I've Been Rescued!

I've been rescued!

As you all know, my publishing experience has been filled with difficulties. From formatting issues to lack of communication, things were pretty rough. Last week I severed ties with my publisher. I wish them all the best but it was best for me to move on.

After terminating my contract I had a long discussion with my husband about my troubles. From problems in 2009 with a vanity press to my recent publishing concerns I wasn't exactly interested in putting myself in the position to have someone else in control of my books and be set up for that same difficult situation once more.

Enter the knight in shining armor on a white horse! My husband has started a traditional publishing house! Let me introduce you all to Rescue House Publishing! Rescue House Publishing is different from other publishers out there. I'll let him explain more about it on his website. The website is still under construction, but keep checking back for more info. In short, it's a traditional house where the authors have a lot more control over their books than most other houses. Rescue House Publishing is also a clean publisher. That means the books need to be PG-13. No erotica or porn here. If you write clean books and are looking for a traditional publishing option, keep checking in for calls for submissions. Once he's ready, he will let you all know. Rescue House Publishing also believes in giving back to the community. Dogs are one of our passions and a portion of our sales will be donated to Rescues to Heroes, a local organization that rescues shelter dogs and trains them to be service dogs for the disabled. It's a great way to give back to the community!

Meanwhile, "The Search for Mrs. Claus" has been republished with Rescue House Publishing! I am so excited to be able to publish my books with a house that truly was created for the benefit of authors and to be able to give back to the community with my work!

If you'd like more information about Rescue House Publishing please e-mail Nick Daisey at requests@rescuehousepublishing.com and he will get back with you.

Author2Author with Alisha Guenzel

Today I'd like to invite everyone to check out the books of my friend and fellow author Alisha Guenzel. Alisha's debut novel "Unspoken Dreams" is published with the same house as "The Search for Mrs. Claus." Alisha is married and the mother of five children. Her passions are her family, her horses, and her writing.

Courtney: What made you decide to become a writer?

Alisha: I couldn’t talk as a kid and I found it much easier to make friends on paper. Like any other writer, stories come to me. And if I don’t write them down my mind is filled with that story until it is written.

Courtney: Your first novel “Unspoken Dreams” is very poignant. Tell me what events in your life led you to write this novel?

Alisha: To be honest Courtney I have an eight year old boy with autism. I wrote the original "Unspoken Dreams" when I was a moody teenager and I was going through a lot of changes at the time. When I picked up my old manuscript it just started out as something to do while I took care of my five kids while my husband was out of town. But as I began to write I saw I was putting in a lot of my experiences with my own son into the story. I’ve been asked if it’s a non-fiction story and I tell people no. But it does have a bit of reality. As you know yourself from reading "Unspoken Dreams", Jaime has many issues he must work through every day. That is real. Autism can be scary, that is real. The hope of a normal life is real. But what also is real is the hope of acceptance. I see it every day online. These parents of kids who are just diagnosed are heart breaking to me. So I put my real life experiences into "Unspoken Dreams." The tantrums, the "jitters." The frustration I felt as I raised not just my son but daughter as a single mother. The improvement in Jaime as he met Jonathan came from my experience of when I met my husband John. He taught Rhett (my son) how to control his behavior and today people can’t believe he has autism. Rhett talks, laughs, and functions. I want people to know that there is hope for a bright future. I know that is a lot and probably more than you asked for. But life is what led me to write my first novel.

Courtney: Do you have a particular method you use to write (like outlining) or do you just write as it comes to you?

Alisha: Oh my method is crazy and messy at first. I just write at first. But I have a big black 2” notebook that holds ideas for scenes and outlines and character sketches. I first start with the story in my head. Then I do what’s called a character sketch to see my character. For example for "The McGregor Saga" I have character sketches on all three brothers and their love interests. What they like, dislike, how they look, their hair and eye color stuff like that. Even what kind of food they like. Then after I finish the first draft I read it and do two sets of rewrites until I have the story where I want it. And even then I go over it again. I learned a lot while publishing “Unspoken Dreams” and I want my saga to be better so I begin with one draft of the story the outline really and then after I put in what I think the story should be I go back to my character sketches and see what my characters want the story to be. I know that sounds crazy but I look at it this way. As a writer I build the stepping stones to the story but my characters really tell it.

Courtney: Tell me about your upcoming novel “A Cowboy’s Duty.”

Alisha: Well to be honest Courtney I changed the name to "Jason’s Duty." It is book one of a series called "The McGregor Saga." The saga takes place in Montana and there are three brothers: Jason, Jesse, and Jude. All three are romances. But they are each different in their own way. For example in "Jason’s Duty" it revolves around the eldest McGregor. Jason Jameson McGregor. He’s his father’s foreman on his horse ranch. He’s a trainer and he is a country boy with lots of chores. But when a car accident brings his father’s friends daughter and wife to their ranch Jason’s world is turned upside down. He can’t do his job because his mother puts him in charge of watching over Haley (daughter of a friend) and Jason starts out really hating her but as time goes on he starts to fall for her and he feels torn between his heart and his duty as his father’s foreman. It’s kind of special to me because the main horse characters in the book are inspired by my own horses Ranger, Lilly, and Peanut. And some of the scenes with them are stuff that I do every day with my own horses.

Courtney: What or who inspired you to write?

Alisha: My Gram. From a very young age she taught me to dream big dreams. And to not limit my ability to go for what I want. My first A+ in school was a paper that I wrote about her house. It was labeled “My Favorite Place”. After she read it, she saw the talent I had and always encouraged me to keep writing.

Courtney: Tell me about your publication process. What did it entail?

Alisha: A lot of work but it’s fun. I started with a vanity press before I joined MSH. Then Allison Bruning took interest in "Unspoken Dreams" and wanted it because it had to do with autism. The editing part of it was a lot of work but after learning more about the craft of writing and learning how to make webpages and teasers even book trailers it was a lot of fun. It’s like my Gram always told me: “Alisha, nothing in life comes for free. You must work for what you want, if you don’t it’s not worth having.”

Courtney: Why do you write? Is it for fame, money, or the story?

Alisha: I would have to say the stories. I may not write a best seller but they are my stories. If I can bring hope to one struggling mom/dad of an Autistic child I have done my job. Would I like to be known or have someone just wait for my next book? Sure what author doesn’t but if I just write “Unspoken Dreams” and "The McGregor Saga" and that’s it and it’s made someone smile then I’m happy. Of course I want to make money but Rome wasn’t built in a day either. So I’ll just keep working and creating because that is my job.

Courtney: Is there a particular author that really influences your writing?

Alisha: I would have to say Devika Fernando. She really made me think about my story “Unspoken Dreams.” She taught me to listen to my characters and to not be afraid to do more. For example “Unspoken Dreams” was released earlier this year. And it was a good book but it was my first. I see it going places but just like everything else in life it needed time to sit and after I went back to it I saw where I could make it better and I did. Devika showed me that there is always room to improve your story.

Courtney: What are your goals over the next five years, both personally and as a writer?

Alisha: I hope to be as happy in five years that I am now. I have everything I need or want, a wonderful husband, five kids that bring me pride and joy to be called their mom. I have a horse who although is challenging is my best friend. So in five years I hope I can just be happy. As far as my writing, I’m not sure. I hope to have my name known in book stores. But then again I’m just starting out. I would like to say I hope "Unspoken Dreams" and "The McGregor Saga" is a success and that I go on to write more stories.

Courtney: What’s your favorite part of writing? Also, what’s your least favorite part?

Alisha: My favorite part of writing...hmmm...that is so hard because everything is so much fun. I love creating the story. But what writer doesn’t right? The rewriting can be a little discouraging at times because I have an idea in my head and when I realize I have to edit to make it better I think to myself “And I’m a published author?” I know that’s silly but it’s the truth. Editing is the hardest. But oh how I LOVE promoting! I know to most writers that’s the worst part but it runs a close second to be my favorite part of writing. I love it because the job is done and you get to play with ideas on how to get your audience hooked.

Be sure to check out Alisha's links below to keep up with her books and writing!

Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/alguenzel

Web Page: http://alishaguenzel.wix.com/unspokendreams

Book Trailer for Unspoken Dreams: http://youtu.be/sakYujcOO0c

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ajbrown718689/unspoken-dreams/

Book Page: http://www.facebook.com/my.debut.book.unspokendreams

Book Page for Jason’s Duty: http://www.facebook.com/ACowboysDutyB1

Book Trailer for Jason’s Duty: http://youtu.be/4D6ob0swLJI

Book Page for Jesse’s Choice: http://www.facebook.com/MSJessesChoice

Book Page for Dancing with Jude: http://www.facebook.com/DancingWithJude

Blog: http://alishaguenzel.blogspot.com/

Book Review: Etched in History by Amanda Marie

I like to read on my lunch break at work. Having the Kindle app on my tablet makes that very easy. Earlier this week I purchased "Etched in History" by Amanda Marie and began reading it. To say this novel is phenomenal would be an understatement!

I really enjoy reading historical romances and novels. I'm a huge fan of "North and South" and "Gone With the Wind." Though set in the same time frame, this novel is quite different from either of those. Below is the review I left this wonderful book on Amazon and Goodreads.

"This book captivated me from the first chapter! The story is completely different from what you're used to seeing out of a romance from a post-Civil War setting. This is a story about love and overcoming differences in a time when differences are shunned.

Unlike many stories, this one was told from the perspectives of all of the characters involved. I really enjoyed this because it allowed me to see into the thoughts of each character as the events were taking place. Amanda Marie makes it very easy for readers to know who is speaking and thinking though so there's no way you can get confused.

This was a very sweet historical romance! It's about love, not physicality. I could easily see this being made into a movie. It was a truly excellent read! I take my Kindle with me to work and read on my lunch break. I can't tell you how many times over the past few days reading this book I wanted my lunch break to be longer so I could keep reading! I look forward to reading more of Amanda Marie's novels!"

If you're looking for a clean, captivating romance novel, this one's for you. Snag a copy of "Etched in History" today. I promise you that you'll enjoy it.

Etched in History - Amazon

Etched in History- Smashwords

Author Central Page on Amazon

Courtney Daisey's Amazon Author Central Page

Fellow authors, I've recently been made aware of a great tool available to us! How many of us are published on Amazon? If you are, then you really should consider creating an Author Central page.

What's Author Central? It's almost like a home page for your work on Amazon! Just visit http://authorcentral.amazon.com. If you already have an Amazon account you can use your same login information for your Author Central page. It's a great tool you can use to help promote yourself and your work! For example you can have a photo and biography information, a listing of all of your works on Amazon (including links to all of your works as well), and even a forum where you can post and interact with your readers! Link your Twitter to your Author Central page and your latest tweet shows up right there for everyone to check out! You can also link your blog there, which I am going to do as soon as I post this! That way my blog posts will show up on the page as well. Best of all, this tool is completely FREE! I love just about anything that's free, especially if it can help me out.

Also, notice that you can "like" these Author Central pages as well. Do you have an author you like? Definitely go like his or her page! Just like with Facebook, Amazon uses these likes to gauge the popularity of the pages. The more likes you have the greater your chances of Amazon promoting your books!

So please, check out my Amazon Author Central page, like it, and share this info with your author friends! It might just help them out a bit.

Christmas in July

The concept of Christmas in July actually came from a girls camp in 1933 in North Carolina. The girls had a Christmas tree, presents, and even a visit from Santa. From this little celebration, the idea of having Christmas in July has grown. While not very common here in the northern hemisphere, south of the equator it is winter and many countries take part in winter festivities. Sometimes people in the northern hemisphere also partake in Christmastime activities as well. Think about it. There are no holidays between the first week of July and Labor Day in September. That's a long time to go without something fun to celebrate!

Some people go all out and put up Christmas trees, decorate their homes, and have holiday parties during July. Even some television stations get into the theme. The Hallmark Channel is showing Christmas movies right now as part of their Christmas in July celebration.

That's why I am so glad my book was released at this time. It's a great time to pick up a copy and get into that Christmas spirit! Right now on Kindle it's only $3.99! I am hoping to see the paperback version out by the end of the week.

Pick up your copy on Kindle today and get into the spirit!

"The Search for Mrs. Claus" for Kindle

First review: 5 stars!

The first review is in and it's a 5 star review! Oh this made my night! Thank you to reader Samaire Provost for your review and kind words!

I immediately read through my Kindle copy of the my own book and found a few errors that I didn't catch during editing. I've sent that info back to the publisher and they are working on correcting the errors prior to releasing the print version of "The Search for Mrs. Claus." If you're ready for a print copy of this book, stay tuned. It's definitely in progress. You can purchase the Kindle copy here on Amazon right now for only $3.99!

I'd also like to invite all of you to attend my virtual release party that I am hosting on Facebook next weekend. it will be July 12 from 3:00PM to 6:00PM EST. This will be a fun gathering to celebrate the release of my book, talk about Christmas things, play games, and even win a prize or two! Please come by, invite your friends, and come have a jolly good time with me that afternoon!

Christmas in July - "The Search for Mrs. Claus" Virtual Release Party