The Romance is in the Air Giveaway Hop is over. The lucky winners taking home e-copies of my prizes are as following:
Not so Easy by Sherry Gammon goes to … Sandra Watts
The End of Feeling by Cindy C Bennett goes to . .. Kristia
Psyched by Juli Caldwell goes to … Angelica Dimeo
Winners: please check your inbox for a message from Amazon 😉
And then someone she never thought she’d see again appears on board, a blast from the past who’s haunted her for far too long. Avery has to decide if she should leave the past where it belongs, or fight for a happiness she never thought she deserved.
Guilt Trip is now available on Amazon. Check it out! In honor of its release and Valentines/Singles Awareness Day, Juli Caldwell is having a Worst Date Ever contest. Visit her facebook and share your awful story–BOOM. You’re entered. Give Guilt Trip a shout out or a retweet on Twitter–another entry. Make sure you hashtag it #guilttrip and let her know @ImJuliCaldwell so she can find your entries! Winner gets signed paperback or ebook, whichever they prefer! Winner announced Sunday Night.
Romance is in the Air Giveaway Hop marks the very first giveaway hop for this year and I’m really excited to join Mary @ BookHounds and over 110 other amazing blogs on what it supposes to be a lot of fun event. This hops features Young Adult & Clean Adult Romance and runs between February 4th to 14th, with my winner announcement on February 15th.
So, what’s in store for you? I love and read on a regular basis several authors of YA. For this particular hop I chose three books by three fave authors (which means I will have 3 winners!!!):
Not so Easy by Sherry Gammon
The End of Feeling by Cindy C Bennett
Psyched by Juli Caldwell
What do you have to do to win it? It’s simple: either become a follower on Twitter @CamiSkiba, OR follow this blog by clicking on the button to the right called “Sign me up!” (atop all images) OR become a fan on FB and leave a comment with your link.
Enjoy hoping and good luck!
It’s been a week since the Arizona Dreamin’ Convention and, as much as I’m still recovering, I want to write about my experience, now when all the memories are so fresh in my mind.
Before I give you the good, the bad and the secrets I want to take a moment to thank the organizing committee, especially to Kris Tualla–my Momma Bear–, Morgan Kearns, Deena Remiel, Rhonda Conrad-Plumhoff. Let me tell you, these fabulous ladies are not only author extraordinare, they work their b*** off to put on a show.
Arizona Dreamin’ Convention is a two part event:
1. Building the Dream (May 28 -May 29) it’s a 27 author-focused seminar sessions following 3 tracks: Honing your Craft / Publishing / The Business of Being an Author. It also includes: event bookstore, and FREE goody bag. Pitch your book to publishers and award-winning and bestselling authors critique your work & lunch. I taught a workshop about how to find the right critique group and I was thrilled to have a class full of people interested in my workshop, me the girl that dreaded public speaking.
2. Arizona’s First Romance Reader Event (May 29- May 31). This event is (as the title mentions) an event where readers meet and spend time with authors. From speed-meet, to dinner, to book club you get the one in a lifetime chance to know the person behind your favorite books or meet your next favorite author. This year’s treat? I was one of the featured authors and met in person three of my critique group members and amazing authors: Cindy C Bennett, Juli Caldwell and Shantal Sessions. We had a blast celebrating Juli’s 21-errrr birthday and hanging out long past bedtime. About that later.
I’m a veteran at participating in both events, as a reader mostly. I remember my first participation, the nerves of being there alone among strangers, the train-wreck I was because I had no idea what to expect. And here I am four years later, excited to rekindle with old friends and make new ones.
Highlights of the event: meeting old friends and making new ones. So many names, so many amazing people I hope to keep in touch with: Beth and Tim–thanks for sharing your breakfast with me and for being so amazing supporters. Jody, Shelley, James, Ashley, Rhonda, Erika, Shannon, Gloria Tony, Darrance to name a few. I hope this was not the last I’ve seen of you, but rather time and life will bring us back together.
Another fave moment worth mentioning: dinner with readers. Throughout the years I’ve met people who became dear friends. Some of them joined me for dinner Saturday night and we had a blast. Izzy, Fae and Nancy–thank you for believing in me and joining me at the conference.
I had a blast during the four book clubs I was scheduled for. Talking about my books and my journey through the maze of publishing and having people actually interested in what I had to say it was thrilling and scary at the same time. Yup, childhood dreams do come true 😉
I got to see again several of my fave authors: Susan Squires, Sharon Hamilton and Shelley Corriell. In fact I did crafts with Shelley and got her to sign a bookmark for me.
I couldn’t end the good part of this post without talking a little about the Men Of Our Dream Contest. Let me tell you: Chippendales have nothing on us. Every year the contestants are better and better, entertaining us to tears–tears of joy, I assure you. It’s great to see Antonio coming back and winning this time, three years later since he first became one of the contestants.
Now moving onto to the bad of the event, shall we? Sleep depravation. During the five days I went to bed loooooong after midnight, and woke up around six the next morning. By the second night you think you’ve reached your max but you’re so, so wrong. IF by the third night you aren’t an owl yet, I guarantee you, you’ll become one. Concelear helps somewhat, but I wish someone invented IV line with coffee (Starbuck, do you hear me?). Which makes for the second bad of the event: coffee overdose. Even for me, which I’m a coffee addict, the amount of coffee I consumed during the event was too much, so goodbye coffee hello detox (only for a day ;).
And last but not least: the secrets:
1. Arizona Dreamin Convention will be back in 2017, same location (Embassy Suites in Phoenix, AZ). If you haven’t ever attend this event, I encourage you to do it, reader, writer and anything in between. The energy in, out and around it’s just contagious and you feel so inspired to tackle your next goal or dream.
2. Look out for the event’s next announcement because they’ll have a discounted price for it.
Is it 2017 yet?
P.S: I have more photos on my Fan Page on Facebook 😉
Ever curious about how writers and authors write? What inspires them? How do they hone their stories? What drives them?
I’m an author myself and often wonder how my fellow peeps do it. Do they all hear voices like I do? Do they write one story at the time or multiple? I assure you it’s different from one individual to the other. About a week ago I was asked by Ana Calin, a dear friend and fellow author if I want to participate in what it’s called The Writing Process Blog Tour. This blog tour is where writers and authors answer questions about their writing process and I am happy to be a part of this cross promotion. Ana posted hers last week. You can check out her writing process @ Fiction Online by Ana Calin.
On with the questions…
What are you working on?
If fighting with my characters is called working, then yes I’m working on my next novel tilted (for now) Me Tarzan—You Jane. I began writing it after attending a writers’ conference last year, the heroes and the story line so clear and easy to delve into, I thought it would be done in a few months. Then another story (Born In Sin, Dacian Legends, book# 2) popped in my head and it forced me to set the novel aside to write the new story. I finished and published Born In Sin end of May of this year. Took a short break from writing to promote my new novel then returned to Me Tarzan—You Jane. All went well until about six weeks ago when I found myself staring at the computer and unable to move the story from my head onto the screen (if only my fingers would collaborate!). That won’t be too bad considering Me Tarzan—You Jane won’t come out until spring of 2014, but the constant fighting with my characters drives me crazy. I’m also okay with them taking over my brain (gave up on that fight long ago), but I have so many other stories either in work or outlined that those characters become impatient. Can you imagine what would happen if my ancient warriors would pop in my head at the same time with my modern alpha male but can’t-chop-an-onion heroes? My poor brain would explode for sure.
How does your work differ from others of its genre?
I took a big risk writing my Dacian Legends—Born In Vengeance, book #1, Born In Sin, book #2—from the hero’s perspective which is unusual for a romance. The reason I did that was because the male heroes were the ones embarking on the journey to love, not their women. I have no regrets going that route, not only very rarely done in the romance genre, but also because love is seen and experienced so differently by men and women. As for my other novels (Hidden Heart, A Word Apart) I stayed away from the usual formula (man meets woman but conflict keeps them apart until they are reunited for their happily ever after). Real life doesn’t happen that way and, while I do write fiction, I like my stories to be believable and help readers identifying themselves with my characters. In general I like to bring two people together, build their relationships then train-wreck their lives. Whether their relationship is strong enough to stand trial or not it’s to be found out in the end.
Why do you write what you do?
For as long as I can dig down the memory lane I loved, starting with kindergarten. I’m a sucker for books, all things romance and the road to finding love. I believe that love colors our lives, conquers all fears and makes us better individuals. I believe in its power to heal and make us stronger, unlike any other emotion. And a heart without emotions it’s a stony one.
How does your writing process work?
My writing process is different from one story to another. It took me nine months to finish the final draft of my debut novel, Hidden Heart. Only ten days (and nights) for Born In Vengeance. Usually the story line or at least the major milestones flow fast and easy. Building my heroes—it depends, some easier to draw, some harder.
I usually read one or two chapters before starting a new one. It helps me reconnect with my heroes before I write the next scene. I transformed a guest room in my office by setting a desk in front of the window. I have several grammar books next to my computer. It’s total silence around me and the only “person” allowed in is Bella, my dog.
Thank you for visiting and reading my post. You can check out the writing processes of my wonderful and talented friends Cindy C Bennett, Juli Caldwell and Sherry Gammon on November, 25th.
As I promised during the Stuck In A Good Book Giveaway Hop here my review for the witty novella called ARMS WIDE OPEN by Juli Caldwell.
Once in a while I come across a story that makes me laugh out loud. A story that within the first sentences captures my attention for its easy flow, characters’ traits and funny/witty mood setting. And I can’t stop reading or laughing, falling in love with the heroes and rooting for them till the very end.
ARMS WIDE OPEN by Juli Caldwell is one of those stories I’ll definitely read over and over again. Easy to finish in one sitting this novella follows Lauren, a grad student whose life measures in tiny breaths of sanity mixed with mending a broken heart. At her roommate’s insistence Lauren attends a speed-dating event where people meet others in five-minute short sessions. Little does she know that her life is about to change in ways she hadn’t expected (if you assumed it is because she meets Prince Charming, I hate to disappoint you but it’s not). It’s something totally unexpected that will have your eyes goggled and saying, “WHAT????”
For someone who wrote a crazy scary novel (called PSYCHED, which had me sleeping with the light on, seriously) I applaud Juli Caldwell for her ability not only to switch genre, but for doing it in such a great manner that her voice sounds different, really funny and above all, unique and clear.
I loved this story and in the end I found myself wanting more of Lauren’s humor and delightfully funny sarcasm. A well-deserved 5-star review.
Get your copy today for only .99cents. Worth every penny.
The Stuck In A Good Book Giveaway is over. Using random.org the lucky winners taking home 3 e-copies of ARMS WIDE OPEN are:
Claira Vo
Mary Goodman
Amanda T.
September 20th to 25th
Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Valerie from Stuck in Books
The main rule of this hop is to share a book you couldn’t put down. Sounds easy?
Not really, because I have so many such books so dear to me but also know that I’d break the bank if I were to give away all of them. On the other hand I’d be unfair to the ones I don’t mention. So what do I do?
I decided to narrow it down to what I read this year and my favorite pick would be ARMS WIDE OPEN by Juli Caldwell.
I read this novella in one sitting and I loved every bit of it. And because I liked it so much I will be giving away 3 e-copies to 3 lucky winners. All you have to do is become a friend on GoodReads and answering to the question: WHAT WAS YOUR FAVE BOOK THIS YEAR?
Good luck everyone and don’t forget to hop over to the other bloggers for more fun prizes!
Lauren Brooks is in a rut, and her roomie is determined to yank her out of it by convincing her to participate in a local coffee shop’s 5-in-5 speed dating event. Once she agrees, it takes her about 30 seconds to realize if there’s an oddball out there looking for love, he’ll find her. And creep her out. She confronts one weirdo after another until someone she used to know winds up in the same place, and she has to decide what she wants more: to make a break for it, or embrace the possibilities of another chance.
Fun Facts about Arms Wide Open:
Check out Arms Wide Open, a novella about taking a chance on love!
About the author:
Juli Caldwell is also the author of Psyched, a YA paranormal novel, and Beyond Perfection, a latter-day romance. She lives near the shores of the Great Salt Lake with her husband, two bookworm daughters, and a dog who sheds too much. She will love you forever if you like her facebook page and follow her on Twitter. Check her blog often for updates on upcoming books, contests, and giveaways from her and other amazing authors!
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| Cover Art by Morteque |
So far, great reviews for Psyched!
Psyched is part ghost story, part suspense, part demon-hunting thriller, part budding romance, the story of a girl named Aisi who’s doing her best to keep it together for her wreck of a family. She is smart, sassy, and sarcastic enough to keep things interesting. When she meets Vance on the single worst day of her life, she finds a guy who just might be the first person ever to get her, to believe in her, and to out-random her with bizarre observations at the worst possible moment. There’s just something about him that she knows she can trust.
Together, Aisi and Vance wander through the memories of others to unlock the secrets of her past while battling a demon who wants to ensure she never finds what she’s looking for. Aisi vanquishes demons all the time, but Malus Indolus is too strong. And he has plans for her…and her family.
Psyched is Juli’s second novel, the first as an indie writer,
and her first experiment with her true love as a reader: paranormal
fiction. Her debut novel Beyond Perfection is also available.
You can find Juli on her webpage, Twitter, Facebook, and blog.
LOVE. WITHOUT YOU 