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Visiting Smash Attacks!

A great benefit of becoming an author is meeting voracious readers committed to spreading the word about their favorite books—a.k.a. BOOK BLOGGERS!

One blogger I’ve had the pleasure of knowing is Smash from Smash Attacks Reads. Since I’m a psychologist and author, I call myself a psycho author. Well, Smash is a social worker and book blogger, making her a social bookie? (You’ll have to help me with this one, Smash). She is certainly extroverted and friendly, and it’s been so fun to discuss psychological aspects of books with her.

Tomorrow Smash will review Bad Behavior (The Conduct Series #2), featuring many therapy scenes. But today Smash and I chat on her blog about emotions, characterization, crying men, and maybe even the horrid baby name Renesmee.

Check it out HERE.

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The CONduct Series Blog Tour Day Four

Today my romantic suspense series travels to three book blogs. These book lovers all read With Good Behavior, so check out their varied reviews! Each will offer an ebook giveaway, and readers who comment on every tour stop are eligible to win a $25 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

1. Alexa Loves Books Blog

2. Kelsey’s Book Corner Blog

3. Ramblings From a Chaotic Mind Blog

And now it’s time for the Author Blog Bounce, hosted by Omnific Publishing!
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Poughkeepsie: Homeless No More + Giveaway

I’m happy to be part of the Poughkeepsie Blog Tour. I’ve heard amazing things about this novel by Debra Anastasia, and I can’t wait to read it.

This is a story about homeless man and the young woman he meets at the train station. Her smiles sustain him though she has no idea of her impact on him.

I actually worked at a homeless center during my graduate training in counseling psychology, and I’d like to share that experience for the Poughkeepsie blog tour. At the homeless center, I did counseling, psychological testing, and led an anger-management therapy group.

One thing that struck me was the similarity between myself and individuals living at the center. Warmth, intelligence, and talent abounded in homeless people. One man was a gifted musician and another woman had gone to extreme efforts to protect her children from her abusive husband. But one big difference between us was their lack of safety nets. When times got hard for them, they didn’t have friends or family to bail them out due to poverty, substance dependence, mental illness. I know that if I lost everything, my family and friends would have my back. Homeless people don’t have that luxury.

My internship director taught us that when we encounter homeless individuals on the street, it’s up to us whether or not to give money. But one thing we should do is show respect by looking them in the eye. I know my brother-in-law will often buy food from a convenience store and hand it to a homeless person in Chicago, and I try to keep an energy bar in my purse or car to share with those in need.

The homeless center where I worked was famous for helping its residents work toward owning their own home. It was so inspiring to witness such rebuilding and redemption.

Give a Copy of Poughkeepsie a Home: 

GIVEAWAY

There are 2 eCopies of Poughkeepsie to give away on the blog today. To enter, please leave a comment and a valid email address.
 Poughkeepsie in eBook, ePack, and Print: Omnific Publishing

 Poughkeepsie in Kindle and Print Amazon Kindle Amazon Print

 Poughkeepsie Book format allromanceebooks.com

Watch the trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tHdSFrxnp4

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Today is day three of my own blog tour for The Conduct Series, romantic suspense with a psychological twist. There are two stops today:


Bookworm Lisa has an excerpt of Bad Behavior and a giveaway HERE.

A Girl and Her Diary has an excerpt of With Good Behavior and a giveaway HERE.


Leave a comment to enter the giveaway, and give Poughkeepsie a home!

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My First Blog Tour!

Excitement bursts within me for The Conduct Series Blog Tour, starting TODAY! That’s right, my romantic suspense series is going on tour for the next two weeks, visiting 28 blogs. Julie from A Tale of Many Reviews is the gracious host for this virtual book tour.

A Tale of Many Reviews

Today’s stops include The Unread Reader blog where I discuss what I do when I’m not writing.

There will be a giveaway of With Good Behavior or Bad Behavior at every stop, and a grand prize of a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card for a lucky reader who comments at every stop.

See the list of participating blogs HERE

Congratulations to the winner of the Gratitude Giveaway Hop:

Denise Z!

She wins a $10 Amazon gift card. Thanks to all who entered and shared what they’re thankful for. We are all blessed in many ways.

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Omnific Release Day: Poughkeepsie

Today is release day at Omnific Publishing . . .

Introducing Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia!

He counts her smiles every day and night at the train station. And morning and evening, the beautiful commuter acknowledges him—just like she does everyone else on the platform. But Blake Hartt is not like the others . . . he’s homeless. Memories of a broken childhood have robbed him of peace and twisted delusions into his soul. He stays secluded from the sun, sure the world would run from him in the harsh light of day.

Each day, Livia McHugh smiles politely and acknowledges her fellow commuters as she waits for the train to the city. She dismisses this kindness as nothing special, just like her. She’s the same as a million other girls—certainly no one to be cherished. But special or not, she smiles every day, never imagining that someone would rely on the simple gesture as if it were air to breathe.

When the moment comes that Livia must do more than smile, without hesitation she steps into the fray to defend the homeless man. And she’s surprised to discover an inexplicable connection with her new friend. After danger subsides, their smiles become conversation. Their words usher in a friendship, which awakens something in each of them. But it’s not long before their bond must prove its strength. Entanglements from the past challenge both their love and their lives.

Blake’s heart beats for Livia’s, even if her hands have to keep its rhythm. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. Love never fails, right?

In an interwoven tale of unlikely loves and relationships forged by fire, Debra Anastasia takes readers into the darkest corners of human existence, only to show them the radiant power of pure adoration and true sacrifice. Complicated families and confused souls find their way to light in this novel, which manages to be racy, profane, funny, and reverent all at once.

This popular novel already has a 4.7/5 rating on goodreads! Check back on 11/30/11 when I’ll host Debra on her Poughkeepsie blog tour. I’ll share what I learned from my counseling internship at a homeless center, in honor of Blake.

Speaking of blog tours, I’m also excited for the start of my first blog tour in less than one week. The Conduct Series, romantic suspense novels featuring two parolees who fall in love and battle bad guys, is going on tour 11/28 – 12/9, hosted by Julie from A Tale of Many Reviews.

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Your POV on POV

I have a point-of-view issue. What’s your POV?

I’m rather new to writing, and my initial fledgling efforts were from a third person omniscient POV. In my debut novel With Good Behavior, I do a bit of “head hopping” from character to character. As a psychologist, I’m fascinated by the motivations of each perspective, so third person omniscient worked well for me.

Reader feedback is always varied and interesting. Some readers loved hearing from each character, believing it enriched the story. Other readers (like author Darcia Helle) commented that the constant change in POV was confusing at first, and suggested trying third person limited POV in which I represent one character’s perspective at a time (by section or chapter). Darcia shared how an agent asked her “Whose story is this?”–a tough question to answer when using third person omniscient POV.

I shared this feedback with my amazing Omnific Publishing editor Jessica Royer Ocken, and we discussed the pros and cons of omniscient vs. limited. We’re currently editing my first Young Adult novel, Against the Tide, and we decided to try third person limited. That created a LOT of work, I tell you! Whew. It’s been a challenge to view the scene from only one character’s perspective at times, but the advantage is a tighter, easier to follow story (I hope).

Last summer was my first attempt at first person POV for my short story Swim Recruit in the anthology Summer Breeze. First person writing was so fun! I found it a bit easier than writing in the third person.

What’s your POV? Do you prefer reading and/or writing in the third person omniscient or limited, or the first person POV?

Time for the Thursday Blog Bounce hosted by Omnific Publishing.

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Gratitude Giveaway Hop

I’m so grateful to my readers, fellow authors, and followers! To express my gratitude, I’m joining Kathy and All-Consuming Books for the Gratitude Giveaway Hop.

Up for grabs is a $10 gift card to Amazon to a lucky U.S. winner.

To enter, all you need to do is to leave a comment including:
1) What you’re thankful for
2) Your email address so I can contact you if you win.

(Edited the post to add I LOVE reading all that you’re thankful for, everybody! Thank YOU for sharing your blessings).

Also, don’t forget to enter to win a Kindle Fire by clicking on the link to your right! I’m joining with other authors for the Kindle Fire giveaway and all you need to do is provide your email address.

I’m also offering my romantic suspense novel With Good Behavior for only $.99 in November.

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Winners of November Giveaway Hop

Congratulations to our two winners of the November Giveaway Hop:

Mary 
from Sweeping Me Blog

and

Kalea 
from En Route to Life Blog

Mr. Darcy was their favorite historical romance hero. He’s quite popular with the ladies!

Mary wins an ebook of Bad Behavior (The Conduct Series #2). Remember, you can get With Good Behavior (The Conduct Series #1) for only $.99 in November!

Kalea wins an ebook of A Love By Any Measure by Killian McRae.

Congratulations to you both, and thanks to everyone for all the lovely comments and follows.