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It’s Still All About the Book @MarilynBaron #RLFblog #contemporary
Syping with an Author Article by Marilyn BaronWhat are the odds that an author in
Roswell, Georgia, would leave a review on Goodreads saying she enjoyed the novel
Coincidence and was looking forward to discussing it with her neighborhood book
club, and that the author, J. W. Ironmonger (John) who lives in Shropshire, England,
would offer to Skype with the book club?With
the explosion of technology and social media, everyone reading books in different
formats, after all is said and done, it’s still all about the book. One reader liked
a book, commented on the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations
and the author, all the way in England,
saw the message, was generous enough to respond and give up his time to talk to
a neighborhood book club in Roswell,
Georgia, about his
book. Despite all the advances we’ve made it’s still, thankfully, all about the
book. Technology is just bringing readers closer to authors.Our book club met at one of the members’
homes. We enjoyed a beautiful assortment of hors’ d’oeuvres and we made the call.
The connection was so perfect it felt like John was in our living room when he was
actually at his son’s apartment in London
at 2 a.m. The picture faded out a couple of times or froze when he was in the middle
of talking but we found it amazing that through the wonders of technology, we were
conversing with an author across the ocean on a computer about a book.Everyone in the book club loved Coincidence.
We asked questions and John was delightful. We learned about his background and
the fact that he grew up in Kenya
and when he was 16 he visited a mission school very much like the one he wrote about
in the book. Before he finished the novel he and his son went back to Uganda in 2011 and
retraced the journey the main character made to get to the mission, visiting various
locations mentioned in the book.“Africa
has changed a lot but it hasn’t,” says Ironmonger. “When you get out of
the city you still see mud huts. There’s still a lot of poverty, but it’s a beautiful
country.”Ironmonger combined two ideas into
one book. He had always wanted to set a story in north Uganda and he also
wanted to write a story about coincidences. His main character, Thomas, who studied
coincidences, meets a woman, Azalea, to whom coincidences happen and who is convinced
she will die on a predetermined date. The novel explores what would transpire if
they got together and had a relationship. And there are so many plot twists that
the book will hold your interest from start to finish.In the book, Ironmonger weaves in
arguments about predestination vs. randomness, free will or the idea that somebody
is “messing with our lives.”“It’s easy for us to see patterns
where they don’t exist,” notes Ironmonger. “The truth lies somewhere between
the two.”Ironmonger admits he does not believe
in coincidences although he did when he was younger.“Sometimes we overanalyze things
that do happen,” he says. “We can’t explain everything and it’s foolish
to try. The message of the book is you can spend all your life trying to solve the
mysteries and none of us ever will.”In the end, Thomas receives advice
from a colleague: “Why don’t you just listen to Azalea and support her and
see what the next surprise is?” Thomas has to overcome his inertia and decide
if he wants to follow Azalea to Africa or lose
her forever.Ironmonger also discussed the few
differences between the UK and
U.S.
versions of the book, which was published by HarperCollins in this country in February.
The book got a new cover and an extra paragraph at the end to give us a happy ending,
but it is pretty much the same as when it was published in England. This is
the first publication of the book in the U.S.
Coincidence Ironmonger’s new book, Not Forgetting
the Whale, will be out next spring. It’s set in a village at the toe of England, accessible
only by one long road in and out. The townspeople, convinced that civilization is
about to collapse, want to seal off the road and the village from the outside world,
and then they save a whale.Here’s the description of Coincidence:
What determines the course of our lives? Chance…or destiny?On Midsummer’s Day, 1982, three-year-old Azalea Ives is found
alone at a seaside fairground.One year later, her mother’s body washes up on a beach—her link
to Azalea unnoticed.On Midsummer’s Day, 1992, her adoptive parents are killed in
a Ugandan rebel uprising; Azalea is narrowly rescued by a figure from her past.Terrified that she, too, will meet her fate on Midsummer’s Day,
Azalea approaches Thomas Post, an expert in debunking coincidences. Azalea’s past,
he insists, is random—but as Midsummer’s Day approaches, he worries that she may
bring fate upon herself.Coincidence is available on Amazon at http://amzn.com/0062309897 To learn more about
John and his books, visit http://www.amazon.com/J.-W.-Ironmonger/e/B009AKEYIU/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1Author Bio
Marilyn Baron is a public
relations consultant in Atlanta.
She’s a member of Marketing for Romance Writers, Romance Writers of America and
Georgia Romance Writers (GRW) and the recipient of the GRW 2009 Chapter Service
Award. She writes humorous women’s fiction, romantic thrillers/suspense, historicals
and paranormal. She has won writing awards in Single Title, Suspense Romance and
Paranormal/Fantasy Romance. Marilyn blogs at Petit Fours and Hot Tamales at www.petitfoursandhotamales.comShe and her sister, Sharon Goldman, just released a play about
Alzheimer’s called Memory Lane.
You can find out more about Marilyn’s books and short stories and listen to a medley
of the music from Memory Lane
on her Web site at www.marilynbaron.com
or view it on YouTube at http://youtu.be/Hgi_mIdt5MA.Author Social Media
Website www.marilynbaron.comTwitter https://twitter.com/MarilynBaronAmazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Marilyn-Baron/e/B008PJFQPC/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
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RLF Gem Award: Top Bloggers Feb 2014 Romance Lives Forever #RLFblog #blogging
RLF Top Blogger Award Last month, Romance Lives Forever had 28 posts in a 28 day month.
A new interview was introduced: 5 Easy Questions. It consists of 10 questions,
of which, an author can pick five, making it one of the fastest to do. This is
great for the busy author with a new release. You can download a copy here:5 Easy Questions – pick 5 fun things from a list http://is.gd/rlf_5easyQsTop Five Bloggers for the Month
The top five posts, judged by page views are listed below. Congratulations to each author!1. Daisy Banks2. Vicki Batman3. Marilyn Baron4. EM Lynley5. GA HauserHonorable mention: Kryssie Fortune and I tied for sixth place.Romance Lives Forever features authors and new books. It has a
blogger’s FAQ page with a downloadable guide and optional interviews. Readers
can follow via Google Friend Connect, Networked Blogs, Bloglovin’, Linky
Followers, email, an RSS feed, and there’s a blog button readers and authors
can grab. RLF takes up to three images per article, so authors can share
previous books. The blog uses author or publisher names as SEO tags on posts,
and author Twitter handles in the titles. The site is broadcast over Triberr
with a potential reach of over a million readers via its Twitter-linked
network. Twitter mentions are also gathered in several Paper.li ezines, giving
the author additional opportunities for promotion.The Romance Lives Forever
Paper.li ezine features guest authors on its front page every day. The Yahoo Group Romance Lives Forever has
nearly 1200 members, and is Kayelle’s private group. It is open once a month to
authors who have been guests on the blog. Guests get one day to post info,
share news, book releases, offer contests, and so on. For that day, the group
is open and members are allowed to reply and take active part. It’s like an
old-fashioned chat, where you can share and answer questions. Only authors who
have reserved the day are allowed to post, so it’s exclusive. There is no
charge. You can read more about it here: http://is.gd/rlfauthordayShare your book cover on Romance Lives Forever
Limited spots to share book covers are available. Cost is $3
per month, with discounts for covers posted for one quarter and up to one year.
Covers can be changed monthly.Sign Up for a Future Post
Sign up form http://is.gd/rlfblog_requestGuest calendar http://is.gd/rlfdatesMy thanks to all who took part this month. You made Romance Lives
Forever a great place to discover new books and authors.Other participants this month in alphabetical order by first
name are:AJ Nuest, Alanna
Lucas, Berengaria Brown, Celia Breslin, Denysé Bridger, Diane Burton, Gwen
Knight, HK Sterling, Kathy L Wheeler, Lady Blade, Lauren Linwood, Leta Blake, Liza
O’Connor, Nancy Corrigan, Samara King, Samara King, Susan D Taylor, Suz deMello, Zanna Mackenzie -
Author Interview @MarilynBaron – Homecoming Homicides #RLFblog #Suspense
Homecoming Homicides Genre Psycho Meets Miss Congeniality—Dark Romantic Suspense with
a Humorous TwistAuthor Marilyn BaronBook heat level: PG13Professional crisis manager Philippa Tannenbaum is spokesperson
for the law enforcement task force charged with solving a high-profile case. She
never dreams her position as Homecoming Pageant Director and her second-place finish
in the previous year’s competition has placed her on a serial killer’s hit list.
Always a runner-up in life, she wants to finally come in first at finding the killer
targeting the current crop of beauties.Her friend Luke Slaughter, a Graysville city cop, shows up at
Philippa’s office, assigned to partner with her in solving the case and to protect
her 24/7 for the duration. Unfortunately, he’s also the man she hooked up with for
a one-night stand when she broke up with her fiancé. Working with her is going to
be less than easy, for a number of reasons…Buy This Book
Publisher The Wild Rose PressAmazon http://amzn.com/B00I27AS2I.
After the exclusive Kindle release, the worldwide release date will be May 9, 2014.Interview with Marilyn Baron
Why did you write this
book?Some years ago, my daughter was a contestant in the Homecoming
Pageant at the University
of Florida. At the end of
the pageant, a seemingly innocent man—he was more of a big hulk of a boy—approached
each girl to get her autograph on his pageant booklet. That sparked my imagination
and was the inspiration for this story. I wondered what would have happened if he
were a serial killer? I went to college at the University
of Florida in Gainesville and I named my fictional town Graysville,
so I was very familiar with the setting.What is your favorite
genre to read?Romance and thriller/espionage novels.What is your favorite
character from fiction (not including your own characters)?In romance, Roarke from J.D. Robb’s In Death series or Jamie
Fraser in the Outlander series. In spy novels, Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon.Do you enjoy films and/or
TV shows? Which are your favorites?In addition to reading (I’m in two book clubs) I go to a lot
of movies and watch a lot of TV for relaxation. My all-time favorite movie is Casablanca. The TV shows I
watch include Downton Abbey, The Good Wife, NCIS, Blue Bloods,The Big Bang Theory,
Two Broke Girls and I’m looking forward to watching the next season of The Americans.What are you working on
at the moment, and what are we likely to see from you in the coming months?I’m working on Book Three of The Psychic Crystal Mystery series
called Murder on the Repositioning Cruise. I’ve just signed another contract with
The Wild Rose Press for a new women’s fiction called Stones, which finaled in the
GRW Unpublished Maggie Awards for Excellence in 2005 in the Single Title category,
formerly titled The Colonoscopy Club.Please tell us about your
latest series.Homecoming Homicides is Book Two in the Psychic Crystal Mystery
series. Book One, Sixth Sense, won the Maggie Award for Excellence in the Paranormal/Romance
category.Here’s the blurb for Sixth
Sense:Reluctant psychic Katherine Crystal, dubbed “Crystal Ball
Kate,” is thrust into the national spotlight when she accurately predicts the
death of a movie actor’s young son in a private plane crash. Besieged by requests
to use her powers to help others, she realizes why her parents had warned her never
to let anyone know of her visions.By-the-book Atlanta
police detective Jack Hale harbors a deep-seated distrust of psychics and ignores
Katherine’s warnings when she calls to report her premonition. Jack is forced to
partner with Kate, who uses her eerie sensitivity to evil to help him catch a serial
killer in Sydney, Australia, but that’s only the beginning
of the story. Jack and Kate are drawn into the investigation of a mystery surrounding
Kate’s birth and find murder and romance among a secret society of psychics in the
quaint seaside spiritualist community of Casa
Spirito, Florida.Murder on the Repositioning Cruise – Coming Soon
Former Atlanta
police detective Jack Hale and “Crystal Ball Kate” from Sixth Sense, are
back, this time with Kate’s mother, Psychic Juliette and the cocky sheriff in Homecoming
Homicides, for a suspenseful romp on the high seas.Juliette Spencer and Sheriff Will Bradley are posing as husband
and wife on a two-week transatlantic cruise to catch an art thief, investigate a
murder and calm the fears of a superstitious crew. Juliette will be fine if Sheriff
Bradley’s amorous advances in close quarters don’t cause her to jump ship or throw
him overboard.Author Bio
Marilyn is a public
relations consultant in Atlanta.
She’s a member of Marketing for Romance Writers, Romance Writers of America, and
Georgia Romance Writers (GRW) and the recipient of the GRW 2009 Chapter Service
Award. She writes humorous women’s fiction, romantic thrillers/suspense, historicals
and paranormal. She has won writing awards in Single Title, Suspense Romance and
Paranormal/Fantasy Romance. Marilyn blogs at Petit Fours and Hot Tamales http://www.petitfoursandhottamales.com/. She and her sister, Sharon
Goldman, just released a play about Alzheimer’s called Memory Lane. You can find out more about Marilyn’s
books and short stories and listen to a medley of the music from Memory Lane on her Web
site at www.marilynbaron.com or view it on YouTube at http://youtu.be/Hgi_mIdt5MA.Author Social Media
Website www.marilynbaron.comTwitter https://twitter.com/MarilynBaronAmazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Marilyn-Baron/e/B008PJFQPC/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1 -
Historical: Under the Moon Gate @MarilynBaron | Interview #RLFblog #thriller
Under the Moon Gate Marilyn Baron, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. Let’s talk about
your book, Under the Moon GateGenre: Historical Romantic ThrillerPublisher: The Wild Rose PressCover artist: Kim MendozaLength: 354 pagesHeat rating: SensualTagline: A compelling tale of love and intrigue set in WW II
and contemporary Bermuda.Blurb:Dashing sea captain Nathaniel Morgan sails into the life of prim
and proper Bermuda heiress Patience Whitestone
and threatens to expose her family secrets—ruinous secrets she wasn’t aware of.
The two are immediately at odds when Nathaniel moors his vessel in front of her
estate and refuses to leave until he finds the cache of Swiss gold he’s convinced
was buried somewhere on the property during World War II. Can Patience save herself
and her family’s reputation when she finds herself reluctantly drawn to this determined
“pirate”? Or will someone from the past make good on his threat to destroy
them both? Their fate is inextricably linked to Nazi plots and to the beautiful
moon gates of Bermuda in this compelling tale of
love and intrigue.Buy links:Amazon http://amazon.com/Under-the-Moon-Gate-ebook/dp/B00CGDQ1S4/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1367562749&sr=1-3The Wild Rose Press http://wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=5235What are your main characters’ names, ages, and occupations?Patience Whitestone is a virginal 27-year-old heiress to the
Whitestone fortune in Bermuda.Nathaniel Morgan, about 30, is a sea captain from Virginia who’s determined
to expose Patience’s family secrets at all costs.Interview
Who has helped you the most in your career as an author?My critique partners and other writing colleagues as well as
writing courses I’ve taken.When you write, what things do you want close at hand? (Coffee,
water, chocolate… pictures of gorgeous hunks for inspiration…?)Chocolate is always good. I may be the only person on the planet
who does not drink coffee. I do love hot chocolate.When you’re not writing, what would we find you doing?Reading for sure. I love to sit in the sun and read.Are you a plotter, or do you prefer to make it up on the spur
of the moment?I’m a definite pantser. I just write and then go back and edit.Looking back at your first book, what do you wish you had
done differently?I wish I hadn’t tried to include so many time periods in one
book.What’s your writing schedule like?When I’m in the edit stage, I’m intense and respect the deadline.
When I’m writing a new book I write when I can, fitting it in between my “day
job.”Any advice for new authors?Finish the book. You can always fix copy on a page. You cannot
fix a blank page.What aspect of your life do you write into your books?I write a lot about older women nearer to my age. I include my
personal preferences—foods I love, colors I love, places I’ve been.When an idea hits you, what do you do to capture it?I take notes on any available slip of paper in my purse or on
in the Notes section on my iPhone. I try to carry around a small notebook for this
purpose, but it’s not always available.If you knew it would be a bestseller, what book would you
write that you might not write otherwise?So far, I’ve written every book I’ve wanted to.What’s keeping you from writing that book?Actually, I’ve been very
prolific this year. By the end of the year I will have five books published, one
self-published and four under contract with a traditional publisher. Not all may
be released in 2013.What other jobs have you held besides writing? Or jobs you’ve
done while you were a writer.I head my own public
relations firm. I’ve been editor of a regional corporate newsletter, marketing manager,
and special events manager for AT&T; I was an Information Specialist for the
Florida Department of Corrections (the prison system) where I learned to work with
printers (the inmates in the institution that housed the printing press) and I heard
a lot of “fish” stories (I’m innocent). On my first day on the job four
women escaped the women’s correctional institution and we had a tent city situation
when the system got overcrowded. I spent one summer at the Downingtown Inn
in Pennsylvania
as a reservationist, living on the property in a situation similar to Dirty Dancing.My most exciting projects
were involvement in the Olympics in Atlanta, Sydney, Salt Lake
City and the LA Olympics. Annual reports for one client
that involved travel throughout Europe, were also
very interesting.Which of your books was the hardest to write and why?
Sixth Sense Under the Moon Gate took 10 years to perfect. I wasn’t writing
all that time. Most of that time it was dormant. But the book has been through many
iterations. It started out encompassing three generations and I finally opted for
two generations in one book and one, in the 17th century, in the prequel, Destiny:
A Bermuda Love Story.What are you currently reading for fun? Anything for research?I just finished Revenge Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger, which
I really enjoyed. I got to meet the author twice at book signings. I’m in two book
clubs, so between books I read for pleasure and books for the book clubs, I’m never
without a book. I recently went on a Behind the Scenes tour on a Mediterranean cruise
to do research for an upcoming book, a murder mystery that takes place on a ship.What’s the best gift you ever received?The best recent gift was from my children. Two tickets to an
Andrea Bocelli concert in Atlanta
in December. I love him.If you could time travel what era would be your first stop?World War II.Do you believe in luck?Absolutely. I’ve been very fortunate in my life.What kind of music do you listen to while driving? Same question
when writing?Andrea Bocelli and Broadway music. I love music from the ’40s.Do you play any musical instruments?No. I took piano lessons
but they didn’t take. All I remember is Heart and Soul.What is your secret talent?I don’t have a sense
of smell so I have a well-developed sixth sense.What’s your favorite movie?CasablancaAre you the eldest, middle, baby, or only child?Eldest.Do you think it’s important
to write in just one genre?No. I write humorous women’s fiction, historical romance, romantic
suspense and paranormal.How did you get your start in the industry?I joined Georgia Romance Writers.What is the most important thing you do for your career now,
as compared to when you first started writing?Social media. Create my Web site.What websites do you visit daily?I comment on my group blog, Petit Fours and Hot Tamales.If you could change something about your first book, what
would it be?I’d offer it in print format, not just as an EBook.What do you enjoy most about writing?The freedom and flexibility, the creativity.If you could give the younger version of yourself advice what
would it be?Keep writing. Don’t give up.What is your work ethic when it comes to writing?I have a strong work ethic, but I’m primarily motivated by deadlines.
If something is due I’ll get right on it. If not, I tend to procrastinate.Do things your family or friends do ever end up in a book?OMG. All the time. My sister always prefaces everything she says
with, “Now, this better not end up in your book.” My other sister and
sometimes writing partner gave me a sweatshirt that said, “Be Careful or You’ll
End Up In My Novel.” I write down snippets of conversations wherever I hear
them, at the hair salon, in the grocery store, at dinner. Sorry, if you say something
interesting, you’re likely to end up in my books.Which of your books would you recommend to someone who doesn’t
normally read your genre, and why?My favorite book so far is Under the Moon Gate, my newest release.
It’s a historical, romantic thriller and it has intrigue, spies, romance, and humor.
I think people actually prefer the WW II-era romance to the contemporary.What kind of books do you read when taking a break from your
own writing?I love anything Nora Roberts writes. I love women’s fiction.
I love spy novels.What do you think is the future of traditional publishing?I think it’s great but I also like self-publishing. My sister
and I cowrote two books, Murder at the Outlet Mall, a comedic mystery, and The Edger,
a humorous women’s fiction and we enjoyed that experience. We also wrote a musical
and are thinking of self-publishing it while waiting to get it produced.What was the proudest moment of your life so far?When I won the Maggie Award at the Georgia Romance Writers Conference
in 2012.Imagine you get to go on a dream vacation, but you have only
one hour to pack and leave, and it starts as soon as you finish this interview.
What will you take with you and where will you go?My summer dresses, bathing suit and cover up, hat, sandals, something
dressy. I would take my husband or daughters and probably go to Italy.
We just got back from a Mediterranean Cruise and I’m ready to go back to The Amalfi
Coast.What is your favorite holiday and why?Labor Day because we go to our condo in Florida.What good book have you read recently?Dorothea Benton Franks’ The Last Original Wife.What do you like to do when you’re bored?Watch TV, actually fall asleep in front of the TV.If you were a color, what color would you be?Definitely green. That’s
my favorite color and I haven’t wavered in that since I was born. I have gravitated
toward lighter greens, like sea greens and blue greens.Please underline which statement is more like you:“I am a vacation spa because I am laid back and relaxed.”“I am a ten-countries in ten-days tour vacation, because
I do things as fast as possible.” But I wish I were laid back and relaxed and
could enjoy a vacation spa.Please complete the sentences
I love pizza with pepperoni and mushrooms, cheese and black
olives.I’m always ready for a vacation.When I’m alone, I like to read.You’d never be able to tell, but I don’t have a sense of smell.If I had a halo it would be made
of gold.If I could find a producer, I would love for my play
Memory Lane
to be on Broadway.Previous Books
Murder at the Outlet Mall, a comedic mystery available in eBook
or print format at http://amazon.com/Murder-at-Outlet-Mall-ebook/dp/B00BGQLOKW.The Edger, humorous women’s fiction available on Amazon Kindle
at http://amazon.com/dp/B006Y3P12YParanormal short stories from TWB Press. A Choir of Angels, Follow
an Angel, The Stand-In Bridegroom and Dead Mix at http://twbpress.com/authormarilynbaron.html
Marilyn Baron Books Coming Soon
Sixth Sense, a paranormal romantic suspense, from The Wild Rose
Press.Reluctant psychic Katherine Crystal, dubbed “Crystal Ball
Kate,” is thrust into the national spotlight when she accurately predicts the
death of a movie actor’s young son in a private plane crash. Besieged by requests
to use her powers to help others, she realizes why her parents had warned her never
to let anyone know of her visions.By-the-book Atlanta
police detective Jack Hale harbors a deep-seated distrust of psychics and ignores
Katherine’s warnings when she calls to report her premonition. Jack is forced to
partner with Kate, who uses her eerie sensitivity to evil to help him catch a serial
killer in Sydney, Australia, but that’s only the beginning
of the story. Jack and Kate are drawn into the investigation of a mystery surrounding
Kate’s birth and find murder and romance among a secret society of psychics in the
quaint seaside spiritualist community of Casa
Spirito, Florida.Significant Others, a humorous women’s fiction from The Wild
Rose Press, Christmas 2013.Find Me Here
Website: http://marilynbaron.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/MarilynBaron
NorthcliffBookClub.jpg)
