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Interview: Katheryn Lane Author of The Texas Cowboy @KatherynLane #RLFblog #western
The Texas Cowboy About the Book
Title: The Texas
CowboyGenre: contemporary cowboy romance, modern westernBook heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13Everything’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/1bLPep4Amazon UK:
http://amzn.to/18ncc33Interview 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
Twitter: http://twitter.com/KatherynLanePinterest: http://pinterest.com/KatherynLaneGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/KatherynLaneAmazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Katheryn-Lane/e/B0056NJRZ0/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1389103864&sr=8-2-ent
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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 ManAbout the Book
Title: Bug Stuff…and Other StoriesGenre: romantic comedyAuthor Name: Vicki BatmanBook heat level (based on movie ratings): GFrom 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 BatmanAmazon: http://amzn.to/1cuV6RyBarnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1gaie8PSmashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/394602Author Social Media
Website: http://vickibatman.blogspot.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/VickiBatmanFacebook : http://on.fb.me/1ipdLkvPinterest : http://pinterest.com/vickibatmanShelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/o1515093723Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/vickibatman -
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 versaThe 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 paymentsThis 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
taxHow 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 deductionsMost 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 expensesAlong 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.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
Website: http://emlynley.comBlog: http://emlynley.com/blogLiveJournal: http://emlynley.livejournal.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/emlynley -
Interview: JoAnne Myers Crime of the Century @scooterismine #RLFblog
Crime of the Century About the BookTitle The Crime of the
CenturyGenre Biography true
crimeAuthor JoAnne MyersBook heat level (based
on movie ratings): PG13The 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-storyBook also available on
Amazon and Barnes & Noble in paperback and ebookInterview 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.ExcerptAt 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 BioI 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 Interview: Bagsu from Eternal Tuat @authorvsnelson #RLFblog #historical
Eternal Tuat About the Book
Title Eternal Tuat – Sekhmet’s Guardians – Book 4 – Bagsu’s StoryGenre: Historical/ParanormalAuthor Name V. S. NelsonBook 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/B00AXYLHF0Interview 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.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, VAuthor Social Media
Website: http://www.authorvsnelson.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/authorvsnelsonFacebook : https://www.facebook.com/authorvsnelsonAmazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00AXYLHF0 -
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 RomanceApproximately 15,000 wordsTo 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/cupidsapprenticeAuthor Social Media
Website: http://www.elysahendricks.com