Romancebooksrus Christmas in July

 

HO-HO-HO! IT'S CHRISTMAS IN JULY!

No one wants to wait for Christmas to celebrate the holidays so we're having a Christmas in July Event! Great Prizes, to include a new Sony Touch eReader, hats, totes, tee-shirts, gift cards, and more!

To enter our BIG contest:
1. Join our yahoo group - and you already have!

2. Become a Follower at our blog: http://romancebooksrus.blogspot.com Check the right sidebar and click on FOLLOW and follow directions. If you have a problem with this, contact april@aprilash.net (aprilATaprilashDOTnet).

3. Click on each of the 20 RBRU Bloggers' Websites/Blogs listed on the right sidebar at the blog (under FOLLOWERS). Send a list of 20 authors' names and one book title for each one to: contests.rbrus@gmail.com (contests.rbrusATgmailDOT.com). If an author has two pen names, you only need to click on one. You'll need a total of 20 author names and 20 book titles.

Contest runs from 1 July - 31 July midnight ET. Sorry: we only ship prizes to US and Canadian residents. Others may receive an emailed gift card/certificate. Winners will be announced on our Yahoo group and blog during the first week in August.

Please note: If you join just to enter the contest and then leave the group, you won't be permitted to rejoin when we do another BIG contest. Like Santa, I'm "making a list and checking it twice" so will keep track of those who join and leave. ALSO: going NO MAIL happens to everyone, but please don't make this permanent. We want you to be a part of our group, hear all our news, and join in! I also check this "list".

AUTHORS SPONSORING ADDITIONAL CONTESTS: (This list of Authors and contest links will be in FILES. Each author will run their own extra contest so click on their link. Others may be added so check Files frequently for updates.

Marianne Stephens
http://www.mariannestephens.net
April Ash
http://www.aprilash.net
Tina Donahue
http://www.tinadonahue.com and http://www.tinadonahue.com/blog
Jean Hart Stewart
http://www.jeanhartstewart.com
Dyanne Davis
http://dyannedavis.blogspot.com or http://www.AdamOmega.com
Elaine Hopper
http://www.elaineannhopper.blogspot.com
Ashley Ladd
http://www.ashleyladd.blogspot.com
Cindy Spencer Pape
http://www.cindyspencerpape.com/contest.html
Gina Ardito
http://ginaardito.blogspot.com
Paris Brandon
http://parisbrandon.com
Renee Vincent
http://www.reneevincent.com or http://pasttheprint.blogspot.com
Nicole Morgan
http://www.nicolemorganauthor.blogspot.com


Don't miss out on this contest.   You've figured out I'm a part of this right? LOL.  I'm giving away two copies of  In The Beginning.   This one is so easy.  For me you have to go to www.adamomega.com and sign the guestbook.  It's that easy. The winners will be drawn on July 31. Looking forward to seeing you at romancebooksrus.


Namaste


Dyanne

_

__,_._,___

T



Last time. Sign guestbook.  www.AdamOmega.com
Go to http:..groups.yahoo.com/group/romancebooksrus/   Join the group.


mention Dyanne sent you.  That's it. Easy as pie right?  Winners will be drawn July 31st 2010


Best of luck to all of you.




Namaste




Dyanne

Lest Ye Be Judged by F.D. Davis, www.adamomega.com

Talking with Raven Kelly from VampireBooks.Ca

 Good morning everyone,

Please join me in welcoming Raven Kelly from VampireBooks.Ca

Hello Raven and welcome. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from, what is your background?

Raven: My name is Raven Kelly and I'm the webmistress for three websites. Vampiress.ca, VampireBooks.ca, and RavenKelly.com. I'm from Canada, and live in the beautiful province of British Columbia. I read and review paranormal and vampire books as a hobby, and I absolutely love it. My husband and I have our own Internet company together. He truly is my soul mate, my best friend and the other half of me. I'm also the mother to four loving fur babies named Blacks, Bouncer, Priscilla Presley and Tili.

Dyanne: I love that part about being the mother of fur babies. When you were younger what did you want to be when you grew up?

Raven: I wanted to be a psychologist and help children and adults with their problems. I met my husband and we decided to start our own Internet company, and I have never looked back.

Dyanne: Why did you decide to start your first website Vampiress.ca?

Raven: I have always been interested in Vampires, and Witches from a young age. I started reading Twilight (yes I know what you are thinking), and that ignited my interest in vampires again. I read a few books in the genre, and soon after decided that I wanted to give other Vampire fans like myself a heads up on good Vampire books to read.

Dyanne: We definitely have something in common. I loved Anne Rice and later L.A. Banks. So it wasn't long before my own vampire, Adam Omega came into being. Good for us. Raven, can you tell us your favorite season? Why?

Raven: I absolutely love the Fall Season. I'm a Fall baby, so I guess that is a part of the reason. I love the colorful leaves, cooler weather, all things "Halloween," and also I'm a Atheist witch so it goes all seems to go along. Dyanne: Who is your favorite Author(s)? Raven: WOW, that is hard question to answer. I don't want to be biased, but some that instantly come to mind are Lyndsay Sands, Katie Mac Alister, Lisa J Smith, Gerry Bartlett, Christine Freehan, Jenika Snow and Rae Lori are a few authors that I really enjoy.

Dyanne: Who is your hero? Someone you admire and look up to?

Raven: I have two people that I admire and look up to. The first person is my husband, I admire is drive, and patience. He is such a driven person in life and someone who works hard to achieve his goals.  The second person I admire is Alex Jones, a lot of you may not have heard of him. He is someone who is passionate about liberty, which I am too. Our world right now is in trouble and we are going into some really hard times. Alex is so focused, and up on his radio show every day trying to get word out about what our governments (and the the people who control our governments) are doing to us. If you are interested in learning more about Alex Jones please check out his website www.infowars.com. As Alex will tell you, "Don't take my word for it, research it for yourself!" ..if you do a little investigating on the net you will be VERY surprised at what you find!

Dyanne: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?

Raven: I would live where I am now, in Canada, in the most beautiful province there is. My dream would be to one day live in big log cabin on some land with my 4 cats and husband. I would have chickens, cows, goats, and a few horses on my land. I would also have a massive organic garden with every vegetable known to man, and lots of fruit trees. I would also build my house by a nice stream so I can hear the water outside my bedroom window at night. I love nature and everything about it. I love the piece and quiet and, the smell of the clean air in the mountains. That would be heaven for me.

Dyanne: Tell is something interesting about yourself?

Raven: I was born on my mothers birthday and I am exactly half her age. I was also born on a full moon.

Dyanne: Raven, that is so cool. What interests you and what do you like to do for fun?

Raven: I love watching hockey I'm a huge Edmonton Oilers Fan. I love reading and spending time on my websites. I like aromatherapy, and nice hot bubble baths. I also like to workout and eat healthy.

Dyanne: Can you describe yourself in one word?

Raven: I can't describe myself in one word, but people always tell me that "I'm a nerd trapped in a beautiful body." LOL

Dyanne: How nice and what a great compliment. So tell me, Raven, what is your favorite food?

Raven: CHOCOLATE, I love chocolate. Anything that has chocolate on it, I'm eating. My husband has to hide chocolate from me because I would eat it all day long. I hope everyone enjoyed learning a little about me, I enjoyed sharing myself with you all. You can check out my websites here by visiting these URL's below. http://www.vampirebooks.ca http://www.vampiress.ca http://www.ravenkelly.com

Thanks Raven, I can't wait to check out your books.

Namaste

Dyanne

Midnight Omen Deja Vu ....Talking with Marti Melville

DD:  Today I'm interviewing Marti Melville, who just happens to be a fellow nurse.

Marti, your career has been as an Emergency Nurse.  What caused you to shift to writing a novel? 

MM: I’ve always loved to write.  I have a collection of one-page stories that really are a journal of my life perspective on random events.  Writing this novel however, was the highlight.

DD:  So what was the motivation to write a full novel?  

 MM:  I love history and the “story” that creates an individual’s life.  I wanted to pass that love of history on to my children and grandchildren.  This book was supposed to be the story of my great-great-great (keep going with the “greats”) grandmother but evolved into a different story.

 DD:  What caused the evolution into this story?  

MM:  There is some question as to the last name of one of my great grandfathers.  I researched the name in question, looking for a sailor with that same last name, Philip.  It was then I stumbled onto the not so famous pirate, Captain John Phillips of the Revenge.

 MM:  Why Captain John Phillips?  Why not Blackbeard or another well-known pirate? 

MM: Well, the first reason is his name which caught my interest.  There’s something intriguing about the idea of having a grandfather who was a pirate.  John Phillips’ story is just too good to pass up.  I’ve said many times, “You just can’t make this stuff up!”  His story was my novel waiting to be written.

 DD:  Your book has been called a paranormal romance and a historical fiction.  So which is it? 

MM:  A little of both.  I think the reincarnation piece makes the book slide into a paranormal genre.  The history is in the story of the Revenge and her crew.  All of the male characters, with the exception of Seth, are actual crew members who served under Captain Phillips. He, of course, is an actual pirate who had quite a reputation in the 1700’s Caribbean

DD:  Are all of the characters in your book based on real people?  

MM:  No.  The male characters really lived (except for Seth).  However the female characters are all fictional.  Morrigan and her sisters are based on ancient Celtic folklore.

 DD:  "Midnight Omen Deja vu" is an intriguing title.  What does it mean?   

MM:  There is one part of the story in which an omen lies on the moon. Deja vu is something everyone experiences at some time or another.  It’s the feeling you get when you are in a place or situation that feels keenly familiar, like you’ve been there before. 

 DD:  I've experienced quite a bit of Deja vu in my life.  Like right now I might add. LOL.  I think maybe the question I should have asked you was if your title has more to do with an omen or with deja vu. Either way it's intriguing and I'm sure your answer which I'm willing to be was designed not to give too much away, (so I won't either) has captured the readers attention. Moving on. Your website mentions possible real people you know who your characters are modeled after.  Who is Kathyrn?   

MM:  That is true for a few characters but not all.  I suspect all authors write about what or who is familiar to them.  I am no different.  Kathryn is modeled after both my daughters.  One daughter has mesmerizing sapphire blue eyes.  The other has a feisty personality with long dark hair.

 DD:  Actually, I tend to use the names of people I know more so than their personalities. Though several people have thought I was writing about them when they were nowhere in my mind at the time. So, Marti, who then was your inspiration when you created the persona of Captain John Phillips?   

MM: Ahhh...Captain Phillips’ persona is modeled after someone I know but just who that is will stay with me.

 DD:  With a nursing career, attending the university and being a single mother to five children, (My hat is off to you on all of this) how did you make time to write?   

MM:  I would walk my dogs in the early dusk.  By the time we rounded back toward home, the sun would be set and the moon on the rise.  It was during those walks that I would plan out each chapter.  My laptop would come out and I would put those ideas into words late at night.  Frequently, I would get up before anyone else in the house was awake and steal quite moments to write as the sun rose.  I love those times!

 DD: I totally agree with you about writing in the early morning. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?  

MM:  Don’t waste time trying to be perfect at first.  Just write, write, write!  Get your ideas on paper (on your computer).  Write something every day.  Talk to other authors and attend writer’s conferences to glean from the experiences of the “experts”.  Stay with it and don’t get discouraged.

 DD: Thanks Marti.  That's all great advice and can't be repeated to often. So, tell me where and at what events can the readers meet you?   

MM: I will be sharing in the launching party for “Midnight Omen Deja vu” this summer in Salt Lake City (date to follow).  On August 7^th and 8^th, I will be signing books at the Barataria Pirate and Faerie Faire in Sprinfield, Missouri.  In September, I will be in Denver for the Buccaneer’s Bash and in October, the Tall Ship’s Festival on Catalina Island, California.  There are several other local events in and around Salt Lake as well.

 DD:  How can the readers find out more about these events?

MM:  All of the events and book signings are listed on my website (www.martimelville.com).

 DD:  Great. Are you available for public speaking engagements or book club meetings?   

MM:  Absolutely!  I enjoy the opportunity to spend an evening with readers and authors alike.

 DD:  How is the best way to contact you?  

MM:  I can be reached through my website (www.martimelville.com) or by phone at 951-216-4411.

 DD:  Where can we get a copy of "Midnight Omen Deja vu"?  

MM:  Orders are now being taken directly through my publisher, PublishAmerica on their site.  You can also order through my website (www.martimelville.com).  Mention this interview in an email to me (martimelville@gmail.com) and receive an additional 10% off your order.

 DD:  Marti, I don't know about anyone else but I love a discount. Will there be more “Deja vu”?   

MM:  There will always be Deja vu moments.  “Midnight Omen Deja vu” is not the last of Captain Phillips and Kathryn.

 DD:  Are you saying there is a sequel?  

MM:  Yes.  The sequel is currently being written.

 DD:  Will Kathryn and her pirate Captain be reunited ever again?  

MM:  Perhaps.  You never know what can happen in a lifetime (especially in a previous one).  I suspect Kathryn will meet her Captain once again but when and how is something you’ll just have to read to find out.

 DD: LOL.  Marti, you've been really great.  You've intrigued us and left us wanting more.  Perhaps you'll consent to a brief excerpt and I can post it tomorrow.  Tune in everyone to find out if Marti will give you a bit more of a taste.  Until then.................

Namaste

Dyanne