Power Crafting

By Stephanie Beck

I write a lot. Not as much as I should, but I’m working on it. After a particularly long jaunt of writing, I find myself with itchy hands—hands that need to do something creative that will actually give me something tangible. That’s the thing about writing. Even if a book goes to paperback, the writer won’t be able to hold it for months—probably more like a year or so. What to do until then? I know, write more, but at some point I need something to hold, something physical to show a win.

My friends call me a chronic crafter. They tease me and tell me to quit making stuff—unless I’m making it for them. Maybe I overdo a bit. I spend hours, days, sometimes weeks crafting characters who will be immortalized on paper or ebook. Those characters and worlds I build with words can be taken out with the delete key—trippy to think about. No wonder I want to knit and sew and craft—if I do have to hit that delete key, at least I have something to show my creativity brings fruit once in a while.

Are you a crafter? What’s your crafty win? Stop by my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBeckAuthor or Pinterest page http://www.pinterest.com/Stephbeckpin/ and show me a picture. I’m always looking for new projects. I’ll show you a few of mine, too!

It took months, but here’s my latest ‘craft’ from Decadent Publishing.

Alice’s Dragon

   Dragon Charmer—taking care of your pesky dragon problem—for a price.
   Business is good for Alice, right until her dragon goes crazy and bites off her arm. To make matters worse, a tall, dark stranger kills the cash-cow dragon before her eyes.
   Instead of dying from her wounds, Alice finds herself under the tender care of Bade, a gentle-handed Bulgarian far from home with secrets in his satchel.
   If they can scratch each others backs, the secrets might live on and Alice might still have a job. She’s never backed down from a challenge, but she’s in for more than she bargained for with the tall, dark stranger.

All the best,

Stephanie Beck

Character Excuses

Available HERE

By Stephanie Beck

Ever read a story and have a character fall back on an excuse so vague and off putting you scowled at them? I have. M husband laughed at me when I was sitting in bed, harping at a character who just dropped ‘Well, I’m only human’ as an excuse for not following through on a promise.

It’s bogus! I hate that phrase—my friends have heard this rant and I have gotten the eye rolls, for sure, so I know not everyone agrees with me. In my experience, unless you are faced with a task beyond the ability of the human body, and beyond what a human mind can maneuver, you need a better excuse. Otherwise, the real reason was either a lack of time, a lack of planning, miscommunication—very individual, fixable, nameable things. When using ‘I’m only human’, by golly the problem should be fixable in circumstances when another animal or a machine could have accomplished it. Someone asking you to be a golden retriever....well, I think I would be okay with a pass on that one.

In my world, I see humans doing amazing things—so I have this real love for humans (that gets difficult at times, for sure), so I don’t like using my human nature as an excuse for anything. Real humans have flaws and struggles, certainly, but those same humans shine. I like characters that do the same. Mistakes are made (I’m more okay with ‘nobody is perfect’ as a general reminder—but not used as a cop out) and it is totally on the person or character how to go forward. So many great stories have come from choices people and characters make.

And so many trigger points are hit with a single, usually bad, excuse. For drama sake, things like ‘I’m only human’ certainly need to be in play, but good grief, if you hear me say it, please hit me with the ‘buck up’ shovel.

Do any phrases land on your radar? Do you use them? Love them? Hate them?

I’m happy to offer an ebook of my book, Alice’s Dragon—part of Decadent’s Challenge Series, to one lucky commenter today—so be sure to leave your email address!

Blurb: 

Dragon Charmer—taking care of your pesky dragon problem—for a price.

Business is good for Alice, right until her dragon goes crazy and bites off her arm. To make matters worse, a tall, dark stranger kills the cash-cow dragon before her eyes.

Instead of dying from her wounds, Alice finds herself under the tender care of Bade, a gentle-handed Bulgarian far from home with secrets in his satchel.

If they can scratch each others backs, the secrets might live on and Alice might still have a job. She’s never backed down from a challenge, but she’s in for more than she bargained for with the tall, dark stranger.

Don’t want to wait? Buy Alice’s Dragon now!

Decadent Publishing||Amazon 

Trick or Treat - Between Moonlit Covers

by Kali Willows

What will you be doing this Halloween Eve???

Read on and I’ll tell you about a fun place to stop by tonight for more chances to win prizes!

Keeping an active self-promotional routine online isn’t always as easy as it seems. For some authors, it can be gruelling and arduous, for others, a true delight. Authors come from all walks of life with fantastic tales of steamy romance, intrigue, suspense and so much more. Some, work full time jobs, are raising young families and trying to juggle everything to fit in writing; others, have paid their dues, and have the opportunity to write full time and make every minute of their day count, at least, when their muses cooperate.

Online presence, in the forms of blogging, contests, advertisement and social networking can be highly effective in getting us out there to our readers, and a lot of fun! Other times, it can become an extreme distraction, cause for procrastination and the chance at some decent social interactions—come on, you have to admit, a lot of the FaceBook apps, are highly addictive and time consuming *she grins*. The voices in our heads, telling spectacular tales for us to share, aren’t always the best company to keep one completely satisfied.

Being a busy, married mother of two with a full time career, I “make time” to write in the wee hours of the night, when the house is quiet. This limited span, however, has created a dilemma for me, personally. Either write, write, write, and disconnect the internet in order to achieve my goals, (and my smart phone) or do the online promo to get the word out about my already published books, and miss out on writing time.

My solution to this? Well, truth is, I don’t have a solution: short of winning the jackpot in the lottery, and becoming a full time, stay at home mother and author. But another venue that appeases the need for public interactions is something that is near and dear to my heart anyway: RADIO.

I love doing radio. I began co-hosting a blogtalk radio show years ago, and got the radio bug, when things got too busy, I took a two year hiatus. Now, I’m back in the saddle and loving it!

Between Moonlit Covers, with Kali Willows on Blogtalk Radio has once again, arisen from the airwaves grave, to share exciting interviews with dynamic people from across the entertainment industry; You never know what juicy tidbits you will hear from prominent models, actors, authors or other people from behind this scenes as we discuss endless topics on books, writing, romance, and much more.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/kali-willows

or you can call during the live show at: (646)716-9247.

BMC airs every Thursday evening at 11:00 pm, EST/GST time for 30 minutes. As our audience continues to grow, we will be moving to prime time for an hour for each episode!

If you would like to be a guest to promote your books, events, blogs, and for more information on booking: see– www.kaliwillows.com  

And for an exciting update, my third book in the

1NS-Double Dragon’s Blood Series:

Dragon’s Breath

Is releasing in November!

See: www.decadentpublishing.com for upcoming releases!!!

An immortal protector under a dark curse longs for the love of a single woman, and a dragoness desperate to find a mate that can withstand her fiery lineage, seek the help of Madame Eve through a 1Night Stand. Their biggest challenge? Sunrise.

Blurb:

Eternal suffering is the fate dealt to Roark Blackwell. A fierce protector under a curse, he longs for a woman can never have. By day, a hideous stone creature, and by night, a flesh and blood immortal, starving for the touch of a single woman. After centuries of torment, he takes his destiny into his own hands and seeks the help of Madame Evangeline. For a single night, he wants to feed his carnal cravings, but what happens when morning comes?

Living dangerously comes second nature to Kaida Lee. Struggling with her dark sexual appetite, her fiery temper and her ancient lineage makes finding an ideal match impossible. A descendent of the dragon, she has a genetic burden that no mere mortal could withstand. Having two cousins succeed in romance with the aid of their friend Madame Eve, she seeks satisfaction through the services of 1Night Stand.

Dragon’s Breath – 1NS with Decadent Publishing,

releasing November 2013

To celebrate Halloween and my newest release today, I would love to hear what your favourite media interactions with authors are? Comment for a chance to win a copy of Savannah’s Ghost Tale, or Damnation & Desire (A Halloween 1NS!)

 Please leave your name and email address so I can contact the winner and arrange to send you your prize J

*** Don’t forget to stop by Between Moonlit Cover  tonight;

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/kali-willows

We will be talking more about Dragon’s Breath, the Double Dragon’s Blood Series, spooky Halloween tales and chatting with some amazing authors! There will be more prizes up for grabs! ***

***

Happy Haunting, Happy Reading,

Happy Halloween!

Kali Willows