Blog Tour Day 2

Hi there everybody! Today marks day two of the blog tour for Ontario!

Today's post can be found at Brenda Perlin's blog Home Wrecker. There you'll find fun info about the book, an excerpt, and the very first review of Ontario by Brenda herself!

While you're over there, make sure to check out Brenda's work. Her book Home Wrecker was re-released yesterday, so it's sort of like Ontario and Home Wrecker are sister books or something, with the same release date, woot woot!

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for day three of the blog tour, and please share these posts with your friends! Let's get the word out!

- Heidi Nicole Bird

Inside Ontario's Head

Ontario isn't your ordinary high school senior. She's recently been abandoned by her mother. Throughout the story there are many things that Ontario has to deal with, and I thought I'd make a post to help you get inside her head a bit. Here's some thoughts that run through her mind as the story progresses:

• What am I going to do with my life?
• Can I trust anyone anymore?
• I'm holding Eddy back
• I want to help Eddy so he isn't the only on supporting us
• I will get out of this place some day, but it won't be the way my mom did
• What is with Austin and his crazy dance moves?
• Why can't Kelly-Ann appreciate what she has?
• At least I have one great friend -Warren. He's always there for me.
• There's nothing a raspberry malt can't fix.
• Maybe it's okay to let myself go sometimes.
• What will my future be?
• Am I capable of anything great? 

As you can see, Ontario has lots of things on her plate, and in Ontario you follow her journey to resolve these questions. The great part about it all? The story is also jam-packed with great fun and music thanks to the 1950s! I couldn't think of a better setting for a story that teaches you to find the good things in your life. 

The Extras

In my opinion the minor characters in a story are just as important as the major ones, so I wanted to introduce you to some of the characters you only see a couple of times in Ontario:

• Mrs. Cherry - She is the mother of one of Eddy's friends, and Ontario's audience buddy for the boys' annual Halloween baseball game
• Mr. Candor - Drugstore owner. Super friendly, and obsessed with serving his customers
• Mrs. Wheeler - Eccentric art teacher who inspires Ontario. Inventor of "emotipainting musica" an exercise that helps her students paint what a song says to them, not what the words say.
• Vince Cherry - good friend of Eddy's, loves baseball
• Teddy - a worker at the diner where Ontario works
• Mrs. Stratton - Ontario's mother, who is obsessed with Canada and abandons her children for it
• Mr. Stratton - Important to the story in thought, Ontario's father who died when she was young
• Brad - fourteen year old in Austin's dance class 

Gettin' in the Groove

Music is a big, like HUGE, thing in my life, and it plays a big part in the story of Ontario. While I was working on the story, I decided that I needed to make a playlist. Ontario works at an authentic 1950s diner, and I wanted to feel like I was there. I wanted to be immersed in the story, and dang if this doesn't do it! I did some research and made a playlist of my favorite songs that would be playing at Maggie's Diner and I now fondly refer to that list as "Ontario's Jukebox." Take a listen! You're bound to know some of these great songs!

• Little Bitty Pretty One, Bobby Day
• Rockin'Robin, Bobby Day
• Mr. Sandman, The Chordettes
• Johnny B. Goode, Chuck Berry
• Roll Over Beethoven, Chuch Berry
• Rock N' Roll Music, Chuch Berry
• Yakety Yak, The Coasters
• At the Hop, Danny & The Juniors
• Blue Suede Shoes, Elvis Presley
• Heartbreak Hotel, Elvis Presley
• Shake, Rattle and Roll, Elvis Presley
• Are You Lonesone Tonight, Elvis Presley
• Can't Help Falling in Love
• Love Me Tender, Elvis Presley
• Hound Dog, Elvis Presley
• Don't Be Cruel, Elvis Presley
• All Shook Up, Elvis Presley
• Jailhouse Rock, Elvis Presley
• Burning Love, Elvis Presley
• I Only Have Eyes for You, The Flamingoes
• Why Do Fools Fall in Love, Frakie Lymon & the Teenagers
• Great Balls of Fire, Jerry Lee Lewis
• Lucille, Little Richard
• Tutti Frutti, Little Richard
• Long Tall Sally, Little Richard
• Good Golly, Miss Molly, Little Richard
• Earth Angel, The Penguins
• La Bamba, Richie Valens
• My Girl, The Temptations
• Be-Bop-a-Lula

"Ontario" Official Launch!

Guess what guys? Today is the day! Ontario is now available!!! Oh my gosh, you have no idea how much joy I get from saying that! This story in particular means everything to me, so I really hope that you enjoy reading it! I can't wait to hear what you all think once you get your hands on a copy!

Paperback                                       Kindle Store

Ontario on Goodreads

And there are the links! Now you can get your very own copy! To celebrate, I am throwing a launch party on Facebook from 12:00-2:00pm (MST). Click here to join in the fun! Just stop by the page during the indicated time period to play some awesome games, get the word out about Ontario, and get yourself entered to win some really awesome prizes! 

Also, this post marks the beginning of the official blog tour for Ontario! Eleven other authors have joined in to help me out with this, and I am so excited for the posts that are coming your way! Check in every day April 29 - May 10th and I will tell you where to go! Each post will be different and have great content about Ontario. 

So there you have it, lots of sweet and awesome stuff! I hope you'll grab a copy of Ontario and that your day is freakingly fabulous!

 - Heidi Nicole Bird

Author Interview with Connie Wilson

Today I would like to introduce you to Connie Wilson, writer of interracial romance. Hi Connie, and welcome to the blog today! Tell us a bit about yourself. 

I always feel like I'm pimping myself off to a dating site when I write these things. LOL. I'll spare you the “I'm 35 and love candle light dinners and long walks on the beach” speech and say that I've lived in Michigan most of my life and have an almost 18 year old calico cat named Simone, who I think at this point is going to out live us all. Between her, my writing and my fantabulous support system, they are the only reason I'm as sane as I'm going to get.

I enjoy watching movies and reading. I'm really into reading books and watching their movies and seeing the difference between the two. 

What made you decide to be a writer, and when was that?

I got serious about it when I was 19. I had story ideas in my head, had no idea how to do it properly, but I just started writing them down. It was through going back and saying “Hey, these aren't very good” that I started researching on how to make it better.

How old were you when you finished your first book?

I've “finished” a few, but never did anything with them. The first one that I finished that did something with, I was 33.

How long did it take you to write it?

Seven months.

Do you have any published works?

Yes. Two on Amazon – Learning the Hard Way and Northern Lights 1: Natural Order

Have you ever participated in NaNoWriMo? If so, how many times?

I haven't participated in NaNo in like two years, but before that, I'd done it 7 times with 4 wins – 3 of them consecutively.

What do you do to keep yourself going when you aren’t motivated?

I allow myself a a day or two break but then I go back and I read what I've written, fix grammar stuff I've seen and usually end up fixing dialogue or adding description and that gets me going on other ideas.

Why would someone like your book? 

Because they're a new twist on something that's been seen a million times. There are no new ideas, only new spins on old ones. And I'd like to think that my spin hasn't been done before. The characters are strong, likable but not perfect. They have visible flaws that make them seem human.

How old were you when you wrote your book?

Being that I have just finished it, 35.

How long did it take you to write it? 

This rendition of it, 4 years. It's been incomplete for about that long.

Did anything in particular inspire anything in your book, or anything you have written? 

When this particular idea came about, I was looking to do something completely different than the fan fiction that I'd been doing at the time.

What is the title of your book? 

The Wrong Side of the Mississippi

How do you plan on publishing? 

My book is currently being optioned by Queen Midas Books.

Did you design your own cover, or have someone else help? 

They will be handling that.

What format(s) will your book be available in? 

Ebook and paperback

When do you expect your book to be released?

There isn't a release date yet.

What genre does your book fit into? 

Interracial romance

How long did you work on it until you felt like it was ready for publishing? 

I've been working on this idea for at least 10 years. It's gone through at least three changes before I felt comfortable with writing it and getting it out there.

What else are you working on right now? 

I'm really busy getting The Wrong Side of Mississippi ready to put out so I'm really focused on that for now.                      

Writers and Books that Have Helped You

What do you like to read?

 I read anything that catches my attention. Usually I stick to romance but I've been branching out to some street lit and urban fiction.

Are there particular writers that you admire?

To completely contradict the previous question, my favorite authors are Nicholas Sparks and James Patterson.

What have you learned about writing from reading the books that you love?

To take chances. That it's okay to shake things up and step out of your comfort zone from time to time. James Patterson is known for his crime dramas but his book Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas is my favorite book and it's a love story written in second person.

If there was one author you could meet with and learn from one on one, who would you choose?

I would have to say James Patterson, simply because he's so versatile.

Advice for Other Writers

What advice would you give to other aspiring writers?

People find out I'm a writer and I hear “I always wanted to be a writer but I wouldn't know where to start”.. pick up a pen... or open a document and just start. Get the idea down on paper and worry about form and character and all that later. If you want to write, do it. Don't worry about if you're good at it. And then worry about the particulars. Read all the how to books and bone up on what to do that way. When I first started writing, one of my best friends told me to learn all the rules of writing so I knew when it was appropriate to break them.

Any advice for the editing process?

Ugh. I always think I'm a great writer until I edit. Before actually changing anything, read through it and make notes (though I end up making the grammar changes I see because I'm OCD and can't help it). Then make your changes and read through it again for more grammar changes or anything else you may see. And then have several people go through it because fresh eyes will see things you didn't. And read Elizabeth Lyon's “Manuscript Makeover: Revision Techniques No Fiction Writer Can Afford to Ignore”. 

If you could do everything over (writing your book, or publishing, etc.) would you change anything?

I would have self published sooner. I was never confident enough in my ability to put myself out there but once I did it and people responded positively, my self confidence grew.

Is there anything particularly helpful you have found as you have written/edited/published?

Having a schedule seems to help move things along better for me.

General Questions

What did you want to be when you were little?

I wanted to be an English teacher and then a social worker.

Do you plan on being a full time writer, or do you have other career plans? 

At this point in my life, I intend on being a full-time writer.

How long have you been writing?

Honestly, my entire life. But I got serious about turning it into a career around nineteen. I started writing what is known now as fan fiction at 19 with the idea of eventually turning it into something more.

What do you write? Specific genres, ages groups, etc.

I write interracial romance. I have several young adult projects out but I will eventually focus only on adult romance.

Why that particular genre/age group? 

I started writing the genre about seven years ago when there wasn't a lot of it on the market and I wanted to be different and stir things up a bit.

Ebook, paperback, or hardcover? 

Ebook for now, but I've got something in the works now that will lead me to paperback.

What are you currently working on? 

I am currently deep in the clutches of the editing process with my book The Wrong Side of the Mississippi.

What makes your writing unique?

I'd like to think that my characters aren't stereotypical. And I put a lot of my own experiences into my characters and my plots so it gives my books a unique spin.

Do have any writing rituals? Treats you have to have, places you have to be, etc.? 

My area has to be completely spotless, there has to be some sort of back ground noise and I have to have some sort of flavored water.

What are some of your hobbies besides writing and reading? 

I love to cook and I try new recipes a couple of times a week. If I don't get a recipe right the first time, I'm likely to try it three of four times that month until I have it right. 

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what do you listen to? 

Yes. It depends on what type of scene I'm writing. Usually it's hair bands because well, I'm stuck in the 80s. But if I'm writing a sad scene or a more sensual scene then I listen to r&b or hip hop.

Where can people go to learn more about you and your work?

You can follow me on Facebook: Author Connie Wilson, Twitter: AuthorCWil and all three of my books have fan pages on facebook.

Thank you Connie for a great interview! It has been a pleasure getting to know you. Good luck with your work!

"Dark Revelation" Blog Tour Stop!

Today I am excited to introduce you to author S.E. Myers as part of her Dark Revelation blog tour! Stephanie was born in San Antonio, Texas and spent most of her youth in Germany. She joined the military and traveled the world...somewhat. She lived in Japan, spent time in India, and currently resides in Sacramento, California. She is surrounded by her close friends, family, and animals. She lives with her oldest daughter (Illeana), youngest daughter (Kathryn), Punky & Snoopy (their Chorky's), and their cat (Miss Kitty). She misses her son, Gavin, terribly. He currently lives in Georgia. Stephanie has written for many years. She started writing songs at the age of ten. Her writing progressed into short stories, poetry, screenplays, and more recently, her novel Dark Revelation. While Dark Revelation is of the YA genre, her other WIP's (Works in Progress) are more adult in nature - and no - not that kind of adult.

To tell you a bit about Dark Revelation here's the book blurb:

Ryleigh Simmons just turned seventeen. After losing her parents in a fatal accident, Ryleigh moves in with an aunt she was unaware of and is introduced to family she never knew existed. After finding out she is a descendant of the Fae, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery with the assistance of Tristan - a long lost cousin. Ryleigh's Uncle Finar wants nothing more than to consume her and those like her to become the most powerful Fae in existence and Ryleigh is the only one who can stop him.

*****

Slowly starting to stir, she could hear the voices say, "Shhh, quiet - she's coming around." Ryleigh groaned as she attempted to open her eyes. "It's okay, little one, wake up," she could hear the soft voices calling to her.

Ryleigh opened her eyes and shut them immediately. The blinding light felt like fire raging through her skull. She could hear rustling around her. Opening her mouth to speak, her voice caught the gravel coating in the back of her throat. "Hello," she choked up.

A few snippets from Amazon reviews:

"This book had me hooked in the first chapter" ~ A.E. Drury

"The laundry I did not do today tells you I loved this book!" ~ BrittR

"A great read for anyone into paranormal" ~ John Schwab

"Definitely 5 stars for this new edition!!! Just loved this very creative work of art!" ~ Arlene O’Neil

As a writer myself I know these are the kinds of reviews and comments authors love to receive! Let’s get to know Stephanie a little better by asking her a few questions.

Is your glass half full or half empty? Definitely half full…  when it’s not empty

If you could have a dinner party with five people (living or dead) who would be invited? David Tennant, Billie Piper, Guillermo Del Toro, Gerard Butler, and Leonardo Da Vinci

Do you have any advice for the editing process? Hire an editor.  Hire one.  Do it.

 Sounds like you are pretty passionate about that! If you could do anything over (writing your book, or publishing, etc.) would you change anything?  I would ensure my book was fully edited prior to publishing it the first time

Describe yourself in one word – Supercalifraglisticexpialidocious

What super power would you like to have? The power to freeze time.

What kind of books do you read for pleasure? Urban Fantasy

What compelled you to write this book? I saw someone running and had to know why.

Are there any specific authors that you admire?  Yes!  There are many and a lot of them are indies.  Nicole Storey, Todd Brown,  K. D. Emerson, Donna Dillon, Rich Meyer, J.D. Mader, Laurie Boris, David Antrobus.. just to name a few.

And there you have it folks, Stephanie Myers (S.E. Myers) author of Dark Revelation. Check out her book here: http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Revelation-The-Series-ebook/dp/B00AXOR7S6/

Stick around, read her blog, follow her on twitter and most of all -- read her books!

She is currently working on the second book in the Dark Revelation series.

You can reach Stephanie at: SEMyers.Author @ gmail.com. She would love to hear from you!

Blog:  http://stephiemyers.author.com

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/semyers.author