Paul H. Magid - Lifting the Wheel of Karma - Author Interview

My thanks to Paul H. Magid for stopping by The Character Connection for an author interview during the blog tour for his book, Lifting the Wheel of Karma.

1. Who is your favorite character?
I consider my novel, Lifting the Wheel of Karma, to be my baby, so by extension, all of the characters are my babies. But if I have to make a literary Sophie's Choice, I have to go with my main character/protagonist Joseph.

2. Why is he/she your favorite?
He is my favorite character because endures unrelenting suffering, yet perseveres to emerge on the other side of The Dark Night Of The Soul.

3. How did you come to create him/her?
Joseph is a fictional character who evolved from my own spiritual journey.

4. When did he/she first enter your mind?
He came to me all the back in 1986.

5. Where was he/she given life in the creative process?
Joseph has been with me from the very start.

6. What do like the most about him/her and what do you dislike the most about him/her?
What I like most about Joseph is that he will not quit. I can't say that there is anything that I dislike about him. He does, of course, as a main character in a mythological story, have a flaw and it is his journey that helps him to become a fully evolved human being and spirit.

About the Book
Lifting the Wheel of Karma

Book Details:
Price: $15.00 paperback, $9.99 Kindle
Format: Paperback, Kindle
Publisher: Point Dume Press
Published: September 2011
Pages: 192
ISBN: 9780984016068
Genre: Fiction, Spirituality
Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kindle

Blurb:
A Profound Spiritual Journey of Extraordinary Healing and Redemption - a modern tale that harkens back to the myths of antiquity. It takes you on a remarkable journey, while exploring the themes of healing, redemption, forgiveness, sacrifice, and ultimately...peace within.

Joseph Connell is a gifted high school athlete from Montana, loved deeply by his family, yet tormented by nightmarish visions he can neither explain nor escape.

He believes the answer to what threatens to crush him can be found in the knowledge possessed by a mystical old wise man, who lives deep within the remote Himalayas of India.

If Joseph is ever to find the peace he so desperately seeks, he must get this wise old man to reveal what he truly knows, but that will not be easy…for this sage knows far more than he admits.

About the Author
Paul H. Magid

Paul H. Magid started writing his debut novel, LIFTING THE WHEEL OF KARMA, twenty-five years ago while still in high school. It took him so long to complete because he tried repeatedly to abandon it, but the work refused to be forsaken. Eventually he realized that sharing this story with the world was, in fact, his Dharma.

Along the way he has worked as a Wall Street financial analyst, a waiter (not a very good one), a Hollywood Agent Trainee, a real estate developer, a summer day camp director, an award winning screenwriter, and independent filmmaker—including his autobiographical film, A LIFE UNFINISHED, which screened in The Hamptons International Film Festival.

Connect with Paul:
Web Site
Facebook (book)
Facebook (author)

About the Tour

Tribute Books Blog Tours

Lifting the Wheel of Karma Blog Tour Site

Tour Participants:

January 1 (review)
Dad of Divas

January 2 (review)
Crazed Mind

January 3 (review)
Minding Spot

January 4 (review)
Live to Read

January 5 (review)
vvb32 reads

January 5 (author interview)
You Gotta Read Reviews Guest Blog

January 6 (review)
Tic Toc

January 6 (review)
Tribute Books Mama

January 7 (author interview)
Tribute Books Mama

January 8 (review)
Red Adept Reviews

January 9 (author interview)
I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

January 10 (review)
My Favorite Things

January 10 (review)
Knits & Reads

January 10 (review)
Adventures of Frugal Mom

January 11 (author interview)
The Book Connection

January 12 (review)
Book Dragon's Lair

January 13 (review)
Bibliophilic Book Blog

January 13 (review)
Concert Katie

January 14 (review)
My Tower of Books

January 15 (review)
Cheryl's Book Nook

January 16 (review)
Tribute Books Reviews & Giveaways

January 17 (guest post)
CMash Loves to Read

January 18 (review)
Community Bookstop

January 18 (review)
Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

January 19 (guest post)
Community Bookstop

January 20 (guest post)
Splashes of Joy

January 21 (guest post)
A Bookalicious Story

January 22 (author interview)
City Girl Who Loves to Read

January 23 (review)
The True Book Addict

January 23 (review)
Proud Book Nerd

January 24 (guest post)
Proud Book Nerd

January 26 (guest post)
Ascroft, eh?

January 27 (review)
Whispering Winds Book Reviews

January 28 (review)
Scorpion Stalking Duck

January 29 (author interview)
The Plot Thickens

January 30 (review)
Celtic Lady's Reviews

January 31 (author interview)
The Character Connection

Jennifer Ann Holt - Delivering Hope - Author Interview

Author Interview

1. Who is your favorite character?
That’s a tough one, because I really love all of the characters in Delivering Hope, but if I had to choose one, I would say it’s Olivia.

2. Why is she your favorite?
She’s real. She’s not perfect. She gets upset and cries and yells. She struggles, but she doesn’t give up. Plus, throughout it all, she wants to be happy, and she learns that happiness is possible, even when life doesn’t go the way you had planned.

3. How did you come to create her?
Olivia is the embodiment of so many of the feelings I had when I was struggling with infertility. I wanted her to be an honest and candid picture of a woman dealing with this struggle while going about the business of living her day to day life; going to work, dealing with friends and family, trying to live up to the expectations that she (and others) had for her life.

4. When did she first enter your mind?
Wow, it was more than four years ago. At that point, I felt that my family was complete (after 5 years of fertility treatments and two adoptions). I was writing some non-fiction stuff, and one day the idea came to me that I needed to write a novel about two women. One who couldn’t get pregnant, and one facing an unintended pregnancy.

5. Where was she given life in the creative process?
Right at the beginning. When I first came up with the idea for the book, I had a scene in my mind where this woman takes a pregnancy test and discovers that (yet again) she is not pregnant. That ended up being the opening scene for the book, and Olivia is the woman.

6. What do you like the most about her?
I like that she does everything that she’s “supposed” to do, and her life still doesn’t turn out how she wanted it to be; and I especially like that, in the end, she is able to let go of that plan, embrace a new one, and find hope and joy.

Book Summary

Olivia Spencer wants to be a mom more than anything else in the whole world, but years of infertility have wounded her soul and placed a strain on her marriage to Michael. Now, Olivia finds herself wondering if the life she has built will even survive.

Allison Campbell is a recent high school graduate who discovers that a moment of excitement has led to an unplanned pregnancy and an overwhelming heartache.

As the lives of these two women touch, you’ll see how deep love can pave the way for sacrifice and lead to the true source of hope, healing, and joy.

Published by: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Release Date: February 8, 2012
Genre: General Fiction / Women’s Fiction
Pages: 224
Price: $14.99

Available for pre-order at:

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599559021/sr=1-1/qid=1327008151/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1327008151&sr=1-1&seller=

Barnes and Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/delivering-hope-jennifer-ann-holt/1105707325?ean=9781599559025&itm=1&usri=delivering+hope

Author Bio

Jennifer Ann Holt grew up as a farm girl in Enterprise, Utah so she is very good at moving sprinkler pipe and mucking out calf pens. She can hold her own when handling a tractor as well. An avid reader singe age 4, Jennifer loves the power of the written word to heal, uplift, encourage understanding, bring people together, and entertain. She graduated Cum Laude from Brigham Young University, and went through 5 years of fertility treatments and was blessed with 2 adoptions to create her family of 3 beautiful children. She and her husband Shane have lived all over Utah from Enterprise to Logan and currently reside "north of the border" in Boise, Idaho. Besides reading and writing, Jennifer enjoys wakeboarding and visiting any zoo, aquarium, or museum with her daughter and two sons.

Connect with Jennifer:

http://www.facebook.com/DeliveringHopeNovel

http://www.twitter.com/JenniferAnnHolt

http://www.deliveringhopethebook.com

http://www.jenshopefulwriting.blogspot.com

Book trailer: http://www.bit.ly/peCixw

Leslie Soule - Fallenwood - Guest Post

My thanks to Leslie Soule for returning to The Character Connection for a guest post during the blog tour for her book, Fallenwood.

Guest Post

Hey there, everyone! Thanks for joining me here today.

Today I’d like to talk about character development and how I ended up creating the many characters that make up the fantasy world of Fallenwood. Well, let’s see – a character is made up of several things – a physical aspect, a personality, and a job description at the very least. When I first thought about writing Fallenwood, I didn’t think about the specific characters that I wanted to be there. Rather, I started with types of characters that I wanted to exist in my world. There’s a reason that credit card salesmen and telemarketers don’t appear in Fallenwood. I banished them to the Land of The Unmentionables.

I knew that with Fallenwood, I wanted to write about a sorcerer, a jester, a talking cat, a gypsy or two or three, maybe some pirates and a queen. Once I had the types down, I could start looking at them individually, giving them personalities and figuring out what their connections to each other might be and how they’d interact. I base a lot of the character actions on things people have said or things I remember people doing, or even ways I think they might act in certain situations. I’m no psychology major, so to me it makes sense to base the things that people do on things I’ve seen people do before.

Of all the aspects of character development, naming them is the hardest part for me. Sometimes, it’s important to me that a name means a specific idea or connects with it. For example, I named a wizard in Fallenwood “Hieropraxis” which means “sacred knowledge, put into practice”. It took me like a week to come up with that. Ash was easy since I had a co-worker named Ash. Greymalkin is the Old English word for gray cat. Paddock, which is the name of the castle toad, is an Old English name for toad. When I named Will, I was in love with Orlando Bloom (still am *sigh* - be still, my heart) and I named him after Will Turner from Pirates of the Caribbean. At the time, I was also reading Erasure by Percival Everett, hence Will’s last name, Everett.

So I guess that’s a long way of saying that character creation involves taking a bunch of things you like and smashing them together!

Thanks for joining me here today. If you’d like to be entered to win a gift card to Barnes & Noble, please leave a comment, along with your name and e-mail address.

About the Book
Fallenwood

Book Details:
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Published: March 2011
Genre: Fantasy
Format: ebook
Price: $5.99

Buy Links: Kindle, Smashwords

Blurb:
Fallenwood—a land where magic is the life force, dragons are sages, and wizards good and evil battle for supremacy. When 16-year-old Ash is thrust into the middle of Fallenwood’s power struggles, she is also forced to face her own inner battles. Life on Earth was hard enough on Ash, who is locked in grief for her stepfather. Now, the fate of Fallenwood rests on her shoulders. She must destroy the Great Crystal—the catalyst for all the land’s magic. As the kingdoms prepare for war, Ash must look inside to find the power to save the world, and herself.

Excerpts:

Tears blinded her. She couldn’t stop and even the rough winds couldn’t scatter the wild thoughts that swirled in her mind—memories of her stepfather, words that people had said at his service, images of her mother and that stupid grin she wore—all she could do was run. Ashley was deeply wounded but was powerless to heal this kind of pain. She’d looked into the face of evil. Her feet hit the gravel, and the wind whipped at her face as she tried to outrun her anguish. She closed her eyes for a split second, and the wind stilled, and she stopped. Ashley looked around her. It had suddenly become night, and she was now in an unfamiliar part of the woods.

***

The dragon’s eyes glowed, for a flickering moment, with white light.

“Ash,” the dragon continued, “Welcome to Terra Illumina…or as it is more commonly known, Fallenwood.” Then a fierce roaring laugh erupted from the stone, as though the dragon thought the new name a joke. “A dark, difficult, dangerous path lies before you, Ash Kensington.”

Ash’s heart grew heavy. In truth, she knew that she was destined to some terrible, dark fate. For so long, her life was filled with sadness and doubt, and one horrible thing after another. What else can I hope for?

“But Ash, you must not lose hope. Our world needs you..."

About the Author
Leslie Soule

Leslie Soule lives in Sacramento, California. Fallenwood is her first fantasy novel. She has received her B.A. in English from Sacramento State University and is currently working on her Master’s degree in English at National University.

Connect With Leslie:
Blog
Web Site
Facebook

About the Tour

Goddess Fish Promotions

GIVEAWAY:

Leslie will be giving away a $25 Barnes and Noble GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour as well as to the host with the most comments (excluding Leslie's and their own).

Encourage your readers to follow the tour and comment; the more they comment, the better their chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2011/11/virtual-book-tour-fallenwood-by-leslie.html

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

"But I’m supposed to believe that this is the man who will save my soul? There’s no question about what’s right and wrong up here. Down there, it becomes messed up so fast that I’m afraid. I’m afraid that Matt and I will make all the wrong decisions, and live our lives trying to be God instead of working for God.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks and the walls of the magic room began to change into somber shades of gray. Her powerful feelings melted the sunny portraits on the walls replacing them with desolate scenes of stranded souls begging for the Good Samaritan who would never come.

- Until Next Time: The Angel Chronicles, Book One
by Amy Lignor
Chapter Twenty-Three

Paul Oliver Westmoreland - Cardsharp - Author Interview

Author Interview

1. Who is your favorite character?
My favorite would have to be Cardsharp’s hero, Vincent Ward.

2. Why is he/she your favorite?
I like him for two reasons, mainly, the first is I think he’d be a good person to know, he very loyal, determined and interested in everything around him, particularly art. The second is, he’s great fun to write; he reacts well in a crisis, which there seem to be a lot of in his life, and he really pushes me to think of ways out of the situations he finds himself in, like foiling art thieves or even jail breaks.

3. How did you come to create him/her?
I started looking for a good hero readers could get behind, but I also wanted someone with a background that made them human, so they felt like a real person in an extraordinary world coping that drove them to be resourceful at every turn. Indiana Jones was a big inspiration in this.

4. When did he/she first enter your mind?
I started researching art and art crimes long before I imagined Vincent. I also left him out until after I’d developed a crime for him to uncover. Keeping your villains and hero separate for a long time can make for good drama when they crash into each other.

5. Where was he/she given life in the creative process?
Before I started writing the story or the book of Cardsharp, I wrote about 10,000 words and just took my hero for a test drive. This allowed me to try out his tone of voice, to see how he phrases things, how he acts and reacts, is he slick or is he slow? Subtle things mostly, but Vincent grew out of that. It’s a great way to get a feel for your character and the book I was about to write.

6. What do like the most about him/her and what do you dislike the most about him/her?
I most like and even admire Vincent’s determination. Most other people would give up long before Vincent, and that’s why he succeeds. Vincent is as human and he has faults, but I save all the dislikeable character traits for my villains, like the Wasp. And the brutal pirates at the end.

Book Summary:

Cardsharp: A Vincent Ward Adventure by Paul Oliver Westmoreland (aka POW)
Middle Grade adventure novel (UK author)

Cardsharp is an exciting adventure book for children set in the art world. Escaping house fires and fighting daring robbers is just the beginning for art researcher, Vincent Ward, and these battles do little to prepare him for the exciting adventure that unfolds. An old journal discovered at an auction in Rome puts Vincent on the trail of an undiscovered painting by one of art history’s most notorious masters, Caravaggio. But paintings this rare and valuable are sought after by more than just collectors and galleries. Vincent soon finds himself on the run from a brutal and lawless policeman, a gang of international criminals, and fighting vicious pirates.

There are stings, tricks and conspiracies around every corner, and bullets flying from the shadows. Only The National Gallery, London is safe for Vincent and the painting. But is there a way back? Get ready to be thrown into the world of Vincent Ward, where getting through each day alive just isn’t enough.

Kat Henry Doran - Mad Dog and the Archangel - Guest Post

Guest Post

"How I develop characters in my writing"
by Kat Henry Doran

For me, a story begins with the picture—of a man, woman, perhaps an event. From there, I build characters based on facial gestures and body types which, for me, automatically predicts the occupation. I then complete a multi-page character outline which includes the character’s likes and dislikes in the clothes they wear, cars they drive, income and occupation, family of origin and friends or associates. By the time I've got the first under wraps, and there's always room for tweaking, I've got a pretty good idea about the opposite’s physical features, occupation [former , perhaps current], what they like to eat, read, watch on TV, clothes and car choices. It's important for both be the direct opposite of each other in almost every way, right down to their choices in restaurants and music. I find this process relaxing as well as stimulating; it helps me build the plot. Names and titles often come later in the process.

The hero of one of my earlier novellas is patterned after the English actor Daniel Craig whose face perfectly matches the taciturn county sheriff Rory McElroy from Embraceable You. I took the hero for my first full length novel, Captain Marvelous, from a cologne ad in Vogue Magazine.

My current release, Mad Dog and the Archangel, began with a picture of the actor Lou Diamond Phillips who I felt epitomized the look of the tortured hero, Rafael Archangeli. One of the secondary characters in Mad Dog, a pro hockey player turned attorney, came from an article about the NHL strike several years ago. The player had a don't-mess-with-me look in his eye that spoke to me.

I have on occasion based characters or incidents from my life as a nurse, later as a victim advocate. The core of Raising Kane, part of the Out of the Dark anthology for The Wild Rose Press, is based on a Take Back the Night march, protesting violence against women. The heroine, an investigative reporter covering the protest is arrested after the march evolves into a riot. The hero, a Public Information Officer for the local police department, has the job of putting a positive spin on things events and keep public pressure off the cops and onto the true criminals. I had a lot of fun with that story.

The premise for my second full length novel, Try Just Once More, arose out of a newspaper article about a local philanthropist who died in a seamy motel of a drug overdose after partying with paid escorts. The escorts were eventually tried and convicted of manslaughter claimed the philanthropist 'begged them to help him shoot up'. He may well have done that, beg them to give him the drug, but they always had the right to say no and walk away. They elected not to do that. I chose to focus my story on the family and how a crisis like this can have long lasting effects on the innocent wives and children.

And that's how I develop my characters.

Thanks for inviting me to visit your blog. You've made me think about things which in turn gave me some ideas for new stories.

Blurb

Rafael Archangeli returns home to Summerville to bury an old friend, collect his inheritance, and then return to the only life he knows—conning wealthy women out of their money. In Rafe's world, money not only equals success, it goes a long way to obliterate the stigma of his past.

Grace Dunavan, former nun turned community activist, gave up worldly goods a long time ago with no regrets. But she's never known a man with the raw appeal of the Scourge of Summerville: Rafael Archangeli.

Their first meeting is like an errant strike of lightning, fierce and stunning in intensity, and takes both by surprise. Has Grace turned Rafe into a changed man? Or is he using his inheritance to pull off the biggest scam of his life?

Excerpt #1

Safety First.

A personal motto that served Grace Dunavan well for the past thirty-something years. She never picked up strange men. In fact, she rarely dated men, strange or otherwise. And wasn't she the first to preach the wisdom of obtaining a detailed history—family, medical and sexual before contemplating a walk on the wild side? With any man, including the brother of her best friend.

Especially one whose thick mop of jet colored hair, hooded black eyes and razor-sharp cheekbones, all of which held undeniable appeal for a good girl who always did what the nuns and her parents dictated. With a name like Archangeli he should be a protector, not a walking advertisement that proclaimed: I've Been There, Done That; Let Me Tell You All About It.

As he helped her into her coat, Grace heard Gaby murmur something about an attorney who was trying to track down Rafe. None of it made sense. What woman in her right mind could think straight when faced with a man who redefined potency?

It was a night of firsts for Grace: leaving a party with a man she'd never met before; admitting how and where she'd learned to drive; breaking the land speed record for contemplating her first one night stand.

Excerpt #2

“For the last time, Arch, how long do you plan on sticking around?”

It dawned on him that Rory was only doing his job. Christ only knew how this scene would have turned out if it was Dickhead standing here, though blood and gore likely would be involved.

More for dramatic effect, Rafe heaved a deep sigh. “For old time's sake, Sheriff, I'll answer your questions. I came back for Deege's funeral and to spend quality time with my sister. I saw Ryder Burke this morning who told me I was left something in the will. I'll be gone by the weekend.”

The sheriff nodded, just once. “A couple weeks ago, Burke asked me to run a list of names for wants and warrants. Your name took the top spot. Didn't take a rocket scientist to deduce it had something to do with Deege's will. I suggest you keep your word on your travel plans.”

“My record is clean.”

“Save that song for some other numb nuts, Arch. Just because the New York City courts haven't seen fit to convict your ass on grand larceny and other assorted grifts does not make you citizen of the year.”

That pretty much summed up the life and times of Rafael Archangeli. “As I said, Sheriff, I'll be out of your hair inside forty-eight hours.”

“After you’re gone, I'd hate to learn you've worked a scam on a fine woman like Grace Dunavan.”

“That a threat?”

“Leave it at a warning—for now.”

Bio

Over the years I've had the honor to work at a number of occupations: operating room nurse, malpractice insurance investigator, forensic nurse examiner, victim advocate, wife and mother. Five years ago I became Nana for the first time and, believe me, it’s the best job ever!

Even if I sometimes wish they'd remain in the closet, the years I spent in the OR and labor floor, and later advocating for victims of sexual violence, contribute significantly to the voice of my writing. You don’t spend thirty years playing loyal serving maid and mind reader to egotistical surgeons, then twelve years haunting police stations, Emergency Rooms, and criminal courts without developing an internal alarm system for covert misogyny, rampant apathy, and overwhelming bigotry.

I retired my stethoscope and speculum a few years ago but continue to advocate quietly for marginalized populations through Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders.

I like hearing from readers. You can contact me through my website: www.KatHenry.com, or blog: www.WildWomanAuthor.blogspot.com

Giveaway:

PLEASE MENTION THE PRIZE THAT THE AUTHOR WILL BE GIVING AWAY: a Funky Bag and a Toiletries Bag from Kats Kustom KarryAlls, filled with author swag to one random commenter on the tour as well as to the host with the most comments (excluding the host's and Kat's). US and Canada only, please.

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted here, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Until Next Time
The Angel Chronicles
Book 1
by Amy Lignor
Publication Date: February 1, 2012

How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul?

Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache.

When the reason for their training is finally revealed, the angel/warrior team find themselves thrust into a world they know nothing about. Matt takes over the life of Daniel, a young man with a great deal of baggage. Emily becomes Liz, a girl living in a remote village who relies on nothing more than her own strength to survive. A violent storm erupts one night, and framed in the window of Liz's establishment is a frightening face. Let in by the soul of a Good Samaritan, the two visitors bring with them a past full of secrets that could literally change an angel's path and a warrior's plans.

From murder to redemption, this angel/warrior team must find a way to keep the faith they have in each other in a world that's ripping them apart.

GoodReads link to Until Next Time

Lynn Hardy - Prophecy of the Flame - Author Interview

Author Interview

1. Who is your favorite character?
I would like to say my favorite character is the main one, Reba, but to tell the truth, Prince Szames is my first choice.

2. Why is he/she your favorite?
Szames is the ultimate “knight in shining armor.” He’s kind, compassionate, ready to save a damsel in distress at a moment’s notice - not to mention, totally hot!

3. How did you come to create him/her?
My book was based on a set of dreams. If you changed the order and filled in the blanks, you have the basics for my Prophecy of the Flame series. I went to school with two of the hottest guys on the planet. One was the inspiration for Alexandros and the other Szames. Although the man - or teen boy - I knew hadn’t matured into Szames yet: the character is what I always hoped he would become.

4. When did he/she first enter your mind?
About 10 years ago was when I had the dreams. I spent many nights fleshing out the story before I began to write. After the story was complete, I had my kids and put the project away for many years. Four years ago, I picked up the project again and began the road to self-publishing.

5. Where was he/she given life in the creative process?
The story centered around Szames and his connection to Reba. He was with me from the beginning.

6. What do like the most about him/her and what do you dislike the most about him/her?
The thing I like most about Szames can’t be easily found in the pages of the book, but is clearly revealed in the full-cast audio, unabridged audio book. Szames has as deep, sexy, bedroom voice: filled with strength and power that is a perfect match to his incredible good looks.

Book Summary

In a blinding flash of light, five nondescript strangers are yanked from this world and thrust into a land of sorcery. Transformed into the characters they were pretending to be; Archmage Reba, Jamison the healer, Jerik the dwarf, Charles the prince charming, and Allinon the druid elf blend twentieth century technology with the supernatural powers of this new world.

This band of wannabe heroes soon discovers that having the powers you have always dreamed of, does not make life a dream come true. The Crusaders of the Light struggle to form a cohesive band as they fight to liberate the kingdom of Cuthburan from the evil horde threatening humanity.

For those who believe the struggle of love adds a greater depth to any story, the romantic thread in Book One is explored in greater depth in this version.
Battle is also waged within Reba, an ordinary housewife who has become the most powerful mage on the planet, as she struggles to remain true to her wedding vows. Drawn against her will to the arms of Prince Alexandros, Reba must choose between the prophesied marriage to a handsome prince in a magical world or returning to the husband she left behind.

ORDER YOUR COPY HERE:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Author Bio

Led by a series of dreams and encouraged by friends, Lynn Hardy began the journey to become an author. She stored her work in a computer file labeled “second job.” Writing began as a passion she could not contain and has become much more than she ever expected.

Lynn has attended many science fiction conventions and has had the privilege of serving on panels about writing. Renaissance fairs are another favorite event for the author. Seeing others dressed in costume (as she always is during book signings) makes her feel right at home.

The real shock came at a chance meeting in a videogame store in 2008. It took several meetings before she realized JR was a CEO and Hippocrit Games was offering her a contract: they were not just making small talk about what a great videogame her book would make. Hippocrit plans to launch their new company with the release of Prophecy of the Flame, the live action videogame, in Fall 2010.

In reality, Lynn is overcome with compassion for families who are suffering through the recession and so she has created Agape Assistance. Knowing that times are hard for everyone, Lynn wants to give back to those who join Agape Assistance in providing shelter for families who are homeless. Buying Book One will provide a book for you and a bed for them. 100% of the proceeds from Prophecy of the Flame: Book One go to Agape Assistance. (AgapeAssistance.org)

Lynn is now a stay-at-home mother of two. The road has been longer and more complicated than she would have ever guessed–not always smooth, but filled with wonderful surprises. Like most stories, Lynn is sure that her journey has only just begun.

The Prophecy of the Flame is being made into a movie by a independent film company, which is very exciting for Lynn and her book.

Connect with Lynn:
Facebook



Lightning Book Promotions

Tour Schedule

January 15th Mary Ann @ Chapter by Chapter (guest post only)

16th Jacque @ Good Family Reading

17th Nikki @ Close Encounters with the Night Kind

18th Connie @ Character Connection (interview only)

18th Rebecca @ Everything To Do With Books

19th Divya @ Bookish Delights

20th Louisa @ Words I Write Crazy

21st John @ Incessant Droning of a Bored Writer (guest post only)

21st Becky @ Inquisitive Hippo

22nd Aine @ House Millar

Marie Astor - On the Rim of Love - Author Interview

Author Interview

Hi and thank you for inviting me to the Character Connection – I am very excited to have this opportunity to talk about my latest contemporary romance novel, On the Rim of love.

1. Who is your favorite character?
I would have to say that in On the Rim of Love, Taylor Denton is my favorite character.

2. Why is he/she your favorite?
I really admire off-piste skiers and the courage it takes to engage this dangerous pursuit. When I was writing Taylor’s character, I gave him the qualities that, in my opinion, would be required to lead the lifestyle that he leads. There are not too my white knights in real life, so I enjoyed creating Taylor’s character immensely. That being said, Taylor is far from perfect – he too has flaws – as they still water runs deep….

3. How did you come to create him/her?
When I was thinking for a setting for On the Rim of Love, I thought that it would be an interesting premise to set the love story at a ski town. I think that there is something special about the atmosphere of ski towns and the people who inhabit them. And then I started thinking about Taylor…

4. When did he/she first enter your mind?
Taylor’s character entered my mind pretty much at the inception of the book – I was looking for a hero and Taylor’s image materialized in my mind.

5. Where was he/she given life in the creative process?
As Taylor and Maggie grew to know each other more, so did I grow to know Taylor better, and he became more real to me with every page.

6. What do like the most about him/her and what do you dislike the most about him/her?
I admire Taylor’s fearlessness, his zest for life, and his rigid set of moral principles. That being said, very often our strengths become our weaknesses, and I dislike Taylor’s stubbornness and his lack of caution, which at times borders on recklessness.

Book Summary

Maggie Robin has been dating the irresistibly good-looking, successful Jeffrey Preston for two years. But when Jeffrey proposes marriage a week after Maggie’s college graduation, she is no longer sure if she wants to marry a workaholic TV producer.

Her doubts culminate when during a ski trip to British Columbia, Maggie meets Taylor Denton, a handsome, free-spirited big mountain skier who is the complete opposite of Jeffrey. It does not take Maggie long to realize that she has fallen in love with Taylor and she decides to break off her engagement with Jeffrey. But just when she thinks she has found the love of her life, an ill-fated misunderstanding tears Maggie and Taylor apart.

A week later, Maggie is told that Taylor has died in a tragic ski accident; yet, her heart refuses to believe in Taylor’s death. When Maggie returns to Taylor’s native town, she learns that Taylor is indeed alive, but has been seriously injured. Resolved to bring her lover back to life Maggie stands by Taylor’s side, convincing him to embrace life again.

Author Bio

Marie Astor is a die-hard romantic who wholeheartedly believes in true love, which is why she writes in the contemporary romance genre.
Marie is the author of contemporary romance novels, On the Rim of Love, Lucky Charm, and a short story collection, A Chance Encounter and Other Stories.

In addition to being a writer, Marie is an avid hiker, an excellent swimmer, and a good skier.
Currently, Marie is working on her next novel - stay tuned for details! If you would like to receive updates about book releases and events, please visit Marie’s website at: www.marieastor.com or visit Marie at her Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/marieastorcollection and Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/marieastor.

On the Rim of Love – contemporary romance about the unexpected power of love.

Available on Kindle for $2.99 (235 pages)

http://www.amazon.com/Rim-Love-Contemporary-Romance-ebook/dp/B005TOWI7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325643233&sr=8-1

Giveaway

Marie will be awarding a custom made jewelry set (necklace and earrings) to one randomly chosen commenter and to the host with the most comments (excluding the host's and Marie's) -- US / Canada only, please.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2011/11/virtual-book-tour-on-rim-of-love-by.html

Terri Reed - The Secret Heiress - Author Interview

Author Interview

1. Who is your favorite character?
In The Secret Heiress my favorite character was Don Cavanaugh, the hero of the story.

2. Why is he/she your favorite?
He’s my favorite because he had several issues to work through, but was honorable and kind, yet flawed.

3. How did you come to create him/her?
I started writing knowing very little about him but as the story progressed he became more complex and three-dimensional. It’s always enjoyable to get to know the characters.

4. When did he/she first enter your mind?
He started out as a throw away character in my 2009 release, Chasing Shadows. He was hired as a bodyguard to protect the heroine of the book, but he wasn’t the hero. He almost died in that book. So when I decided to continue to write books with bodyguards, it seemed appropriate to give Don his own book.

5. Where was he/she given life in the creative process?
He really came to life for me around chapter four or five when I realized that he was dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

6. What do like the most about him/her and what do you dislike the most about him/her?
I liked how thoughtful he was toward Caroline and how protective. I didn’t like how he kept pushing her away emotionally. But eventually she and I wore him down. It is a romance after all!

Book Summary

A Shocking Revelation

Finding out she is heir to a fortune shocks Caroline Tully to her core. And to “qualify” for the inheritance, she just has to visit her newfound grandfather’s Mississippi home from Christmas to New Year’s. Adopted as a baby, Caroline knows nothing about her mother’s family...and doesn’t realize they can’t be trusted. When attempts are made on her life, there’s only one man who can protect her. Donovan Cavanaugh—a man who made her lonely heart want to love again. Posing as her fiancé, Don promises to find the would-be killer. But will his protection-and his love-be enough to keep her safe?

Protection Specialists: Guarding the innocent.

Excerpt:

Tears shimmered in her eyes. “Don, I need to hire you.”

Absorbing the announcement with surprise, Don was at her side in two strides. “Come, sit down.”

“Come, sit down.” He took her by the arm and led her to one of the cushy sofas. “Tell me what’s happened so we can figure out what to do next.”

“I—” She took a shuddering breath. “Someone tried to kill me. My apartment door was wired with explosives. The police are investigating.”

Don sucked in a sharp breath of shock. A bomb. His right hand flexed, stretching the scar tissue along the outer edge. His gaze went to the bandage on her head. “Are you okay?”

She touched her fingertip to her forehead. “Yes. A mild concussion. My hearing still isn’t completely back and part of my front door hit me in the head.”

He sent up a silent prayer of thanksgiving that she hadn’t suffered worse injury. There was no mistaking the fear on her pretty face. He understood. He’d felt the same way the first time he’d faced a life-threatening situation during his military tour. Only time and repeated exposure to war had dulled the panic. His faith had kept him sane. But this wasn’t a war zone. Caroline shouldn’t have to be afraid in her own home.

Dubbed the best in the business of protection, Trent Associates employed ten operatives, all highly trained with either a background in military like Don or in law enforcement. “You did the right thing coming here. Start from the beginning. Tell me everything.”

Author Bio

At an early age Terri Reed discovered the wonderful world of fiction and declared she would one day write a book. Now she is fulfilling that dream and enjoys writing for Steeple Hill. She is an active member of both Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers. She resides in the Pacific Northwest with her college-sweetheart husband, two wonderful children and an array of critters. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, gardening and playing with her dogs.

http://www.loveinspiredauthors.com

http://www.craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com

http://www.eharlequin.com



Giveaway

Terri will be giving away a $10 Visa GC for both blog host with most comments and one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Encourage your readers to follow the tour and comment; the more they comment, the better their chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2011/11/virtual-book-tour-secret-heiress-by.html

Sallie Lundy-Frommer - Yesterday's Daughter - Author Interview

My thanks to Sallie Lundy-Frommer for stopping by The Character Connection for an author interview during the blog tour for her book, Yesterday's Daughter.

Author Interview

1. Who is your favorite character?
Okay, this should be an easy question to answer, but it isn’t. I’m torn between four characters in my book. They are all my favorites, in different ways, for different reasons. I guess you figured out I’m hedging answering this question. Okay, okay I’m getting around to it. Sapphira is my favorite character; there, I said it. If I have to choose only one character as my favorite, it’s Sapphira.

2. Why is he/she your favorite?
Sapphira’s my favorite because she evolves into a force to be reckoned with. I love the roller coaster journey she takes the reader on. She is not the only character that experiences highs and lows. But, Sapphira’s journey is unlike the others because she must struggle with the revelations that impact her very identity and destiny.

3. How did you come to create him/her?
Sapphira is the product of my dreams, plain and simple.

4. When did he/she first enter your mind?
Sapphira first entered my dreams approximately five years ago. It took me a while to gather the courage to begin the process of writing her story. But, I had to write this book; there was no getting around it. Sapphira and Malachi’s story became a waking distraction until I began to write.

5. Where was he/she given life in the creative process?
Sapphira was given life the moment she first appeared in my dreams. There was no specific point in the story where she was given life or entered the story. In my creative process, Sapphira is like the Alpha in the biblical sense; she was just there. She is the beginning.

6. What do you like the most about him/her and what do you dislike the most about him/her?
What I like most about Sapphira is her independence. Sapphira is a survivor and is accustomed to handling her problems. She’s never had a support system, as a consequence of her need to keep her differences secret. She is use to handling everything on her own. But it’s also her independence that I dislike at times. We all need help from time to time and need to be willing to ask for it. Sapphira learns this lesson the hard way.

About the Book
Yesterday's Daughter

Book Details:
Price: $12.99 paperback, $9.99 ebook
Format: Paperback, ebook
Publisher: Self-published
Published: January 2011
Pages: 250
ISBN: 9781460925232
Genre: Vampire Romance
Buy Links: Amazon, Kindle, Nook, Smashwords

Blurb:
An emotionally laden paranormal vampire romance novel woven with layers of betrayal, love and loss.

Grace Stone, who later learns her true identity is Sapphira, is a loner who survives abuse in the foster care system after being abandoned as a child. A brilliant student, she escapes from her brutal foster parents as a teenager and creates a life for herself. But, her life is little more than existence; plagued with questions about what she really is, a family that she has never known and the never-ending need to keep her differences hidden.

She is alone and lonely, believing it will always remain so until Malachi appears in her life. Malachi, a Guardian of the vampire communities, has searched for his life mate, Sapphira, for decades. He refuses to cease searching for Sapphira even though she is believed dead by all. Conflict arises over the decades between Malachi and his family because of his refusals to accept another mate. But his very soul drives him on to continue his search, knowing that he could not exist if Sapphira were not in the world, somewhere.

About the Author
Sallie Lundy-Frommer

I can’t remember a time when vampires have gotten more attention. With shows like True Blood, The Vampire Diaries and Being Human and popular books like the Twilight and Dark Series, it’s seems like they’re everywhere. Vampires have always been my favorite supernatural characters. But why? Why am I fascinated with these fantasy beings? Why are you? My interest drove me to write a book, Yesterday’s Daughter. But I could have written about anything, werewolves, cat people or some other paranormal beings, but I chose vampires. Why, I wrote about vampires? I’m not sure I can fully explain why. Maybe I chose vampires because they exude prowess and majesty. But, that would be an all too simple answer. And when I think about it, I know it’s not a complete answer. But it’s a start. What do you think? Why are so many people so interested in these mythical creatures.

As for me, I was born on a farm in the rural South to a family of migrant farm workers. At an early age,my family moved to the urban North-East. Now I live in the suburban North-East with my husband and a large assortment of plants. I hold bachelors and masters degrees in Human Resource Management and currently work in the health care industry.

Connect with Sallie:
Web Site
Facebook (author)
Facebook (book)
Twitter
Blog

About the Tour

Tribute Books Blog Tours

Yesterday's Daughter Blog Tour Site

Tour Participants:

January 2
Sapphyria's Book Reviews

January 3
Unabridged Bookshelf

January 4
BookChowDown

January 5
The Ink Puddle

January 6
Paranormal Indulgence

January 7
The Writer's Voice

January 9
Addicted to Romance

January 10
The Character Connection

January 10
Mom in Love with Fiction

January 11
The Plot Thickens

January 11
Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance

January 12
Books-n-Kisses

January 13
I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read!

January 13
Reader Girls

January 16
City Girl Who Loves to Read

January 17
Xpresso Reads

January 17
The Wormhole

January 18
Lisa's World of Books

January 20
Mrs. Papillion The Book Worm

January 24
vvb32 reads

January 30
From the TBR Pile