Diane Burton - An Author Interview in the HBS Author's Spotlight

Today our blog puts the Spotlight on Author Diane Burton. She is a Science Fiction Romance, Romantic Suspense, Mysteries author. Diane is the creator of the Switched and the An Outer Rim series.

Author Genre: Science Fiction Romance, Romantic Suspense, Mysteries

Website: Diane Burton ~ Author
Author's Blog: Diane Burton - Adventure and Romance . . . in this world and beyond
Blog: Diane Burton
Twitter: @dmburton72
E-Mail: dmburton72@gmail.com
Goodreads: Check Out Goodreads
Google+: Check Out Google+
Facebook: Check Out Facebook

Amazon Author Profile


Author Description:
Diane Burton combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction and romance into writing romantic fiction. Besides the science fiction romance Switched and Outer Rim series, she is the author of One Red Shoe, a romantic suspense, and The Case of the Bygone Brother, a PI mystery. She is also a contributor to the anthology How I Met My Husband. Diane and her husband live in Michigan. They have two children and three grandchildren.


SPOTLIGHT Questions and Answers with the Author

Congratulations on your book: The Protector. What do you have on the drawing board next? Can you tell us the timeline for its release and give us a little tease?

Next up is another Alex O'Hara cozy PI mystery, The Case of the Fabulous Fiance. I try to alternate releasing my Outer Rim novels (sci-fi romance, like The Protector) and life in a small Lake Michigan resort town (Alex O'Hara novels).

Here's the tease:

I read somewhere that men think about sex ninety-four percent of the time, maybe more. Women were more evolved and thought about other things. Around Nick Palzetti, my evolution took a nose dive. I remembered how good things had been between us. Not my doing, of course. When it came to lovemaking, he was the pro. I still had amateur status. And if I didn’t watch my step, I’d make a fool of myself again.

“Why are you back, Nick? Did you really think I would fall into your arms?” As if I hadn’t done just that.

He perched on the corner of my desk, again, then swung his foot in a lazy manner. “I’d hoped so.”

“Why? I’m not some bimbo you can jump into bed with and then say ‘I’ll be right back.’ Right back does not mean no word for over two frelling months.”

I’d just done a “Farscape” marathon, for the third time, so frelling was my word of choice when I really wanted to say the other F-word.

His foot stopped swinging. Every muscle in his body tightened. The effect was fascinating and a little scary. His lips, which had been soft and caressing moments ago, thinned. His face became all sharp edges.

“What do you mean no word?” he asked in a voice that was too soft. Like I said, a little scary.

The Case of the Fabulous Fiance will be released in October. Next spring, I'll have another Outer Rim novel, The Spy.

You have a good following on twitter. Since you started before the social media buzz, what impact has social media relationships had on your current success? How did you build your following in your niche? How much has it changed your book launch process?

I've met so many interesting people--readers and authors alike. Since I believe in "do unto others as you wish them to do undo you" I follow/friend/promote other authors and they do the same to me. I ask for help and so many generous people are there to help launch a new book.

Do you do any book signings, interviews, speaking and personal appearances? If so, when and where is the next place where your readers can see you? Where can they keep up with your personal contacts online?

Actually, I'm doing a book signing this afternoon (Sept. 17th). The Saranac (Michigan) Library hosts authors at the town's annual "Ladies Night Out." This will be my 3rd time there. In April 2016, I'll go back for a speaking engagement. Readers can find all my online contacts at either my website www.dianeburton.com or on my blog http://dianeburton.blogspot.com.


You have great covers. They carry a theme and your brand with them. How does your book cover creation process work? Do you hand over the basic theme or do you have more of a hands-on approach? Do you get your readers involved in its development?

Florence Price from The Novel Difference has done the covers of my last three books.She also did the cover for my upcoming novel The Case of the Fabulous Fiance. I tell Florence the basic idea of the story and my idea of what I want for a cover. We have a back & forth conversation and then she works her magic.

What writer support groups do you belong to? Do they help with the writing, marketing and the publishing process?

Romance Writers of America, Mid-Michigan RWA, Fantasy, Futuristic, & Paranormal RWA, Kiss of Death RWA, Savvy Authors, Insecure Writers Support Group, Marketing For Romance Writers, Authors Helping Authors, a critique group, and a critique partner. Whew. Until I wrote them all out, I didn't realize the number of groups. Other than the Mid-Michigan RWA chapter (which meets in person monthly), the groups are all online. I've learned so much from each and, of course, made many friends. My critique group & partner help with the writing process. Most of the other groups help with marketing.

What has been your experience in giving your books away free? Have you been involved in any other type of giveaways and how did that work out? What was your main goal in doing this? Did you run into any obstacles?

I get new readers who then (hopefully) share with others and buy my other books. I've given away Amazon gift cards that some people use to buy my book(s). My main goal is reader awareness.

You have just completed a book tour with Novel Book Tours sponsored by Florence Price. What was this experience like? Have you done other book tours? How did you prepare for the event? Did you have a giveaway and was it a success?

Florence is so easy to work with. She has a great "stable" of reader/author blogs who are wiling to be stops on the tours (my blog been a stop on other author's tours). I did two back-to-back week-long tours--one for The Protector and one for The Case of the Bygone Brother (the first Alex O'Hara novel). I received fabulous reviews along with connecting with new bloggers and their audiences. In the past, I set up tours on my own. I like the ease of working with Florence, but the tours were a little intense. To prepare, I wrote several posts on varying aspects of my books. I offered Amazon or B&N gift cards for each tour. Success is a nebulous concept. I didn't sell as many books as I'd hoped, but I gained a lot of followers.

Do you maintain a reader list? What are the methods you use to find your readers and create the list and the relationship? Do you use social media, forums, newsletters and/or support groups to build your list?

I have a newsletter, actually a New Release Alert. Like all social media, growth is slow. I'm very pleased with the number of followers and love hearing their reactions to my stories.

You have a great blog. You do a great job keeping readers informed, marketing your books, helping other writers gain exposure and providing useful information to other writers. What is your primary goal? And where in the world do you find the time to create great novels, take care of the social media and maintain your blog?

Thanks, James. My goal is sharing--ideas, new books, new authors. The wonderful guests my blog are so willing to have me guest on their blogs. Time management is tough. I have a very supportive husband who understands when I need quiet time to write. Since we're both retired from outside jobs, my time is flexible. I write in the mornings when I'm fresh and do social media, email, etc. later in the day. The only thing that really stops me from writing and networking is a visit from my grandkiddies.

What is your method of getting reviews for your novels? Do you seek professional reviews, use social media or do you rely on your reading audience to supply them?

Other than from Novel Blog Tours, I've depended on the generosity of readers to post reviews. One of my goals is to actively seek reviews for future books.

Thank you so much, James, for having me on your blog today.



Author's Book List
The Protector - An Outer Rim Novel
After tavern owner Rissa Dix rescues two girls from a slave ship, she must rally the townsfolk to prevent traffickers from raiding the frontier colony. She’s met with apathy and disbelief. Because she lost her own baby to traffickers, she’s determined that no other mother will suffer the same heartache. Industrialist heir Dillan Rusteran aids her in rescuing more children. Little do they know they’re about to tangle with a trafficking ring that puts Rissa in danger. Dillan’s loved her for years despite her claim she’s too old for him. As they fight the traffickers, will she finally see him in a new light?


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Amazon
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KOBO


The Case of the Bygone Brother - An Alex O'Hara Novel
Alex O’Hara finally gets a case that will give her bottom line a much needed boost. She might even be able to change her diet from ramen noodles to prime rib. All she has to do is track down a man who’s been missing for over ten years. Piece of cake . . . until an old flame arrives and a mugger roughs her up with orders to back off.


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Amazon
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KOBO


The Chameleon - An Outer Rim Novel: Book 2
Legally Blond meets Mata Hari

Socialite Jileena Winslott has perfected the image of the spoiled, rich, bubble-headed daughter of an industrial magnate. In reality, she’s a smart, savvy aide to her father in social situations where she is his eyes and ears. She yearns to be her true self and run the family business. When her father sends her on a covert mission to the Outer Rim, she has the chance to prove herself. Big problem. He insists she take along a fake fiancé—the man she’s secretly loved for years.

Security Officer Laning Servary has better things to do than babysit a spoiled rich girl on a tour of the Frontier. If he refuses, he can kiss his career good-by. Then Jileena’s father sweetens the pot. If Laning keeps her safe, his family will receive the land they share-crop. He can’t refuse.

In the close quarters of her ship, Laning and Jileena discover they aren’t who they seem. Pirates, weather, and her recklessness threaten to derail the mission. As Laning and Jileena revise their impressions of each other, they’ll have to make hard choices about their goals. Can their budding love survive?


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KOBO


One Red Shoe
Daria Mason's life is too predictable. Nothing ever happens in her small Iowa town where everybody knows everybody else. But when she travels to New York City looking for a little excitement, she never expects to bring home a wounded spy.

From the moment agent Sam Jozwiak steals intel vital to US security from a Russian Mafia kingpin, Murphy's Law takes over. No matter how he covers his tracks, the kingpin's assassins find him. What's worse than getting shot in the butt? Accepting help from an Iowa tourist.

Sam and Daria flee cross country with the assassins right behind them. Sharing danger and excitement--and a few kisses--with Sam soon has Daria convinced he's the man for her. He thinks she'll be better off once he's out of her life for good. With their lives on the line, can she convince him they belong together?


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Amazon
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KOBO


Switched Resolution
Actions have consequences as Space Fleet Captain Marcus Viator and NASA reject Scott Cherella discover when they switched places. Does the reserved Marcus have what it takes to imitate his smart-aleck twin? Despite help from his love, Veronese, Scott’s already been outed by two of Marcus’ best friends.

When rebels steal the ship with part of the crew aboard, Scott has to rescue them and retrieve the Freedom. The stakes increase when he discovers the rebels are heading for Earth. They know he’s a fraud and they want Marcus. The safety of the Alliance of Planets depend on Scott and his allies—Veronese and Marcus’ friends.

Switched Resolution, which wraps up the Switched series, takes the reader from Earth—where Marcus adjusts to a pregnant Jessie—to the starship Freedom commandeered by rebels, to the chase ship with Scott and Veronese aboard.


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KOBO


The Pilot - An Outer Rim Novel: Book 1
There's no place like home and he stole hers.

Forced to use her starship as collateral to replace stolen cargo, pilot Celara d’Enfaden risks losing everything if she fails to deliver the goods. Her ship is the home she never had as a child.

Determined to bring order to the frontier, rule-bound official Trevarr Jovano refuses to tolerate those who disrespect the law. So when an indie pilot refuses to obey, he seizes her ship and cargo.

The only thing Celara cares about more than her ship is her brother. To rescue him from the clutches of a galactic gangster, she’ll even join forces with Trevarr who is bent on avenging his wife’s murder.


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KOBO


Switched, Too
Be careful what you wish for . . . you might get it.

Down-sized astronaut candidate Scott Cherella leaps at the chance to go into space. He just has to pretend to be the captain of an Alliance of Planets starship. His lifelong dream quickly becomes a nightmare when sabotage erupts. To save the ship and crew he has to depend on an uptight, disapproving colleague.

The only time Veronese Qilana broke the rules, tragedy resulted. She vowed never again. Now, to protect the real starship captain, she'll have to deceive the crew by helping the imposter. They must work together to uncover a saboteur and get the crew safely home. In doing so, they discover opposites really do attract.


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KOBO


Switched
As if being kidnapped by aliens isn't bad enough, Jessie Wyndom discovers they grabbed her by mistake. She wise cracks past her fear especially when she learns she was part of an experiment separating Terran twins before birth. Her twin just took Jessie's place back in Ann Arbor, Michigan while she gets to twiddle her thumbs on an Alliance of Planets starship. The only good part is the hunky captain. Except. He's so unemotional he could be Mr. Spock's double.

Captain Marcus Viator's well-organized life is turned upside down by the free-spirited female from Earth. Problems with the starship prevent him from returning her to her home. Together, they discover treachery and true love.


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KOBO


Author Recommended by: Novel Book Tours and Florence Price and
HBSystems Publications and James Moushon
Publisher of ebooks, writing industry blogger and the sponsor of the following blogs:
eBook Author’s Corner and
HBS Mystery Reader’s Circle

Regina Morris - An Author Interview in the HBS Author's Spotlight

Today our blog puts the Spotlight on Award winning Author Regina Morris. She writes suspenseful paranormal romances novels including the A COLONY Series.

Author Genre: Fiction, Romance, Paranormal

Website: Author Regina Morris
Author's Blog: Author Regina Morris
Twitter: @ReginaMorris
Goodreads: Check Out Goodreads
Google+: Check Out Google+
Facebook: Check Out Facebook

Amazon Author Profile


Author Description:
Regina Morris is an award winning author who writes the sensual paranormal romances that make up the Colony series. Her books are suspenseful romances about Vampires that are light-hearted in nature - not dark, horrific or gory. She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and two children. She is active in critique meet-ups and local writing groups. She has lived in many different parts of the world. She graduated from high school in Germany and received her degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She loved the town, married her college sweetheart, and stayed in Austin to have a career and family. After years of working in the software industry she discovered that writing was in her blood and had to take pen to paper!


SPOTLIGHT Questions and Answers with the Author

Congratulations on your book: Reliant Service. What do you have on the drawing board next? Can you tell us the timeline for its release and give us a little tease?

I have a few projects in the works. 1) "Eternal Service" will be available in audio format in November. 2) A COLONY collection of the first three books will be available by December. 3) An alternate time travel novel (not in the COLONY series) will come out spring of 2016. A Vampire in Paris novellla will come out summer of 2016. 4) A COLONY Christmas novel will be out December 2016.

You have a good following on twitter. How important have your social media relationships been? How did you build your following in your niche? Do you see a carry over to your writing success?

I love Twitter. I follow bloggers in my genre and I like to post about freebies, other author's information, information about the craft or writing, and a lot of other great pieces of information. The secret to successfully tweeting is to give 90% information and only 10% self-promotion for your books. I connect with a lot of readers this way.

Do you do any book signings, interviews, speaking and personal appearances? If so, when and where is the next place where your readers can see you? Where can they keep up with your personal contacts online?

Joining my newsletter is the best way of knowing where I am and what my next project is. You can sign up at http://newsletter.reginamorris.com. I'm scheduled to do a signing in San Antonio in February 2016 and a signing in Dallas in August 2016.

You have great covers. They carry a theme and your brand with them. How does your book cover creation process work? Do you hand over the basic theme or do you have more of a hands-on approach? Do you get your readers involved in its development?

Thanks! I do my own covers. The feedback I receive from my readers is that they like the White House with the couple on the cover, so each book will have that theme.

You have several great book trailers. (See links below.) They look very professional. Do you know how much impact they have had on your book’s success? Tell us about the process that you used to create your trailers?

I used animoto.com to create them. Overall I haven't connected with a lot of readers through my videos but people have told me that they are nice.

What has been your experience in giving your books away free? Have you been involved in any other type of giveaways and how did that work out? What was your main goal in doing this? Did you run into any obstacles?

I'm always giving away an ebook, a marketing paperback book, or something. My newsletter will have more information, but in general I am involved with at least one giveaway a month. My first novel is free, as is my marketing book "Power of Four" which is the first four chapters of the first for books. Giving away one book for free when there are four others in the series is working very well for me in terms of sales.

What has been your experience with book tours? Did they contribute to the increase of your book sales?

Yes and no. If you have the time to do your own book tour or to sign up with one that has a proven track record, you'll do well. If you're in a pinch and sign up with a company that no one has recommended to you, you might not see the results you want.

Do you maintain a reader list? What are the methods you use to find your readers and create the list and the relationship? Do you use social media, forums, newsletters and/or support groups to build your list?

I have a huge following on my Facebook fan page (https://www.facebook.com/ReginaAnnMorris)
and my newsletter (http://newsletter.reginamorris.com).


You have a great blog. You do a great job keeping readers informed and marketing your books. What is your primary goal? And where in the world do you find the time to create great novels, take care of the social media and maintain your blog?

I gave up sleeping a long time ago. My passion is writing and every spare minute I have I'm always trying to advance my next novel forward. I take a lot of writing classes too to keep on top of what readers are looking for in their novels.

I see you’re going to the Texas Book Festival in October. A book festival is a unique selling situation. How do you prepare for the festival? What goals do you have?

Unfortunately I have to cancel on the Texas Book Festival this year. My niece is getting married that weekend and I won't be in Austin for the book festival. Typically for any signing I order books ahead of time, make sure my phone is charged so I can take orders, and I arrive early to meet with the other authors and editors who are attending the events.



Author's Book List
Reliant Service - COLONY Vampires Book 5
Sexy, hot vamps protect the President in this sensual vampire romance!

Vampires exist among us. They can be your neighbor, your best friend, a teacher for your child, etc.

They alter their aged appearance based upon the amount of blood they consume. They move to a new area, drink a lot of blood, and appear young. Slowly they limit their intake of blood and age, right in front of our unsuspecting eyes. After decades, they fake their death, move, and do it over and over again.

Most live quiet lives in an effort to blend in. Some however want power and control.

The COLONY is an elite group of vampires sworn to protect the President of the United States from these rogue vampires.

After faking his death from an assassination attempt on the President, and retiring his first and only alias with the COLONY, Daniel Brighton discovers the mandatory sabbatical to be less than exciting. He chooses to do a favor and act as a security guard for a fading pop-singer, Lori Austin, whose career is winding down. He travels across Europe with her and discovers her past to be one of deception and intrigue with a history leading directly back to the Colony itself.

Lori Austin is struggling to keep her career alive, and is willing to do what is necessary to save it. From bad press and scandalous stories, she travels across Europe on a relief tour to revitalize her career but doesn't realize she is traveling with a vampire. Discovering a hidden family secret, she realizes that the one man who can save her is the handsome security guard she fought so hard not to hire.


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iTunes


William's Tale - COLONY Vampires Book 4
While guarding the President at a school event, a vampire COLONY agent, William, meets the woman of his dreams - a human woman who is a teacher at the school. First impressions being what they are, he finds her sexy and opinionated - unfortunately, her dance card appears to be full and he's unsure how to woo her when he can't even take her out to dinner, without her being the meal.

Jackie discovers a hidden agenda in the President's school visit and believes William to be a mockery of the American dream of equality for all. Can a past Freedom Rider and racial activist form the 1960s, now turned vampire, prove to the love of his life that he's not a political puppet?


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Enduring Service - COLONY Vampires Book 3
Colony Agent Sulie Metcalf, the President’s private physician, has been in love with the same human man for nearly thirty years. She refuses to allow herself the joy of true love because her feelings are unrequited by her human boss, Jonathan Dixon. As Dixon’s retirement looms near, and his memories of Sulie and the last thirty years of his life are about to be erased, does she confront her fear of intimacy and take a leap of faith before it’s too late? Dixon has decided to retire and enjoy what time he has left. When his best friend Sulie, a vampire team member, is kidnapped during a medical emergency, Dixon realizes that retirement means giving up everything, and everyone, he’s known for the last three decades. Will he risk his life, and his heart, to save her?


Book Trailer: Enduring Service

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iTunes


United Service - COLONY Vampires Book 2
Sterling, a half-breed vampire, is the weakest link in the chain for his team, and he knows it.

He has a unique ability to glean information from inanimate objects, and his life is like CSI meets the West Wing, where key positions are held by vampires. Vampires can alter their age based on the amount of blood they consume, which should allow Sterling to blend into human society. However, his ability has painful side effects that cause him to live a lonely life down in the evidence room at FBI headquarters. He's a lonely bad-boy looking for love in all the wrong places.

His current case involves the kidnapping of vampire children by a religious cult who is trying to save them. Sterling snatches the opportunity to do some field work by teaming up with a purebred vampire, Kate, who is the nanny of one of the missing children. Sterling's world is turned upside down by Kate. She is everything Sterling could hope for in a mate and he wonders if she'd ever consider loving a half-breed.

Kate is beautiful, intelligent, charming and sophisticated. Kate has led a sheltered life and is considered handicapped by vampire standards. Could she possibly trust Sterling enough to share her dark personal secret with him? Together, can they save the kidnapped children and find true love for themselves?


Book Trailer: United Service

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KOBO
iTunes


Eternal Service - COLONY Vampires Book 1
When Raymond Metcalf, vampire coven master of the Colony, teams up with a federal operative of the human female persuasion-who has no idea that vampires even exist-will his mission or his heart be compromised first?

Career military woman, Alex Brennan, is being offered the promotion of a lifetime and with it a romance that she has desperately been seeking. Does she dare accept the position as Director of the COLONY, an elite group of deadly creatures of the night and risk a dangerous romance with a man who is not even human?

Together, can they save the President?


Book Trailer: Eternal Service

Order the Book From:
Amazon
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iTunes


Author Recommended by: HBSystems Publications
Publisher of ebooks, writing industry blogger and the sponsor of the following blogs:
eBook Author’s Corner and
HBS Mystery Reader’s Circle