Cover Reveal and Review: Prisoner of Love by Rossyln Johnson

Thank you Rosslyn for the privilege of reading a sample of "Prisoner of Love."

Let me say, I didn't know what to expect when I first started reading this story but the title fits the story perfectly. Paige is a prisoner of her boyfriend, ...Randy's love.

As I continue reading this story, it grips my heartstrings as this can be any woman's battle. Randy is a control freak who has weird way of getting his rocks off. Paige is confused but strong. She knows she has to play Randy's games sometimes in order to survive.

Without giving too much away, Rosslyn has done a great job in this raw short story of domestic violence. I applaud you on bringing your turmoil to paper and sharing it with us.

*** COMING SOON ****

 

BLOG TOUR STOP: Valerie J. Lewis Coleman

Who is Valerie J. Lewis Coleman?            
After a twenty-six-year engineering career with Delphi Automotive Systems (formerly General Motors), the plant closed and my position relocated to Mexico. Since I was not ready to test my proficiency in the Spanish I learned in high school, I embarked upon adjunct teaching at three colleges and full-time entrepreneurism. I created Pen of the Writer to publish my books and equip writers to do the same. I transitioned engineering problem-solving skills and MBA expertise to the book business to launch careers for thousands of authors including scores of high-school students and inmates. 

Because of the relationship advice in my books and the corresponding workshops/presentations, I have helped many people improve relationships. The Forbidden Secrets of the Goody Box delves into dating by compiling relationship advice from hundreds of men into an entertaining novel. Blended Families An Anthology provides biblical principles and practical tools to help stepfamilies thrive.

Like many women, I wear multiple hats: wife, mother, grandmother, entrepreneur, educator, Christian…. Although each role is distinctly different, they share a common theme: empowering people to make better life choices. Whether managing relationship issues, mastering self-publishing or comprehending mathematics, using my strengths to inspire others brings me great satisfaction.


How long have you been writing?
My first attempt at writing a book was in the sixth grade. The teacher read two of S. E. Hinton’s books and Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea which inspired me. I had written about ten pages when I realized that I had jumped between first-person and third-person narratives. Unable or unwilling to fix the problem, I put the project aside.

I dibbled and dabbled with poetry and wrote a calculus booklet to help a high school senior, but my first official published work was an undergraduate thesis.

  

What inspired you to write The Forbidden Secrets of the Goody Box?
Like most women, when I had man problems, I talked with my girlfriends, sister and mother. Although the concern was genuine, the relationship advice was riddled with emotions, bad experiences and a twisted perspective on men. After consistently choosing Mr. Wrong and dealing with the consequences, I finally attracted a great guy to whom I have been married for almost twenty years. But here’s the catch: I did not know what I did differently to win his heart.

I wanted to understand what actions led me down the aisle of matrimony while many of my girlfriends were still distressed about living single. So as I dug inwardly, I also researched and studied men for years. I got the scoop on man-cave, barber-shop, locker-room conversations normally off limits to women and developed the top three things every woman must know about men. The result was the entertaining, yet relationship savvy, The Forbidden Secrets of the Goody Box.


What steps did you take to publish your first (or latest) book? 
I spent years researching men and compiling information for The Forbidden Secrets of the Goody Box. When I finally put pen to paper, it only took four months to write. As I tested titles and cover images, I put the novel through a series of edits:
** I solicited a POWER Team to read select chapters and provide feedback.
** I contracted with Wendy Hart Beckman, a professional copy editor, and then
** I hired Lynel Johnson Washington to proofread.

After each phase of editing, I reviewed the recommended changes, read the entire manuscript and then accepted or rejected the changes.

Having published more than thirty books through Pen of the Writer and Queen V Publishing, I took advantage of my vast supplier relationships to independently publish The Forbidden Secrets of the Goody Box.

What's your favorite part in the book?
That’s a tough question. Writing The Forbidden Secrets of the Goody Box was an enjoyable experience. At times, the characters came alive and I simply transcribed their interaction. But since I have to choose a favorite part, then the chapter entitled The Making of Mr. Right is it. Rachel and Debra have an in-depth, lively conversation about the qualities that Debra expects in a man. Delving deeper than his looks or how much money he has, the chapter was designed to help women assess the must-haves and preferences of Mr. Right-for-You while taking a personal inventory to ensure comparable qualities exist within. As Lyfe Jennings says in Statistics 101, "Be the person you want to find. Don’t be nickel out here looking for a dime."


Outside of writing this book, I understand you’re involved in other projects. Would you mind sharing those with us?
The Goody Box Book brand is expanding. The audio book releases later this year with an awesome theme song created by an award-winning producer. The first chapter and the theme song are posted at www.TheGoodyBoxBook.com/audio-book.

Although The Goody Box Book is a clean read (the youngest reader that I am aware of was twelve years old), the demand for a prequel has been overwhelming. Parents and grandparents are requesting a teen edition to help young ladies avoid the heartaches of failed love. However, before I write the youth fiction, I have to complete the sequel. I have been threatened, warned and reprimanded for not having it finished. The readers want to know what happened with Sherry and Dwight, Debra and Jarrus and the love triangle between Rachel, Brian and Conrad.

I have been contracted to conduct workshops, seminars and keynotes at schools, churches and organizations to empower women and girls. Why He Left You for Her and I Love Myself Too Much to Give You My Goody are catalysts for a nationwide movement.

A t-shirt line is on the horizon to further brand The Goody Box Project. I collaborated with fellow author and advocate for "girl power," Karen M.R. Townsend, Ph.D., to create the Uterus Adventures (UAs) (www.TheUterusAdventures.com). UAs are ladies-only experiences and excursions designed for women who are willing to step outside their comfort zone to embrace the courage they never knew they had! These adventures are single-day events and weekend excursions that include empowerment workshops, a challenging adventure and time dedicated to debrief the experience.
On the literary side, I coach aspiring authors (www.PenOfTheWriter.com), host conferences like www.DaytonBookExpo.com and publish books through www.QueenVPublishing.com and www.PassionatePens.com. I have written Self-Publishing Made Easy Journals to equip writers with guides to navigate the mysterious labyrinth of publishing.

 
Do you plan on attending any events soon? If so, please tell us where you will be.
Other blog stops and interviews as noted at www.TheGoodyBoxBook.com/Events

Sep 21, 2013 I’m presenting Self-Publishing Made Easy at the twentieth annual Sister to Sister Conference (www.AboutMySisters.com) 
 
Sep 21-22, 2013 I’m hosting and signing at the Dayton Book Expo Author Pavilion at the Dayton Women’s Fair (www.DaytonBookExpo.com/Special-Events)

Sep 28, 2013 I’m presenting Self-Publishing Made Easy at the fifth annual Anointed Pens Conference (http://www.AnointedPenConference.webs.com)

Oct 4-5, 2013 I’m hosting the Tenth Annual Pen to Paper Literary Symposium (www.PenOfTheWriter.com/Pen-to-Paper.html)

Oct 26 I’m co-facilitating another Uterus Adventure (www.TheUterusAdventures.com) 
 
Dec 16-20, 2013 I’m conducting a publishing conference for the African Film and Writers Society – Uganda (http://www.AFWSUganda.org.ug) 
  How can the listeners contact you if they would like to receive a personal copy? Do you have a website? Autographed copies of The Forbidden Secrets of the Goody Box can be ordered at www.TheGoodyBoxBook.com/the-store and www.PenOfTheWriter.com.



What advice do you have for someone just starting out as an author?
Understand the business. Whether traditional, independent or self-published, this business is not for the faint of heart. With writing consuming 10% of your resources and publishing about 30%, the bulk of your time, money and effort (60%) will be allocated to marketing and promoting your book. Recognize that many service providers have no vested interest in the success of your book. They don’t care if your cover is a template used on thousands of other books or that your manuscript lacks professional editing. Why? Because they generate revenue from you, not your readers. These book producers often position themselves as publishers when in fact they are predatory print-on-demand printers that charge exorbitant fees. As a result, it is nearly impossible to be profitable.


Is there anything else you would like to say in closing?
I packed years of researching men, studying relationships and polling women into this book. Although it’s a novel, The Forbidden Secrets of the Goody Box has relevant, practical, proven relationship advice. Many of my readers have told me that the book was life changing. One reader indicated that by following my relationship advice, she met and married the man of her dreams. For their first anniversary, he gave her a BMW!



My favorite quotes:


"A wise man learns from his mistakes; a wiser man learns from the mistakes of others."

—African Proverb

"Give a man fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime."

—Lao Tzu

"What we do today echoes through eternity."

—Marcus Aurelius

 

 

 



 

The Forbidden Secrets of the Goody Box Virtual Book Tour with

Valerie J. Lewis Coleman

Sept 2-13, 2013

Genre: Mainstream Fiction

Paperback: 256 pages

Publisher: Pen Of The Writer, LLC (May 1, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0978606639

ISBN-13: 978-0978606633

 

 

About The Book

What your father didn't tell you and your mother didn't know. Successful. Beautiful. Intelligent. Yet a satisfying relationship eludes Debra Hampton. At thirty-five years old, she can't figure out why her philosophy on men-and what they want from women-isn't working. She's trapped in a cycle of shattered relationships, until a friend refers her to a relationship guru. After some resistance, Debra finds refuge in his counsel as he helps her navigate through the storms of rejection and failed love. Once he reveals the error of her ways, will Debra master the forbidden secrets to attract her soul mate or continue to keep love at bay?

 

 

Book Excerpt:

 Chapter 1

For the Love of Vincent

Sunday-morning service stirred Debra Hampton’s heart. The poignant message convinced her to resolve a matter that had her torn for almost a year. She had been undecided about whether to marry her live-in boyfriend, Vincent. He didn’t share her religious beliefs and refused to go with her to church, but she knew that he was the best man for her.

He laughed at her silly antics, talked with her about her ambitions and encouraged her to greatness. He made her the focal point of his life and involved her in every decision no matter how minute. But it was his touch that held her hostage, kept her toying with God’s love by giving herself to a man who was not her husband.

With her head bowed to hide the free-flowing tears, she exited the church without speaking to anyone. She sat in her Mercedes S550, took a moment to freshen her makeup, expelled a sigh of relief. She looked to Heaven through the panorama sunroof, smiled, closed her eyes, gave thanks. The decision to accept Vincent’s proposal resonated; filled her with peace as she trusted the Lord with her soul mate.

The thirty-minute drive from the inner-city church to her suburban home gave her ample time to reflect upon the life they would build together: three children, business partnership and unlimited mind-blowing sex. The rush of blood to her southern bell—the name her mother called her vagina when she was a child—gave her pause. Fortunately, she was stopped at a red light. She clicked through the Sirius Satellite stations and then opted to enjoy tunes Vincent had downloaded to her iPod a few nights prior.

As she turned into Creekwood Estates—a lavish community north of Dayton—she admired the mansion-sized homes set hundreds of feet from the street. Manicured lawns featured rows of exotic trees, shrubbery and blooming flowers. Cobblestone driveways boasted luxury cars and backyards had customized gym sets or in-ground pools.

Her stucco and brick palatial home was small in comparison to those of her neighbors, but it was big enough for her family-to-be. She loved the side-entry, three-car garage because it camouflaged the unpacked moving boxes from passersby. She parked in the usual spot—closest to the mudroom door—and then she smiled wide. “He’s home.”

Debra grabbed her purse and Bible and then jaunted into the house. She placed her belongings on the granite countertop, careful not to make noise. Since the television wasn’t locked on a sporting event, Vincent had to be resting in the master suite. A 3,500-square-foot home and he preferred the family room and bedroom.

She slipped off her stilettos, tiptoed up the stairs. Her heart beat faster with each step. She wiped her palms together to dry the sweaty moisture, pressed her ear to the door. His subtle snores seeped through. She giggled and then covered her mouth to halt the escape of more laughter.

She opened the door, peeked in, swung it wide. “Vincent! What the devil?”

“Debra, what are you doing here?” After a quick dismount, he rummaged the floor for his Fruit of the Looms. “When’d you get home?”

“Who is this woman and why is she in my bed?” She ran to the side of the bed, towered over her betrayer. Breath stalled in her throat, eyes widened. “Catherine!”

Catherine—the first person to welcome Debra to the neighborhood—reached for her clothes, scurried to dress.

Debra lunged at her, snatched her by the ponytail, drew back her fist. Just as she connected with Catherine’s right jaw, Vincent grabbed Debra around the waist, pulled her away. She flailed her arms, kicked at his shins, head-butted him in the mouth. When he released her, she pursued Catherine who was halfway down the stairs, underwear in tow.

 

BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY

 

Join Valerie’s mailing list to be eligible to receive one free e-book. One winner will receive a special code to download a copy from SmashWords http://www.thegoodyboxbook.com

 

 

 

 

 

Review: Bottom Bitch

Bottom Bitch by Racquel Williams

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Sierra Rogers is an independent woman who knows what she wants and goes after it including if it is someone else's husband. Growing up in one of Richmond's toughest housing projects, she knows how to handle herself well. She has her share of sugar daddies who keep her pockets lined with money which she finally uses to open her own beauty salon.

One evening after the salon's closing, in walks, Alijah Jackson, one of Richmond's drug kings. Mesmerized by his swagger, Sierra makes it her business to get him in her life and bed. Little does she know, Alijah is feeling the same way although he is married to attorney, Shayna Jackson. He and Shayna are drifting apart and he wants out of the marriage but he knows Shayna is not going down without a fight especially living the lifestyle that Alijah's drug dealing money brings in to the household.

After going through some ups and down with Sierra, Alijah decides to make her his "Bottom Bitch." Armed with revenge and evidence, someone attempts to bring Alijah down by turning him in to the Feds.

Has Alijah's time run out? Which enemy wants his blood? Who can he trust? In the streets, loyalty is hard to come by. You have got to one click to find out.

The author does a good job of character development and the storyline was hot! I did feel at times that the character retelling the story in their point of view led to redundancy and made the story drag on a little longer than it should have. All in all, I applaud Ms. Williams for taking on this type of POV for her debut novel.



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Review: An Unexpected Blessing

An Unexpected Blessing by Unoma Nwankwor

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Feranmi is a young woman who is originally from Nigerian but now lives in the States. She is beautiful and very independent. She knows what she wants and refuse to allow her parents to push her into the arranged marriage part of their Nigerian culture. Her parents will not let up so when her parents make the decision to come to the U.S, Feranmi must come up with a plan and a man.

Alex watched Feranmi walk out of his life four years ago and now vows to make sure it never happens again. He is willing to do whatever it takes to get her back into his life even if it means deceiving her parents temporarily. Sadly, Alex might lose her again due to his own omission of the truth.

Armed with a plan and a man, Feranmi plots out her relationship with Alex. The only problem is, how can you pretend to be in love with someone when you really are? Can Feranmi truly deny her feelings for an African American man who has her heart already? Will her parents catch on that Alex is not Nigerian? You have to get your copy to find out.

The author does an amazing job of bringing the reader into the Nigerian culture and helping us understand why things are the way they are. She also has great character development of Alex and Feranmi. I wish there was a little more development on Ini and Kayla's character.

I truly enjoyed reading the story and how true love always prevail when the variables are in balance.

*** A copy was given in exchange of a honest review ***



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Chatting it up with Child Author, Sumayyah

Sumayyah Muhammad is an eight year old straight A student who loves to write and read when she is not riding horses or playing with monster trucks. She is originally from Pennsylvania. She now lives in Virginia with her parents. She is the youngest of five siblings. She has an Italian Mastiff named Sharif who is her guard dog.


Can you please tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Sumayyah. I'm 8 years old, I ride horses, and I have a book called Little Wisdom.



What inspired you to write your first book?

What inspired me to write my first book was to make people feel good.

 

 

How did you come up with your title?

I thought of the title because I wanted the titles to show happiness and family to make children happy .

 

Who are your favorite authors?

I'm afraid I don't have any favorite authors.

 

Do you have book signings coming up where readers can meet you?

Yes I do. My mom who is my publisher is trying to get me into Chuckie Cheese and a library.

 

 

Can you tell us about your upcoming project(s)?

Yes, my projects are to make the fairy on the cover of the book into a doll, make a coloring book from my pictures, make T-shirts, and make pinwheels.

 

What advice would you have for kids your age that want to write a book?

I will tell them to write something that make kids feel good like my book and come up with a good title that fits the book.

 

 

Who do you like to do for fun.

For fun I like to play with monster trucks, ride horses, read, and play with my friends.

Favorite color? 

My favorite color is purple.

 

 

Favorite food?

My favorite food is pancakes.

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS: Little Wisdom is an inspirational book of poems from the mind of an eight year old girl. Some will inspire you and some will make you laugh. I hope you will enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed writing it.

 

Purchase an autographed copy by clicking here.

 

It can also be purchased at Amazon.

 

Review: His Betrayal Her Lies

His Betrayal Her Lies by Angel de'Amor

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Taylor Briggs comes from a very influential family so when she finds out a week before her wedding that her fiancée, Ari Gallagher has been harboring a secret all of this time, she is baffled at what she should do. She doesn’t want her family to be part of a scandal so against her best judgment, she goes along with the wedding and decides not to mention to Ari that she knows about his secret.

Armed with her husband’s infidelity, Taylor decided to dive into the arms of one of the city’s most eligible bachelors, Kalon Knight who becomes her rebound love. Kalon broke his rule of “one time and gone” as he develops feelings for Taylor. Meanwhile, Ari is trying to keep his secret safe but little does he know, his world is about to be turned upside down when his mistress goes after his wife.

Maci (the mistress) is crazy times ten and I am not sure if I could have sat back and let her do the things to me that she had done to Taylor. Every woman has a breaking point. Taylor put up with a lot of nonsense from her husband and Maci.

I applaud the author on her debut novel. She told a very realistic story with great character development. Her writing was raw and edgy. This book kept me on the edge of my seat with all of the twists and turns. There was a dose of scandal, infidelity, betrayal and just the right amount of hot sex.




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GUEST POST: How Important is Branding to an Unpublished Author or Published Author? by MJ Kane

Good morning!

Today I have the opportunity to share a few branding tips with you. Some of you may have visited my blog and read the post I wrote where I shared a few of the things I’ve done to build my brand. One thing I can honestly say is that it is not a process that can be done in a matter of a few hours. Brand building takes time. For starters, you have to know what your brand is. Let’s get started!

1) Creating your brand as is an investment in you. It is a way to define yourself as a writer and distinguish you and your writing voice from other authors.
...
2) Your brand is more than just a picture used on a book cover or as the image on your FB or Twitter accounts. It is your public image. What is a public image? It is how readers perceive you. How do they do this? By formulating opinions about you based on what content you put online. You can ‘steer them in the right direction’ by monitoring that content. Your interactions with other authors and fans, opinions you share, as well as your accessibility are key. Think twice about commenting on political, religious, racial, or any other hot topics. Don’t get me wrong, everyone is entitled to their opinions and have the right to share them. But, is it possible that your personal opinions may offend a fan? The last thing any author wants to do after spending countless hours of writing, marketing, and promoting to build your fan base is to say the wrong thing in the heat of the moment and run fans away. I’ve seen one too many comments made by readers who vow to never support an author again because of a comment posted online. Another great example…Paula Dean…enough said.

3) Once you have decided how you want the public to view you, be that way at all times. If being easy to talk to is what you want, then be that way! Don’t ignore emails, Facebook PM’s, Twitter responses, etc. from fans who wish to connect with you. Once you decided to publish your book, you pretty much opened up a part of your life to your readers. If quiet and mysterious is the persona you wish to have, then again, be that way. But beware…readers these days prefer interaction with their favorite authors. Failure to do so can slow the growth of your fan base. You’d be surprised to find out just how much a few minutes of interaction with a fan can build a lifetime of support.

So, those are my Branding tips for today. Stop by next Friday morning when I will share a few more. If you haven’t read my blog, I am attaching the link. Until next time, have a great weekend and HAPPY BRANDING!!!

http://authormjkanebooks.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/how-important-is-branding-to-an-unpublished-author-or-published-author/