Friday, June 25, 2010

Thriller Book Tour Starts This Week

Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline "Don't forget to b r e a t h e . . ."®  Brandilyn's first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995.
Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the 
Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows.

Brandilyn's awards for her novels include the ACFW
Book of the Year (three times), Inspirational Readers' Choice, and Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice.



Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). 


The Writer magazine named Getting into Character one of the best books on writing published in 2002.

When she's not writing, Brandilyn can be found teaching the craft of fiction at writers' conferences. She and her family divide their time between homes in the California Bay Area and northern Idaho.


This week on Friday, the B&H Thriller Tour launches. The four B&H authors taking part in this tour are me, Tosca Lee, Robin Caroll, and Jim Rubart. We will start in St. Louis, go to Philadelphia and Baltimore, and end up in New York. Hope to see you there if you live in these areas! Note: additional New York area venues are being booked. I'll let you know when they have been added. Here's the schedule so far:

Friday, June 25: St. Louis area


2:00 – 4:00: Parable Bookstore
 
1716 Missouri State Road
Arnold, MO 63010
636-287-1231

6:00 – 8:00: Family Christian Store
  
167 Mid Rivers Mall Dr
St Peters, MO 63376-4309
636-278-2895

Saturday, June 26th


12:00 – 2:00 PM: Mainstreet Books

307 South Main Street
St. Charles, MO 63301
636-949-0105


4:00 – 6:00 PM: Lifeway Christian Store 
11977 Saint Charles Rock Road
Bridgeton, MO 63044
314-344-0014


Sunday, June 27th
2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Barnes & Noble
721 Gravois Road
Fenton, MO 63026
636-326-2148


Thursday, July 1: Philadelphia area and Baltimore 
11:00 – 1:00--Lifeway Christian Store
2320 Industrial Highway
York, PA 17402
717-757-5311


4:00 – 6:00 PM--Lifeway Christian Store
White Marsh Plaza Shopping Center
7900 Honeygo Blvd
Baltimore, MD 21236 
410-931-8038 


Friday, July 9th: New Jersey
7:00-9:00 PM: Borders
 
290 Commons Way
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 231-0111


Saturday, July 10: New York area
1:00 – 3:00: Barnes & Noble
290 Baychester Ave.
Bronx, NY 10475
718-862-3945

Thursday, June 24, 2010

LITERARY EVENT - Austin, Texas


Date:
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Time:
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location:
Mitchie's Fine Art Gallery
Street:
7801 N. Lamar Blvd. Building B STE 148
City/Town:
Austin, TX


This is the official book release event in Austin, TX. Copies of Black Diamond and Coffee Confession will be available for sale. I will conduct a reading, giveaways, and much more.

YEAH!!!!!!


PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

Please visit the site 
http://www.janesedixon.com/ and purchase a copy of Black Diamond and you can also RSVP for my book release parties—in Houston, Austin, and one online. Pre-release orders will come to you before the national book release date and I will create a special place for you in my heart. (aaahhhh….)


ABOUT PRE-ORDERS

Pre-order sales are VERY important for the success of a book; it's the launching pad that gives the book legs. The publishing industry pays close attention to these numbers, and believe me, that's important. As an independently published author it's crucial for me to get the word out and drum up early book sales. So please, pre-order your copy today, and urge your friends, family, co-workers, and everyone you know to do the same! (Thanks Trice!)


ABOUT BLACK DIAMOND

Camille Blackwell, an undercover FBI agent, poses as a jewelry purchaser in an international diamond trading company in hopes of identifying the domestic players in a vicious rebel group suspected of trafficking conflict diamonds.

The Bureau requests CIA renegade Marc Fulton’s assistance with sweeping international intelligence to identify the major rebel organizations with finances and stateside connections strong enough to evade criminal prosecution, despite Camille’s objections.

Sparks fly when Marc and Camille meet, their attraction is instant and tense. However, both resolve to focus on the case. But when Camille receives an encrypted memory stick from a murdered co-worker Marc may be the only person she can trust.

Black Diamond is the eagerly anticipated debut novel by Ja’Nese Dixon. True love, like black diamonds, is rare and precious; but when murder and a persistent criminal threaten a frail relationship, can love triumph?

In a borderless game of cat and mouse, will a chance at happily ever after be thwarted at the deadly scheme of the faceless leader of the Imperial Dynasty?


SEE YOU THERE!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Join Us In The Challenge

Do you need something to do this summer? Have you had it with reruns and senseless reality shows? Then why not partner with Literary Wonders! And The Author’s Hideaway, along with a host of other literary groups and sources as we join Written Magazine’s 30 Books in 90 Days Challenge.

The challenge, which starts June 27th, challenges readers to put on their reading hat and open their imagination to the world of books. This is an annual event and Literary Wonders! and The Author’s Hideaway had a blast with the challenge, although we did not meet our thirty books. However, this year will be much, much different. We plan to exceed our goals of 30 books and 30 reviews. For more information on the challenge, please go to Written Magazine’s website and join in the fun.

Currently, Literary Wonders! and The Author’s Hideaway is compiling a list of books we plan on reading. Our list is not complete as we plan on adding books as we go along, but check below to see if anything on our partial list piques your interest. If you would like to add your book to our reading list and have it reviewed, please forward a copy of your book, during the reading period, to Literary Wonders! 30/90 REVIEW Post Office Box 13727 Greensboro, NC 27405 – 3727. Or if you have an e-book in e-book format that you would like to add, please send it to info@literarywonders.com.

This is a great time to utilize and support your local public library, your independent book stores, chain book stores and online retailers. For those who are not aware, by signing up for newsletters from retailers such as Barnes and Noble and Borders, you will receive coupons on a regular basis for 20% to 50% off books. Online stores such as Amazon sell books at a discount and will usually grant you FREE basic shipping and handling if you order $25 or more. If you buy a book and decide that you don’t want to keep it in your collection after you read it, Amazon has a resale program that allows you to recover some of your costs.

E-book readers are all the craze these days. From the Kindle to the Nook to the infamous iPad, books are more portable and easier to access than ever. Most e-book readers will fit in an average size purse and can hold up to 500 hundred books. Try carrying 500 regular books at one time – not gonna happen! With the publishing industry focusing a lot of their time and their marketing to e-books, many of them are reasonably priced and a lot of them are FREE.
So what are you waiting for? You don’t have to wait for the reading challenge to start, you can get started now.

This is also and excellent time to challenge our children to read. They need to exercise their young minds during the off-season. Although they may not read 30 books in 90 days, they will sure have fun weaving in and out of adventure after adventure










Our Partial Summer Reading List

1.   Black Diamond by Ja’Nese Dixon
2.   The Lighthouse of Hope by Sue Falcone
3.   Take Your Pleasure Where You Find It
4.   The Sins of the Mother by Victoria Christopher Murray
5.   Cougars by Earl Sewell
6.   A Woman’s Revenge by Tiffany L. Warren, Sherri L. Lewis and Rhonda McKnight
7.   Little Black Girl Lost  by Keith Lee Johnson.
8.   Little Black Girl Lost 2 by Keith Lee Johnson
9.   Little Black Girl Lost 3 by Keith Lee Johnson
10.        Little Black Girl Lost 4 by Keith Lee Johnson
11.        Little Black Girl Lost 5 by Keith Lee Johnson
12.        Lady Jasmine by Victoria Christopher Murray
13.        Luck of the Draw by Anthony Cardieri
14.        The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
15.        Holy Rollers by Reshonda Tate Billingsley
16.        By Reason of Insnaity by Randy Singer
17.        The Help by Kathryn Stockett
18.        Private by James Patterson
19.        Till You Hear From Me by Pearl Cleage
20.        Alibi by Teri Woods
21.        Financial Revival: A Lifestyle of Freedom by Kristen Eckstien
22.        Diary of a Stalker by Electa Rome Parks

Monday, June 21, 2010

Comparing PODs (Print on Demand)

You've finished your manuscript, now what? You need to publish but don't know where to turn to. Do you traditionally publish? Do you self-publish? What about POD? What is POD? Thanks to the good people at Writer's Weekly, you can compare some of the top Print on Demand companies in one place. So before you publish, regardless of how you publish, do your research first. 

NOTE: All publishers below currently offer distribution through Ingram (the largest book distributor), as well as inclusion of their titles in the major online (amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc.) and physical bookstore systems.

BookLocker: $517 (Deduct $200 if submitting your own cover) 
No hidden fees or upselling. Books are usually on the market in less than a month. No extra charge for graphics. 35% royalties based on list price for public sales; 15% royalties based on list price on wholesale/bookstore orders. Authors own their production files. Added Bonus: Returning authors are only charged $149 setup fees on their second and subsequent books. 
Rated "Outstanding" by Mark Levine, attorney and author of The Fine Print of Self-Publishing.

iUniverse: $599.00 (includes 5 "free" copies) 
Warning: They own your files after creation and you have to pay $300-$1500 to get them back if you leave their service! They charge extra to include more than 25 photos/graphics. Charges $12 per image if you want more than 2 images on your cover. No expedite service. Turnaround is 3-4 months. NOTE: IUNIVERSE IS NOW OWNED BY AUTHOR SOLUTIONS, A HOLDING COMPANY THAT ALSO OWNS AUTHORHOUSE, XLIBRIS, AND TRAFFORD. (SEE THOSE COMPANIES BELOW.) 
Rated "Publisher to Avoid" by Mark Levine, attorney and author of The Fine Print of Self-Publishing.

CreateSpace: $763.00 (Deduct $259 if submitting your own cover) 
Add $500 to price above if you want more than one color and image featured on your cover. Limit of 10 interior images; charges $15 per image and $25 per chart/table/graph thereafter (cost of first 25 images included above). Does NOT publish hardcover books. IMPORTANT: BookSurge was rolled into CreateSpace in November but they're still using the same employees, equipment, etc. Read more about BookSurge's problems 
HERE. We recently ordered some BookSurge books and one looked so bad they inserted an apology note inside, saying it was the best they could get from their supplier. They ARE their supplier! Another one arrived with the interior pages appearing upside-down. Some CreateSpace authors have been complaining about their high shipping costs.Rated "Just OK" by Mark Levine, attorney and author of The Fine Print of Self-Publishing.

Trafford: $1073 
IMPORTANT - Price above does **not** include full distribution (Ingram, Amazon, etc.)! Choose the $2297 package if you want that. Expedite service not offered. NOTE: TRAFFORD IS ALSO NOW OWNED BY AUTHOR SOLUTIONS, A HOLDING COMPANY THAT ALSO OWNS XLIBRIS, IUNIVERSE, AND AUTHORHOUSE. (SEE THOSE COMPANIES ABOVE AND BELOW.) 
Rated "Publisher to Avoid" by Mark Levine, attorney and author of The Fine Print of Self-Publishing.

Lulu: $1369.00 (Deduct $650 if submitting your own cover) 
Lulu now charges directly for many services they previously farmed out to other companies. Lulu appears to be having customer service problems and authors are upset about their high shipping costs. Read 
THIS to learn more. Rated "Pretty Good" by Mark Levine, attorney and author of The Fine Print of Self-Publishing.

AuthorHouse: $1468 
Charges extra for photos/graphics ($10 per image after first 10 - included in cost above). Expedite fee ($500) is for publication in 30 days instead of 6 months (included above). Claims ownership of files you pay them to create...meaning you can't use the edited/formatted files if you want to move your book later. NOTE: AUTHORHOUSE IS OWNED BY AUTHOR SOLUTIONS, A HOLDING COMPANY THAT ALSO OWNS XLIBRIS, IUNIVERSE, AND TRAFFORD. (SEE THOSE COMPANIES ABOVE AND BELOW.) 
Rated "Publisher to Avoid" by Mark Levine, attorney and author of The Fine Print of Self-Publishing.

Xlibris: $1922 - (includes 5 "free" copies) 
Charges expedite fee of $349 (included above) for publication in 2 months instead of 4-6 months. Charges $10 per image (included above); $20 per table. Limit of 1 cover image. NOTE: XLIBRIS IS NOW OWNED BY AUTHOR SOLUTIONS, A HOLDING COMPANY THAT ALSO OWNS AUTHORHOUSE, IUNIVERSE, AND TRAFFORD. (SEE THOSE COMPANIES ABOVE.) 
Rated "Publisher to Avoid" by Mark Levine, attorney and author of The Fine Print of Self-Publishing.

***Prices based on least expensive package offered by each publisher on similar offers targeting U.S. authors. Fees include setup, original cover design, print proof, ebook creation, up to 25 interior photos/graphics, an ISBN, barcode, a listing on the publisher's website and distribution by Ingram, all within 6 weeks.

NOTE: Many companies offer perks that others don't, some try to upsell authors on extraneous services, and a few even claim ownership of files the author has paid them to create! Study each publisher and contract carefully before making your choice.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

It's a Wrap at the Fiction and Fiction Retreat

Well folks that’s a wrap for this year’s Faith and Fiction Retreat. It looks like a blessed time was had by all. If you are interested in attending next year’s Faith and Fiction Retreat, contact founder Tiffany L. Warren at info@faithandfictionretreat.com or visit www.faithandfictionretreat.com. Until next year!

What People are Saying About the Faith and Fiction Retreat

~~Awesome day today at the retreat! I am so so so loving the impartation of wisdom, love, thoughts and the words of others!

~~...is feeling so grateful and blessed to have been in the same room as SO many amazingly talented authors today. Thank you 

~~...is having a wonderful time in ATL...the Faith and Fiction Retreat today was amazing! There will be another full day tomorrow where I will pitch "Swag" to some major publishers. Right now I'm enjoying dinner at Justin's :)

~~...

just had an awesome discussion on The List at the Faith and Fiction retreat!!! The discussion was led by a journalist, Jacqueline Holness, who asked the BEST questions!!! It's really great to hang out with my sista-authorfriends and my readers. SO MUCH LOVE!!

Faith and Fiction Update 11:39 EST

We just got word that ReShonda Tate Billingsley – The Devil is a Lie, is at the podium giving her tips on How to Take Your Book to Film

Faith and Fiction Update 10:30am EST

My inside sources tell me that panel discussions are going very well as author Dee Stewart moderates. Some of the panel participants are Kimberla Lawson Roby, Angela Benson, Kimberly Cash Tate and Victoria Christopher Murrary. 























The Faith and Fiction Retreat happening now in Atlanta, Georgia

The Faith and Fiction Retreat runs from June 18th – 19th in beautiful Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to its founder and host, Tiffany L. Warren, some of the key players this weekend are Kimberla Lawson Roby – Be Careful What You Pray For, Victoria Christopher – Lady Jasmine, and Sherri L. Lewis – Selling My Soul.

The Faith and Fiction Fellowship started in 2005 when Christian Fiction author, Tiffany L Warren, invited several of her sister-authors on a tour to share the ministry behind their writing. The authors, Angela Benson, Latonya Mason, Yolonda Tonette Sanders, Leslie J. Sherrod, Mata Elliott, and Bonnie Hopkins visited with Women's Ministries and Bookclubs in Atlanta, Houston, Baltimore, New York, Washington D.C. and Charlotte. The events were uplifiting and entertaining, with the authors sharing their testimonies and fellowshipping with readers.

In August of 2007, the first annual Faith and Fiction Retreat was held in St. Simons Island, GA with the theme "Words for the Soul". It was truly a time of refreshing and sisterhood as book clubs from across the nation joined together for the weekend. It was an intimate setting where readers really got the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of their favorite faith fiction authors and also discover some new authors. The featured authors were Jacquelin Thomas, Norma L. Jarrett, and Tiffany L. Warren. Also featured in the panels were Shelia Lipsey, Mimi Jefferson, Lacricia Peters, Latonya Mason and Becky DeWitt.

For the 2008 conference the theme was "Words of Life" because authors who write faith fiction truly have the ability to speak life and healing into situations and mind sets. The vision is to recognize those who have accepted such a tremendous calling and to give back to the book clubs and women's ministries that support them.

Conference Host - Tiffany L Warren, author of "What a Sista Should Do", "Farther than I Meant to Go, Longer than I Meant to Stay" and "The Bishop's Daughter" (release date, January 2009). For more information about Tiffany and her books visit her website www.tiffanylwarren.com

Friday, June 18, 2010

REVIEW: Scattered Lies by Madison

Date:                  June 11, 2010              
Title:                   Scattered Lies
Author:              Madison
ISBN 10:            0-9825260-0-8
ISBN 13:            978-0-9825260-0-2
Pages:               260
Publisher:          Influential Writers Publishing
Cover:                Soft Cover
Reviewer:         Adellia Whitson-Stafford– Literary Wonders!                           
Rating:            5 Stars



Gabrielle Brightman is a powerful attorney who has worked hard for everything she has. She has taken on clients that no one else wanted. Her biggest case just happens to be getting her husband Greg out of jail. First, she has to learn the truth about why he is there.

Tony Flowers is a rapper and owner of his own record company - thanks to Greg.  He seems to have it all; money, fans, and a beautiful girlfriend that loves him for who he is and not what he has. He also has a secret that he wants to take to his grave and will do anything to make that happen.

Denise Taylor used to be Greg’s right hand woman.  She was the one that seemed to keep everyone in their place and she knew the crew’s secrets. When Greg went to prison she was forced to go legit and now she wants to live a peaceful life and leaving her street life behind her.  She soon finds out that not everyone wants her to live happily ever after.
  

Morgan Marciano is the niece of Denise Taylor. She is a beautiful fourteen-year- old girl with a bright future ahead of her. She has a promising future but considered herself “different” because she isn’t into things that other girls her age are. She knows that beauty isn’t everything and wishes that people around her would learn the same thing. Unfortunately, her beauty is everything to others and she may have to pay a heavy price.

I give this book a 5. It is a definite page-turner. My only suggestion for people who haven’t read it is to wait for the next one. If not, you will get to the last page and reach for part two only to find out that there isn’t one! To Madison, please do not keep us waiting too long.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Meet Rick Bonner

RICK is a professional singer/songwriter who currently resides in the UK. Mr. Bonner is also a poet.

"I love poems that transport you to a different place and focus on feelings that are difficult to express in everyday life. The sun, moon, stars, mountains and rivers are universal themes lodged deep within our unconscious minds and evoke I believe many commonly shared emotions that help to transport the reader to the end of the poem."


YOU FILL MY EYES
You fill my eyes with complicit adoration, I would lay down my life to see you smile.
My helpless heart skips a beat when you are near me, now I have crossed this tempestuous river of denial.

You fill my eyes with the splendor of your beauty, let me hold and protect you from demonic storms.
Come dance with me beneath the shooting stars and let the purity of my love keep you warm.

You fill my eyes with anticipation, take my hand let me whisk you away.
I will show you bright colors to light up your world, underneath the moonlight by New-Hope bay.

You fill my eyes with surrender; I would scour these mountains for a single kiss.
Let me make you my life and my world, my love, lord I have never yielded like this.

You fill my eyes with sweet surrender, leave it all behind and become part of my life.
Don’t think hard or too long, take a risk and be strong and forever fill my eyes.

You fill my eyes with complicit adoration; I would do anything to see you smile.
My helpless heart skips a beat when you are near me, now I have crossed this dark river of denial

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Meet Patricia Neely Dorsey

Patricia Neely Dorsey's Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems is "a true  celebration of the south and things southern." The author states , "There are so manynegative connotations associated with Mississippi and the south in general. In my book, using  childhood memories, personal thoughts and dreams, I attempt to give a positive glimpse into the southern way of life.  I try to show that there is much is more to Mississippi and the south than all of the negatives usually portrayed .I invite readers to Meet Mississippi (and the south) Through Poetry ,Prose and The Written Word." 






SOUTHERN LIFE 
If you want a glimpse of Southern life, 
Come close and walk with me; 
I'll tell you all the simple things, 
That you are sure to see. 
You'll see mockingbirds and bumblebees, 
Magnolia blossoms and dogwood trees, 
Caterpillars on the step, 
Wooden porches cleanly swept; 
Watermelons on the vine, 
Strong majestic Georgia pines; 
Rocking chairs and front yard swings, 
Junebugs flying on a string; 
Turnip greens and hot cornbread, 
Coleslaw and barbecue; 
Fried okra, fried corn, fried green tomatoes, 
Fried pies and pickles too. 
There's ice cold tea that's syrupy sweet, 
And cool, green grass beneath your feet; 
Catfish nipping in the lake, 
And fresh young boys on the make. 
You'll see all these things 
And much, much more, 
In a way of life that I adore. 
Copyright 2008 Patricia Neely-Dorsey

from Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life In Poems

BOOK AVAILABLE: www.Amazon.com


Patricia Neely-Dorsey is  a 1982 graduate of Tupelo High School in Tupelo, Mississippi... located in the beautiful red clay "Hills" of Mississippi..and yes, the birthplace of Elvis Presley. She  received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts. After living for almost 20 years in Memphis, Tennessee, working in the mental health field she returned to her hometown in August 2008.
Reflections, Her first book of poetry was published in Febraury 2008 (GrantHouse Publishers)
Patricia currently live in Tupelo with her  husband James,son Henry,and Miniature Schnauzer, Happy. She is a  proud, active  member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.,an avid reader and  passionate writer. 
Patricia says that she has always  considered herself a "Goodwill Ambassador" for Mississippi and the south. 
She feels that we can bridge many gaps of misunderstanding across regional, racial, cutural, generational and economic lines by simply telling our stories.
Reflections has been called, among other things,  a poetic autobiography and a love letter to the south. The author agrees with both.