The amazing Judith Barrett

25 Sep 2018 Leave a comment

by TK Lawyer in Author Interviews Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Hi Readers,

Recently I had the chance to interview a sweet, kind soul who also writes fabulous books.

Take a look at my interview with Judith A. Barrett:

 

  1. Tell me a bit about one of your favorites that you wrote.

“The Girl Who Saw Clouds” is my favorite of my published books. It’s a compilation of all my interests-children with autism, farming, self-sufficiency, Florida weather, dogs, running, chickens, ham radio, baking brownies, offbeat humor, unicorns, pizza, and adventure.  I just gave you a synopsis of the entire book!

  1. Writing is a difficult endeavor. What makes you continue to write?

I have stories inside my head and heart, and I would explode if I didn’t let them out. I’ve always been a great storyteller, and I love learning. It’s been a struggle and a joy to learn how to transform those stories into words that invite the reader into the story on the page. I certainly agree it’s difficult and a lot of work.

“The Girl Who Saw Clouds” underwent 108 revisions before it was published. One of the things that kept me going was the encouragement of my beta readers who helped me see the improvements from one version to the next.

  1. What do you look forward to every day?

Every day I wake up ready for the day’s adventure with my husband and dogs. I’m a retired project manager, and I plan. I have a list for everything I’m going to do that day, that week, and that month. I have a five–year plan. I am thrilled every time I mark something completed. God, of course, knows how much I love to plan and frequently flips my plans to the side and says, “Nice plan. We’re going to do this instead.” His plans are always much more interesting than mine.

  1. How do you define success? What makes you successful?

I’ve always had two criteria for success: 1. Am I learning? 2. Am I having fun? If it’s not fun and I’m not learning, then it’s time to move on to something else. Maybe there’s one more thing-Did I get to check something off my list?

  1. Any tips for a newbie writer?

Consider any feedback as a gift, even negative feedback. Join a critique group. I like the online groups because I don’t have to show up anywhere at a certain time wearing shoes. Learn from everybody. Develop an eye for what’s good and what’s not. Read blogs and articles. Join a writers’ association. Attend workshops and seminars. Never publish a book before you hire an editor to review your manuscript. (Don’t be that guy.) Learn, learn, learn. And have fun!

Check out Judith A. Barrett’s book, available on Amazon!

https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Who-Saw-Clouds-ebook/dp/B07DH12YS

and learn more about Judith on her Author page:

https://www.amazon.com/Judith-A.-Barrett/e/B074NCLYC2

 

 

 

Twelve Nights of Christmas Cover Reveal!

14 Sep 2018 Leave a comment

by TK Lawyer in Book Spotlight Shares Tags: , , , ,

***COVER REVEAL*** Available for preorder now! Releasing next month. Twelve bestselling and award-winning authors each bring you a sexy night of romance, fun and a little magic. ‘Tis the season for falling for the right guy! Can a magical fruitcake be the special ingredient for falling in love?

**‘Tis the season for giving, too!**
20% of the proceeds will be donated to the hunger relief organization Feeding America

Preorder your copy here today! https://amzn.to/2xbrr1f

BUY LINKS: 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2xbrr1f

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/12-nights-of-christmas-a-holiday-anthology/id1436019136?mt=11

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/12-nights-of-christmas-a-holiday-anthology-kristi-rose/1129518478?ean=2940156133215

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/12-nights-of-christmas-a-holiday-anthology

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41541269-12-nights-of-christmas

Twelve nights of Christmas Book Cover

Twelve bestselling and award-winning authors each bring you a sexy night of romance, fun and a little magic. ‘Tis the season for falling for the right guy! Can a magical fruitcake be the special ingredient for falling in love?

**’Tis the season for giving, too!**

20% of the proceeds will be donated to the hunger relief organization Feeding America

December 25: “Scrooge You” by MK Schiller

Christmas is nothing but a reminder of Eva’s tragic past. So she goes into Scrooge mode including visits from hree ghosts.

December 26: “Unexpected Daddy” by Gemma Brocato

Is she ready to introduce him to the son he didn’t know he had?

December 27: “The Meant to Be Girl” by Tawdra Kandle

Ashley is so busy matchmaking that she might miss out on her own happily-ever-after

December 28: “For One Night Only” by Carrie Elks

Stranded with a gorgeous stranger for the night – what’s a girl to do?

December 29: “Best Friends for the Night” by Alice Gaines

Will a little holiday magic make Steve and Hannah more than friends?

December 30: “Entwined” by Kristi Rose

Bailey’s waited forever for one night to show Donovan they’re meant to be.

December 31: “Rekindled” by Stacy Finz

Branna and Drex are over…or at least they thought they were. But a little time trapped in an enclosed space with a magical fruitcake might just change that. 

January 1: “New Year’s Negotiation” by Kate Allenton

When Detective Elizabeth Cross takes a trip down memory lane, she’ll have to decide if this is a second chance at happily-ever-after or the start of another broken heart

January 2: “Playing House” by Kim Golden

The last thing Cassie Delk expects is for a second chance at love to turn up on her doorstep.

January 3: “Book of Love” by Cd Brennan

Opposite attract while stranded by a blizzard. 

January 4: “A Winter Wonderland” by Rebecca Hunter

Coming face-to-face with Jace after ten years is a reminder of everything Selena left behind, and it’s even more dangerous when mixed with a little magic…. 

January 5: “Wild Honey” by Sarah Hegger

Two wrongs can make the best kind of right

The Fabulous Melissa Carty

10 Sep 2018 Leave a comment

by TK Lawyer in Fellow Authors Tags: , , , , , , ,

Hi Readers,

I had the recent privilege to interview this amazing author~ Melissa Carty.  Check out my interview with her.

 

Melissa Carty_Author picture

  1. Tell me a bit about one of your favorites that you wrote.

Soul Awakening will always be my first love. One of my main characters is Chance Wright and he was the first character to ever show himself to me. Letting his and Skye’s story grow into a full fledged book was also an opportunity for me to grow personally.

Skye is a girl who has a parent go missing. Everyone thinks he’s dead and her and her mom are coping the best they can. She has to leave her friends behind when she’s made to spend the summer in another country with family she barely knows. After she gets there, family secrets and supernatural beings collide, making this a summer she may not survive.

 

  1. Writing is a difficult endeavor. What makes you continue to write?

In the beginning, my characters wouldn’t shut up. After that, it was my need to finish the story. I also enjoy the problem solving that’s involved in creating worlds and lives. There is something so magical and addictive about making a world all your own.

 

  1. What do you look forward to every day?

Waking up and knowing I have another day to love on the people I love. Having more time to try to get this thing called life right. To tell the stories that play out in my head. Hearing a song that will make me think of a book and/or characters that I wrote. Someone telling me they loved or liked my book. So many things.

 

  1. How do you define success? What makes you successful?

Success for me is doing something you enjoy and it being able to sustain you financially (which is relative to your needs and situation) and/or emotionally.

I’m doing something I truly enjoy and it’s very fulfilling. I realize I’m just starting out, so I may not be the definition of success yet, but every author had to start somewhere.

 

  1. Any tips for a newbie writer?

Try to turn off your inner critic, at least until you’re done with the first draft. You may never finish your book if you give in to it. Also, finding a mentor can be really helpful and reaffirming that you’re on the right track.

 

BIO:

Melissa is a Young Adult writer with a passion for paranormal. She has been drawing and doing all things creative for as long as she can remember. She earned a degree in Graphic Arts and has spent many years as an artist. After falling in love with reading (thanks to two persistent friends), she started writing stories. The magic of creating her own worlds has been both exciting and overwhelming at times, and she couldn’t be happier about it. https://www.facebook.com/MelissaCartyArtistWriter/ or https://www.instagram.com/melissa_carty/

** Her book, Soul Awakening is available on Amazon! **

 

Be your own beautiful self

05 Sep 2018 Leave a comment

by TK Lawyer in Uncategorized

Hi Readers,

 

I am thankful to the co-worker who inspired my message for today.  If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have realized this valuable lesson.

 

Love your enemies.

It does not show weakness.  It shows strength.

We want to live a peaceful, smooth life.  In fact I think everyone wants this.  I don’t think anyone truly wants drama or upsetting situations but it is with adversity that we learn.  And it is from an incident with a critical, inflexible staff member that I thought of this valuable lesson today- to love your enemies.  People can only be who they are and; therefore, they can only act accordingly so the reason that they are acting the way they are is because that is all they know to do.  It is not their fault and it not a judgment for us to make whether they are right or wrong.

They just are.  They exist.

And by our actions, we can show them a better way to act.  If they are ready, they will learn how they act is not necessary and; hopefully, one day, they will realize it does not serve them a purpose anymore and then they can grow.  But don’t let yourself feel less than or not good enough because of their actions.  Don’t question yourself because of how they are.  Just be who you are and protect yourself from being affected by any repercussions their actions might bring and let them be.

Everyone has free will and with that, the right to act as they think is right but don’t let it affect you, your thinking or your behavior.

You are good as you are.  You will always be good as you are.

One thing that bothers me and is somehow a lesson I must overcome is the endless chatter from this one staff member when she doesn’t like something.  I can’t stand it.  I can deal with her bad behavior but her chatter is disturbing; however, I must remember, and this is a lesson for us all, that it doesn’t matter what she says about me because it doesn’t change who I am.  No amount of gossipy chatter can change who you are either.

One day I hope to be as great as my best friend, Michael.  I want to be an observer letting others’ behaviors bounce off me and not letting them get inside – to my heart-but for now, I will try to take one day at a time, one bad misdeed at a time, and have faith that good always overcomes, it always wins and I have nothing to worry about.

Be well my friends and always be your own unique, beautiful self.  xoxo

feel beautiful today

First Author Interview Live!

04 Sep 2018 Leave a comment

by TK Lawyer in Author Interviews Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hey Readers,

You know what’s great?  Being the very first author interviewed by a fellow blogger.  Wow!!

I am so honored and excited to share with you my Author Interview on Andrea’s site.  Go check it out and show her some love, too!!

http://254bookaholic.blogspot.com/2018/09/mwandishi-spotlight-my-first-interview.html?m=1#more