HBS Author’s Spotlight – Class of December 2014

This month we have a group of interesting writers with worlds of knowledge and expertise. The author interviews are a MUST read.

Be sure to check out what they have coming next for their readers. I try to pick authors who are interesting studies and ask them unique questions for our Q/A section.

Check out the Showcase feature of the HBS Author's Spotlight. I have included those authors in this class. Also, we have added the Author Bundles we have posted this month.

Thanks to the following outstanding authors for a great month. Here is a summary of our December 2014 crew.


Kristen Ashley

Author Genre: Romance, Humor

Author's Blog: Kristen Ashley
Website: Kristen Ashley
Twitter: @KristenAshley68
Facebook: Check Out Facebook


Next: Wild and Free is the finale to my Three Series. It’ll be released on December 29, 2014.

Social media: I love social media for my writing just as I dig it for anything. It’s a way to keep in touch near and far with people who matter. The social media thing hit after I’d been living in England for a while and it felt amazing finally to be “in touch” with folks in little ways every day…

Events: I have a number of places I’ll be next year, starting at the Wicked Book Weekend in February in Ft. Lauderdale (wickedbookevents.com). I keep a schedule of appearances on my home page with links to the events…

Audio books: In the last year, this might have been the smartest thing I’ve done. I’ve never listened to an audiobook (but have finally downloaded my own and can’t wait to dig in!). Since that was outside my realm of experience, I didn’t think of it. But there is a HUGE audio community out there and they’ve embraced my work in that format.

And a big fat yes! to it gaining a new audience. Quite a number of folks comment on audiobooks on my social media sites and through reader mail. So it’s had quite an impact.

ebooks changed anything: Independently publishing my titles in eBook through Smashwords, Kindle Direct Publishing and Barnes & Noble’s PubIt are the reason why I can now call this my career. It hasn’t changed my writing, but it sure has garnered me an audience!

Free Books: I do free giveaways frequently and I do it mainly to promote a launch, to celebrate something good happening or just randomly, when I’m feeling in the mood to be generous. I’ve never run into obstacles

Reviews: We do a blog tour with each release and give advanced review copies (ARCs) to bloggers who’ll give an honest review. It’s bloggers (and readers on social reading sites like Goodreads) spreading the word about my work that got me to where I am today (literally, not a joke!) so bloggers are very important to me to take care of and build relationships with.

Signed copies: Off the charts successful! There are folks who may never be able to get to book signings or want to buy something for a friend who’s a fan…I also make sure there’s a personal touch to each order and write a quick signed thank you on the order forms and give away free stickers and bookmarks with each order.

Author's Book List
The Will
Sommersgate House
Broken Dove
Fantastical
The Golden Dynasty
Wildest Dreams
Fairytale Come Alive
Fire Inside
Own the Wind
Lady Luck
Sweet Dreams
The Gamble
Breathe
Jagged
Kaleidoscope
Motorcycle Man
Law Man
Wild Man
Mystery Man
Deacon
Raid
Creed
Knight
With Everything I Am
Until the Sun Falls from the Sky
The Promise
At Peace
For You
Rock Chick Revolution
Rock Chick Regret
Rock Chick Reckoning
Rock Chick Revenge
Rock Chick Renegade
Rock Chick Rescue
Rock Chick Redemption
Rock Chick


For the rest of the story...View Kristen Ashley - HBS Author's Spotlight

Jeremy Bates

Author Genre: Mystery & Thrillers

Author's Blog: Jeremy Bates - Suspense Author
Website: Jeremy Bates
Twitter: @jemacba
E-Mail: jeremybatesbooks@gmail.com
Google+: Check Out Google+
Facebook: Check Out Facebook


Next: I have two books on the horizon. Both are complete. The titles are Helltown and The Catacombs. Helltown.

Social media: You know, at first the social media relationship was really important. It still is, but I seriously slacked off over the last year because it takes up so much time…The people I meet online are great, and social media is a good way to get news out there about a new release, or book giveaway, and such.

Book trailer: I’ve done a book trailer for each of my books. I’m glad you think the one for Suicide Forest is professional, because I did it myself! Again, to be honest, I don’t think book trailers have any real impact on sales.

Free books: I have given away ARCS, of course, for review consideration. I have also done giveaways on Goodreads. I usually do the latter a few weeks before a book’s release date, with the hopes that the book will have a few reviews on launch day.

Blogging: I don’t have enough time. I definitely prioritize. Writing always comes first. It’s something I do daily. Social media comes second. I’ll tweet something I find neat on the internet, or I’ll pop over to Facebook or Goodreads to check my messages. And blogging comes third.

Reviews: I definitely seek professional ones. I know writers are always saying how hard it is to get reviews from industry reviewers, and it is. However, you have to remember that reviewers want to review. That’s their business. And if you write a book that interests them, they will more likely than not stick it in their review pile.

Author's Book List
Suicide Forest
The Taste of Fear
White Lies


For the rest of the story...View Jeremy Bates - HBS Author's Spotlight

Cara Brookins

Author Genre: Mystery & Thrillers, Children's Books, Humor

Author's Blog: Cara Brookins
Website: Cara Brookins - Author & Motivational Speaker
Twitter: @cmbrookins
E-Mail: cara.brookins@yahoo.com
Google+: Check Out Google+
Facebook: Check Out Facebook


Next: Little Boy Blu is one of my most exciting releases because it’s my first thriller for adults! The paperback is available now, and the ebook can be preordered at Amazon and Kobo with my publisher pushing the full release on December 29th 2014. This is a dark tale about a family in the Appalachian Mountains.

Social media: Over the past year, social media has become a huge part of my life and business plan. I wasn’t happy with the follower limits on most platforms, so in July of 2013 I started playing with a Twitter account that I’d never learned how to use. I quickly developed a strict agenda for how I would use Twitter and followed people who were interested in reading and writing. The first rule was that I had to be my authentic self and I had to enjoy it as part of my everyday life

Reader list: I can see the huge value of this because it is in your full control as the website owner rather than in the hands of FaceBook, Google, or Twitter… I currently have a list of email addresses of blog followers and people who have emailed me from my website.

Events: I maintain an appearance page on my website with virtual as well as physical appearances. Things are usually scheduled in advance, though they occasionally get added at the last minute.

Free Books: I love Goodreads giveaways of ARCs and newly released novels. Many people use these giveaways as a way to gather email addresses for their newsletters and future promotion, which I also think is a good idea as long as it’s clear this is what you’re doing. I also love product giveaways like T-shirt and playing cards, etc. printed with a book cover. These are fun for readers and the author.

Blogging: I have so many ideas for directions with my blog that focus is my biggest problem. Well, unless you consider an actual blog schedule necessary, then that is a bigger problem! I write for the blog as I find time, and we never have enough of that.

Reviews are such a tricky thing with a new novel. It could probably be said that we all suffer with review anxiety. Even great friends and other authors are terrible about taking time to post them. I’ve been guilty of taking a long time to post reviews too, so I make mine shorter now. Most authors are happy with any note and some stars, they aren’t expecting a full synopsis to prove you read their novel.

This year I’ve presented several motivational lectures. At Bouchercon I spoke about social media relations and encouraged authors to team up to support and promote one another across social media. If we think of one another as coworkers rather than competition, we can achieve really great things.

Author's Book List
Little Boy Blu
Mark of the Spider
Mark of the Serpent
Mark of the Centipede
Treasure Quest
A Harvest of Friends


For the rest of the story...View Cara Brookins - HBS Author's Spotlight

Wendy Cartmell

Author Genre: Mystery & Thrillers, Horror,Childrens

Author's Blog: Wendy Cartmell
Website: Wendy Cartmell Author of the CRANE Novels
Twitter: @WendyCartmell
Google+: Check Out Google+
Facebook: Check Out Facebook


Next: I’m currently writing the second book in the Judgment series, it’s about suicides in Reading HMYOI. Are suicides just a fact of life in prisons, or is there something or someone more sinister behind them? I’m about half way through so it should be out early in the New Year.

Social media: I think social media is very important when you are just starting out as an author. You need to get your name known and build your author brand. I worked hard on this for the first two years following new people and offering them a free book of short stories as a thank you for following. I also have a Facebook group. I think social media is good for awareness, but is not necessarily a good way of selling books.

Short stories: To be honest I don’t often write short stories, although that’s what I started writing when I was learning my craft. Who’s Afraid Now was written as a give-away for people joining my mailing list, although it is also for sale on Amazon.

Free books: I have always run free promotions since my first novel Steps to Heaven nearly 3 years ago. My publisher also believes in free promotions. I often find a bump in sales of the other books in the series, which is the main reason for doing free promotions. It is another way of getting your book into the hands of readers who don’t know you exist.

Self-publisher: I’m a bit of a hybrid at the moment. I started out self-publishing, doing everything myself with my husband doing my book covers. A year ago I was approached by Endeavour Press who now publish the Sgt Major Crane novels. To be honest I found it very difficult to let go of the controls from a marketing perspective. So with my new series, I should have the best of both worlds

Reviews: I approach various bloggers/review sites, who may or may not do a review. I have a loyal reader base, who read everything I write and always write a review. Otherwise I rely on my reading audience to supply them. I have just started putting a note at the end of my books asking for a quick review if a reader enjoyed it. However, I don’t overtly solicit reviews and have never ever paid for one. I would rather have a handful of genuine reviews than hundreds of paid ones.

Author's Book List
Past Judgment
Hijack
40 Days 40 Nights
Honour Bound
Cordon of Lies
Regenerate
Who's Afraid Now
No Mercy


For the rest of the story...View Wendy Cartmell - HBS Author's Spotlight

Corbin Coltrane

Author Genre: Thriller

Website: Corbin Coltrane
Twitter: @CorbinColtrane
E-Mail: contact@corbincoltrane.com
Google+: Check Out Google+
Facebook: Check Out Facebook


Next: I'm currently working on a spin-off novel based on one of the minor characters in my first book, Entanglement: An International Spy Thriller. In this upcoming novel, Jack Clark is a former FBI agent, turned Private Investigator who has an uncanny knack for profiling the bad guys, partly because he's a medium and has clues passed onto him by his long-deceased brother.

Social media, Twitter in particular, has been a wonderful tool in marketing my book. I quickly built a loyal following by tweeting about the details of my book, alerting people to promotions and upcoming sales, sharing reviews, and by retweeting fellow authors to help them promote their books as well.

Events: I regularly attend ThrillerFest in New York City, where I attend Panels on the craft and sign books with many great writers in the field Like Joseph Finder, Lee Child, Anne Rice, and others.

Covers: I actually have a computer and graphics background and I had a vision in my head of what I wanted my cover to look like. I knew nobody would be able to deliver exactly what I wanted, so I decided to create it myself. I'm very pleased with the result. The images create interest and also foreshadows the content of the book.

Groups: I am a member of the ITW, the International Thriller Writers. They provide a lot of support for new authors and also sponsor ThrillerFest every year. It's a great group to belong to and I have learned so much through them.

Free books: I have run several free promotions and I love doing them. It's a great way to get a lot of people reading your book quickly, which translates into great word of mouth publicity. When I don't run free promotions, I keep my ebook prices low to encourage as many people as possible to read my book.

Self-publisher: I pretty much did everything from beginning to end, with the exception of the final edit. That was a big job and I was too close to the material to be objective…

Time is always a writer's worst enemy. You'll never have enough but that shouldn't stop you from doing what you love. If you are passionate about something, you'll make the time to get it done. Other people will see your passion and help you to achieve your goals.

Author's Book List
Entanglement


For the rest of the story...View Corbin Coltrane - HBS Author's Spotlight

C. J. Peterson

Author Genre: Christian, Fiction

Website: C. J. Peterson Writes
Twitter: @authoress_cj
E-Mail: cjpetersonwrites@yahoo.com
Google+: Check Out Google+
Facebook: Check Out Facebook


Seasons of Change was just released on Thanksgiving Day!

Social media: Twitterville (as I call it) has been a tremendous outlet for me. Social media is not only a crucial way to get out the word of your work, but also allows the reader to get to know the author. When people have an understanding of who the author is, they have a bit more of a vested interest in their work. Word of mouth is a powerful tool.

Covers: I have an awesome cover artist, Todd Engel! He does a phenomenal job every time. I give him a basic description of what the storyline is like, and he uses his creative mind and comes up with the covers. Traditionally, we agree on the first draft with a few tweaks. You can find him online at: http://www.toddengel-engelcreative.com/EngelCreative/Welcome.html.

ebooks: I had the blessing of coming onto the author scene after the ebook had become popular. I am sure it has helped out tremendously, though. It allows me to get the books into the reader’s hands at a more affordable price. To me, as I said before, it’s not the money, it’s getting the inspirational messages into the reader’s hands.

Free Books: This has been an amazing avenue in getting the readers to even know who I am! Without the giveaway, I know for a fact that thousands of people wouldn’t even know who I was. I am grateful for the support of my fellow authors and friends on Twitter and Facebook who helped get the word out, along with my publisher (Booklocker.com) who had some people tweet it, along with putting out some ads regarding it.

Blog: I’m afraid as far as my blog, that gets the least amount of attention from me. Along with the Featured Author page, that is changed out each month. When I post in my actual blog, they tend to be posts that mean something to me. I tend to post only if a thought strikes me, or a new release, or in the last two, it was poetry from my husband’s heart from his time in the military.

Reviews: As far as reviews, some of the early ones are done by people I trust to give an honest review (and trust me, they don’t hold back.) I don’t have control over what they post, as a matter of fact, I tell them to be honest.

Author's Book List
Season of Change
Angels Among Us
Operation A.N.G.E.L.
The Call to Duty


For the rest of the story...View C. J. Peterson - HBS Author's Spotlight

HBS Author's Spotlight Showcase


Claude Bouchard
Featured Book: See You in Saigon

Author Genre: Mystery & Thrillers

Website: Claude Bouchard Books - Crime Thrillers and other Stuff...
Twitter: @ceebee308
E-Mail: claude@claudebouchardbooks.com
Facebook: Check Out Facebook

Author Description:
I was born in Montreal, Canada, at a very young age, where I still live with my spouse, Joanne, under the watchful eye of Krystalle and Midnight, two black females of the feline persuasion. In a former life, I completed my studies at McGill University and worked in various management capacities for a handful of firms for countless years.

From there, considering my extensive background in human resources and finance, it was a logical leap in my career path to stay home and write crime thrillers.

My first stab at writing was actually in 1995, the result being my first novel, "Vigilante". Two others of the same series followed by 1997 but all three remained dormant until publication in 2009. Since, besides writing a stand-alone, six other thrillers have joined the VIGILANTE series. I also penned "Something's Cooking", a faux-erotica parody and cookbook under the pseudonyms Réal E. Hotte and Dasha Sugah. I'm currently working on "See You in Saigon", the tenth installment of my series. I have to say, I'm enjoying this writing gig.

Other interests besides writing and subtly persuading people to buy my books include reading, making noise with my six guitars, painting (oil and watercolour), cooking (year round though I love the grill in the summer), traveling and planning to work out soon. I've also been known to sleep on occasion.

Author's Book List
See You in Saigon
The First Sixteen
Thirteen to None
Femme Fatale
Discreet Activities
ASYLUM
6 Hours 42 Minutes
Mind Games
The Consultant
Vigilante
The Homeless Killer


For the rest of the story...View Claude Bouchard - HBS Author's Spotlight Showcase

Teresa Burrell
Featured Book: Gaspar, the Flatulating Ghost

Author Genre: Mystery & Thrillers, Thriller, Suspense

Author's Blog: Teresa Burrell
Website: Teresa Burrell
Twitter: @teresaburrell
E-Mail: teresa@teresaburrell.com
Google+: Check Out Google+
Facebook: Check Out Facebook

Author Description:
AUTHOR, ATTORNEY, ADVOCATE.

Teresa Burrell has dedicated her life to helping children and their families in both the courtroom and the classroom.

As an attorney in San Diego, Burrell maintained a private law practice for twelve years, which specialized in domestic, criminal, and civil cases. Her work in juvenile court focused on representing abused minors and juvenile delinquents. Burrell has received several awards and special recognition from the San Diego Volunteer Lawyers for her countless hours of pro bono work with children and their families.

Burrell has also enjoyed a satisfying career as a teacher. She has taught children of all ages with diverse backgrounds and special needs. After creating an after-school program that kept kids off the street, she received a community service award.

Now in semi-retirement in California, Burrell continues to educate groups about social issues impacting children and write novels, many of which are inspired by actual legal cases. She is the author of The Advocate Series which now contains five novels: The Advocate, The Advocate's Betrayal, The Advocate's Conviction, The Advocate's Dilemma, and the Advocate's Ex Parte. She is currently working on number six in the series.

Author's Book List
Gaspar, the Flatulating Ghost
The Advocate's Felony
The Advocate's Ex Parte
The Advocate's Dilemma
The Advocate's Conviction
The Advocate's Betrayal
The Advocate


For the rest of the story...View Teresa Burrell - HBS Author's Spotlight Showcase

Dianne Harman
Featured Book: Murder at Jade Cove

Author Genre: Romance and Literary Fiction

Author's Blog: Dianne Harman Author
Website: Dianne Harman Author
Twitter: @DianneDHarman
Facebook: Check Out Facebook

Author Description:
Dianne Harman draws her stories and characters from a diverse business and personal background. She owned a national antique and art appraisal business for many years, leaving that industry and opening two yoga centers where she taught yoga and certified yoga instructors. Dianne has traveled extensively throughout the world, most recently dividing her time between Huntington Beach, California and Sacramento, California, where her husband was a Senator. An avid reader, Dianne brings the richness of her life experiences to her novels, Blue Coyote Motel and Tea Party Teddy.

An Award Winning Bestseller, Blue Coyote Motel was selected as a quarterfinalist in Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Award contest and Goodreads Psychological Thriller of the Month Book.

Her second novel, Tea Party Teddy, is a multicultural romance set against the political background of California. It is the story of Nina, who husband succumbs to the power of his office. Bigoted and biased, the ultimate irony occurs when she becomes romantically involved with the founder of the Republicans for Latinos and in the process, discovers herself.

Author's Book List
Murder at Jade Cove
Kelly's Koffee Shop
COYOTE SERIES
CORNERED COYOTE
Tea Party Teddy's Legacy
Coyote in Provence
Tea Party Teddy
Blue Coyote Motel


For the rest of the story...View Dianne Harman - HBS Author's Spotlight Showcase

Aaron Paul Lazar
Featured Book: Betrayal

Author Genre: Mystery & Thrillers, Literature & Fiction, Young Adult

Author's Blog: Aaron Paul Lazar
Website: Aaron Paul Lazar
Twitter: @aplazar
Facebook: Check Out Facebook

Author Description:
Aaron Paul Lazar wasn't always a mystery writer. It wasn't until eight members of his family and friends died within five years that the urge to write became overwhelming. "When my father died, I lost it. I needed an outlet, and writing provided the kind of solace I couldn't find elsewhere."

Lazar created the Gus LeGarde mystery series, with the founding novel, DOUBLE FORTÉ (2004), a chilling winter mystery set in the Genesee Valley of upstate New York. Like Lazar's father, protagonist Gus LeGarde is a classical music professor. Gus, a grandfather, gardener, chef, and nature lover, plays Chopin etudes to feed his soul and thinks of himself as a "Renaissance man caught in the 21st century." This book has since be rereleased in 2012 as an "author's preferred edition," via Twilight Times Books.

Aaron Paul Lazar writes to soothe his soul. A bestselling Kindle author of 22 books, including three addictive mystery series, writing books, and a new love story, Aaron enjoys the Genesee Valley countryside in upstate New York, where his characters embrace life, play with their dogs and grandkids, grow sumptuous gardens, and chase bad guys. Visit his website at http://www.lazarbooks.com and watch for his upcoming release, UNDER THE ICE. Aaron has won over 18 book awards for his novels and finds writing to be his form of "cheap therapy." Feel free to connect with him on Facebook or his website; he loves to connect with readers!

Author's Book List
Betrayal
Devil's Lake
The Liar's Gallery
Spirit Me Away
Lady Blues: forget-me-not
Don't Let the Wind Catch You
For Keeps


For the rest of the story...View Aaron Paul Lazar - HBS Author's Spotlight Showcase

M.R. Mathias
Featured Book: Blood and Royalty

Author Genre: Fantasy - Magic & Wizards

Author's Blog: M. R. Mathias Connection Hub
Website: M.R. Mathias Fantasy Author
Twitter: @DahgMahn
E-Mail: mrmathiasjr@aol.com
Facebook: Check Out Facebook

Author Description:
M.R. Mathias rose from unknown to award-winning, best-selling author at a pace most authors can only dream about. He is a prolific writer of epic fantasy novels, novellas, and short stories. Despite his busy writing, publishing, and promotional schedule Mathias continues to aid his fellow indie authors by posting about their books at Twitter and Facebook etc.

He shared his considerable knowledge of self-promotion in publishing The First Ten Steps. The book has become an important indie guide for navigating the often murky waters of using social media sites to get your eBook in front of avid readers.

Mathias has taken cross promotion to a new level in his "Indie Kindy" giveaways where he gives away a FREE Kindle Touch and or Kindle Fire loaded with independently published books. These events create a great deal of interest for the authors involved and to independently published books as a whole.

Author's Book List
Blood and Royalty
Dingo the Dragon Slayer
The Fortune's Fortune
One Bad Bitch
Rise of the Dragon King
That Frigid Fargin Witch
Saint Elm’s Deep
Crimzon and Clover
The First Dragoneer
Billy Badass
Killer of Giants
The Emerald Rider
Dragon Isle
Through the Wildwood
The Wizard and the Warlord
The Wrath of Crimzon
The Sword and the Dragon
The Grog
The Butcher's Boy
Kings, Queens, Heroes, & Fools
The First Ten Steps
The Tricky Wizard
The Royal Dragoneers
Orphaned Dragon, Lucky Girl


For the rest of the story...View M.R. Mathias - HBS Author's Spotlight Showcase

HBS Bundles and Co-Authored Showcase


Featured Set: Ten Christmas Brides


Available at Amazon: Ten Christmas Brides

Title: Recipe for Love

Author Genre: Romance - Contemporary

Website: Ruth Cardello
Author's Blog: Bestselling Author Ruth Cardello Presents…
Twitter: @RuthieCardello
E-Mail: minouri@aol.com
Goodreads: Check Out Goodreads
Facebook: Check Out Facebook

Author Description:
Ruth Cardello lives on a small farm in Northern Rhode Island with her husband, three kids, three dogs, two horses, and some assorted chickens. If there is a happier place on Earth, she hasn't found it.

Title: Must Love Santa

Author Genre: Romance, Thriller, Suspense

Website: Bestselling Author Nina Bruhns
Twitter: @NinaBruhns
Goodreads: Check Out Goodreads
Facebook: Check Out Facebook

Author Description:
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Nina Bruhns' adventurous romantic thrillers contain a unique blend of interesting characters and settings, twisty suspense and sizzling romance. To date she has published over 30 award-winning novels.

Aside from hitting #11 on the New York Times Best Seller List, other awards and honors for Ms. Bruhns's books have included two RITA nominations, three Daphne du Maurier Awards for the Year's Best Overall Mystery-Suspense Book, two Romantic Times Reviewer Award for Best Book of the Year for series romance, a National Readers Choice Award, and five Dorothy Parker Awards of Excellence, just to name a few.

Title: An Almost Perfect Christmas

Author Genre: Sweet Romance

Website: Author Donna Fasano, In All Directions
Author's Blog: Awesome Romance Novels
Twitter: @DonnaFaz
Goodreads: Check Out Goodreads
Google+: Check Out Google+
Facebook: Check Out Facebook

Author Description:
Donna Fasano is a three time winner of the HOLT Medallion, a CataRomance Reviewers Choice Award winner for Best Single Title, a Desert Rose Golden Quill Award finalist, and a Golden Heart finalist.

She is a wife, mom, spiritual seeker, blogger, avid reader, foodie, all-around-happy individual. She has two grown sons and lives with her husband on the eastern seaboard of the United States.

She is also known as Donna Clayton. Donna has written over thirty published novels with sales in excess of 3.6 million copies. Many of these novels have gone out-of-print with the rights reverting to her. She is giving them a facelift and republishing them for your favorite eReader.

Title: Christmas Captive

Author Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Romance, Cooking, Food & Wine

Website: Rebecca York - New York Times Best Selling Author
Twitter: @RebeccaYork43
Goodreads: Check Out Goodreads
Facebook: Check Out Facebook

Author Description:
An award-winning, best-selling novelist, Ruth Glick is the author of over 140 books. Writing as Rebecca York, she has authored or co-authored over 90 romantic suspense novels. The first of her Berkley Sensation paranormal romantic suspense novels, KILLING MOON, was published in June 2003; EDGE OF THE MOON followed in August 2003 and WITCHING MOON in October 2003. KILLING MOON and EDGE OF THE MOON were launch books for the Berkley Sensation imprint.

She writes the popular 43 Light Street series for Harlequin Intrigue. Over 30 Light Street Intrigues have been published. NOWHERE MAN was called "one of the most heart-wrenching, moving works of romantic suspense in several years," by reviewer Harriet Klausner.

Ruth's many awards include two Rita finalist books. She has two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times: for Series Romantic Suspense and Series Romantic Mystery. NOWHERE MAN was the Romantic Times Best Intrigue of 1998, and the book has been selected as one of their Reviewers' "all-time favorite 400 romances." In addition, she received the 1998 Affaire de Coeur's Critics Choice Award for Best Contemporary Novel, also for NOWHERE MAN. Ruth's book, KILLING MOON won the 2003 New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Award for best Paranormal. AMANDA'S CHILD won the 2001 Golden Leaf Award for Long Contemporary and was nominated for Best Intrigue of 2000 by Romantic Times. "Tyler" in BAYOU BLOOD BROTHERS won the 2001 Golden Leaf Award for best Novella.

In 2007 THE SECRET NIGHT received the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award for best Harlequin Intrigue. She is is one of only 14 romance novelists to have received the Romance Writers of America Centennial Award for having written over 100 romance novels. Ruth's cookbook, 100% PLEASURE, was picked by USA Today as one of the 12 best cookbooks of 1994; her FABULOUS LO-CARB CUISINE was a finalist for the MidAtlantic Publishers Association's Excellence in Independent Publishing Award.

Several of Ruth's Moon books (WITCHING MOON, SHADOW OF THE MOON, and NEW MOON) have been on the USA Today best-seller list.

Ruth and her husband travel frequently to research settings for novels and taste new dishes for cookbooks. Her many unique experiences are apt to end up in her books--like the time she encountered a coral snake in the Guatemalan jungle or took a flight in a hot air balloon.

Title: The Army Doctor’s Honeymoon Baby

Author Genre: Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Young Adult

Website: Helen Scott Taylor
Author's Blog: Helen Scott Taylor
Twitter: @helenscotttaylo
Goodreads: Check Out Goodreads
Facebook: Check Out Facebook

Author Description:
USA Today bestselling author, Helen Scott Taylor, had her first book released in 2009. The Magic Knot, won the American Title contest, was a Golden Heart® finalist, and was chosen as one of Booklist's top ten romances of 2009. Since then, she has published other novels, novellas, and short stories in both the UK and USA. Her published works have been finalists in a number of contests including the Holt Medallion, the Lories, the Prism Contest, the Write Touch Award and the Maggies.

Helen lives in South West England near Plymouth in Devon between the windswept expanse of Dartmoor and the rocky Atlantic coast. As well as her wonderful long-suffering husband, she shares her home with a Westie and an aristocratic chocolate-shaded-silver-burmilla cat who rules the household with a velvet paw. She believes that deep within everyone there's a little magic.

Title: Kiss Me Santa

Author Genre: Romance

Website: Escape into Romance with Patrice Wilton
Twitter: @PatriceWilton
E-Mail: patricewilt@yahoo.com
Goodreads: Check Out Goodreads
Facebook: Check Out Facebook

Author Description:
Patrice Wilton was born in Vancouver, Canada, and knew from the age of twelve that she wanted to be a writer. She became a flight attendent for 17 years, then moved to Australia, and England, before settling in West Palm Beach, Florida. She is a USA Today best selling author of more than twenty books, including her successful romantic comedy, "Candy Bar series", and Serendipity Falls series, and returning war heroes, published by Amazon Montlake.

When she's not writing, you might find her on the tennis court, or hitting golf balls with her PGA pro husband.

Title: An Unusual Christmas

Author Genre: Romance

Website: Mona Risk
Author's Blog: Mona's Blog
Twitter: @MonaRiskS
E-Mail: mona@monarisk.com
Goodreads: Check Out Goodreads
Facebook: Check Out Facebook

Author Description:
USA Today Bestselling Author, Mona Risk, recently received an Outstanding Achiever Award from Affaire de Coeur Magazine. She's a two time winner of Best Contemporary Romance of the Year from Readers Favorite; a winner of Best Romance Novel of the Year from Preditors & Editors Readers Poll; and an EPIC Award finalist. Mona Risk's name has often been posted on the Amazon.com 100 Most Popular Authors in Romance list, and her books have garnered: Top Pick, Outstanding Read, Sweetheart of the Week, and Best Book of the Week from various reviewers, and received two mentions in Publisher's Weekly.

Mona lives in South Florida and has traveled to more than eighty countries on business or vacation. She writes contemporary romances, medical romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal fantasy. Sprinkled with a good dose of humor, her stories are set in the fascinating places she visited or more simply at home.

If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy her international romances. Meet the spirited heroines and special heroes who share irresistible chemistry in stories that simmer with emotion.

Title: A Cowboy for Christmas

Author Genre: Romance

Author's Blog: Dear Helen Hartman
E-Mail: dearhelenhartman@gmail.com
Goodreads: Check Out Goodreads
Facebook: Check Out Facebook

Author Description:
Award winning author, Annie Jones specializes in character driven stories that make you laugh and warm your heart. She lives in Kentucky countryside with her husband, her children, three dogs and two cats... at least that was the last count but you never know when another kitty may show up.

Find out what she's up to by following Annie Jones-author on Facebook and keep up with goings on in Persuasion at The Christmas Sisters also on Facebook.

Title: The Christmas Honeymoon

Author Genre: Romance, Mystery & Thrillers, Historical Fiction

Website: Alicia Street - Roy Street
Author's Blog: Alicia Street - Roy Street
Twitter: @AliciaStreet1
E-Mail: AliciaAndRoyStreet@gmail.com
Goodreads: Check Out Goodreads
Facebook: Check Out Facebook

Author Description:
Alicia Street is a USA TODAY bestselling author and Daphne Award-winner often writing in collaboration with her husband, Roy, as well as on solo projects. She spent many years as a dancer, choreographer and teacher. A compulsive reader of every genre, she also loves watching old black-and-white movies and inventing new recipes for soups.

Title: She’s Not You

Author Genre: Romance, Paranormal, Suspense

Website: Mimi Barbour Believe
Author's Blog: Mimi Barbour Believe
Twitter: @MimiBarbour
E-Mail: mimibarbour66@gmail.com
Goodreads: Check Out Goodreads
Facebook: Check Out Facebook

Author Description:
Mimi's been heard to say: "I'm an author who loves to read uplifting stories about romance. Add in some time travel, or maybe an angel, or even a little romantic suspense and it makes the story more fascinating because of the incredible possibilities."

Mimi is an Amazon best-selling author who's sold over 500,000 copies of her books world-wide. Her five romance series: The Vicarage Bench/ time travel at it's best, Angels with Attitudes / angels love romance, Vegas / fast-paced plotting, Elvis / make a song a book and her newest, Undercover FBI / with sizzling conflicts and lots of humor.



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