Category Archives: Writers on the River Attending Author

Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #attendingauthor #AuthorSpotlight – Tori Ross

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Tori Ross

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

I’m Tori Ross, and I write romantic comedy and steamy contemporary romance. My book, The Cuffing Season Contract, won the National Indie Excellence Award for romantic comedy, and I’m currently working on my first romantic suspense.

When you are writing a book, which is harder? The first book in the series or the others after it?

Other books in the series, specifically from book 3 on. I have a small attention deficit problem, so sticking with something long term is hard for me.

When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

Honestly, I just take a break when I need it. The good thing about my series, The Traveling Calvert Sisters, is that they can be read as standalones. Each novella features a different sister, so that keeps it fresh. All eight of the sisters have different personalities and different love interests.

Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?

Give yourself grace and set your goals when you go into this. Everyone says that, but I didn’t realize how true it is until I started publishing. This career is more of a marathon than a sprint, and you need to set realistic goals to keep yourself on track.

On a typical day, how much time do you spend writing?

I write for two to three hours a day. I’m incredibly disciplined with it, and I’m a morning worker. These days, marketing takes more of my time than actual writing.

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.

I can’t get Jasper Nicholas from All I Wank for Christmas out of my head. I also still have a massive crush on Liam Lane from Contact High. For some reason, I have more emotion for my male characters than my female. I often talk to my male characters in my head when I’m working on a book, even if I’m not actively writing.

What is your definition of success?

Having people enjoy my books. It’s not about the money for me, although it’s nice when I have a decent royalty month. I like the idea of taking people out of reality for a little bit.

What are your social links?

I’m on Instagram and Facebook at @authortoriross and on Tik Tok at @author_toriross. I’ve also recently started using Pinterest, and I think it’s something a lot of authors don’t appreciate enough. I love posting graphics and videos.

What are your buy links? (Provide links to your Amazon/iBook’s/Koko/etc Author Home Page if you have quite a few. Also include audible links if applicable.)

My website (you can click on the Books tab in the menu for my work: https://smuttybooklady.com/
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tori-Ross/author/B09BTK1DV2

Want tickets to Writers on the River #2024?

They are available starting November 6th at Writersontheriver.com

$75 VIP Plus – 11-12 Lunch with the Authors , 12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included. *Limited Quantity expected to sell out first day*

$50 VIP -12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included. *Expected to sell out first day*

$25 Early Access – 12-1 VIP house, 1-4 General Admission time. You also get a filled VIP bag but NO admission to the after party. *Expected to sell out opening day*

$10 General Admission – 1-4 General Admission time. You can purchase a bag but it is not filled with VIP swag. There is no admission to the after party included.

$35 After party – 7-11 After Party with food and cash bar. Dj with a photobooth is also included in the fun.

Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #EventBlogger #AttendingAuthor – JM Walker A.K.A. Twinsie JoJo

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Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

J.M. Walker – I’m a Canadian author and have been publishing since 2013. I write anything from erotica romance to dark romance. I am venturing into other genres. Or I have ideas anyway but I haven’t written them yet. I’m a little scared to but at the same time, I sure do love me a challenge.

When you are writing a book, which is harder? The first book in the series or the others after it?

For me, the others after it are the hardest because I suck at keeping track of character names, characteristics and timelines. Just as my editor. Good thing she knows what she’s doing.

When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

Oh gosh. I don”t read a lot of romance anymore, so maybe that helps? Not sure. But I do know that while I’m writing my MC romances, I won’t read MC. I’ve actually only read 3 MC books and that was long before I started writing it. That helps keep things fresh for me. Oh and for my next MC series, I got an idea from a horror movie. That also helps.

Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?

Be kind to yourself. If you don’t meet your word count for the day, don’t be hard on yourself. Trust me, as someone who’s currently dealing with burn out, writing thousands of words a day, is not always a good thing.

On a typical day, how much time do you spend writing?

Not long at the moment. But I used to spend my mornings writing and then I would work the day job for the afternoon. I miss that but will get back to that in the upcoming months.

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.

I have 3 – Lucas Crane, Sammy and Cyrus Butcher. Once Lucas started talking to me after 6 years of trying to write his book, his story poured out of me. And with Cyrus and Sammy, they know how to communicate and had no issues telling me exactly what was on their minds. I had so much fun writing both of their books that I can’t wait to write someone like them again. Actually, he’ll be more like Sammy but worse. 😉

What is your definition of success?

Constantly improving. It’s one of the things I love most about this author journey. I’m always learning. With the market changing so often, while sometimes it can be quite challenging to keep up with the times, it’s also fun as well.

Do you have anything you want to share that didn’t fit on one of these questions?

I just want to thank you ladies for inviting me back this year. This really doesn’t go with this spotlight but I’m putting this here anyway. With my current publishing break, a part of me is scared that people will forget about me. It’s a weird feeling. I know. But I want you girls to know that I truly appreciate you for inviting me back each year. It’ll help readers remember my face. Anyway. I am truly a lifer and as long as you’ll have me, I’ll always attend Writers On The River. xx

What are your social links?

https://linktr.ee/authorjmwalker

What are your buy links? (Provide links to your Amazon/iBook’s/Koko/etc Author Home Page if you have quite a few. Also include audible links if applicable.)

Want tickets to Writers on the River #2024?

They are available starting November 6th at Writersontheriver.com

$75 VIP Plus – 11-12 Lunch with the Authors , 12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included. *Limited Quantity expected to sell out first day*

$50 VIP -12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included. *Expected to sell out first day*

$25 Early Access – 12-1 VIP house, 1-4 General Admission time. You also get a filled VIP bag but NO admission to the after party. *Expected to sell out opening day*

$10 General Admission – 1-4 General Admission time. You can purchase a bag but it is not filled with VIP swag. There is no admission to the after party included.

$35 After party – 7-11 After Party with food and cash bar. Dj with a photobooth is also included in the fun.

Dark Romance, Mafia, Review, Thriller, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #Review Defying her Mafioso (The Vitucci Mafiosos Book 1) by Terri Anne Browning

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Ciro Donati was many things:

My father’s most valued and trusted soldier.

My brother’s best friend and second in command.

The only man I would give up everything for.

We were still kids when I fell in love with the Mafioso, knowing full well who he was to become.

A beast of a man that made people disappear—and probably enjoyed every second of it.

But with me, he was tender, protective. He treated me like I was the most precious thing in the world to him.

And then he sent me away.

Scarlett Vitucci was many things:

The daughter of the biggest Cosa Nostra boss from New York to Chicago.

The sister of the man I would gladly take a bullet for.

The only woman I would ever love.

Sending her away was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I didn’t deserve her or her love. For years I stayed away. Ignored the gnawing ache that her absence left in my chest.

Seeing her now, I know fighting what I felt for her is impossible. Letting her go had been a huge mistake.

One I would never repeat again.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

I was absolutely hooked from the very first page! I needed the story and just knew that that the cleanup of the beginning was going to be epic. I keep reading and reading and got really invested in these characters. I keep turning the pages like crazy and then bam! I know that it is really going to get good because the beginning is about to be resolved. Justice is futile! This is about the half way point of the book. This is more of the turning point for Scarlet and Ciro as they are done fighting their attraction and love for each other. Ok, so now I know it is game on and the real bad guy is gonna get his. But then the story sort of fell flat for me. We got the love story and overcoming the terrible obstacles but there was no nothing for the bad guy. He just sort of fell off and everyone was just ok with it. It was definitely not what I would have expected in a Mafia book. Terri Anne Browning is a new to me author and I can say that she can definitely get you hooked because boy, did I have it bad! I just wish there was more to the second half of the book.

Author Logo

Terri Anne Browning is a Wall Street Journal and USA TODAY bestselling author. She writes contemporary romance featuring rockers, bikers, and mafiosos–but mostly about the strong female characters who rule what has become known as the Rocker Universe.

Terri Anne lives in Virginia with her husband, their three demons–err, children–and a Frenchie named Ciri.

www.facebook.com/terriannebrowning.author

www.terriannebrowningauthor.com

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hVt269

TAB’s Rocker…Universe Group: https://bit.ly/3HnyIOB

Contemp. Romance, Dark Romance, Mafia, Review, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #Review SLOTH: Seven Deadly Sins Mafia Romance by J.M. Walker

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He taught me everything I knew.
Drugs. Weapons. Money. More.
If it became known that we shared a history before he became the Arlo Rossi, it could cost us both of our lives.
Our destinies were quite different. Especially when I wasn’t part of the family.
After an unexpected meeting, I was reluctant to embrace everything I knew.
Everything he taught me.
When all was said and done, I realized that I may not have a choice.

Lust. Gluttony. Greed. Sloth. Wrath. Envy. Pride.
DARE TO BE SINFUL!
Seven amazing authors are bringing the sins to life! Indulge in guilty pleasure with a mafia world full of deceit, romance, betrayal, and more! All books are standalone!

Authors:
J.L. Leslie – Lust – January 2023
Crimson Syn – Gluttony – March 2023
Erin Trejo – Greed – May 2023
JM Walker – Sloth – July 2023
Delaney Foster – Wrath – September 2023
Kathy Coopmans – Envy – November 2023
Daphne Loveling – Pride – January 2024

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

Knowing that the worst part of your night happened earlier and also knowing that it really wasn’t the worst part of the night yet can weigh extremely heavy on someone. Reader beware, this story flies! It is intense from the absolute beginning clear to the end. You literally cannot blink! Ginny and Arlo’s relationship is difficult because of the different people they are within the mafia. Arlo was her father’s best friend and is more than that to Ginny. However strained their relationship is, they both know they can count on each other. This entire story is wrapped up in one evening (with an epilogue) but is heavy and intense the entire way. This is a better version of Mr. & Mrs. Smith! Gritty, dirty, and exquisite!

Author Logo

J.M. Walker, a Canadian author, is an Amazon bestseller who also hit USA Today with Wanted: An Outlaw Anthology. She loves all things books, pigs and lip gloss. She is happily married to the man who inspires all of her Heroes and continues to make her weak in the knees every single day.

“Above all, be the HEROINE of your own life…” ~ Nora Ephron

https://www.facebook.com/jm.walker.author/

https://linktr.ee/authorjmwalker

baseball, Part of a Series, Standalone, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#wotr #attendingauthor #partofaseries #YA Dear Marley (Love Notes 7) by Danielle Keil

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Everyone at Ryder High knows what it means to have a teal envelope taped to their locker on the first day of the month.

For Marley “Sunny” Sorenshine, a Secret Admirer might be just what she needs to put her recent, very public, break up behind her.

Her optimism is dimmed when she reads the first note—her admirer was tricked into participating. He didn’t choose Marley, a dart did. And he wants her to quit.

But if Marley is good at anything, it’s seeing the silver lining and standing up for herself. She decides to throw her Sunny disposition into the game to challenge her Admirer’s grumpiness.

The guy can’t be all that bad—he carefully crafted a crossword puzzle just for her. And as the month goes on, he shares more personal details that intrigue her.

Will Marley stick it out until the end, or will her Admirers morose attitude get the best of her?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62214072-dear-marley

Amazon https://amzn.to/3taaFzo

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book and this is my honest opinion
Marley is miss sunshine at Ryder High, so her nickname Sunny is a perfect fit. She is so thoughtful and generous that she brings Mr. Thompson a retired teacher his blueberry muffin top that reminds him of his late wife. So, when she was giving her first teal envelope, she thought it was a complete joke. After finding out it wasn’t she was starting to get excited then for first clue came and it was a total let down, for Marley now she was thinking her admirer, was forced into the game. will she make it the whole month, will it get better or is this the cloud that brings downs the schools sunshine.

Danielle Keil grew up and spent the majority of her life in the Chicagoland area. A recent transplant, she is enjoying the Mississippi life, especially the pool in her backyard.
Danielle is happily married for over 10 years, and has two young children, a daughter and a son, who are exact replicas of her and her husband.
She also is a fur mom to their Corgi, Cozmo, who loves barking, mud, and peanut butter.
Danielle’s love language is gifts, her Ennegram is a 9w1, and she loves everything purple.
The way to her heart is through coffee, chocolate and tacos (extra guac).

Part of a Series, Standalone, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#wotr #attendingauthor #partofaseries #YA Dear Calista (Love Notes 6) by Danielle Keil

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Everyone at Ryder High knows what it means to have a teal envelope taped to their locker on the first day of the month.
The first day of August is Calista Forrester’s seventeenth birthday. Her teal envelope showed up among the gifts at a surprise party.
A party she didn’t want. Just like how she doesn’t want a Secret Admirer.
Panged with guilt, and stuck with a dead phone battery, she accepts the challenge by default.
Her clues come in the form of tickets to different places, each with a task to complete while she’s there. It’s an introvert’s worst nightmare, but at least she’s allowed to bring a friend along.
When school starts, Calista is shoved into the spotlight as the chosen girl. That’s when she decides enough is enough.
Will Calista’s decision impact more than just her?
And will her secret admirer let her give up that easily?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61802510-dear-calista

Amazon https://amzn.to/3PU1xYJ

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book and here is my honest review
Calista doesn’t like to be the center of attention all of her friends know this but that doesn’t stop them from throwing her a surprise birthday party. after the party ends and Calista is able to fall back in the shadows she never expected to be in the spotlight once again because hiding under all her gifts is the famous teal envelope, the last thing Calista thought she would ever see and now her worst fear has been unlocked being in the spotlight for a whole month. her secret admirer is making her go way out of her comfort zone and in situations that will make her uncomfortable and hopefully getting her out of her shell. will all this anxiety help Calista or have her ending this game faster than it takes for the light to turn on.

Danielle Keil grew up and spent the majority of her life in the Chicagoland area. A recent transplant, she is enjoying the Mississippi life, especially the pool in her backyard.
Danielle is happily married for over 10 years, and has two young children, a daughter and a son, who are exact replicas of her and her husband.
She also is a fur mom to their Corgi, Cozmo, who loves barking, mud, and peanut butter.
Danielle’s love language is gifts, her Ennegram is a 9w1, and she loves everything purple.
The way to her heart is through coffee, chocolate and tacos (extra guac).

Part of a Series, Reverse Harem, Witches, Writers on the River Attending Author

#wotr24 #attendingauthor #partofaseries Simon and Trenton (Ariel Kimber 10) by Mary Martel

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Trenton and Simon are brothers by blood but their connection goes a whole lot deeper than just that.

They grew up knowing that they’d spend their lives searching for that one special female witch it was their job to protect. Female witches were rare and they never thought they’d actually find her.

But find her they did.

And while protecting her they both fell in love with her.

She fell in love with them right back.

The problem was, she’s a stubborn little witch who’s too afraid to face her feelings head on and embrace them. She’ll run head first into danger, but face her feelings for the brothers? No way, she’s ready to run like a scared little girl.

Can the brothers convince Ariel Kimber to take a chance on them or will they have to forever remain on the sidelines, protecting but never touching, what they rightfully consider to be theirs?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/197383630-simon-and-trenton

Amazon https://amzn.to/47SWvmj

Review by Twinsie Dee

i was given this book by the author for an honest review

oh, sweet mama these bodyguards just make this already spicy dynamic of a group even spicier. Simon and Trenton have searched their whole lives looking for their female witch and they finally found her, Airel Kimber they just didn’t think her 7 husbands were also with her. but they will protect her at all costs, they get along with her family and now they just want to get her to open up to them. but when quinton sends them on a mission to look at a storage unit left by Ariel’s crazy aunt who pretended to be her mom, they started to get closer. the flame from magic isn’t the only thing that’s getting hot. ugh I just love this world and these characters I can’t get enough of them.

Mary Martel was born in West Michigan and spent the majority of her life there. She currently resides in North Dakota with her two beautiful daughters. She’s an avid reader, and when not writing she can be found with her nose stuck in a book.
brother's best friend, Part of a Series, Standalone, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#wotr24 #attendingauthor #YA #partofaseries Dear Sofia (Love Notes 5) by Danielle Keil

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Everyone at Ryder High knows what it means to have a teal envelope taped to their locker on the first of the month.
Sofia Castillo didn’t get that. But she did a giant ice cream sandwich delivered to her house with her envelope.
Things take a turn when her family goes on vacation the day after her envelope arrives. It throws a wrench in her secret admirer’s plan, and he has to change tactics and deliver clues via text instead.
Sofia knows it’s someone close to her, but who? Texts come at all times—even when she’s in the same place as her admirer. Without too many specific clues, Sofia decides to just enjoy the ride and the conversation.
Will Sofia be able to coax some clues out of her admirer?
Or will he reveal himself when things take a sudden turn?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61375228-dear-sofia

Amazon https://amzn.to/3EeYaos

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book and this is my honest review

Dear Sofia, it’s the moment you have been waiting all of junior year for. but your time is now during the summer, so let’s enjoy this month and see if you can figure out who I am. Sofia could not wait to be picked to get her teal envelope, she figured she would be one the first to be picked during the school year, because hello cheerleader so imagine her shock when her twin brother brought home an ice cream cake with her invitation on top of the box. She was so excited to finally start the game but will she like who her admirer is at the end of the month?

Danielle Keil grew up and spent the majority of her life in the Chicagoland area. A recent transplant, she is enjoying the Mississippi life, especially the pool in her backyard.
Danielle is happily married for over 10 years, and has two young children, a daughter and a son, who are exact replicas of her and her husband.
She also is a fur mom to their Corgi, Cozmo, who loves barking, mud, and peanut butter.
Danielle’s love language is gifts, her Ennegram is a 9w1, and she loves everything purple.
The way to her heart is through coffee, chocolate and tacos (extra guac).

Part of a Series, Standalone, Teen & Young Adult Contemporary, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#wotr #attendingauthor #YA #partofaseries Dear Spencer (Love Notes 4) by Danielle Keil

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Everyone at Ryder High knows what it means to have a teal envelope taped to their locker on the first day of the month.

Spencer Matthews assumes the Secret Admirers game is on pause, since it’s June and school is out for summer.

Then a teal envelope with her name on it arrives in the mail. Spencer is eager to play, but her Secret Admirer makes her work for her clues by playing a trivia game app he created.

Her spreadsheet of suspects is color coded, and Spencer is confident she knows who her admirer is after only the first two clues.

But something goes wrong, threatening the future of the game.

Will Spencer be able to continue playing?

And if so, will her guesses still be right?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61209842-dear-spencer

Amazon https://amzn.to/45rImtZ

Review by Twinsie Dee

Last day of school at Ryder High. Spencer is now a senior, the student body president, and life couldn’t get any better than this. She was ready for her part time internship at her dad’s law firm during the summer. So, you can imagine her surprise when she seen the famous teal envelope was mailed to her and not found on her locker like most girls find them. Also, it was the summer did the game normally go on during the summer? Spencer was just all-around shook, why would she get picked she didn’t have time for a relationship, but she would accept, she loved trivia and games so why not. Spencer was sent a link to a trivia game app, and this would be how she would get her clues to who could be behind this app. Will Spencer guess the correct answers, and will her spreadsheet be able to help her figure it out or will she be completely wrong for the first time. Happy Summer let the game begin.

Danielle Keil grew up and spent the majority of her life in the Chicagoland area. A recent transplant, she is enjoying the Mississippi life, especially the pool in her backyard.
Danielle is happily married for over 10 years, and has two young children, a daughter and a son, who are exact replicas of her and her husband.
She also is a fur mom to their Corgi, Cozmo, who loves barking, mud, and peanut butter.
Danielle’s love language is gifts, her Ennegram is a 9w1, and she loves everything purple.
The way to her heart is through coffee, chocolate and tacos (extra guac).

Part of a Series, Standalone, Teen & Young Adult Contemporary, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#wotr #attendingauthor #YA #partofaseries Dear Jade (Love Note 3) by Danielle Keil

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Everyone at Ryder High knows what it means to have a teal envelope taped to their locker on the first day of the month.

Jade Rose knows. She just doesn’t care.

The Secret Admirers game goes against every feminist notion she stands for. It’s old fashioned, misogynistic, and too mainstream for her.

That is, until she gets a teal envelope. And finds out that she and her secret admirer have a few things in common already.

Her acceptance may have been accidental, but when the clues start coming in the form of movies to watch, she gets sucked in quick.

Will Jade and her friends be able to narrow down their list of suspects and figure out who is behind the camera?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60911464-dear-jade

Amazon https://amzn.to/3qtzwND

Review by Twinsie Dee

A new month at Ryder High and a new secret admirer has left his mark. this time with Miss Jade Rose the one who isn’t afraid to speak her mind or stand up for herself, she didn’t need a guy, she was honestly fine by herself. So, to Jade’s shock when she seen that teal envelope on her locker but unlike the other girls in school, she wanted no part of any of this, so she took the letter off her locker and added an N so now it looked like Jaden was the it girl. To Jade’s shock the next day she had another envelope on her locker from her admirer, and he isn’t ready to take no for an answer for Jade. Jade gives in and figures why not have some fun, movies, mystery, games and she’s planning on not letting anyone help her, this mystery guy has a thing or too coming of her thinks he can win Jade over this easily.

Danielle Keil grew up and spent the majority of her life in the Chicagoland area. A recent transplant, she is enjoying the Mississippi life, especially the pool in her backyard.
Danielle is happily married for over 10 years, and has two young children, a daughter and a son, who are exact replicas of her and her husband.
She also is a fur mom to their Corgi, Cozmo, who loves barking, mud, and peanut butter.
Danielle’s love language is gifts, her Ennegram is a 9w1, and she loves everything purple.
The way to her heart is through coffee, chocolate and tacos (extra guac).