******AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT****** Melody Dawn

Author Spotlight

Featured Author: Melody Dawn

Hosted By: Ashley's Addictive Book Promotions & Blog 

August 25th 2015 

Author Bio

Melody Dawn is a contemporary romance author residing in Texas. She started reading romance novels when she was a teenager and became addicted to Happily Ever After’s. She got her own HEA when she met her soulmate 20 years ago and they have been together ever since.  They have two furbabies who think they are Kings of the Castle and require a ton of attention. When she is not reading or writing, she loves to refurbish old furniture into new pieces, scrapbook, and most of all spend time with her main guy. 

Bonus Scene 

To Live Again by Melody Dawn

Bonus Scene

            Getting back from Chipotle’s with Jayson, I go into my room and lie down on the bed. I’m not sure what to think of him. Of course, he’s gorgeous and seems interested in me, but for how long and why? I think it’s probably best that we just stay study partners. This way when his attention moves elsewhere, I’m not the even more broken girl in the corner. With my mind made up, I drift off to sleep.

            I’m dreaming a really awesome dream about Jayson without a shirt until I’m rudely awakened by my dear best friend jumping on my bed. “Hey chick, wake up! So, what happened with you and that beautiful hunk of man after you left?” I roll my eyes and say, “Uh, nothing! He took me back to campus; we both had more classes. Why? Where did you go with his twin?”

            She blushes and I lean towards her. “Why do you smell like him?” She has this look in her eye and I have a feeling I know what happened. But, all she says is he gave her a hug. Yeah, I bet he did…like an after sex hug that says “Let’s do this again.” I saw the two of them eye-fucking each other while we were all having lunch. I almost say something about him being a player, but I just keep my mouth shut. Madison and I do not have the same ideas towards casual sex so it wouldn’t do me any good to say anything. If that is what she wants with Connor Reece, then who am I to say anything; I just hope he doesn’t hurt her. Wow, first Jayson and now Connor; I evidently do not have a huge respect for the male gender.

            Lying down next to me, she insists I tell her everything about how Jayson and I met. When I get to the part about him being in my desk, she starts laughing like a crazy person. “Oh my god, did you really go up and tell him to move,” she gasps out. I give her a punch in the shoulder and say, “Yes! You know how I like to sit in the same seat in every class.” Laughing even harder, she says, “If he still wanted to take you to lunch after learning about your insane tendencies, you need to grab him and hold on!”

            “Oh what the hell ever,” I say heatedly! But, not really meaning it. We love to tease each other and she thinks my somewhat OCD brain is hilarious. I tell her that I think he is interested, but I’m not going to let it go anywhere. Her mouth drops open and with big eyes, she says, “Why? That guy is really into you. Even Connor says so.” I feel a little glimmer of hope in my stomach, but I bury it and say, “Because I just know how it will be and I don’t need to be heartbroken on top of everything else.”

            Madison is quiet for a few moments and she finally says, “You are going to wish that you didn’t let this opportunity pass you by. You don’t have to marry him, but what is wrong with being with someone who obviously likes you for however long it lasts?” I can’t explain it to her, I just know that he will break me. And I’m already broken beyond repair. Besides, a guy like him, needs someone who is living and not just existing.

            Seeing that she isn’t going to get anything else out of me, Madison sits up and hugs me; then says she has to go and study. I tease her and say she is going to be daydreaming about Connor instead of studying, and she just blushes with no answer. As she walks out the door without saying her usual sexual insinuations, I wonder if maybe she really likes this guy. I lie there a little while longer thinking about Jayson. I may not let things go anywhere with him, but here in my room, he is mine. I can think about him and what we could have been. It might sound sad, but in my mind, it gives me hope that maybe one day, I will have what I am imagining. Of course, it won’t be with him, but maybe someone else who isn’t quite so dangerous to my heart and soul. 

Play List 

https://open.spotify.com/user/melodyslove4books/playlist/3ya59vslvbphEJ0RLdHdLf

DreamCast

Book characters:

Jayson Reece/Connor Reece-identical twins

Chloe Schaeffer-girlfriend to Jayson

Madison McKinley –girlfriend to Connor

Alyssa-former friends with benefits w/Jayson

Dr. Phillip Reece-Jayson & Connor’s dad

Ava Reece-Jayson & Connor’s mom

Jayson Reece (Rich Manley)

Chloe Schaeffer (Lucy Hale)

Connor Reece (Rich Manley)                    Madison McKinley (Julianne                                                                                                                    Hough)

 Ava Reece (Courtney 

          Cox)

                         Dr. Phillip Reece 

(Matthew McConaughey) 

Alyssa Johnson (Ashley Tisdale)

Author Interview 

Melody Dawn 

 Can you tell us your latest news?

The latest news is that this is going to turn into a series. I always only intended to write one book, but Jayson, the H in my story, has a twin brother; and he is getting his own book. His character developed in a much bigger way than I expected.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I never intended to actually become a writer. I had a story in my head for several years that I thought might make a good book, but I never really believed it would happen. As far as considering myself a writer, I’m still not sure that I do.

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?

Definitely! For Chloe, the main female character, it would be Invincible by Kelly Clarkson, Jayson, the main male character, it would be All of Me by John Legend, Connor (Jayson’s twin)-Forever Night Stand by Rayen Belchere, and Madison (Chloe’s best friend) would be Heartbeat Song by Kelly Clarkson

“Are the experiences fact based or from your imagination?”

Possibly some things in the story may be true…obviously, Chloe’s tragedy isn’t real, but some other things yes, just not saying which J

Which comes first? The character's story, or, the idea for the novel?

I think each writing project varies. For To Live Again, it was the story that came first, but for the second book, it was definitely the character. There is possibly a third book and the character and the story both kind of hit me at the same time.

Connect With Melody Dawn 

Author page-www.facebook.com/melodydawnauthor

Personal Facebook page-https://www.facebook.com/authorandreviewer.melodydawn

Newsletter subscription: http://facebook.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=5e088801cf07237f5ba6157c8&id=519cfdb723

Goodreads link (for the book)-https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26066422-to-live-again

And if your looking for a new street team to join Melody Dawn is accepting New members! 

Click the link below 

Melody’s Hot Chicks (Street team)- https://www.facebook.com/groups/melodyshotchicks/

This is a Melody Dawn Event 

This spotlight was hosted by 

The Girl In White Pajamas Blog tour

The Girl in White Pajamas 

By Chris Birdy

Tour Hosted By Ashley's Addictive Book Promotions

Blog Tour August 18th -29th 

Bogie McGruder, a private investigator and Florida real estate investor, learns that his cop brother is gunned down on the streets of Boston. When Bogie and his teenage daughter return to Boston for the funeral. he finds his family reeling out of control, fueled by alcohol and mired in scandals.

While home for his brother's services, Bogie is contacted by his old flame, a young Boston attorney named Bailey Hampfield, who is seeking protection from a dangerous and unknown stalker. Bailey also has yet to tell Bogie that he is the father of her three year old daughter.

What begins as a short condolence trip to Boston for Bogie, soon turns into a deepening investigation into a twisted tale of murder, deceit and family lies.

Witty and dark, The Girl In White Pajamas is an entertaining read, filled with gritty characters and broken morals.

She looked up, took in a quick breath and gasped before she said, “God dammit, Bud!  What do you want from me!?”  She yelled over the wind not expecting an answer to her question.  Bailey shouted, “Stop stalking me!”

“I want you to give me a chance.  Don’t want you to do anything...”  Bud stopped speaking.  His heart raced, and his eyes opened wide as he heard a familiar metallic click behind him.  As the trigger was engaged, he dived toward her, knocking Bailey to the ground.  The bullet entered the back of his head and exited the front, taking brain and bone fragments with it.  Bailey lay motionless where she had fallen with Bud’s body slumped on top of hers.

“That’s the beauty of the ‘Bogie Man’.  He decides when your time is up, and you’re gone, history.”

For almost twenty-five years, I did investigative work for small law firms conducting business in rough housing projects and crack house neighborhoods. I met with clients in every jail in the area even the now defunct Charles Street Jail and Deer Island House of Corrections. On good days, I got to take the .25 caliber handgun out of my pocket and the 9mm out of my purse and go to court. Then the real show began!
Several years ago, while sitting in a courtroom with a client, I watched as a police officer was lambasted by an attorney. The attorney was defending a young woman who crashed her car into two other vehicles before she passed out drunk behind the wheel. The occupants of the other cars were seriously hurt and the cop, a former EMT, tried to assist the injured while waiting for ambulances to arrive. The attorney questioned the cop's every move, shredded his testimony and made him seem inept.
Embarrassed, the cop returned to his seat beside me and muttered, "Everybody lies. The judges lie, the lawyers lie, the witnesses lie.." I wanted to tell him not to worry that in about five years he'd be just as good a liar as they were.
The seeds for The Girl in White Pajamas were planted in that courtroom.

Social Media Links:

Email:    chrisbirdy9@gmail.com

Website:  http://www.chrisbirdy.com

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/CHRISBIRDY1

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/CHRIS-BIRDY/143255175852695

Book Links 

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Girl-White-Pajamas-Chris-Birdy/dp/1481871986/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-girl-in-white-pajamas-chris-birdy/1115417678?ean=9781481871983

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17994253-the-girl-in-white-pajamas

Alibris:  http://www.alibris.com/booksearch?browse=0&keyword=the+girl+in+white+pajamas&mtype=B&hs.x=0&hs.y=0&hs=Submit

What would I like to tell people.  I lived in the areas I write about and have witnessed and/or survived most of the things I write about. 

Latest news..  The second book in the series, The Girl in Black Pajamas is coming out in the fall. 

First bitten by writing bug?  I’ve always written in one form or another.  Easily bored, I drew pictures or wrote letters to imaginary friends when I was a student.

When did you consider yourself a writer?  I believe I’ve always considered myself a writer.  That is my way of expressing myself and helped me make a living.  Although my primary job was investigations, I also assisted attorneys in writing settlement briefs from the raw data.  That was fiction writing at its finest.

What inspired you to write your first book?  A few years ago, while sitting in a courtroom with a client, I watched as a police officer was lambasted by an attorney.  The attorney was defending a woman who crashed her car into two other vehicles before she passed out drunk at the wheel.  The other drivers were seriously hurt and the cop, a former EMT, tried to assist the injured while waiting for ambulances to arrive.  The attorney questioned the cop’s every move, shredded his testimony and made him seem inept.

Embarrassed, the cop returned to his seat beside me and muttered, “Everybody lies.  The judges lie, the lawyers lie, the witnesses lie...”  I wanted to tell him not to worry that in about five years he’d be just as good a liar as they were.

That day I realized that many of those who are entrusted with upholding and enforcing the law have the least regard for it.  The seeds for the “The Girl in White Pajamas” were planted in that courtroom.

Specific writing style:  I write like I speak, profanity, vulgarity and all.  That’s me.

The title grew from the story.  It started as a love story wrapped up in a murder mystery, but the child’s role became pivotal and she became the object of the story.

What do you want readers to get out of your novels?  I want them to be entertained.  When I read a book, I want to be entertained and feel that I’ve had a positive experience.  I have no secret message or platform other than the belief that people are what they are – take them or leave them but don’t try to change them.

Is the book mostly fantasy?  NO!  Sadly most of the things I write about have happened.

Music:  Bogie’s old school and macho.  He like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Michael Buble.  Bailey’s father was a country/western singer to she likes country music, being a Francophile she also listens to French music.

The experiences in my writing are definitely fact based.

What books influenced your life the most?  Gone with the Wind, Angela’s Ashes and, strangely, Forever Amber, which I read when I was ten years old.

Authors with the most influence:  John Sandford, Joseph Wambaugh, Susan Isaacs

What book are you reading now?  Just started Concealed in Death, the J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) futuristic detective stories.  I think I’ve read all of them.

Have any authors interested you by their writing style…

Frank McCort.  He told a tragic story in Angela’s Ashes with hope and humor.  He even threw in some verses and songs.

What are your current projects?  Working on the edits on the second book while going through the first draft of the third novel. 

Do you see writing as a career?  I do now.  I believe that all my previous jobs were done to get life experiences.  At times, when I was in a dangerous situation, I’d think to myself, “This is going to make one hell of a story!”

Change anything in your latest book.  No, I don’t think so.

Current work:  In the second book one of Bogie’s employees in his Boston security firm is shot in the back and a hacker is trying to break through his computer network.  Meanwhile, in Florida, deputy sheriffs are making porn movies and selling them on the internet.

Three favorite authors:  John Sandford, Michael Connelly and Joseph Wambaugh.

The covers:  The cover for the first book was designed by Erica Baert – she’s a graphic artist.  I told her what I wanted and provided her with snapshots of my granddaughter at three years old.  Yes, my granddaughter was the model for Isabella.

I don’t find writing a book hard.  I have a vague outline in my head when I begin and then start writing.  I’m amazed how a story turns out when it’s finally over.  Because I’m a newbie in the publishing world, I don’t have the pressure of contracts and deadlines.  The book is ready when I’m comfortable with it.

What did I learn from writing the book?  I learned more after I wrote the book and that is that there’s no silver bullet or fast track to the top.  There’s a lot of steady, hard work and marketing to get noticed.  And that’s a job in itself.

Advice to other writers?  Unless you love what you do and feel compelled and driven, stop!  Writing is not a group activity.  It’s a solitary business that allows you sit and wonder why the hell you chose this path.

Which comes first – For me it’s the characters and then how they react to different situations?

Published writer:  Advice:  Unless you’re a celebrity, don’t sit around and wait for an agent or publisher to notice you.  If you think your work is good, self-publish.  You’ll learn the business by the seat of your pants the others before you have.

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Until The Stars Fall Blog Tour

Jeff finally has his life back on track after deferring his dreams so he could be there for his family when they were stuck with a health crisis. As a lifeguard and a law student, he is solely focused on graduating at the top of his class and passing the bar exam so that he can help his mom and little sister.

In a blink of an eye, all of that changes when a beautiful redhead rescues a little boy right under Jeff’s nose while he’s lifeguarding and challenges everything he thought he wanted from the world. Kiera, a former swimmer turned social worker is distraction he never expected to encounter. She is smart, outgoing, witty, and vivacious and he is drawn to her more than he could have ever imagined. Unfortunately however, both Jeff and Kiera come with strings attached. . .

I became a writer so that I could write stories where love matters and differences don't. I have been lucky enough to live my own version of a romance novel. I married the guy who kissed me at summer camp. He told me on the night we met that he was going to marry me and be the father of my children. Eventually I stopped giggling when he said it, and we just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. We have two children. The oldest, is in medical school, and the youngest is still in elementary school. Presently, I'm a stay at home mom and I am pro bono legal counsel for a domestic violence shelter. However, I have also worked as a Civil Rights Attorney and diversity advocate. I spent several years working for various social service agencies before becoming an attorney.

In my spare time, I love to cook, decorate cakes and, of course, obsessively compulsively read.

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One Hot Second Blog tour

Parker Radclyffe is up against a wall. Thorne Mansion, the mysterious Italianate castle she's come to Texas to restore, isn't the problem. No matter how intriguing the relic is, it's merely an ember compared to the blazing magnetism of its owner, Chandler Thorne. When his family mansion burned down, Chandler had to watch over a hundred years of proud history go up in smoke. After more than a year, he finally has everything in place to rebuild, including a renowned conservation architect to oversee the restoration. But when he lays eyes on Parker he realizes he's gotten more than he paid for. Maybe more than he can handle. Parker is a military brat who never sits still long enough to get burned. Chandler is her opposite, a man with deep roots and deeper family secrets. It won't be easy to find the common ground it takes to build a home together, but Chandler is a Thorne in every sense. He plans to stick with Parker until she sees that love is more than worth the risk. 64,000 words

A competitive figure skater from the age of eight, Stacy Gail began writing stories in between events to pass the time. By the age of fourteen, she told her parents she was either going to be a figure skating coach who was also a published romance writer, or a romance writer who was also a skating pro. Now with a day job of playing on the ice with her students, and writing everything from steampunk to cyberpunk, contemporary to paranormal at night, both dreams have come true.

The electronic bleep of a cell phone cut him off. There was no force on earth that could stop him from enjoying the view when she rolled to the foot of the bed, ass up, to dig through her discarded jeans.

“Sorry about this,” she muttered, glancing back at him as she pulled the phone out. “But that’s my assistant’s ringtone, and I’ve been waiting for a call about my next project.”

The full throttle on his pulse collapsed like he’d suffered a power outage. Next project. Fuck. “You don’t say.”

“Yeah. I had a choice between Bitterthorn and the Loire Valley, and crazy hairpin that I am, I chose Bitterthorn in the middle of summer. But the people who own the French property decided they were willing to wait for me to finish up here. Or at least they were,” she added darkly and hit the proper button decisively. “Hiya, Sharon.”

Since she didn’t seem to have a need for privacy, Chandler folded his arms behind his head and listened to her half of the conversation. As he did, the irritation known as reality wormed its way into the room. He hated it with everything in him. Of course he knew their time in the Nooner’s Honeymoon Suite wasn’t going to last forever, but it would have been nice if they could have had at least a couple hours of uninterrupted time. His face tightened into a scowl as he absently studied how the thick fall of her hair parted on either side of her delicate-looking nape. They’d made a ton of progress today with the discovery of the cornerstone. Which was great. Out-fucking-standing. Except the inner him threw one pisser of a tantrum at the memory of Parker proclaiming the Throne Mansion project was in the bag. It wasn’t in the bag. All they had at the moment was an empty slab where a great building used to be. She wasn’t done with this project, not by a long shot. Not even if, by some miracle, she did locate the original blueprints that this Junker guy produced back in the day. He’d brought Parker to South Texas for six weeks of work, and by damn that was what she was going to give him. Even if the majority of that time was spent on her back as he made her scream his name..

All she needed was some incentive to stay for the fully allotted time.

To distract himself from his growing irritation, Chandler found himself looking through the complimentary basket on the table. He had to give old Earl Herff credit. The man really knew what he was doing when it came to supplying the Honeymoon Suite with everything an eager newlywed couple could possibly want. Condoms of all colors and sizes, flavored lubes, body glitter. He paused at a His-and-Her gel packet he didn’t immediately recognize, and blinked when he read the description and supposed effects.

Well, well, well.

“Sharon. I know it’s a lot of money.” There was a hint of impatience in Parker’s tone as she came to sit on the side of the bed, her back to him. More curious than anything, he opened the packet, took an experimental sniff, then decided to see if he could feel anything by smearing a sample on the crown of his penis, semi-hard thanks to Parker’s interrupted attention. Historically, sex enhancers were nothing more than fancy snake oil sold to a gullible public, but what the hell. It was here, and at the very least it might be fun for them to…

Hello.......

Alix Freihage as Parker Radclyffe

 Tobias Cameroon as Chandler

NEWSLETTER | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | INSTAGRAM

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