If you are new to the #FF fun, Feature & Follow Friday is a blog hop that expands your blog following by a joint effort between bloggers. Feature & Follow Friday is now hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow them to show off more new blogs!

Immortal Rider (Lords of Deliverance) 

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Original edition (November 22, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446574473
• ISBN-13: 978-0446574471
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.2 x 7 inches 

The signs are everywhere...disastrous world events. Evil rising up, unleashed upon the innocent. The prophecies were there...but no one listened. Until now. The time has come for those who can either usher in Doomsday...or prevent it. They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Arik Wagner, a soldier with the U.S. Army's paranormal unit, the R-XR, kissed a girl and liked it. And then he went to hell as punishment. Where he's spent weeks being tortured...and plotting revenge.

Limos, Horsewoman of the Apocalypse, isn't your average girl. She's immortal, dangerous, and her fiancé is Satan himself. In a moment of weakness, she gave in to her desire and kissed Arik, triggering her fiancé's wrath - and his claim on her. In order to save Arik, and the world, Limos must make a dangerous pact with her recently turned evil brother, Pestilence. A deal that might just cost her her soul...and her heart.

 

You know a publicity stunt has backfired when someone dies.

“Starving author Eddie Barrow, Jr, will do anything to get a book deal with a NYC publisher. Even if it means getting caught by the media while engaging in S&M with a female celebrity as a publicity stunt. What Eddie gets instead are details of a billion dollar fraud scheme from a suicidal client who’s fatally shot minutes later. Now on the run from the law and the killers, Eddie seeks help from two unlikely friends—an alcoholic and a dominatrix. With few resources, Eddie races to clear his name, expose the fraud scheme, and expose the killers before he becomes their next victim.”

Release date December 1, 2011 in eBook and in paperback.

REVIEW:

Once again Russell Brooks invites me to read another thrilling tail of adventure, danger, loyalty and out right excitement. You, from the start, are drawn in to love Eddie, wanting him to succeed and wishing that those who don't belive in him would just rot. You are taken for a ride as he tries to get a quick fix to his ongoing bad situation, and then thrown into an even more bad situation. The way Russell Brooks tells his story keeps you on your toes and makes you think you know what is going to happen just to sending you in a totally different direction. Just like Pandora's Succession and Unsavory Delicacies, you are left wanting more, and rush to the beginning to see if you missed something the first time around.


CONTEST!!

1. Every person that leaves a comment with their email address (Important) is automatically entered in the draw. 

2. To be sure that the contest is fair and impartial, Clinton (Russell's cat) will select the 10 winners for a free eBook copy of CHILL RUN.

The contest will run from Sunday, November 27, 2011 to Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 8PM EST. The winners will be announced via Russell's blog and his page on YouTube the same evening.


Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Chill-Run-ebook/dp/B006GIYK42/
Barns & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/e/2940013475359

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

That's right people, I'm going to be finally getting my own place. It's an apartment, and still in the same town, but without roommates. It's time that I made that journey into being alone... say a prayer for me.. haha

That's right, you heard me, Erotica... I've written some, and I'm working on compiling a few of them into a book of erotica short stories.. the question is.. do I do them under my pen name, or create another pen name just for erotica... thoughts?

Format: Kindle Edition

File Size: 159 KB

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services

Language: English

ASIN: B004XD66VW

Lending: Enabled

For fans of Barry Eisler and Robert Ludlum. A three-course story collection with a side-order of revenge.

Crème Brûlée

Rogue operative, Monique Beauvais, cons a software genius into selling her a coveted technology that would allow its user to control CIA drones while they’re in flight. And she will go as far as killing him in public in order to have it.

To the Last Bite

A renowned food critic—whose scathing reviews have closed down restaurants—gets a savoury surprise.

Shashlyk and Morezhenoe

CIA operative, Ridley Fox, leads a team against one of Russia’s most powerful crime families. He discovers secrets, but not one that he was expecting to find.

Three stories with three consequences. All containing three Unsavory Delicacies.

***Caution*** Readers are strongly advised NOT to eat while reading To The Last Bite.

When asked to read this arc, I was pleased. I had enjoyed Pandora's Succession very much and looked forward to read what else could come out of Russell Brooks mind. All three stories were intriguing and either made me smile, or root for the one who ended up walking away with a smile. I loved how they were tied into Russell Brooks original character Ridley Fox from Pandora's Succession. Each story could stand alone, but was nice to see how the first and third were tied together. After reading each story, I wanted to know more, what happened to the characters and what happened next. My favorite story was the last one, Shashlyk and Morozhenoe, the ending left me laughing and shaking my head.

Find this ebook here:
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Pandoras-Succession-ebook/dp/B004XD66VW  
Amazon UK  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pandoras-Succession/dp/B004XD66VW/
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/54675
B&N http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Unsavory-Delicacies/Russell-Brooks/e/2940012649287/?itm=1
XinXii  http://www.xinxii.com/en/unsavory-delicacies-p-327295.html

Ok, so I want to do some interviews, but I want to know who YOU want to hear from, leave a comment with the name of the author you would most like to read an interview from and I'll see about satisfying your hunger for them.

I've been MIA, I know... *grins*.... but I do have some news, I'm going to be posting a review for an ARC on a short suspense by the author of Pandora's Succession, Russell Brooks, look for it in the next coming weeks, you will love it... his ebook will be on Amazon.com later this week...

Other News...

I'm still working on my story, it's slow going, with my new job I have more time to write there, but have to transfer the 14k words to paper, so bear with me as I transfer the story and get to work on it more. It's been going on for two years now, and I hope that this time next year, I'll have a manuscript to send out, cross your fingers for me.

Get it re-edited.

Once you’ve made the necessary corrections, based on the feedback you’ve received from your independent editor, then I strongly recommend that you have it edited a second time, this time a copy edit will suffice. Minor errors can easily be made with corrections. For example, an extra sentence here or a repeated word elsewhere that you missed. Your eyes tend to get lazier the more you read the same manuscript that you wrote. I don’t recommend having the same editor read over your work a second time. Editors, no matter how professional they are, are human beings too. And just as I don’t recommend that authors read over their own work several times because they may miss simple errors, the same editor may make the same errors too. And I’m speaking from experience. This is where an English teacher, or someone with a strong English background, could be of help. Many, especially if they’re retired, have a passion for doing this and would be willing to help.

Don’t stop writing.

That’s what bestselling author, Joseph Finder, once wrote to me when I inquired what I should do once I’m finished my novel and don’t know how else I can improve it. By doing so you accomplish two things: You keep practicing; if you publish what you wrote, it’s an excellent way for you to get your name out there and promote yourself. One thing I’ve learned from several years of experience in sales: “People won’t buy your work, they buy you first.” And people will buy you if they like you.  And once you’ve sold yourself to people, in the end it won’t matter what kind of book you wrote, your name will eventually sell your work for you. Furthermore, don’t expect your first novel to be your breakout bestseller. It may take at least three published novels for readers to discover you and to eventually like you. Why? Because having more good books to your name gives you more credibility. How can you dislike someone with credibility?

I’d like to thank Marie Francis for giving me this opportunity to share my thoughts and advice with all of you. And I wish you all the best of luck with your writing endeavors.

Best,

Russell Brooks

Author of Pandora’s Succession

Have your story beta-read.

Here’s another reason why consulting with a professional is important. You can have them read over sections of your novel, if not the entire novel, to verify how accurate your descriptions are. When I wrote Pandora’s Succession, I knew that other than the average thriller fan, martial artists would be among my readers. For me to get them to become fans—and spread the word to others—it was important for me to make the fight scenes as realistic as possible. And it’s a good thing that I was acquainted with two professional martial artists—Wim DeMeere in Belgium and Marc MacYoung in Colorado—who were able to help me spot things that the average person, or author, wouldn’t. Keep in mind that professional agents and in-house editors are well educated. Don’t be surprised that they may know a thing or two about science, law, historical events, or the military. They’ve also read countless novels like yours and can easily spot a fake. When you’re a first-time novelist, you only have one chance to make a great impression. If you prefer to go the Indie route, your readers will act as your editors. You, as an author, will lose the number of returning readers if your subject matter or story is not up to par.

In another instance, you may not have written a novel with professional subject matter. For example, you may have written a fantasy novel about vampires, witches, or extra-terrestrials. I doubt JK Rowling sought out experts in witchcraft, unless she consulted with a history professor that specializes in the history of witchcraft and wizardry (which would be a smart move if she did). But in order to know how your story will fare with the general public, it’s a great idea to have the ordinary avid reader act as your beta reader. These readers are your test audience, and they are most effective when they are not close friends and family. Why? Because friends and family rarely are objective enough to tell you about any weaknesses your story may have because they don’t want to hurt your feelings. But if you can have a friend or a family member pass along your manuscript to someone that would be interested in the type of novel that you wrote, you can remain anonymous and have more of a chance at getting a more honest feedback. This will help you as a writer to learn from your mistakes. But it’s also important to be honest with yourself too. Some feedback you’ll agree with, and some you will not. But it’s important to read all of your feedback nonetheless. Who knows, you might even get an idea or two that could help you to improve. Oh yes, when you send them the manuscript, it’s important to remind them that it hasn’t yet been professionally edited, which comes in the next part.

Get your work professionally edited.

I once heard the saying, “If you put several editors in a conference room to discuss a novel, none of them will agree on what’s right or what’s wrong with it.” Or something like that. There’s some truth to that. An editor in the UK will have a different editing style than one in the United States, or even in Canada. One book that I recommend for all authors is the Chicago Manual of Style: \The Essential Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers. If you’re a serious author then you ought to buy a copy of that book for reference purposes. And whether you, as an author, decide to find an agent to be traditionally published, or if you choose to become an Indie author, it’s very important that you get your manuscript professionally edited—both for content and also for style. It may be costly, but in the end it is worth it if you plan to be taken seriously.

I want to write too. Please tell me where to start.

By Russell Brooks

Thanks, Marie, for inviting me as a guest on your blog.

Many people have asked me the same question: “How do I complete my first novel?” There isn’t a single answer to this question because what may work for one author may not work for another. However, I’m sure that most authors will agree with me that the road to being published is a step-by-step process. Being a successful author doesn’t happen overnight. It takes passion, patience, and perseverance. Below I’ve listed a few tips that have helped me. Please bear in mind that these are simply suggestions.

Write about what you like.

This may go without saying, but I’ve read threads in online forums or on social network websites where a lot of people believe that they should only write a novel containing subject matter that they are experts on. Although being a lawyer may help you write a legal thriller, or being a surgeon may help you write a medical thriller, being an expert on a particular subject will definitely help a writer with being accurate on the subject matter of a novel. But it doesn’t guarantee that you will write a good story. This is why researching a subject matter is important. And the easiest way to research subject matter that we’re unfamiliar with is to contact the experts directly. Many experts are either accessible in the phone directory. Others often write articles in magazines or online publications and will either leave their contact information at the end of their article or will mention the name of their workplace where one can contact them. Once you contact them, simply tell them who you are and why you contacted them and ask for their help. Although this goes without saying, it’s also important to thank them, include them in your acknowledgment section of your novel, and inform them on when your novel will be released and where they can find a copy if they’re interested in purchasing it. Or what’s even better, offer them a free copy as a way of thanking them. The good news is that there are so many experts out there that even if one turns you down, there’s going to be one that will be kind enough to help.

To Outline or not to Outline

These are two techniques I know that authors use when they’re about to write a novel. Some authors feel the importance to outline their novel first in order to organize each scene before writing. Others will write their novel straight from their head. For those that are curious, I prefer to outline my novels before I write them due to the complexities of the subject matter. One method is not superior over the other. You’re better off doing whichever one suits you the most.

Your first draft will not be your final.

We all love our work. But it’s important to realize that we’re not selling our novel to ourselves. How we may see our plot, our characters, and our writing, may be different from the way readers will see them. When I wrote the first draft of my first novel, I thought that it was the greatest thing on earth. But agents, publishers, even my father, didn’t care much for it. I was devastated. But I’m glad that I didn’t give up because I’m happy today—22 years later—that I rewrote my novel, considering how much more that I’ve learned about writing (and biology). I’d be embarrassed if copies of the original draft somehow were leaked. My draft from 3 years ago got a bit more of a favorable response from professionals in the publishing industry. It wasn’t good enough yet, but I knew that I was onto something.

It's giveaway time, and I'm joining on the fun by doing the March Madness Book Hop hosted by Diva's Bookcase. What is a hop? Well it is a way to hop to tons of other blogs who are giving things away as well and to build up fan base for my blog as well as all the others, so make sure that you are hopping your way through the list. 

The hop will run from 12:01 AM CST on March 4th to 11:59 PM CST on March 6. The winner(s) will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond before additional winner(s) are announced.

So here's the rules:

1. You must fill out this FORM 
2. Must be a public follower on this blog
3. Have a valid email address 

And the Prize is! For one lucky US winner:

 

HE'S A BIKER WITH AN ATTITUDE
What woman wouldn't be attracted to Niall O'Connor's soft Irish brogue and dark good looks? But Rosenwyn Tremain must find her father, and she isn't going to let a sexy, stubborn Irishman and his motorcycle distract her. Rose's intuition tells her he's hiding something, a secret even the cards cannot divine. Her tarot deck always reads true, but how can one man represent both Justice and Betrayal? 

SHE'S A WOMAN ON A MISSION
Magic. Niall's body tingles with it when he finds the woman snooping in his room. Rosenwyn might believe she's a no-nonsense accountant, but her essence whispers to him of ancient fairy magic that enslaves even as it seduces. Her heritage could endanger those he'd die to protect, but her powers and her passion, if properly awakened, might be the only thing that can save both their families, vanquish a fairy queen bent on revenge, and fulfill a prophecy that will bind their hearts together with... THE MAGIC KNOT

Lords of Deliverance Book 1
Grand Central Publishing
April 2011
ISBN-10: 044657449X
ISBN-13: 9780446574495
buy from: Indiebound | Amazon | B & N | Borders | Powell’s
They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him. 

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.

---

Watch the Eternal Rider Video

---

Reviews

"Like the Demonica series, this first offering is just as compelling and powerful. Ione has the amazing ability to create intimidating, powerfully sexy and utterly compelling heroes…Love, hope, sin, redemption and, of course, end-of-the-world danger fill the pages."

–Romantic Times BookClub Magazine, 4 stars!

---

Excerpt

Ares spun the woman around so her back was to the sea, her bare feet close to the cliff edge. “Who are you?” He gripped her shoulders firmly, his fingers digging into the blue flannel pajama top dotted with penguins. She wore penguin pajamas.

“P-please…” The wind whipped her sandy-blonde hair into her face, and some weird impulse made him want to brush it away.
 
He resisted. “Who are you?”

“I’m not…not a demon.” Her breath sawed in and out of her so violently that he half-expected her to pass out.

“What is your name?”

She blinked as if she didn’t understand the question, and when he repeated it, she finally murmured, “Cara. It’s Cara. I’m not a demon. I swear, I’m not a demon.”

“You keep saying that.” He inhaled, once again catching the bitter scent of her terror, but also, the faint, smoky tint of hellhound. She’d been in direct contact with one. “Why were you handling a hellhound? Were you attacked?”

A tiny squeak came from her, as if fear had closed up her throat. Hellhounds could do that to a person. But he didn’t have time to coddle a delicate female through her trauma. He needed intel, and he needed it now.
He snapped his fingers in front of her face, startling her out of her freaked-out trance. “Did The Aegis save you?”

“The men? They…they tried to kill the pup.”

Ares couldn’t decide if she was a little…slow…or just scared out of her gourd. Maybe both. Even so, she should be a little more agitated in his presence, and he wondered what was up with that. He took a deep breath and spoke slowly, even though he didn’t have the time or patience for this shit. “Yes, I’m sure they tried to kill it. It’s their job.”

“To kill dogs?”

“Demon dogs. You know, hellhounds?”

“This isn’t real,” she whispered. “I want to go home…” She shook her head, backpeddling wildly. “No, not home! Those men are there. This isn’t real…”

Shit. He was losing her. Before she could go into a complete meltdown, he gripped her by the shoulders and bent to peer directly into her eyes. Which were the exact color of the sea below when the sun hit it just right. Crystal blue with flecks of green and gold. Stunning.

“Listen to me. I need to know if you saw another man in that room. Long blond hair. Angelic.”
She nodded, her wide-eyed gaze locked onto his as if she were afraid to look away. As if he was a lifeline and if she let go, she’d plunge into an abyss of insanity. “Where is Hal?”

“Hal?”

“The dog.”

She’d named the hellhound? The things were mean as fuck, ravenous, horny…suddenly a sinking suspicion made his gut plummet. Had the hound given her a Hell’s Kiss? Nah. They never, ever did that to humans.
And yet…he leaned in, and as he got closer, the odor of fear and beast gave way to a more feminine scent. She smelled clean, like a spring meadow, with soft floral undertones. His cock jerked, the stupid bastard. The woman was terrified, human, and possibly shackled to one of the most vile creatures to have ever been spawned in Sheoul.

“W-what are you doing?”

He didn’t reply. He touched his lips to hers. A shocked gasp escaped her, and damn, she tasted sweet. There was a faint mint tang of toothpaste on her breath, and as he stroked his tongue across her satin lips, he got the telltale numbing tingle of the hellhound’s kiss. Which explained why she wasn’t combative with him — by bonding with Cara, the hound had brought her over into the supernatural world. She was still human, but with…enhancements.

He should have retreated, right then and there, but her mouth was soft, her body ripe with curves, and he hadn’t kissed a woman — a real human woman — in thousands of years. Head swimming, he tugged her against him. This was unexpected, amazing—

Sudden, stabbing pain lanced his groin. He grunted out a curse, doubled over and clutched his balls, which she’d cracked with her knee.

(take from http://larissaione.com/blog/books/eternal-rider/)

 Congrats to Amanda Tempel for winning the Follower Love Hop!!

&

Maria Smith for winning the Valentine's Day Books with Love Hop!!

It's giveaway time, and I'm joining in on the fun by doing the Valentine's Day Books With Love Hop hosted by Good Choice Reading and Once Upon a Twilight. What is a hop? Well it is a way to hop to tons of other blogs who are giving things away as well and to build up fan base for my blog as well as all the others, so make sure that you are hopping your way through the list.

Valentine's Day for me has always been a love hate relationship, sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it. I guess it coincides with whether I am celebrating it with a significant other or not. So far I've had some lack luster V-Day's, but I'll just glide through it and make the best of it, never know when my valentine will show up. I hope you all have a great V-Day and for one lucky winner, I hope you enjoy my prizes.

The hop will run from 12:01 AM CST on February 14th to 11:59 PM CST on February 16. The winner(s) will be picked via random.org, and emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond before additional winner(s) are announced.

So here's the rules:

1. Fill out this  FORM
2. Must be a public follower on this blog
3. Have a valid email address

 Now, for the prizes:

For one (1) lucky winner: (US only)

You'll receive heart shaped measuring spoons, and a gray cloth book mark with a silver heart on one end and a silver flower on the other.

And don't forget to check out the other lovely blogs on this hop:

Go check out Paperback Dolls, she's doing a giveaway for Larissa Ione's Pleasure Unbound, you know you want it, I want it... go get it... check it out here

It's giveaway time, and I'm joining in on the fun by doing the Follower Love Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer . What is a hop? Well it is a way to hop to tons of other blogs who are giving things away as well and to build up fan base for my blog as well as all the others, so make sure that you are hopping your way through the list. 

The hop will run from 12:01 AM CST on February 8th to 11:59 PM CST on February 13th. The winner(s) will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond before additional winner(s) are announced.

So here's the rules:

1. Fill out this FORM
2. Must be a public follower on this blog
3. Have a valid email address

Now, for the prizes:

I am giving one (1) winner: (for US only)

• Print Length: 256 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (February 1, 2009)
• Language: English

Murder in Montana
After Hudson Savage betrayed her, Dana Cardwell hoped never to lay eyes on the seductive cowboy again. Until a bunch of old bones showed up on her family ranch. Suddenly her former lover was back in her life in a big way—to investigate a decades-old crime.

Five years ago, Hud left town with a heart load of regrets. But now, as acting interim marshal, he had a job to do. And this time he wasn't walking away. Because now Dana's life was on the line—as the unsuspecting target of a killer who still walked the canyon. Hud would do whatever it took to keep Dana close. Even if it meant risking his own heart for a second chance for both of them....

&

Heart shaped picture holder....

Don't forget to check out the other blogs on the hop:

So, what are you doing for Super Bowl this year? Me, I'm staying home, snow is threatened again in Texas... yes it does snow in Texas, and well I have no where else to be, so I'll be watching the game at home with my two roommates, and hopefully it's an exciting game and not one sided....me... I watch mostly for the commercials, so I hope it's worth the 3-4 hrs it'll take to get through the game. I also hope that the half time show isn't a dude, the last few have been blah... damn Janet Jackson and her wardrobe malfunction ruining everything.

Hey everyone, just wanted to tell you that I'll be having some giveaways coming up real soon, so keep your eyes pealed at my blog for the posts!

Lords of Deliverance Book 1
Grand Central Publishing
April 2011
ISBN-10: 044657449X
ISBN-13: 9780446574495

They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him. 

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Roc; 4th THUS edition (September 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451459393
• ISBN-13: 978-0451459398

Louisiana, 2065. A lot has changed in the 43rd year of the Kurian Order. Possessed of an unnatural hunger, the bloodthirsty Reapers have come to Earth to establish a New Order built on the harvesting of human souls. They rule the planet. And if it is night, as sure as darkness, they will come.

But on this pitiless world, the indomitable spirit of man still breathes in Lieutenant David Valentine. And his mission is to win back Earth...

Day One of vacation and it's nice... though it's like any other day really, but my sister flies in tomorrow, so then it will be fun, after that I go back to Wal-Mart for two days, then I'm done. I start the new job on the 31st, can't wait.

Great news from the author of Pandora's Succession.. here is his email detailing that news:

Hello, bloggers,

I just wanted to share with you the good news. Pandora's Succession is now a bestseller in 3 categories on Amazon. Thanks to your reviews and your support during my VRT and after have helped me tremendously.

BTW, a new book cover is being prepared as you read this. I'll forward all of you a copy when it's ready. Also, the paperback version of Pandora's Succession is in the works.

Thanks again for your support,
Russell Brooks
Author of Pandora's Succession

So I finally got the job at BofA that I've been trying to get for over a year. I now will end my time at Walmart and move on to something better with more potential. Along with this new job change, I am working on weight loss and getting my finances under control. Thanks to my roommate and friend she is helping me in both areas. Now to go to work, and smile at the fact that in two days I'm on vacation and then have only two more days at Walmart.... have a great day friends.