Giveaway and Cover Reveal: Colonization by Aubrie Dionne

Finding a new home has never been so dangerous.


Andromeda has spent all seventeen years of her life aboard a deep space transport vessel destined for a paradise planet. Her safe cocoon is about to break open as Paradise 21 looms only one month away, and she must take the aptitude tests to determine her role on the new world and her computer assigned lifemate. As a great-granddaughter of the Commander of the ship, she wants to live up to her family name. But, her forbidden love for her childhood friend, Sirius, distracts her and she fails the tests. The results place her in a menial role in the new colony and pair her with Corvus, “the oaf”.

But when Andromeda steps foot on Paradise 21, her predestined future is the least of her worries. Alien ghosts from a failed colonization warn her of a deadly threat to her colony. And when Sirius's ship crashes on the far ridge in an attempt to investigate, she journeys to rescue him with Corvus.

Andromeda now must convince the authorities of the imminent danger to protect her new home. What she didn't expect was a battle of her own feelings for Sirius and Corvus.

Can she save the colony and discover her true love?

Author Bio:

Aubrie Dionne writes science fiction fantasy with romantic elements. Her writings have appeared in Mindflights, Niteblade, Silver Blade, Emerald Tales, Hazard Cat, Moon Drenched Fables, A Fly in Amber, and Aurora Wolf. Her books are published by Inkspell Publishing, Entangled Publishing, Lyrical Press, and Gypsy Shadow Publishing. She’s also a professional flutist in New England.


Please visit her website: www.authoraubrie.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2964057.Aubrie_Dionne
Twitter: @authoraubrie
Blog: http://authoraubrie.blogspot.com

Giveaway! – Open for US and UK only.
We have a very cool keyring as a giveaway. ☺

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Summer Hiatus ... Mostly

Hello, blogosprites! Well, the time has come for this writer to go on a family vacation. I'll be gone two weeks, and that means my blog is on hiatus. Mostly. Mostly and not completely, because I have one post scheduled to go live while I'm gone. And hopefully it goes live without blogger messing it up. :-/

So here's the run-down:

• We Do Write is on hiatus from July 27th until August 10th
• On July 30th, an automated post of Aubrie Dionne's cover reveal & giveaway should go live
• On August 10th, when I return, I'll have an interview post with author JC Martin
• On August 12th, I'll post a reminder about the Three-Two-One pitch contest

Then it's back to business as usual.

So have a nice summer, everyone. Keep cool, and keep reading!

Cover Reveal: My Sister's Reaper

Yesterday on bookalicious.org, two covers were revealed from next spring's Month9Books debuts - one of them being MINE! Take a look at the post here, and for those of you who don't have time to click around, here's the cover for your viewing pleaure. :) Let me know what you think!

You can read more about it on my website. :)

New Release: In Need of Therapy by Tracie Banister

In Need of Therapy by Tracie Banister

Lending a sympathetic ear and dispensing sage words of advice is all part of the job for psychologist Pilar Alvarez, and she’s everything a good therapist should be:  warm, compassionate, supportive.  She listens, she cares, and she has all the answers, but how’s the woman everyone turns to in their hour of need supposed to cope when her own life starts to fall apart?

While working hard to make a success of her recently-opened practice in trendy South Beach, Pilar must also find time to cater to the demands of her boisterous Cuban family, which includes younger sister Izzy, an unemployed, navel-pierced wild child who can't stay out of trouble, and their mother, a beauty queen turned drama queen who’s equally obsessed with her fading looks and getting Pilar married before it’s “too late.”  Although she’d like to oblige her mother and make a permanent love connection, Pilar’s romantic prospects look grim.  Her cheating ex, who swears that he’s reformed, is stalking her.  A hunky, but strictly off-limits, patient with bad-boy appeal and intimacy issues is making passes.  And the sexy shrink in the suite across the hall has a gold band on his left ring finger.

When a series of personal and professional disasters lead Pilar into the arms of one of her unsuitable suitors, she's left shaken, confused, and full of self-doubt.  With time running out, she must make sense of her feelings and learn to trust herself again so that she can save her business, her family, and most importantly, her heart.

In Need of Therapy is available now at Amazon, Amazon UK, and will be up shortly at Barnes and Noble.

Three Two One Pitch Contest Details!

Attention writers! If you missed out on the pitch contest I held in June with literary agent Natalie Lakosil, you're in luck, because I'm holding another pitch contest soon! It all takes place August 20th (which happens to be my birthday) and 21st. What exactly does this contest entail? Well, a Three-Two-One pitch contest goes like this:

THREE - Pitch your story in only three sentences. 


TWO - Two days to enter: August  20th and 21st.


ONE - One agent will judge and pick a winner.

Doesn't that sound great? Well then get those pitches ready!


Do not enter your pitch on this post. I will make an official contest entry post on August 20th, and entrants will post their three-sentence pitches (no run on sentences!) in the comments section of that post. At midnight on August 21st, I will turn off comments and no other entries will be accepted. The winner will get a full manuscript request!

I will announce our spectacular judging agent sometime prior to the contest, so keep an eye out!

This contest is open to unagented, completed and polished manuscripts in the genres of:

• MG
• YA (no paranormal, urban fantasy, romance [ unless there is a superb dark, psychotic element ], or magical realism)
• New Adult
• Graphic Novels

To be eligible, you must:

• Follow this blog - go ahead and click "Join this Site" on the right if you haven't already
• Follow me on Twitter
• Spread the word! Tweet, Blog, or mention on Facebook about the contest linking back to this post

Not necessary, but in the spirit of paying it forward:

• Friend me on Goodreads
• Like my Facebook Author Page

So, don't forget: Three sentences, two days to enter, one agent will judge. Good luck, everyone. Can't wait to read all your pitches. See you back here on the 20th of August!

Guest Post by Marian L Thomas

Finding a Publisher is Like Finding a New Pair of Jeans
By Marian L. Thomas

So there I was, walking into the clothing store with high hopes as I headed toward the jeans department of a major retail store. As I reached the department, it suddenly occurred to me that I wasn't exactly sure which type of jeans I was looking for. There were so many different types to choose from. Did I want a pair that sat below the waist, bootcut jeans, flare jeans or low-riders that are also bootcut? I almost wanted to turn around and go back home.

So it goes for many aspiring authors. There are so many publishers out there in the big world of all things literary, they simply aren't sure where or how to start the process. How did I resolve my jeans dilemma? I did some research. True story. Right there, in the department store. I read the various tags found on different pairs of jeans, until I found a description for a pair that sounded like me. Then I tried each of them on, until I was able to walk out of the store with a pair of jeans that felt as if they were meant for me — after I've lost a few  pounds, of course.

Going back to the journey for aspiring authors and their quest to find the perfect publisher; I would tell you to do one very important thing — RESEARCH. It's a waste of your time to blindly send out query letters to every single publisher out there. Understand what genre your book falls into, and then research publishing companies who publish that genre. Once you've found your list, look to see who the editor is that handles that genre. This is important. You want to be sure that you address your query letter to the right editor.

Now, before you send out that query letter, I need you to do something else quite important. More research — on writing a "winning" query letter. I want you to try out a few that you find, the same way you would try on jeans. How? Find samples of two or three that fit your writing style and your book. Many well-known authors have published their winning query letters. I have always believed that you don't always have to re-invent the wheel. It's okay to use what is out there if it has proven to work.

Here is a website I used:
 http://www.charlottedillon.com/query.html

Now I know it's tempting to want to send your entire manuscript with your query letter. Fight the urge. Please. Keep in mind that most publishing companies only request the first three chapters of your work. Here is the last thing you want to do before you submit your query letter and the first three chapters of your manuscript to that publishing company that is going to fit your book like a pair of perfectly-fitting jeans: Have everything edited. Not by your cousin, friend or Mother (unless they're professional editors in their current secular lives).

Remember, just like you want your jeans to "make a flattering and modest impression," so goes your query letter.

About the Author:  Marian L. Thomas is the author of three award-winning and bestselling Clean Fiction books titled: Strings of Color, My Father's Colors and Color Me Jazzmyne. There are three things that she enjoys...her husband, her dog and eating popcorn.

Author's website:

www.marianlthomas.com

Star Child Cover Reveal and Giveaway

The world is about to be cloaked in darkness.

Only one can stop the night.

Kellen St. James has spent his entire life being overlooked as an unwanted, ordinary, slightly geeky kid. That is until a beautiful girl, one who has haunted his dreams for the past eleven years of his life, shows up spinning tales of a prophecy. Not just any old prophecy either, but one in which Kellen plays a key role.

Suddenly, Kellen finds himself on the run through a Celtic underworld of faeries and demons, angels and gods, not to mention a really ticked off pack of hellhounds, all in order to save the world from darkness. But will they make it in time?


The Star Child will be available September 21, 2012 in digital and print from Inkspell Publishing.

About The Author:

Stephanie Keyes was born in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania and has worked for the past twelve years as a corporate educator and curriculum designer in the Telecommunications industry. She holds a Master's degree in Education with a specialization in Instructional Technology from Duquesne University and a B.S. in Management Information Systems from Robert Morris University. She is a classically trained clarinetist, but also plays the saxophone and sings. When she's not writing, she is a wife to a wonderfully supportive husband and mother to two little boys whom she cites as her inspiration for all things writing. The Star Child is Mrs. Keyes' debut novel.

Website: http://www.stephaniekeyes.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stephaniekeyes

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Keyes/150860604966160

Giveaway Details (Open for US & UK):

Win a celtic knot designed antiqued bookmark – Perfect to go with this book! ☺

Enter here to win!

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Interview with Linn B Halton

Today we're chatting with author Linn B Halton about her new book, THE QUINTESSENTIAL GEMINI, and her upcoming release, THE RESTAURANT,  published by Sapphire Star Publishing.

Welcome to We Do Write, Linn. Tell us a bit about yourself.

When you wait a long time to find the ‘me’ time you need to write, it’s an incredible feeling when it hits you that ‘this is it!’ I never, ever doubted the day would come, but it came rather suddenly and unexpectedly.

It wasn’t the planned and happy start I dreamed of, I had given up my job to look after my mother and she died very suddenly three months later. I decided not to go back to work after her death and after a long career, the thought of not being in employment is scary. It’s not only the financial considerations, but also being ‘home alone’.  I’d had two distinctly different working careers (Finance and then Interior Design) and suddenly I found myself embarking on a third, new path that would mean long hours and no regular income. Worst of all – I was such a newbie I didn’t even know enough to understand what it was I didn’t know about the business of becoming published.  But this is my dream, and because I’m a Gemini my passion takes over – I simply can’t stop myself because I’m loving every single minute of each day.  I count myself as very fortunate that my family understand and support me in what has become my new, frenetic life. In essence:

“Life, love and the beyond … but it’s ALWAYS about the romance…”

How long have you been writing?

I began writing in March 2009 and wrote five manuscripts in succession, working way into the night and glued to my computer seven days a week at times.  I proved to myself I could write with commitment, had lots of ideas and I am a starter/finisher, but I had no idea what came next. My debut novel came out in February 2011, but it wasn’t until December 2010 that I first heard the term ‘author platform’.  At that time, with Touched By The Light due out within two months, I had to join Twitter, Facebook and set up an author website. To be honest I was struggling! I also couldn’t believe how time-consuming it was because every single step was a huge learning curve.  Here we are eighteen months later and I have now signed with Sapphire Star Publishing, with two of those five manuscripts being published by them this year.

Tell us about THE QUINTESSENTIAL GEMINI. What's the story about?

It’s about Katherine Dale, she’s does her job a bit too well and office politics, plus new owners mean she’s suddenly replaced by ‘one of the boys’. She lived her life for her work, love interests came and went over the years with no one setting her alight. All she has left is a roof over her head, some modest savings and cat named No. 4.  

She decides to sit down and write a book, partly because her confidence is badly dented and in a way she’s trying to hide from the reality of what’s happened.  The fact that she lives her life according to her daily horoscope (and has done so for over twenty years) leads to fun, laughter, tears and ultimately, we hope, love.  

The path isn’t smooth and as she anxiously seeks direction it becomes clear that the person writing those horoscopes is someone new.  The revered astrologer Mark Ainsley-Thomas has to make more and more person appearances in the UK and US.  His new Agent is pushing what has become an A-list celebrity status, so he takes on James Kingman to help out on the website.  James arrives on the scene in a very vulnerable state – recently having lost his business, all of his money and the lady in his life. He is a talented astrologer, but his style is very different to Mark’s. Then he meets the angry and desperate Katherine…the sparks begin to fly!

How did the idea of the story come to you?

Well, I’m a Gemini and for over twenty years … (laugh)!  Yes, I am a Gemini and I do follow my daily horoscope, so each night before I go to sleep I read my forecast for the following day. I like having an indication of what might happen and there have been many times when I’ve delayed doing something, or re-thought something based on what it tells me.  One night the thought just popped into my head – what if someone really DID try to live their life based around what the stars had to say?

Of course no one can lead their life according to their horoscope, we all read things in a very different way and often there is more relevance in looking at them with hindsight. I think a lot of people read their horoscope hoping to get answers to questions, or an indication of solutions to come for problems they’re facing. So it’s only natural to read something and interpret it in quite a narrow way, simply because you want to make it fit with what you WANT to happen.  There lies the danger… and that’s what made Katherine so much fun.

Tell us about THE RESTAURANT and what inspired you to write it.

My real-life favourite restaurant is a wonderful little sanctuary. It’s somewhere my husband and I go for ‘date night’ to get away and have some alone time together. It was the ambience that I feel whenever we go there that first sowed the seed of this story. I know one half of the couple who run it very well, we used to go to the gym together so often our travel time was spent talking about table bookings, staffing etc. All front-of-house day-to-day things. It gave me a glimpse behind the scenes and what began to spark my curiosity was that I knew very little about the Chef, secreted away in his own little domain creating all those wonderful dishes. The story of Hilary and Ben is the story of two people joined by a passion – the restaurant business, but both had reasons why affairs of the heart were never going to be simple.

The story revolves around the The Restaurant @ The Mill as Hilary and Ben find the perfect location to set up their joint venture. Their story is intertwined with another five cameo stories based on regulars who dine at the restaurant.  Having written five manuscripts, four of which were novels, I realised that there were some ‘side’ characters whose stories were never taken to their final conclusion and so I’ve taken this opportunity to complete them within this novel. My tidy mind doesn’t like to leave things part-done and it was a very satisfying journey for me to write The Restaurant. There is also a lonely spirit who wanders around the wonderful old Mill, and the reader has a glimpse of what might lie behind her presence.

When will THE RESTAURANT be available?

Sapphire Star Publishing are releasing it on August 2, 2012 and preparations are in full swing.

Are you a planner or a pantser?

As a Gemini with borderline OCD, I’m both.  I plan to the most minute detail, but also because I never say one word when I can say (or write) twenty, I ad-lib as the same time. I recently had to do a five minute slot at the start of a reader/writer event and over-ran by ten minutes. I think that’s why I’ve never enjoyed writing short stories and why I knew I had to wait until I had uninterrupted writing time, as it was always going to be an intensive and compulsive thing!


What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Lack of sleep in order to pack in everything I want to do.  I’m usually an eight-hours a night gal but frequently have to manage on four.  Sometimes I work right through and try to cat-nap the next day then catch up with a full night’s sleep the following night.  Life is short and I don’t intend wasting one precious moment of it.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Coffee.  My cat. Sometimes chocolate.  Peace and quiet – I’ve had conversations with my husband whilst my fingers have continued flying around the keyboard and I’ve made responses that I often can’t remember afterwards.  I recently (apparently) listened whilst he extolled the virtues of a very expensive new camera and agreed he should buy it - I couldn’t recall he’d even mentioned it!  It was the same with a holiday he booked for later this summer and … oh, I think he’s sussed how to get a guaranteed ‘yes’ from me – clever!

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

To have the time to be there on EVERY occasion for people who need a bit of support; whether it’s listening to a problem, doing something for them, or just giving a hug.  The drawback of being super busy and having your head buried in a life-time passion, is that sometimes you forget to look out the window! I hope I get the balance right most of the time and that those I love and care for forgive me when I miss something.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Drifting.  One of the characters in The Restaurant is into this sport, it involving sliding cars at high speed without putting them into a spin. It’s weird for me as I only drive when I have to, a car is simply a method of transport and I have no knowledge or understanding about them – I describe them as ‘big’ or ‘small’, or by colour, never make and model.  Laugh!  I also get lost frequently when I drive and am always doing U-turns.  

If I consider ‘weird’ in another sense though, some people find psychic things a little ‘out there’ or beyond belief, but as I am a firm believer now it never feels unusual to me.  Most psychic things I mention in my novels are things I have personally experienced, it’s so much easier to write with conviction when you’ve seen it with your own eyes.  However, for my debut novel I did have to do a lot of research about near-death experiences, to supplement something I had myself witnessed when I was with someone who nearly died.  At the time they were telling me what was happening from  moment-to-moment but I wasn’t a true believer at that point, so it was a very frightening thing to witness.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: diluted, despicable, and dementia.  

How can he take my words and repeat them in such a diluted, despicable manner – when love dies there is a guilt and I see now the spark has died within him, it’s like a form of dementia as he tries to rationalise his actions.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

For me it’s all about the other people who have helped me, so it’s a case of where to begin? You might regret having asked me this question, but I can only answer from the heart!

Wonderful people like yourself who take the time to spread the word about new, fellow authors.  

Fabulous publishers like Sapphire Star Publishing who read submissions from unknowns and decide to take a risk …

My two writing families – my colleagues at SSP and the whole team at loveahappyending.com, I have learnt so much because of these people and grown because of the support they have given me.

My wonderful husband and family for putting up with me, when I’m always on the PC.

Three individuals who have kept me going – Shaz Goodwin, Lou Graham and Kim Nash.

My first fan – Susan Livingston. She’s a lovely lady who has been so encouraging.

In truth this bit is so hard, because the list is endless – it’s still a thrill every time I read a review or get an Email from a reader.  Every writer longs for one thing, to be read and my dream is slowly beginning to come true, thanks to wonderful readers who take a risk and pick up a book by an author they don’t yet know.  How incredible is that?

And finally, where can people find you and your books online?

Visit Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk or Sapphire Star Publishing
Please do drop by my website http://linnbhalton.co.uk/
Twitter:  @LinnBHalton
Featured author at: http://loveahappyending.com/linn-b-halton/


I would also like to say a HUGE thank you, Dorothy, for being the perfect host! I bet you are so excited about your debut novel My Sister’s Reaper, due out on May 29, 2013 from Month9Books. Looking forward to it and wishing you all the best!


Thank you so much, Linn! It was great having you as a guest today. I wish you lots of success with your books!

I Took the Dare on the Friday the Thirteeners Blog

If you're not familiar with the Friday the Thirteeners blog, it's a site run by authors whose books debut in 2013. They play a game, Truth or Dare, where authors can guest blog or vlog with their choice of a truth or dare submitted by readers.

I was going to take the truth, but then my creative side wouldn't let me be so tame.

Go check out my post on their blog, and turn your volume up on your computer or phone or ipad to see what I came up with. ;)

Interview with Mandy Baggot

Happy Monday, everyone. Hope you've been enjoying your summer and withstanding the heat. Let's start the week off on a good foot by indulging in an interview with author Mandy Baggot.

Welcome, Mandy! Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a married mum of two wonderful daughters and a full-time author. I have published four novels with the assistance of Feed A Read and the Arts Council of England (Excess All Areas, Breaking the Ice, Knowing Me Knowing You and Strings Attached) but in January 2012 I signed with US publishers Sapphire Star Publishing for my latest novel Taking Charge. Following that I became a full member of the Romantic Novelists Association.

I write strong contemporary romance and characters you’ll fall in love with.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing since my school days. I always had a keen interest in creating stories and scripts and used to write tales involving my friends and the latest hot pin-ups of the time. Life did get in the way of my writing for a while but after the birth of my first daughter I put pen to paper again and haven’t looked back.

Tell us about TAKING CHARGE. What's the story about?

Taking Charge is Robyn and Cole’s story. Robyn travels back to the US from the UK when her father falls ill. On the plane she meets a hot guy (Cole) and embarks on a journey that involves her running a roadhouse, managing an ice hockey team, dealing with her past and trying to fall in love. It’s a story of love and relationships and how these mould us as people. There’s also a lot of humour in there too!

How did the idea of the story come to you?
My dad lives in Michigan, where Taking Charge is set, and I went to stay with him back in 2010. I think I was there all of a couple of days when the idea for Taking Charge started to form. Once I’d been to see the ice hockey almost everything fell into place! I hope I did the town and the community spirit of the town justice in the novel.

Are you a planner or a pantser?

Pantser! The only plan I have is the beginning and the end. I have my characters, I know where they’re going to end up but how they get there is 99.9% up to them. I just keeping writing and take my direction from them. I recently heard of another writer who not only plans what is going to happen in each chapter but writes that all down, along with who else is going to be in scene etc. I couldn’t imagine doing that, for me that would take the whole element of surprise out of it and my characters do surprise me! They’re the ones in charge, not me!

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Never having enough time to actually write as much as I want to write. I am lucky to be able to write full time but there are still not enough hours in the day to actually dedicate to creating something new. As soon as I get into it it’s time to collect the children or perhaps I have a meeting, the day just isn’t long enough.

I totally agree. *sigh* What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

A cup of tea and a glass of water. Once I get into my writing hours can go by and I haven’t moved, or drunk any fluids or anything so I need to have fluids near by to stop me dehydrating! I have to remember to look up and see they are there though!

If you could have any super power, what would it be?
To make time stand still (see above!) or to control the bestsellers chart on Amazon – that would be fun to play with!

LOL, that would be fun. What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Are artichokes good for you! That’s one I can remember and I also googled ‘does Pitbull have a girlfriend?’. I don’t know why I needed to know but I did and I didn’t really find out. Does anyone know? I google lots of random things!

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: life support, mediocre, and flabbergasted.

She was flabbergasted that the life support worked, given the worse than mediocre quality of the hospital food.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

I would like to thank everyone at Sapphire Star Publishing for all their help and constant support. I would also like to thank all my fellow authors and associate readers at Loveahappyending.com especially Team Baggot. And last but by no means least I want to thank everyone who buys and reads my books – if you didn’t love them I wouldn’t be writing them and I am so grateful.

And finally, where can people find you and your books online?

You can find out more about me at www.mandybaggot.webs.com. You can follow my on Twitter @mandybaggot or friend me on Facebook or Goodreads:-
http://www.facebook.com/mandy.baggot
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2968625.Mandy_Baggot
You can buy all my books from Amazon:-
http://www.amazon.com/Mandy-Baggot/e/B003MENHL0/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1#/ref=la_B003MENHL0_rf_p_n_feature_browse-b_1?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_82%3AB003MENHL0%2Cp_n_feature_browse-bin%3A618073011&bbn=283155&ie=UTF8&qid=1340371099&rnid=618072011

Thanks so much for chatting with us today, Mandy! Much success with your books!

Cover Reveal: Uncontrollable by SR Johannes

UNCONTROLLABLE, Book 2 in The Nature of Grace series by S.R. Johannes, is set for release on Sept 24th. I'm happy to be part of the cover reveal. So without further ado, here is the fab cover of UNCONTROLLABLE.

Isn't it gorgeous? I think it's eye-catching and ties in wonderfully with the cover of UNTRACEABLE, book one in the series. 


Here's a little more about this book:


As Grace recovers from tragedy, her science class is chosen by Agent Sweeney at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to help with research on the new "Red Wolf Reintroduction Program". 

While she’s excited about helping with the conservation of the endangered wolves, Grace knows this means being outdoors in the worst winter recorded, in a place she no longer feels comfortable. It also means working closely with Wyn (her ex) and his annoying girlfriend (Skyler), a girl whose idea of getting close to nature is picking silk plants and growing fake plants. 

After a couple of wolves show up dead, Grace almost quits. However, when a fellow project team member goes missing, Grace continues the assignment under a renewed suspicion that someone might be sabotaging the conservation program. She quietly begins to hunt for clues. 

Little does she know, she is being hunted too. 

And possibly, by more than one person.


Check out S.R. Johannes's blog here to keep up with her writing.

Interview with Michele Kallio

Keep reading to find out how to win a signed copy of the book!

Happy Friday, everyone! Today we're chatting with author Michele Kallio about her book, BETRAYAL.

Welcome, Michele! Tell us a bit about yourself. 

I am a former teacher/librarian and retired medical office manager. I live in Canadia's picture province of New Brunswick, home to lighthouses, covered bridges and the world's highest tides with my physician husband, David, and our 11 year old golden retriever Sara.

 How long have you been writing?

I would say I have been writing for more than a third of my life. I began writing short stories in high school but set it aside to raise my family. Now that I am retired I have taken it up again.

Tell us about BETRAYAL. What is the story about?

BETRAYAL is the story of two women seperated by thousands of miles and almost five hundred years., told in alternating chapters. Modern day Lydia is trying to cope with frightening nightmares that she doesn't understand and the impact they are having on her life. Elisabeth, is a sixteenth century woman living in Cardinal Wolsey's household whose life changes when she meets Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. The two worlds collide in Lydia's dreams and when Lydia begins have 'waking dreams' which start affecting her relationship with her physician boyfriend, Dan, she realizes she needs help to get to the bottom of what is going on. Dan persuades her to see Dr. Alan Stokes, a psychologist and dream specialist who has experience in regression hypnosis. Will he be able to help Lydia understand why she is reliving Elisabeth's life and what the horrific image of the severed head is all about?

How did the idea of the story come to you?

BETRAYAL grew out of my pen-pal friendship with Christine Ware, of Devon, England. I had written a short story telling about the two women for a writing course I was taking. Christine encouraged me to enlarge the story. In fact, Christine became my eyes and ears in England, taking me to many of the places mentioned in the book and helping me with all things English.

Do you have a critique partner or beta readers or do you self-edit?

My husband, David, the light of my life was my line-editor. Christine, of course, helped with English speech and mannerisms and alll things English in Tudor and modern times. My friend Geramine Chevarie was my beta reader, as each chapter was written she would read it, and her comments helped me make it so much better.

Are you are planner or a pantser?

What a delightful question! I would say I am definitely a seat of the pantser when it comes to writing.  Although I do write biographies for my characters, I allow them to take shape. Dan, for instance, turned out to be his 'own' man thus turning out to be a very different character than I had envisaged.

What's the hardest part of writing for you?

As I live in a very rural area, access to research books has been difficult. I have had to purchase most of my research books. I now have more than two hundred books in my personal library on the Tudors alone.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

I must have a dictionary and a thesaurus nearby when I am writing. Often I will have the latest biography of Anne Boleyn handy to cross-reference. As I write about two different time periods (modern day Canada and 16th century England) there are always maps handy and location reference materials as well.

If you could have any super power what would it be?

Oh my, a super power? I think that would have to be the ability to time-travel. I am a history buff, I love history but especially English History. I would dearly love to be able to transport my self through time, but I would want to be protected so that I would not/ could not change history.

What was the weirdest thing you've googled?

I have googled gyspy love potions and charms as well as curses and spells for research on gypsies for my book.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: opportunity, bazaar, and suspicious.

In the grand bazaar in Istanbul, she had the opportunity to bargain with merchants, keeping a suspicious eye on the price.

Here's the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout-outs.

First and foremost I would like to thank Christine Ware for all her loving support and the energy she expended in helping me to research both Tudor and Modern England...without her, our story would never have been told.! Next of course must be my husband, David, for without him there would be no book! His loving support allowed the time I needed to research, write, re-write, research and finally polish Betrayal.  I want to thank Germaine for being my first reader and all the support she gave me over endless cups of tea!  And of course I want to thank Steve and Lucy, of Boston, who continue to believe in my book and me.  Thank you all!

And finally where can people find your book online?

BETRAYAL is available at http://www.amazon.com/,http://www.amazon.ca/,

http://www.amazon.co.uk/, http://www.amazon.de/, http://www.bn.com/, and numerous other online booksellers worldwide.

Check out my website at http://www.michelekallio.com/ for further information and reviews.

Thanks so much for chatting with us, Michele. I wish you lots of success with BETRAYAL.

Thank you Dorothy for the opportunity to have this interview with you!

And to my followers! Leave a comment and win a copy of BETRAYAL -  US commenters get a signed copy, outside the US commenters get a Kindle copy ! Winner will be picked by random.org