Guest Blogger Jennifer Hansen, Author of Making Headlines (Book Giveaway)

Working as a TV reporter has its challenges, but when Rachael Bentley decides to aim high and become a newsreader, she faces a whole new minefield of explosive scenarios.

Rachel's path sees her pitched against egos in the newsroom, office politics and corrupt politicians, not to mention rampant sexism, and a mystery stalker. Juggling a messy personal life doesn't help, nor does the emotional impact of reporting on life's tragedies and when it all takes a toll and Rachel starts partying too hard, she finds herself making the headlines instead of reading them.

Will she survive a world where dreams are shattered daily and will she find the man who can help her keep her soul?

Blogger's note: Social issues in fiction has long been a fascination of mine. When I decided to take part in this book tour, I wanted to know how the author kept the social issues in Making Headlines from running away with the story and how she was keeping it fresh when many novels these days address social issues. Here's what she had to say:


There are a plethora of academic studies into the unfair treatment dished out to women in the workplace, from all over the world. There are also thousands of books on feminism and conspiracy theories about the patriarchal society behind the injustices. From my perspective, the only people who’ll really pay attention to those are the already converted. Far better to tell an entertaining story that will have a broad reach across the masses with a subtle message than trying to hit people over the head with a moralistic hammer.

I have always wanted to be a writer. Before focusing on creative writing, I worked as a journalist for many years, starting in newspapers. I then worked in the television news industry for more than twenty years. After I left, I took up the RMIT Professional Writing and Editing course in Melbourne – completing the Diploma – and focused on the subject of Creative Writing. As a new novelist, we were always encouraged to write about a world we knew well, for our first book. So I thought it would be interesting to examine what many believe to be an aspirational career – that of a female TV newsreader – but to also look at the challenges women face in this often male-dominated world.

I have had to be careful to make sure all my characters are completely fictional, so as not to upset any one that I may have worked with in the TV industry. At the same time, I didn’t want to compromise my desire to tell a story that also examines the way bosses can abuse their power in any work situation to make life difficult for those working under them. I wanted to show people – women in particular – that no matter who you are and what position you hold – your satisfaction in your job and your self-esteem can be greatly diminished if someone treats you badly or bullies you.

I had many wonderful bosses in the TV industry (male and female) so this is not a message directed at anyone in real life – rather an exploration of a theme. I have witnessed though, other people being treated badly and have had to deal with a couple of tricky situations myself – and not just in television.

What I am hoping I have achieved with MAKING HEADLINES, is to have created an engaging story that also carries a message about how people should treat each other in the work place. I think the best way to illustrate that, is to write about the worst kind of behaviour, in the hope that people will read that and think, ‘God, I’d never do that!’ It’s not specifically a message to men, but to both sexes - ‘Don’t bully people and don’t abuse your power.’

I think this message definitely comes through, but in a fresh way because it’s subtly disguised in what’s often referred to as a ‘Chick Lit’ book.

That means it’s a fast-moving and easily readable story, but also throws a punch towards the end. It’s also different because it’s about the TV industry and because the author (me) has worked in that business for so long, the reader can be confident they’re hearing about the industry from someone who really knows how it works.

Even though people outside the industry might see the television world as something exciting and aspirational, the reader will also be reassured – or horrified – to know that it’s not much different – or even worse – when it comes to how people are treated in the workplace.

Purchase at:

B/N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/making-headlines-jennifer-hansen/1122676528

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Making-Headlines-Jennifer-Hansen-ebook/dp/B015MBSW10/

JENNIFER HANSEN is best known to TV audiences as the former co-host of Channel Ten’s 5pm news. These days Jennifer works in radio as part of Smooth FM’s breakfast show where she reads the news and chats with Mike Perso about all things Melbourne. In between media gigs, Jennifer went back to ‘school’ - taking up the ‘Professional Writing and Editing’ course at RMIT. That has helped her complete her first novel and two screenplays. Occasionally she remembers to look after her family - including husband Neighbours actor Alan Fletcher (aka Dr Karl Kennedy) and their two children, Veronica and Tom.

http://jenniferhansen.com.au/

https://twitter.com/jenahansen

Jennifer will be awarding an eCopy of Making Headlines to 3 randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour, and choice of 5 digital books from the Impulse line to a randomly drawn host.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview with Arnine Weiss, Author of She Ain't Heavy

Arnine Cumsky Weiss is a nationally certified sign language interpreter and a teacher of English as a second language. She has worked in the field of Deafness for over thirty years. She is the author of six books. BECOMING A BAR MITVAH: A TREASURY OF STORIES, BECOMING A BAT MITZVAH: A TREASURY OF STORIES (University of Scranton Press), THE JEWS OF SCRANTON (Arcadia Publishing), and THE UNDEFEATED (RID Press) and THE CHOICE: CONVERTS TO JUDAISM SHARE THEIR STORIES (University of Scranton Press). Her second novel, SHE AIN’T HEAVY (Academy Chicago)was published in June, 2013. She is married to Dr. Jeffrey Weiss and is the mother of Matt, Allie, and Ben.

Visit Arnine’s website at www.ArnineWeiss.com.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m a certified sign language interpreter and I’ve been working with deaf children for several decades. I also teach English as a Second Language and GED prep classes. I’m married….just celebrated 30 years, and I’m the mother of three children.

Where did you grow up?

Wilkes Barre, PA

What is your fondest childhood memory?

One of my fondest childhood memories is going to the beach with my grandmother. We’d get there early (so we could find a parking spot) and spend all day in the sand, in the water, and eating goodies from the boardwalk.

When did you begin writing?

I started writing as we were planning my son’s Bar Mitzvah. My son is a leukemia survivor and his Bar Mitzvah was interpreted into American Sign Language for my deaf friends. I thought that if we had an interesting and unusual experience, then others must have also. I started researching and found 50 of them. My first book, Becoming a Bar Mitzvah: A Treasury of Stories was born.

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

I work during the day, so I write mostly at night or weekends.

What is this book about?

This book is about loyalty, friendship and second chances.

What inspired you to write it?
                                            
In the aftermath of 9/11, there were a lot of discussions of people who were supposed to be in the towers, but weren’t, for one reason or other. I was intrigued by the idea of second chances and wanted to explore the idea if people really know they’re getting a second chance.

Who is your biggest supporter?

My husband (hope that’s not too cliché!)

Are you a member of a critique group? If no, who provides feedback on your work?

3 of them…..some of my best times in NYC are in these groups.

Who is your favorite author?

Varies…I often go by what I’m reading at the moment…..and if I like the author enough to read other things by him or her….right now, it’s Jonathan Tropper. He makes me laugh.

Do you have an agent or are you looking for one?

I have an agent. Janice Pieroni. She’s great.

Was the road to publication smooth sailing or a bumpy ride?

I’ve had six books published and experienced a little bit of both…..be happy to elaborate if you want more.

If you knew then, what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently?

Changed my expectations. People disappoint you. Now I just try to focus on the positives.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Independent Book Stores.

Do you have a video trailer to promote your book? If yes, where can readers find it?

Yes. Youtube She Ain’t Heavy Arnine Cumsky Weiss




What is the best investment you have made in promoting your book?

Hiring Dorothy at Pump up your Book.

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere?

Enjoy each part of the process. I would love to focus on writing…but if you only do that, the book goes nowhere. Embrace all parts of the process.

What is up next for you?

I’m writing the next book….pretty well into it. I would also like to write the sequel to my first novel, The Undefeated.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Thank you so much for the opportunity!

Giveaway: Born Under a Lucky Moon: A Novel by Dana Precious

Born Under a Lucky Moon: A Novel is the tale of two very important (but distant) years in the lives of Jeannie Thompson and her (embarrassing, crazy) colorful family members to whom “things” just seem to happen. From the Great Lakes of Michigan to Los Angeles and back again, it is a story of surprise marriages, a renegade granny, a sprinkler system cursed by the gods, and myriad other factors Jeannie blames for her full-tilt, out-of-control existence. But it’s also about good surprises—like an unexpected proposal that might just open Jeannie’s eyes to her real place among the people she loves most in the world . . . the same ones she ran far away from to begin with.

I've read numerous reviews of Born Under a Lucky Moon, and all of them have sung the book's praises. I was excited when the publicist contacted me and asked me to review it. While I haven't read the book yet, I received a second copy to give away to one of my readers.

Here's what some people are saying about Born Under a Lucky Moon:

"This is a feel-good, amazing read...I highly recommend it."

--Luanne Stevenson, Blogcritics reviewer

"An incredible book that I have no doubt you’ll absolutely love!"

--ChickLitReviews.com

"I can wholeheartedly recommend Born Under a Lucky Moon to anyone looking for a fictional story about families, and why we love them even if they are always getting themselves into sticky situations."

--The Book Chick

Read more reviews and learn more about author Dana Precious at http://bornunderaluckymoon.com/

How can you win a copy of this great book? Follow the rules below:

1) You must be a follower or subscriber of The Book Connection to win.


2) For your first entry, leave a comment with a valid email address. You can't win if you don't provide an email address.

3) One additional entry if you friend me on Facebook. Leave a comment with your profile link to show you're friending me.

4) One additional entry if you follow me on Twitter. Leave a comment with your profile link to show you're a follower.

5) Two additional entries if you like the Born Under a Lucky Moon page on Facebook.

6) Two additional entries if you follow Dana Precious on Twitter.

7) You must be 18 or older to be eligible to win and a resident of the United States or Canada.

Deadline for entries is 11:59 PM Eastern on Sunday, April 3, 2011. Winner will be selected out of all entrants who followed the rules governing this contest. The winner will be notified by email and have 72 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. Your free book will be shipped via the USPS. The Book Connection is not responsible for lost or damaged items.

Guest Blogger: My Favorite Genre by Laina Turner-Molaski, Author of Stilettos & Scoundrels

Presley Thurman, a sassy, thirty-something red-head, was looking to reinvent herself. She didn’t allow the fact she was recently fired to bother her – she was ready to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a writer. Presley was a lover of shopping and Starbucks, and even though she sometimes had bad taste in men, she always had great taste in clothes.

Not looking back on corporate America, Presley decided to follow her dream. With her feisty nature and a spirit to not “sweat the small stuff,” she was ready to tackle any challenge (even if she had no idea how she would pay the bills). When her friend Trevor offered her a job with his online magazine to interview public figures, she jumped at the chance.

However, the new job turned into something unexpected when the U.S. Senator she was slated to write about was murdered – in her home town! Presley was excited – she hadn’t seen so much buzz since the spring sample sale at Saks. She was ready for this adventure, even if it didn’t seem to fit neatly into her life. She couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be in the middle of the buzz.

Presley was determined (not to mention curious) to find the killer and write her story. After all, she couldn’t afford her shoe habit without a job and she was certainly not one to shy away from danger. The only thing standing in her way was an old high school fling, Cooper Sands, head of the Senator’s security. He was not actually standing in her way, but because of his good looks, he was the biggest distraction and one she was having the hardest time overcoming. Cooper felt it was too dangerous for Presley to look for a killer and tried to distract her with reliving the past; which Presley found more dangerous than any killer. While she attempted to resist Cooper’s good looks and charm, Presley was able to discover the Senator’s wife, Helen, had been having an affair… with her best friend’s boyfriend! Did Helen kill the Senator? Or was it the Senator’s love of gambling that got him killed? And what was Cooper’s secret tie to the mob boss Garrison Palazzo?

Presley’s betting her favorite pair of Manolo’s she will find the killer… but will time run out!

My Favorite Genre by Laina Turner-Molaski


Depending on the time of day or day of week it will probably be different and for that I am lucky. I appreciate the fact I can enjoy many different types of writing and be entertained and/or learn something. I chalk it up to the fact that my parents were avid readers of many different types of books. My mom was an English teacher so she had a love of the classics and then her not so serious side enjoyed Danielle Steele and Janet Daily (she was a closet reader of Harlequin Romances and my grandmother, also a teacher, had an entire room devoted to shelves of Harlequins-all in numerical order). My father on the other hand enjoyed Science Fiction and great authors such as Tom Clancy, Zane Grey, and John Jakes. To this day I love the Dirt Pitt character from Tom Clancy’s novels. I admit I can’t understand half of what Dirt does – the books are way over my head in terms of military type vernacular – but Clancy writes such a good story I get great enjoyment out of his books without understanding them.

I get asked by many authors to do book reviews. I review almost every book I am asked to even if it is outside my norm. Things I would probably not pick up myself for entertainment such as vampire or young adult but I can appreciate their value to literature. As with anything else we must be open minded or else we might miss something very good.

I challenge you to pick up a book that is completely opposite of what you would normally read next time you are at the bookstore or on Amazon. Give it a chance. You might be surprised.

Laina

PURCHASE A COPY OF STILETTOS & SCOUNDRELS AT AMAZON! ALSO AVAILABLE IN A KINDLE EDITION!

Laina Turner-Molaski is a businesswoman, mom, author, Professor, and a major supporter of shopping. She has an undying love for shoes and coffee, which is why she created her main character and alter-ego Presley Thurman.


With a lot of letters after her name and a ton of student loan debt, she is always working to pay the bills. While she enjoys her day job, her passion is writing, and she uses a lot of company time writing her fiction or working on her social website for women, Chiczofrenic.com . She is hoping to sell her book before she gets fired from her day job for goofing off.


Laina is currently living in Indiana, with her family, and is always writing something, whether it’s blogs, articles, business journals and books or ideas for her next novel. She is continuously doing what she loves which is writing or drinking coffee.


http://www.lainaturner.com/

Shoes, Superheroes, and Secret Ninjas by Maya Jax, Author of Escapades of Romantically Challenged Me

Today's special guest is Maya Jax, author of Escapades of Romantically Challenged Me. Now, no one is ever going to accuse me of having a chick lit fetish. I don't think I've actually read one chick lit novel, but this one caught my eye because I read somewhere that superheroes and secret ninjas played a part in this one. That, combined with the fact the the author admits at one point she wanted to become a secret agent, meant I had to have her stop by The Book Connection to hear what she had to say.

Here's more about the book:

The Scene: Aspiring screenwriter Lelaina Zane finally lands a Hollywood break, but it’s cut short when her dad has a heart attack and she has to return to her hometown. Now that she’s back, her parents want her to stay, show some responsibility and join the family law firm.

Her Ex: Her first love, first kiss, first… you know, and first guy she caught with another woman. Full of apologies and a proposition, he wants her to stay and be with him.

Her Dilemma: With one embarrassing disaster after another, a devastating blow from Hollywood and four weeks until the Bar Exam, Lainey has to decide if she’ll stay and have it all — career, love, money — or return to LA to pursue her impossible dream.

Can you tell Maya Jax started off by writing screenplays?

Shoes, Superheroes, and Secret Ninjas by Maya Jax

While I love Manolos, I also love the Batmobile, so having a main character that loves her shoes and her superhero fantasy was actually easy to do, especially with Lelaina. At the start of Escapades of Romantically Challenged Me, Lelaina has reached a point in her life where she has to decide if it's time to give up her dream of being a screenwriter and take the safe route out, or to keep struggling despite everyone else moving on around her, so Lelaina’s desperation to ‘make it’ was an opportunity to exhibit this part of her personality. When Lelaina learns her ideal agent has a Catwoman fetish, she decides dressing as Julie Newmar is her way in. The plan goes very wrong, but it's the perfect intro to show just how far she's willing to go, while keeping the story light -- and I was able to fulfill a small superhero fantasy of my own by writing a character dressed as Julie!

As for secret agents and ninjas, the first screenplay I wrote was about spies, and since I knew rejection from that so well, I made Lelaina’s screenplay a spy-ninja flick. When I pitched my screenplay to a friend in Hollywood, who used to write for a major action TV series, he told me to never show it to anyone ever again. He said talent was there (after ten minutes of hearing how much I sucked, that was sweet relief!), but his advice was that the voice didn’t ring true of the action genre. So when Lelaina wants to break into Hollywood, it’s with that same fantasy/delusion that I had: wanting to write a character like Batman or Jack Bauer when the voice in your head is so much more like Bridget Jones or Becky Bloomwood.

And these are the reasons why I love chick lit so much -- characters can embody our inner selves, while dealing with relationships, friends, family, and aspiring dreams. It’s the perfect way to play with life’s tough spots without losing the fun. If I’m destined to write chick lit, I can live with that!




Loving spy and mystery novels, Maya Jax entertained the idea of being a secret agent and started working at an embassy overseas while doing her master’s in international relations. During this time, she finished her first screenplay, an action/thriller about spies and nuclear weapons. She pitched it to a friend in Hollywood, who told her she had talent, but to never - ever - show anyone the script again. Realizing her love for writing was stronger than her desire to spy and fight crime, she attempted a second screenplay focusing on what she knew best -- trying to make it as a writer. The screenplay turned into a manuscript and the result was chick lit novel Escapades of Romantically Challenged Me. You can read more about Maya at www.mayajax.com.

Sunstruck by Mayra Calvani--Book Review

What do a naive and deeply sensitive college student, a modern-day Zorro who goes around slashing the rear ends of women in mini-skirts, a smug and selfish artist with a love of LSD, an ex-husband with his eye on revenge, a woman who collects torture devices, and a socialist--maybe communist--best friend who is in love with a priest, have in common?

They all live in steamy San Juan, Puerto Rico and they can all be found in Sunstruck, the latest release from talented author Mayra Calvani.

I've read several books by Calvani, but nothing could have prepared me for what I found in Sunstruck. Realizing how difficult satire can be to pull off, Calvani's witty prose captured me right away and kept me turning the pages.

Written in third person present--a challenge in and of itself--Sunstruck tells the story of Daniella, a college student studying architecture, who is trying to find her place in the world while surrounded by the most bizarre individuals.

From Tony, her live-in boyfriend whose obsession with LSD is only equal to his hatred for Daniella's cat, to Daniella's ex-husband who is married to a woman better known as Lady Dracula because of her gothic appearance and strange collection of torture devices, the further into this book you get, the stranger they all become. Just when you think you've got the situation figured out, you discover you're not quite there yet.

Calvani has taken human nature and put it under a microscope--a warped and slightly cracked microscope.

The chapters are short enough that you can read several in one sitting, but you won't be able to put the book down anyway. I was a bit cool on the cover art, but it captured the essence of the book well, and the cat on the back is absolutely gorgeous.

Proving once again that she is a master storyteller in multiple genres, Sunstruck by Mayra Calvani is both witty and brilliant.


Title: Sunstruck
Author: Mayra Calvani
Publisher: Zumaya Publications
ISBN: 978-1-934841-18-1
SRP: $14.99 (U.S.)

J.L. Miles and Divorcing Dwayne

About Divorcing Dwayne:

Francine Harper’s in the Pickville Springs County Jail facing felony assault charges. Her offense? She shot at her husband, Dwayne, and his lover, Carla, after catching them together— in the very bed her daddy had carved and given to Francine and Dwayne on their wedding day. Even though she hit the bed and missed the lovers, she soon learns she’s committed a felony, and the deputy district attorney—who’s never been fond of her since she jilted his brother—is determined to prosecute her to the fullest extent of the law. On the other hand, Dwayne is a local celebrity, a talented fiddle player with his own bluegrass band, the Rocky Bottom River Boys. Things are looking up for the band, and they have been selected to record the soundtrack for director Frederick Ford Gumbello’s latest film, Oh Mother, Oh Father, Where Art Thou? When Gumbello comes to town to meet the boys, he becomes enamored with the locale and stays to film the movie since Pickville Springs is the perfect setting for the film.

When Francine makes bail, aided by her best friend, Ray Anne Pickles, she discovers that the checking account she shares with Dwayne contains thirty thousand dollars she can’t account for, and she starts worrying about him. Strange things have been going on, and she still loves him. But she fears that he may have gotten involved with the local mob. Soon Francine finds herself in the arms of rising movie star Clay Carson, which is the last straw for Dwayne, who assaults Clay and disappears. When Dwayne can’t be found anywhere, Francine is suspected of foul play and is arrested for his suspected murder. But Francine is determined to find Dwayne, save him from the mob, and solve the mystery—with Ray Anne’s help, of course. In the interim, she discovers inner strengths and regains her dignity. Now the situation with Dwayne—that’s another story.

Now available at Amazon.com!


About the author:

J.L. Miles (Jackie Lee), a resident of Georgia for over thirty years, hails from Wisconsin via South Dakota. She considers herself “a northern girl with a southern heart”. Her paternal grandfather was christened Grant Lee by her great-grandmother in honor of the many fallen soldiers on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line.

Ms. Miles is a former D.I.A.L. Systems Engineer for Baker/Audio Telecom, one of the premier forerunners of voice mail. In addition to systems application, she provided voice tracks for several major companies, including Delta Airlines and Frito-Lay Corporation. A former Miss Racine, Wisconsin, Ms. Miles, made television, print and fashion appearances, and participated in various stage productions, including “Joan of Lorraine”, “The Dark at the Top of the Stairs” and “The Miracle Worker”.

She resides in a suburb of Atlanta with her husband Robert. Her debut novel, the critically acclaimed Roseflower Creek, was Cumberland House Publishing’s lead book when it debuted in hardcover. It is also available in Trade paperback. Earl Hamner, creator of The Waltons called it, “A powerful, extraordinary novel.”
N.Y. Times best-selling author William Diehl wrote: “The lyric prose will thrill you, the story is unforgettable, and the characters will stay with you forever.”

Cold Rock River, the journey of two young women born a century apart, debuted September 2006 in hardcover. N.Y. TIMES best-selling author DOROTHEA BENTON FRANK writes: “Cold Rock River by J. L. Miles is a powerful story of family, love and loss that will keep you up into the wee hours. Absolutely wonderful! Beautifully told and straight from the heart of an exquisitely talented writer.”

Miles latest project is the Dwayne Series, a three-book southern anthology featuring Francine Harper, who is under felony assault charges for shooting at her husband Dwayne and his stripper/lover Carla from the Peel ‘n Squeal. Francine finds her strengths and reclaims her dignity via a trial and many errors. Divorcing Dwayne debuted April, 2008. Dear Dwayne releases April 2009. Dating Dwayne to follow.

When not writing, Miles tours with The Dixie Darlin’s, four nationally published book-writing belles—with a passion for promotion—serving up helpings of down-home humor and warmth. Visit Jacquie Lee online at www.j.l.miles.com.

The DIVORCING DWAYNE VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR '08 will officially begin on December 1 and end on December 23. You can visit J.L.'s blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in December to find out more about her latest book!

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available. The winner will be announced by Pump Up on December 23rd!