All posts by Angie J

Audio Book, Paranormal, Vampire

#WOTR24 #Vampires #RH #Paranormal – Indebted to the Vampires, House of Durand book 1 by Erin Bedford, narration by Keira Stevens and Troy Duran

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Previously a novella of 15k in the Realms and Rebels box set, now lengthened to a full length novel.

A broken vase isn’t all this maid owed her masters.

Piper needed a job. Any job would do. But when the temp agency assigns her to clean the house of a bunch of snobby rich men, she isn’t sure it’s worth it.

Stuck in a job she has no choice but to keep, Piper becomes even more indebted to her employers when she breaks a priceless vase.

However, her clumsiness is the least of Piper’s troubles. Her mysterious and dangerously tempting employers have a secret. One that they are willing to kill to keep. Will she be able to save her job? Let alone live through it?

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Angie

Indebted to the Vampires, House of Durand book 1 by Erin Bedford, Narration by Troy Duran and Keira Stevens
I purchased this audio book.

I grabbed this book because it checked off all my boxes…Vampires and RH being 2 of my biggest. Since I listened to the audio I am not 100% sure on the spelling of the characters names.

First up I loved me some Piper. She was not going to sit and listen to this “men” tell her what to do and treat her so rudely. She spoke her mind even IF she was getting into trouble for it.

The “men” she was taking care of were very arrogant, sexy, annoying, sexy, rude, sexy…do you get what I am saying? LOL She struggles a lot with keeping her thoughts pure especially when it comes to Wen and then Drake and then Raine and then….ok yeah all of them at some point.

As the book goes on Piper discovers the “men” are actually vampires. She is initially freaked a bit but then realized they aren’t so bad right? When she is thrust into the Vampire world and kinda war, we see Piper flounder but one of the guy is there to help her. Unfortunately that night causes trouble for your girl which we will learn about in book 2 as this does end in a cliffhanger.

I was absolutely in love with Piper and her stubborn personality. I have to say I really enjoyed Drake the most of the brothers but Wen had giving a sideways look. I cant wait to see more about Master Durand and the blood bond he has with the butler.

This book had me totally enthralled and not wanting to stop listening.

Erin Bedford is an otaku, recovering coffee addict, and Legend of Zelda fanatic. Her brain is so full of stories that need to be told that she must get them out or explode into a million screaming chibis. Obsessed with fairy tales and bad boys, she hasn’t found a story she can’t twist to match her deviant mind full of innuendos, snarky humor, and dream guys.

On the outside, she’s a work from home mom and bookbinger. One the inside, she’s a thirteen-year-old boy screaming to get out and tell you the pervy joke they found online. As an ex-computer programmer, she dreams of one day combining her love for writing and college credits to make the ultimate video game!

Until then, when she’s not writing, Erin is devouring as many books as possible on her quest to have the biggest book gut of all time. She’s written over thirty books, ranging from paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and even scifi romance.

Also, third person is really weird when writing about yourself. Just putting that out there.

Come chat me up!
www.erinbedford.com
Facebook.com/erinrbedford
twitter.com/erin_bedford

Don’t forget to follow me on Goodreads, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!

COVER REVEAL, Dark

#CoverReveal #AltCover #Perorder #Dark – Where’s Molly by H.D. Carlton

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Designer: @opulentdesigns121

Photographer: @lanefotograf_2

Sign up for the tour here → https://bit.ly/41s6HPy

 

Where’s Molly, an all-new must-read, dark, second chance romance from USA Today bestselling author H.D. Carlton is coming February 16th!

“Molly Devereaux has been missing for more than two weeks, and police are still searching for the girl who seemed to vanish out of thin air. The world still wants to know… Where’s Molly?”

In my dreams, I never escaped the Oregon woods.

Life after death isn’t easy to accept, especially when I still feel like a ghost.

Now, I live deep in the mountains of Montana—the paradigm of beauty. But they are also the home of horrors.

Horrors that I only unleash at night.

When my pigs are allowed to feast.

Pre-order your copy today → https://books2read.com/wheresmolly

Add Where’s Molly to Goodreads →  https://bit.ly/3trZLFE

 H. D. Carlton is an International and USA Today Bestselling author. She lives in Ohio with her partner, two dogs, and cat. When she’s not bathing in the tears of her readers, she’s watching paranormal shows and wishing she was a mermaid.

 

Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #attendingauthor #Authorspotlight – Amanda Uhl

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Amanda Uhl

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Amanda Uhl

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

That’s a great question. For me, it’s the subsequent books in the series that are harder, although that doesn’t seem logical (scratches head), since the world would already be created in the first book. But I’ve found it difficult to reinsert myself in a world I may have created some time ago.

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

I do not plot the entire book. I do light plotting, making sure I understand each character’s internal and external goal, motivation and conflict. I also write the back cover blurb, which is the basic premise of the book. Then I dive in and start writing. This way, I learn about the characters as I write, which offers many surprises for me as the author, and I think for my readers, as well.

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

Creativity takes courage. Don’t give up! Writing is a journey, and there will be ups and downs. When you are feeling down, do something else — go on a walk, ride your bike, go shopping, whatever gets your mind off of it for a while. Soon you’ll feel refreshed and ready to dive back in.

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

I work full time managing a creative team at a large fortune 500 company, which leaves little time for writing. I write a couple of hours a day, usually late at night when everyone else is sleeping. But sometimes I write in short 5-15 minute increments, whenever I have down time –in a doctor’s office, waiting for my car to be repaired, when I’m getting a pedicure.

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

I have characters that have popped up in my books that I’m dying to know more about and look forward to giving them their own story. One is Caleb Stone, who unexpectedly made an appearance in CROSS WAVES, the second book in my Mind Hackers series. Caleb is described as a creature of nighttime dreams and shadows, more figment of imagination than real substance. Now, I want to know who is he and what makes him tick. I will look forward to writing his story one day to find out!

What is your definition of success?

If I leave this world tomorrow, I will have no regrets. To me that is success. And this has nothing to do with writing. I focus on living in the moment, spreading love and light, praying often, keeping a strong faith, and making friends along the way.

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

I work hard on improving my craft and writing the best book that I can write. All my books have won awards. You can read about them on my website at: https://amandauhl.com/awards/

What are your social links?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandauhlauthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AuAuthor
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/amandauhlauthor/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/amandauhlauthor
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amanda-uhl
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15698518.Amanda_Uhl

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.)

https://books2read.com/ap/n6zVzr/Amanda-Uhl

https://www.audible.com/author/Amanda-Uhl/B01LSXEDQE

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 #attendingauthor #Authorspotlight -Alethea Faust

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Alethea Faust

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Hiya! I’m Alethea Faust, and I’m a queer writer of kinky, queer, erotic fantasy! There’s a few things I include in all my books – risk-aware consensual kink, hard BDSM, non-toxic masculinity, kind and emotionally mature adults, and a lot of butt stuff. My debut novel Initiation is the first in my epic Sex Wizards series that is set in a sex-positive, magical world. The series contains a kink-based magic system as well as a ensemble cast of pansexual, polyamorous, fantasy race, nonbinary, gender non-conforming and intersex characters. ​

But when I’m not tying sexy plot threads together, I can be found roaming the wilds of Colorado with my mustang and my adventure-loving Pomeranian. I’ve also been known to perform at renaissance festivals and have even competed in light armor jousting as well as the mounted medieval games!

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

Definitely the later books in the series. In part, because my current Sex Wizards series takes a turn into epic fantasy in the later half, which means bigger plots, bigger character arcs, and (because it’s Sex Wizards) a whole new level of spice. But in other things I’ve written, it feels like book 1 is for getting to know the characters, while the rest of the series is throwing them into new situations to see how they react. And I find that I’m way more surprised by my characters as the series goes on!

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

I’m not a fast writer. I have to think long and hard (pun absolutely intended) before setting a book on any one course. It gives me time to make sure the story is where I want it to be, the characters have the depth they should, and the plot has all the gut punches and soft caresses it needs to be engaging for me to write, and hopefully just as engaging for others to read! I’m currently coming up on the end of writing a six-book series and I can say that the later half of this series is nothing like the beginning half. It’s been an absolute delight to write, and I hope that readers find it just as fun to read.

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

Take breaks! Do other creative things! Do things that make you happy and recharge those writing batteries! Everyone needs multiple outlets, and while writing is a big creative outlet for me, I also have to occasionally take a step back to clear my head in a different way. When I do, I can usually return to my manuscript with fresh eyes and a new idea, and writing becomes fun again instead of a slog.

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

I’m a chaotic creature, so I don’t have a set schedule. I do try to write at least 1,000 words every time I sit down. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t, but I try not to beat myself up on those days when I end up short of my goal.

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

I have two who are very special to me. Dominai and Olbric of my Sex Wizards series are based in equal parts off of me and my partner, Geo. I am Olbric’s impulsiveness and determination, as well as Dom’s anxiety and empathy, while Geo is Olbric’s wit and humor and Dom’s kindness and willingness to learn.

What is your definition of success?

Mine is simple – I want to be able to sustain myself doing something that I love. We all live in a capitalist hellscape, and if I can get through it doing one of the things I enjoy, I consider that a success.

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

As someone who is dyslexic, I chose a really difficult career path to pursue. So, if you see a typo in a book, try to ignore them? We’re doing our best!

What are your social links?

https://www.facebook.com/aletheafaust/

https://www.instagram.com/aletheafaust/

@aletheafaust

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.)

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Alethea-Faust/author/B09JBF53KM
Signed copies at www.aletheafaust.com

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 #attendingauthor #Authorspotlight – M.J. Schiller

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M.J. Schiller

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Hi! I’m M.J. Schiller. Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I’ve been married to my husband, Don for 35 years this past June. We have four children. In October, Darcy will be turning 29 and Mitch, Ryan, and Hannah will be turning 27, and yes, they are triplets. I am a retired lunch lady who writes romance novels. I love to karaoke, watch hockey, and listen to live music.That’s me in a nutshell!

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

The others after it! It is incredibly hard for me to make sure timelines are correct from book to book, as well as secondary character names and other facts (descriptions of locations, locations of locations, who said what when, who knows such and such fact…)

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

Not enough! Life gets in the way far too often. For example, at the moment I am an assistant on a retreat team with weekly meetings from 5:30 to 10ish, I have a shower that I’m hosting on Sunday that I have to make macaroni and cheese for, plus jars of jelly for all the guests, table decorations, and probably a dozen things I’ve forgotten, I’m taking care of my daughter’s house as she moved to Denver which includes mowing a HUGE lawn with a push mower, I have trips three weekends in October and a wedding on the other weekend… I just tend to get too involved. It’s difficult. All I really want to do is write.

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

I shouldn’t pick favorites, but I love Kyle from my DEVILISH DESIRES SERIES. He’s an NHL hockey referee and he’s a sweetheart, but still sarcastic and funny. Very real.

What is your definition of success?

To be able to affect other people’s lives in a positive way on a daily basis.

What are your social links?

Website: https://mjschillerauthor.blogspot.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/M.J.-Schiller/e/B009JOQFQQ
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-j-schiller
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockingTheWorldOneReaderAtATime/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mjschiller/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjschiller
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mjschiller
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6479377.M_J_Schiller
Books2Read: https://books2read.com/MJSchiller
Newsletter signup: https://maryschiller.wixsite.com/contact-page
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mjschillerauthor

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.)

Author pages:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/M.J.-Schiller/e/B009JOQFQQ
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/M.J.%20Schiller
iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/author/m-j-schiller/id561507281
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=M.J.%20Schiller&ac=1&acp=mj%20schiller&ac.provider=gsp&ac.author=M.J.%20Schiller
https://play.google.com/books/publish/a/9926118305365709419#list?sortby=last_updated&sortdir=desc

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.

Fairy Tales, Paranormal

WOTR24 #FairyTale #Beast #Beauty #trilogy – Devastation, Beastly Tales book 3 by MJ Haag

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**Adult Romance**

The Beauty and the Beast saga ends with Devastation…

Abused and rejected, Benella strives to regain a purpose for her life, and finds herself returning to the last place she ever wanted to see. She must learn when it is right to forgive and when it is time to move on.

Intended for adult readers only due to sexual situations, violence, and moderate language.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Angie

I purchased this audio book.

I am here to tell you when book 2 ended I was frantic to get to book 3.  I have never been so happy to have the series complete in my LIFE!!  For all of you that had to wait, I am so sorry!!

I was desperate to see what happened.  I mean Alec is ALEC but he was with Rose!!  WHAT!!  And our poor girl, Benella, was a mess.  I don’t blame her at all for running home to her father and staying there.

Of course you know Benella ends back at the house with Alec after he offered her father a position with his staff.  My heart was all fluttering to see Alec and Benella together. *Snicker* her tantrum with him in the kitchen did have me laughing so hard.

Then the book slowed down…like way down.  I felt like I wanted to throat punch Benella for not listening to Alec about what happened THAT DAY.  I also was really over the party planning.  It was a little too long for my taste BUT when the party happened things really picked back up and off we went.  Alec and his overreaching but dang did I love him for it!!

Of course, we see a lot of disagreements with Benella and Alec.  We see her father trying to give fatherly advice. We see Benella’s sisters being HORRIBLE. We, of course, deal with Tennen being the douchbag he is 1000%.

But at the end of it all, I was so smooshy with love and the satisfaction of the completion of their love story.

MJ Haag is the bestselling author of the Beastly Tales and the Resurrection Chronicles. Writing as both MJ Haag and Melissa Haag, she has sold more than three hundred thousand copies worldwide and authored several other series, including the Judgement of the Six and Of Fates and Furies.

She thinks bios written in third person are hilariously pretentious and doesn’t take much in life seriously, including her author photo.

She lives in Wisconsin with her three children and husband.

Writers on the River Attending Author

WOTR24 #attendingauthor #authorspotlight – Tyranni Thomas

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Captivated: Amongst Kings and Vikings, Book 1

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

My name is Tyranni Thomas. I’m a former long term care nurse with a love of history. I write Dark Romance with intense steam and brutal situations.

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

The first book is sometimes difficult, because I’ll set down with a story in mind, and all these side characters will push to the front with stories of their own that I have to stop and write down for their own books. That is what happened with Soiled Dove. I had no intention of making it a series, but Aunt Flossie became such a personality that she had to have her own book, War Whore. Which was only odd because chronologically her story takes place before book one.

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

I’m not sure what you mean by fresh. I keep the series straight by maintaining a notebook to keep all the characters, events, dates, and details available at a glance. I also, write in a way that I hope allows people to appreciate the book even if they haven’t read the ones before it.

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

Just write. Even if it is only a little bit when you can. The more you write, the better your craft will get.

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

4-5 hours

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

Yes. My favorite character that I have written thus far is Aunt Flossie of the Soiled Dove series. She is a civil war survivor. A woman who has more backbone and grit than most of the men who walk into her brothel. She is a fierce, protective role model for other women in her situation and she lives her life unapologetically. She is the ultimate Historical Badass Heroine.

What are your social links?

https://www.facebook.com/TyranniThomasPens

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.

Fairy Tales, Paranormal

#WOTR24 #FairyTale #Beast #Beauty #trilogy – Deceit, Beastly Tales book 2 by MJ Haag

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**Adult Romance**
Safely hidden within the estate’s enchanted walls, Benella no longer has time to fear her tormentors. She’s too preoccupied attempting to determine what makes the beast so beastly. It might be the taxing visits from the aged enchantress who cursed him or his growing vexation at not being allowed to touch Benella.

In order to gain her freedom, she must find a way to break the curse, but first, she must help him become a better man while protecting her heart.

**Intended for adult readers due to sexual situations, violence, and moderate language.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Angie

I purchased this audio book.  Because I listened to the story I am not 100% sure of some of the character name spellings so bare with me…coolio!!

GAH!! The stress of the way book 1 ended I had to jump right into book 2.  It literally picks up right where book 2 ended.  Benella is staying with the Beast.  She isn’t sure what she is to do.  She starts cleaning and is annoyed that the Beast stays with her and watches all she does.  

Slowly she starts to talk to the Beast and make demands after of his demands on her.  They slowly start to make a connection.  He stops being the Beast and being himself.  We learn his name and why he is the way he is.  Benella starts to see the Beast for more than just a grumpy beast but a man trapped for 50 years by an evil enchantress.

The time they spend together grows and develops into so much more.( Cue the music from the movie)  We can see them both falling so much in love.  Benella had befriended a couple of ladies she sure should not have but they are telling her how to “Calm” him which gets her to asking questions about her own sexuality.  The Beast is very happy to help her explore these newfound questions.  LOL

When we see the couple are happy, a light goes off in Benella’s brain and it helps her solve the end of the curse.  

The end of the story made me a hot mess. Do we want Alec or the Beast?  Will Benella be ok after what happens to her at the hands of the baker and Tennen?  GAH!! Off  I am to download book 3!!!

MJ Haag is the bestselling author of the Beastly Tales and the Resurrection Chronicles. Writing as both MJ Haag and Melissa Haag, she has sold more than three hundred thousand copies worldwide and authored several other series, including the Judgement of the Six and Of Fates and Furies.

She thinks bios written in third person are hilariously pretentious and doesn’t take much in life seriously, including her author photo.

She lives in Wisconsin with her three children and husband.

Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #attendingauthor #authorspotlight #eventsponsor – Jen Talty

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Jen Talty

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Jen Talty. I’m a USA Today Bestselling author of Small Town Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Military Romance, and I dabble a little in the Paranormal. I live in Jupiter, Florida. A funny little story about that. In 9th grade, my science teacher nicknamed me: Jupiter Jenni. Haha. And now I live there. I have three grown children. One in medical school and the other two are married. I love being an empty-nester, but also love it when they are all home. Writing is my passion and I love sharing it with the world! So, kick back, grab a glass of vino (or whatever you love to drink), relax, and let the romance roll in!

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

It is an interesting question and not easy to answer because they are both hard in different ways. The first book is easier because it’s shiny and new. It’s exciting and gets my blood pumping. But I’m creating a whole new world that I have to populate and get it right! The characters will appear in subsequent books, so they have to be solid, and that’s a lot of pressure. The following books are easier because the world is already set, but they are also hard because it can be difficult to stay within those boundaries. Either way, I love it all!

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

Another fabulous question. What I have learned over the years is that readers love to read more of the same, but different. My readers have a certain expectation when they read my books. When I leave out an epilogue, I hear about it! While I do love a good second chance, I also love instalove! And there are other tropes I write. I really try to find topics that I haven’t touched on before, or approach them in different ways. When writing a family full of brothers, I try to make them as opposite as possible. Or sometimes so similar with one major difference. That’s always fun, because it’s the different thing that sets them apart. I read a ton. I also watch a lot of television. I get so much joy from movies, shows, and reality TV. It also helps generate new and creative ideas.

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

Take breaks regularly throughout the day. Try not to compare yourself to others. Everyone has their own path and what works for one, doesn’t always work for another. Take the time to learn your process. And don’t be afraid to tweak it from to time. I’m constantly doing that. Set realistic deadlines and goals. Constantly re-evaluate them. Set up a community with other authors. Everyone needs a good support system!

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

Anywhere from 4-8 hours.

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

This is always the hardest question for me to write. I adore all my characters. It’s like asking me who my favorite child is! I will say this, though. I have this character named Weezer in my River Winery Series. She’s a secondary character, but she’s hysterical. She’s manipulative, in everyone’s business, but simultaneously very loving and constantly helping the community.

What is your definition of success?

Success means different things to different people. For me everything is about reader connection.

What are your social links?

https://www.facebook.com/JenTaltyRomanceAuthor
https://www.facebook.com/groups/191706547909047/
https://instagram.com/jen_talty
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/od3icplesg
https://amazon.com/author/jentalty
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jen-talty

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.)

https://amazon.com/author/jentalty
https://jentalty.com
https://www.audible.com/author/Jen-Talty/B007H91LVY

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.

Fairy Tales, Paranormal

WOTR24 #FairyTale #Beast #Beauty #trilogy – Depravity, Beastly Tales book 1 by MJ Haag

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**Adult Romance**

Benella is concerned with two things – avoiding the two village boys who torment her and scrounging for food to help feed her family. Unfortunately, the best wild fruit and vegetables are near the walls of the estate, a dark misty place inhabited by an unforgiving beast.

When her tormentors lock her behind the massive gates, Benella knows her fate is sealed. Yet, the fate isn’t one she expects. Her encounter with the beast starts a bizarre cycle of bargaining for her freedom, a freedom the beast seems determined to see her lose.

A classic fairy tale with a new twist, the Beauty and the Beast saga begins with Depravity.

Intended for mature readers due to sexual situations and moderate language.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Angie

I purchased this audio book based on a friend’s suggestion.  Because I listened to the story I am not 100% sure of some of the character name spellings so bare with me…coolio!!

I am a big fan of fairy tale retelling so when my friend said she enjoyed it 3 months after she had finished reading it, I burned an audio credit to listen to it.

I will say the beginning of the book is slow.  So I was initially like maybe this isnt for me??  BUT there is alot of world building with Benella, her sisters, dad, the town, and their circumstance.   THEN all of a sudden his book was rolling right along.  I had definite feelings for her sisters (snarl) and her dad (flittery eyes and hearts).  The townspeople were generally kind to Benella and her family but some not so much….yeah I mean you Mr. Baker and Tennen.

Benella is a bright, smart, and kind girl who does everything to help her family even if she could get hurt doing it.  She sneaks around the Beast’s estate looking for food and trapping game to eat.  She knows the history and to not get caught.  The first run in with the Beast was scary but she escaped.  When her 2nd run in happens she was stunned to be allowed to go on with her life.  But she has questions as to why the Beast is asking her to stay.

The Beast is…a beast.  He is rude, arrogant, haughty, sirly, and lonely????  We see glimpses of him and wonder how this is going to play out like the book!! LOL  I know I did.  There were scenes in the story that I could envision like the Disney cartoon. 

This book does a great job leading up to the cliffhanger when everything changes for Benella and the Beast.  When I finished I immediately downloaded book 2 for the next book.

MJ Haag is the bestselling author of the Beastly Tales and the Resurrection Chronicles. Writing as both MJ Haag and Melissa Haag, she has sold more than three hundred thousand copies worldwide and authored several other series, including the Judgement of the Six and Of Fates and Furies.

She thinks bios written in third person are hilariously pretentious and doesn’t take much in life seriously, including her author photo.

She lives in Wisconsin with her three children and husband.