Audio books...like them or not? by Paty Jager

I'm excited to start 2018 with a schedule to put out four more audio books in the Shandra Higheagle Mystery series this year. While the sales haven't been anything to write home about, hearing my books told by narrator Ann M. Thompson, a Cincinnati radio news anchor, has been a thrill!

How do you feel about audio books? Love them? Hate them? I read more than I listen, but I have enjoyed all but one book I listened to. It was a case of the female narrator didn't do a good job with the male voices. Luckily, Ann's voice has a huskiness to it that works well for the male voices. And she has a great way of giving a different dimension to the voices of each character.

So far the audio reviewer who has listened to the first four books has enjoyed Ann's telling of the book and this last review said my mysteries keep getting better and better. As a writer I love that!

Here is the info on Murderous Secrets. If you'd like to get a code to download the book for FREE read to the bottom.

MURDEROUS SECRETS

Book four in the Shandra Higheagle Mystery Series

Jealousy…Deception…Murder

The accident that took her father’s life has always haunted Shandra Higheagle. When her dreams become too real, she knows it’s time to discover the truth. It doesn’t take long to suspect her father had been murdered and that someone is unhappy with her probing. 

Detective Ryan Greer knows Shandra well enough to insist he be kept informed of her investigation into the decades old death of her father. When signs implicate her mother, he can’t withhold the information, even though he realizes it could complicate their relationship.

 

Buy Links  Audible - Amazon - Apple - Nook
And these vendors--

How can you get a free download code? Be willing to leave a review at one of the places that sells the audio version of Murderous Secrets and out your email in the comments section. I'll check back for a week to gather emails and send you codes. They are Audible US and UK codes.

blog / website /  Facebook / Paty's Posse / Goodreads / Twitter / Pinterest

Paty Jager is an award-winning author of 32 novels, 6 novellas, and numerous anthologies of murder mystery, western romance, and action adventure. All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. This is what Mysteries Etc says about her Shandra Higheagle mystery series: “Mystery, romance, small town, and Native American heritage combine to make a compelling read.”

Navigating the 'Muse'-fields of Writing

"You know, if I just had some time, I could write a book."
That's one I've hear a number of times. And it's true.
Given a little time, you could write a book. That's how I do it.
Take time + Dedication + Pressure + Deadlines + Anxiety.... there's a lot of things that go into a book/novella/novel.
For most, it's not a 'throw away' activity where you rush to get through it and then kick it out into the cold world of self-publishing.
I'm not going to try to tell you that my process is any better that anyone out there, and I could probably find thousands who have a better, faster, easier way than me, that's not up for debate.

So I'm going to give you a real insight into the creative part of my mind.
I'm one of those 'desk covered with paper' kind of person, but in those shifting dunes of papers and pieces, I know where everything is.
Mostly. *wink*

I have a plastic 'shoebox' box that sits on the table beside me with all kinds of desk supplies which I never need until I've set that one item 'somewhere' and can't remember exactly where I left it.

There is an honored cork 'coaster' that sits just off of the left side of my keyboard for my iced tea. I'd like to think it's some kind of exciting wine or maybe even hard spirits, but I'm boring and I admit it.
It's not even sweet tea, which makes my heart go pitter-pat, because since the doctor told me I had to cut out the sugars, I just 'imagine' the sweet in my tea.

But, let's get down to the nitty-gritty.
My 'ideas' - Sometimes an idea starts off as an image. It could be an old picture posted on facebook, or location with a cool story, or a stock photo that I can use for a cover.

But at the moment, I'm working on a series of books called Sylvan City Alphas and book 3 for a new imprint called BAD (Bad Alpha Dads) - Hot Alpha Shifters who aren't the best of dads at the beginning of the story... but then we have our HEA not only for the Hero and Heroine, but for the child too.

SO MANY FUN IDEAS!!!

My first idea for a story will actually end up being number 5 or maybe 6 in the imprint. Maybe I like to torture myself? But that idea came with the idea for the title "Hot for Teacher"
and really, so many song titles work oh-so-well as book titles. So from there I was on a hunt for another idea for a title or a title for an idea.

Confused yet? Yeah, me too!
After a few throw out, and then away, titles, I remembered the Keith Urban/Carrie Underwood song 'the Fighter'

What if I fall, (I won't let you fall) What if I cry, (I'll never make you cry) And if I get scared, (I'll hold you tighter) When they're tryna get to you, baby, I'll be the fighter

And because I LOVE Country Music, I like the way that the words can cut both ways... So I started there.

A Fighter... Fighter went to Fight Club
Fight Club... well that's no place for kids!
A shifter kid... the original idea was for Cage to become the guardian for a baby, but that only went so far.
I keep going back and forth... little girl... little guy? Toddler? Grade School?
Oooh wait!
A Teenager! Oh that would get under his skin... errr... his hide? He's a jaguar after all... and well, Miss Frances Billings is a teenaged lion, the daughter of his best friend.
And we all know that all teen girls are sweet and wonderful and not emotional at all! Especially when they had to move thousands of miles away from the only home they've ever known.
And what exactly is a gruff Jaguar going to say to an almost-emo teen lioness?
Not a whole lot... so who will be that 'bridge' over these furry waters?
Well, a mate... a woman who had their own trouble in the past her own struggles to work through.

And together - the growly foster dad, the woman with a heart bigger than he thinks he deserves, and a grumbling teen who just wants to hide in her room... maybe they'll turn this Fighter into a lover.

Pre-Order 99 cents before the Release Date 3/20/18

Reina's Website

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New Year - New Things by Carolyn Hector

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

New Year-New Things

This year I'm going to be open to new things. I'm going to take a vacation with some fantabulous women in NEW Orleans this year. I can't wait. I've never been.

At the end of this month I am also going on a special writer's retreat where I know I'll get some writing done.

So what's been going on this year? Well, for starters we had a SNOW DAY!!!!! Here is actual footage!



But before we get into the snow day... allow me to share my mischievousness.

So as we know.. I'm raising my four nephews. I have FIVE boys in my home now. And what do they love to do?

Play video games of course. If you let them....they'll play all day long. They got out of school December 15th and played video games pretty much 24/7. My bad.. that's on me. I had been sick since the day after Christmas. Now.. they WILL occasionally go out and play basketball but come dark.... they're playing all night long (by night.. I mean until midnight). I tried to implement a rule... read for as long as you're going to play. GEEZ you'd think I asked for a kidney or something.
Tuesday I was still too sick to go back to work. The kids were still out of school. My daughter left for work at 9:00 and the boys asked if they could play. She told them they could but to do their chores and read first. by 9:04 I hear nothing but boom-boom-boom-boom.

They're already on the game. Do you believe the boys read for at least 30 minutes and did their chores in a matter of 4 minutes? NOPE! I did what any fed up mother with a cold would do.

Ever want to freak a kid out? That's what you do. Then I came out of the room and they were a wee big freaked out because they didn't know I was still home. I ask the oldest in the room (the 17 year old was already in his trouble for lying..again..but that's another story and my 15 year old was still asleep).
I asked the boys if that's what they were supposed to be doing... the 14 year old tells me they planned on reading later. I was like.. "Oh... okay, but what were you told to do before playing the game?"
Now mind you...as he is explaining to me his reasons why he didn't do his chore yet he has a headset on his head. He has the nerve to tell me he wasn't sure what his chore was. Umm HE MADE THE CHORE CHART....and then he tried to tell me he wasn't playing the game... he was simply on line with his friends while the 13-year-old was playing..guiding them all through the game. Some how.. that isn't playing.

They played outside for the rest of the day. While outside...I got the news. THE NEWS!!!!!

And being the wonderful Aunt that I am... I decided NOT to tell them. Even when the 14 year old asked if we were having school the next day. I said we were. Even when he said he heard.... I still said *I* hadn't heard a thing. 5:30 AM rolls around and I woke him up...had him get dressed

and while he was in the bathroom getting dressed, I wrote on the board on the fridge.. "no school". But did he bother to read the note? Nope. He sat at the table...his oldest brother got dressed and everything. While they were at the table I left a sticky note on their doors and saying "sike". They still didn't see it. My husband ended up having to tell them there was no school when the 14 year old tried to wake the 15 yer old (he'd been at soccer practice when the news broke). By 8:00-ish it finally started to "snow" and I woke everyone up to see it. My poor 14 yer old was sooooooooooooo sleepy and it only made me giggle more when he gave me the evil eye. 

Whew! Fun times!

So that was my family news. In publishing news... I am breaking out of my shell a little bit. 

Speed Dating with Dana Nussio  and The Pink Heart Society's Rebranding article

I am working on my new book for Spring 2019... which I am excited for and I am working on a proposal for a new line. Rebranding (The January issue of The Pink Heart Society)

NOW... that new (new to me) line is a DREAM line for me...Of course I have my doubts. I read some of my favorite authors in the articles discussing being turned down by the same publishing house (different line than my dream one). While I'm not expecting to be signed but what I'm trying this year is a NEW thing... I'm going to submit to them. I WILL HIT THAT SUBMIT BUTTON! 

I have also entered a contest this year. I won't lie... My stomach did flipflop when I got the email stating they received my book. And I won't lie again when one of my favorite authors commented on my post that she too felt the stomach flop when she received her email. My first reaction was ...

lol.. because when I say she is fantastic ..she's fantastic.
Check out Reese Ryan's Playing with Seduction out this month and then in March of this year she has Savannah's Secret coming out with Harlequin Desire. Check out these GORGEOUS covers!

Well...as I mentioned earlier, I'm working on two projects right now and they're both exciting me and I'm ready to get back to them. 

I'll talk to you guys later! 

Happy New Year! Happy New Things! 

XOXO

Carolyn 

 

2018: A Year of Fun! @JacquieRogers #schedule #goals #western #books

2018 -- More Fun on the Way!
by Jacquie Rogers

Good gravy, I haven't even gotten used to writing 2017 yet, and now 2018 sneaked in.  How'd that happen???

So... goals.  Everyone's talking about goals.  My goal is to get at least something written while I'm gallivanting all over half the United States.  Sometimes you have to be realistic.  Weight loss?  Well, that would be nice.  And yes, I'll start yoga classes again on Monday.  I love my yoga class--great teacher (Pat Musburger) and fun people in the class.  We're always joking around while Pat's busy tying us in knots.  I go to Gentle Iyengar Yoga so the knots aren't too complicated. LOL.

I've been busy mapping out my schedule for 2018.  Lots going on, for sure.  I'll list what I have booked so far and if you're in the area, please come see me.  The dates and times are firm but the topics are tentative.

Feb. 7, Noon
Round Table Readers
Round Table Pizza - South Tacoma
7921 S Hosmer St, Ste A
Tacoma, Washington 98408
I'll be speaking on Women in the Old West.  The real women and not the ones portrayed on 1950s television shows.

April 20 – April 22, 2018
Chanticleer Authors Conference
Bellwether Hotel, Bellingham, WA
I'll be presenting the Laramie Award to this year's winner.  Yay!

May 12, noon

Homedale Senior Center
Homedale, Idaho
We'll have fun talking about Gamblers and Lightskirts in the Old West.  Homedale's seniors are a rowdy bunch, you know.

May 17, 6pm

Homedale Public Library
Homedale, Idaho
My talk there is How To Create a Story: The Basics of Writing Craft.

May 18, noon
Garden Valley Library
Kerri Hart kerri@gvlibrary.org
Entertainment in the Old West.  I'm going to try to coerce my uncle into playing the dulcimer he just made.

July 20-22
Jacquie Rogers's Much Ado About Silver City
Silver City, Idaho
Better get registered for the most fun event of the year!  If my IT Guy doesn't have the form up, be sure to book your room at the Idaho Hotel.  You'll be talking about this event for months!  This will be the third year for the event, and none of us would miss it for the world.  There are a limited number of rooms but you can also camp in the campgrounds just down the road.

September 14-16
Western Fictioneers Convention
Oklahoma City, OK
There will be some readers' events there so stay tune for more deets.

That's all I have scheduled for now.  If you'd like to book an event, email me at jacquierogers@gmail.com with the subject 2018 EVENT INQUIRY.  If I'm going to be near the area, it could happen!

My wish for you is to do all the things you've always wanted to do but never got that round-tuit.  Have fun, be healthy, and win the lottery!

If you're on Snapchat, friend me!  My handle is jacquierogers.  You can get videos of Sassy's latest updates there.  And goofy pictures of her scribe.

Keep up with Jacquie Rogers' latest news at the

Pickle Barrel Gazette!
Honey Beaulieu - Man Hunter series

Hearts of Owyhee series

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Pickle Barrel Gazette

Romancing The West | Pickle Barrel Bar and Books

LAUNCHING 2018 WITH A SALE!

By Caroline Clemmons

Happy New Year! Launching a new year is heady stuff. Do you make resolutions? Figure out what went wrong last year? Make a fresh start? Roll out of bed and say it's just another day?

Honestly, I didn't make resolutions but I did go over my past year then made a business plan for 2018. The difference? I don't vow to do anything, but I set goals I believe I can accomplish. I give myself a road map for the year.

Amazon started my year with a sale on AMANDA'S RANCHER, one of my favorites of my books. As an author, I like every book I write or I wouldn't write it. Some stand out as favorites, though, and this is one of them.

Take a good young woman who has less than nothing and give her more than she'd ever hoped for and that's the plot of AMANDA'S RANCHER. Things don't go smoothly, of course. In fact, they get pretty mixed up, hectic, and dangerous, but that's what makes a good story, right? 

Normally, AMANDA'S RANCHER sells for $3.99. During January, it's on sale for only 99 cents at http://a.co/55V804X. It's also available in Kindle Unlimited.

If you haven’t read this book, I hope you’ll give AMANDA’S RANCHER a try. So far, all the reviews are 5 stars!

Here's the blurb:

One desperate young woman.

A chance meeting.

A life-changing outcome.

Growing up in a brothel, Mara O'Sullivan battled public disdain and contempt, but remained virtuous, kind-hearted and gracious. After testifying against vicious bank robbers, her life is threatened and Mara must find sanctuary far from everything she knows.  

One train ride changes her life as she fatefully meets a half-sister and a niece she never knew existed. But when circumstances end her sister's life, Mara makes a promise that she'll raise her niece as her own and take her sister's place as Preston Kincaid's mail-order-bride. As Mara and Preston grow closer, their marriage no longer seems like a ruse, but a relationship of love, passion, and desire.

Mara's past comes back to haunt her and she finds herself in danger—will her new husband forgive Mara's deceit and protect her as his own? 

Mine isn't the only title from Montana Skies Series Kindle World that's on sale. These books are well-written, sweet romances set in Debra Holland's Montana Sky Series locale and in which some of her characters appear. Given the parameters, I'm impressed with the variety of plots and strong characters. These are great reads!

Of various lengths on sale for 99 cents in January are:

Cassie Hayes, HOPE ON THE HORIZON, http://a.co/j52waG9

Cynthia Woolf, THORPE'S MAIL-ORDER BRIDE, http://a.co/93cm35B

Elizabeth Ayers, LOVING MATILDA, http://a.co/8qWNKs9

Louella Nelson, RYE'S REPRIEVE, htto://a.co/dzgbaWd

Linda Hubalek, NOLAN'S VOW, http://a.co/gc16DsY

Linda Carroll-Bradd, LACED BY LOVE, http://a.co/gcigdYv

Patricia Thayer, SLATER'S BRIDE, http://a.co/9gcC2w9

Reminder: All Kindle World books are now in Kindle Unlimited.