Monday Musings and Mumblings

I haven't blogged for a couple of weeks now. There was a book to finish and a publisher to keep happy by turning it in in a timely manner, which for me was eight days late. I'm telling you, my editor is so, so good to me. I had more shots in my retina, a major reason for being late submitting my manuscript and for not blogging. In addition, to my utter surprise, Microsoft gave me Windows 10 one night while I was sleeping. Imagine the screaming and swearing and storming at the Davis household when I turned on my laptop to find that mess!

AND I became a great-grandmother for the first time. Now, how that can happen when I'm barely thirty-nine is beyond me. Meet Benjamin, weighing in at 5lb. 11oz. Though he be small, he be brave and darling and kissable and strong beyond measure. He already holds Daddy's heart in his little hand.

I'll meet him in June when we travel to Ohio for our granddaughter's wedding. Eleni graduates from college a few weeks earlier and then marries a young man she's been dating for three years. Life keeps moving, doesn't it? Sometimes I'd like for it to stand still for a while...just so I could catch up.

Meanwhile, flowers need planted, the house needs cleaned, winter clothes need put away and spring and summer ones brought out. And I must keep writing. Book one of Black Eagle Ops--HER SURVIVOR--releases in July. I've just turned in the manuscript for book two of the series--HERS TO HEAL for a November release. And I've written chapter one of book three--HER FOREVER HERO--for the publisher to include in the back of book two. It was a great chapter to write.

A former SEAL attends a small cattlemen's convention at the same hotel as RWA's annual shindig. He's clueless, of course. I mean, what would a rancher, former SEAL commander, and leader of a black ops team know about those magic initials romance writers recognize in an instant? He thinks they stand for Regional Women Accountants or, after his wild experience in an elevator with several romance writers, Rowdy Women Accountants.

Until next time, here's a meme the fabulous Kelly Moran made me...

A Romance Bundle Coming at a Book Seller Near Your Pinky Finger!

FEBRUARY 1, 2016

"LOVE IS IN THE AIR"

Containing 5 full-length novels: 

JEZEBEL'S WISH by AJ Nuest

MIDNIGHT HEAT by Sarah Grimm

THE DRAKE HOUSE by Kelly Moran

GIFT OF THE REALM by Mackenzie Crowne

STORM'S INTERLUDE by Vonnie Davis

 

BUY LINKS:

 
http://amzn.com/B0181NC92E

 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-is-in-the-air-kelly-moran/1122968728?ean=2940152472882 

 

For some of us, this is our first foray into self-publishing and we're excited...and scared...and hopeful. STORM'S INTERLUDE was the first book I ever had published. That was nearly five years ago. Since then I've gotten the rights back. I've revamped it, taken out some poorly written parts, and removed errors. Somehow in all that "deleting process," I added two-thousand words. Don't ask. You know how I am.

 



Re-Birthing My First-Born

Roughly five years ago, my first book STORM'S INTERLUDE was published. I'd just turned sixty-two a couple weeks before I held the first copy in my hands and cried like a baby. Since then, I've gotten the rights back and tucked them away, going over possibilities of what I'd do with it to make it sell better. Odd a book that won two awards just slept away on Amazon's shelves, but it did. Still, no one knew who I was. Heck, some days I still don't know who I am.

Kelly Moran, an author friend, approached a few of us and asked if we'd like to join her in putting together a bundle for February. I said the only thing I could contribute would be my first book. Several others, who also have busy writing schedules, jumped on that idea, too. Just to make sure I could do this, I contacted legal at Random House since I'm writing exclusively for them now. They were very co-operative and told me the clause in my contract only applied to new material. I could self-publish previously published works with no problems from them. I was good to go.

Kelly made me a new cover, since I wasn't allowed to use the one from TWRP.

Isn't it pretty? Imagine, next year I'll join the ranks of hybrid authors. Whoot!

Before I began reworking the manuscript, I read all my reviews to see what things readers did not like. I made a point of correcting those issues as well as updating things like cell phones that opened and closed. And, of course, my writing has improved slightly since then. Newbie goofs needed corrected. Working on my first-born book took longer than I'd expected. Once finished, I set it aside while I attended RWA, came home, and wrote and rewrote the first two chapters of my wounded warrior series. Now I'm ready to give STORM'S INTERLUDE one final read through. I'm thinking I was a little heavy on the male internal thought. Men just don't think and rethink things like we women do. Sometimes we wonder if they think at all, but they do...just in a different manner.

Here's a picture of our bundle cover. See any other names and titles you recognize?

A Book Release Party and You're Invited

 

From 11 am to 11 pm -- Eastern Time

 

 

You're all invited!

 

Laughter, man candy, books, and prizes.

 

 

 

Guest Authors-

 

Laura Kaye

Kelly Moran

Terry Spear

JM Stewart

Amie Louellan

AJ Nuest

Lisa Olech

Sarah Grimm

Mackenzie Crowne

Maeve Grayson

and Me

 

 



KELLY MORAN -- Author

My guest today is Kelly Moran--poet, children's author, romance writer and mother of three little boys, two of which are twins. Kelly's interests include: sappy movies, MLB, NFL, driving others insane and sleeping when she can. She is a closet caffeine junkie and chocoholic. Kelly, I've got your "favs" right here. So, tell us what you've been up to lately. I mean other than laundry and running after the kids.

Oooh, coffee AND chocolate. Yum. Thanks so much for having me today, Vonnie! I'm eager to talk about my new release and I'll give away one eBook copy of You Never Have to Remember the Truth to a commenter.

BLURB:

It was one of the most sensational murder cases in U.S. history. Lawrencia "Bambi" Bembenek, a former Playboy waitress and ex-Milwaukee police officer, was arguably railroaded and convicted of murder. When all hope of proving her innocence seemed lost, she planned a daring escape from prison with her boyfriend, and together the lovers slipped into Canada under assumed names. Now, nearly twenty years after the escape, Dominic Gugliatto wants to set the record straight.  The man who laid it all on the line tells a different tale — one of deception and betrayal. For the first time, Gugliatto speaks out about the lies and secrets long buried. That Bembenek knew more about the murder than she professed, and that the prison escape involved co-conspirators, including a retired Milwaukee police officer.  The truth is coming, told by the only man who knows it all.

Follow us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/thetruthiscoming

The link for our youtube video is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq41R-5OEKM

To tell you a little about me and the book, here's my Dear Reader page from the book. After reading, I'd love to answer any questions you have!

 

Dear Reader,

            Awhile back I got a call from an old friend and colleague asking me some publishing questions. As I've always wanted to be a writer, and I spent the better part of ten years researching the industry, this wasn't unusual. Imagine my surprise when she tells me it's about writing a book for Dominic Gugliatto!

            I was four years old at the time of Christine Schultz's murder, five when Lawrencia Bembenek was found guilty, and thirteen when Dominic helped Lawrencia escape prison. Though I was young, I remember Wisconsin's outcry and the media blitz, and the eventual world-wide pandemonium this case created. Ergo, I was interested in talking about a book with Dominic.

            In saying that, I'm also a romance and children's book writer. I deal with fiction and happily ever afters, not dates and facts and figures. So I was reluctant, as I didn't know if I could give Dominic the book he deserved. I was also concerned about the possible emotional toll that writing a book like this might have on my family. So over dinner one night with my husband and then three-year-old twin boys, I discussed the project. Well, the twins discussed Toy Story, my husband, Darren and I discussed the book. Halfway through my spiel, my husband lifts his hand to stop me and says, "Do it." My response was somewhere along the lines of, "Huh?" He said, "Do it. It's a great opportunity and it can help your career."

            Now that really got my brain churning. It could help my writing career, open doors, and challenge me. After getting back on the phone with Dominic however, I knew this book and my agreement to write it would never solely be about my career. There were many reasons for me to do and not to do this, and one why I should-- It was the right thing to do. It's about telling his story, the one no one's ever truly heard, and giving him some closure. For weeks we met in person and over the phone. I watched this guy sitting on my couch, torn and upset even after all these years, and I saw what was inside the man behind the media craze. He's loyal, compassionate, forgiving, and strong beyond any means I can literate.

            I stayed objective, pouring over information to make sure we got this right the first time. Dominic and his family kept nearly every document, letter, and article ever written about this case. And he kept it in an old luggage case I now refer to as "The Suitcase From Hell." It took me weeks to go through all of it. Once I had the facts, I added Dominic's story. And what a story it is.

            I'm glad we became friends through this process, Dominic and I. And I honestly can say I'm a better person for having known and met him. I can only wish the same for those reading this book, but then again, I feel that's pretty much a given.

Sincerely,

Kelly Moran

Remember: To be eligible for the drawing for a free eBook copy of Kelly's book, you must leave a comment with your email address so she can contact you.