Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Get Hooked with Executive Wive's Club series #MFRWauthor #MFRW_org

Once a week Marketing for Romance Authors promote each other on Book Hooks.


It's a great way for the author to help friends and get the word out about the group.


This week, I want to share excerpts from my Executive Wives' Club Series


 photo TG-EWC-CFOsAffair-300x450_zpse2db5936.jpg

CFO's Affair - 3rd book in the Executive Wives' Club series 
 (strong women fiction elements) 

Excerpt: 


“I'm fine. I merely had a strange encounter after I left work.” Sylvia strolled to the sofa across from Marianne and sank onto the plush cushion. The large windows lining the opposite wall behind the other couch offered an appealing view of a bright harvest moon. The empty cornfield, which sat behind Brie's house, displayed row after row of shredded corn stalks. The depressing sight foretold of the snow that would fall continuously in a couple of months.

“Why don't you tell us about it?” Jen, the willowy, young, brunette of the group, laid a hand on Sylvia's thigh, and perched on the edge of the sofa near her. “Did Vince do something to upset you?”

“I warned you he was a Casanova.” Brie dropped into her favorite recliner, her lion slippers bobbing on her feet.

“No, he has no interest in me. After the first day, I haven't seen much of him. He probably only walked me into the building because Knox didn't want me to bolt.” Sylvia recalled the man's handsome profile and the alluring scent of his cologne. He could walk down the hallway ahead of her and she'd find herself tempted to follow.

Shoving thoughts of him aside, she focused on a theory she’d devised during dinner and gripped Jen's hand. “I think I might be able to find out who Bob was having an affair with.”

She looked into Jen’s concern face. She’d been the first to learn of Bob's request for a divorce. He dropped the bomb hours before leaving on a company business trip to Seattle, the ill-fated trip where none of the executive team had come back alive.

“Please, Sylvia, let it go.” Marianne leaned forward and held out her hands in a pleading gesture. “Bob is dead and you're only hurting yourself by worrying about this.”

“I can't. I've tried.” Sylvia closed her eyes and released Jen's hand. “I have to know why he decided to leave me.”

“Do you have any ideas?” Jen shifted closer. Her warmth reminded Sylvia that she didn’t have to go through this heartache alone. The other three ladies in the room had lost their husbands too. Even though Jen and Brie had both remarried, they knew the pain of losing a spouse. They simply didn't comprehend how much it hurt to have one ask for a divorce right before that loss.

“No. I think Wyoming Tetterman might help me learn who he was seeing.” Sylvia couldn’t fathom any other reason for Wyoming's refusal to talk. Did she know something she didn't want to share?

“Why?” Brie rose, shuffled over to Sylvia, and squatted down in front of her. “Did she tell you Bob had a lover?”

“No, but for some reason she doesn't want to talk to me either.” Sylvia stared into Brie's sweet face, gained a little perspective on how this might affect her friends and glanced up at Marianne. “I could be wrong, but why else would she feel the need to avoid me?” 

Marianne shook her head and shifted forward. “Honey, you're setting yourself up to get hurt. What happens when you find out the name of the person Bob slept with? Are you planning to confront them? Because they won’t have any sympathy for you. In their eyes you got it all.”

“Ouch, that's brutal. However, she's right Sylvia. I still have people look at me as if I kill Eric so I could get the insurance money from the wreck.” Brie grabbed Sylvia's hand and held it between both of hers.

“I know; I get those looks too.”

“Then imagine how much worse it'll be if they find out he wanted to divorce.” Marianne rose and stepped behind Brie. “Please let it go. If working at Mama Turner's is causing the problem, tell Knox to take a flying leap off a high bridge.”




Purchase ebook at:


Purchase ebook at:





 photo TG-EWC-ITEBaby-432x648_zps0d74c8a5.jpg




IT's Exec's Baby - 2nd Book in Executives' Wives' Club series (strong women fiction elements)  




With the warmth of the sun beating down on her head and the sound of her children’s laughter ringing in her ears, Brie spread her arms and spun in a circle.


She raised her voice and called to her kids as she walked to the railing of the upper deck. “You better find a good hiding place because ready or not here I come.”


With Isabella down for a nap, Brie drew in a deep breath, enjoying the fresh air and the freedom from being stuck inside the house. The kids had convinced her to play with them outside. She loved the easy game of hide-and-go-seek. Glancing over the rail, she scanned the backyard, searching for Ethan’s and Allison’s young forms.


A giggle sounded from below the deck.


Brie stepped down a few stairs to search the patio below. Still unable to catch a glimpse of her children, she continued down the staircase, listening for sounds that might give her a clue to their whereabouts.


Not seeing either one of them, she hugged the back wall and silently slipped to the corner of the house that had concrete steps, which led to the front yard.


Determined to catch one of her kids heading for home-base, Brie refrained from peeking around the corner. The squeak of a tennis shoe alerted her to someone’s arrival.


Ready to grab them the minute they rounded the corner, Brie stayed out of sight. A shadow fell across the patio, and Allison’s young form raced past.


Jumping out to grab her, Brie touched her daughter’s shoulder.


Allison’s wail of surprise vibrated off the bottom of the deck and pierced through Brie’s brain. Undeterred by the noise, she caught her daughter’s arm and spun her around.


“I got you.”


“No,” Allison screamed again.


Footsteps thundered across the deck above. “Brie, Allison, where are you?”


The concern in Jason’s voice threw Brie. He hadn’t stopped by since their date. What was he doing here now?


Allison groaned and wrapped her hands around Brie’s waist. “Ethan must have led him through the house.”


“Mom, where are you?” Ethan’s short legs appeared at the top of the stairs leading down to the patio. He leaned over the banister, a wide smile on his face. “Coach just stopped by.”


Allison whirled around and pointed a finger at her brother. “And you cheated. You’re not supposed to go through the house.”


“But...” Ethan walked down a few steps. A pair of jean-covered legs appeared and Jason stepped into view.


“That was my fault. I thought it would be the quickest way out here.” Jason added, taking the blame off her son.


Brie raked her gaze over his lean form encased in a blue t-shirt and faded jeans. The wind had tossed his dark hair in disarray. He appeared as if he had all the time in the world.


“But you’re not even playing the game with us.” Allison shuffled backwards, grumbling to her mother, “I shouldn't have to be it because they’re not playing fair.”


Brie laid her hands on her daughter’s shoulders and offered her a conspirator’s wink. With the excitement of seeing him again singing through her blood, she forced herself to remain calm. “You’re right. I say we make Jason it.”


“Hey, I didn't even know we were playing hide-and-seek,” Jason argued and lightly tapped Ethan’s arm with his fist. “You didn’t tell me, sport.”


“Tough, that’s the cost of showing up late.” Brie sidestepped her daughter, but before she could take more than a few steps her daughter caught her hand.






Read First Chapter of "IT's Exec's Baby"
Purchase ebook at:







 photo TG-EWC-MEWidow-432x648_zps2e99d362.jpg


Marketing Exec's Widow 1st Book in Executives' Wives' Club series (strong women fiction elements)  





Friday night, sitting at a booth in a nice, romantic restaurant, Jen silently wished she could enjoy the subdued atmosphere, and order a rib eye steak. Instead, her hands shook and her stomach churned with doubt. The survival skills she’d learned after becoming a real estate agent demanded a calm, composed front, but she couldn’t pull it off.


Hell, who was she fooling?


After ten years without a date, what made her believe she could do this again? She stared at the menu. Could she even swallow a bite of beef? And if not, what should she order?

She lifted her gaze to the drop-dead gorgeous man on the other side of the table. Hagan Cheney, a Greek god incarnated, had strawberry blond hair glowing like gold around his head. Wide shoulders and strong arms were encased in a hunter-green cashmere sweater. Apollo himself wouldn’t look any better.

Why in heaven’s name did he ask her on a date?

And why did she care?

She had no plans other than a casual dinner for two.

He glanced up and a pretty-boy grin crossed his lips. The twinkle in his hazel eyes softened the square line of his jaw. “So have you decided what you want?”

Heat simmered low in her belly. Oh, yeah, answering that question the wrong way could get her into a world of trouble.

Tempted by wicked ideas, Jen blinked and stared at the menu. She’d do better if he didn’t know the wild directions of her brainwaves. “I’m not sure I can eat. I haven’t been this nervous since my first date with Craig.”

Ah, shit, I wasn’t supposed to mention him. Fire burned her cheeks and her gaze popped onto Hagan’s befuddled expression.

“Craig?” Hagan lowered his menu.

“My...uh...husband. He died several months ago.” Jen’s grip tightened on the plastic folder and her heart raced into overdrive. Great, just what she needed to say to start the evening off on the right note. Mention your dead husband and kill the mood.

“Want to call the evening a bust?” she blurted out, angry at herself for failing so miserably at the dating game.

Hagan leaned forward and folded his hands above his menu. “No. I already knew.”

“What? How?” She clenched her hands together under the table. He said he moved here from Texas, having arrived a few months ago to set up his practice and to be near his dad. How could he have found out? Did someone tell him? But who?

“My dad told me. He read about your husband’s accident in the paper.”

“God, you must think I’m awful.”

“Not even in the ballpark as to what I think about you. Because I know you would never have said yes to a night out with me if you’d been happy in your marriage.”

His words hit her like a fist to the face and her head snapped backward, striking the wooden partition between the booths. Wow, how could he have guessed the truth when so many people who knew her hadn’t?

She closed her eyes and searched for an answer. For so long, she’d kept her emotions bottled inside, not allowing anyone to see the loneliness or heartache her unhappy marriage had caused. What now? Lie, or admit the truth?





Read First Chapter of "Marketing Exec's Widow" and Reviews



Purchase ebook at


Hope you enjoy,


Tina

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Can You Help Me Choose The Cover for My Next Book? #RomanticSuspense #55+Community #Murder

I need your help picking out the cover for my next book - 

Tainted Rose

TagLine - Love, murder, and mayhem in 55+ community.



Blurb -

Maybelline Beasley enjoys her life in the Silver Leaf 55+ community until her neighbor is killed. With all eyes point at her as the prime suspect, she struggles with her fear of cops and her attraction to Detective Billy Bob Cooter. Can he save her from a murderer who’s looking for an escape goat? Or will her second change at love end be blown to smithereens by the murder’s gun?






You can take the survey here 


https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WDWGLRR


I have to say I really appreciate your help with this book everyone,

Thanks,

Tina

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

What Can You do on #MFRWorg as a #MFRWauthor? #GoodAdvice

Authors CAN DO Book Promotion -


I shared this post years ago but I believe it still applies.


Okay so now you’ve sold the book – what do you do? The days of the publisher promoting your book is long gone. From the brand new to the seasoned author, self published to large press you have to do most, if not all the leg work.

Trying to figure out where to start is the hard part. We all want the cover of Romantic Times, but my budget laughed so hard tears came to its’ eyes. I need to find a cheaper way. Much cheaper. Like free.

So I started small. How do you get your name out there anyway? Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, hit all the social medias you know about and create a presence. Now I’ll admit I haven’t tried all of them. I don’t have the time. Some days I’m running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to get it all done, but I keep my ear to the ground and listen when someone else is working with an new one. If is sounds like something I should get into I do.

Create a blog. I fought this one because I didn’t feel I had time to write, but I realized I have a lot of knowledge about writing so put one together, I try to post once a week. You can check it out at www.barbaradonlonbradley.blogspot.com

Do guest spots on someone else’s blog. I find this fun to do, although sometimes I have to rack my brain to come up with a subject I haven’t done before. Most ask for a writing related post, but some have interview questions, or just let you send a blurb, excerpt and cover image.

Chat’s are good. I’ve done a few of them. Of course when I do them you can hear the crickets chirping in the back row but I always do them armed and ready. I create my own questions so there is constantly something coming across. I don’t just promo my books – and with 13 titles I can fill several hours of nothing but promo. I try to give a little insight to me and my writing process.

Join groups. I stick to Yahoo, but I have become part of some really great ones. MFRW is one. There is so much knowledge out there and many of the authors are more than happy to share.

Do you have access to print copies of your book? Then do book signings. Go to your local book sellers and set up a signing. Try to have more than one author to sign with you if you can. The more authors the more it will help bring the readers in.

I hope this will help you get started.


Barb:)
Writing for Barbara Donlon Bradley started innocently enough, like most she kept diaries, journals, and wrote an occasional letter but she also had a vivid imagination and wrote scenes and short stories adding characters to her favorite shows and comic books. As time went on she found the passion for writing to be a strong drive for her. Humor is also very strong in her life. No matter how hard she tries to write something deep and dark, it will never happen. That humor bleeds into her writing. Since she can’t beat it she has le
This is a post from http://mfrw.blogspot.com I am a member and enjoy the great advise these wonderful authors have to share. Stop by their site and find out more about the art of writing and promoting. Tina

Friday, May 12, 2017

Stuck in The Rewrite Mode #writingtip #amwriting #authors

Thought I'd share the check list of things I look at when rewriting a book.


The story -       

·         Have I written enough?

·         Is there emotion on every page?

·         Are the Five Senses felt on each page?

1.      see

2.      hear

3.      taste

4.      smell

5.      touch

6.      Color and texture included

·         Plot line –

1.      strong hooks

2.      compelling inciting incident

3.      intense climax

4.      satisfying resolution

5.      Analysis the value of each scene


·         Character Development

1.      their journey

2.      character arch

3.      Dialogue – unique for each person


·         Backstory

1.      Too much or not enough


·         Pacing

1.      Using MSWord to check readability, which increases pacing.

This is only the first list of things I check when editing my stories.

Hope it helps,

Tina

Friday, May 5, 2017

Love Those Babies in Romance #WomenHelpingWomen #ASMSG #contemporaryromance

One of the most popular sub-genres of romance happens to be stories written about women with children or women who are pregnant.

Why?

The struggles of bring a child into the world is one of things that connect women. The nine months of carrying the baby, child birth, trying to deal with nightly feedings, diapers, change in hormones, etc. Every woman who has gone through it has a story and those that haven’t want to know what to expect.

Yes, but why put it in a romance?

The natural progression of a loving relationship is to create a new life. That is not to say that people who don’t want kids aren’t in a loving relationship.

In my first book, “Pregnancy Plan,” my heroine wants children. Yet, she isn’t married and not involved with anyone. She is will to go to any extremes to conceive a child.

I believe other women know this pain. When I was single, I wanted a child too. I gave myself a deadline of thirty. If I hadn’t met someone and gotten married, I planned to look into other options for bringing my child into the world.

In my case, I was married and had two children by the time I was thirty.  However, women who want a child have a choice. They can have a child on their own and raise it themselves.

A romance novel is as much about the relationship with a man as it is about the challenges that face women. In my book “Baby Decision,” my heroine has to choose between having a baby and college.

While in “Summer’s Growth,” my heroine is just trying to find where she belongs. In some ways, every romance also addresses women issues. It connects women readers to the story and creates a deep story in which to enjoy.

For this reason, I believe babies in romance novel draws the reader into the story and create a great read.


Visit my website and read the 1st chapter of any of my books


http://www.tinagayle.net//mybookpg.html


Purchase at