09T3N12GG/

About the Author:  

Tina studied journalism at University and then went to work for a fortune 500 company working Logistics for over 20 years.  She now writes full-time and helps her husband run his Crop Dusting business in the summer months.  When she’s not writing she likes to travel, read and spend time with her farm critters.  

Social Media Links:  

Website – www.tinaholland.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/author.tina.holland

Twitter – https://twitter.com/haveubeenaughty

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/tina_holland

Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/haveubeenaughty

Author Central – https://www.amazon.com/Tina-Holland/e/B003OLKLA6?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1647117774&sr=1-2

AuThursday – Raleigh Damson Snow

Tell us a little about yourself and your background?

Hi! I’m Raleigh, from Northern Ontario and a homeschooling mama bear to two. I thrive on coffee.

How do you make time to write?

Just like I make the time for anything else–it’s another ball to juggle. Sometimes that means getting up at 5 and joining in the #5AMWRITERSCLUB , sometimes that means saying, “in twenty minutes” to certain requests from my cubs.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

I think “writer’s block” is over hyped to the point where it has lost a lot of meaning. I think there are certain things in life that can cause you not to have access to your creative brian…I couldn’t write for three years after I experienced trauma and loosing that part of myself was a loss. Regaining it took time.

Tell us a bit about the genre you write and why you love it.

I am writing Steamy BDSM Contemporary Suspense Romance! I love that I get to play with fantasies, I love there is always a sense of danger lurking and most of all, I love giving readers the HEA they expect.

How are you publishing your recent book and why? 

Indie! It took me a long time to get here-to releasing books in a series and I want all the control.

Are you an Introvert or Extrovert? How does this affect your work?

Introvert! It affects my work because I work best if I can be immersive, in a silence house, lol-tand that doesn’t happen often.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

“Whatever you’re meant to do, do it now. The conditions are always impossible.” -Dorris Lessing.

These words remind me that there isn’t always going to be a quiet house or a good time or the dishes done, or other responsibiliteis I can put off…so I have to write, now however and whenever I can.

Where can readers find you on the World Wide Web?

I’m most active on twitter @DamsonSnow

AuThursday – Miriam Newman

Tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I began publishing poetry in my twenties but never attempted a novel until I was in my 50s, life as a wife, stepmother and social worker having gotten in the way. I’m now 30 books in, attempting my second retirement so I’ll have more time to write! Many of my books were written or started in Ireland, my second home. They range from historical romance to fantasy, fantasy historical romance and science fiction.

How do you make time to write?

Primarily by doing it when I should be sleeping, LOL.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

Absolutely. I have learned not to fight it. It will cure itself when it is ready. I think of it as incubation, because when it breaks, I write like a demon. So I know all those books were just churning around in there, unseen.

Tell us a bit about the genre you write and why you love it.

I am a true history geek. My reference library is somewhat staggering. I love writing historical romance because I can draw on some of the more fascinating nuggets I have discovered to craft a story. I say that I write “romance with realism.” Equally, I love fantasy historical romance because I can create my own worlds.

How are you publishing your recent book and why? 

My most recent release, “The Eagle’s Lady,” is through a publisher who published its predecessor, “The Eagle’s Woman.” I have also indie published a number of books, most notably The Chronicles of Alcinia. The Chronicles are a continuing project.

Are you an Introvert or Extrovert? How does this affect your work?

Totally an introvert. Because I thrive in solitude, it produces books at a rate that sometimes surprises me.

What is your favorite motivational phrase?

Butt in chair, fingers on keyboard.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Keep doing it! Even when you don’t think it’s good or what you want at the time, keep those scraps in your documents file. You will be surprised how many times they will come out just when you need them.

Where can readers find you on the World Wide Web?

www.miriamnewman.com

www.thecelticroseblog.blogspot.com

Do you have an excerpt you’d like to share with us?

The prologue to The King’s Daughter, Book I of The Chronicles of Alcinia, reflects my writing style:

“I was the King’s daughter once, so many years ago that sometimes now it is hard to remember. Before the tide of time carried away so many things, so many people, it was worth something to be the daughter of a King. Our little island nation of Alcinia was not rich, except for tin mines honeycombing the south. It wasn’t even hospitable. Summer was a brief affair and fall was only a short time of muted colors on the northernmost coast where my father sat his throne at the ancient Keep of Landsfel. Winter was the killing time and spring was hardly better, with frosts that could last into Fifth-Month. But from the south, where men cut thatch in a pattern like the bones of fish, to the north where rock roses spilled down cliffs to the sea, it was my own. One thinks such things will never change, yet all things do.”

AuThursday – Karen J. Hicks

Tell us a little about yourself and your background?

A Wisconsin farm girl now retired and living in Green Valley, AZ. Worked for author/comedian Steve Allen; comedian Richard Pryor; and the Oak Ridge Boys. Have published 7 books. Complete info on my website!

How do you make time to write?

By saying NO to things. It’s a small word that’s hard to say sometimes, but essential.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

Yep. Been there. Found THE ARTIST’S WAY a good book of exercises to work past it. Also STIRRING THE WATERS.

Tell us a bit about the genre you write and why you love it.

I’m all over the place. lol I’ve got a self-help book on being organized, another more spiritual self-help book on what birds can teach us, a biographical novel about the first woman to run for U.S. President (1872!) , a collection of O’Henry-type short stories, and a three-book romance series I call my Dream Series.

How are you publishing your recent book and why? 

First two books were published by traditional books-on-demand publishers. Now I self-publish through KDP.

Are you an Introvert or Extrovert? How does this affect your work?

People think I’m an Extrovert because I am very social, but I’m actually quite shy and very introspective so I’d call myself an Introvert.

What is your favorite motivational phrase?

This too shall pass.

Works for both positive and negative situations to keep me on track.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Write from your heart. Don’t overthink. Spew it all out on the page and then edit, edit, edit.

Where can readers find you on the World Wide Web?

http://www.karenjhicks.com

https://www.amazon.com

https://www.facebook.com/Karen-J-Hicks-109539650865598/

I’ve contracted my Regency Series!

!  After a year I’ve found a home for my latest series.  I’m happy to share that I will officially be joining the Authors at  Magnolia Blossom Publishing.

My first book in the series is “The Widow Spy”.  I will be sharing more in the months to come as I get cover art and have a release date.