When you dream…

It’s Saturday morning, time to make the house look a little less lived in. But my mind is on finishing Breakwater Lane so that my editor gets it first thing Monday morning. I dreamed a dream and it was this series.

Do your books come to you in dreams? Some of my dreams are too frightening to put in a book, then others, well, I’m afraid I’d be locked away in a ward with padded walls. But then the dreams that take on meaning and substance, now those are what writing is all about.

A couple of nights ago, I dreamed about Wishful Harbor. I could see it so plain, just as I see it when I’m writing. I walked down the old cobblestone sidewalk and peered into the windows of the five businesses that will be featured in the series. I saw the characters in their natural world. It was amazing. When I woke the next morning, everything seemed right.

Breakwater Lane has many twists and turns, but the latest twist in the plot road has been baffling me. It’s amazing that when you write what’s in your mind, sometimes you sit back and go, wow, that came from my brain. This twist has been that way for me. It seemed like I might need to start over with this part because I couldn’t get past a certain spot, but then the dream came and bam, there it was.

Maybe it was because I’d been thinking about the problem spot when I got into bed, I don’t know. But there’s one thing for sure, I’m glad I dreamed the problem away. One of the problems with dreams is, sometimes you only remember bits and pieces, but in this case, it’s very clear. I can see the way to the words The End so clearly that my fingers won’t move fast enough on the keyboard.

To say this book has been special, well, that’s an understatement. I’ve finally been able to jump into a new genre of mystery, added in with the sweet romance that flows through the story. So, take a journey to Wishful Harbor and fall in love…

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Breakwater Lane is up for Preorder now on Amazon for only .99, so grab it before the release date, August 31st. All through August, I’ll be doing promotions and giveaways. If you’d be interested in helping with the release, please let me know. Although the cover is on Amazon, the official cover reveal is set for next week, so keep watching…

https://www.amazon.com/Breakwater-Lane-Wishful-Harbor-Book-ebook/dp/B0746QLYYK

Monday, Coffee and a book…

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Good Monday morning! I don’t know about all of you, but I could’ve used one more day in the weekend. Funny thing, I had planned to get some work done in the office and write at least 5000 words over the weekend. Did I meet my goal? Well, I got some work done, but not the word count. My weekend word count was pitiful…

For some reason, my writer-brain was on vacation this weekend. But as I went about cleaning house, working on tax returns and going about the business of life, my mind was on my current manuscript. I went over scenes in my head, but couldn’t make myself sit down at my laptop and write it down. Why? I have no clue. I wouldn’t call it writer’s block. Actually, I don’t know what to call it, but I hear a lot of other writers complain of this.

So, as I write this post, I’m preparing for my writing binge this morning before I go to the office. I’m working on my second cup of coffee and then I’ll grab a third just to make sure my brain is awake and what I write will make sense.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

P.S.: Don’t forget to grab a copy of ‘Promises Made’. It’s up and running… https://www.amazon.com/Promises-Made-Sky-Ridge-Book-ebook/dp/B06W9LDLV7 You’ll fall in love with Nash and Joy!

Promises Made is out…

That moment…The perfect ending!

release-ad

Good morning! It’s halfway to the weekend, you can do this!

As I sat this morning, finishing the last minute edits on Promises Made, I read the last paragraph and sighed. Have you ever just really knew when you typed the perfect words to end a book? Well, that’s the moment I had this morning. But, with that being said, I also cried knowing what those last words meant for my characters and also, knowing I can’t say a word yet!!!

Promises Made is taking me to new heights as a writer. It’s different from my other historical romances and has brought me so much excitement for the storyline. I can see all three books in my head and I can’t wait for you to meet Nash and Joy. You will fall in love with them.

Joy is this sweet young woman that believes in romance and love. She’s lost everything, but gained more than she ever expected. Her humble upbringing has made her a strong woman with good morals.

Nash Collins is a rich rancher that was born as a half-breed), his mother was Cheyenne. He is fiercely loyal and needs a wife. The moment they set eyes on one another, Nash knows that she’ll be his one day. But he also knows that it could be impossible until fate turns the tables.

So, be watching for the release that is coming this Friday!

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

New releases and yellow butterflies…

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It’s Monday morning people! Were you ready for it, because I definitely wasn’t. Of course, I couldn’t sleep last night so I was up reading for two hours. That makes for a sluggish morning, but I have a word count to meet, so I’ll pour on the extra coffee.

I finished Sowing the Right Seed yesterday. It’s the last book in the “Lean on Him” Christian romance series. This one has been in the works for a while, but I put it to the side for a couple of months. Sometimes as writers, a story comes in quickly, then something happens and it leaves just as quickly. I had this one in my mind, but the middle left me. Actually, I’m glad that I stepped back from it because the story came out better than I’d hoped when it first came to me. It will be released in a couple of weeks.

Here in Georgia the weather has been hot, humid and miserable, but something happened this past weekend that gave me hope. I saw yellow butterflies in my front yard. Anyone know that that means? Well, it means that cooler weather is headed our way and Fall is right around the corner. I always love seeing them come through. It’s fun to watch as they go from one side of the yard to the other, always, well mostly always in the same directions. What signs do you watch for when waiting on Fall to come in?

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Maggie’s Release!

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Maggie will be available by tomorrow morning! I can’t wait for you to meet the last Cauthen sibling. She’s sassy, loving, adored by her brothers and has a secret…

You’ll fall in love with her story. It’s a story of secrets, love, and family.

So, have a happy Monday and remember, get Maggie before the Christmas edition comes out the end of this week.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

It’s Friday – One more day until Ridge!

Yes I’m excited about Ridge coming out tomorrow. Not only does the book release tomorrow, but I’m doing my first book signing in my hometown. It’s so exciting.

Ridge is the first book in the Five Oaks Ranch Series and it’s a western romance set in Georgia. Each book of the series focuses on one of the five siblings on the ranch. They’re all different in many ways, but not in the love they have for family and the family ranch. You’ll fall in love with the Cauthen brood. I can’t wait for you to meet each one of them as their stories unfold.

Here’s a little teaser from Ridge:

As Ridge returned to the ranch he was tense. He’d enjoyed his lunch with his brothers but he had so much on his mind. The moment he stepped into the barn he knew this day would get worse. The new vet was standing in the middle of the stalls with Maggie. Why did this woman affect him so much?

Ridge walked with purpose toward his office at the back of the stables. He sat down and groaned, maybe if he got his mind on something else he could get her out of it. Reaching across his desk he grabbed the new supply catalog and searched for the feed buckets that needed to be replaced. Unfortunately as he scanned the pages her face kept slipping in.

During the time he was in Iraq he’d often dream of coming home and finding a good woman to marry. Then as time progressed and his depression grew he knew this wasn’t a possibility. Slamming the magazine down on the desk he stood up. What he needed was a good long ride along the fence line. He walked out of the office and ran full body into Mallory.

He stumbled back grumbling and apologizing. Of course she giggled and told him it was her fault. “I’m so sorry. I should watch where I’m going.”

“No it was my fault I was not watching where I was going and evidently had too much on my mind.” He looked down into her mesmerizing eyes and was lost but for only a moment. Shaking his head vigorously, he turned toward the stalls.

She stood and watched him walk away. He was a complex man but an intriguing one. Deep down she knew he was struggling with his memories and trying to adjust to life after living in a war zone. Slowly she turned and headed for her truck. The funny thing was every time she thought of him her heart raced and she’d only met him just today.

That was just a snippet of what’s to come in the book Ridge. Don’t forget if you’re in the Zebulon, Georgia area tomorrow around 3 -5, come by and pick up a copy of Ridge.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Upcoming releases and other talk…

Good Tuesday morning everyone. I hope your week is great so far. The weather here in Georgia has gone up slightly, but looking forward to a cooler trend this weekend. I love Halloween and you definitely need it to be cool for the costumes. We have Trunk or Treat at our Church and it’s always a blast. We serve hot dogs and hot chocolate along with all the candy the kids can fit in their bags. I can hardly wait.

As for upcoming releases, my author friend V. Steele has a new release this Friday. V is from right here in Georgia and she loves a good romance. Her My Prodigy Trilogy is coming to a close this Friday with the release of Nadia’s Revenge. Since she uses my publishing service, Horseshoe Publishing, to create her covers and do edits, I was able to read it before the release. Since I do enjoy vampire romances, I enjoyed this one. But let me warn you, the this book has some violent elements, but in the end it’s really good.

V effectively ends the series. I look forward to some of the new things she has coming out. We have many things in common, the main thing being we both love a good romance. Since she’s a Georgia girl too, well it just makes it all the better. The book is on Pre order at Amazon until Friday and then it will be up for sale. So check it out!

For the second release, I’m pleased to announce that the article I was asked to write for Southern Writer’s Magazine will be out soon. I approved the final draft yesterday and am really excited about it. If you don’t already subscribe to Southern Writer’s Magazine, then I suggest you check them out. They offer so much for authors and work closely with you. Also they support authors at every turn. I’m proud to be a subscriber of their magazine.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

IN BETWEEN SEASONS BY CASSANDRA GIOVANNI COVER REVEAL

COMING JULY 31, 2014 From Show n’ot Tell Publishing NEW ADULT POST – APOCALYPTIC ROMANCE SERIES In 2021 the world as we know it changed. The government collapsed, and the worst characteristics of human nature were shown as the world fell into ruins. Years after The Fall, the Tribes that were established are still at war. They still fight to keep what they pillaged, and most of all, they fight to keep their lies a secret. In a world filled with deception, nothing is as it seems. I was born into this world. Hunter Marks was molded into this world; a General— a person cold and harsh. A person meant to kill me. We were told to just believe. We were taught to never question. We’re supposed to be robots, and accept our roles in this altered society. Too bad Hunter and I don’t follow the rules. And we’re a hell of a lot stronger than they ever thought possible. They’ve been searching for the world’s deadliest weapon. It’s me. And I’m not following the leader any more.

Cassandra doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t writing. In fact, the first time she was published was when she was seven years old and won a contest to be published in an American Girl Doll novel. Since then Cassandra has written more novels than she can count and put just as many in the circular bin. Her personal goal with her writing is to show the reader the character’s stories through their dialogue and actions instead of just telling the reader what is happening. Besides being a writer, Cassandra is a professional photographer known for her automotive, nature and architectural shots. She is happily married to the man of her dreams and they live in the rolling hills of New England their dogs, Bubski and Kanga. Cassandra Giovanni is published by Show n’ot Tell Publishing based out of Connecticut, USA.

How does social media help writers?

Good morning. Getting back to normal since son went back to school this morning. As I sit here going through all my social media sites I have to reflect on the last year. It’s been a crazy ride for sure.

To start with, before I published my first book in May 2012, I only used email and texting when communicating. I learned quickly that as a published author you must use social media almost daily to keep up with changing climates. With this I mean that if you don’t keep your name fresh in front of people it loses it’s luster.

I did a short experiment the last couple of weeks. I went in a different times and tweeted my books to see if I gathered a result. Then I put them out on Facebook and Tumbler. What did I learn? Well I learned a lot.

When I tweeted the links to my books listed on Smashwords.com, I actually saw a spike in page views. I love this about Smashwords.com. I can keep up with views and really do a great analysis of what works and what doesn’t. I then did the same through my Amazon links. The bad thing with Amazon, you can’t see how many go over to look at the book, you just have to see how sales spike. I only received a few sales through that one.

I then posted several Smashword.com links on my Facebook page. All of a sudden sales spiked, but on Amazon, not Smashwords it’s self. Now on Smashwords it could show up later under one of the subsidiary sites, but not the main site. I even tried this with Allromanceebooks.com and sold one book.

So, with this I did notice a spike in views through tweeting and Facebook. Some analysts say don’t tweet about your books very often as you’ll lose followers. Well, I didn’t tweet about my books for several days and guess what I lost several followers. Then when I did tweet about my books I gained several new followers. Not sure, but I think it went in the other direction.

As I’m getting ready to announce the release date for “Victoria” the first book in my new Historical Romance Saga “The Women Of Magnolia Hill”, I’m hoping to see a great social media presence. This is my first book that I’m going to go through all the pre release hoopla. I can’t wait to get started. Maybe even as soon as this weekend. I plan to also participate in the new preorder option on Smashwords. Would love to do it on Amazon, but not sure how that works. If anyone knows, please let me know.

Try a social media study on your book sales and let me know how it goes. It might change your views on social media advertising. As for me, I’m headed over to do some tweeting 🙂

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…