Advice from Elizabeth

I'm excited to have Elizabeth Seckman here today! She is one of my favorite bloggers, always full of positivity and great advice. And today is no exception. She has some words of advice for us writers about being tough.




Writers can learn a lot from boxers.

Harsh critiques? Jab.
Rejection? Left hook.
Horrible review? Upper cut.
Crappy sales? Haymaker.

You will never make it in writing, or boxing, unless you can learn to take a punch to the face. Boxers don't quit because it hurts. They don't cry foul when their opponents bloody them in the ring. They train harder and come out swinging. And, unless there's a knock out, there's more than one round to fight...save some energy for all twelve. Maybe this round is a loss, there will be another. Then another. Stay in the fight. Learn to block, duck, and dodge until your punching skills improve. Condition. Practice. When that bell sounds, step into that ring and be ready. Your face punch is coming.

*Cautionary Note: Sometimes all those knocks in the head cause head trauma, so let's keep this metaphorical and refrain from banging heads on the desk.


Elizabeth has a new book coming out, another fantastic romance! I can't wait to read it!

 Jo Leigh Harper comes from a long line of trouble-making, white trash stock.

Tanner Coulter comes from a longer line of wealth-creating, blue blood stock.

Jo graduated college top of her class, moving toward a future full of possibilities.

Tanner dropped out of college, trading a law degree for drinking games and one night stands.

A family crisis throws the rich party boy and the poor genius girl together. The attraction is immediate, though neither one is a heart-in-the-sand-drawing believer in true love. But as the summer sun heats up along the shores of the Outer Banks, so does the connection between them. Maybe, just maybe, they can win at love by defying reason.

 

Author Bio:

Elizabeth is a multi-published author of books for people who are believers in happily-ever- after, true love, and stories with a bit of fun and twists with their plots. The mother of four young men, she tackles laundry daily and is the keeper of the kitchen. She lives along the shores of the Ohio River in West Virginia, but dreams daily of the beach. 

Facebook/ Blog/ Website/ Buy Link


photo credit: Istanbulls v Paris United via photopin (license)

BRING THE RAIN

Happy Book Birthday to Lizzy Charles!! Her newest YA novel releases today,

and I can't wait to read BRING THE RAIN!

 

One summer to make the choice of a lifetime…

Everything is waiting in Paris for Autumn—her new home, her mom, the Louvre, and a life where she can experience art, and not just look at it. But to get there, she'll have to survive the summer in the least colorful place she can imagine — her father's Oklahoma cattle ranch

Autumn finds the perfect summer distraction in Colt, the one cowboy hotter than the July sun. But Colt is her father's ranch hand, and he won’t go for the Manhattan-style fling that she's used to. The closer they become, the more she questions which side of the ocean she belongs.


Then her father reveals an unforgivable secret, and Autumn’s illusions shatter. Will the secret destroy everything? Or could Oklahoma hold the greatest masterpiece of all—

a love that could mend her heart?  

 

Doesn't that sound good??

And now for a teaser!

You can purchase BRING THE RAIN on Amazon

and add it to your TBR list on Goodreads!

Valentine's Day Winners!!

Congratulations to our Valentine's Day winners!!

 

Rose, you've won our YA ebook bundle!

 

And Emma, you've won the NA/adult ebook bundle!

 

 

Congratulations, ladies! And thank you, everyone, for playing!

 

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Valentine's Day Give Away!!

I guess I'm kind of a romantic. I love Valentine's Day. It's my anniversary. (Eleven years!) The kids and I make cookies, and even have a Valentine's day treasure hunt every year. :)

 

Last year a few of my writing friends and I had a Valentine's Day give away, and it went so well we've decided to do it again! Here are the books which will be up for grabs:

I've read most of the books here and this is a great collection!

I'll be sharing teasers from all these books on my FB page if you want to check them out. 

So good luck, and happy Valentine's Day!

(Just to be clear, the rafflecopter below is for both ebook bundles. If you click the little arrow under where it says YA bundle, it'll say NA/adult  bundle.) :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PROVE ME WRONG Cover Reveal!!

I was thrilled when Theresa Paolo asked me shoot her cover for PROVE ME WRONG, and absolutely adore what her cover artist was able to do with the shot we got. This is a beautiful cover!! (And I've read the book, it's great too!)

 

 

 

A single secret changes everything.

With no college ambition—or desire to care—Luke Hannon’s ready to bail on school before senior year even begins. But when he spots the hot new girl reading an upside down map, he changes his mind.

Hailey Saldino desperately wants to start fresh at a school where she's free of the snide remarks and hurtful stares. A place where no one knows her past…or her son, Brady.

Luke wants a no strings attached, physical relationship, until Hailey becomes more than a cute girl in a skirt. Usually his bad boy reputation hooks the ladies but it won't be enough to land a girl like Hailey. Needing a lasting approach, Luke decides to be honest. No lies. No BS. As the connection between them deepens, Luke shares all his shameful secrets.

Afraid to lose one of the few people who’s ever looked at her as something other than a slut, Hailey buries herself in compounding lies. And when Hailey's purposeful deceit blindsides Luke, he must decide if he'll walk away, or accept Hailey and the little man she already loves.

 

 

 

Sounds good, right?! Release day is March 2nd. :)

Don't forget to add it to your TBR list on Goodreads!

IWSG, February

It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means it's time for a monthly meeting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! In the words of the creator of IWSG, and our fearless leader, Alex J. Cavanaugh now is "time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. We post the first Wednesday of every month. I encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs."

His wonderful co-hosts today are Gwen Gardner, Dolorah, Sarah Foster, and M. Pax! Big thank to them and Alex!

 

What are my insecurities this month? Well, I just started querying again. . . Enough said.

 

So for anyone else in the querying boat,

 

 

here are some words of inspiration from people who know more than me. :)