Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Fairy Godmother's Apprentice Now Available!





I'm excited to announce that The Fairy Godmother's Apprentice---the latest installment in The Dark Woods series---is now available through Amazon and other major eBook sellers. Fans of the other two books can get a feel for this latest volume by checking out the Sneaky Peeks page here on the Paper Doll and by viewing its video trailer as well. Here's a quick blurb:


There are three kinds of fairies–or so the stories claim–the last of which are the faerie godfolk. The wish-granters and half-human of the fairy world, they are meant to atone the mischief of fairies among men…

But do they? When young Baillie Albus learns the truth of her own strange gifts and becomes an apprentice destined to grant a human’s wish, she discovers a complex existence… and darker truths…beneath the surface of a world that is both faerie and mankind.




Monday, December 12, 2011

Christmas With Miss Austen Giveaway at Romance Reviews!







Hi guys---thought I would let you know that I'm giving away a PDF copy of my latest White Rose novella, Christmas With Miss Austen, over at The Romance Reviews contest page. Head on over to check it out, and don't forget that all of White Rose's Christmas novellas are specially priced at $1 dollar for the Christmas season.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Holiday Novella: Time's Arrow

Author Clare Revell brings us a timeless holiday romance...



Touching a milestone, Joni Peterson is catapulted through time into a world both familiar and strange. Finding herself in Victorian England, she discovers love in the most unexpected place— at the feet of the man whose carriage knocked her down.



Purchase it here from Amazon kindle


Buy it here in multiple formats for the special holiday price of $1!





Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Holiday Novella: A Texas Christmas Mystery




Author Anne Greene mixes love and danger in this Christmas mystery...












A lady Coastguardsman searches for a killer. An oil rig troubleshooter accused of murder races to clear his name. The murderer strives to silence them both. As Amber Meredith seeks to arrest Derrick Darbonne, sparks fly. She needs to solve her first case. But the handsome Cajun suspect makes her heart race and her toes tingle. Derrick has worked all his life for his high-paying, adventurous job. When his past threatens his future, will he endanger the woman he loves?








Purchase it here from Amazon kindle


Buy it here in multiple formats for the special holiday price of $1!








Saturday, December 3, 2011

Holiday Novella: Savanna's Gift





Author Camille Eide gives us a snowy ski lodge and a holiday romance...

















Forced to return to the ski lodge where she once worked, Savanna Holt is reminded of one special Christmas and how ambition led her to make the worst mistake of her life: Leaving Luke Nelson.

Stunned to discover Luke never left, but worked his way up from lift operator to manager, Savanna sees the opportunity as a gift from God. She’s determined to win Luke back. But Luke wants no reminders of his past hurt, or a relationship with the woman who put ambition before love.







Can Savanna convince Luke she’s changed and her interest isn't because of his position? And when her dream job beckons, will she sacrifice her dream for a second chance at love?


Purchase it here from Amazon kindle
Buy it here in multiple formats from Pelican Book Group for the special holiday price of $1!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Holiday Novella: Gold, Frankincense, and Murder

Author Barbara Early brings us a holiday whodunnit...







High school geometry teacher, Donna Russell likes her life well-ordered and logical, even if it is a tad solitary at times. But when a charming co-worker at the local food bank disappears just before Christmas, Donna is left with more questions than solutions.





After the missing man's neighbor, muscle-bound EMT Sam Holton, volunteers as Donna's crime-fighting sidekick, sparks fly between them. Donna wonders if Sam can be trusted, or if he's trying to throw an unknown into her calculations—and her life.



And when police recover a body from the icy Niagara River, Donna is faced with the most frustrating equation of all: can murder plus mayhem ever equal romance?





Pick it up here for a special holiday price of $1!



Monday, November 14, 2011

Update to Dark Woods Blog

For those who enjoy the Dark Woods Trilogy (and fairytale stuff in general) I've made a new post to the blog here, featuring the movie trailer for Kristen Stewart's Snow White and the Huntsman. Drop by and check it out--it looks pretty exciting!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Chance to Win a Copy of Ghosts of Romances Past

I'm giving away two e-book copies of my latest White Rose novella, Ghosts of Romances Past from now until November 6th. Head over to the Romance Reviews contest page to enter for a chance to win!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Some Spooky Tunes for the Season...


I just had to share this link to the online Halloween Oldies Radio station, with a fun playlist that includes favorites from the 1950's and 60's. After all, who can resist great novelty songs like Creature from Outer Space or Frankenstein Rock?
Have a great Halloween weekend--and don't forget, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! is on ABC tonight.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Novel Release Day...



It may not be creepy enough for Halloween (and it does have a Valentine's Day setting), but I hope my new novel Ghosts of Romances Past will still be intriguing for those who like romance with just a dash of fantasy.


Alice Headley has a solid faith, a strong sense of family, and a business partner who shares her artistic ideals--a guy who just happens to be her childhood sweetheart. She also has a "perfect" boyfriend--the man she's been dating for two years--so when he pops the question, she can't believe the answer isn't automatically 'yes'.

Moments after the surprise proposal, Alice takes a tumble down the restaurant's staircase. A fall that leaves her with a nasty head bump and some very strange side effects: Visions of three female ancestors , figures who seem as real as the women Alice remembers from childhood experiences and family stories. They must be illusions, but she can't deny the truth behind their personal stories of heartbreak and love.

Is this a trick of the mind? Or God's way of saying her heart belongs with someone else--the youthful love she consigned to the past?


Be sure to check out the Sneaky Peeks page for an "outtake" from the novel's first draft--an extended take on the First Ghost, Phylis's love story!



Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Enter the Pelican Book Group's Kindle Give-away!

Looking for some great quality Inspirational fiction--and a kindle to put it on? Then head over to the Pelican Book Group's fantastic new website for a chance to win a kindle device. The contest runs from September 29th until October 31st.
Pelican Book Group has two imprints--White Rose Publishing and the all-new Harbourlight Books. There's plenty of genres to choose from among the different books and there's even a free reads section available. So check it out and good luck!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Something for Jane Austen Fans




There's been an early Christmas present of sorts in my inbox--a contract from White Rose Publishing for my novella, Christmas With Miss Austen, as part of their 2011 Holiday Extravaganza.


I've been a diehard Austen fan since my early teens when I first read Sense and Sensibility, my all-time favorite romance book (though her other stories definitely place somewhere in the top 20).







The now much-battered and beloved copy was a Christmas present shortly before a freak ice storm cut our electricity for 12 very long days. Days in which Trivial Pursuit board games and some spotty radio reception were the only other activity besides shivering under a quilt (ugh).

But luckily, I had Miss Austen's book to break up the monotony, and I pretty much devoured the tale with its surprising plot twists and love triangles. I would read it right up until the light faded (which always seemed to come at a suspenseful part in true cliffhanger fashion).



I've been lucky enough to visit Miss Austen's home in Chawton...






And to see England's historic Bath district, a place that either appears or is referenced in most of her stories. So Christmas With Miss Austen is really my way of saying thanks to this favorite author for her unforgettable stories and characters, and the many hours of entertainment they've given me.



What about you? Are there any Austen fans reading this post--and if so, what's your favorite of her books?

Friday, August 19, 2011

New Indie Release for Romantic Comedy Fans


For those who enjoyed my novella, The Wedding Caper, I've just released a longer (107) page story with a slightly zanier edge to it. Called, Late to the Wedding, it's a road trip romance in the spirit of such films as Leap Year and Only You. Here's a quick blurb:

Evelyn Chase has just discovered her ex-fiancĂ© still loves her–five days before his wedding to someone else!

It seems like fate to Evelyn when she finds the misplaced letter with Jared’s romantic confession. True, it was written four months ago, but could his heart have changed so drastically in so little time? Desperate to know, she packs a bag and plans to bridge the five states between them.

But a series of cosmic misadventures leaves her no other choice for her cross country journey than a gypsy cab driver who’s willing to take her the distance for a hefty fee. Sardonic, arrogant Brian Stoker is the last person likely to sympathize with a quest for last chance love. But he may be her only hope as a chain of obstacles and adventures threaten to become a detour from her destiny.

Will Evelyn be late to the wedding–or will she have a romantic rendezvous in time for a happy ending?

You can check out its Amazon page here, and read a special excerpt from the Sneaky Peeks section of this blog. Happy reading!

Monday, July 11, 2011

Idahope Christian Fiction Writer's Contest




Hello all! Thought I would post a link for this neat writer's contest, which has a September 30th deadline. I've entered the Idahope before, and it was a great experience. The fee is $25 for adults and $15 for those under the age of 18.


Every entry (which consists of the manuscript's first 5 pages) receives three scoresheets/critques from the judges. The prizes for the top three entries include: 1) A Kindle Wifi model 2) A $75 Amazon Gift Card and 3) A $50 Amazon Gift Card.


So check out the guidelines and see if it's the right contest for your unpublished piece!

Thursday, June 30, 2011

COMING SOON...




Hello all! I'm excited to announce that I've contracted another manuscript with the lovely White Rose Publishing. Titled Ghosts of Romances Past, it's a lighthearted romantic comedy, with a bit of a fantasy feel. Here's an unofficial blurb:



Alice Headley has a solid faith, a strong sense of family, and a business partner who shares her artistic ideals–a guy who just happens to be her childhood sweetheart. But she also has a “perfect” boyfriend, the man she’s been dating for three years. So when he pops the question, she can’t believe the answer isn’t automatically ‘yes’.

Moments after his surprise proposal, Alice takes a tumble down the restaurant’s staircase. A fall which leaves her with a nasty bump and some very strange side effects. Visions of three female ancestors, figures who seem as real as the women she remembers from childhood experiences and family stories.

They must be illusions, but she can’t deny the truth behind their personal stories of heartbreak and love. Is this a trick of the mind? Or God’s way of saying her heart belongs with someone else–the youthful love she consigned to the past?


More details soon!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Submit a Christmas Romance Novella to White Rose!

Thought I would post a link to this great opportunity from the lovely White Rose Publishing. A Christian romance publisher who offers both print and kindle editions, White Rose has issued a call for novella submissions as part of their 2011 holiday book line. Stories can be a minimum of 15,000 words and a maximum of 25,000, and must feature a Christmas theme. The deadline for submissions is May 1st. For full guidelines, check out the original post from the White Rose Blog. Happy writing!

Monday, March 7, 2011

My Kindle Publishing Experiment




Happy Monday from the Paper Doll! I hope everyone's March is off to a good start--only eleven more days til spring :) Which means there will soon be a lot more distractions to compete with writing time. But what else is new?

So let's see...it's been almost a month now since I published a novella length eBook with Amazon's Digitial Platform Text. And you know what? Its actually been a pretty rewarding experience, one worth sharing a bit about on the blog.

First off, let me say that I am not an advocate of most forms of self-publishing. I realize this is a sticky issue and also a very personal one for those who choose to go that route with their work. But I've always felt it was a risky venture, in which the author invests heavily with little promise of breaking even, much less making a profit from their work.

Publishing with Amazon kindle is free, however and includes fair royalty options. It allows you to set your own price for the book and to view your sales at any time. And if you don't have the software or the inclination to design a cover for your digital book, the site provides free images to choose from.

Will you make a million? Probably not. Will you make an income even? Unlikely.

Most important, should it replace your efforts to establish a relationship with a publishing house or literary agent? In my opinion: NO.

But it does offer struggling writers a chance to get their work in front of potential readers. It also makes it easy for writers and readers to interact via online forums and the Author Central Page. And it teaches new writers how to handle PR for their books.

All very positive and doable. And who knows? If your writing is polished, professional, and enjoyable, you might establish a loyal fanbase. One willing to follow your work no matter where its publishing home lies.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Exciting Contest for Unpublished Romance Writers!




Hello everyone!


Thought I would share a link to the Great Beginnings Contest, which I submitted an entry to this very afternoon. Sponsored by the Utah Chapter of Romance Writers of America, this is a nice opportunity for both published and unpublished writers.
For a fee of $10, writers can submit up to the first 5 pages of their novel. The categories include: Contemporary, Historical, Mystery/Suspense, and Young Adult. Hurry over and check out all the details--the entry deadline is March 1st!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

2011 Hillerman Mystery Short Story and Novel Competitions


Hello all! After a long holiday break (and some major procrastinating) the Paper Doll is back to scope out more writing news and information. And for this week's post, she's found some pretty cool writing contests for wannabe mystery writers.


For you short story writers, the Hillerman Mystery Short Story Contest is open to submissions from now until August 15th, 2011 (this goes by snail mail, so the earlier the better). Stories must be previously unpublished, 2,500 words or less, and must be set primarily in New Mexico. There is a $20 entry fee. The winning entry gets these super cool prizes: publication in an issue of New Mexico Magazine, $1,000, and two tickets to the awards ceremony at the Tony Hillerman Writer's Weekend.


For the more ambitious among us, there is the Hillerman Mystery Novel Competition. This one requires a manuscript approximately 60, 000 words that is set primarily in the Southwestern US. The complete manuscript goes by snail mail and must be received/postmarked no later than June 1, 2011. The winning entry receives a standard publishing contract from St. Martin's Press, as well as an advance of $10,000.


Whew! Those are some hefty requirements right? But the opportunities are great for the truly serious writer. Be sure to check out the above links for the full contest guidelines and entry forms.


And if you're a mystery lover who's not familar with Tony Hillerman's critically acclaimed and award winning detective novels, be sure to check those out as well. Set in the Four Corners region of the US, these complex and often chilling stories feature Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, two members of the Navajo tribal police.