Call For Submissions for "Unique"

My friend over at Authors By Authors is organizing a Unique Anthology.  I think this is a fantastic idea and am giving a shout out for Submissions.  If you would be interested in submitting your story for this fantastic upcoming anthology,  please send an email to KiKi Howell - authorsbyauthors@gmail.com.

Here are the details for submitting your story:

Unique, An Authors By Authors Promotional Anthology

This anthology is a unique promotional opportunity being offered by the Authors By Authors Blog http://authorsbyauthors.blogspot.com    For the author, not only will you get all the advertising/promo that will go along with this anthology and a chance to introduce your work to new readers, but the giveaways and lottery will gather many opportunities for reviews.  No royalties will be made from this anthology, it is for promotional purposes only.  All money made minus costs will go into the final lottery for the readers to win.  Please read through the timetable below to see how this unique project falls together and to see all the chances for promo the authors whose stories are chosen will have. My goal is to pick a wide range of genres to be represented from paranormal, horror, chick lit, romance, suspense and all the mixes you can create!  I do want to limit the contest to those over the age of 18.

Time Table For Unique:

Submissions Accepted - until November 1st, 2010
  **To Submit - Send the following in One Attached as RTF or Doc – using the naming convention of “Unique_Title_Author Name” to authorsbyauthors@gmail.com with  the Subject Line of “Unique Submission”:
1.    Author Name
2.   Author Email
3.   Author Website (opt.)
4.   Story Title
5.   Story Genre(s)
6.    Story Blurb
7.    Story (Never before published because I think that would defeat the unique theme I have going on here! LOL)
Word Count: Generally 1K – 5K, but flexible within reason
Theme: Unique – However you want to interpret that! That includes a unique storyline.
8.   Individual Story Giveaway – More info below
9.    Lottery Donation (opt.) – More info below

Final Decisions  of Stories to be Included – No later than November 10th, 2010
 ** I have gathered help in reading through submissions and deciding which are chosen to fill the spaces available.
**Contracts will go out to the authors of the stories selected just giving me rights to use the story once in the ebook and possibly print.  Not getting complicated here, this is a promo opportunity.

Edits/Beginning Promo – November & December, 2010
  **General Promo Information will be emailed to authors to give them a place to start.

Book Release – January 1st, 2011
  **Will be released on Amazon & Smashwords, as well as hopefully a few others I am looking into.  Suggestions welcome.  Ebook will be available at an inexpensive price - thinking like $0.99  Again, all the money made after costs are covered will go into the final Lottery.   If  I decide to go with Print, the price will be $1 over cost to print through CreateSpace.  I have considered the idea of doing print after with authors best reviews from the contest in it, and make it available at cost if authors wanted to use it later as a giveaway themselves. Open to thoughts and ideas.

Sales/Giveaways/Promo – January and February 2011
  **Through these months the following things will happen:

1. First few days of sales each story will be featured on the blog (short blurb/tagline, genres, author name, author links, other works). Giveaway for that individual story will be announced.  Depending on amount of stories accepted, I may end up grouping these to get them all out in the first days.

2. Readers will purchase the book, read it and submit one line minimum reviews of a single story to be entered into any story giveaways plus the final lottery.  The more reviews entered for individual stories – the more entries into the final jackpot giveaway. These reviews will be posted on the blog daily.  Info about the reviewer can be anything from anonymous, a name, an author name with website link, a blog owner with blog link, a publisher with pub link, etc.  So, lots of chances to win, plus a little free advertising for those who want it – more enticement to enter.

3. Authors By Authors as well as the authors in the Anthology will continue to promote the book.  I (as Authors By Authors) plan on purchasing a banner and buying some cover ads as well as getting a book tour going on other blogs to advertise the anthology and giveaways.  I will encourage authors to do all the promo they wish/can on blogs, yahoo groups, Facebook pages, etc. as well trying to get reviews/entries for their story.

4. Story Giveaways and Final Lottery Winners Announced and Contacted – February 28th, 2011
  **Number of winners for Lottery will be determined by amount of entries. Prizes will be a $25 gift cards, plus division of any donations of items (books, booksmarks, etc) by authors, or anyone else involved in making of the book.
      NOTE: How many gift cards to be won in the lottery will be determined by total sales minus costs to produce book -- costs will be editing provided by Gateway Editorial Services (gatewayeditorialservices.com), cover costs, banner and ads, etc. The donations I get from authors for the lottery will be divided up as evenly as I can between the prizes.

If this goes well, response wise, I will be planning on doing additional anthologies.

Any questions please send to authorsbyauthors@gmail.com
Permission to forward or repost granted!

Thanks,
Kiki

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Meet Me In Manhattan Free Book Event & Giveaway!

Please join me for a Tweet-Up and Book Giveaway for Meet Me In Manhattan by Judith Arnold.  I was excited when I was invited to share this event by HCI Books,  and this romance novel,  which is part of a reality based series is going to be a fantastic read.  By registering for the event you could win the first three books in "The Vows"  Series.  Don't miss out,  go register for this fun and exciting event before Tuesday 9pm EST/6PST.  Hope to see you all there :).

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

HCI Books Presents First Reality-Based RomanceT Live Tweetup Event

Free books, free chapters, and free tweets will help launch a new

Reality-Based RomanceT line of books at a live Reality Romance Tweetup on

Twitter October 5, 2010 at 9:00 p.m.ET. Romance author Judith Arnold will

tweet live with romance novel fans, along with Ted Skala and Erika

Fredell, the real-life couple whose true love story became the plot of the

romance novel, "Meet Me In Manhattan."

Deerfield Beach, Florida (PRWEB) October 4, 2010 -- On Tuesday, October 5,

at 9:00 p.m.ET, HCI, the publisher of the original Chicken Soup for the

Soul books, will conduct the first "Reality-Based RomanceT Tweetup event

as part of the launch of their new True Vows book series. For an entire

hour, romance readers will have the opportunity to tweet with the author

and the real-life couple who had their true love story featured in the

book, Meet Me in Manhattan.

Each of the first three books in the True Vows series matches a real life

couple with a real romance novelist resulting in a whole new romance novel

category. For the event, tweeters can tweet in a live Q&A session about

Meet Me in Manhattan with the author, Judith Arnold and Ted Skala and

Erika Fredell, the reality romance stars of the book.

The first 100 to register for the Reality Romance Tweetup event will be

eligible to win a complete set of the first three Reality-Based RomanceT

books in the True Vows series which include: Meet Me In Manhattan, The

Icing on the Cake, and Hard to Hold. By simply registering at

http://vowsbooks.com/tweetup, readers and tweeters will get to read the

first five chapters of Meet Me in Manhattan prior to the event. Free books

will be given away every ten minutes during the Tweetup event.

Ted Skala and Erika Fredell were the perfect New Jersey high school sweethearts. Like many teens, Ted and Erika spend plenty of time in parked cars under the stars, but there was so much more between them than the chemistry that ignited their courtship, and Ted couldn't imagine a life without Erika. By graduation he was ready to get engaged. Erika, however, was ready to spread her wings, and faraway she flew to college. She broke his heart. She sailed the world.

Fast forward sixteen years. Living in Manhattan, Erika successfully climbs the corporate ladder but her love life stinks. Ted is also living the life of a successful businessman in Manhattan, and he's involved in a serious relationship.

Problem is, he still can't get Erika out of his system. When fate intervenes and their paths cross, the result is emotionally explosive and that old black magic is back with the force of a super nova. But Erika once ravaged his heart: How can Ted ever trust her again? And now that he's seriously involved with another woman, how can Erika hope for a second chance with the man she never should have let go?

Meet Me In Manhattan is a classic love story that is told as only Judith Arnold can tell it. With a deep grasp of the complexities of the human heart, this acclaimed author explores Ted Skala and Erika Fredell's compelling true story of a lost love unexpectedly found again.  (From Judith's Website)

The True Vows series of "reality-based romance" novels where a real-life
love story is paired with a successful romance targets romance novel
readers and viewers of reality television. According to the Nielsen
ratings, 15 million people watched The Bachelor propose and 11.5 million
people watched The Bachelorette get proposed to. The Romance Writers of
America reports that over 70 million Americans read romance novels and 29
million Americans read romance novels regularly. True Vows "marries" these
two media in this new genre-bending book series. And, all love stories are
candidates for the series and readers are welcome to submit theirs on the
website: http://truevowsbooks.com.

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***** Review of Wild Blackberries by Lorrie Unites-Struiff

Wild Blackberries by Lorrie Unites-Struiff was a fantastic short story.  From the first sentence I knew it was going to be a 'do not put down until finished' tale.

Morgan is doing research on an Indian Reservation for her new novel.  In the midst of her research she is also trying to finalize a divorce with her husband who drained her bank account and her patience.

When Morgan awakes in the trunk of a car,  she searches her memory of what happened.  When her captor,  who just happens to be her husband,  tries killing her,  Morgan must outsmart him while confronting the spirit world of the reservation.  Is her mind playing tricks on her,  or is seeing really believing?

Find out in this fast paced short story,  Wild Blackberries.  Struiff holds nothing back on suspense and thrills.

Purchase this E-book at Books To Go Now

I give it ***** (5) Stars,  BK Walker.  http://bkwalkerbooks.weebly.com

---

BK Walker Books - All Rights Reserved

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Top 40 Books About Feng Shui

I recently was checking out this site after receiving an email and thought it would be great to share.  Check this out.

Top 40 Books About Feng Shui

Feng Shui, which started in China in ancient times, is now being used world wide by various people to improve their lives and attract positive energy. If you want to learn more about managing your house, your office, or even your own body, here are 40 great Feng Shui books that you can read to get you started with this Chinese art form.
1. The Principles of Feng Shui
by Larry Sang
This book will be helpful if you want to know more about the core of Feng Shui. The book talks about the Yin and Yang, Ba Gua, and many other systems and components of Feng Shui.
2. Feng Shui
by Richard Craze
This book has 192 pages and is published by Collins. It discusses the guides on achieving good fortune and harmony through the use of Feng Shui. It also includes illustrated and practical tips for enhancing your home and office environment.
3. Feng Shui Your Life
by Jayme Barrett, Mary Steenburgen, Jonn Coolidge
One of the authors, Jayme Barlett is a well-known Feng Shui consultant in Beverly Hills. This book, which she has co-written with two other writers, explains the techniques she uses in creating positive energy in various spaces.
4. Feng Shui: Harmony by Design
by Nancy SantoPietro, Lin Yun
The book is an ideal source if you want to understand Feng Shui deeply. This workbook presents easy-to-follow tips on how to locate power spots in your home.
5. Feng Shui: North American Edition
by Lillian Too
The book was published in 1997 offering information on Feng Shui that is easy to understand especially for beginners.
6. Feng shui: a practical guide for architects and designers
by Vincent Smith, Barbara Lyons Stewart
The book contains history and fundamental principles of Feng Shui. It also explains on how to apply these principles in architectural setting.
7. Feng Shui: Back to Balance
by Sally Fretwell
The book has 197 pages and was published by the New World Library in 2002. It was created after Fretwell noticed increase in people’s reliance to Feng Shui. The approach of the book is fun and at the same time rational.
8. Feng Shui
by Debra Keller
The books talks about the basic definition and principle of Feng Shui. It is not recommended for serious practitioner but can be helpful for people who want to practice Feng Shui personally.
9. Feng shui
by Jon Sandifer
This 150-page compact book contains comprehensive guide to the Chinese art of geomancy. It contains in depth background information and tools you’ll be needing in your own Feng Shui.
10. Feng Shui: The Art of Living
by Rosalind Simmons
The book primarily teaches the readers about living in harmony with their surroundings.

Read the full article here.......

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**** Review of The Wielders of the Sengans by C.V. Huffstead

The Wielder of the Sengans: Including the Tomes of Ithren by C.V. Huffstead

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Wielder of the Sengans by C.V. Huffstead was truly a story of good vs. evil. Captivating and leaving you wanting more.



Haran, The Watcher, continually sings praise to the Most High. She battles the dark forces continually keeping them encrusted in the Earth. Illfaeyan is a young lord who's heart was consumed by the darkness. Haran helped to fight the battle that locked Illfaeyan behind fire, keeping his darkness at bay. Illfaeyan never gave up hope of being set free though.



Haran walked the Earth, travelling to different lands singing her praise when she finds an infant. Raising this infant as her own, she knew there was something special about her, but she never dreamed that Eliah would eventually take her place in God's plan.



When Haran realizes that Eliah is in fact the one who will replace her, she sings her departure as Eliah unknowingly awakens the darkness of Illfaeyan. Eliah was pushed into the dark forest, and now faces the battle against evil, as it is now her place to send Illfaeyan back to the Earth.



Assisted by the last of the Great Silver Wolves, Eliah faces the battle of her life while she learns her destiny.



Huffstead did a great job with this tale. Fast paced and leaving you wanting to find out what happens next, I give The Wielders of the Sengans **** (4) Stars, BK Walker. http://bkwalkerbooks.weebly.com





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We Have A BlogFest Winner!

BlogFest was so much fun this past weekend!  I visited some magnificent blogs and entered some amazing giveaways!  I want to thank everyone that visited BK Walker Books Etc and became a new follower as well.  You are all fantastic and I hope you had as much fun as I did!

Now,  without further delay,  I do have a winner for my book giveaway.  The winner will be receiving 5 great romance novels,  including a signed copy of my latest release,  Death Upon Me!

Jade from Simple Pleasures!  CONGRATULATIONS JADE!  Once I hear back from you with your mailing address I will get your winnings in the mail!

Thank you to all who entered and have a blessed day!

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It's BlogFest Time! 3 day Giveaway starts TODAY!

Welcome to BK Walker Books Etc and to the first day of BlogFest 2010!  BlogFest is a massive giveaway with participating blogs and your chance to win some fantastic prizes!  So without further delay - LET'S PARTY!

You will find a list of blogs at each stop,  and you just simply have to click the link to go to the next blog.  Each blog will be having a giveaway with some pretty terrific prizes.  If you get lost,  you can come back here or visit our wonderful host http://journeyofbooks.halfzero.net  to find your way again.  If you want help keeping track of the blogs you already visited,  you can use the wonderful tracker at http://journeyofbooks.com/blogfest and simply enter your email to register.  Below you will find my giveaway and a list of the next set of participating blogs!  Good luck and have fun!


My Giveaway:

I am giving away a set of 4 romance novels titled,  Cathryn,  Deep In The Heart of Texas,  His Brother's Bride, and Protected Hearts.  Once I reach 100 followers,  I will throw in a signed copy of my romance novel,  Death Upon Me.  

To enter you must leave me a comment,  become a follower of my blog,  and enter a valid email address.

Additional Entries:

+2 Follow On Twitter
+2 Follow On Facebook
+2 Join Authors Supporting Authors
+3 Follow Immortality and Beyond
+3 Follow Walker's Muse

Be sure to include your extra entries in your comment.  Thanks for stopping in and GOOD LUCK!

Next Participating Blogs and Giveaways:

Blkosiner's Book Blog	http://blkosiner.blogspot.com/
Blog de Suck	http://www.blog-de-suck.com/
Bluerose's Heart	http://www.bluerosesheart.blogspot.com/
Boo's and rawr's	http://www.boosandrawrs.com/
Book Bookie	http://www.bookbookie.blogspot.com/
Book Dads	http://bookdads.com/
Book Obsessed	http://avidbookaholic.blogspot.com/
Book of Secrets	http://diana-book-of-secrets.blogspot.com/
Book-lover Carol's Reviews	http://booklovercarol.com/
BookHounds	http://maryinhb.blogspot.com/

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VBT Pit Stop with Wayne Farquhar, author of Blood Over Badge

Wayne Farquhar is a 28-year veteran working with the San Jose Police Department in California. He has worked through the ranks from officer to lieutenant with detective assignments in Sexual Assaults, Homicide and Internal Affairs. He has also worked undercover assignments in Child Exploitation, Child Pornography and Vice. He spent 10 years as a street cop and hostage negotiator. Wayne has worked on Federal Task Forces with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). He has appeared on national television, /America’s Most Wanted/ on a murder investigation. BLOOD OVER BADGE is his first effort in crime-thriller fiction, and he hopes to write more books and speak to larger audiences about his experiences in law enforcement. Wayne lives with his family in the San Francisco Bay Area.

If you would like to formally invite Wayne to speak about BLOOD OVER BADGE or law enforcement to your organization, association, conference or expo, please send an email to info@bloodoverbadge.com.

TWO SEEMINGLY UNRELATED CRIMES –
TWO SEEMINGLY UNRELATED KILLERS –
AND TWO MYSTERIES WAITING TO BE SOLVED …

The murder of the Mayor of San Francisco’s daughter sets the stage for
this intriguing and spellbinding crime thriller. Two police detectives, Jack Paige and Casey Ford are assigned to catch a cold-blooded rapist and killer. In this gritty, realistic tale of homicide, unrelated mysteries of two murderers seem to come together and make little sense. What does a man rotting away behind the stench-enclosed walls of Angola Penitentiary have to do with an evil and cruel rapist and killer now on the run from California to Texas? What is the relationship to the killing of the Mayor’s daughter? BLOOD OVER BADGE, an intense, taunt and brilliantly told crime thriller, takes readers on a realistic, gritty and real-world tour de force exploring the underbelly of police and detective work.

Learn More About Blood Over Badge and Wayne at http://www.bloodoverbadge.com

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Rescue Your Story with Jacqui Murray...Welcome

Today please welcome Jacqui Murray author of Building a USNA Midmanship.   Welcome Jacqui and thank you for stopping in.

10 Proven Methods to Rescue Your Story

When you read your story, is it underwhelming? Are you bored and you're the author? In the excitement of getting your story on paper, developing your characters and moving through the plot, have you missed whatever it is that makes a story worth reading.

I know what the problem is: It's the basics.

You've forgotten the nuts and bolts. Here are ten of them, each designed to address the most fixable parts of your story. Once you've edited with these in mind, re-read your story. You'll find a huge difference. If you don't, and only if you don't, read the last paragraph:

1.     The story is too passive. Check for how often you use a derivation of the verb, to be. That would include was, is, were, etc. Limit them to five per page. They take the umph out of your story. Choose a more active verb. Sometimes it's as simple as switching She was thinking to She thought. Sometimes it takes more time. Doesn't matter if it takes a while. It'll fix your story

2.     More dialogue. Less narrative. Dialogue is active. Narrative is passive. Dialogue pulls the reader into the action. Narrative lets them sit outside where it's nice and safe. You want your reader to feel the plot's danger, not feel insulated. You've probably heard writing professors intone, Show, not tell. This is what they mean. Dialogue shows. It's in scene. Narrative tells. It's outside of the scene.

3.     Don't jump around in POVs so often. Once a chapter only. At the most, between paragraphs (I stick with a full scene for each POV). You're reader wants to get to know the POV character and wonder about events with them, not jump into someone else's head to find out the answers. Mystery is good. No mystery is boring.

4.     Your protagonist isn't likable. People want to like the main character. They want to relate to that person. Your main character shouldn't be perfect. S/he should have foibles, failures like every person on the planet. Just don't make them dis-likable.

5.     Add detail. Be specific about the restaurant your characters eat at, the town they visit, the types of dogs in the dog park. Your readers will relate to the details. Specifics pull readers in. Generalities leave them outside the plot, wondering if they want to commit.

6.     Fix your grammar and spelling. Everyone won't catch every error, but most people will catch some of the errors. If they catch more than a few--and I use that term loosely--you've lost your credibility. Catch as many as you can before you even show the mss to your writer's group. Don't assume your future agent will fix grammar and spelling. S/he won't see the plot for the errors.

7.     Your characters must grow. They can't remain static from the beginning of the novel to the end. There's something about a trial by fire and coming out better that snares readers. Look at each character. Where did they start? Where did they end? Have they grown? If not, fix it.

8.     Vary your sentence length. Long involved sentences slow the story down. Short snappy sentences speed the action up. Make sure you use each type in the correct spot.

9.     Use picture nouns and action verbs. Every noun should evoke an entire picture in your reader's mind. Every verb should set off a sequence of actions.

10.  Limit adjectives and adverbs. Replace a multi-adjectived noun with a fully-developed picture noun. Replace an over-adverbed verb with a descriptive verb. A rule of thumb is no more than two adjectives per noun and no more than five adverbs per page.

If these ten tips didn't fix things for you, well, now you have to enter the murky land of intangible tips. Things like...

·        Put passion in your writing

·        Write what you know

·        Be unique and unpredictable

I know--these last are important, maybe the most important. But, you have to agree, they're a lot harder to fix. I like to start at the beginning and proceed to the end. Keep my editing as simple as possible until I can't.

What are your hints?

Click for more about dialogue.

My bio:

I was born in Berkley California to Irish-German parents. After receiving a BA in Economics, another in Russian and an MBA, I spent twenty years in a variety of industries while raising two children and teaching evening classes at community colleges. Now, I live with my husband, adult son and two beautiful Labradors and I write. I write how-books, five blogs on everything from the USNA to tech for homeschoolers to science, and a column for the Examiner on tech tips. I’m also working on a sequel to my techno-thriller, To Hunt a Sub

How to find me and my books:

Anyone interested in my books, here is where you can find them:

·        My six technology workbooks are available on Amazon.com and the publisher's website. The ebooks are available on Scribd.com.

·        My two computer lab toolkits are available on Amazon.com and the publisher's website. The ebooks are available on Scribd.com.

·        Building a Midshipman is available on Amazon.com and the publisher's website. The ebooks are available on Scribd.com.

·        If you’re interested in To Hunt a Cruiser, leave a comment on my WordDreams blog and I’ll let you know when it’s out.

·        My Building a Midshipman site is USNA or Bust.

·        My Computer Lab Toolkit and Technology Workbooks site is Ask a Tech Teacher

·        My writing tips blog is WordDreams

·        I also write a column for Examiner.com. I invite everyone to read that, add comments, follow me!

·        Oh—my Twitter handle is @askatechteacher

 

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****1/2 Review of The Hunted of 2060 by Ami Blackwelder

The Hunted of 2060 by Ami Blackwelder was a fantastic read! Becoming a shape shifter is the easy part, staying alive is what becomes the challenge.

April knew there was something wrong as she wrenched in pain at random times throughout the day. She knew she must be careful who she could trust and confide in as well.

Her boyfriend Robert wanted to be there for her. He continually put up with April avoiding him, just wanting to become closer.

When April meets the sister she never even knew she had, she finds out she is hybrid, part wolf and part human. She must learn how to survive as she learns how to deal with the fact she is a shape shifter, and that she is being hunted by the Rogue Malitia, who wants to eradicate their kind.

As they fight for their lives, April is also fighting for love. Her human part wants to be with Robert, while her wolf part is drawn to another wolf named Arkin. As these three struggle with love, they must learn to survive each other as well as the Malitia.

Can they survive emotions and save their species before they become extinct? Find out in The Hunted of 2060.

Blackwelder did a fantastic job pulling the reader in from the first page. With everything we know of all books in this genre, she keeps a lot of originality to keep just the right twist on it.

I give The Hunted of 2060 ****1/2 (4.5) Stars, BK Walker, http://bkwalkerbooks.weebly.com



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