I’m not a perfectionist. Little mistakes don’t bother me. But when it comes to my writing, I take pride in what I do and I want what I put out there to be not just decent, but good. I rewrote Untethered at least eighteen times. Literally. And I’m talking full-on, rip-it-up and make do with the shreds kind of rewriting, not moving sentences around. What started as a five page story ended up (20 years later) to be a 340 page novel. That novel went through so many critiquing sessions and beta readers that I was sure it would be perfection by the time it was published.
Ha. Not quite.
Writing is art, and like all art there is a point where the person creating the work just has to stop. She just has to tell herself that particular piece…
Today’s historical romance feature is The Finishing of Lady Amelia (Book 3 in The Sisters of the Heart Series) by Scarlett Rains. Thanks so much for stopping by to learn more about Scarlett and her wonderful books. Join Scarlett’s Book Blast Tour & don’t forget to enter her fun and fantastic Valentine’s Day Giveaway. Happy reading! —Bette A. Stevens
Lady Amelia Fitzailwyn knows everything about everything. She certainly does not require Finishing School. If John and Alex had not tattled on her, she would still be home! It was fine for them to chase every skirt in the Kingdom but she has one kiss …or two, and Uncle carts her off!
Day one of her banishment at Madame de Rigeur’s Young Ladies Finishing Academie is dismal. Her roommate is insular, Clarissa is cruel…and that spotty girl’s rash is probably contagious! Then, she meets Monsieur Pelfrie, the handsomest man she has ever seen, and Amelia decides it might just be possible to endure the two long years away .
Enjoy this delightful tale of mischief and mayhem as a sheltered young woman comes of age in Georgian England.
It’s been awhile since I’ve read historical fiction. I always really like it when I read it. This made me want to read more of it. I really enjoyed this. It was a nice break from all the paranormal I’ve been reading lately. This has some really awesome characters with a hilarious storyline set in the 1780s. I think Amelia is the main character but I’m not sure. It flips through different peoples point of views. One thing I liked about Amelia is how she never gave up on love. She wasn’t going to let her friends change her mind. Another thing I liked was how she didn’t hold grudges against people. Even if they were mean she would give them another chance. Lydia had her snotty moments. She was really fun and somewhat nice most of the time. Anne was probably my favorite character. She was cute and sweet. I like Josie too. She seemed like the mature one of the group. Although I don’t agree with the no romance or marriage stuff. One of my favorite parts was the teachers. Those teachers were seriously hilarious.
This has a real contemporary feel. To me it was like historical contemporary fiction. The plot was basically the everyday life of the girls. I like the boarding school setting. I always enjoy books set in boarding schools. My absolute favorite part of the whole book was all the craziness the girls got into. They were always pulling pranks on each other and other girls. I’m gonna steal their ideas. They were seriously some of the best pranks ever. They were hilarious. It was also very realistic. I can totally see people in the 1780s doing some of this stuff. Overall I really enjoyed this. It was very fast paced and difficult to put down. Everything was very well done.
About the author
Scarlett Rains left the womb with pen in hand…which might explain why her mother carted her off to a children’s home at an early age. Not one to let such things distract her from nurturing her creative talent, she lived, learned, laughed and loved her way through what could have been a traumatic childhood.
That little bend in the road, and a battle with breast cancer, could not stop Scarlett from writing. The more emotionally evocative events of her life made her appreciate her shared humanity and the desperate need that most people have to laugh. Scarlett keeps those memories close when she writes. She draws on the personalities of the wonderful people she has been blessed to encounter when she develops her characters, always striving to make her readers laugh so that they may escape their worries for awhile.
Scarlett is a clinician by profession, though she is trying hard to deny that so as to continue writing. We wish her every success. Her books are enjoyed by readers around the world and we would hate to lose such a talented author.
Today’s historical romance feature is Seduction of Bluestocking (second novel in the series) by Scarlett Rains. Tomorrow we’ll be featuring Book 3 in The Sisters of the Heart Series— so be sure to check back and to follow the tour to find out more about these wonderful novels and their fascinating author. If you haven’t joined the GIVEAWAY yet, you can ENTER at the end of this post. Happy reading. —Bette A. Stevens
Jilted and heart-broken, Miss Rachel Steele leaves home to begin a new life as governess, mind made up never again to succumb to a man’s charm. Then William Seaton, old friend of her employer, disturbs her peace: meddling in matters outside his concern. “Good riddance to bad rubbish,” she says when he finally leaves. Soon thereafter, disaster strikes and Rachel accompanies her charge to the estate of her guardian, the Duke of Warwick: who from his letters sounds like a man well in his dotage. Rachel marches in to his study to persuade the doddering old coot to keep her on as governess. Words fail her when she finds that he is not at all old…definitely not doddering, but none other than the irritating, William Seaton!
William Seaton’s life is precisely as he would have it: mistresses all prettily lined up in a row, a cozy chair at Whites molded comfortably to fit his frame: fine port and cheroots a nod away…just perfect! He is anything but charmed to renew Miss Steele’s acquaintance, she is a nuisance he does not want or need, in fact, he’d prefer to hear nothing except farewell from her tightly-pressed lips. Knowing the annoying bluestocking will likely disrupt his well-ordered life, he agrees to retain her for the sake of his ward.
Hence begins a sizzling romantic campaign of Napoleonic proportions which draws the unwelcome attention of a villain from William’s past. Will Rachel and William realize their love for one another before he seeks revenge?
A Personal Message from Scarlett
I am grateful for every instant of my life…good and bad. Each moment was a lesson that moved me in the direction intended for me and made me who I am. I breathe in and say, “Thank you, Lord”; I breathe out and say, “Please, guide and direct me.” And, here I am.
I will never forget the day I rang the radiation bell after my last radiation treatment. This inscription was on the card my treatment team gave me:
“Ring this bell, three times well to celebrate this day.
My course is run, my work is done and I’m on my way.”
If you have been diagnosed with cancer, may God bless you and give you the courage and strength for your battle. When you reach that point where you can accept the reality of your diagnosis, I say face it, take it in and know that you have the strength and courage to conquer it …in your way. You may be surprised at how profoundly you will change.
Today’s historical romance feature is Promises of the Heart (first novel in the series) by Scarlett Rains. We’ll be featuring one of Scarlett’s GIVEAWAY BOOKS each day from January 18-20. But, don’t stop there. Be sure to follow the tour to find out more about these wonderful novels and their fascinating author. You can follow the tour and enter the GIVEAWAY right here. GOOD LUCK & HAPPY READING! —Bette A. Stevens
When Amelia Fitzailwyn, Duchess of Kensington, is orphaned at a very young age, she must leave home and travel to her new guardian’s estate . She embarks on the journey with her beloved governess, Rachel: wishing all the while that her Uncle William would somehow rescue her. To her delight, he does! Uncle William is her new guardian…and he has two sons! Amelia happily settles in to life at Havenwood Manor with her new family.
The Stage is Set!
What are the servants whispering about? Have they noticed all those heated looks between Uncle and Rachel? Amelia sees mysteries everywhere…and would solve them all if her cousins would leave her alone long enough to do her research! She wishes John, the eldest, would keep his nose out of her affairs and poke it back in his theme book, How to be the Most Boring Personage in the Realm. And Alex, the skirt chasing hypocrite, irritates her even more: going on-and-on about her one little rendezvous with Simon.
Time Will Tell!
When it turns out Uncle, is not really her uncle, Amelia begins to see the irksome boys in a new light. In fact, she plans to marry one of them! Will John stop straining his steely grey eyes reading and see her for the woman she is? Or will Alex stop pulling the curl out of her hair long enough to notice the sheen of it as it wraps around his finger? Solve the mystery, dear reader, as you enjoy this delightful tale of a young woman’s coming of age in Georgian England.
Amelia Fitzailwyn is a precocious and incorrigible imp. We meet Amelia when she’s 7 years old in Promises of the Heart by Scarlett Rains. This 18th century tale meanders through time and stories at the usual pace of these stories — slowly, artfully and colorfully! Amelia loves nature’s creatures and enjoys bringing them inside to the complete annoyance of most of the females surrounding her. (Yet, it makes for such funny moments when her little ‘friends’ are found…)
The tale unfolds bit by bit introducing rich characters that are vivid and noble. But in true form, Rains’ characters are also completely over the top! They feel life’s little slights so keenly that it makes them richly flamboyant. We first see this in Amelia’s parents who after years of marriage love each other desperately. Tragedy strikes and Amelia is left bereft of them and the story begins in earnest.
Shortly before the tragedy, Amelia’s parents acquire a governess, Rachel; a Baroness in her own right. We then begin our journey of finding out Rachel’s story and how it intertwines with Amelia’s. You see, everything revolves around Amelia! Amelia’s appointed ward has required that Amelia leave her home and travel across the country to his estate to live henceforth. With abandonment and trust issues now firmly in place, Amelia is terrified and Rachel is barely able to comfort her.
However, the long trip ends successfully and Amelia learns she is to live with a trusted friend of the family along with his young sons who become Amelia’s best friends.
There is so much more mystery and intrigue that happens in between these large events pointed out here but to tell them would ruin the surprise and enjoyment of this story. Promises of the Heart is the perfect story if you want to read about love, the elite and their machinations to enjoy life and get ahead in this much less technological time period.
Promises of the Heart is a lovely first book in the Heart series. Fans of historical fiction &/or historical romance would do well to read it.
About the author:
Scarlett Rains was raised in an orphanage, survived that and breast cancer! She considers all of it a blessing, refuses to let anything stop her; insisting that life is what you make it! Scarlett is a person who will spout optimistic ‘truths’ with her last breath! She is a busy grandma juggling a hectic schedule to try to balance her family’s needs (including her insular cat’s hissy-fits and her demanding dog’s pathetic begging for belly rubs) and still manage a few minutes to write her stories. She often awakens from a sound sleep, jumps up, snatches a cup of coffee and hides in her office behind locked doors typing 18th century romance novels. Scarlett believes escaping her day-to-day responsibilities by living vicariously in the lives of the characters she creates keeps her out of trouble …and saves the cost of psychotherapy services. The author’s delightful Sisters of the Heart Series books are enjoyed by readers around the world. Scarlett loves receiving feedback and ideas from her readers.
Readers and bloggers: Don’t miss out on this giveaway!
SIMPLY ADORE HISTORICAL ROMANCE NOVELS?
Don’t miss out on author Scarlett Rains’s Sisters of the Heartseries GIVEAWAY. There are great giveaway prizes for bloggers and for readers!
I’ll be featuring Scarlett and the three books featured in this fantastic GIVEAWAY right here on my blog January 18-20 (one book each day). You’ll find out more about each novel and get to know author Scarlett Rains, too. Meanwhile, stop by Artemis Books to find out more about this fantastic Book Blast and Valentine’s Day Giveaway at http://artemisbooksblog.blogspot.com/2014/01/artemis-books-is-launching-sisters-of.html
Here’s what one of Scarlett Rains’s readers has to say about the first book in the author’s Sisters of the Heart series:
PULLS YOU IN!
“Promises of the Heart is an eighteenth century tale of a young girl’s coming of age. The first thing I really liked about this book was the lovely graphics reflecting the time period in London, England. The reader is also pulled into the story at once with carefully crafted prose appealing to all five senses. For example: ‘watching the fluffy clouds lazily form shapes that quickly swirled into other shapes in the gentle breeze…a cacophony of sounds bombarded the weary coachman: the hue and cry of merchants and street people rose up above the clopping of the horses hooves in a relentlessly forlorn lament’. Scarlett Rains does a masterful job on style continuity throughout the entire novel. Somewhat like Charles Dickens, but more like the Victoria Holt novels I read profusely at one time in my life, ‘Promises of the Heart’ resonates with cleverly woven intrigue surrounded by authentic characters of the day. Historical novels should inform about the life and times of the era–‘Promises of the Heart’ did not disappoint! The segue to her second novel ‘Seduction of a Bluestocking’ was a perfect cliffhanger, enticing the reader to find out what happens next. Well done, Scarlett Rains! Five Stars!” ~ Nancy Jill Thames
You’ll find Bette’s INDIE books at http://www.Amazon.com/author/betteastevens where you can purchase her print books and get the kindle versions FREE to download to you reader or PC. Happy Reading & Happy Holidays!
This little gem is a marketing must for authors. ~ Bette A. Stevens
“Kathryn has written the How-to-Book for authors of reviews, interviews, blogs, and social media. She has creative ideas for book signings, contests, and author speaking engagements. This is a great marketing outline for me, as I get ready to publish new novels. I highly recommend this book to the new author and anyone needing a quick update on book marketing.” Michelle Renea Anderson, author of Shelby’s Plan
“This is an extremely useful little book… jam packed with tips that will help you market your book. Many of us have sweat blood and tears to write and self-publish a novel, and then wondered how we could get it to sell. This book will really help.” Charlie Bray, author of Open House
Kathryn Elizabeth Jones, author of fiction and her latest non-fiction gem.
Welcome to 4writersandreaders, Kathryn. It’s a pleasure to have you with us today. Your awesome little book is a gem for authors and I’m sure glad I’ve got my copy as a handy reference right on my laptop.
First, tell us a little about yourself. I have been a published writer since 1987. What that means is that I’m fairly old but young at heart. I graduated from college in my 40s, and started a new business (Idea Creations Press) just last year. I guess that also means I am a go-getter and never allow age to stop me from doing anything.
How about your family? I have a husband andthree daughters. One of my daughters and her two children live with us. Yes, she’s divorced, but sometimes life is that much sweeter when you make a needed change. My home is sort of a mix between grandma type fare and children’s toys. It’s difficult to keep the living room clean, but the kids are cute and I love them. My husband and I run Idea Creations Press. I do all of the stuff that has to do with writing and editing and he takes care of the technical stuff like the book’s interior and exterior layout. We make a good team.
How long have you been writing and what type of writing do you normally do? I have been writing for quite a few years (as discussed above) but I didn’t start out writing books. My first endeavor was a short article for a magazine. It took eight long years to just reach that point. After that I continued to work on short projects and published my first book in 2002. My second book wasn’t published until 2012, some ten years later, because I was doing other things—college being one of them. I write fiction and non-fiction and some YA.
Can you give us a brief synopsis of your book? How does an author best get book reviews? What of interviews, blogs and social media? How can a new author expect to be seen while crowding the lane with other authors of his/her genre?
Marketing Your Book on a Budget is tiny for a reason; any author can afford it. But be prepared for the endless information enclosed. You’ll never wonder again about the best ways to speak up about your book, get free advertising, or learn why postcards can help you get the word out faster and easier than any other way.
Plus, once you have downloaded the Kindle version, expect yearly updates for FREE. Just contact us to register via the email at the end of the book. Never be in the dark again when it comes to marketing your book. See what little or no money will really attract!
What prompted you to become a writer? The first time I wrote anything down, hoping to publish it, was when I was pregnant with my first daughter. I was sick, and feeling as if I couldn’t do anything but sit on the couch. That’s when I decided to be a writer.
Do you have a favorite line from the book?
“It’s easy to say you’re going to market your book, far more difficult to actually do it.”
Any writer who reads and applies the ideas within this book will have success. A writer who does more than dream of success, but does something, will have it.
What was the hardest part about writing your marketing book? The hardest part of writing was actually making sure the sites that I chose for the book were still in operation at publication. This is one reason I decided to bring the book out once a year. So many things change, including websites, and I wanted to make sure readers got the most up-to-date information possible.
Do you do anything besides write? Yep. Since I’m a grandmother I do some pretty hefty tending, and of course I love to read. I love working in the flower garden and taking long walks (especially if I’m on vacation and near an ocean).
Need some fresh marketing ideas? Grab your copy of this great little book today!
What’s next for you, Kathryn? I have a follow-up book to Conquering Your Goliaths: A Parable of the Five Stones, called The Feast: A Parable of the Ring, that will be released summer of 2013. My husband and I are growing the business and are looking for a new home big enough to house both the business and our family. Lots of changes!
It has been a pleasure to learn more about you and your books, Kathryn. Thanks so much for sharing insights into your great little marketing gem with us today. ~ Bette A. Stevens
Suzanna Williams, author of SHOCK WAVES, a great new sci-fi action and adventure novel for the young adult audience.
Suzanna Williamsis a ‘perpetually eighteen years old’ YA author who lives in the wet and wild, Welsh borderlands surrounded by ruined medieval castles and Celtic mythology where she looks for UFO’s amongst the stars and imagines that all the people she meets have dark secrets.
Reviewers are calling ‘SHOCK WAVES’…
“AMAZING![!] What can I say? Between the non-stop action, in-depth characters, and all the suspense in the second half I couldn’t put it down. Think the movie ‘Speed’, but with teens and telepathy…” (Juan, Amazon review)
Welcome, Suzanna Williams. It’s wonderful to have you here at 4writersandreaders today. I can’t wait to find out more about you and your writing. To start off, tell us a little bit about yourself.
I was born in Warrington, England but I’ve lived among the rolling hills of the Welsh Borderlands for twenty years. I’ve had many unrelated and generally badly paid jobs including musician, shop assistant, telesales, school lab technician and wedding registrar. None of these have used my degree in psychology in any way.
All of that real-world experience must have given you plenty of ideas for your writing. How about your family?
I have three grownup children and a ‘nearly’ grandson. I’ve been married for —— years and my husband is a CGI (computer generated images) artist. He did the filming and effects for my book trailer while my son and his girlfriend featured on the book cover.
How wonderful, Suzanna, that your family plays such an active role in supporting your writing career. I really enjoyed all three of the book trailers for SHOCK WAVES. Congratulations on winning the http://yougottaread.com/category/video-contest/. Your three SHOCK WAVES videos are all unique—professional, informative and lots of fun. My favorite is “Shock Waves Tour of Shrewsbury.” I know our readers will love it, too.
Come along and join us on the ‘ShockWaves’ Tour of Shrewsbury with author Suzanna Williams…
How long have you been writing and what type of writing do you normally do?
I could read really well before I started school. Writing stories followed close behind.
After leaving school, my writing went on the back-burner until my children became involved in the local amdram (Amateur Dramatics) group. Starting out as rehearsal pianist, I progressed to director/script-writer and was actually commissioned to write a pantomime for another group. Yes, I got paid for that.
I write YA because I still think of myself as being eighteen years old (don’t laugh) and also because I used to read all my kids’ books when they weren’t looking. There are some really awesome, inspiring YA books in print right now.
Can you give us a brief synopsis of your book?
ShockWaves is about a girl who gets kidnapped by an ex-IRA terrorist who is seeking revenge on the policeman that put him in prison, and about the boy who goes to rescue her. It’s made more complicated by the fact that a traumatic experience causes a telepathic link, or shockwave, between them and there are plenty of traumatic experiences for both of them as the story unfolds.
What prompted you to become a writer, Suzanna?
When people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I had a list. There was musician, teacher, school lab technician (I like messing with chemicals lol) and author. Well, I’ve been a musician (that was great) and a piano teacher, too. I’ve even been a lab technician. But really, I wanted to be an author. So when the kids left home, I devoted my free time to writing. Holding real paperback copies of my book was a dream come true.
Do you have a favorite line from SHOCK WAVES?
My favorite quote is when Lee tries to explain to Paige’s friends what ‘parkour’ is.
“It’s parkour,” Lee started to explain. “It’s a proper sport.” He turned and jumped onto the bench. “We move from one place to another taking the shortest route.”
“Why?” asked Sonya.
“It’s a buzz,” said Lee.
Sonya arranged her face into a superior sneer. “You should try shopping,” she told him.
Who is your favorite character and why?
My favorite character is Lee. When I was writing ShockWaves, I imagined him as a teenage Bruce Willis in Die Hard. Lee’s the sort who will walk through the fires of hell for the person he loves…and he’s just a little bit sarcastic in the face of danger. Yep, my kind of guy.
What was the hardest part about writing your book?
I spend a long time plotting my stories. That’s hard.
Then I take a long time writing lots of back story for my characters. I’ve got notes on my latest book written from the viewpoints of all the main characters so I know exactly what all their motives are and what they’re thinking. That’s harder because often I have to go back and change my plot again.
Then the actual first draft takes me ages because I edit as I go and I can spend ages agonizing over thinking up the best word and I get impatient. So that’s harder still.
But I enjoy the editing part because the pressure to finish the script is off. If the worst happens, I can just say “It’s finished,” lol.
Do you do anything besides write?
At the moment, I teach piano and work part-time in a shop. This funds my writing habit.
How can my readers get a copy of ‘Shock Waves’?
“AMAZING!! What can I say? Between the non-stop action, in-depth characters, and all the suspense in the second half I couldn’t put it down. Think the movie ‘Speed’, but with teens and telepathy…” (Juan, Amazon review)
I have a sequel to ShockWaves half-written and expect to publish it at the end of 2013. I also have another book that I’m very excited about called Ninety-five percent Human on schedule for release in the spring. Ninety-five percent Human is a sci-fi/action/adventure with a touch of romance thrown in and I’ve really enjoyed writing it.
How exciting: a new book ready for release and the sequel to ‘Shock Waves’ in the works. It sounds like you’ll be right in your element, author Suzanna Williams. We’ll be watching you… Thanks so much, Suzanna, for joining us today at http://www.4writersandreaders Blog. ~ Bette A. Stevens
Welcome to 4writersandreaders
I’m a writer inspired by nature and human nature. You’ll find great books, authors, writing tips and more right here. I advocate for kids & families, childhood literacy and the protection of monarch butterflies and their habitat.Happy reading & writing!~Bette A. Stevens, Maine author
Bette A. Stevens, Maine Author 
Written
on 01/14/2014