Author Spotlight ~ Celebrating Rogenna Brewer

Celebrate with Rogenna Brewer, more than half a million books in print!

Take it away, Rogenna...
And she's offering a drawing...see end of post for details. It's limited time so act now:) 

Happy Spring! Happy, happy...birthday Toad!

If you've been following my blog these past two weeks you know it was 20 Years ago, April 5th 1995, that The Frogman, Prince was born, a thirty-three year-old Navy SEAL. One of my many quirks is to give one character the book's start date as a birthday....

While Lieutenant Thaddeus Miles Prince, aka Tad or The Toad is forever young, it's been awhile since I could pull off thirty-something. Not saying I'm going anywhere. I'd like to think I have several more books in me, but I'm tried of putting this one off.

There are reasons why I couldn't publish this book before now, but again...tired of making excuses.

So without further ado...

The Frogman, Prince

Preorder Amazon: Available April 5th 2015

Release Date: July: Available 4th 2015

A princess, a toad and a curse…

Kissing a toad wasn’t on her agenda. 

Ship’s Captain Lily Chapel is running out of time. Desperate to save her family’s ocean salvage business, Lily risks everything to carry on her late father’s search for the legendary—some say mythical—treasure of the infamous pirate ship, The Golden Curse. The last thing she needs is a scarred frogman commandeering her vessel for his mission. 

Rescuing a princess wasn’t part of his plan. 

Get in, get out and no one gets hurt—a simple credo that’s served Lieutenant Tad “The Toad” Prince well…until he meets Lily Chapel. Right from the start his mission was personal. In exchange for information regarding stolen warheads, Prince has promised to absolve his old mentor’s daughter—provided she’s innocent. And if she’s not?  

Can the daughter of a notorious smuggler—a smuggler in her own right—and a hardened Navy SEAL trust each other long enough to uncover a four hundred year old shipwreck and recover missing cold war missiles in the process?

The Preorder price is only $2.99 at Amazon

About Rogenna Brewer:  In my life I've been a rebel, a sailor, a petty officer and an author. Served in the United States Navy in such exotic locals as Midway Island and The Pentagon. Married a Nuke. Kaboom! And have three sons as a result.

I write happily ever afters about men and women in uniform.

Find Rogenna:  Twitter | Facebook | Website | Newsletter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Take Five and Meet Author Jill James

Today we welcome Jill James and get to hear about her Zombie Book 

that is also a romance. Can't wait to hear how she does it.

Welcome to An Indie Adventure, Jill.  Tell us, what inspired you to write your book Love in the Time of Zombies?

Thanks for having me as your guest today, L.A.

 I’ve always enjoyed zombie movies. Somehow the idea of surviving the end of the world as we know it is empowering. Then I found a book online with terrible reviews because the author dared to have sex in a zombie apocalypse book and the main character was a woman! I had to read that book. Rhiannon Frater sucked me into her world of zombies, tough women, and survival at all costs. I knew I wanted to write a book that was as much a romance novel as it was a zombie book.

How do you use setting to further your story?

Love in the Time of Zombies is set in my hometown of Brentwood, California. I wanted to show a town that was just bouncing back after the Great Recession and didn’t get a chance because the apocalypse happened. We sit in a valley, surrounded by dry hills in the summer, golden brown in color, just waited for a match to set the whole area on fire. When I started the story my town was in the midst of getting many improvements to roads and stores, so I left the town half-repaired for the course of the tale. In a zombie apocalypse our world would remain frozen in a state of perpetual undoneness. 

How do you construct your characters?

My characters come to me in dreams. Like a movie in my head, the story plays out and I write it down. Emily Gray came to me as an uber-rich city girl who discovers herself when the zombies rose.  Her voice just echoed in my head, “The zombies took my mother and my father. They took my husband, Carl, too. Not that he was any great loss.” I had to know why her husband wasn’t a great loss. LOL

How is your main character completely different than you?

Emily is definitely a much better shot than me. And she definitely would survive the zombie apocalypse way longer than me. She is who I would want to be, who I would hope to be if push came to shove in the end of the world.

Tell us something about yourself we might not expect!

I started my working career as an accountant. Don’t know what I was thinking. hahahaha I was so glad to put that behind me and to be able to tell stories for a living.

Give us a brief summary of Love in the Time of Zombies: 

Emily Gray goes from pampered trophy wife to the ultimate survivor of the zombie apocalypse. Seth Ripley is a man of simple needs; a job, a roof, his mother’s safety. When the dead rise, the living have to fight for every daily need. In this turmoil survival should be enough, but what is survival without love?

Buy Links:

ARe | Amazon  | B&N | Google Books | iTunes | Kobo

Bio:

Jill James didn’t start out wanting to be a writer. She wanted to be an astronaut, president of the United States, a doctor, and a lawyer. Life happened and along the way she discovered she could be all those things, between the pages of the books she wrote.

She lives in Northern California with her husband who is the inspiration behind all her romance novel heroes. 

Find Jill:

Twitter | Facebook | Email |  Website 

Take Five and Meet Teen Books Author Donna Maloy

It's exciting to bring you a "Teen" books author.  I know I loved reading adventure books when I was a teen. Nancy Drew and all. That's one reason I write adventure stories today.

So read on and see what Donna has to say about writing, adventure and Teen books.

Welcome to An Indie Adventure, Donna.  Tell us, what inspired you to write CELIA AND THE WOLF?

Hi L.A. thanks for hosting me today.

Hatred of those who are “different” is as old as time. Long before Adolf Hitler began purging unwanted Jews, Catholics, artists and intellectuals from Germany, Napoleon Bonaparte made it illegal to be different in France. His ire was directed against Gypsies, Jews, and other minorities. My story takes place during Napoleon’s reign and features two extremely “different” main characters with entirely opposite attitudes toward their uniqueness. Celia is proud to be a shapeshifter, even though keeping her gift secret means she’s lonely most of the time; Remy is ashamed of being a werewolf and sad that he must keep his Gypsy heritage hidden. 

And then there’s Radilu—whose unique gift makes friendship very difficult.

I also wanted to write an adventure story, like the ones I read as a young teen, that had a powerful but flawed female protagonist. So many adventure books seem to assume that only boys are interested in reading about thrilling escapades, dangerous missions, and heart-stopping confrontations with larger-than-life villains. I believe girls like those books, too. (And they sure are fun to write.)

Have you been a lifelong reader of books for teens?  What are some the first teen books you remember reading?

Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, of course, along with The Westing Game. Also books by Andre Norton, Madeleine L’Engle and C. S. Lewis. At some point I moved on to books for adults but Harry Potter and Percy Jackson brought me happily back to teen reads (where I’m going to stay!).

What do you do to rev your creative juices?

Read a really good book or go to a great movie with outstanding computer graphics. Sometimes I go to an online art gallery.

What would be your advice to people who are considering a writing career?

Do it! I love working with new writers. My blog, Tangled Words, is full of help for beginning writers, including a popular semi-regular column: Monday Tips from Agents and Editors. I also have a special page on my website of Tips for Teen Writers, with news about contests, markets, workshops, etc.

You’re having a dinner party.  What character from your novel do you hope doesn’t show up?     Why?

My villain, The Guardian of La Cluse, is a truly disturbed and disturbing person. He would be a definite buzzkill at any party. I can’t really tell you why – that would be a spoiler!

Of course, having Radilu show up could present problems, too. She loves to lurk (and probably eavesdrop) in secret—and you’d never even know she was there.

Give us a brief summary of CELIA AND THE WOLF:

The year is 1806. Fourteen-year-old Celia Ashleigh is impatient to become a Deputy of the Crown, like all the other shapeshifting firstborn Ashleighs. When a very handsome French boy asks for her father’s help in rescuing his abducted sister, she doesn’t tell him her father’s away–she takes the mission herself. 

But Remy Broussard hadn’t told her he and his sister are werewolves, nor that they’re being hunted by the dangerous Guardian of La Cluse. The Guardian’s plan is to have frightened villagers kill Remy’s little sister on the night Lilette “changes” for the first time.

 When a gypsy girl (who can turn invisible) joins Celia and Remy, Celia realizes that, for the first time, she has friends who are “gifted” just like her. But despite her enthusiasm and good intentions, and their help, she makes several crucial mistakes that jeopardize both her mission and Remy’s family.

As she comes closer to finding Lilette, Celia realizes The Guardian is actually insane with hatred… and his hatred extends to anyone who is not completely human. Like Celia.

Buy Links:

Amazon (Print and Kindle) 

Barnes & Noble (print only at this time) 

Book A Million (print only at this time)

Indie Bound (print only at this time)

Powells (print only at this time)

Nook, Kobo and iBooks versions coming soon

Bio:

Donna Maloy lives on the Texas Gulf Coast. CELIA AND THE WOLF is her first book for

teens. She’s also written more than twenty-five plays for elementary and middle schools. Every weekday, Donna spends between four and six hours writing with a group of Starbucks Irregulars.

She loves ethnic foods, shopping, watching great movies, making jewelry, exploring new gadgets, playing with new software and computer graphics, and other geeky things (like watching The Big Bang Theory and trying out Google Glass). She drives a cool Mazda 6 she calls the Silver Shark.

Find Donna:

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest  | LinkedIn

How to Be an Insanely Great Indie Author: Randy Ingermanson, Recap by Candee Fick

Just Waiting To Be Discovered--A Mind Exploding Experience 

How did you find the last book you read? Through a friend’s recommendation? A best-sellers list? A sale promotion? On social media or an author’s newsletter? Or while browsing at the library or a bookstore? Somewhere and somehow, you discovered the book you never would have read or even known existed. Therefore, for both avid readers and authors, discoverability is the key. After all, one can’t read (or buy) a book they don’t know about.

Last September, I was in St. Louis for the American Christian Fiction Writers conference and had the mind-exploding experience of attending the “How to Be an Insanely Great Indie Author” workshop led by Randy Ingermanson (a physicist, creator of “The Snowflake Method” of brainstorming novels, and the author of Writing Fiction For Dummies and many self-proclaimed “geeky suspense” novels).

In the workshop, Randy defined insanely great as having a period of exponential growth in revenue and unit movement that eventually plateaus at a higher level than before. Being a scientist, he arrived with all sorts of graphs, statistical analysis, and even an equation:

Success = Size of Target Audience x Quality x Production x Discoverability

In essence, an author’s rank and success improves with small changes that add up. Write for a larger target audience. Increase the quality of each book in the eyes of that target audience. Increase production so the author has more books published. And increase discoverability by coming up with a strategy to attract, engage, and convert readers.

Randy’s Radical Discoverability Keys and Tactics:

•         Attract -Readers know that the author exists on the planet. Nothing attracts like a free book, so consider KDP Select or Perma-free options.
•         Engage – Readers become aware this author writes what they like. Nothing engages quite like a novel, which is why series do so well and production is so important. Write what would engage or delight members of the target audience.      
•        Convert – Readers buy another book. Nothing converts like email (except a blurb and link at the back of the book they just read!) Announce to email subscribers that the next book is available and include a link to buy it. Then, at the end of the book include a teaser for the next book (or even the first chapter) along with a link to purchase. 

More Discoverability Tactics Randy Uses:

•     Front matter – Readers want to get into the story faster, but this is a good place for an “Author’s Note” to quickly remind readers what the story is about (because they might be opening it awhile after buying and forgot). Randy then offers a free gift for readers with a link to his website and a chance to sign up for his email list. Why? Browsers may scan the book and not buy this one … but still might go signup anyway and that email could get him a sale later.
•      Back matter – “Dear Reader” letter with 3 specific calls to action. A “what to read next” teaser with a sample chapter and link to purchase. A request for a review with a link to the retailer or Goodreads page and simply ask readers to share how the book made them feel. An invitation to sign up for the email newsletter to get notice of the next book as well as a reminder about the free gift or incentive being offered. Why? Get immediate sales from readers who already love the author’s book, get an email address to notify happy readers about future books, and get reviews to sway potential readers and increase sales ranking so book is more visible on search results, genre lists, or “also bought” recommendations.
•      Build an Email list – Use an incentive of something free that would interest the target audience (like a free novella, list of romantic but cheap date ideas, drawing for a gift card, etc.) to collect a list of readers who already liked the books and want to be notified of the next release. Why? When a new book releases, email subscribers get a personal invitation and link to buy. The resulting quick jump in sales can catapult a title to the hot new releases or category top sellers lists where more future readers can discover the book and the cycle repeats.

What about social media and platform building? Randy actually asked workshop attendees to list which social media tools they would stop using. As he said, “If you hate it and it’s not working, then quit.” I understand his point. While many argue that social media is about building relationships with potential readers, it takes time away from producing more of the books necessary for that success equation. As a scientist, Randy is adamant about return on investment and being able to measure results. Example: The number of Twitter followers does not directly relate to book sales, but one can use Google Analytics to measure the desired result (email sign-ups, clicks to order, etc.) based on a specific tweeted link.

But what does all this look like for an ordinary author like me? I have four indie-published devotionals (in two series: Pigskin Parables exploring faith topics through football and Creation Declares gleaning life lessons from nature), an indie-published book about special needs parenting, and my debut inspirational romance novel will be releasing from a small press later this year. My challenges include stagnant sales on my non-fiction titles and the need to attract the attention of a different (but larger) target audience for my novel.

There are thousands of books just waiting to be discovered, but here’s what I’m doing (or will do) to attract readers to mine:

•     Social media updates – a few minutes every day to build relationships and occasionally point toward my email list or a book on sale.
•     Schedule guest blogs (like this one) for exposure to new readers with links to my website and books, especially around the new book’s release.
•     Maintain my website/blog with fresh content. Update the banner image.
•     Update the covers as well and front and back matter on all existing books.
•     Update the keywords for all existing books to increase relevance ratings in searches.
•     Set my two shortest devotionals as permanently free.
•     Write newsletters to email subscribers – what’s on sale, cover reveals, exclusive contests or giveaways, and more to keep my readers engaged.
•     Collect lists of key quotes from each book – perfect for interest hooking tweets or memes on social media with the title displayed and links to buy.
•     Recruit a launch team to help write reviews and spread the word once my novel is released.
•     Giveaways and contests – on guest blogs and Goodreads. Possibly using Rafflecopter to attract more email subscribers.
•     Organize a virtual launch party closer to the novel release date, then spread the word.
•     Consider buying a promotion with BookBub for my special needs parenting book to glean more reviews and visibility for that small niche audience.
•     Possibly troll reviewers on competitors’ books to find someone willing to review my book in exchange for a free copy.
•     Write more novels with a series (or two) in mind.

Let’s talk. Readers, how do you find out about new books? Do you subscribe to author newsletters and book deal email lists or rely on word of mouth from friends? 

Authors, what do you think about Randy’s tactics? Is what you are doing currently working? What has worked the best for you and your target audience? What are you going to try next?

BIO:

Candee Fick is the wife of a high school football coach and the mother of three children, including a daughter with a rare genetic syndrome. When not busy with her day job or writing, she can be found cheering on the home team at football, basketball, baseball, and Special Olympics games. In what little free time remains, she enjoys exploring the great Colorado outdoors, indulging in dark chocolate, and savoring happily-ever-after endings through a good book.

Browse her current books at http://candeefick.com/book-table/

TEASER:  Catch of a Lifetime, coming late 2015 from Bling! Romance

He breathes football.

She shudders at the very mention of the sport.

But when a mix-up in financial aid lands her in the middle of her worst nightmare and his star receiver teeters on the brink of ineligibility, the rookie college coach and the bitter tutor must overcome stereotypes and work together to salvage the season. Romance develops, but their growing relationship must remain hidden behind a wall of professionalism. When a scandal erupts, the aftermath could destroy both of their careers.

Can they find a way to capture their dreams and each other’s hearts?

Interesting New Release: A World-Building Bible and Guide to Writing a Science Fiction Series

WOW, something different.  A World-Building Bible and Guide to Writing a Science Fiction Series.

Illustrated by Jamin Allen and Kayelle Allen.

Genre non-fiction

Author Kayelle Allen

Book heat level (based on movie ratings): G

Page count: 311 pp on Amazon

For the science fiction writer, this volume teaches you how to build believable worlds, track details of your story, organize your writing, and lay out your story bible. Novice or experienced, you will pick up tricks and tips here. This EPIC eBook Award winning writer shares organizational tips, links to marketing sites, groups supporting writers, science fiction groups, and more. Material from the author's 90+ page website is included.

For the science fiction fan, the Companion reveals the worldbuilding magic that makes Kayelle Allen's Tarthian Empire tick. She shares every character in every book, 10k years of future history, offers inside peeks at scenes and stories, lays out a quick tour of the Empire, and dishes up a surfeit of secrets, all in one illustrated volume. Original art by Jamin Allen and Kayelle Allen.

Buy Links:
Amazon | Smashwords | Goodreads
Coming soon in print

Excerpt:
Military and Ships

If your world has an army, navy, or other branch of service, consider how ranks are listed. The naming of ships should follow protocols. It doesn't matter what the protocols are, but it does matter that you use a consistent system. Organizations pivot on protocols. What makes an army effective is its ability to move as a unit. That is one reason armies adopt uniforms. The sight of a mass of people, all moving in a unified manner, can strike fear into the heart of an enemy. Use that to advantage in your books.

Uniform and other codes can be found online. Here's a link to a PDF published by the Military Quartermaster detailing requirements for an Enlisted Aide. It contains pictures, placements of uniform items, and more, for all ranks within the military.

http://www.quartermaster.army.mil/jccoe/Special_Programs_Directorate/Enlisted_Aide_web_documents/navy%20ea%20handbook.pdf

Also try this site for links and other documents for military reference. http://www.quartermaster.army.mil/

Military ships and aircraft have naming protocols. If you create your own, follow them. On my worlds, the officers on board starships do not carry Navy designations (such as ensign), but instead use the same as those found in the Air Force. If you do this, be consistent. Be sure you know to whom members of a rank report. Your readers are likely to, and they won't like it if you have someone reporting to the wrong rank.

What War Was That?

When I wrote the future history for my series, I studied the patterns of the past. Wars punctuate human history. We refer to them as eras (the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War II, etc.) and certain aspects are attributed to each. When we hear "Viet Nam Era" we envision a specific time of history, and also a culture. When creating your future history, keep these things in mind. If your people have been peaceful for centuries, how has that affected their culture? Be aware of these concepts as you write.

Also consider what kind of morality drives wars. Is it a requirement that your people seek new worlds to inhabit? Why? Did they destroy theirs? Did aliens invade? Did a supernova destroy their solar system? Were they exiled? All these things shape social structure for your characters.

Government and Law

Consider how your people govern themselves, and the premises behind their laws. My Tarthian Empire series contains references to slaves. I created some basic laws so I could have characters break them and use them to become free. Remember the importance of consistency. If it's a law in one book, it better still be one in another, or have a reason that it no longer matters.

About the Author
Science Fiction and Fantasy author Kayelle Allen is the winner of the 2010 EPIC award for Science Fiction, and the 2008 Honorable Mention for Science Fiction Fantasy. Her unstoppable heroes and heroines include contemporary every day folk, role-playing immortal gamers, futuristic covert agents, and warriors who purr.

Homeworld http://kayelleallen.com Mobile site http://kayelleallen.mobi

Unstoppable Heroes Blog http://kayelleallen.com/blog

Twitter http://twitter.com/kayelleallen

Facebook http://facebook.com/kayelleallen.author

Pinterest http://pinterest.com/kayelleallen/

About the Artist
Jamin Allen is the founder of Nimajination Studios, and is known as "Volgraza" on the popular YouTube channel V^2 Gaming, which features game play, advice, and update information for games such as SpaceEngineers, and other games on Steam. He is the son of Kayelle Allen.

V^2Gaming https://youtube.com/user/VtwoGamers/featured

Twitter https://twitter.com/vtwogamers

DeviantArt http://nimajination-studios.deviantart.com/

Nimajination Studios http://nimajinationstudios.weebly.com/

Facebook https://facebook.com/NimajinationStudios

Twitch http://twitch.tv/volgraza/profile

Take Five and Meet Author R. J. Machado De Quevedo

Welcome to An Indie Adventure, R. J. Machado De Quevedo. Tell us, what inspired you to write your books, The Deceiver Saga?

Hello, L.A, thank you for inviting me to guest on your blog.

I never had any ambitions to become a novelist, it just sort of happened to me out of the blue! One night, on December 21st. 2009, I had a dream that was incredibly vivid and felt so real that when I woke up, I was tingling with awe. That dream spoke to me in a personal way, but also, I felt a desire and passion well up within me, demanding that I write this story that had suddenly started to flow in a never ceasing rush of creativity. It felt as if that dream had unplugged the cap of a hidden well full of creative writing treasures. Within the storyline came a built in web of mystery, deceit and adventure. And weaving throughout the pages of my mind were strong social themes as well that I felt needed to be addressed. It all just fit. I knew I had to write these books!

From the start I knew they were to be called, The Deceiver Saga, and that it would have at least four books. Since then, they have grown to a projected seven or eight, but I won’t end the saga if the ideas keep coming!

As a child, I enjoyed making up stories with my sisters or my little neighborhood friends. I started journaling in junior high and later, enjoyed a creative writing class in high school. But hadn’t believed the teacher when he told me I was good at creative writing. In fact, he gave me an “A” on my final project (a collection of five short stories) and told wrote a note inside the cover that said, “I may not know the fate of the Susan (a character in the last short story), but I know yours as a fictional author.”

Of course, being a teenager and having had an immensely hard time learning to read, write and spell as a child, I had dismissed his compliment with an quick internal sarcastic rebuke. I didn’t even remember he’d written that comment until I stumbled across some of my old high school assignments two weeks after I received my publishing contract. It was like God was saying, “See? You didn’t believe in the gift I put in you, but he recognized it from the start.”

Have you been a lifelong reader of supernatural mystery thrillers? What are some the first books you remember reading?

I have to admit, I really wish I had been a lover of books since childhood. But truth be told, I had such a difficult time learning to read and spell in elementary school that it took all the joy and pleasure out of it for me. It really hurt my self-esteem and confidence too when it took me hours to try and memorize fifteen spelling words or if it took me an hour to read a single page of a book, all the while, comprehending very little of what I had actually managed to read.

It wasn’t until seventh grade that I decided to force myself to press through the frustration and fought my way through the Little House on the Prairieseries at my sister Bethany’s recommendation. When I was done with those, I started in on The Chronicles of Narnia. My reading skills began to steadily improve as I started to look forward to the next adventure and find out how the characters would development.

By the time I was in college, I truly loved to read and started listening to audio books during my commute to get my books in! Reading is now an addition and a beloved hobby!

What do you do to rev your creative juices?

I have a couple different methods of preparing my mind and to focus my attentions to write. If it’s a weekend or a day I took off work specifically to write, I will have a nice hot cup of coffee in the morning and start replaying where I left off in my book in my mind, in a relaxed, unrushed, fashion. Oftentimes, I’ll do this sitting at the breakfast nook, looking out the window into our luscious backyard and watch the birds and squirrels scurry about. Setting myself up to feel calm and listen to my thoughts gets me ready to start writing and follow my instincts. I will also say a prayer and ask God to bring me clarity and creativity, and to guide my written words. This is also a part of following my instincts and enjoying the adventure of discovery while writing. I am always amazed at how it continues to feel as though I am the reader, experiencing the book for the first time, as I write it. It’s an exhilarating rush!

I also have another method for days when I worked at my day job all day and finally get to come home and indulge my true passion (writing). I will do an intense cardio workout to burn out the stress of the day and refocus my mind on the intricate plots to come in my books. I use my workout as my reset button to close down the thoughts and emotions of my work day, and apply all my attention and energy into my writing.

And once in a while, when my brain is having a slower time clicking over to the creative or I’m tired or feeling pulled by other distractions (family or friend concerns, the black hole of Facebook, other pressures of life), I will compile my research notes and book plot ideas and notes, and start reading over them to draw me back into the story lines. Usually within minutes, I am struck with a rush of ideas and images in my head that seem to pump the writing juices in my brain to maximum and then, I can’t wait to get my lap top booted so I can start writing!

What would be your advice be to people who are considering a writing career?

If you have stories that write themselves while you sleep, ideas that pop into your head in the most unlikely moments, and a deep craving to sit down and write for hours upon end, than being a writer is probably in your blood. Having passion and enjoying what you do will make any career choice worth the time, hard work, patience and effort it takes to be successful. Don’t give up if it takes time to finish that novel or get published, it’s part of the journey. So learn all you can along the way. And most importantly—Keep writing! You have to make time for your passions least it start to wither away and die out. A dream without a plan is just a dream. But a dream with a plan and with action is a destiny in the making. You get to choose which you’re going to settle for.

You’re having a dinner party. What character from your novel do you hope doesn’t show up? Why?

Oh dear! For anyone who has read my books, I’m sure they’re thinking the exact same thing I am! Without a doubt, I would not want Melanie’s father to show up—ever!

As a demon possessed, woman hating, sadistic creep, Dwayne Bishop showing up at any party uninvited would not end well! Dwayne insult the guests, get drunk, start fights, spit out degrading comments, make unwanted advanced toward the ladies, and probably even try to force himself on one or two. And, I’d probably have to call the police to force him to leave since he has no respect for other’s wishes or personal property. He would be the uninvited dinner party guest from hell (almost quite literally).I recently had a very kind hearted friend of mine tell me that I better write in a horrible death for Dwayne or she will not be happy with me! Hahahaa!

Give us a brief summary of your latest book in the Deceiver Saga, Sanctuary of Fire:

In Sanctuary of Fire, the newest installment of The Deceiver Saga, Melanie Bishop struggles to remain courageous and reclaim her emotional victory after a brutal demonic attack by her father. It feels as though the entire world knows about the mortifying ordeal as college classmates whisper, police investigate, and news crews hound Melanie about her father's sadistic crimes.

Melanie is too humiliated to even speak to David, the man who fought off her father; though in her heart, she wants nothing more than to rush into his arms.

Despite the chaos in Melanie's life, her true calling must remain the priority. History could be changed or delayed if she refuses to obey the call: to seek and protect celestial artifacts before the enemy can acquire them and discover their true power.

Neither time nor space are strong enough to stop the forces of hell from hunting her down to finish what her father started. Transported thousands of years into the past, and left to wander across the wilderness in pursuit of the artifacts, Melanie is provided protection from the enemy's warriors by a dysfunctional yet legendary family. As the battle descends upon them, it is Melanie who must pick up a sword and fight to the death.

Excerpt:

“In a sudden whoosh, fire surrounded me, a holy sanctuary of fire. My long red hair blew back, electricity crackled along my skin, and as the flames engulfed me, I felt the power of the Lord descend upon me and surge forth from within me. And the necklace of truth and mercy about my neck burst into a white blaze, as if it held the very light of God.” 

Buy Links:

Tate Publishing:

          The Deceiver | Broken Seed | Sanctuary of Fire

 Amazon:

          The Deceiver |Broken Seed | Sanctuary of Fire

B&N:

          The Deceiver | Broken Seed | Sanctuary of Fire

         

Bio:

R. J. Machado De Quevedo, author of The Deceiver Saga, lives in Northern California. Having grown up with meager resources, R. J. learned early on that joy can be found in the simple things and that imagination is a wonderful escape. R.J. is also a speaker, blogger, musician and artist. She enjoys kick boxing, riding motorcycles, taking long walks and adventurous hikes.

R. J. always enjoyed creative writing or journaling but never had any aspirations to become a writer until she had a dream one night that demanded she tell the story. R. J. was so overcome by the passion she felt from that dream that she knew she just had to write the books. She felt her heart and soul burning with a passion she didn’t even know she possessed, or perhaps, she had been too afraid to let herself truly feel since she had always had a difficult reading and writing as a child.

R. J. starting writing The Deceiver Saga in March, 2010. Shortly after finishing The Deceiver, R. J. submitted her manuscript to a traditional publisher, Tate Publishing and Enterprises. Within four days, she was offered a publishing contract by their Associate Director of Acquisitions. She received that contract on Friday, July 13th, 2012. By September 2013, The Deceiver was publicly released. And three months later in December 2013, Broken Seed was released, book two in the saga. The newest installment of The Deceiver Saga, Sanctuary of Fire, just came out in December 2014.

R. J. is working on the fourth book in The Deceiver Saga, which she is calling Blood Enemies and anticipates that there will be seven or eight books in the saga. Each of R. J.’s books presently released are in the process of being translated into Spanish and should be out later this year. Also, the audio books are currently in production and should be nearing the editing phase shortly.

To learn more about R. J., read her blog, watch interviews and preview the soon to be aired book teaser commercials, please her website.

Find R. J.:

Website |Blog | Twitter | R.J. Machado De Quevedo Facebook Page! |​​ R.J.'s Speaker EPK! |R.J.'s YouTube Channel! | Pinterest | Amazon Author Page

7 Things I Love About Writing

My dear friend, Ellis Vidler, an amazing writer and incredible editor, tagged me on Facebook to list seven things I love about writing.  

And you all know I love to talk about my passion.  

So I decided to list them here, and then they'll go to FB and Twitter

1) Creating the plot. I love coming up with an image in my head of a scene, and then letting it sit, deciding if it's enough to build a story around.  I love that. I only wish I'd make more time to do this more often.

2) My Characters. Well, actually it's a love/hate relationship.  I envy you writers who come up with a character and then build the story around them.  I can't seem to do that. But once I get my first draft done, I love finding out more layers, complexities and quirks of those people who live in my head often for years if I'm writing a series.  

3) Research.  I think you love it or hate it as well.  I love it. And I can literally lose myself in the minutiae of a detail.  HA. Sometimes those little things never see the light of day in the manuscript. But you know what? I'm learning.  I think I'd be great at cocktail parties, if we even have those any more.

4) I used to love writing love scenes.  All those hot and wonderful love scenes, but now I don't. It seems it's all been done. I'd rather write the lead up to it. Remember how your hearts pounds when that first kiss of passion happens.  Phew, yup, that's more fun to write.  But dear readers, what do you prefer to read?  

5) Falling in love with my story. Sounds narcissistic doesn't it?  But honestly it's not.  If I don't love it and want to spend my time with it, why do this?  

6) I love learning why my characters are afraid. Usually it's something inside me as well.  I love building their motivation for behaving badly or angelically. Why they need to do what they do. We all have motivations and they're not all stellar :)

7) Sheesh, only seven? Okay final one. I love it when I get email from my readers. When they tell me they can't wait for my next book to come out in that series. And I love when they leave reviews. Not the bad ones of course. Those make me hurt, I'm not that thick-skinned. But when some says they can't wait for the next L.A. Sartor book, my heart rejoices.  Maybe I'm doing something right after all.

There you have it. 

Warm hugs to all.

LA...you know where to find me...look to your right on the blog :)