Life Is Classified

Where did the idea for Macyn’s Letter come from?

I originally started writing Macyn’s Letter as a fiction blog in 2008, although it was simply named Macyn McIntyre. I had no direction when I started writing. All I did was write, and as the ideas came to me, I allowed my fingers to lead the way. I was surprised as much as my readers with each post.

What are you working on right now?

I’m currently working on a four book standalone series about four sisters who own a bar and moonlight as hitmen/assassins.

Have you ever had an imaginary friend?

Yes and no...My imaginary friend was Marsha Brady. My mom said I’d play with Marsha for hours under our kitchen table. I don’t remember playing with her, but I do know she was my favorite from the Brady Bunch...Marsha, Marsha, Marsha

How did you meet your husband?

My hubby and I worked together in the automotive field. We saw each other on a daily basis, but we never really spoke to each other. I actually first spoke with him at a club. I was out with my friends when I spotted him and his friends across the room. I made a beeline to him (with the help of some liquid courage) and talked with him for at least ten minutes before I disappeared for the night. I didn’t really talk to him again for about six months. We’ve now been together for ten years.

Are there any weird things you do when you are alone?

I dance around the house and chase my dog through the house. I sit a lot during the day because of writing, but when I do get up, I always try to move fast or add some type of little exercise. A little is better than none, right???

Do you have any tattoos?

I have three. The first is on my lower, right back, and I got it when I was stationed in San Diego while I was in the Navy. The second is a butterfly on my shoulder, and I also had it done when I lived in San Diego. The third is a butterfly on my ankle. I got it in Virginia on my 23rd birthday. It was my gift to myself.

What kind of music do you like?

I love almost anything from the 80’s. If I’m listening to music, it’s safe to say 95% of the time it will be something from the 80’s.

Do you dance?

I used to dance a lot in my twenties, but as I’ve had kids, I find we don’t have a chance to go out often, so my dancing has lessened. But I do dance around the house and with my kids.

If money were not a problem, what is one thing you would buy?

I would make sure my mom had a home and someone to help her take care of it.

What advice would you give others who have an interest in writing?

Don’t give up. It doesn’t matter what others think of your work. If you love writing, then write for you!

Author Bio:

S.L. Stacker is a romantic suspense author and novelist with Booktrope publishing and a member of International Thriller Writers association. She has written and published three books in the Macyn McIntyre series. Her current work includes several fiction novels, but her focus is Sisters of Summit Bay—to be published in 2015. When she isn’t throwing her readers for a loop and leaving them with cliffhangers, she can be found chilling with her husband, children, and dog.   

Title: Macyn’s Letter (Book 1)
Series: Macyn McIntyre
Author: S.L. Stacker
Publisher: Booktrope Editions
Publication Date: May 21st
Genre: Romantic Suspense

 Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

A near-death experience at the hands of her husband would cause any woman to cling to her crippling trust issues and dating phobia, and Macyn McIntyre is no exception. Falling into the lap of a sexy stranger may persuade her to change her mind, but before Macyn realizes what’s happening, a second potential love interest is vying for her affections. When a threatening letter turns up in her mailbox, Macyn realizes choosing between two guys is the least of her worries. Abduction, violence, and rescue by an elite squad change the course of her life forever. When she seeks revenge on those who hurt her, she has to decide if she can trust the ones who vow they love her. Will Macyn be able to overcome her past and use their aid in her vendetta, or will she take matters into her own hands?


Author Bio:

S.L. Stacker is a romantic suspense author and novelist with Booktrope publishing and a member of International Thriller Writers association. She has written and published three books in the Macyn McIntyre series. Her current work includes several fiction novels, but her focus is Sisters of Summit Bay—to be published in 2015. When she isn’t throwing her readers for a loop and leaving them with cliffhangers, she can be found chilling with her husband, children, and dog.  

The Road to Self-Publishing

I decided to pick the topic of Self-Publishing for my guest post namely because it was a steep climb and yet the view from the top (top being completion) is beautiful, trilling and quite rewarding. I actually wrote my novel five years ago in 2010 on a whim. The thought was that I’d been a reader so long and enjoyed so many authors’ work that perhaps it was time to give back to future readers by creating an experience myself. I found a great community of people to review my chapters using a quid pro quo type system – I review yours, you review mine. It was called critique circle.

After many, many rejection letters to various publishers and agents, even attending a few events and trying to grab someone’s attention, I finally threw the manuscript into a drawer and said forget it. Several of my friends decided to go ahead and self-publish, several of them making a solid name for themselves. They pushed over the years and finally, with Amazon’s Createspace and Kindle’s easy access to publish I decided to do it.

I will tell you this – self-publishing is hard work. Having to be and do all for your book is a big deal and no easy feat, but just like any mountain that you might scale, (and I believe you’re capable of scaling ANY) you just need clear expectations, a goal in mind and the proper tools/people to get you there.

First stop on the map: You need a great story that has a solid plot, good characterization, issues and resolutions, a few surprises and depth. It’s hard writing a trilogy or series because you need that first book to set everything up, but it’s a balance of giving information, throwing in plot points and movement and developing a larger story and the characters in it. After writing that story you need to find yourself a good editor to line edit and content edit your manuscript.

Second stop on the map: After that first edit is complete, and this is SO WORTH the money you’ll spend getting it done if you find the right person to do it, you need to find some Beta readers. A beta reader is someone who will take the 1^st draft (post-edit) and read it for content, their feedback being directed by questions you might ask. It’s smart to gather 4-6 beta readers around you and ask them pointed questions about your story instead of “did you like it?” That doesn’t help, but “Did you think Ken was overbearing and too clique for the football hottie or was he spot on? If he was overbearing, what do you think I could change in the novel or descriptions that might change that for the story?”

Third stop on the map: While your beta readers are reading, start working on your cover art. Some people are crafty enough to get away with doing their own cover, but I will tell you that the cover is crazy important. It’s like going to a restaurant and ordering something that comes out and looks like crap. Could be the best tasting stuff ever, but I’m not eating it. Are you? If your cover looks silly or unprofessional, most people will skim right over it. Pay for a good cover and if you need some recommendations for good cover artists just shoot me a note. I’ve worked with a handful at this point.

Fourth stop on the map: Edit your manuscript once more for feedback that you agree with from your beta readers and shoot it back off to your editor one more time for a last review on the changes. If 2-3 of your beta readers all mention the same thing, take heart, it’s important for you to address however you see fit.

Fifth stop on the map: Putting it all together. I used Createspace and Kindle – both Amazon for my products. Their system will tell you everything you need to format the document and put your cover art in the proper sizes. Follow the instructions carefully and you can’t go wrong.

Sixth stop on the map: Promotions. This is never ending I do believe and takes a lot of finesse and authenticity. I hear a lot about how to do this and how not to, but I’ll tell you that for me I’ve chosen twitter and FB as my go-to tools and I use my website, my friends and my blog occasionally to help spread the word. Just remember that the more you write and produce, the more your name will become prevalent in the sea of great reads.

Hope that helps. If you have any specific questions just ask below and I’ll give you my thoughts/experience.

Thanks!

Kate

Title: The Light, Equilibrium II
Series: Equilibrium
Author: Kate Thomas
Genre: Paranormal Romance - New Adult

With the truth of Ellie's place among the Balance Keepers finally coming to light, training now begins. She must learn to harness the powers that are growing within her, some spiraling out of control. Confusion and frustration become her constant companions, as her search for answers does nothing but push her further from the man she's come to love.

David is The Light, the speaker of truth, the whisperer of good in the world. His desire for more than he can have with his new apprentice tears at the fabric of his own stability, bit by bit. He knows what the future holds — and just how damning it will be for Ellie if she's not prepared to handle it — but he's forbidden to help.

As tragedy becomes reality, will she reach for The Light, or run into the soothing arms of The Darkness?


Author Bio:

Title: Alien Love
Author: Stan Schatt
Publisher: Booktrope Publishing
Publication Date: April 30, 2015
Genre: Science Fiction

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble

In Stan Schatt’s latest Science Fiction novel, a dying astronaut reveals a secret that blows the lid on a government treaty with extraterrestrials while other alien races have come to Earth with their own agendas.

Meanwhile an ancient alien race with a base on the Moon makes plans that could spell doom. 25 year- old EX-SEAL, Jack Starling, has plenty of his own problems, but he can’t help falling in love with the beautiful woman he rescues after she is brutally attacked.

He learns how dangerous it can be to fall in love with someone who is not human who has her own plans for him. Jack finds himself pitted against aliens far stronger and far more cunning than any human enemies. Once he learns what the aliens have planned for him
and for Earth, he must race against time before it is too late.


  Author Bio:

Dr. Stan Schatt spent many years as a futurist responsible for forecasting future technology products and markets for Fortune 500 companies. He served as a Fulbright Professor and taught at Tokyo University, USC, and the University of Houston. He is the author of over thirty books ranging from science fiction and paranormal mysteries to young adult novels. Schatt is a technology expert who has been quoted in the New York Times, Fortune, and BusinessWeek as well as CNBC.  

Giveaway

I had no idea that Mark Twain, Toni Morrison, or George Orwell are all pseudonyms! 

If you are not a mom: CLICK HERE

When I called mom to tell her TRAVELS WITH PENNY was being re-launched, she paused and calmly asked, "Launched where?"

"No, ma.  It means a re-release."

"Oh." Another pause. "Why?"

"Well..we have a new cover, some edited material...we put back into the book some of those stories we initially rejected.  Remember?"

You could hear the sigh of relief.  "Thank God! For a minute I thought it was held up in customs or something!"

Yeah.  Welcome to life with Penny.  With material like this, how can you NOT write a book?

Title: Travels with Penny
Author: David Alan Morrison
Publication Date: April 2015
Publisher: Booktrope

Two things flashed through my mind when I opened the door to the sex shop to find my mother standing in front of the display case talking to a tall salesman wearing a leather harness, jock strap and a dog collar. The first was, "Oh, crap." The second was, "I hate when Dad's right."

Following the sudden death of his father, a single, middle-aged gay guy struggles with his own mortality be reminiscing about the travels with his gregarious mother. It is a look at the transformation of the baffling, complex relationship between children and their parents.

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This tour was organized by Good Tales Book Tours.