Lots of News!

I missed the boat big time. I didn’t realize yesterday was the beginning of July. The DH and I vegged out catching up on the last 5 episodes of Game of Thrones. Damn show isn’t coming back until Spring 2012. Frustrating! LOL

I don’t think I got out of my jammies until 3 pm and that was only to have a late lunch on the deck. I didn’t want the neighbors to see me in my pjs.

So let’s see what news do I have? I’m the featured author in N.J. Walters newsletter. I love N.J.’s books and was excited to be interviewed by her. To read the interview you must be a newsletter subscriber. You can subscribe here: awakeningdesires-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

I’m participating in the second annual Christmas in July contest. This contest has some great prizes. Here are the details!
2nd Annual Christmas in July TWO Contests!
Dates: 1 July through midnight EST 31 July.We only ship snail mail items to US and Canadian addresses.
CONTEST 1: (Open to readers/unpublished writers.industry reps - NOT published authors unless you're already a RBRU Yahoo group member)Prizes: Amazon/Barnes & Noble $125 Gift Certificate, Christmas ornaments, decks of Ellora's Cave/Blush playing cards, RBRU hats, tee-shirts and tote bags. To enter:1. Join RBRU yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romancebooksrus2. Visit http://romancebooksrus.blogspot.com. Click on each of the 20 Bloggers names left sidebar) to visit their sites. Find the name of one of their books along with the names of the hero and heroine. COLLECT THE 20 BLOGGER NAMES, BOOK NAMES, AND HERO AND HEROINE NAMES. (If a blogger has two pen names, only do one). In ONE email message, send all this information to: contests.rbrus@gmail.com
CONTEST 2: (Open to everyone, including published authors) Prize: Amazon/Barnes & Noble $25 Gift Certificate.To enter:1. Join RBRU Chat group at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rbruchat2. Become a Follower at our blog: http://romancebooksrus.blogspot.com

In other news I signed a contract with Loose Id for I Wanna Sext U Up. I’m currently finishing it up and doing some revisions. I’ll share more in the future.
My July newsletter out and it has another great contest. You must be a subscriber to win so sign up here: authoramberskyze-subscribe@yahoogroups.com


Happy Saturday!

Peace and Quiet and hopefully Sunshine

The weatherman is promising sunshine today. I swear I feel water logged. We’ve had so much rain and snow the cover to my pool collapsed and is now sitting in the bottom of my pool. I can’t pull it out so the DH will have to work on that this weekend. I suppose now’s the best time to open the pool! LOL I know the weather isn’t warm enough for swimming but I can hope.
I love Thursday’s. The DH goes into the office and my daughter and her children usually get out of the house for the day. That means a quiet day for Amber. Work is normally slow – an added bonus.
I need some quiet to get writing done. I have one book out for submission and nothing waiting in the wings. I’d like to have something to sub soon.
Today I’m blogging about comfort zones over at Romance Books R Us
http://romancebooksrus.blogspot.com/2011_04_01_archive.html?zx=bbf49fd213523f58
Drop in and leave a comment.
Happy Thursday!

Lots of Contests

Welcome to December. Where did the rest of the year go????

I have a few contests to announce:







First is the Kris Kringle Kontest hosted by several blog members over at Romance Books R Us. We're giving away lots of cool prizes including a preloaded eReader. Visit the blog to find out how to win.

Second: I'll be doing a 12 days of Christmas starting December 10th. I'll be giving away a book a day. Be sure to drop in everyday for your chance to win.

And lastly I'm giving away $25 gift card and an autographed copy of Ignite the Flames to a newsletter subscriber...so be sure to sign up and get all the details on how to win.

Christmas In July - 2 Contests

I’m participating in the Christmas In July contest over at Romance Books R Us. It’s a great contest. You can win lots of goodies including a Sony eReader. BUT…I’m offering a contest of my own too. Two contests. Two chances to win.

Amber’s Contest – July 1st thru July 31st contest closes at midnight EST on the 31st.
To win a Talk Dirty to Topaz tote bag full of prizes – hat, t-shirt, mouse pad, key chain, notebook and some other goodies you have to:
1. Follow my blog
2. Sign up for my newsletter (over to the left)
3. Send me an email telling me you’re part of both – amberskyze AT gmail DOT com

This is gift is only open to residents of the US and Canada. If a winner from somewhere else is chosen I'll offer a gift card.

Now on to the RBRU Contest!!!!!
Welcome from RBRU MEMBER AUTHORS Marianne Stephens/April Ash, Annie Alvarez, Sandy Sullivan, Paris Brandon, Tina Donahue, Claire Ashgrove, Vicky Burkholder, Linda Kage, Cindy Spencer Pape, Amber Skyze, Fran Lee, Jean Hart Stewart, Molly Daniels/Kenzie Michaels, Renee Vincent, Katalina Leon, Gina Ardito/Katherine Brandon, Donica Covey/Jinger Jackson, Cornelia Amiri/Maeve Alpin, Sandra K. Marshall, Polly McCrillis/Isabel Mere.BIG CHRISTMAS IN JULY CONTEST! Great Prizes: a new Sony Touch eReader, hats, totes, gift cards, tee-shirts, and more!

To enter:

1. Join this yahoo group (Sorry, no authors, only READERS, WRITERS, or INDUSTRY REPS).

2. Become a Follower at our blog: http://romancebooksrus.blogspot.com. Click on FOLLOW and follow directions. Problem? Contact april@aprilash.net.

3. There are 20 RBRU Bloggers' Websites/Blogs listed on the right sidebar at the blog. Click on each one.

Send a list of 20 authors' names and one book title for each one to: contests.rbrus@gmail.com. If an author has two pen names, you only need to click on one. You'll need a total of 20 author names and 20 book titles. Contest ends midnight ET 31 July. Sorry, we only ship prizes to US and Canadian residents. Others may receive an emailed gift card/certificate. Winners announced on our Yahoo group and blog during the first week in August

Home Again!

Blogging over at Romance Books R Us today, along with Goddesses of Storytelling. The blogs are the same and they're reprinted from a guest appearance I did over at Raine Delights on June 6th. Lame I know!!!!!!!



Today is a crazy day. I'm back in RI. We have a woman coming early to do an appraisal on the house, I'm working and babysitting the granddaughter. Her mother is doing orientation and her father working. No time for anything today.

The Glam Life - Part 2

Last Friday over at Romance Books R Us, I talked about the glamorous life of a writer. I used blunt examples and I certainly don’t apologize for my choice. My life is so far from glamorous. I’m not going to continue telling of all my woes in my personal life, but I will give you a small example of how much money I rake in.
Last May a story of mine was released in an Anthology. This anthology has been well received by the reviewers, but apparently not by the readers. A year ago, I received a check for $25 as an advance against future sales. The three other authors received the same amount. I haven’t seen any more royalties from this story.
I get my statement every month and I watch our negative numbers creep lower. I might see .25 in July or August. Granted the story probably took me seven hours to write, but let’s look at how that averages out. 25 divided by the 7 hrs is $3.57 an hour. Hmm, gotta love the writer’s life.
Believe me I’m not trying to sound whiny or bitchy because I feel blessed to be published. I get to express myself through my characters and storylines. Not everyone is as lucky. I love creating different scenarios for my hero and heroine to get themselves into or out of. I enjoy the path to happily ever after. If I were in it for the money I’d a quit a long time ago.

In other news, I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this, but I signed a new contract for Submit With Me. It’s a quickie. No release date yet, but I’ll be sure to let you know as soon as I do.

Welcome Marianne Stephens/April Ash

1. How did you start your writing career?

I’d always enjoyed reading. Started with Shakespeare, then biographies, then historical romances. Finally read some contemporary romances and was hooked. Also love paranormals. In 1994, I thought maybe I’d try writing a romance book. I bought a copy of “The Romance Writers Pink Pages” and found agents listed. Sent queries. Two asked for partials and one asked for full manuscript. All were rejected…but the agent who read the full suggested I put DIALOGUE in my story…I’d written most of it as a narrative. I had much to learn! I took some writing seminars, joined RWA and some local chapters. And, got into critique groups.

2. Tell us about your favorite character from your books.

Katie O’Hara from “Gone to the Dogs” is my favorite character. I wrote the book in first person…and LOVED being in her head the whole time! She tries her hardest to be self-sufficient, but can’t ignore the handsome fireman itching to get into her good graces by helping her.

3. Has someone helped or mentored you in your writing career?

I’d have to say all the people in my local RWA chapter have helped me. Some have been super supportive, and my critique groups never failed to make me face reality. Lots of names I could mention, but Carla Cassidy was a big help when she told me I wrote episodes, and needed to connect them. When I looked carefully at what I was doing, I realized she was right. Once I got that fixed in my writing, I felt better about my work and then sold my first book.

4. What is the hardest part of writing your books?

The middle! I ALWAYS get this slump going in the middle of the book. It’s not like I don’t know what I should be writing, but I stumble and groan about it. Sometimes it takes me weeks to straighten it out before I can continue to the end
.
5. Do you use a pen name?

If so, how did you come up with it?I use two pen names. Marianne Stephens is a combination of two first names of people I know. April Ash…my birthday is in April and I wanted a last name that was short and towards the beginning of the alphabet (fits better and easier on promo items).


6. Morning Person? Or Night Person?

Night, although I’ve gotta watch if I’m tired. I can write some pretty awful stuff and make lots of mistakes if I’m tired and stay up late. Nights are quieter for me, even though my kids are grown. I still have lots of family responsibilities that distract me during the day.
7. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Newest release: “Anything You Can Do” by Marianne Stephens, available at http://www.breathlesspress.com.

Blurb:
What happens when a childcare, clueless male CEO mixes with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers for a week, all because of a dare? Can he keep up with the kids...and maintain his sanity...while becoming more and more attracted to the daycare's owner, the woman who issued the challenge?

Marianne Stephens has contemporary/paranormal romances for Cerridwen Press.

April Ash has contemporary erotic romances at Ellora’s Cave.

Come join me at a new Yahoo group for fun, contests, book/industry news! Join: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romancebooksrus. I send out my newsletter through the yahoo group. This group also has a blog: http://romancebooksrus.blogspot.com.

Visit my websites for information about my books/interviews/reviews/blogs. Go to: http://www.mariannestephens.net and http://www.aprilash.net.

I also blog every Monday at: http://sevensexyscribes.blogspot.com.

Friend me on Facebook: For Marianne Stephens: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1518319389&ref=profile and for April Ash: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=1683746739&ref=profile

Amber, thanks for the opportunity to do this interview!