SUCCESS SATURDAY! Good some brilliant writing related news to share? Let's hear it!

Welcome to Success Saturday, where writers are invited to share their successes by leaving links to great reviews they've received, published stories on online magazines, and awards etc. for all to see!

So, authors/aspiring writers/anyone, I invite you to link up and leave your latest great book review you've recently received, or other success you'd like to share - in the Linky tools below, so we can come and visit and leave comments to support you.

If you don't have anything to link to, that's fine, too. Just share your news in the comments section! 

Maybe you have just had a short story published on an online magazine you'd like us to read? If you class it as a success we'd love you to leave your link below!  This Linky Tools List will stay open for 6 days, and a new Linky will be added next Saturday.

The Linky should be just below this sentence- if you can't see it, please refresh the page. If you have any trouble adding your link, feel free to add it to the comments section instead.  Thank you!

Happy Success Saturday!

APRIL 2011

Author in the Spotlight

Tracy Cooper-Posey
Visit Tracy's Author Profile here!
Thank you Kiki Howell for being our guest last month!

-- ۞۞GIVEAWAYS۞۞ --
Describe your life OR one of your books in only #6words #amwriting http://bit.ly/gcYh7M *
*All giveaways are open to all WORLDWIDE unless otherwise stated.
* 

Join our chat over at the
Yahoo Chat and Promo group!

(and claim your free e-books!)
Group Rules*::No Promo's Mondays-Thursdays ONLY chat
Friday anything goes + chat
Saturdays + Sundays Book Excerpts + chat only
Promo companies are limited to two posts per day per company on Fridays-Sundays keeping within the rules above. Thank you!
*The only exception to these rules are for our affiliate authors who can post promos any time.

Traffic

Traffic….just the word makes me cringe! I purposely leave ultra early in the morning to beat it and also allow myself to leave by a certain time to avoid it on the way home. So I was thinking about this and honestly wondering why I loathe it so much. After all some of my best ideas have come while sitting in unyielding traffic. It gives me a chance to unwind or focus on what is waiting for me on the other end of the trip. It is ‘me’ time if I want it to be. My music, my silence, my thoughts. Think about it, seriously. It’s not like you are stuck in a room with a bunch of people you have to talk with.

Yeah there are people around but they are all off in their own little worlds as well. Doing the same thing you are. You would think that this would be something to look forward to, not loathe.

So I don’t get it.

I know how I feel about it, but it seems illogical to me and I am rarely that illogical (my husband just spit out his Vault). Alright I will concede there are times when traffic just…sucks. Like when you are running late. That just bites, but lets be honest…could you have left earlier? Yeah probably…so it really isn’t traffic’s fault.

What’s that old saying? ‘Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part’ Yep that is traffic’s motto.

It is what it is, right? There is nothing you can do to change it. Your boss will still be waiting to pound on you when you arrive late, or your significant other will be waiting to kick your ass because you were supposed to pick your daughter up from ballet forty-five minutes ago. You honking your horn, screaming and or getting all stressed out is not going to change that, unfortunately. So why not make the most of it? Have some paper and a pen in the car. Make a list of whatever…(perhaps what you’ll need for a romantic ‘I’m sorry’ dinner or a reminder that the boss prefers Glen Fiddich) or listen to your favorite CD REALLY LOUD. Call your Mom, or your grandmother. Setup doctors / dentist appointments. Heck you could even go so far as to buy an audio book to listen to and pass the time, you could even learn a language…seriously!

My point is, and this is really to myself…is that time is lacking. There don’t seem to be enough hours in the day. So instead of getting ticked off about traffic, use it to your advantage. It’s all about the spin…use it wisely and when you pull into your destination you may actually be a little more ahead of the game than when you left.

TTFN!


*****

APRIL 2011

Author in the Spotlight

Tracy Cooper-Posey
Visit Tracy's Author Profile here!
Thank you Kiki Howell for being our guest last month!

-- ۞۞GIVEAWAYS۞۞ --
Describe your life OR one of your books in only #6words #amwriting http://bit.ly/gcYh7M *
*All giveaways are open to all WORLDWIDE unless otherwise stated.
* 

Join our chat over at the
Yahoo Chat and Promo group!

(and claim your free e-books!)
Group Rules*::No Promo's Mondays-Thursdays ONLY chat
Friday anything goes + chat
Saturdays + Sundays Book Excerpts + chat only
Promo companies are limited to two posts per day per company on Fridays-Sundays keeping within the rules above. Thank you!
*The only exception to these rules are for our affiliate authors who can post promos any time.

SASSY SPECIAL: Offer entitles you to all the benefits of Audible membership during your 14 day free trial, including: a free audiobook of your choice from our range of over 50,000 titles, exclusive member discounts, access to our popular Members' Page, free gift downloads and more. If you decide that Audible isn't right for you, you can cancel at any point and keep your free audiobook.

AUTHOR BLOG HOP Q: (28 Apr) What is the most difficult hurdle you've encountered?

Click to view ALL Blog Hops! (look for latest!)

THIS WEEK'S AUTHOR BLOG HOP QUESTION IS: 

Becoming an author, being a new author, and aspiring to be one is a confusing time.  What is the most “difficult” hurdle you’ve encountered on your journey to fame and fortune.  *laughing at fortune.* How did you resolve the problem and what do you recommend to avoid it? Or are you still in need of help? Perhaps someone here can assist you! 

Question provided by affiliate author Ginger Simpson.

--You can copy and paste this section below if you wish to explain to your readers --

----------------------------------------------------------

How to play: Your host: Sassy Brit of Alternative-Read.com invites all writers (published and unpublished) to:

1. Grab the above AUTHOR BLOG HOP logo
2. Write your blog post in answer to the weekly "writing related" question and publish on your own blog
3. Go back to the CURRENT blog hop  and leave your link in the Linky Tools (or comments if you have trouble)
4. Hop from blog to blog meeting and greeting the other participants on the list.

HINT #1: It's helpful to leave your link in comments you leave on other blogs if you are also participating in the blog hop for quick and easy reciprocal comments. 

          HINT #2: The questions are uploaded to the Blog Hop Guidelines page in advance,
          so you can plan and write your answer ahead of time and publish your blog post on Thursday.

          -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GRAB - WRITE - LINK - HOP! 

THE ALTERNATIVE-READ.COM AUTHOR BLOG HOP

Discover a new author today!

Need help? 

Check the Author Blog Hop Guide here:

http://bit.ly/eUfhnq 

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We have now opened our Thursday chats to guests once a month! Book a group chat, or visit our guest list/vacancies page  here.  From midday UK GMT + 1 Time onwards please visit our Yahoo chat group to chat with our affiliate authors, their guests and all members. If you want to get a group of authors together to guest, please let us know!


What is author blog hop? Blog hop, also known as blog hopping, is to move from one blog after another to read the entries or to leave comments.

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APRIL 2011

Author in the Spotlight

Tracy Cooper-Posey
Visit Tracy's Author Profile here!
Thank you Kiki Howell for being our guest last month!

-- ۞۞GIVEAWAYS۞۞ --
Describe your life OR one of your books in only #6words #amwriting http://bit.ly/gcYh7M *
*All giveaways are open to all WORLDWIDE unless otherwise stated.
* 

Join our chat over at the
Yahoo Chat and Promo group!

(and claim your free e-books!)
Group Rules*::No Promo's Mondays-Thursdays ONLY chat
Friday anything goes + chat
Saturdays + Sundays Book Excerpts + chat only
Promo companies are limited to two posts per day per company on Fridays-Sundays keeping within the rules above. Thank you!
*The only exception to these rules are for our affiliate authors who can post promos any time

#WOYDW : What's on Stephanie Burkhart's Desk this Wednesday? Could be electrifying!

This week I am pleased to allow you to snoop through author

Stephanie Burkhart's desk! ;)

Click to ENLARGE!

My writing Space

by: Stephanie Burkhart and Juliet.

My muse, Juliet, loves my writing space. She just hops on the top edge of my Macbook's display screen and settles in with a cup of tea and her nail file and it's time for her to go work. She's easy. I wish I had it as easy as she did. –wink-

I need to be centrally located in the house so I can keep an eye and ear out on my kids – especially Joe, my 4 year old. Strike 1 – I'm within earshot of a 4 year old.

My dining room fits the bill. I flip open my Macbook and put my coffee down next to it. Mind you, coffee is fuel for the soul. (Juliet would argue green tea is.)

Right above my mousepad is a calendar of events for the month. It helps to keep me on track. To the right of my Macbook, I have my notes and handwritten pages, which I'm going to type up. 80% of my writing is done longhand and I just have to come to the computer and type it up. Juliet likes that. She treats herself to manicures, pedicures, and massages. I'm stuck typing. My fingers are dying for a manicure.

20% of my writing is done at the computer. Those are the rare occasions were both kids are at school and I have peace and quiet in the house, or both kids are upstairs playing Wii.

Just in back of the Computer is a book on my TBR pile, my kindle, or my working copy of my WIP. Currently, I'm working on a Steampunk novel called "Victorian Scoundrel." I try to be neat and organized at the buffet table. My WIP has a notebook with a working cover, folders with my notes on Victorian clothes, Buckingham Palace and the Crystal Palace. I usually don't listen to music or background noise when I'm at the computer. I like peace and quiet. When the kids are home, I channel out the "background noise." (Listening up for the important cries of "Mommmm, Joe is bugging me again," or "Mommmm, Andrew won't share.")

My Macbook is new to me, but I am learning. I really like the keyboard. It's easy to type on it with a backlight. Safari is a great web browser, but I'm still trying to feel my away around the nooks and crannies of the computer. I have a secret confession: If it wasn't for my black gig stick, I'd be lost. Shhh… don't tell Juliet. –wink-

APRIL 25-28 CONTEST- hurry!
Follow my blogbetween 25-28 APR and win a PDF copy of my FREE short story, "Moonlight Sonata" a prequel short to my latest novel, "The Count's Lair" now available
Here's a link to my Blog:  http://sgcardin.blogspot.com
I'll announce the winner on my FB page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166 on 29 APRIL.

"Romance Under the Moonlight."

The Count's Lair

a paranormal romance avail

FEB 2011 w/Desert Breeze Publishing

Visit me at:

http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

http://sgcardin.blogspot.com

http://www.writing.com/authors/sgcardin

APRIL 2011

Author in the Spotlight

Tracy Cooper-Posey
Visit Tracy's Author Profile here!
Thank you Kiki Howell for being our guest last month!

-- ۞۞GIVEAWAYS۞۞ --
*
*All giveaways are open to all WORLDWIDE unless otherwise stated.
Describe your life OR one of your books in only #6words #amwriting http://bit.ly/gcYh7M 
* 

Join our chat over at the
Yahoo Chat and Promo group!

(and claim your free e-books!)
Group Rules*::No Promo's Mondays-Thursdays ONLY chat
Friday anything goes + chat
Saturdays + Sundays Book Excerpts + chat only
Promo companies are limited to two posts per day per company on Fridays-Sundays keeping within the rules above. Thank you!
*The only exception to these rules are for our affiliate authors who can post promos any time.

.

REVIEW: Nebulous | Shiloh Walker | Ellora's Cave

Nebulous
Author: Shiloh Walker
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
ISBN: 978-1-41992-752-2
Genre: Paranormal, erotica
Format: ebook
Length: 83 pages
Reviewer: Elizabeth Coldwell
Alternative-Read.com

Schoolteacher Kerrigan is haunted by recurring dreams of a man she’s never met, but whose erotic presence torments her and prevents her from forming a lasting relationship with any other man. Even when she moves to a small town in West Virginia, she still can’t free herself of these dreams. A trip to Ireland seems to hold the answer to her mystery. Here, she learns the centuries-old story of hero Finn, a demon hunter who lost the love of his life, Caoilinn, to an incubus that assumed his form and repeatedly visited her bed in Finn’s absence.

Demon Azar has spent seven hundred years feasting on the life force of women who he stalks in their dreams, sleeping with them and binding them to him till they waste away, consumed by their need for him. He’s been watching Kerrigan for a while, but somehow he can’t bring himself to take her, instinctively knowing she’s different from any of his other victims. His feelings of regret for his actions grow stronger as he gradually comes to realise he was once Finn, the demon hunter, and Kerrigan is the reincarnation of Caoilinn. Linked in dreams with Kerrigan, he begins to believe he can find a way to revisit the past and prevent his lover from flinging herself to her death when she learns she’s slept with an incubus. But can Finn really defeat the demon within himself, as well as those who plague his country?

Reading the above outline, it’ll quickly become apparent that this is really Azar/Finn’s tale, rather than Kerrigan’s. Indeed, she is purely the conduit between past and present, a way to reunite Finn with Caoilinn. The sex scenes are passionate and breathlessly described (though be warned that one encounter between Caoilinn and the demon masquerading as Finn contains a strong element of force) and the whole story is wrapped up with a neat, satisfying epilogue. However, the mingling of past and present becomes a little confusing to follow, and Shiloh Walker’s writing style is rather repetitive, both in terms of rehashing the events that have led Finn to become Azar, and in some of her turns of phrase (smiles always curve someone’s lips, for example). Ms Walker’s fans will lap this up, as there’s an intriguing, wildly romantic storyline at its heart, but unlike some novellas, which cry out to be expanded, Nebulous feels as though it could have benefited from much tauter editing.

APRIL 2011

Author in the Spotlight

Tracy Cooper-Posey
Visit Tracy's Author Profile here!
Thank you Kiki Howell for being our guest last month ۞۞GIVEAWAYS۞۞

*All giveaways are open to all WORLDWIDE unless otherwise stated.
*

Join our chat over at the
Yahoo Chat and Promo group!

(and claim your free e-books!)
Group Rules*::No Promo's Mondays-Thursdays ONLY chat
Friday anything goes + chat
Saturdays + Sundays Book Excerpts + chat only
Promo companies are limited to two posts per day per company on Fridays-Sundays keeping within the rules above. Thank you!
*The only exception to these rules are for our affiliate authors who can post promos any time.

SASSY SPECIAL: Offer entitles you to all the benefits of Audible membership during your 14 day free trial, including: a free audiobook of your choice from our range of over 50,000 titles, exclusive member discounts, access to our popular Members' Page, free gift downloads and more. If you decide that Audible isn't right for you, you can cancel at any point and keep your free audiobook.