• Modern Western

    Interview: Katheryn Lane Author of The Texas Cowboy @KatherynLane #RLFblog #western

    The Texas Cowboy 

    About the Book

    Title: The Texas
    Cowboy
    Genre: contemporary cowboy romance, modern western
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13
    Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the problems.
    When Vicky flies into Texas,
    she immediately falls for the charms of local cowboy, Jack Cassidy. However,
    her wealthy Dallas
    cousin, Laura, has other ideas and will do everything she can to steer Vicky
    away from Jack and into the arms of a rich oilman.
    Jack is resigned to living the life of a lonely cowboy whose
    only female company is his horses–that is, until he meets Vicky. However,
    Vicky isn’t the only person with a claim on his heart. Jack wasn’t always alone
    and his ex is about to make a dramatic comeback.
    Every cowboy has a past and this cowboy’s past is about to destroy
    his future.

    Buy This Book

    Amazon USA:
    http://amzn.to/1bLPep4

    Interview with Katheryn Lane

    Why did you write this
    book?
    I love Texas
    and I’ve been lucky enough to visit it several times. The Texas Cowboy begins with
    Vicky seeing the cowboy, Jack, for the first time while she’s out shopping with
    her cousin and this opening scene was inspired by something I saw one afternoon
    in Dallas. I was
    in Highland Park Village and across the road I saw a cowboy
    standing outside Hermes, holding one of their trademark boxes. Unlike Vicky, I didn’t
    have the nerve to take a picture of him (I wish I had), and he didn’t wink at me,
    but I did begin to wonder about who he was and who the orange box was for.
    What is your favorite
    genre to read?
    I love to read a wide range of books, but my favorite has to
    be romance. I love classic authors, such as Jane Austen and Shakespeare – Romeo
    and Juliet must be one of the greatest love stories of all time – but I also enjoy
    reading books by more modern romance writers, such as Nora Roberts and Jackie Collins.
    In addition, ever since I was a little girl I’ve loved reading fairy tales. I guess
    my love of romance started with stories like Sleeping Beauty and I have ‘borrowed’
    several ideas from fairy tales for my own books. For example, the first part of
    my latest sheikh romance, A Bride For The Sheikh, is loosely based on Cinderella.
    What is your favorite
    character from fiction (not including your own characters)?
    That’s a difficult question! There are so many wonderful characters
    in literature that it’s like asking me to pick a favorite from a box of chocolates!
    However, a couple of people do stand out. I love Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the
    Wind and Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Although they are from different
    eras and places, they are both witty, willful, beautiful women who are willing to
    stand up for themselves in a male dominated world. At the beginning of each book,
    they make the wrong choices and decisions, but in the end they discover who they
    are and what they really want in life.
    Do you enjoy films and/or
    TV shows? Which are your favorites?
    I’m afraid I don’t have much free time to watch TV as most of
    my time is taken up with work (I’m a high school teacher), looking after my children
    and writing. However, when I get the chance I do like to go to the cinema and see
    a good movie. I live in the Middle East, so the
    cinemas here only show a limited range of films and they’re often heavily censored
    which can sometimes make it hard to follow the plot! However, we get cable and occasionally
    I’ll find the time to watch a great movie on TV. I’m not sure if I have a favorite,
    but I always love watching anything with Antonio Banderas in it. He was a great
    sheikh in Day of the Falcon and gorgeous in Zorro. I also love Johnny Depp – so
    sexy!
    What are you working on
    at the moment, and what are we likely to see from you in the coming months?
    I have several things in the pipeline, including another possible
    sheikh romance, but the main thing I’m working on at the moment is a potential sequel
    to The Texas Cowboy. Although I originally wrote The Texas Cowboy as a stand-alone
    novel, several readers have started to ask me about the hero and heroine’s future.
    I don’t think I’d be giving too much away if I said that The Texas Cowboy ends,
    like all good fairy tales and romance novels, with the hero, Jack, and heroine,
    Vicky, overcoming the many obstacles that have confronted them and telling each
    other how much they love each other. As with many romance novels, it’s implied that
    they will get married and live happily ever after. However, readers have been asking
    about their wedding and if Vicky’s rich Dallas
    cousin will take over their wedding plans. Therefore, I might write a sequel and
    perhaps call it The Texas Bride.
    Please tell us about your
    latest book.
    The Texas Cowboy is my first cowboy romance; most of my other
    romances have been sheikh romances inspired by what I see and hear where I live
    in the Middle East. However, like my other novels,
    The Texas Cowboy has lots of action, unexpected twists and turns, and plenty of
    heartache, before the hero and heroine end up in each others arms, happily ever
    after.
    Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the problems.
    When Vicky flies into Texas,
    she immediately falls for the charms of local cowboy, Jack Cassidy. However,
    her wealthy Dallas
    cousin, Laura, has other ideas and will do everything she can to steer Vicky
    away from Jack and into the arms of a rich oilman.
    Jack is resigned to living the life of a lonely cowboy whose
    only female company is his horses–that is, until he meets Vicky. However,
    Vicky isn’t the only person with a claim on his heart. Jack wasn’t always alone
    and his ex is about to make a dramatic comeback.
    Every cowboy has a past and this cowboy’s past is about to destroy
    his future.

    Author Bio

    I’m a wife, teacher, author and mother of two boisterous boys,
    so most of my days are taken up with finding lost school shoes, getting stuck in
    traffic and wondering why I always join the queue that doesn’t move in the supermarket.
    However, I try to forget these daily problems (and the fact that I burnt the toast
    again this morning) by losing myself in a good book and writing novels that give
    readers a break from everyday life.
    Open one of my books and escape on a romantic adventure, because
    it’s easier to buy a book than it is to book an air ticket.
    Have a break, read a book!

    Author Social Media

    Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Katheryn-Lane/e/B0056NJRZ0/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1389103864&sr=8-2-ent

  • Romantic Comedy

    5 Easy Questions: Bug Stuff and Other Stories @VickiBatman #RLFblog #comedy

    Bug Stuff and Other Stories 
    5 Easy Questions is an interview is designed to be quick, easy,
    and fun. Today’s guest is Vicki Batman.
    What is your go-to meal
    to order when you dine out? Your favorite “I know it will hit the spot”
    item.
    A really great burger. I call it meat for the week.
    What were you like when
    you were in school?
    Incredibly shy. Hard to believe now, isn’t it?
    Would you rather stay
    inside and watch snow falling, or get out in it and build a snowman?
    I never
    have enough snow to build a snowman; so stay inside with a huge bag of Cheetoes, great movie on TV, and doing needlepoint.
    What is your favorite
    quote?
    Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention
    of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid
    in sideways, chocolate in one hand, champagne in the other, body thoroughly used
    up, totally worn out and screaming Woohoo, what a ride!
    What was the last movie
    you watched (home or theater)?
    The Thin Man

    About the Book

    Title: Bug Stuff…and Other Stories
    Genre: romantic comedy
    Author Name: Vicki Batman
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): G
    From sassy writer gal, Vicki Batman, comes three romantic comedies
    sure to tickle your fancy. “Just Desserts”: a political dinner gone disastrous
    brings together a reluctant attendee and her handsome seat-mate.
    “Bug Stuff”: An accountant unites with his co-worker
    to exterminate a pesky adversary. “With This Ring”: When a wife forgets
    the all-important little black dress, everything turns into something utterly romantic
    and unforgettable in the end.

    Buy This Book

    Publisher: Vicki Batman
    Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1gaie8P

    Author Social Media

  • Author Marketing

    5 Things Authors Miss on their Tax Returns @emlynley #RLFblog #taxes #authors

    Tax Tips for Authors 
    In my real life I’m a tax and finance professional and I’ve been
    sharing my knowledge with other writers for the past three years. I find many people
    have problems with the same issues year after year. Are you making these mistakes?
    If so, you’ll find more ways to solve these problems (and more) in my book Tax Tips for Authors 2014. (Available from
    Amazon, Barnes
    and Noble, iTunes, Smashwords ARe/OmniLit
    and in print)
    1. Calling your hobby
    a business – or vice versa
    The IRS has a pretty strict line between hobby and business,
    because businesses get to write their losses off against other income (W-2 or investment
    income) which lets them lower their taxes. To be considered a business you need
    to have profits in 3 out of the past 5 years. It you’re having more years of losses
    than profits, the IRS may want you to prove you’re a real business, which means
    show that you are trying to make money. They look at the ratio of expenses to earnings
    and the type of expenses you claim: advertising and other promo help you, but travel
    to conventions may hurt you if you’re not earning enough to justify the expense.
    Businesses that claim to be a hobby are seen as avoiding self-employment
    tax, so if you have increasing hobby income, the IRS may force you to file Schedule
    C and pay SE tax. Make sure you classify your writing correctly.
    2. Not filing quarterly
    estimated tax payments
    This is one of the most confusing aspects of self-employment
    and for authors it’s even more complicated: earnings and expenses fluctuate wildly
    during the year. Some people just ignore it, then get both a big surprise balance
    due in April, plus a penalty for not paying quarterly. There are ways to avoid this,
    the easiest being to pay at least 110% of last year’s tax bill in quarterly installments.
    If you overpay, you’ll get a refund, but you’ll definitely avoid a penalty. I go
    over how to calculate the correct quarterly payments in my book, Tax Tips for Authors
    2014.
    3. Paying too much self-employment
    tax
    How do you pay too much? By not taking all the deductions you
    can, and by not keeping a careful running balance of profit and loss during the
    year. You only pay SE tax when you have over $400 of profits, so if you can reduce
    profits (by increasing legitimate spending during the tax year) you can save some
    money. Make sure to do a tentative P and L calculation in early December. It may
    make sense to register for expensive conventions then rather than waiting till January.
    Buy a new computer or pre-pay for advertising. Shift only planned spending rather
    than simply spending down your profits carelessly, so you can build your business
    rather than just avoid taxes.
    4. Missing out on deductions
    Most authors I work with don’t keep good records of their spending.
    This includes mileage driven for “business.” Did you write down every
    time you drove to the library, book store, airport, etc.? Get in the habit of writing
    down your mileage and other expenses every day or two—before you forget—and you’ll
    see how much more you are able to claim. Keep receipts for books, index cars, notebooks,
    stock photos, domain names, lunch with your writing partner, swag, etc. This will
    also help you keep a running P and L for filing quarterly payments and making good
    year-end spending decisions. I have much more information on proper recordkeeping
    and deductions in the book.
    5. Mixing business and
    personal expenses
    Along with the hobby/business issue, this is one of the things
    IRS loves to investigate. The best way to keep everything separate—even for sole
    proprietors—is to have separate bank accounts and debit or credit cards. It’s easy
    to have a separate PayPal account just for your writing business, and you can get
    a PayPal debit card. An Ally bank account is free and requires no minimum deposit
    and they issue debit cards as well. Have all your payments made into the separate
    accounts, and spend only from the business PayPal/Ally debit card. If you need to
    use a credit card, ask for an additional card from your credit card company and
    use the new one only for business. At the end of the year you can get a separate
    statement of your business expenses, which makes recordkeeping and organizing deductions
    a snap.
    Want even more information? Sign up for my Tax Tips Newsletter, or visit
    the Tax Tips for Authors website. Best of all, pick up a copy of my book Tax Tips
    for Authors 2014
    . It’s got new information for filing 2013 returns, a Schedule
    C walkthrough, chapters on self-employment taxes and quarterly payments and a whole
    lot more.
    Available from Amazon,
    Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Smashwords
    and ARe/OmniLit and in print

    Contest

    Out of the Gate

    Ask a tax question and be entered to win a free registration
    to an author-oriented Tax Workshop held by EM Lynley.

    About the Author

    EM Lynley is a former investment analyst and White House economist.
    Now she writes gay erotic romance. She loves books where the hero gets the guy and
    the loving is 11 on a scale of 10. Her Precious Gems series is best described as
    “Indiana Jones meets Romancing the Stone”—only gayer. The Delectable series
    is Gay Romance with Taste. Her books are available in print and e-book from Amazon
    & other book distributors.

    Author Social Media

  • Contemporary

    Interview: JoAnne Myers Crime of the Century @scooterismine #RLFblog

    Crime of the Century 
    About the Book
    Title The Crime of the
    Century
    Genre Biography true
    crime
    Author JoAnne Myers
    Book heat level (based
    on movie ratings): PG13
    The residents of Rolling
    Hills, a hamlet in southeastern Ohio,
    were horrified when the dismembered bodies of two missing teens were pulled
    from the local river. Multiply suspects surfaced, but only one was railroaded,
    Richard Allan Lloyd, a known nudist and hothead.
    What began as an evening
    stroll turned into what found only in horror films, and dubbed ‘the crime of
    the century’. 18 year old Babette, a voluptuous beauty contestant and
    horsewoman, and her 19 year old boyfriend Shane Shoemaker, a jealous and
    possessive unemployed printer, were last seen crossing a trestle bridge. Within
    fourteen days, their mutilated torsos and severed heads and limbs were
    unearthed, suggesting satanic cult activity.
    With an investigation
    smeared with contradicting statements, and a botched crime scene, investigators
    built a flimsy case against Richard Lloyd. The three-week trial was based on
    police corruption and ineptitude, fairytale theories, and forensic mishandling.
    This heinous crime
    shattered the sense of security for Rolling Hills, destroyed two families, and
    forever scarred the town. This story is a detailed account of finding justice
    for Babette and Shane, and of one man’s perseverance to gain his freedom from
    death row.

    Buy This Book

    Publisher – Black Rose
    Writing http://www.blackrosewriting.com/non-fiction/the-crime-of-the-century-a-shocking-true-story
    Book also available on
    Amazon and Barnes & Noble in paperback and ebook

    Interview with JoAnne Myers

    Why did you write this book?
    For many reasons. It is
    a true case that took nearly 30 years to solve. It put an innocent man on death
    row for five years, and forever scarred a small Ohio town. It was truly the worse case in
    the county’s history.
    What is your favorite genre to read?
    Probably fantasy, because
    almost anything goes in that genre. A writer can make the impossible sound
    possible.
    What is your favorite character from fiction (not
    including your own characters)?
    James Bond. He is the
    ultimate male alpha.
    Do you enjoy films and/or TV shows? Which are your
    favorites?
    watch court cases such
    as Judge Mathis, the Investigation Discovery channel which has true cases
    broadcasted. Also, I became hooked on this new fantasy show called Bitten. It
    is about a werewolf family living amongst humans.
    What are you working on at the moment, and what are
    we likely to see from you in the coming months?
    I am not working on any
    new books right now. I am mostly concentrating on promoting the books I do have
    and will have. I have two books being released soon. Loves, Myths, and
    Monsters, is a fantasy anthology starring the Mothman, the Chupracabra,
    Mermaids, an Egyptian curse, reincarnation, werewolves, a demonic cellmate, a
    serial killer family from the 1800’s, and a Quaker love story.
    Please tell us about your latest book.
    The Crime of the Century
    is a true double homicide case from 1982, that terrified residents and
    destroyed families. There were many bizarre suspects, but only one was
    railroaded by police.
    Excerpt
    At 5:45 pm., Chief White used his
    walkie-talkie, to radio Lt. Phillipes, who stayed at the command post with Richard
    and Nancy. Only a few short words were needed.
    “We found something, but we don’t
    know what it is,” said the chief.
    What searchers found . . . was unthinkable.
    Just 150 yards north of the railroad
    trestle spanning the Bottle
    Neck River,
    Sheriff Reynolds and one of his deputies reported “something entangled in debris,”
    near their small boat.
    The officers initially said they believed
    the object was an animal carcass. Once it was dislodged and floated down stream,
    they realized it was human.
    The officers then followed the remains
    and discovered 30 yards south of the first torso, the second torso was located.
    Both torsos were reportedly snagged against brush along the riverbank just west
    of The Regency Supply Company.
    Both torsos were reportedly nude and
    so badly decomposed, officers said they were unable to determine their sex.
    Upon the discovery, Jack Jones broke
    down and was seen “running and screaming” from the area. The remains were
    pulled to shore and coroner Rausch was summoned to the riverbank.
    Law enforcement personnel cleared
    the immediate area of non-official personnel. Afterward, they stationed themselves
    around the perimeter of the area while the bodies were examined.
    Many searchers, upon leaving the crime
    scene, were overheard by reporters asking one another “Are the authorities
    looking for one killer or two?”
    After his initial examination of the
    bodies, the coroner said he was unable to rule on the cause of death or what sex
    the torsos were. What he did say, was that if one man committed both murders, it
    was “during a great rage” and by someone with something “very personal”
    against one, or both, of the victims.
    Sheriff Reynolds reported an empty
    purse found, but did not know if it belonged to Babette. He told reporters, he did
    not believe the bodies were the missing Rolling Hills teens.
    Richard Lloyd told reporters that,
    when he and Nancy heard the bodies might not be that of Babette and Shane, they
    were relieved, and said, “That comment gave me and Nancy a speck of hope.”
    JoAnne Myers
    Author Bio
    I have been a long-time
    resident of southeastern Ohio,
    and worked in the blue-collar industry most of my life. Besides having several
    novels under my belt, I canvas paint.
    When not busy with
    hobbies or working outside the home, I spend time with relatives, my dogs
    Jasmine and Scooter, and volunteer my time within the community. I am a member
    of the International Women’s Writing Guild, Savvy Authors, Coffee Time Romance,
    Paranormal Romance Guild, True Romance Studios, National Writers Association,
    the Hocking Hill’s Arts and Craftsmen Association, The Hocking County
    Historical Society and Museum, and the Hocking Hills
    Regional Welcome
    Center. I believe in
    family values and following your dreams. My books along with my original canvas
    paintings, can be found at:
    Author Social Media

  • Character Interviews,  Historical

    Character Interview: Bagsu from Eternal Tuat @authorvsnelson #RLFblog #historical

    Eternal Tuat 

    About the Book

    Title Eternal Tuat – Sekhmet’s Guardians – Book 4 – Bagsu’s Story
    Genre: Historical/Paranormal
    Author Name V. S. Nelson
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): Entire
    series is R (adult)
    Bagsu, his name alone strikes fear in the Guardian Nation.
    What can cause one twin son, destined to take his father’s place
    as a priest, turn evil and lead a crusade to dominate the human race while the other
    fights to save mankind.
    Finally, secrets are revealed in this tell-all adventure which
    takes the reader back in time 6,000 years to the land of New Tuat.
    Experience first hand Bagsu growing up with Sekhmet’s ancients, long before they
    became immortal, when twin brothers were the best of friends and united as family.

    Buy This Book

    Eternal Tuat – coming this spring to Amazon and other fine stores
    where books are sold. Please check her Amazon author page for release date: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00AXYLHF0

    Interview with Bagsu, son of the High Priest Aapehti and Kheri

    What is it that you want,
    but cannot have? Authors call this the conflict of the story.
    In the beginning Nefer-her; later my legs.
    What’s your internal limitation?
    Meaning, what is it about you that makes it so you cannot do what it is you need
    to do during this story?
    Nefer-her and I shared several years enjoying life together before
    she officially became a woman and before she began her training as a priestess of
    Isis. I should have married her then… before she joined the Vestal order, but
    her duty, as was mine was elsewhere.
    I’m not sure if it’s internal or not, but I’ll answer your question
    as best as I can. Growing up I believed I was destined to follow in my father’s
    footsteps; his choice, not mine. As I grew, I developed a need to be more and I
    worked hard at it. My body developed and I strived to be everything everyone wanted
    me to become, including myself. With my eyes cast in another direction, I had full
    intent of joining the most precious school of fighters our world had to offer…
    then the accident happened. My world came to a complete halt at that point.
    What inner doubt causes
    you the most difficulty?
    I no longer have any doubt or expectations, but as a child and
    young man I suppose that would be my naivety.
    Tell us about your significant
    other, that person who makes living worthwhile.
    Nefer-her has long since turned to dust, although her memory
    is never far from my thoughts. Not only was she physically beautiful, she was the
    kindest most loving person I’ve ever met. She was my world and I will never have
    another.
    What would that person
    say about you?
    She never was one to talk about other people, but knowing Nefer-her
    as well as I did, I can only imagine what she would say to me and that would be
    to forgive myself… but you know, that’s something I can’t do. Not now, not ever.
    What is your family like?
    The family I have today is much different than the one I grew
    up with. Today, my brethren would be considered cold, vindictive and determined
    on destroying the human race.
    What special skills do
    you rely on?
    Everything Set granted me when he turned me into an immortal.

    About the Writer

    Why did you choose to
    write about this character?
    I had several books written and planned out for my series, Sekhmet’s
    Guardians, long before Bagsu’s story came about. It was actually a critique partner
    who casually made the suggestion I should share Bagsu’s complicated story with my
    readers. After reviewing the pages upon pages of notes I had on him it became evident
    there was way too much information to merely insert as back story into another book.
    So Eternal Tuat – Bagsu’s story was born.
    Was there anything you
    discovered about this character that was a surprise to you?
    Make no mistake about it, Bagsu is as evil as they come. He’s
    killed, raped and plundered without a conscious thought. Seeing him as a happy well-adjusted
    child who wouldn’t hurt a fly was quite a shocker. I’ve even grown to love what
    he once was and like Jennifer, the leader of the Guardian’s Blades, I hope some
    day he will find peace and redemption.
    When you wrote about this
    character, what made you the most happy? What made you the most sad?
    It’s not uncommon for me to laugh or share a few tears when writing.
    I laughed at Bagsu’s s innocence when he received his first kiss, I applauded his
    heroics like I would any fine gentleman and I wept like a baby at his personal loss.
    Are any sequels planned
    for this book?
    Eleven books were originally scheduled to make up the series,
    Sekhmet’s Guardians. Three of those were released for publication in 2013. Three
    more are scheduled for 2014 beginning with Bagsu’s story, this spring.
    For those who are not familiar with the series, all of the books
    with the exception of two historicals take place in modern times. Bagsu’s story
    is the first of those two historicals.
    It’s unusual combining modern and historicals in one series,
    but as I mentioned above, there is a tremendous amount of back-story (6,000 years
    to be exact) to cover, it only made sense to write them as historicals. Books 4
    & 5 in the series both pick up at the ending of book 3, Eternal Blades. One
    takes you back… on a journey with Bagsu (Book 4) while Eternal Life (Book 5) moves
    forward in time with Michael, the Guardian’s physician.
    Is there anything you’d
    like to say to your readers?

    VS Nelson

    Perhaps just a bit more regarding the series if you have no objections.
    The books are not limited to one couple or one romance. The characters from the
    previous books in the series continue into the next, much like a night-time premium
    channel series. More recently, I’ve heard reviewers compare to my books to Game
    of Thrones. I believe this is because of the way they are written, not based on
    content or time frame. Everyone of the books is considered a stand alone and for
    the most part are written that way, but personally, I feel the reader would become
    more invested in the cast of characters if they read them in order .
    Kayelle, thank you so much for having Bagsu (and me) on Romance
    Lives Forever. It’s one of my favorite blogs and I consider it an honor to be here.
    Sincerely, V

    Author Social Media

  • Paranormal

    Cupid’s Apprentice Elysa Hendricks #RLFblog #RomFantasy

    Cupid’s Apprentice 
    Cover Love at Romance Lives Forever is a short intro to a
    book and includes a cover, blurb, buy links, and social media contacts for the
    author. Today’s featured book is Cupid’s Apprentice by Elysa Hendricks.
    A Short Contemporary Fantasy Romance
    Approximately 15,000 words
    To earn her wings, Cupid’s apprentice Medarda “Dar”
    has until Valentine’s Day to match two-time Loser Laura Quinn with Boring Brian
    Hoffman. When Dar’s love arrow goes astray and hits the sexy PE teacher Flynn Sullivan
    instead things get interesting.
    Laura loves teaching high school in the small town of Council
    Falls, but knows it’s only a matter of time until her famous mother shows up and
    the quiet life she’s created comes crashing down around her ears.
    PE teacher Flynn Sullivan’s been interested in the shy history
    teacher for a long time, but it isn’t until they’re forced to chaperone the Valentine’s
    Day dance together that he gets the opportunity to make his dreams come true.
    With time running out can one bumbling Cupid’s Apprentice bring
    together a Jock and a Brain?

    Buy This Book

    http://is.gd/cupidsapprentice

    Author Social Media