by Sarah | Jun 8, 2013 | Guest Authors, Guest Post, Writing
Guest Author Ann Siracusa is stopping by to talk about an authors inspiration. Enjoy the post, and the beautiful photos she’s included.
*~*
Readers always want to know where authors get their ideas. The answer is everywhere. Newspapers, TV, things people tell you about, things you see and experiences first hand. Just keep your eyes and ears open, and ask “What if?”
The last book in my humorous romantic suspense series, Tour Director Extraordinaire, is set in southern Africa. I outlined the novel while I was traveling in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in 2008. This blog is about one of the most outstanding sights I saw there.
Victoria Falls – One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World
Victoria Falls is an amazing waterfall located on the Zambezi River, at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe in southern Africa. It is named as one of the seven natural wonders of the world on the 1979 CNN list.
On the map below, the falls are located about in the center, where Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Namibia come together. Botswana is slightly to the west.
The first white man known to see this amazing work of nature was Scottish explorer David Livingston, in 1855, who named it in honor of Queen Victoria. The native name is Mosi-oa-Tunya. Victoria Falls was designated as a UNESO World Heritage Site in 1989. And, in my opinion, it’s one of the Must See locations in the world.
Mosi-oa-Tunya – The Smoke That Thunders
There’s a good reason why it carries that name.
The falls are not the highest or widest in the world, but Mosi-oa-Tunya is the largest falling sheet of water in the world. The full width of the Zambezi River (5,604 feet – over one mile wide) plummets straight down for 354 feet in a single sheet.
Geography
The Zambezi River, the fourth longest river in Africa, flows through six countries from central Africa to the Indian Ocean. Along the central plateau of Africa, the wide river moves through a shallow valley over a level sheet of basalt bounded by low sandstone hills far in the distance. There are many islands, increasing in number as they approach the falls.
The Zambezi at dusk
Where are the mountains? This is the part of the uniqueness of the falls. There aren’t any mountains or deep valleys as you would expect. Just flat land with a wide river…and then you see a billowy column of what looks like white smoke.
Photo by Mike Myers
It’s not smoke. It’s a plume of water spray, rising sometimes a mile high and visible for 20 Kilometers, as the river drops into a deep horizontal chasm carved by the river along a fracture zone in the basalt.
Well, heck. Where does it fall to?
It plummets into a deep vertical chasm caused by water erosion over thousands of years in the fracture zones. Underneath the plateau of hard basalt, lies much softer sandstone. Where the fractures exist in the surface material, the cracks have filled with sandstone which the river has eroded.
Water pours over the edge into the first gorge, which varies in depth from 260 feet to 354 feet at the western end. The outlet is only 360 feet wide. The fracture and resulting chasms zigzag across the central stretch of the plateau. The falls are considered the dividing line between the upper- and the central-Zambezi zones. Considering that during the wet season, 540 million cubic meters of water per minute fall into the first of the Batoka Gorges, that’s very restricted outlet.
From the air, the gorges look like this.
Satellite view of the river, the falls, and the gorges.
In the Future
Victoria Falls has been in the western world’s radar scope since 1855. Only 158 years. But it’s a work in progress. For the past 100,000 years – which, geologically speaking, isn’t that long — the falls have been receding upstream. The river has fallen into different gorges during the past. Today, it is cutting back to the next gorge on one side of the “Devil’s Cataract”, also called “Leaping Waters.”
The Devils Cataract
Just A Beat More
Sometimes the unpleasant places and experiences are as important in our writing as the beautiful ones. Although Victoria Falls is mentioned in the book (current working title is “All For A Blast Of Hot Air”), the part that got the most attention was the awful airport at Victoria Falls (the name of the town) in Zimbabwe.
It may not look too bad in this photo, but below the excerpt from the unpublished novel which should be released this fall.
Excerpt
We arrived at Victoria Falls an hour and a half later, unprepared for the long wait to come. After two hours inside the worst airport I’d ever experienced, waiting for our luggage, we were tempted to abandon the bags, return immediately to South Africa and forget the safari.
At best, the airport smelled like an unwashed armpit and rotting fruit. The rest rooms were so filthy even the insects avoided them. Instead, the annoying little creatures buzzed around our heads and flew into our eyes, noses, and mouths. Another set of angry passengers swarmed the airline officials, complaining about their bags being broken into after they were checked in by the airline.
If the building had air conditioning at all, the near-hundred degree heat and ninety percent humidity rendered it useless. Oh, the fans rumbled and groaned—yes, they did. Loud enough to be distracting even above the high-pitched incessant shouting and yelling, but they did nothing to move the stale muggy air.
In seconds my clothes were more than moist and my hair assumed the appearance and texture of steel wool struck by lightning.
The facility offered no seating for passengers while the Zimbabwe customs officials went through every bag looking for anything they could tax, which took forever. Every inch of the building was old, worn, and beyond depressing.
Welcome to Victoria Falls, seventh natural wonder of the world!
“I’m not overly impressed.” I panted the observation as we hauled our bags outside after the unbearable hours of torture. No luggage carts or baggage handlers to be seen anywhere. Neither one of us carried much although, for this flight, we’d packed all our electronics in our carryon bags. I’d been warned not to check such items―if we ever wanted to see them again, that is. “It looked better in the photos.”
Will frowned, his lips thin, and shook his head slightly, unwilling to go there. “You think? Pfft.” He spit a bug out of his mouth and held the exit door open for me while I shoved our bags through to the outside.
□
Resources
http://www.zambiatourism.com/travel/places/zambezir.htm
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/zambezi-river-africa-photos/
http://www.africanworldheritagesites.org/natural-places/earths-crust/victoria-falls-zimbabwe-and-zambia.html
http://www.victoriafalls.com/
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/509
by Sarah | Jun 7, 2013 | Book Spotlight, Guest Authors, Writing
Who Wants a FREE Book?
FREEBIE Over HERE…
Have I got your attention yet?
It’s my birthday week, and I’ve decided to give you all a present to help celebrate my 33rd this past Tuesday June, 4th. What better way than to have my very first release up for FREE on Amazon for the entire weekend! (June 7th, 8th, and 9th)
I’d like to thank everyone for joining me here, and I hope you enjoy it! *coughs* Don’t forget, I’m always up for some new reviews too. If you have the time that is, in the meantime please check out the blurb and excerpt below and get your very own copy today before time runs out! J Spread the word…
[amazon_link id=”B004OYTSHE” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]GET IT HERE (AMAZON)[/amazon_link]
Book blurb:
Jenna Baker is shaken up after her recovery with a near death experience. As if, being haunted with visions and losing her husband in a car accident weren’t hard enough. Could she be losing her mind? She finally moves on, only to have the husband she thought was dead suddenly reappear.
After the shocking task of convincing Jenna that she’s not seeing his ghost, Tyler becomes overwhelmed with guilt for saving himself and leaving her to almost die. Jenna’s recovery takes its toll while Tyler’s vulnerability gets the best of him. He’s harboring secrets that will devastate her and as Jenna unravels the truth her life takes an unexpected journey.
Excerpt:
He smiled again, taking the last plate from her to dry and shook off the extra suds. Drips of water and soap suds flew through the air getting her wet in the process, and he laughed at her shocked expression.
“Oh, really,” she said in the mood to play. Taking the sprayer hose from the faucet, she turned it on and gave him a squirt. She laughed, and it was his turn to pause in shock.
She could tell by his expression that this meant war and made a run for it, laughing the whole way. She made it into the living room before he extended his arm to catch her, swooping her up as if she was feather light.
“Got ye.”
They both laughed, but when she turned to face him, he became serious suddenly. She knew then that the games were over. He brushed a strand of hair from her face and pulled her towards him. Slowly moving his face closer, his eyes sparkled and completely absorbed hers.
The kiss started out slow, and she wanted him to take his time with it. She held back a groan when his mouth pulled away and pulled him tighter against her. Her adrenaline pumped faster, and she could feel the warmth coursing throughout her body. There was no thinking twice about it; her desire consumed her.
Pushing him against the wall, she kissed him hard, wanting him in that moment more than she’d ever wanted anything. She liked where this was going, liked being in control, needed it in that moment.
Placing her hands on his chest, she slowly moved them down his beautifully sculptured abs. “Stay,” she whispered, taking a step back so that he could watch as she unzipped her dress. It slowly slid to the floor exposing her bare breasts and the sexy black thong she wore. She kicked it out of the way, pulled his shirt off, and pressed herself against him again, flesh against flesh.
Author bio:
Jennifer Labelle resides in Ottawa, Ontario Canada with her husband and three beautiful children. After her third child she became a stay at home mom. In her busy household Jennifer likes to spend her down time engrossed in the stories that she creates. She is an active reader of romance (especially historical), mystery and anything paranormal. With an education in Addictions work she’s decided to take a less stressful approach in life and hopes that you enjoy, as she shares some of her imagination with all of you.
Author contact links:
Website: http://www.jenniferlabelle.com
Blog: http://labellebooks.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/1JenniferLabell
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Jennifer-Labelle/168414043184292#!/pages/Author-Jennifer-Labelle/168414043184292
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4649930.Jennifer_Labelle
Best wishes,
Jennifer Labelle
by Sarah | Jun 5, 2013 | Guest Authors, Guest Post, Writing
*Today I have Gordon Osmond stopping by to talk about Book reviews. He’s welcoming a lively discussion, so let’s give him one.
*~*
The following article expresses only my own personal opinions and observations and was written primarily to stimulate discussion on a subject important to authors. Contrary opinions and other comments are encouraged.
Many questions arise on this subject once a book has been accepted for publication and the author is starting out on the daunting task of promoting it with a view to stimulating sales.
When should the search for a review begin?
It depends upon which reviewers you’re courting. If you want a “free” review in Publishers Weekly or other well-respected and notorious review sources, you’d best submit your book pre-release.
Getting reviews in advance of publication also makes it possible to put squibs from glowing reviews on the printed copy of the book itself. This is, of course, more important when your book will be on shelves rather than only online.
What different kinds of reviews are out there? How do they rank in terms of credibility and exposure?
A statement from John/Jane Q. Public which reads something like, “A real page turner. I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait for the next one” whether it appears on Amazon or in Macy’s window, is a nice comment but not my idea of a review, especially if it is written by a blood relative who owes you money.
On the other end of the spectrum is a thorough and well reasoned review written by someone who has no reason whatsoever to be kind and who also has some experience writing reviews for credible reviewing sites, like Bookpleasures or Bookideas for which I write reviews. One of my most treasured reviews of my debut novel, Slipping on Stardust, was a 5-Star Amazon review from an author whose own book I rated less then perfect on my review sites. Now that’s impartiality! Amazon is a mixed bad, including as it does reviews from their Top Ranking Reviewers as well as from Aunt Edna. Also, in deciding whether a review can be posted, Amazon seems more concerned with whether the reviewer has a customer account with Amazon than with whether the reviewer has actually received the book being reviewed.
One of the many great things about Secret/Sweet Cravings Publishing is that reviews on a book’s page are divided between regular reader reviews and professional ones. Amazon seems to make a comparable effort, but I’m not convinced it’s always successful.
Paid reviews are to me prima facie questionable despite protestations of impartiality by the reviewing site.
And don’t let the stars get in your eyes and hope they don’t get in the eyes of those browsing for good books to read. I received a 4-Star review from a Top Amazon reviewer that showed more care in reading my book than I took in writing it.
By the way, there’s a difference between a “mixed” review wherein a single writer carefully balances a book’s merits and demerits and “polarized” reviews where there’s a wide range in a group of reviews between good and bad.
How should authors react to reviews?
With stoic restraint. There’s nothing wrong with thanking a reviewer for the time taken in reading your book, and an author can certainly express the pleasure of receiving a good review. But challenging or arguing with the author of a less-than-glowing review is downright foolish and should never be done.
If an author’s frustration or anger level is at the breaking point, it might be acceptable to say something like what’s been said to me sometimes by the author of a book I have reviewed more or less unfavorably, viz,. “It’s always interesting to see my work seen through other eyes.” Of course, the subtext is, “And your eyes are not functioning,” but no harm done. As a critic, I have more respect for an author who takes the lumps in silence.
Final advice and comfort from the great American actor Geraldine Page.
Ms. Page received precious few bad reviews in the course of her long and distinguished stage and film career, but when asked how she would react to a bad one, she answered simply, “I would just think the critic has poor taste.” That should sustain all authors in their darkest hours.
*~*
| [amazon_link id=”1618856618″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon[/amazon_link] |
BN |
SCP |
Blurb:
The ultimate guilt-free escapist adventure, Slipping on Stardust is a riveting tale of small-time life, adolescent rebellion, community theatre intrigues, and legal scandals, with a kidnapping demanding suicide as ransom thrown in for extra spice. The book is an ideal gift, suitable for stuffing in beach bags, holiday stockings—in fact, everything but the Thanksgiving turkey.
It all starts when Adrian Conway, an aging Hollywood movie icon, arrives in Johnson, Ohio to star in a community theatre production opposite the local reigning drama queen, who is the wife of the town’s leading lawyer and the mother of a handsome, but sexually undecided son, who suffers from every adolescent plague except acne. To say that all hell breaks loose thereafter is not to do justice to hell. The conflicts that follow fling family members to New York City and to Hollywood in a trail of betrayal, scandal, and crime.
The exposure of small-town foibles and secrets plus the depiction of the tragic and sometimes comic consequences of sacrificing real values for false ones have caused Slipping on Stardust to be viewed as a cross between Peyton Place and Madame Bovary.
After only five months on the market, Slipping on Stardust has already garnered no fewer than 10 five-star reviews on Amazon, including reviews from a Pulitzer Prize nominee and a Ph.D. who teaches creative writing at the university level.
Book excerpt (not previously featured on guest blogspots):
In Columbus, an assistant district attorney, well down the bureaucratic totem pole, had listened patiently to the separate testimonies of both Mason and Allerton. Mason’s account was liberally peppered with references to Allerton; Allerton’s contained nary a single reference to his boss, focusing solely on his own innocence.
As the meeting was winding down, a secretary announced the arrival of one Danton Brockway, who apparently had something to add to the proceedings. Dan entered the room, acknowledged the two he knew and shook hands with the one he didn’t.
“Thank you for agreeing to see me without an appointment, but I fear that your office may be about to make an erroneous determination of guilt in the Malorex matter. As I understand it, neither of these two gentlemen has offered evidence of their whereabouts on the night in question. I am in a position to do so.”
It would be difficult to choose which participant in the meeting was the most astonished.
Danton continued, “Alibis tend to be suspect when provided by loved ones or by those with a financial interest in a particular result. What I’m about to tell you is not only not self-serving, but the very essence of an admission against my own interest and therefore, under well established evidentiary principles familiar to us all, worthy of the highest possible degree of credibility.”
Mason interrupted, somewhat frantically. “What are you talking about, Danton?”
“Let him speak, Mr. Kriek. I think he’s about to tell us.” The junior DA was earning his wings.
“What I’m talking about, Mason, is that Mr. Allerton could not possibly have taken the documents during the time period in question for the very simple, and to me fatal, reason that he was with me at the Bird’s Nest motel that entire night. He was with me at my request—a request reinforced with the clearest possible threat of professional retaliation should he have refused.”
While the others were reeling, Dan was drilling through Allerton’s eyes with an urgent message for his brain. Deny this and you’re dead.
Speaking of eyes, the assistant district attorney was suddenly looking at Mason Kriek with new ones.
by Sarah | Jun 4, 2013 | Books, Changing Tracks, Derailed, Hump Day Hook, Publishing Credits, Secret Cravings Publishing, Writing
Oh me, oh my, oh me, oh my! The day has come!! With this weeks Hump Day Hook I’m revealing the cover for book 2 in my Dominion Falls Series, Derailed. My editor and I have done one round on the book, and the release date is ONE MONTH from now!!
I am so excited for this book, and this cover, I can hardly tell you!!
As part of this cover reveal, which will span several blogs over the next few days (stay tuned here or on my Facebook page for regular updates on where to find the giveaways!!). Each website that’s hosting my cover reveal is having a giveaway for an ebook copy of Changing Tracks (if you win, but already have CT, we can work out a deal for Derailed or Masked Hearts).
>>>Grand Prize is a signed paperback copy of Changing Tracks, plus a surprise book by one of Jane Doe’s favorite authors**
Every comment on every participating blog is considered an entry. If you post a comment on each participating blog, you receive an entry for each of those locations. Please include your email address in your comment to be counted, so I know how to reach you!
Participating blogs: Dawne’s Reading Nook | Sabrina Garie | Book Babe |
All entries will be accrued and tallied, and a winner will be drawn on June 14th, 2013 at 9PM. Winner will have 48 hours to get back to me, or I will choose another winner.
**Grand Prize Giveaway open to US participants only
Now, onto the reveal, blurb, and hook!! (I beg lenience this week as a special week, I’m going a small bit over my usual limit of 7-10 lines).
In book 1 we met Mike, Clara Young’s brother, who quickly became a part of Jane’s life as she still felt an attachment to the brother she couldn’t remember.
In Derailed, an, um, issue arises and he decides to deal with Cole:
A splinter of wood drove into his arm, but he ignored it in favor of delivering a solid kick to Cole’s kidneys. His arms were grabbed, and he was dragged back, but he wasn’t finished. Pure venom shot out of his throat. “You aren’t a man. You never were.”
Cole was held back by Graham and a soldier, fighting against their grip with a deep growl. “She never had any complaints. Kept comin’ back for more.”
“Stay the hell away from her.”
“Mike.” David’s voice strained as he fought to keep a hold of him.
“She’ll be back. She won’t be able to help herself.” Cole fought an arm free only to have it grabbed again. “Just tell her to stay away, see how she takes it.”
With renewed fury, Mike fought against David and Archie, trying to get free. “Bastard. You don’t deserve her. You didn’t deserve—”
“Michael.” Daisy’s shriek stilled both men for the briefest moment.
Remember to leave a comment to win!!
And visit all the other blogs:
BLURB:
The sins of a past she can’t remember could destroy a present she’ll never forget.
The crimes of her forgotten past threaten the very life Jane Doe has learned to cherish.
Jane is out of time. With a warrant on her head, a maniac out for her blood, and a secret baby on the way, something has to give.
Without Cole Mitchell’s help to find the answers, there may be no hope left.
Cole has nowhere left to hide. He unwittingly let Jane into his heart, and is ready to share the secret of his dark past.
Fate has a way of playing its hand, and tragedy strikes. With the world crumbling around them, it’s easy to lose faith. If they can’t forgive past sins, they have no hope for the future.
Because the noose waits for no man or woman.
*~*
Hump Day Hook asks authors to post one paragraph of one of their stories, whether a WIP, one contracted, or already published. Please visit and comment on the participants – you might just stumble on the next great read for your library! To see more participants, click on the HDH banner below:
by Sarah | Jun 4, 2013 | Book Spotlight, Guest Authors, Writing
*The excerpt below is steamy. NSFW & 18 or older only warnings apply.
|[amazon_link id=”B00CQUPUKW” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ] Amazon[/amazon_link] | BN | Apple | Kobo |
Blurb:
Following the deaths of her sister and brother-in-law, Kaya Brehna is awarded custody of their three children, and to avoid financial ruin, she must move them to Palm Beach where her successful career in interior decorating can provide financial security. Her plans are, however, thwarted by New Hampshire business mogul, Bryce Fontaine, who is determined to keep his godchildren in Granite Falls at all costs—even emotional blackmail.
Ever since he lost his own family five years earlier, Bryce Fontaine has been a tormented soul. His godchildren are the closest thing to family he has, and he’ll be damned before he let some corporate ladder-climbing stranger take them away from him.
When a second will surfaces that changes both their plans, Bryce talks Kaya into a loveless marriage of convenience. One delectable nibble of Kaya’s sweet lips, and Bryce is yearning for more of his sexy little bride. He gently entices her into his bed. But as she quickly learns to quench his physical desires, Kaya wonders if she has the power to free her husband’s heart from the nightmares that plague it.
Excerpt:
Bryce opened the door of his dimly lit penthouse to the sensual sounds of soft music floating from the surround sound built-in stereo, and the earthy aroma from the pillars of burning candles wafting through the air.
He stepped inside and his breath caught in his throat at the sight of his wife leaning against the back of the sofa—one black stiletto clad foot, slightly bend, one hand resting seductively on her thigh, and the other holding a juicy red strawberry, dipped in whipped cream, close to her half-opened mouth. Her brown curly hair fell like a mystical curtain down the sides of her beautiful face, bounced off her gentle shoulders, and disappeared down the curve of her back. Her eyes were wide and luminous, and full of enchantment and expectation.
“Don’t move,” he ordered when she made an attempt to straighten up. “And don’t talk,” he added when she opened her mouth to speak.
She settled down obediently, but not before she brought the strawberry to her mouth and closed her succulent lips around half of it, a wicked smile flashing in her eyes as she rested her hand quite seductively on her voluptuous cleavage spilling over the top of the pink lacy bodice of her outfit. She was glowing.
Bryce swore he would have come in his pants if he hadn’t recently taken a cold shower. He’d been anticipating this moment; he’d left orders for her to follow, and she’d obeyed. Good girl. But God, he didn’t expect her to look this freaking tempting and irresistible like a centerfold lingerie model straight out of the latest issue of Victoria’s Secrets. Bryce didn’t know Kaya was the first thing he would see when he came home, much less find her standing in such a provocative pose. She must have asked the front desk to let her know when he arrived. His little recently deflowered bride was staging for him. He loved it!
She made an erotic picture as she stood there, clad in the flimsy lingerie he’d left on the bed for her to wear—innocent and sinful all at the same time, he thought, admiring the soft curves of her brown body through the black silky mesh that made up the lower half of the garment. The shapely beauty of her near-nakedness taunted him, and he couldn’t wait to slip her thongs off her hips and down her shapely legs to her ankles. He knew well the full weight of her firm young breasts in the palms of his hands, and the sleek sensation of her moist heat opening for him like a dewy flower opens its petals to the magic of the morning sun. Knowing his wife’s copious reservoir of love juices, Bryce could bet that the crotch of that thong was already soaked. Oh yeah, he was keeping those.
Author Bio:
Ana began indulging in romance novels at a very early age. By the time she was sixteen, she’d read every Mills & Boon, Regency, and Historical Romance novel in the library on her small island of Nevis in the West Indies. Her love for everything romance has grown stronger over the years.
Just recently Ana resigned from teaching 11th-grade Writing and English Literature to devote her life and time to writing, and she is loving every minute of it. She has self-published The Doctor’s Secret Bride – Book One, and The Mogul’s Reluctant Bride – Book Two of theBillionaire Brides of Granite Falls Series. She is currently at work on The Playboy’s Fugitive Bride – Book Three, which she hopes to release in October, 2013. The Tycoon’s Temporary Bride – Book Four, will be released in early 2014.
When she’s not writing, Ana enjoys reading, cooking, dancing, and spending time with her daughter.
Read more about Ana via her website: www.anaeross.com
The Zambezi at dusk
Photo by Mike Myers
Satellite view of the river, the falls, and the gorges.
The Devils Cataract
