Interview & #Giveaway with Author Senica Evans - Married To Him

Welcome to BK Walker Books Etc. Senica! We’re so glad you could join us for a chat. Senica is currently on virtual book tour with her book,  Married To Him, at  the Virtual Book Tour Café, and will be offering  you a chance to win a copy of her book at the end of her tour.

Let’s chat!

BK:  Please tell us a little about yourself Senica…

SE:      I’m a mother of 2 precocious boys – 5 and 7. I’m a mompreneur, author, and freelance writer and ghostwriter. I like to say I have a PhD in overcoming destructive relationships… which explains why I decided to write Married to Him.

BK:  Your book is a Memoir, how difficult was it for you to relive those memories as you were writing?

SE:      There were certain parts that stirred up buried emotions. Sometimes I cried and other times I shook my head at myself. As if to say, “how could you let that happen?” But, overall, the process offered a lot of healing. I was able to look at my life through the eyes of someone on the outside – which makes it easier to assist women in similar situations now. I learned a lot through this process and have vowed not make these same mistakes again.

BK:  What made you decide to share your story?

SE:      In the beginning I didn’t want to. As I vented to friends and family, they kept encouraging me to write a book. I started with a blog (www.sennysen.com) and made several posts about my story. The response was phenomenal. I started receiving emails from women in similar situations who wanted my advice and tips on how to get out. Then I started getting speaking engagements for different women’s groups. People were really receptive of my story, so I decided to forge ahead and write Married to Him.

BK:  What do you hope readers will take away from Married To Him?

SE:      I have two hopes; 1 – women in similar stiuations will realize they are not alone and there is peace and happiness and real love awaiting them after the destruction is over and 2- people whom have never experienced an abusive or destructive relationship can get inside the head of a woman who has been and see we aren’t as ‘stupid’ and ‘naïve’ as some people believe victims of an abusive relationship are. To sum that up, I hope readers are empowered, enlightened, and a little entertained.

BK:  Did you receive any pressure from family or friends about publishing this story?

SE:      A little. My friends pressured – really, hounded - me to get it published.

BK:  As a result of your past, and the things you’ve had to go through, you founded SennySen, plus became a Relationship Coach. Tell us a little about that.

SE:      I’ve always been passionate about helping people. My story has allowed me to help women who have faced similar situations. There is a beaming light at the end of the tunnel and want women to believe and strive for it. As a relationship coach, I have been able to help women realize their greatness and worth in a relationship. I’ve also done a lot of mentoring with teen girls because teen dating violence is a major concern and problem.

BK:   You’ve received some fantastic reviews for your book, have you received fan mail on how your book has helped them in some shape or form?

SE:      Yes, I was actually receiving “fan mail” well before the book was actually published. The blog posts I wrote before the book was published with bits and pieces of my story were getting a lot of attention. That’s really how the relationship coaching started.

BK:  What went through your mind when you became a published author, and received that first book review?

SE:      I was extremely nervous and elated at the same time. After the first book review, I sighed a sigh of relief. It was almost surreal. The first time Married to Him went to #1 in two subcategories on Amazon and was in the top 100 of Kindle books, I was in complete shock. I kept thinking, “There has to be something wrong with Amazon’s system.” But it’s since happened two more times so I guess it’s not a fluke… I guess.

BK:  Are you working on any new projects? What can we expect from Senica Evans in the future?

SE:      Yes, I have two new projects coming soon. Woman Free Yourself is a practical guide helping women overcome destructive relationships to realize their true inner greatness. For NaNoWriMo, I decided to pursue a fiction project titled Bourgeois Diaries, which is about a women’s desire to marry her bourgeois façade with her mediocre life but there’s one problem… she’s already in too far with Jonathan - her successful enterprising boyfriend - who thinks he’s met his equal.

BK:  Any other events or thoughts you’d like to share with readers today?

SE:      I would like to leave you with my favorite quote by Ernest Hemingway, “The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong in the broken places.” Find your strength by embracing today and releasing yesterday.

Thank you so much for chatting with us today Senica! It was a pleasure having you with us and wish you the best of luck in the future.

Senica Evans as author, relationship coach, radio host, and speaker is passionate about helping women overcome the destruction in their life to reveal their true beauty and greatness. As a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, and destructive relationships, Senica founded SennySen to be a guiding light to women and teen girls. Senica is the author of Married to Him, an autobiography of the destruction she faced in her abusive destructive marriage.  Senica is preparing to release her second book later this year; Woman Free Yourself: A Guide to Healing from Divorce or a Heart Wrenching Breakup by Starting Over, Rediscovering You, & Crushing Bitterness, Anger, and Resentment. Visit her at http://www.sennysen.com .

Website – www.sennysen.com

Blog – www.sennysen.com/blog

Facebook – www.facebook.com/sennysen11    |   www.facebook.com/sddevans

Twitter – www.twiter.com/sennysen11

Purchase – Amazon  |  B&N   |   Book-A-Million  

Married to Him by Senica Evans

Retail $9.99

ISBN: 978-1475010152

Published via CreateSpace July 31, 2012 (Originally published December 2011)

Non-Fiction/ Memoir & Inspirational

Available for all e-reading devices and in paperback at all major retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million.

Synopsis:

One woman's story of overcoming a marriage filled with deceit, infidelity, and abuse to living a life filled with joy, peace, and deliverance.

From Senica Evans, comes a riveting, heartbreaking, drama filled autobiographical tale of her tumultuous marriage to Spank. He is verbally and mentally abusive and can't seem to control his incessant cheating. But it didn't start that way! They met and became the best of friends. Almost inseparable from the start. As Spank's true self was slowly being revealed the relationship picked up speed and eventually began to spin out of control. She saw the signs but her desire to keep her family intact was far greater. Despite the craziness, her love for him fueled the drama fire and his selfishness was the wind that kept it ablaze. There was a lesson to be learned from all of this and she was determined to figure it out.

Excerpt:

“The butterflies were swarming and I was warming up on the inside. He sat back on the couch and began to swirl his finger around the curls in my hair. He pulled me back to him and his lips touched mine. The kiss was so passionate it sent jolts through my body. Then all of a sudden he abruptly pulled away from me. “Go ahead and finish eating. I have more planned” he said with great confidence.”

“On one of the rare occasions  he would actually open up and talk to me, he told me, “sometimes you have to put things on the back burner to get what you want. Once I got you, I moved everything from the back to the front.” This explained it all! I was just something to be conquered. He didn’t love me, not one bit. It was all a game. “

 “You’re so silly! Why aren’t you taking pictures? What woman doesn’t take pictures on vacation? You’re just walking around looking like you’re a man or something. What was the point of you bringing the camera?

I didn’t know picture taking was gender specific! If you aren’t happy with the amount of pictures I’m taking or the lack thereof you are more than welcome to take them yourself.

I’m not doing anything. You’re the woman so you are supposed to do it. I don’t know why you want to be a man so bad. Senica you aren’t a man. You can’t be the man.

Huh?!? Ok whatever Spank!”

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the Tour:

September 27 - Introduction at VBT Cafe' Blog
October 2 - Interviewed at The Official Blog-zine of Terra Little
October 4 - Guest Blogging at Margaret West's Blog
October 9 - Guest Blogging at Cindy Vine's Blog
October 11 - Interviewed at Mass Musings
October 15 - Guest Blogging at A Book Lover's Library
October 17 - Interviewed at BK Walker Books Etc.
October 19 - Author Fun Facts & Fav Recipe at Writing Innovations E-zine
October 22 - Guest Blogging at Cafe' Creations
October 24 - Interviewed at From The Mind of Omegia
October 26 - Guest Blogging at Lori's Reading Corner

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GFP: Breathless Press Books Blurb Tour

About Breathless Press:

http://www.breathlesspress.com/

Breathless Press is an e-book publisher specializing in Romance and Erotic(a) stories.

Our mission statement is simple: To provide the opportunity for readers to connect with romance authors through the purchasing of quality e-books at a low price.

Starting in the summer of 2009, Breathless Press came into existence. Since then, we have been producing top end romance and erotic stories for valued readers to enjoy.

Our Goal?

Breathless Press is an electronic publisher of paranormal, erotic, and mainstream romance, releasing one to three e-books a week in a variety of downloadable formats. It is Breathless Press' mission to provide readers with quality romance books in electronic formats and to raise the standard in e-publishing.

Breathless Press will be awarding a $20 Breathless Press GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/09/virtual-blurb-blitz-breathless-press.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ravaged – Anthology by  K.R.R. Bridgstreet, Silvia Violet, SJ Thomas, Erin O'Riordan, Annabeth Leong, D. F. Krieger, Persephone Jones, Leona J. Bushman, Mickey J. Corrigan, Heather Whittington

Breathless Press

137 Owens Street by DC Juris

Buy : 137 Owens Street

Blurb:

Matthew is going insane. But the man reaching out to Matthew in his visions might be his only chance to find the truth or his true love.

Matthew is going insane. How else can he explain remembering things he doesn't own or trips his wife never took? Not to mention the visions, and the phantom in the café. But when the man in the visions reaches out to him with an explanation, and the phantom from the café tracks him down, things start to make a little more sense. Morgan is a devout Christian. He believes in God, heaven, hell, and the Bible. But his world spins out of control when his husband Matthew disappears and a mysterious man tells a tale outside the realm of reality. How can Morgan put his faith in something so far-fetched? And what will happen to Matthew if he doesn't?

Excerpt:

After the weekend he'd had, on Monday Matthew could honestly say he was glad to be back at work. But something about his desk wasn't right. All his things were there—the spinning pen caddy, his fancy one-touch stapler, his little black and white container full of almonds, his old-school Rolodex and phone, his glass frog paperweight—but the positioning was all wrong. Matthew shook his head and rearranged the items into their proper places. Darn cleaning crew. It wasn't like he could complain—moving things around on his desk was hardly the same as breaking something or stealing something, and really, he should just be grateful for the crew's efforts—but the disorder still irked him.

He took a deep breath, plopped down into his desk chair, turned on his computer, and frowned. His icons had been moved around on his desktop too. Maybe the desk makeover hadn't been the cleaning crew after all, but a sneaky co-worker thinking they were funny. One by one, he clicked and dragged everything back to where it belonged and plunged into his day.

Three financial reports and some data entry later, Matthew was ready for a break. He quirked an eyebrow and grinned, remembering his blue mug. Down the hall he went to the break room. He scanned the shelves and counters. No blue mug. What. The. Heck? It wasn't at home, and it wasn't here. Where else could it be? Maybe his car?

With a shrug he pulled his keys out of his pocket and went out to the parking lot, but a careful search of his car—even the trunk and glove compartment, just for giggles—turned up no blue mug.

A burst of white light surrounded him, and he held his hand up against the glare reflecting from his car. His red car. Not the black one he'd gotten into this morning. He'd known something was off when he'd cranked it up, but hadn't been able to place what. Now he knew—the color wasn't right. He took a step toward the car, and a pair of arms encircled his waist from behind.

"Come back to me!" a soft, deep voice pleaded against his ear.

Matthew turned as quickly as he could, but the light and the man had vanished. He closed his eyes and leaned back against his once-again-black car, his heart hammering, his throat thick with emotions he didn't understand. He'd recognized that voice the moment he'd heard it, yet now he couldn't place it. Now it was relegated to the hazy depths of forgotten things, like half-remembered tunes that went like da-da-da-da-da-something...la-la...and nebulous gray snatches of faces from childhood. But in that moment, he'd known, and he'd thrilled in it. The voice had evoked a response from him so intense and swift, like suddenly finding something he'd been missing for years in some random place he'd looked a million times.

He wondered what the speaker had meant. Come back to me. He looked around quickly, cleared his throat, and straightened his clothes. Thankfully, no one else had seen...whatever had just happened. He took a deep breath and headed back into the office. So he was having visions of a different color car and hearing a mysterious voice. That didn't make him crazy. At least, not if he kept it all to himself.

He went back into the building, to his office, and stopped in the doorway. Where was his Chinese dragon? He distinctly remembered buying a print of a colorful Chinese dragon and hanging it right there on the opposite wall. Right where it could be seen from the hallway. Or...had he? Matthew walked over to the wall. No picture hanger. No hole. Had he dreamed the piece of art too?

Risking It All

Buy Risking It All

Blurb:

After nearly a year, Bastian Grey is growing discontent with the lack of intimacy in his relationship with Rick Claremont. Can an adopted cat be the key to a real relationship?

Fire fighter Sebastian Grey has finally gotten what he's wanted since he was sixteen: Rick Claremont in his bed. Only now he wants more. Convincing cautious Rick that loving him is a safe bet seems impossible.

Rick Claremont grew up in a hurry and experienced danger and loss early. He's not sure risking himself on Sebastian is a viable option. The man is gorgeous and the sex is amazing, but Sebastian's whole life is about taking chances. He throws himself off mountains for fun and runs into burning buildings for work. How can Rick trust this risk taker with his battered heart?

Will the advent of a cat and a corpse into their relationship give Bastian the entrée to Rick's heart as well as his bed?

Excerpt:

"Turn over." Rick's raspy voice caressed his lips before he drew away to kneel beside Bastian. "I want to gaze into your eyes while you make love to me," Bastian protested. Rick avoided intimacy whenever and however he could. Rick's eyes narrowed at the words make love, but he didn't respond, no doubt choosing to ignore the comment. Nevertheless, his slender, strong hands guided Bastian onto his side, stroked gently down his spine. Bastian relaxed. At least like this he could see Rick's face, could watch his eyes darken, his cheeks flush.

Rick pressed a warm, soft kiss at his nape, and Bastian moaned softly. Rick could call it fucking but there was too much gentleness, too much caring in his touch, in the brush of his lips, to be anything other than affection and lovemaking.

The smaller man brushed his fingers down, tracing the muscles of Bastian's back, teasing him into relaxing, coaxing him into position. Bastian drew his knee up to the side, giving Rick access to his body. A cap snicked and a slick, gentle finger probed between his cheeks, massaging gently at the opening there. Bastian sighed, pushing into the touch. He needed that touch so much. It shocked him sometimes how much he relied on these "dates" with Rick. "Good idea." Rick murmured against his spine.

"Uh?" His body focused on the pleasure of Rick's touch, on the heat of his breath whispering across his skin, stirring the fine hairs. The furor of his heartbeat in his ears, the loud rush of blood nearly drowned the words out. 

Ravaged – Anthology by  K.R.R. Bridgstreet, Silvia Violet, SJ Thomas, Erin O'Riordan, Annabeth Leong, D. F. Krieger, Persephone Jones, Leona J. Bushman, Mickey J. Corrigan, Heather Whittington

http://www.breathlesspress.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=18&products_id=298

Blurb:

Join ten authors as they reveal that things are not always as they seem. Don't worry, they guarantee the sexy shifters in their stories will bite...And that you'll like it. From lions to bears, dolphins to gargoyles; we're sure you'll find a juicy story to sink your teeth into.

Tamed by K.R.R. Bridgstreet

On A Full Moon by Silvia Violet

Pleasure Bound by SJ Thomas

Sheep Shifter by Erin O'Riordan

The Arcadian Cure by Annabeth Leong

Her Pride, My Joy by D. F. Krieger

Heart of Stone by Persephone Jones

Barely There by Leona J. Bushman

Internal Savagery by Mickey J. Corrigan

Encantado by Heather Whittington

Excerpt:

Tamed by K.R.R. Bridgstreet

A lion at this circus has a deadly secret that only his mistress knows.

On A Full Moon by Silvia Violet

Getting lost in the woods alone is never good, until the sexy wolf next door discovers you.

Pleasure Bound by SJ Thomas

He fights daily torture to protect those he loves, but can he keep from betraying his family to his destined mate?

Sheep Shifter by Erin O'Riordan

Welcome back to Wonderland where the sheep are not quite what one thinks.

The Arcadian Cure by Annabeth Leong

There is only one way to save the one you love from being a werewolf forever; the Arcadian Cure.

Her Pride, My Joy by D. F. Krieger

The zoo can hold exciting and sexy surprises for those that stay after dark.

Heart of Stone by Persephone Jones

A sexy playboy exposes his true self to protect the one person who could reveal him to the

world.

Barely There by Leona J. Bushman

Danger brings together two unlikely allies...in more ways than one.

Internal Savagery by Mickey J. Corrigan

Sometimes we have to embrace the animal inside to keep the one we love.

Encantado by Heather Whittington

When deaths begin happening at parties, we find the sea can hold many secrets.

Read More

Chatting with NY native Ann Montclair - Good Things Come In Tall Packages (#Giveaway)

Welcome to BK Walker Books Etc. I'm so happy you could join me from the beautiful Finger Lakes of New York. I love the Finger Lakes and actually used to live in NY. It's so nice to have a fellow native. Ann will be giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card during her tour, so be sure to comment with your email address for a chance to win :).

BK: Please tell us a little about yourself...

I’m a romance author, an English Professor, a mom and wife. I’m here to promote my first interracial contemporary romance novel titled Good Things Come in Tall Packages.  I’ve also authored two other contemporary romances titled The Billionaire’s Bauble and One Wet Summer.  I love reading and writing and all things romantic. I also love food, dogs, cats, and the great outdoors.

BK: Please tell us a little about your book....

Good Things Come in Tall Packages is about love after loss, about finding common ground with someone who is your polar opposite, and about the importance of family and community. The novel is set in Georgia. The lead characters are an African American doctor named Joe Connors and a Caucasion lawyer named Lucy. They met in One Wet Summer and have their own love story in Good Things Come in Tall Packages. The story is funny, emotional, and a whole heap of sexy.

BK: What inspired you to pen this particular novel?

For the love story part it was my parents. My parents, who are two different races like Joe and Lucy, beat all the odds, defied their parents, and will be married fifty years next spring.  Their love story, though rocky, has been the bedrock of my life.  Overcoming all the negativity was not easy for them.  Nowadays one sees lots of mixed couples, but when my parents wed, it was pretty audacious and certainly unusual. One other person that inspired this story is my son who has Type 1 diabetes.  A character in this novel has it, too, and her struggle and victory are reminiscent of my son’s battle.

BK: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’ve been a writer with publications since 1993.  I have an MFA in creative writing, and I started publishing poems, short stories, and essays using my real name before I became a romance author.  Ann Montclair is my pen name, and I chose it to distinguish myself from the literary and academic writing I’d already published.

BK: How do you keep your story flowing?

I follow my characters around, and they tell me what to do.  I spend a lot of time prewriting their lives, so by the time I write the novel, I find them fascinating individuals for whom I possess great affection.  I start with a conflict and watch them solve it. In Good Things... the first conflict is that Joe and Lucy met once before, and Lucy spilled her guts and told Joe her sad life story. That moment of uncharacteristic vulnerability made her too embarrassed to contact Joe again, so when they unexpectedly meet up at a wedding, Joe wants to know why she didn’t call, and Lucy just wants to forget anything ever happened.  But Joe is so kind and caring, and so very attractive, she winds up spending the entire reception at his side and then hopes to get him into bed for desert. Of course, something screws up her plan, and that something is the next conflict. A writer has to keep upping the stakes and creating tension in order to draw a reader through the story.

BK: Do you ever run into writer's block, and if so, what do you do to get past it?

I don’t often have writer’s block. If I get it, I’ll read or walk—change things up so I can get back at the story.  If I seriously can’t write, it’s because I don’t want to write. I honor that impulse. For me, writing is about having fun, so when the fun stops, I stop. If I can’t feel what I want my readers to feel, it’s a fail. Mood is very important in romance. Sexy scenes, I need to wiggle.  Funny scenes, I need to laugh, and sad scenes are why I always have Kleenex nearby.
I just had that happen to me in my short story. It shocked me a bit, but I totally understand what you're saying there. It's amazing to have such a connection to your characters :)

BK: What is your writing process like? Do you have any quirks, or must-haves to write?

I will write anywhere, anytime, but I do need coffee and internet access. I like to fact check on the world wide web, and occasionally I need to stop in at Facebook or Twitter just because I’m addicted.

BK: Where do you hope your books/writing will be in the future?

I want to continue writing romance, and I hope that one day people will know who Ann Montclair is—like Nora, Danielle, or Sandra.  I don’t know if that will ever happen, but I certainly know I have many stories to tell and a passion for writing that could create a list like those authors.

BK: What do you hope readers will take away from your books?

I’d like my readers to understand that women who love with all their hearts win. That true love is worth any risk.  That happily ever after is something every good woman deserves. I want readers to laugh, to cry, to set the book down and sigh.  My motto is “Love Triumphs.” I believe it with my whole heart and soul.

BK: What is one piece of advice you received that you carry with you in your writing?

Don’t use too many exclamation points. I had a writing teacher tell me I only get three in a lifetime, so I better use them wisely.

BK: What is one piece of advice you would give to new and aspiring writers?

Write to completion. So many people want to write, but don’t sit down and finish something. No matter how bad you think it is, keep going until you can write The End. Then you can make it better.

BK: Are you currently working on any new projects? What can we expect from you in the future?

I’m in edits for my first Tudor historical romance titled Lady in Deed.  It’ll be out this winter from Musa Publishing. I have another Tudor romance started and a solid synopsis for a romantic suspense.

BK: Where can readers find you?

Web site: http://www.annmontclair.com

Blog: http://annmontclair.wordpress.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnMontclair

Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. It's been a pleasure having you and I wish you much success in the future.

I grew up sneak-reading all my mom's steamy romance novels. She kept them high on a shelf in her closet and warned, "You better not read those..." Of course, I read them. And now I write them! I strive to take readers on a fun, emotionally charged, and highly sensual ride to happily ever after. Available now: THE BILLIONAIRE'S BAUBLE (Soul Mate Publishing 2011), ONE WET SUMMER (Musa Publishing 2012), and GOOD THINGS COME IN TALL PACKAGES (Musa Publishing 2012). Next up: LADY IN DEED, my debut novel in historical romance set in Tudor England (Musa Publishing Winter 2012).

I am a member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and a community college English professor. I live in the Finger Lakes region of New York with my sexy hero and our teenage son. Our grown daughter lives in Los Angeles, California--my hometown.

Thanks for learning a little about me. 

Dr. Joe Connors and socialite lawyer Lucy Alcott come from two different worlds, two very different cultures. But will those differences keep them apart when their attraction is too strong to be denied?

When socialite Savannah attorney Lucy Alcott entered the Hyatt looking for fun, martinis, and hot sex, the last thing she expected to find was Dr. Joe Connors. Joe is Lucy's opposite in every way: he’s dark, she’s pale; he’s tall and reserved, she's tiny and vivacious; he wears his compassion and deep spirituality on his sleeve, she wears designer bags and clothes. That night at the Hyatt Lucy found herself not in the arms of a casual encounter but reaching out to a man who challenged the walls she had built around her heart—and when he gave her his number, Lucy knew Joe deserved a woman as warm and tender as he was. So she threw his number away. When an unexpected meeting six months later brings them together again, will Joe overcome Lucy’s fear of losing her heart, or are their two very different worlds destined to keep them apart forever?

 Excerpt One:

The man wanted her.

Lucy felt the passion rolling off of Joe like tidal waves, and she was more than ready to let him knock her off her feet.

“Shall we go upstairs, Joe? I could use a quiet moment with you before we say goodbye again. Every time we’ve been together it’s been in a crowd with music pulsing in the background and drinks in our hands. Let’s be real. Let’s go upstairs and spend some alone time. I won’t bite. Unless you want me to.”

His big smile lit up the room like Georgia sunshine. He stood and proffered his hand, looming above her like an awesome Egyptian statue. Lucy was dwarfed by almost everyone, but Joe was enormous by anyone’s standards. When she’d first met him, despite the fact he was at a medical convention, she’d assumed he played for the NFL. The fact that he possessed brains and brawn made him ideal for bed sport. It hadn’t worked out that night, but tonight…Lucy could hardly wait.

“Should we say goodbye to Ben and Maura?” Lucy cocked her head to scan the crowded room. She spotted them in the center of the ballroom floor, Jessie sandwiched between her parents, standing on her dad’s feet as the happy newlyweds shared a family dance.

“Let’s not bother them. Come on, sweetness.” Joe effortlessly pulled Lucy to her sore feet and put his strong arm around her waist. She hobbled a bit. “Shall I carry you, my Southern Belle?”

Follow the Tour:

September 10:  Black Velvet Seductions Blog

September 17:  Rachel Brimble Romance

September 24:   Bodice Ripper Novels

October 1:  Christine Young Romance Writer

October 8:  Dawn's Reading Nook

October 8:  STOP 2  BK Walker Books Etc.

October 15:  Rogues Angels

October 22:  Sugarbeat's Books

October 29:  The Bunny's Review

November 5:  My Reading Addiction

November 12:  MeganJohnsInvites

November 12: STOP 2  Writers and Authors

November 19:  Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews

November 26:  Welcome to My World of Dreams

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Kindle Fire #Giveaway & Book Tour with Author Annie Harris - It's Time To Dance

Hi Annie, and welcome to Bk Walker Books Etc. I’m so happy you could join us today in the beautiful state of Pennsylvania.

I too live in PA, actually, really close to you, and I just love the mountains. What is your favorite thing about PA?

AH:  I love the rolling hills in the fall.  The maple trees and oaks are breathtaking at that time of year.

I have worked in the nursing field for many years, so Cerebral Palsy isn’t new to me, but may be to others. Please tell us how living with CP has affected your writing life, and what inspired you to be a writer at all…

AH:   In the African American culture, having a disability doesn’t so much define you, just how you get things done.  I cannot separate having cerebral palsy from being an African American woman, therefore, I speak and write from ALL of who I am.  In all aspects, I move at a slower pace than western culture.  I believe, as a writer, this has given me the ability to slow down and perceive the “core” of things; i.e. that which is essentially true and to articulate and elaborate on that which is not readily visible or usually ignored.

I was inspired as a child to write poetry and keep a journal as early as age 14.  I LOVE TO WRITE!!!!!!!  I don’t really remember NOT wanting to be a writer and using my skill as a way to teach and encourage others.

Do you have any writing quirks, such as music you must listen to, coffee, tea, or other “must-have” you need to write?

AH:  The early morning (around 6:00 a.m.) and I cup of coffee “set the stage” and I am lost in a world of my own where I write my best.  Little editing is needed and I produce my best work.

How do you get in the writing mood?

AH:  By quietly sitting with the intention to write. I waitfor words to come.  I require I significant time of solitude to meditate and pray for what may be most important to commit to paper.

When you wrote the last word for “It’s Easier To Dance”, what emotion did you feel, knowing the next  step would be putting it in front of public eyes? 

AH:  Exhilaration!  A few days later when I handed a copy of my manuscript over to an English professor and writer for editing, I wept  and prayed my story would make a difference  in the lives who needed to read it  most.  I also felt, and continue to feel somewhat vulnerable

What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

AH:  Encouragement, inspiration and HOPE!!!  That no matter what has happened in your life, you CAN move forward to find joy  and love!                                  

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

AH:  I’m an avid fan of college sports, especially Penn State football and basketball.  I also enjoy the theater, swimming, and I’m always planning my next trip to the ocean.   I’m very active in my church and volunteer with young children.

What can we expect from you in the future? Any new projects in the works?

AH:  A book on self advocacy is in the thinking stage. I have practiced yoga for 14 years and would like to write a book about my experiences as well.

Where can readers connect with you?

AH:  My web site   www.annielaurieharris.com  is the best place to connect with me.  I am available for speaking engagements.  Fees are negotiated according to size of group and make up of group.

Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today Annie. I loved getting to know you better and wish you much success in the future.

Thank you, BK.  I enjoyed this interview too.  If any of your readers have questions, please ask them to write the questions in a comment and I will be sure to respond.  I encourage all of them to enter my book launch contest.  I am giving away a Kindle Fire!

Annie Laurie Harris, the oldest one of her ethnicity who lives independently, was born with cerebral palsy. She has defied the odds and challenged the medical prognosis since early childhood. She continues to live a full and active life in her 6th decade. After achieving her Master's Degree at Penn State University in 1985 she worked as a counselor and advocate for those with a history of chemical dependency. In 1990, she was recruited by the prestigious World Institute of Disability to be the Assistant Director of the first HIV/Disability Project. Her grant writing expertise is second to none as private foundations funded her innovative research projects again and again. Since returning to her home state of PA where she lives near her beloved alma mater, Ms. Harris continues to be involved in her community and avidly supports the Penn State athletic program. Once again,her love of writing helps to supplement her income. Her groundbreaking memoirs, It's Easier to Dance, is provocative and thought provoking.

Website and Blog:  http://www.annielaurieharris.com

Linkedin http://www.linkedin.com/pub/annie-laurie-harris/32/785/367

Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/psuannie

It's Easier to Dance, a memoir, by Annie Laurie Harris, a woman of African American Heritage, born with cerebral palsy, depicts the highlights, turning points and crossroads of her life while living with cerebral palsy. 

Excerpt:

Ticket to Freedom

My mother always stressed great importance in having an education. From early in my childhood, she insisted that I go to school like any other child. She became my first teacher. But never was college considered a possibility. After getting my high school diploma, I went to a rehabilitation center where I entered a typing program. No one bothered to tell me that in order to be a clerk typist, you needed to be able to type at least 40 wpm with a maximum of 5 errors. When I learned this, I felt betrayed, and I quit the program, returned home depressed. There was another reason I wouldn’t see my vocational rehabilitation counselor.   He wanted me to go to a sheltered workshop which was for those whose diagnosis was primarily “mental retardation”.  I didn’t get dressed; I don’t even remember eating regularly. I wondered what would happen to me. Finally, my brother, who was a graduate student at PSU, asked one of his professors if there was some way that his younger sister could go to college. The professor had influence, and recommended to the appropriate people (I assume was Admissions) that I would be able to attend the branch campus for 2 terms and then my acceptance would be based on my GPA.

In Sept. 1972, the year congress passed the Right to Education Law which allowed children with significant disabilities to attend public schools; I became an adjunct student at Penn State University’s Shenango Valley campus. I excelled academically, making the Dean’s List and that next fall, I began my undergraduate degree at Shenango Valley. Being older than the typical undergraduate, I made friends among the young instructors, who loved having me in their classes.  My academic advisor recommended that I be exempt from taking a language (something I later regretted), and she also thought I should not take the undergraduate speech requirement, which included giving public speeches. I went to talk to the instructor, James Elder, who said “Annie, you have important things to say to the world so you might as well start in my class.”  Except for statistics, college, was easy for me… not particularly intellectually challenging.

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Follow The Tour:

September 10 - Introduction at VBT Cafe' Blog
September 12 - Book Feature & Excerpt at YA Reads
September 12 - Book Feature & Excerpt at Little Book Star
September 14 - Interviewed at Blogzine
September 17 - Reviewed at All Things Books
September 20 - Interviewed at Reviews & Interviews
September 20 - Reviewed at Silver Sleep
September 25 - Reviewed at Waiting On Sunday To Drown
September 25 - Interviewed at YA Reads
September 27 - Guest Blogging at The Bunny's Review
September 27 - Review & Interview at Sky Rose Review
October 1 - Review & Guest Blogging at Whoopeeyoo
October 3 - Book Feature & Excerpt at My Miscellaneous Bookshelf
October 3 - Review & Interview at Turning The Pages
October 5 - Review & Guest Blogging at A Book Lover's Library
October 8 - Review & Interview at Simple Books
October 10 - Review & Guest Blogging at Black Hippie Chick's Take On Books & The World
October 12 - Review & Guest Blogging at Indie Writer's Review

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