Now you can comment on this to add a entry to the giveaway if you have not already done so! BTW this is a awesome book!
Can't wait to give you my review on it!
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Cover
So who is ready for another cover from the three pack Billionaire Boyfriend's from Harley Baker? Well here it is hope you like it!!!!
New Gadget on the left side
Hey everyone, I have made it easier to contact me! Look to the left here and see the new contact form? That's right just fill it out and hit send. It's easy as 1-2-3! Look forward to hearing from you all!
Monday, December 30, 2013
post a comment about the cover The Billionaire's Crush By Harley Baker
So what do you think when you see this cover?? Comment below for entries in the giveaway 4 days left who will the lucky 4 winners be?? Hope you all have fun
The Billionaire's Crush By Harley Baker (review)
By: Harley Baker
Harley has self-published
her book
Type of book: Erotic
Romance, BBW, HEA
Publication Date:
December 2nd, 2013
Lucy Butler's
biological clock is ticking away! She really wants to have a family, but is
starting to worry that it may not actually happen. When circumstances place her
in the same room with handsome billionaire, Chuck Garmin, he is smitten with
her big time. Read this charming story to find out how far he will go to win
her heart!
Harley snatched me away
with this story. The way Harley starts out with a dramatic twist. Lucy’s father
being ill and in the hospital. Showing Lucy to have that bond with her family
to stop plans and get on a flight to be with her father in a time of need. Once
Lucy met Chuck, I knew it was love at first sight with them.
I would have to say that this story is a great
beginning to a great series. I hope that Harley will consider another part to
this story. The ending just leaves you guessing and wanting more.
I am giving this story
a 5 star rating because it has a great plot and a good structure. I also felt
like I was the character in the book. It was yes one of those books where you
pick it up and you are transported in to the book, everything else around you
does not exist.
Go check out Harley’s
blog by clicking the link above. Harley is an awesome writer and woman. I hope
you enjoy her as much as I have. Keep an eye out all week here on Ashley’s
Addictive Book Blog for more Harley. There’s lots’ more coming our way!!!!!
Harley Baker (author Bio)
Hey Readers!! Guess What? It's Monday and you all Know what that means right? Yes new Author and book review!!! This week I have a surprise for you all. I don't have just one review for you, I have THREE!! Yes you read right three reviews, an author bio, author interview and I hear she is working on a giveaway! So who's ready for a fun filled week of reading!!!
So there you have it readers Harley Baker in a nut shell. Keep your eye out there is a lot more to come!!!!! Don't be shy leave comments below for Harley and she will answer you. She is an awesome woman with an awesome writing style so please comment below!!!!
Harley Baker is the preeminent future best-selling and award-winning erotica author with a keyboard. Having been born and raised in Houston, she takes much pride in her work. She believes that good erotica is composed of a powerful story punctuated with raunchy sex. She never had any hang-ups about writing erotica. That possibly could be because hot-blooded Texan women don't let anyone tell them what to do . Unless, of course, that's what they are into! Wink ;)
Harley almost got married once, but is glad she changed her mind. Having no children gives her tons of free time to explore her fabulously busy and prolific imagination. She started writing on her way out of the birth canal. Her craft meandered in several directions before she decided last year to try her hand at writing smut. She was pleasantly surprised by how well-received her first few stories were and is so grateful for the kind words of her fans.
So there you have it readers Harley Baker in a nut shell. Keep your eye out there is a lot more to come!!!!! Don't be shy leave comments below for Harley and she will answer you. She is an awesome woman with an awesome writing style so please comment below!!!!
Thursday, December 26, 2013
His to Posses #1 By Opal Carew
His to Possess #1: The Seduction
By Opal Carew
St. Martins Press http://us.macmillan.com/SMP.aspx
Type Of Book
Erotica/Romance
Author website
http://opalcarew.com/
Amazon Link
http://www.amazon.com/His-Possess-1-The-Seduction-ebook/dp/B00F1R0T9E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388104299&sr=8-1&keywords=his+to+possess
Release Date
December 24th, 2013
Summery of the book
The first sizzling segment in the erotic serial His to Possess, an
intoxicating tale of a woman torn between a dominant billionaire and a tattooed,
bad boy rock musician.
Jessica’s life was in ruins…until she met him.
Standing alone in the rain feeling lost in a new city, with no job and no prospects, she’s about to give up. Until Dane Rainier pulls up in his limo and offers her a ride.
Dane commands a vast business empire, and he can have anything he wants—and he wants Jessica. For one night, at least. Now he’s about to strip her bare and awaken her yearning to submit completely to a dominant billionaire.
But after the most intoxicating night of her life, will she ever be the same?
Don't miss the other installments of His to Possess: The Morning After (Part 2), Perfect Storm (Part 3), True Lies (Part 4), Entangled (Part 5), and Forever (Part 6).
Jessica’s life was in ruins…until she met him.
Standing alone in the rain feeling lost in a new city, with no job and no prospects, she’s about to give up. Until Dane Rainier pulls up in his limo and offers her a ride.
Dane commands a vast business empire, and he can have anything he wants—and he wants Jessica. For one night, at least. Now he’s about to strip her bare and awaken her yearning to submit completely to a dominant billionaire.
But after the most intoxicating night of her life, will she ever be the same?
Don't miss the other installments of His to Possess: The Morning After (Part 2), Perfect Storm (Part 3), True Lies (Part 4), Entangled (Part 5), and Forever (Part 6).
so head on over and get His to Possess
Monday, December 23, 2013
Happy Holidays
Hey everyone Just wanted to drop a line and say MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!! I am going to be putting my really awesome book Angel Omega down for two whole days maybe I might cave after Christmas night lol its an awesome book " a story like no other" According to Author Brandon Godbee and well don't take my word go get it read it yourself you wont be able to put it down once you make it past the first paragraph. If you have not already done so head on over to my Facebook Page and see what's going on!!!!
https://www.facebook.com/ashleysaddictivebookblog?ref=hl
https://www.facebook.com/ashleysaddictivebookblog?ref=hl
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Red Phoenix Author Interview
Hey Everyone! Ashley's Addictive Book Blog is proud to announce Red Phoenix The author of Brie Learns the Art of Submission and Brie Embraces the Art of Submission.
Can you start off by telling us a little about you?
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Can you start off by telling us a little about you?
I am a mother of three and wife to one (21 awesome years
together). I didn’t start publishing my work until Dec. 2011.
Can you tell us your
latest news about yourself or new book your writing?
I am just finishing a series under my pen name, Michelle
Stevens. It’s titled The Phoenix
series and is a romance based on the courtship of hubby and me. This last book Phoenix
Burning Bright, due out Dec 18th-20th, was well received by
several publishers except... they wanted me to change the ending. Well, in
fact, I was told to cut off the book once the couple (hubby and I) got married.
This story is meant to have an impact - a positive one - and I am looking forward to sharing the conclusion publishers were reluctant to embrace.
This story is meant to have an impact - a positive one - and I am looking forward to sharing the conclusion publishers were reluctant to embrace.
*In 2014 I plan to write continuations of The Keeper of the Wolf Clan, And Then He
Saved Me, and Varick: The Reckoning.
I am also currently finishing a novelette about Socrates, a Spanish Dom.
When and why did you begin writing?
When I couldn’t get my romance
published with the ‘controversial’ ending, I decide to look into
self-publishing. To test it out, I wrote a short erotic piece Loving Amy as Red Phoenix. But it wasn't
enough, I had to find out what happened to Amy and Troy and the Sensual Erotica
series was born. I ended up having so much fun, that I let the muses use me as
they wanted.
But the entire time, I was thinking of my first baby - the whole reason I started down the indie route. And now, after all these years, my story will be complete. In just a few more days the world will know the passion behind my wings.
But the entire time, I was thinking of my first baby - the whole reason I started down the indie route. And now, after all these years, my story will be complete. In just a few more days the world will know the passion behind my wings.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I suppose when I started getting fans. It wasn’t until I
made that connection that I felt it was more than just a hobby.
What inspired you to write your first book?
My sexy husband!
Do you have a
specific writing style?
I am simply a story teller.
How did you come up with titles?
They come to me, much like the story lines.
What inspired you to
write about BDSM?
A personal passion and wanting to share what I have
experienced with other woman.
Is there a message in your novel that you want
readers to grasp?
Remain true to yourself and you will discover things you
never knew about yourself. Very empowering!
How much of the book is realistic?
There is not a Submissive Training Center like the one I
describe in Brie Learns the Art of Submission. It was my fantasy; however the
scenes and tools described are realistic.
Now I love music just
as much as reading, I normally listen to music while I am reading. Do you think
that you characters have theme songs? What would they be?
1) Song for
the BDSM aspect of the Series
“Something for the Pain” by Redlight King
This song was a go-to for me throughout the Brie series. It
speaks to the allure of skillfully delivered pain to take away the anguish when
life gets too difficult to bear. I tended to think of Marquis Gray when I
listened to the lyrics—he started his special brand of “therapy” at the tender
young age of thirteen.
2) Song the
Speaks to a Dominant’s Heart
Undisclosed Desires by Muse
I feel this song expresses a Dom’s heart for his submissive. An
in-tune Dominant can help his sub discover her undisclosed desires while
empowering her to overcome her fears. It can be a powerful dynamic and this
song expresses it beautifully.
3) Song for Sir
Demons by Imagine Dragons
This incredible song speaks to Sir’s anguish.
He wants Brie, but believes he is too damaged emotionally to be a good Master
to her. Even after the collaring, he struggles with those terrible demons from
his past, both living and dead…
4) Song for
Brie
Safe and Sound by Capital Cities
This is totally Brie! Her love and trust of Sir
is unwavering. Even though several challenges face the couple, she truly
believes they can survive anything together. I love the lyrics “Even if we are
six feet underground, I know that we will be safe and sound…” That expressing
exactly how she feels.
5) Song for
Tono
Chasing Cars
by Snow Patrol
This song inspired me whenever I wrote Tono’s
scenes. His gentle spirit brings Brie peace; his rope brings her great
pleasure. Tono is content just to slow down and “be” with Brie. Unlike Faelan,
he respects the sanctity of the collar but his is a love that will never die.
6) Song for
Faelan
You are Mine by
Mute Math
Faelan’s obsession of Brie becomes an all-encompassing need so
great that it even infiltrates Brie’s dreams. He cannot accept her final
choice of Master at her graduation and begins his pursuit of her outside the
Center—despite
the collar around her neck. “You are Mine” perfectly describes his mindset.
7) Song for
Sir’s father
Ter Cetso by Samvel Yervinyan
When I found this piece of music with the
picture of Samvel, I started crying. This is exactly the kind of man I was
thinking of when I wrote about Sir’s father. You can see the passion and even
the Dom-like look in his eye. But it is at the end of the video that I start to
cry. It is as if this is Alonzo’s life if the tragedy had never happened, and
the young man he is hugging at the end is Sir. But it blasts apart into tiny
pieces because Sir never got that chance.
Are experiences based
on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Many are, but the details shall remain secret – we like our
privacy. However, if I have not experienced it I researched to find out how it
feels and why women like it.
Do you see writing as
a career?
For now, but I do not know what the future will bring. Life
has been pretty surprising so far- and I love it!
If you had to do it
all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
No, I must say that Brie
Embraces the Heart of Submission is exactly how I want it. The muses amaze
me as I write. As long as I listen, the story plays out exactly as it was meant
to – no regrets.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
I have always loved writing, ever since I was a child. I won
a poetry contest in Jr. High, and wrote some potent short stories in college.
However, I always assumed it would remain a hobby. It wasn’t until indies were
given a chance to publish without a huge investment of money that I had the
opportunity to offer my work to the world.
Who designed the
covers?
My friend and fan Christina McKenzie Gwin took the photo for
Brie Embraces the Heart of Submission and Viola Estrella designed the cover
around it.
Did you learn
anything from writing your book and what was it?
I learned that I am not the only one who enjoys the exchange
of power. Turns out it calls to many women, as well as men, and when it is
heeded it’s very satisfying.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
You can start out like I did, on Smashwords learning the
ropes. But I highly recommend finding an editor as well. It is the one key thing
that I did not start out with, so I had to go back and “fix” all my older
stories after I became popular. I would save other writers that pain…
My other piece of advice is to write what’s in your heart.
Sure you can copy what’s currently popular, but if it isn’t your story the readers can sense it. Why
waste their time and yours?
Do you have anything
specific that you want to say to your readers?
I am so grateful to have your encouragement, support and
friendship. I love you, peeps!
Which comes first, the
character's story or, the idea for the novel?
Depends, Varick was a character that’s been with me since I
was a teenager. I did not know what his story was until later. But others have
started with an idea and bloomed as the characters came to join in the fun.
Is there anything
else that you would like to add?
Thank you for this chance to share with my fans and new
readers, Ashley. I appreciate your thoughtful questions and your enthusiasm for
Brie. ~Red
I just want to say thank you so much for taking the time to
answer these for my readers and I. I look forward to seeing more work from you
in the future.
Brie Learns the Art of Submission By Red Phoenix (review)
|
Now
this book grabbed my heart, chained it to a four post bed, and left me with
wanting more. So what did I do? You got it I got the next book. Not realizing
that Red Phoenix had made the parts into a full length book I bought the next
four before I realized it. Once I got the full book I started right from the
beginning again.
So Brie
Learns the Art of Submission struck my attention just by the cover. Yes, Yes I
know DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER!!!!! But hey what can I say I did and it
turned out amazing. I mean look at that cover, it is beautiful. Whoever did the
cover art on this one gets a 5 Star rating on cover art. I give the rest of the
book and the second book Brie Embraces the Art of Submission a 5 star as well.
Brie is a sweet young girl just
trying to make it in the film industry, but instead ended up working in a small
tobacco shop selling cigarettes. On an ordinary day Brie gets a customer that
is just a little peculiar. He asks for a high dollar brand of smokes knowing
they did not carry them when his partner asks for another brand that she does
have he pays with $100.00 bill. Brie is sorry to have to tell him she does not
have the change for it and he says “I don’t need any change” and leaves. When
Brie picks up the bill she sees he has left a business card. She stuffs it in
her pocket in case he comes for it again. Once home she decides to look into
the business and is appalled by what she sees. However curiosity gets the
better half of her and she looks into it again. It is a school and she ends up
after two weeks of pondering about it applies and gets accepted. Now this is no
ordinary school we are talking about. It is a school on how to be a submissive
and it is a six week course. What is she getting herself into?
Now it
goes pretty fast from here and it’s like wow. This book is hot! I could see
each scene play out as if I was sitting there watching it. Have you ever herd
the saying “men watch porn, Women read porn” well I say this is right there but
besides it being pleasurable it was also informative. If this is how a
submissive should act and you have been thinking about that type of life style
I think you should read this. I also think that maybe there should be a
training center somewhere. I am not sure if there is or not but if not there so
should be.
The
ending had me crying at the graduation but I knew Sir could not stand her up
like that. And of course it was leaving me hanging and I went on to buy the
next few books in the series but had to stop because there was too many. But
yes I did end up buying the next series because Red compiled it into one book
and I caught it on sale for only $0.99. Now there are two other books to this
whole series that are in POV and they are short but oh so good.
I will be doing another
review on the second series as well as the two short ones. Also look out for
the Q&A with Red Phoenix!
Thursday, December 12, 2013
The Perfect Day By Gunnar Angle Lawence ( Author Interview)
Ok everyone here is the third Author interview for Ashley's Addictive book blog. I am proud to welcome this week Gunnar Angle Lawrence. Gunnar is a ghost writer and the Author of Fair Play and The Perfect Day. Gunnar has spent the last Two years writing and working on The Perfect Day and it was due to be released on December 31, 2013 BUT.... Because of the holidays and all major eBook sites offices are going to be closed they decided to release the book early. The Perfect Day is now available for purchase at all E-book sites such as Amazon, Barns& Noble, Smashwords, Kobo, Apple and many more I do believe. So with out further babbling I am pleased to announce the Interview with Gunnar Angle Lawrence, Author of The Perfect Day.
Can you start off by telling us a little about you?
When and why did you
begin writing?
When did you first
consider yourself a writer?
What inspired you to write a book on terrorist?
How did you come up
with the title?
The Perfect Day is the phrase that kept appearing on those
documents.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Is there a message in
your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Now I love music just as much as reading, I normally listen
to music while I am reading. Do you think that your characters have theme songs?
What would they be?
Are there any new
authors that have grasped your interest?
Do you recall how
your interest in writing originated?
I just want to say thank you so much for taking the time to
answer these for my readers and I. I look forward to seeing more work from you
in the future.
I am Central Florida raised, a product of generations of
ethnic blending and Southern hospitality. I live in Saint Cloud, Florida with
my two dogs after several years of living in the Florida Keys on a houseboat in
Big Pine Key. I was a ghostwriter for a while, ghostwriters get paid for their
writing in advance whether it sells or not, and I was fine with that until I
saw two of the hundreds that I wrote had gotten into the top ten of their
genre. I decided to write some with my own name on them and published Fair Play
a little over two years ago.
Can you tell us your latest news?
I have a new ghostwriting assignment, whether it becomes a
best seller or not, I get paid, so I will be working on that for a little
while. When I am done with that, I will start doing research on my third
thriller, The Consortium, the follow up to The Perfect Day.
I have been writing since I was in third grade. I loved to
read! I was reading before I went to kindergarten. I read during PE in Junior
High, wrote poems to cute girls (them promptly threw them away) and always did
it as sort of a hobby. I got a ‘job’ a few years ago when someone paid me to
write something for them, and I fell into ghostwriting.
I suppose it happened in steps. The first time I saw my name
on an online article at AOL Travel. The first time I had an ebook with my name
on it available for purchase on Amazon, that was a different kind of ‘writer’.
And then when I was able to hold a paperback copy of ‘Fair Play’, to open the
pages and read words I had struggled to put together. It is in the words of
Michelangelo, “Totally awesome, dude!”. (The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle that
is, I don’t know any quotes of the artist.)
What inspired you to
write your first book?
Seeing a book I wrote at #3 on a best seller list, but
without my name on it.
This kind of answers this question and the one below as
well. After the attack on 9/11 and the war in Iraq, there was a cache of
weapons and documents found in a small city outside of Baghdad. In that raid
conducted by US Military they confiscated these documents and brought them back
for analysis. They consisted of actual blueprints of schools in the United
States, elementary schools, junior high schools and high schools. In fact, they
found an entire building within a training camp that had been built along the
specifications of those blueprints. It was set up to resemble an American
public school, but it was located in the middle of an Al Qaeda training camp.
The phrase kept appearing on these documents over and over
and referenced a plan in place by Islamic radicals who were already in the
States to rise up on one day and attack, in multiple states, at multiple
targets. None of this was really made public until after the attack on the
school in Beslan in 2004, and then it was only leaked because no one else dared
say anything about it.
I write it the way I would see it happening on a television
show, or movie. There are many points of view, sometimes with the bad guy, at
times with one or more of the good guys. When you see a fast paced movie there
is a lot going on in different places with different characters. I try to ‘see’
it, then ‘write’.
Mostly I write to
entertain. To create a kind of escape for a few hours or a weekend. If there is
one message from this novel I want people to grasp, it is that hate is
irrational. Whether it is hatred of someone because they aren’t the same color
as you are (as with the despicable white supremacist characters) or because
they are not of the particular branch of your particular religious persuasion.
You cannot reason with that level of hatred, but something even more dangerous
than trying to reason with people who hate that much is staying silent about
the atrocities they commit for fear of offending them. The longer the silence
continues, the more pervasive the behavior becomes.
How much of the book is realistic?
The entire book is based on a real, documented attack plan
of Al Qaeda. The attack on Beslan was real and hundreds of children, teachers
and parents were gunned down. The bit about the little girl crossing into the
country of Turkey where the border guard stamped the passport of her stuffed
unicorn, yep that happened. I try to incorporate as much reality as possible
into the storyline.
Well, that’s something I’ve never been asked before. Okay,
Detective Paul Friedman I suppose his theme song would be, “Desperado” by the
Eagles. Monica Quinn is the Certified Fraud Examiner Accountant single mom so
hers would probably be “Miss Independent” by Kelly Clarkson. Jerome Eisman, the
intrepid reporter would probably be “Every Step You Take” by the Police. And
Ali the Sand Viper would have to be a “Cold Hearted Snake” by Paula Abdul.
Are experiences based
on someone you know, or events in your own life?
All the characters are based on people I know, respect and
some people that I don’t like all that much. Events in my life, not so much.
What books have most
influenced your life most?
For humor, probably Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. For
drama/intensity, the Steven James’ Patrick Bowers series.
If you had to choose,
which writer would you consider a mentor?
I like the style of JJ Abrams in writing plot and action,
Jerry Bruckheimer for the quirky twists he puts in the story. For books, Steven
James, author of the Patrick Bowers novels is fantastic.
What book are you
reading now?
The King by Steven James
Easy, Rue Volley for her steamy erotica novels. CJ West for
the realistic thriller novels. Not really new, but new to me.
What are your current
projects?
I will be completing
the ghostwriting project before the end of the year and then will be working on
the third book in the Paul Friedman series entitled ‘The Consortium’.
Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of
family members.
One? Facebook. Lots of authors going through some of the
same struggles I am facing. We chat, laugh and cry together.
Do you see writing as
a career?
It would be my dream.
If you had to do it
all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Not really, I’ve been working on this one since Fair Play
was done. A LOT changed from first concept to what it is now.
By reading. By imagining myself as one of the Hardy Boys or
Tom Swift. (Yes, I’m old.) So I started re-imagining the stories I was reading
and would write it the way I would want to read it.
Can you share a
little of your current work with us?
The Consortium is going to encompass a lot. The primary
focus is that of a corrupt government official who has her hands in a lot of
wrong doing. It’s going to touch on a subject that is important to get ‘out
there’ and that is the subject of human trafficking. And yes, it is happening
within the United States as well.
Is there anything you
find particularly challenging in your writing?
Empathizing with the scuzzy characters. You kind of have to
do that if you are going to write the part of the villain. You’ve got to understand
why he or she does what he does, even if he or she is absolutely evil.
Who are your three
favorite authors and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
Steven James – His pacing is fantastic. A thrill a minute.
Clive Barker – For supernatural horror, Clive is absolutely
terrifying with his imaginative characters.
Agatha Christie – For her twists, turns and surprises. (Yes,
I’m old.)
Sometimes. Most of the areas that I write about are places
I’ve lived or visited. Orlando is as much a character in these books as Paul or
Jerome. The whole city has a feel to it that you just can’t understand until
you’ve lived here.
Who designed the
covers?
I did. I am poor and can’t afford to pay someone for that.
What was the hardest
part of writing your book?
The scheduling of all the events that occur in the last
section of the book. The methodical planning and timing was important to get
right. A lot is going on and I wanted it all to mesh in a real time type
atmosphere like a 24 episode.
Did you learn
anything from writing your book and what was it?
I did a lot of research into the facts of The Perfect Day
and the massacre at Beslan. I learned a lot about areas of Orlando I never
bothered visiting before when I went on field trips to see those locations.
Do you have any
advice for other writers?
Keep writing. Network with other writers because you aren’t
alone. And do it BEFORE your book is written.
Do you have anything
specific that you want to say to your readers?
Thanks for all the support and the wonderful reviews you
left for Fair Play!
Which comes first? The character's story, or, the idea for
the novel?
The idea comes first, then I throw the character into the
story and see how they react.
What advice do you
have for someone who would like to become a published writer?
Do what you love. If you have a manuscript you think is
fantastic and have sent it around the world and back to no avail, try self-publishing.
Indies are a tight knit and supportive but welcoming community of writers.
Is there anything else that you would like to add?
A thanks to all the dedicated bloggers who spend their
precious spare time reading indie work and blogging about it. They help us all
a great deal.
Well there you have it, Gunnar Angle Lawrence I hope you enjoyed reading this and don't forget to stop by every day and enter the contest to win a free copy of The Perfect Day or a signed copy of Fair Play. Also come back tomorrow for more of Gunnar Angle Lawrence. I will be posting the review for The Perfect Day!!!!!
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
The Perfect Day
Ok everyone so the release date for The Perfect Day was suppose to be on December 31 2013 however the date has been pushed up to NOW!!!!! So I am going to be posting the review to it in a few short hours along with author bio and interview keep an eye out
Monday, December 9, 2013
I googled it, Sir
Hey everyone look at the awesome art work! This has to be the best quote in the whole book but you will just have to wait till Friday for the review!!!! Such a tease, Right??? Have a Happy Monday!!!
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Q&A By Author Glenn Kaplan of Poison Pill
Can you start off by telling us a little about you?
I am a Maine boy transplanted to
New York City many years ago. I have a
wonderful wife of almost 30 years. We
have a wonderful son who will turn 23 at Christmas. He has severe autism, but he lives a rich,
happy life at a miraculous place called The Center for Discovery in upstate New
York. Everything else is a minor detail.
Can you tell us your
latest news?
I am doing a Q & A for
Ashley’s blog. How ‘bout that? Pretty exciting!
When and why did you
begin writing?
I was a copywriter in the
advertising agency business. Ads were
fun and profitable to write. But as a
reader, I always felt that writing a book would be an amazing lifetime
accomplishment.
When did you first
consider yourself a writer?
When my first book, The Big Time, was published. It was non-fiction business and based on
interviews with 350 people around the country (BTW I got to appear on The Merv
Griffin Show alongside a then-unknown comedian named Jerry Seinfeld).
What inspired you to
write your first book?
A friend in the marketing end of a
publishing house said, “Hey, you could write a book and get it published!” I said, “Really?” I couldn’t believe it, but he encouraged
me. It started like that.
Do you have a
specific writing style?
I would hope that “clear” and “fun
to read” define it.
How did you come up
with the title?
I know the lawyer who invented the
poison pill. I also knew that corporate
take-overs are very dramatic. The rest
sort of followed as I thought about what you could do with the title and the
situation.
Is there a message in
your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Human values are worth more than
monetary values. But this is definitely NOT
a “message” book. It’s entertainment.
How much of the book
is realistic?
All of it IMO. That’s something I worked hard to do. I worked, probably too hard, to make sure
that everything that happened really could and would happen under the
circumstances I created.
Are experiences based
on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Yes, some. No, I can’t say which ones.
What books have most
influenced your life most?
Too many wonderful books even to
begin to start a list. The point is that
books influence readers at all stages of life.
And if readers grow with time, books will never cease to be a source of
enrichment and an influence on their lives.
If you had to choose,
which writer would you consider a mentor?
Raymond Chandler, even though my
writing and my books are nothing like his.
The power of his words and his ability to evoke so much with so few of
them never ceases to inspire me.
What book are you
reading now?
I just reviewed Olen Steinhauer’s
forthcoming novel, The Cairo Affair,
for a Publishers Weekly Signature Review (spoiler alert: I really like it).
Name one entity that
you feel supported you outside of family members.
Friends. Friends are often better than family.
Do you see writing as
a career?
Not yet. My first book’s advance supported me for the
18 months it took to do the research and writing. But my three novels could never pay the rent
and put food on the table.
If you had to do it
all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
OMG, don’t even start me on
that. And I know I am not alone in
this. Once it’s too late to change a
book, every writer sees a million things he could have, should have done
differently. The French have a term for
it -- L’esprit de l’escalier. It means “stairway wit” and it’s what you
think of after you have walked away and are heading down the stairs. Too late!
Do you recall how
your interest in writing originated?
In school, I was no good at math,
but I loved reading and had a big mouth.
So writing, spilling out my own river of words, came as a natural
consequence.
Can you share a
little of your current work with us?
I’m thinking of a novel set in the
art world. My agent thinks it’s a
terrible idea but he’s willing to let me try a draft.
Is there anything you
find particularly challenging in your writing?
Not second-guessing myself and not
being so self-critical that it becomes hard to keep moving forward.
Who are your three
favorite authors and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
John Le Carré: his ability to
write deep character studies in the context of thrilling stories.
Raymond Chandler: for the sheer magic of his words.
Barbara Kingsolver: for The
Poisonwood Bible, a towering epic of a novel. One of those amazing stories that is
literally about everything.
Who designed the
covers?
Eric at Tor. See the Acknowledgements page, please.
What was the hardest
part of writing your book?
Seeing through the fog of
uncertainty to discover what was going to happen next.
Did you learn
anything from writing your book and what was it?
I have to be more forgiving of
myself, not seek perfection in every page, and keep moving.
Do you have any
advice for other writers?
Don’t be too hard on
yourself. Keep the manuscript moving
forward. You can (and will!) go back for
re-writes. Just get the thing down in
first draft form. You can (and will have
to) fix it later.
Do you have anything
specific that you want to say to your readers?
At the moment, I said everything I
wanted to say in Poison Pill.
Which comes first? The character's story, or, the idea for
the novel?
For me, the idea for the
novel. And that may not be the optimal
approach, but it’s how I operate.
What advice do you
have for someone who would like to become a published writer?
Be prepared for more rejections
than you can imagine. Absolutely every
writer has had to endure them.
Ashley Haines
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