So this month there has been quite the shake up in the writing community, especially in the romance community. There was a best selling "author" who it turned out had been plagiarizing from several, like over 30, other authors not to mention from magazines and other material. This all came to light pretty quickly when a reader found out and contacted on of the real authors affected. Then more and more material was discovered to have been plagiarized. The offending party at first tried to deflect attention by saying she had hired ghost writers and that they were the guilty ones. That is a whole other topic that I will get to in a bit. After that "defense" didn't hold up, the offending "author" deleted all social media connected to them and disappeared. I have a strong feeling that they are not who they claimed to be in the first place and fear that they will just pop back up under a different alias and continue to steal until they are caught again.
Now I was not personally affected by this scandal, as in thus far none of my books have been plagiarized. Still this story shook my writing world. Why? Because I am someone who writes my own books. I publish with small publishers and yes I self publish a lot as well. I am struggling to be seen and read in the very populated market. I just want my work to get into the hands of readers, and yes I would love to make some best seller lists and you know make a decent living at my writing. That is a hard task period, but when you have people with no scruples out there stealing the work of others and hiring ghost writers so they can just put out book after book, well that is just disheartening to someone like me. I can't compete with people like that. I work a day job. I have health issues. I have a spouse, family, friends. I have other time obligations. Yet every word that I write is my own. Yet I don't see the success that someone who stole from others, not even close. Still I keep writing. Why? Because I love to write and I have a dream. I refuse to give up that dream despite others crushing it over and over. I do sometimes wonder if my hard work really matter though, in a world where the unscrupulous are rewarded does my integrity in my work matter? Yes, to me it does and hopefully to those who manage to find and read my work as well. Still this whole topic has made me very depressed in my writing this past month. I have managed to write more than I did in January though and I am slowly making gains. I guess that's all that I can do. If you want to learn more about the plagiarism just go to twitter and search the #copypastecris.
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I am so happy to announce that my next release, two short stories in the medical horror anthology Pandemic: An Anthology of Affliction, is now available for preorder. I contributed the stories Welcome to the Age of the Unwell and Test Subjects Wanted and I can't wait for this anthology to drop on March 1st! Grab your copy now for only .99 cents! Link: mybook.to/Pandemic Viruses, infection, disease...there are hospitals that see it all, from the mild to the deadly. Dare you take a step into the unknown to find out what that affliction is and how it will destroy?
Dr. Frank N Steen by C.L. Williams Welcome to the Age of the Unwell by Sheri Velarde Hand Of An Alien by Armand Rosamilia Just Awhile Longer by Kally Jo Surbeck Dream Come True by McKenzie Richardson By the Skin by Katie Jaarsveld Meadowlands Room by Chuck Buda The Patient by Xander Price The Enemy Within by Alex Winck Black Friday by Jace Fox Affliction by Samie Sands Pity by Danny Campbell Spread the Infection by C.L. Williams Test Subjects Wanted by Sheri Velarde Outbreak by Samie Sands This is an exciting week for new releases and I am happy to have the very awesome author Ember Leigh here with her brand new steamy romance, Breaking the Sinner! This hot story is out now, read on to find out more about it and then click the links below to purchase and add to your Goodreads to read list! Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MW7QFNG or http://mybook.to/breaking-the-sinner Add it to your TBR pile! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43603060-breaking-the-sinner She picked the name Gen.
As a religious exile who fled her community only to land in LA, Genevieve couldn’t be greener. Armed with a list of experiences she’s eager to live, she’s diving headfirst into the choppy waters of normal society. Then she meets Cobra. There’s nothing normal about the resident gym bad boy who struts around like he could undress her with his eyes alone. And he goes by Cobra. Cobra knows better than to believe in blessings. Snagging this stable job at Holt Body Fitness is the only break of luck he’s had since his life took a nosedive as a teen, but it’s just a matter of time before this goes downhill too. Which is why when ultra-innocent Gen stumbles onto his bleak path, he’s eager for the distraction provided by the oblivious bombshell. He can help her live her list—but only so far. Because Cobra’s only good at being temporary. They both have lives they left far behind them. Setting three months to wade through Gen’s list of sins, the two of them plunge headfirst into something equals parts sizzling and intense. As Cobra inches nearer to securing his permanent spot at the gym, he comes even closer to a scary new reality. One that might be too good to be true. One that will force him to choose between the only family he’s ever known, and the one thing he swore to never need: love. BREAKING THE SINNER is an emotional, swoony standalone in the interconnected books of The Breaking Series. You don't need to have read the previous books to enjoy this steamy addition. One-click your copy today! Today I am so happy to welcome back one of my favorite authors and people to the blog, Leona Bushman! She has a new paranormal/historical romance out that I am excited to read! Out now! You can grab your copy here: mybook.to/DarynsSlayer and read one for a little more about this release! A slayer and a vampire pair up and turn the supernatural world inside out.
Daryn falls instantly in love with Ernestine the moment he meets her, despite her calling as a slayer. She inspires true feelings he’d thought lost to him after centuries on the run from a cruel and vindictive coven leader, Cassandra. Ernestine, a werewolf without the ability to shift, can’t deny the desire he inspires, even though her life’s work, her every breath, focused on ridding the world of the evil vampires. Together, their powers change into something new, and their mating becomes a beacon to all the supernatural beings in the area. Can the fight their way out, or is their union doomed from the start? How is it already Valentine's Day? It seems like it was just the first of the year! I just wanted to take a moment to wish each and everyone of you a Happy Valentine's Day! Whether you are in a relationship or not, I hope that you either spoil yourself or that someone special spoils you today! I had some fun doing a couple little Valentine's paintings for my nieces this past week! I hope that you spread some love today whether it's the romantic kind or not! There are so many kinds of love in the world!
Today I want to welcome one awesome author and supportive friend, Torie James! She has a steamy new release out tomorrow and I wanted to take a moment to share it with you! Just in time to spice up your Valentine's Day! Book One: We Wear The Mask
In a sea of burning glances, sensual disguise hides more than a lovely face and vulnerable heart. Step onto a stage of madness where seething shadows breed deadly lies and the discovery of what lies beneath unleashes a storm of merciless passion. Book Two: Crowning Glory When a cheating, shameless beauty bends men to the will of her own greedy hunger, the lust of her ever growing appetite proves to be the thorn on which they’re hung. The path to paradise leads down a ruthless road of betrayal and a loving husband’s broken heart and public pride hammer the lesson home. Book Three: You Never Forget Your First A brilliant scientist and her adoring husband recall their tender beginnings on the evening that will change the world and their lives forever. But even as joyous wonder unfolds to introduce the next stage in human technology, a chance decision will prove that the echoes of uncommon love last longer than any earthly affection. Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MW913T3 Books2Read: https://books2read.com/u/mlYKqW I had a bit of a rough start to 2019, with illness stopping me from exercising as much as I would have liked. But this is a new month and a new year being alive since I recently celebrated my birthday and I am back on track to getting in shape! I have moved on from some small one mile workouts that I could do in January and am now getting in two mile workouts, some with HIIT involved even! Next up I want to add some three mile workouts in and then get back to doing more yoga. I have been using the Walk at Home app from Leslie Sansone for my workouts for ease and so I have a variety workouts anytime that I have to sneak in some exercise. With my health I have good days and bad days, but I am starting to get some consistency with my workouts and that is giving me a few more good days I think. Hopefully I see some pounds start to drop off soon, but being healthy really is more important than losing weight to me at this point in my life. And I am still cooking more at home and I feel that is only improving my health as well. I think that taking better care of myself is even helping my art and writing!
When You Close Your Eyes
by Roxanne D. Howard
Genre: Supernatural Romance
Dreams are the perfect shelter for fantasies, safe havens to step inside without changing our daily lives. For Lark Braithwaite, all that is about to change. During the last six months, Lark has dreamt of a mysterious Irish lover who knows what she wants and gives her exactly what she needs. In her waking life in busy London, things aren't as ideal as her long-term relationship with her controlling fiancé Charles has hit a dry spell.
When Lark is called home to Oregon for her father's funeral, she comes face to face with the demons from her past, but she never expects to meet her dream lover in the flesh. Niall O'Hagan steps straight out of her fantasies and into her life, and the powerful connection they share rocks her foundation. Although she's dealing with the bitterness of her fiancé's betrayal and his jealousy, Niall soon stirs Lark's awareness of her superficial existence and reawakens her sexuality....and her soul.
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Roxanne D. Howard is a U.S. Army veteran who has a bachelor's degree in Psychology and English. She loves to read poetry, classical literature, and Stephen King. Also, she is an avid Star Wars fan, musical theater nut, and marine biology geek. Roxanne resides in the western U.S., and when she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children. Roxanne loves to hear from her readers, and encourages you to contact her via her website and social media.
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As the second month of 2019 gets underway, I am getting pretty focused on my writing and art. I have already written several short stories and am going to keep looking out for some more submission calls, but now it is time to focus on longer pieces. And most of those pieces are going to be in the fantasy genre! I actually just sent a short fantasy novella off to my editor and have a cover artist working on the cover as we speak, so I am hoping to have it out by March! I am now working on outlining a four book fantasy series that I am so excited to get out in the world! These will be novels and might be the biggest undertaking that I have ever had as an author. I am also working on the sequel to my romantic fantasy Quest for Redemption, Quest for Self! So I am going to be writing a lot about elves, dragons and more the rest of the year!
With my writing life centered around fantasy for the year, it got me thinking that maybe I can bring my art into that realm as well. So the rest of the year I think that most of my art is also going to focus on dragons, elves and fantasy. I might even combine both the writing and art for a fantasy based solo art show next year! I'm going to be pretty busy the rest of the year! |
AuthorAuthor, artist, jewelry maker and all around creative person. I write in many genres and have a lot of fun doing so. Please take a look around and enjoy! Archives
January 2022
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