Author in the spotlight: Giveaway Winner!

Hi everyone! The month of October is over! It is the last day and we want to say thank you so much and good bye to the lovely author Robin P. Waldrop. It has been so fun to have you with us this month and I hope you think so too!

We think this is such a fun feature and we are most definitively going to continue to do this feature!

Robin has been so kind enough to give away a package with two of her books and today we hare happy to announce the winner of this giveaway! 

The winner is picked randomly and will have 72 hours to respond to the e-mail that will be sent out or we will pick another winner!

CONGRATULATIONS TO..........

Elizabeth Wheatley

So this conclude this Author in the spotlight month and it is sad to say good bye to Robin.

Tomorrow is a new month and we will be introducing a new author to be featured during the month of November! So stay tuned and be sure to stop by and check out who it is!

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Author in the spotlight: Playlist to Shadow of the blood moon

Genevieve Labreck is back with a score to settle. Her mom has been kidnapped by Zane, hybrid and all-around monster. Rumors fly that Gen’s mom is holed away in Prague, a city recognized by humans for its serene beauty and intense culture, but Gen and Will know something humans don’t. Prague is haunted by dark, evil forces.
Can Gen and Will save her mom, or will they be too late?
Some will live, others will fall. At what price do you walk away from those you love?

Robin´s playlist while writing this book

1.      Whatever You Like by T.I.

2.      She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5

3.      Halloween Theme Song

4.      Empire State of Mind Part 2 Broken Down by Alicia Keys feat. Jay Z

5.      Rooster Cogburn by This Boy Wonders

6.      Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice

7.      Apologize by One Republic

8.      I’ll Be by Edward Mcain

9.      Payphone by Maroon 5

10.  Wild Ones by Flo Rida

11.  We Found Love by Rihanna

12.  Club Can’t Handle Me Right NOw by Flo Ridas

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Write like the wind, edit like an architect

We have the pleasure to enjoy a wonderful guest post by Robin today! We hope you will all like it and this is the perfect read for all of you who hope to become an writer one day! 

ENJOY

WRITING ADVICE, ROBIN STYLE

Write like the wind, edit like an architect. That is what a dear friend, mentor, and great Author, Aaron P. Lazar once told me.

As a child, I read anything I could get my hands on and I loved writing and telling stories. But as I grew older, I found less and less time to read or write. I missed these activities, but I was busy raising my children and attending to other responsibilities

After I grew older, writing became less of a priority, and was subsequently put on the back burner for many years while I raised a family. As my children grew to adolescents, I once again found time to read and I even started penning short stories.

One cozy winter day, my teens were at school and I became consumed by the urge to read. I picked up a book a friend had given to me, poured a cup of coffee, and snuck away to my little corner. Disappointment quickly set in when it became apparent I could not even get through the first chapter. I grew completely frustrated and closed the book. I had no idea what the plot was supposed to be, and the writing was horrible. The author had mixed tenses, and in one loooooooong paragraph, the author changed POV’s three times. I had no idea which character was speaking at any given point. I didn’t know much about the technical side of writing at the time, but I knew enough to understand the book was fatally flawed.

Determined not to let anything get the best of me, I waited a few days and picked up the book again. After thirty minutes of reading ad re-reading, I slung the book across the room. My husband asked me what was wrong. I told him about the writing and how even I could write better than that garbage. Evidently, he took me seriously. He calmly asked what I was waiting for. I just laughed, and told him I was not a writer anymore. However, that day he planted a seed, and the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to try it.

Eventually, I sat down at the computer, and started writing what I loved to read—FBI suspense/thrillers. I admit, it took a few minutes to get the creative juices flowing, but once I did, the pages started filling up.

After a few days, it all suddenly came to a screeching halt when I realized I did not have a clue about the technical side of an FBI agent’s career. I had not done an outline, or character sheets, or research, or anything. (Mistake # 1.) Readers tend to frown when the book their reading does not seem realistic, even though it is fiction.

Again, my husband said, “Get on the internet. I know you know how to do that. You’re on it all the time.” After giving him the evil eye, I went to work on to the internet. It did not go well to say the least. I was lost in this huge mass of information, and did not know whose advice to follow.

 I decided to search for authors who wrote in my same genre. From there I looked at their work and biographies, and I contacted the ones who seemed to have the most in common. I told them I was new, and asked for advice, and to my surprise, several were happy to oblige.

I continued writing, and as soon as I finished the manuscript, I started querying agents. (mistake # 2) I had been so anxious to be the next great author, I did not take the time to edit my novel. It was so full of grammatical errors no one would touch it. I queried more than sixty agents and all of them ended with rejections.

I was about to give up (mistake # 3), until I met a great friend, John Francis, also a writer, and he suggested I write some short stories and offer them for free on various sites to get my name out there. I joined several writers’ sites, met more great people, and began implementing what I had learned. The next thing I knew, I had a blog, a mentor, beta readers, an editor, and almost two thousand new friends on facebook.

I know, I know, you are asking yourself what does all of this has to do with me? In short, this is what I have learned. First: you need to figure out what kind of writer you want to be, and then you must do research on the subject, and lots of it, before you even think about starting your novel. Second: you have to figure out who your characters are and develop them, because if you do not, you will end up with a poorly written book. Third: make time every single day to write. Whether it is thirty minutes, an hour, or five hours. It is not as important what you write, but the fact that you write something every day. The only way to become a better writer is to write. The fourth and final thing is always finish what you start. There is no better feeling in the world than when you type those final two words…the end.

Oh, and I also want to add; when you become successful—and you will as long as you never give up—please don’t ever forget what is was like when you were a newbie. You will meet people along your journey that will remind you of where you were at one time or another. Take time to help them in some way, even if it is only giving them a little advice. Remember, writing is all about enlightening or entertaining the world, it is not about how much money you can make.

Thank you so much Robin for that awesome guest post!

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Author in the spotlight: International Giveaway of book 1 & 2 of the blood moon series

We saved the best for last, or at least the last week *LoL*

This month is coming to an end and Robin´s spotlight is almost over. I hope she and you readers are happy with this month. We really love this feature.

Anyway, the awesome Robin is giving away a set of her two books Ties to the blood moon and Shadow of the blood moon. The two first books in this amazing series. click on the respective links to read Sandra´s 4 star reviews on the two books.

Ties to the blood moon

Shadow of the blood moon

Genevieve is a teenage girl who moves in with her aunt in Alaska after the death of her mother. Soon after her arrival she learns the things she was raised to believe only existed in fairytales are in fact a big part of her history. When it gets to be too much she seeks refuge in the arms of her new boyfriend, William, only to find out he's not who she thought he was either.

Genevieve Labreck is back with a score to settle. Her mom has been kidnapped by Zane, hybrid and all-around monster. Rumors fly that Gen’s mom is holed away in Prague, a city recognized by humans for its serene beauty and intense culture, but Gen and Will know something humans don’t. Prague is haunted by dark, evil forces.
Can Gen and Will save her mom, or will they be too late?
Some will live, others will fall. At what price do you walk away from those you love?

To enter the giveaway fill out the form below:

This giveaway ends on October 29

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AIS: Building character by Robin P Waldrop

Guest post by Robin P Waldrop 

BUILDING CHARACTER PROFILES

There are times when we have a minor character enter a scene and we need to know about them right away. They’re only in the scene a few seconds so we judge them by their physical appearance and the one or two lines they might say, then they’re gone.  So we just stereotype them. The tall skinny man waving a newspaper screamed, “Look out!” Or the busty blonde in the tight sweater asked, “Do you have the time?” We are all familiar with these types of characters. We’ve seen them in tiny, but effective doses.

Our main characters have to be much more complex and fleshed out. They need to have complex personalities, complex strengths, hidden pasts, ones they might not even know exist. They have to have endearing qualities so we can bond with them, maybe even sympathize with. Building these types of characters is what makes for a mesmerizing read.

When I decide on the type of character I want, I find a picture that represents how I see them and then I build from there. I use a character sheet and answer some questions, ie…height, weight, build, hair/eye color, where they were born, their age, likes and dislikes. This part is essential. Even if these things are never mentioned in the book the author knows the answers and that’s how they’re able to make a one-dimensional character turn into an intriguing realistic person their readers either fall in love with, or hate more than anything (ie…the antagonist).

There are many ways to build character profiles and every author approaches the subject differently. The bottom line is a good author will not only fool the reader into believing the character is real…they’ll fool themselves into believing it, too. 

*************************************

Thank you so much Robin for that great guest post. We love having you in our Author in the spotlight month!

I love when I read a book and I feel like I know the character and sometimes it really feels like the person is real, like a best friend during the time I spend inside the book with the character. The best books are written in a way that you can really feel the like and dislikes the characters have even though it isn´t exactly written, you still knows it because the author is that good at making the characters to become alive. So Robin I agree with you as an author, a great author, you really need to fool not only us but yourself as well!! This is such a great advise to all aspiring Authors out there!

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Author in the Spotlight: Review of Shadows of the bloodmoon by Robin P. Waldrop

Title: Shadow of the Blood Moon

Author: Robin P. Waldrop
Series: Blood Moon #2
Genre: YA Paranormal romance
Purchase: Amazon

My Rating:

About the book:
Genevieve Labreck is back with a score to settle. Her mom has been kidnapped by Zane, hybrid and all-around monster. Rumors fly that Gen’s mom is holed away in Prague, a city recognized by humans for its serene beauty and intense culture, but Gen and Will know something humans don’t. Prague is haunted by dark, evil forces.
Can Gen and Will save her mom, or will they be too late?
Some will live, others will fall. At what price do you walk away from those you love?

My Thoughts:
I absolutely loved this book! And even before I started reading it I knew that I would. Robin is such a great writer and she really knows how to capture the reader. The story line itself was great and exciting. I had some nailbiting moments and really sad moments aswell so you were always on your toes when reading.
Genevieve has some rough ground to stand on in this one and she really struggles with her emotions during the whole book. I can´t say to much without giving spoilers but you will know what I mean when you read it. Even though she does some stupid thing you really can not dislike Gen.
William on the other had I loved in book one and also in the beginning and end of book two but inbetween I got kind of pissed off at him for some of the things he did. But in the end I love him anyway =)
This was a great sequel to Ties to the blood moon and it left you with a BIG cliffhanger! What will happen in book 3!? Well, that we just have to wait and see.
Please be finished like right now because I really can´t wait! =)

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Author In the Spotlight: Playlist to Ties to the blood moon

 

Genevieve is a teenage girl who moves in with her aunt in Alaska after the death of her mother. Soon after her arrival she learns the things she was raised to believe only existed in fairytales are in fact a big part of her history. When it gets to be too much she seeks refuge in the arms of her new boyfriend, William, only to find out he's not who she thought he was either.

This is a Young Adult paranormal urban fantasy romance with mild language and mild sexual situations recommended for readers in grade 9 and up

PLAYLIST FOR TIES TO THE BLOOD MOON

1. Sick Puppies – You’re Going Down
2. Kings of Leon- Radioactive
3. Bob Marley- Everything’s Gonna Be Alright
4. Breaking Benjamin- The Diary of Jane
5. Maroon 5- She Will Be Loved
6. 3 Doors Down- When I’m Gone
7. Nickelback- Far Away
8. Avril- Lavigne- When You’re Gone\
9. Train- Marry Me
10. Jay-Z - New York feat. Alicia Keys

Link to Ties Playlist Music

http://pl.st/p/22984958475

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Author in the Spotlight: Interview with Genevieve from Ties to the blood moon

The main character of Ties to the Blood Moon took some time to talk to us today about her life, her new destiny, and what ifs.

If you could be a normal teenager without a predetermined destiny, would you take that chance or stay the way you are?

I’ve thought about that and know what I would do. I would have to say stay the way I am. Exactly the way I am…and I won’t say why.

Spill it girl who are you really more attracted to? William or Joseph?

That’s hard to say without spoilers. But what I will say is they both are drop dead gorgeous and any girl would be lucky to have either one.

What’s your idea of a great date??

One where we are not being chased by hunters, or worse. Um, I can’t say a quiet dinner, because I don’t eat regular food. Maybe, a blanket on top of a mountain. Looking up at the Aurora Borealis with a gorgeous hunk by my side.

Could you live without your cell phone?

Say, if I’m running for my life in a foreign country? Then yes.

Favorite type of music??

Definitely pop or metal or new wave…lol.

If someone had told you vampires existed two years ago, what would you have said to them?

Like, are you out of your mind? That stuff only exists in horror movies … and in the minds of writers.

Do you feel like you are brave?

No, not really. I know people say I am, and I do put on a good front sometimes. I don’t feel like it’s bravery. It’s just a determination to save the people I love.

What’s next for you now that you know what you destiny is supposed to be?

Can’t tell you that one. We still have at least one more book to go. (I’m trying to talk Robin into a fourth). I will say this. You will never see the end of book 2 coming. Ask Robin … she didn’t see it coming either. Oh yeah, see … she doesn’t guide the stories. We do. She just puts it on paper for us. ;o)

I’ve talked with Luna and the guys, and we need all the readers to email Robin and help convince her not to end our story after the third book. We don’t want to be locked inside her mind … it’s dark and spooky in there.

Bye everybody! See you soon! ;o)

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FREE E-BOOK on AMAZON: Finding Hope by Robin P. Waldrop

Free E-Book copy of Finding Hope by Robin P. Waldrop on Amazon!

Feel free to download it =)

With all perfect things there are flaws. Dangerous flaws ...

Dowload it HERE

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Author in the Spotlight: Interview with Robin P. Waldrop

Tell our readers about yourself

I’m a wife, mother of four, grandmother of five, business owner, and the Amazon best selling author of The Blood Moon Series, which is a YA Paranormal/Fantasy series. I have recently stopped working and am now writing full time and couldn’t be happier.

You are the author of Ties to the blood moon, can you in two sentences tell us about it?

It’s about a teenage girl who moves in with her aunt in Alaska after the death of her mother. She thinks she’s just a normal teenager until she starts going through changes and realizes she is something far greater than an average girl.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Yes. No matter what hand you are dealt in life, you control your destiny. In other words, when life gives you lemons—you make lemonade!

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in Ties to the blood moon?

Yes. I let someone dictate to me how Genevieve should be portrayed as a selfish, whiny, bratty, teenager in the first half of book 1. I would definitely go back and change it.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Always the beginning. I usually end up writing the first paragraph ten times. Once I get it right, the rest is mostly down hill. There is always an occasional bump or two.

What are your current projects?

I’m currently writing Book 3 of the Blood Moon series. I also have started a zombie series, and I am about to start a different paranormal series, as well.

What books have influenced your life most?

Only one book—The Bible. Through God’s grace I am able to write. He is responsible for giving me this gift.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

There is one. Kristin L. Aragon. Although she hasn’t released a book yet, she has two different novels, both wonderful, in the works. She is an extremely gifted writer. I don’t say that because she is a friend. She really has a wonderful gift and I’m so ready for her to share her work with the world.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to our readers?

I just want to say, Thank You! It’s because of you guys that I write. I love sharing my stories and hearing from my fans. It’s really a great feeling when I open an email and discover a reader took the time to write and tell me how much they loved my books and can’t wait for the next one. They are my inspiration, and I encourage them to write to me anytime.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Yes. NEVER GIVE UP!! I know, because I was where they are now. It’s too easy to become frustrated when your work doesn’t sell as quickly as you think it should. Or to query tons of agents just to be turned down. All I can say is keep writing and never stop. Remember: Winners never quit and quitters never win. ;o)

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Author in the Spotlight: Guestpost by Robin!

A TYPICAL DAY IN ROBIN’S WRITING LIFE

I’m lounging on the upper deck of a large cruise ship, little umbrella drink in my hand. Wearing my bikini and sunglasses, a constant cool breeze keeping me cool as I do nothing, but relax.

I hear the sound of a horn honking and it continues to grow louder. My eyes fly open, and it’s my lab barking to go out for his morning constitution. Argh!

I look at the clock hanging on the bedroom wall. Five a.m., the same as every other morning. I roll out of bed and stretch. I could probably stretch a mile, but don’t because I’d have to walk all the way back.

After I let the dogs out—yes, I have four—I grab a shower, then head straight to the kitchen where I know my husband has a fresh pot of coffee waiting. He loves me, what can I say. I tiptoe around because my youngest daughter and granddaughter are still sleeping.

I watch the early morning news, then at six a.m. when my hubby leaves for work, I grab my laptop and coffee, then head to the front porch where I have a small card table set up. I live in the country so it’s quiet and serene, until the neighbor’s rooster starts crowing. Some mornings he starts crowing long before daylight. Those are the mornings I lie in bed and think about knocking him off his roost.

I rake back my wet tangles, take a deep breath and open my laptop. After I pull up the file I think, okay where was Genevieve when I last saw her? Ah, yes, I remember.I scroll back up the page a few paragraphs and read just to refresh my memory and get back in my YA frame of mind.

I usually write until around eight when my granddaughter, Ryleigh (nine months) wakes. Then, it’s put my writing on hold so I can change and feed her. If her mom is off work I let her sleep. We play for a bit, she eats a few dried Fruit Loops with me, and it’s nap time.

I get another hour to write—the phone rings. “What’s up?” It’s my oldest daughter. All my kids know I do most of my writing during the day, but especially early in the morning. While I’m on the phone with her, I keep glancing at mytime ticking away on my pc.

When I finally convince her to let me call her later, I fix another cup of coffee and sit back down. Only this time nothing happens. Come on, Genevieve. She doesn’t say a word. Instead, she scowls at me, arms folded and tapping her foot. You know how teens are. They think the world revolves around them. She’s punishing me for making her put her story on hold.

I ignore her and attempt a light copy edit—the phone rings again. “Hey, Mom.” It’s my next to youngest daughter. After watching even more of mytime tick away. I convince her to call my oldest daughter where they can chat with each other.

I reheat my coffee and sit back down. Again. Are you over being mad, Genevieve? When she turns her back and stomps off into the dark recesses of my mind, I take it as a sure sign she’s angry. Please come back. I’ll turn my ringer off. I promise, no more phone interruptions.

After several minutes of coaxing, I finally get her to come back. just as we are ready to pick back up, I hear the muffled sounds of Ryleigh crying.

I jump up and stick my head in the door. “Erin,” I yell. “Wake up and get Ryleigh. I really need to write today.

After two more times of opening the front door and yelling at my youngest daughter to wake up, she finally does and the crying stops.

I sigh as I sit back down. Sorry, Genevieve. She is seething. You know how teens and young adults are. After all, you are one. DUH!We argue a few minutes, then get back to work. I get lost in my writing, then the next thing I know it’s early afternoon. Time to grab a bite to eat, start the laundry and start supper before getting on with the rest of my day.

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Author in the Spotlight: Intro to Robin P. Waldrop

The second month of Author in the Spotlight we have the pleasure to introduce you to the Author of Ties to the blood moon, Robin P. Waldrop! 

We are thrilled to have her with us this month since Sandra read her book and loved it!

SO, WHO IS ROBIN?

Robin P. Waldrop hails from Miami, but lives in Alabama with best friend, business partner, and husband John. She is a mother, grandmother, and owner of a variety of different animals.

She’s recently stopped work at her family business to pursue her career as a full time writer. Early mornings you can find Robin sitting outside with a cup of coffee, a baggie of dry Fruit Loops, and her laptop. She breathes life into all the wonderful characters that are born from her vivid imagination .

She is an award winning author of the Amazon best selling Blood Moon series. Ties to the Blood Moon is book 1, and Shadow of the Blood Moon is book 2. Book 3 will be released fall of 2012. Robin enjoys writing edgy YA paranormal/Urban Fantasy, Zombie novels, and FBI suspense/thriller novels and short stories. Always a voracious reader with an unapologetic chocolate addiction, Robin still searches for the perfect cup of coffee.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4823084.Robin_P_Waldrop

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/robinsauthorpage

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Robinpwaldrop

Blog: http://www.robinpwaldrop.blogspot.com/

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/robinpwaldrop/

Gather: http://rpwaldrop.gather.com/

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