Saturday, November 1, 2014

Giving Thanks and Books!

UPDATE: We have a winner!!! Kai W., please check your email! Thanks for everyone who entered. Please check back for more fun giveaways!


Happy November!

This month the Sassy Chicks are feeling gifty and giving away all kinds of goodies!

Here's the first giveaway:



Three autographed books!
These books are new and will be given to one winner with a U.S. mailing address.


Connect with the authors on Twitter!

Cecy Robson     |     Julie Ann Walker     |     Jessa Russo



As always, thanks for stopping by, and be sure to check back to see what else we're doing this month!

Friday, October 17, 2014

As Heard at Retreat

What happens when four writers rent a house in Sanibel, Florida and decide to set goals?

These "As Heard at Retreat" are "as heard" and not necessarily "as said."

Can you guess the speaker?

a. Lynnette Hallberg
b. Diane O'Key
c. Amanda Flower
d. Marisa Cleveland


1. "If I didn't love you, I'd slap the shit out of you."


2. "...and now I've sliced my finger open."


3. "If an alligator eats her, I'll never get over it."


4. "You have to eat at least one Cheetos."


5. "I like to be right. I don't handle being wrong too well."


6. "Every time I travel something traumatic happens, but I keep doing it anyway."


7. "I will drown my sorrow in guacamole."



8. "Come here. I told Lane I would pinch you." What?!?


9. "Did I show you the picture of me signing his butt?"


10. "Well, I'm doing great with the writing. Nicole will be so proud." -- word count = 0


11. "You can't cure stupid."


12. "Whoo, I'm all hot and bothered."


13. "You just lost your Cheetos for an hour!"


14. "If I'm going to have to drink it, I need it to be frozen. Like a slushy."


15. "Well, it's time to get these two into bed."


16. "I'm totally screwed up."


17. "It's going to hurt, you will cry a lot, and you'll wish you never did it, but it will be worth it."


...and here are some pics we snapped during our writing breaks...

Wake up and write until the sun rises

Finish second cup of coffee

Go outside and jog


Write, chat, write

Visit bakery for goodies


Dolphin-sighting


Write, stare out window, write

Take a Cheetos break


Watch two boats racing



Visit Cheeburger Cheeburger

Thanks, Diane!

Drink milkshakes

Relax

Enjoy the beach


Take "us"ies from the back seat

Become a National Bestselling Author!

Take pictures of geckos

Put on real clothes to go out for dinner

Take pics of each other

Let the process unfold

Commune with nature


Walk through the woods

Go shelling

Pack up laptop

Have one final group dinner


Drink wine

Celebrate being a novelist




As always, thanks for stopping by the blog!

xox
~Marisa





Friday, May 30, 2014

Lynnette Austin here! I'm so excited.

Tall, Dark, and Cowboy, a special six-box boxed set, releases June 3, 2014, and includes my Somebody Like You along with full-length books by Katie Lane, Ruth Ryan Langan, Molly Cannon, Laura Drake, and Erin Kern. 

Here's a short excerpt from Somebody Like You:

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Annelise Montjoy motored her Harley along what appeared to be the town’s main street. This was Maverick Junction?
A blue Cadillac, surely old enough to be in a museum, was parked nose-in to the curb. An incredibly ugly dog sat in the front seat.
Thank God, this, the final destination of her cross-country trip from Boston, was temporary. It looked like the kind of place you ran away from, not to. If luck was on her side, she’d be out of here in a couple weeks at the most.
And then a store door opened and her breath caught. Go, Texas! Look at that cowboy. So different than any of the men in her life. So…intriguing. She slowed to nearly a standstill and watched as he swiped an arm across his forehead, then dumped a grocery bag in the back seat of the old Caddy.
Cracking open a bottle of water, he turned his head in her direction. Her breath hitched as his gaze ran lazily over her, her bike. Then he snagged a Styrofoam cup from inside his car and filled it before setting it on the blistering pavement for the dog waiting patiently beside him.
Leaning against the faded fender, he thumbed back his battered Stetson and chugged the rest of the water. Twisting the cap back on, he tossed the bottle into the recycling bin beside the grocer’s door.
Annelise pulled her bike into a parking space across the street, deliberately turning her back on the stranger. While his clothes might have been stereotypical cowboy--worn jeans, a faded tee-shirt, cowboy boots and hat—he took everything from simmer to boiling point. The jeans hugged long legs, while the shirt stretched taut across his muscled chest. There was something very alluring about him and that surprised her. He wasn’t the kind she was usually drawn to.
He shouldn’t appeal to her.
He did.
Not so much as a breeze stirred. The flag on the post office hung limp, and the cheerful red, white, and blue balloons someone had hung outside a beauty salon drooped listlessly.
Unable to stop herself, she peeked in the bike’s rearview mirror. Cowboy was bent over, talking to the dog. Quite a view, but she wasn’t here to admire a fine jean-clad butt. She needed something cold to drink and something light to eat. Then she’d go in search of Dottie Willis and the apartment she’d rented over the internet. Maverick Junction, Texas. Annelise wished she was driving through, wished she could view it as simply a spot on the map where she’d stopped for lunch one summer day.
 

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Celebrate!!! JUST BREATHE by Tamara Mataya

Hi All!

Marisa here, and I'm so super excited that it's finally May 6th and you get to read another incredible, amazing, heart-pounding, panty-steaming novel from Tamara Mataya!

Tamara is the Amazon bestselling author of THE BEST LAID PLANS, and today is her release day for JUST BREATHE.

This is absolutely a 5-Star book with such deep emotional conflict and internal growth that I found myself tense and anxious for Elle to get it right. It's raw and edgy and filled with real decisions and challenges of today's world.

So help me spread the word with some tweets, retweets, status updates, and picture shares!




Follow her on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/feakysnucker




As always, thanks for stopping by!

xox ~Marisa

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

One Night With A Cowboy By Elizabeth Otto cover reveal!

Sexy!!!!!! I've read this book and it is HOT!


Cover Reveal: Elizabeth Otto’s ONE NIGHT WITH A COWBOY (Paint River Ranch #2)
Releasing May 12th, 2014 from Entangled Publishing

One night is never enough…

Jobless, broke and struggling to support herself and her invalid mother, paramedic Sophie Miller doesn’t have time or energy for a relationship. Especially with her mother’s clock ticking down. So when the sexy cowboy she meets at a carnival proposes a no-strings one-night stand, she’s all over it. Until her one-night stand shows up again and turns out to be everything she’s ever wanted.

Tucker Haywood has his hands full running Paint River Ranch and trying to deal with all the changes pulling the rug out from under him. His past has taught him it’s better to keep women at arm’s length, for their sake. Stubborn and temperamental, Tucker doesn’t have a clue how to deal with a city girl who’s scared of squirrels and dirt.

So when Sophie gets under his skin, he has to do whatever it takes to push her away. Even if it means losing the part of himself he never thought he’d find.


This is the second book in the Paint River Ranch series, but reads as a stand-alone. You can find the highly-acclaimed first book in the series, TEMPTING THE COWBOY, on Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

You can follow Elizabeth on Facebook | Twitter | Blog

Add to your Goodreads

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Hi all!

I'm swamped with things to do...writing, edits, proofs. EEP! But no worries, I totes have something to get you through this (dreary, cold, winter if you're in a cold climate like me) Wednesday. It's a NEW exclusive excerpt from The Millionaire Affair! The ONLY excerpt, in fact.

I'm going to get back to work.

Enjoy!
Jess :)

Monday, February 10, 2014

Cover Reveal: Anomaly

Today Tonya Kuper and Entangled Teen are revealing the cover for ANOMALY, releasing in November 4, 2014! Check out the awesome cover and enter to win an eARC!


On to the reveal!







About the Book 
Title: ANOMALY (Schrodinger's Consortium #1)
Author: Tonya Kuper
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pub. Date: November 4, 2014
Pages: 400
Find it: GoodreadsAmazon
\

What if the world isn't what we think?
What if reality is only an illusion?
What if you were one of the few who could control it?
Yeah, Josie Harper didn't believe it, either, until strange things started happening. And when this hot guy tried to kidnap her, shouting about ultimate observers and pushing and consortiums hell-bent on controlling the world… Well, that's when things got real. Now Josie's got it bad for a boy who weakens her every time he's near and a world of enemies on her tail who want to control her gift, so yeah, she's going to need more than just her wits if she hopes to survive much longer.

Einstein never saw this coming...





About Tonya:
YA scifi author of ANOMALY, out 11/14, Entangled Teen. Represented by Nicole Resciniti. Contributor at yastands.blogspot.com & allthewritenotes.com. Music freak. Chocolate addict.










Giveaway Details:

1 eARC of ANOMALY International
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview & Review: Tracey Livesay

Super congrats to Tracey Livesay and her first book in her "In Love with a Tycoon Series." Her first book, The Tycoon's Socialite Bride, releases today, and we're excited to catch her for an interview!

Tracey Livesay wrote her first romance novel at the age of eleven, called “The Healing Power of Love.” With a detour through college and law school--where she met her husband on the very first day--she’s finally achieved her dream of being a published author. She lives in Virginia with said husband and three kids. For info on her upcoming releases or to chat about TV, movies and/or purses you can check out her website (traceylivesay.com) or find her on Facebook (TraceyLivesayAuthor) and Twitter (@tlivesay).


1. When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
Like most writers, I’ve always written. It started with short stories and plays when I was younger and progressed from there. In college, when I wanted a break from calculus and organic chemistry *shudders* I would write romantic short stories for my friends, starring them and whatever boy they liked at the moment. :-) But I never practically considered a career as a writer; my parents would have had a fit. It was only after having my kids that I started to consider writing as a second career.

2. What is your writing schedule like?
I try to write while the kids are in school. The moment they get off the bus, I’m back in mommy mode. If I’m on a deadline, all bets are off.

3. What advice would you give yourself if you could go back in time before you were published?
Establish a routine. My path to publication happened really quickly. Tycoon is my first book. So I had no idea how many hours a day I would need to write to complete a book or how to incorporate writing as a full time job into my life as a stay at home mom. So figure out what you can reasonably produce without turning you or your family upside down.

4. How did you come up with the idea for your book The Tycoon’s Socialite Bride?
I saw the scene first, before anything else came together. I had a picture of this woman waiting outside of an executive’s office all day for a chance to talk with him. Finally, when it was clear that she wasn’t going to be let in, she gets annoyed and bursts into his office. I thought, what would make a woman do that? And in my head, this was an elegant, sophisticated woman. What would she care about to go to such an extreme? I had to change the opening for other reasons, so that initial scene isn’t in the book, but that feeling of desperation is still there.

5. How long does it take you to write a book?
See my answer to #3. I’m still trying to figure that out! LOL

6. Is there an author you haven't met who you'd really like to meet?
The great thing about romance writer’s conferences is that you get to meet other authors and you realize they really are just like you. It’s been amazing to meet a person whose name you’ve seen on the cover of books for years. At my first RWA National conference in 2012 I met Nalini Singh at a publisher book signing. I had read Slave to Sensation about four months prior and was instantly addicted. I read all of the Psy/Changeling books back to back and then started the Guild Hunter series. She remains my #1 auto buy. So while I’ve “met” her, what I’d really like to do is have a drink with her and hang out with her.  Oh God, now I sound like a crazy stalker. LOL

7. Do you prefer ebooks, paperbacks, or hardcover?
For the purposes of space, I have to say ebooks. Like most readers, I had a keeper shelf and my keeper shelf grew to enormous proportions. When I bought my first Kindle, it was awesome. I could put numerous books on a small device I could always carry with me. And no matter what I was in the mood to read, I could access it with the push of a button. I now have over 150 books on my Kindle Fire. It’s a portable library. 

8. What do you do when you're not writing?
In the little bit of time I have left after taking care of my family, I love watching TV and movies., although TV is so good these days that I’d rather watch episodes of a show than go to the movies.

9. What advice would you give to new authors?
Remember this is a business. The romance of finally achieving your dream of being published can be alluring and you can forget that the goal is to sell books. Make sure you learn all parts of the industry, not just the parts about writing.

10. What were the last three books you read? Robin Covington’s Sweet Southern Betrayal, Graeme Simsion’s The Rosie Project and Jeaniene Frost’s One Foot in the Grave. I used to read much more before I started writing. I miss it.

 
Fast Facts:

Coffee or tea?  Coffee. I like both, but I’m addicted to coffee. I have to have it twice a day or the caffeine headache that follows is brutal!

Morning or night? I am a morning person all the way. If I sleep late, something is wrong with me.

Rivers or oceans? Uh, can I pick a nice saltwater pool? LOL

White wine or red? Both, but I like them sweet, not dry.

Champagne or liquor? My blog is titled Mimosas at Midnight. Does that give you a clue? ;-)

Laptop or desktop? Laptop. I invested in a Macbook Pro last year. Best purchase ever. I love it!!

Casual or couture? Most days, I’m casual, but I appreciate fashion.

Ponytail or headband? Is this really an either/or choice? LOL I rock both. But in my photo you’ll see a headband, so I guess I’ll choose that.

Shower or bath? I only have time to take showers, but I LOVE bubble baths.

Summer or winter? Neither. I’m a moderate weather girl, so I’m all about Fall.

Motorcycle or bicycle? Bicycle. Motorcycles do nothing for me.

 
Blurb:

To avenge his mother’s mistreatment at the hands of her upper-crust employer, self-made real estate tycoon Marcus Pearson needs entree into their exclusive world. When D.C. socialite Pamela Harrington comes to him for help, Marcus realizes the golden admission ticket he’s been seeking has suddenly fallen into his lap.

Pamela will do anything to save her favorite cause, even agree to a marriage of convenience. The altruistic “it-girl” isn’t worried about the pretend passion with Marcus turning real; she’s sworn off powerful, driven men who use her for her family’s connections.

So she’ll deny the way her pulse races with one look from his crystalline blue eyes. And he’ll ignore the way his body throbs with each kiss from her full lips. Because there’s no way he’ll lose his blue-collar heart to the blue-blooded beauty.

  




Amazon Vine Reviewer Simon Cleveland's Review:

Right off the bat I knew I'd love this story. First, it starts on a golf course. I happen to love golf. Second, it mentions D.C. My wife and I used to work in D.C. Beyond those two facts, this book has so many great characteristics and tension between the characters. I was on Marcus' side the entire time, and without giving anything away, I will say that perhaps my favorite line in whole novel was this, "Cancel my meeting." Marcus didn't even blink.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

COVER REVEAL! Fifty First Times


Hi all! We here at Hot WIPs & Sassy Chicks are *so* excited to tell you about this new anthology! The E-book comes out in two weeks, and is packed with short stories. Read more below:

“Well, I started this insane project and was hit over the head with the idea during the Romantic Times convention last year. Luckily, I was in the presence of some amazing authors and able to walk right up and pitch the idea to them. Which is literally what I did, "Fifty First Times, A New Adult Anthology...are you in?" And to my complete surprise, it totally worked. I still can't believe the authors we have onboard. And I can tell you, the stories are just fabulous. I loved every minute of reading them!” – Julie Cross, International Bestselling author of the Tempest Series and creator of Fifty First Times

FIFTY FIRST TIMES: A New Adult Anthology  
Publication Date: February 25, 2014
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Price: $2.99 (USD)
E-book

You always remember your first time…
                                                                  
Fifty First Times is a collection of fictional short stories from a variety of published Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Romance authors aimed at a New Adult audience. Each story magnifies a moment in two characters' lives that shows the reader their decision to take physical intimacy to a new level, the events leading up to this moment and in some cases, the events that follow. It’s about the couple who decides not to go through with it, the two boys who finally aren’t ashamed, the couple whose wedding night could very well be their last night together, the deaf pair who have no choice but to take body language to a new level, proving that love can exist underneath the external layers of humanity, and of course the two young people fumbling and laughing, getting everything wrong yet making a memory that will never fade.

“I love a challenge, and once the story idea came to me, there was no turning back. Writing it was an absolute blast!” –Melissa Landers, author of Alienated

“I was really excited to join this project because I loved the concept from the first moment I heard it. First times. Firsts are so full of intense emotions--angst and joy and fear and excitement--whether it’s someone’s first time ever or the first time with that special person. So I knew it would be a blast to write a story about—in the case of my story, “Two in the Morning"—two guys who have been best friends forever but who may be developing feelings beyond that. As for writing with this group of talented authors, what’s not to love? There are so many fresh perspectives and original concepts in this anthology that I can’t wait to read all of the other stories!” –Roni Loren, bestselling author of the Loving on the Edge series

PRE-ORDER INFORMATION:
Buy Links    


19 AUTHORS, 19 STORIES

Julie Cross (creator)
J. Lynn
Molly McAdams
Sophie Jordan
Roni Loren
Tracy Wolff
Lauren Layne
Andrew Shaffer
Cole Gibson
Myra McEntire
Carrie Ryan
Mark Perini
Gennifer Albin
Lisa Desrochers
Hannah Moskowitz
Lyla Payne
Alessandra Thomas
Melissa Landers
Melissa West