I, SPY by Jordan McCollum

I can’t resist a great sit-at-the-edge-of-my-comfy-chair-and-read-‘til-I’m finished suspense, and Jordan McCollum’s I,Spy satisfied my ravenous hunger for that adventure. But I had to switch from my iPhone (when its battery ran too low**hangs head in embarrassment**) to my Macbook and read to see if C.I.A. operative Talia Reynolds managed to . . . wait!

I’m getting ahead of myself.  

Talia Reynolds, an operative for the C.I.A. is stationed in Ottawa, Canada, not exactly the place where you’d think American secrets are kept, let alone where they might be stolen. Her boyfriend, Danny, an American aerospace engineer, also works in Ottawa, but he doesn’t know Talia’s a spy. All Danny knows is Elliot, her partner at a “law firm” is always calling or texting, and coming between them in someway. Talia keeps breaking dates with Danny, hurting him in the process, but it’s necessary for her to do her job. On the other hand, she’s almost caught by the (possible) enemy mid-operation when Elliot is distracted talking to his wife on the phone. Talia struggles with her boss’s stupid warning: she’s better off alone.

Jordan’s writing is witty and fun, and I found myself laughing at Talia’s snarky attitude around all her male co-workers. She has interesting, if not weird flaws. I, Spy is an enjoyable, page-turning read. I highly recommend it.

Find I, Spy HERE at Amazon, or HERE at Jordan’s blog. 

The book blurb:

Canada is probably the last place you’d expect to find an American spy. But even idyllic Ottawa has its deadly secrets—and so does CIA operative Talia Reynolds. She can climb through ventilation shafts, blend in at the occasional diplomatic function, even scale buildings (small ones). But there’s one thing she can’t do: tell her aerospace engineer boyfriend Danny about her Top Secret occupation. It worked for a year, keeping Danny in the dark, keeping him away from danger, keeping her secrets. And then Talia finally catches a hot case: Fyodor Timofeyev. Russian. Aerospace executive. Possible spy? She can make this work, too—until Danny needs her at the same time her country does. And when Fyodor targets Danny? Suddenly her schedule isn’t the only thing suffering. Now to save her secrets and her country, Talia must sacrifice the man she loves.

About the Author

An award-winning author, Jordan McCollum can’t resist a story where good defeats evil and true love conquers all. In her day job, she coerces people to do things they don’t want to, elicits information and generally manipulates the people she loves most—she’s a mom. Jordan holds a degree in American Studies and Linguistics from Brigham Young University. When she catches a spare minute, her hobbies include reading, knitting and music. She lives with her husband and four children in Utah.

A Change of Plans by Donna King Weaver

  I have the great pleasure of asking Donna King Weaver, the author of A Change of Plans, a few questions while she's out on her book tour. I'm sure she must be tired from all her blog hopping, so I won't take up too much of her time. 

Debra: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

Donna: I’m still not sure I do—this is a scary business. But seriously, a few years ago I decided to get back to my personal history which I’d begun some years prior. I thought I should learn a bit about writing so it wouldn’t be a cure for insomnia for my descendants and decided to see if I could write a full-length novel.

Debra: What makes you passionate about writing?

Donna: I love seeing the story snippets comes to life, richer, and fully developed. And finished.

Debra: Were you ever discouraged along the way? If so, how did you deal with it?

Donna: No. And it’s because I’ve never looked at this as a career. At my age, I’m too close to retirement to quit my day job (as tempting as it can seem at times). I wanted to experience it all, including querying (I know, that’s just insane). Even as I received rejections and a few requests, I knew if nothing came of those, that I would self-publish.

Debra: When did you write your first book and how old were you?

Donna: A Change of Plans is my first book. I was 55 when I wrote it. It was my learning project, and I’m excited with how it’s grown as a story as I’ve grown as a writer. I’m all about life-long learning, so I’m like a sponge.

Debra: Where do your ideas come from?  How do you know the idea is good enough to write a book about it?

Donna: Ideas are everywhere. A Change of Plans began as a dream that had lingered with me. When I decided to try writing a book, I chose the idea from it—then I had to figure out how to get the characters where they were in my dream, which is the middle of the book.

Debra: What is your process of brainstorming a story? Do you just sit down and write, waiting to see what happens next? Or do you outline first?

Donna: I used to think that I was a pantster, but I recently realized that I just write a really long outline—usually around 50,000 words. That’s what my first rough draft is. Editing, for me, is when the real writing happens.

Here is the blurb for A Change of Plans. 

When Lyn sets off on her supposedly uncomplicated and unromantic cruise, she never dreams it will include pirates. All the 25-year-old, Colorado high school teacher wants to do is forget that her dead fiancé was a cheating scumbag. Lyn plans a vacation diversion; fate provides Braedon, an intriguing surgeon. She finds herself drawn to him: his gentle humor, his love of music, and even his willingness to let her take him down during morning karate practices. Against the backdrop of the ship's make-believe world and temporary friendships, her emotions come alive.

However, fear is an emotion, too. Unaware of the sensitive waters he's navigating, Braedon moves to take their relationship beyond friendship--on the very anniversary Lyn is on the cruise to forget. Lyn's painful memories are too powerful, and she runs from Braedon and what he has to offer.

Their confusing relationship is bad enough, but when the pair finds themselves on one of the cruise's snorkeling excursions in American Samoa things get worse. Paradise turns to piracy when their party is kidnapped and Lyn's fear of a fairytale turns grim. Now she must fight alongside the man she rejected, first for their freedom and then against storms, sharks, and shipwreck.

ASHES ASHES by Julie Coulter Bellon a Review

Colby Black, a handsome sniper for a hostage negotiation team, has a peculiar way of de-stressing; he cleans. After his pretty, new next-door neighbor has a kitchen fire, he not only puts out the fire, saving her house, but he talks his way into her life by helping her with the cleanup. Colby saves Sophia again after someone tried to grab her through her window and he chases away the man. From that point on, Sophia had Colby’s full attention no matter how much she tries to push him away. 

I read Ashes Ashes all the way through in one sitting. I couldn’t help it. I had to find out how it ended. And, unlike some other books I’ve read, I didn’t want to spoil the thoroughly enjoyable adventure by flipping to the last page first. Yes, I’ve done that. 

Here is the back cover blurb.

Are you ever really innocent until proven guilty?

Sophia Naziri is wanted for questioning in the murder of a U.S. senator. She’s worried the police will show up on her doorstep any moment, but when Detective Colby Black appears, it’s to help her put out a kitchen fire, not take her in. Yet. His easy smile and persistence in getting to know her pushes all her troubles to the back of her mind, until a hit man tracks her down. Getting arrested becomes the least of her worries and the handsome detective could be her only way out---if she tells him the truth.

Colby Black’s sniper skills have been a blessing and a curse to him. As a member of a Hostage Negotiation Team, he can use them to save people, but sometimes he can’t protect the innocent despite his best efforts. When a hostage situation goes bad, he tries to put it behind him by helping out his mysterious next-door neighbor, Sophia Naziri. But she pulls Colby into a web of lies and conspiracy that will force him to use every skill he has in order to survive. Faced with the moment of truth, can he trust anyone around him---including the woman at the center of it all?

You can buy ASHES ASHES by Julie Coulter Bellon on Amazon HERE. Do it now. 

Language

Language, the method of human communication, either written or spoken, is as important to a writer as having a great storyline. Over the course of months, sometimes even years, authors tediously contemplate their use of words to bring alive their stories. We don't use our language frivolously. Each word, strategically strung together, helps builds a scene, hopefully enjoyably enough that it takes the reader on a journey through to the end, and we protect those stories as we would our family. I guess that is why sometimes we take critiques so hard, and resent editors even more when they seemingly off-handedly cut out sentences, or even whole paragraphs of our precious writing. We're told we need to build up a thick skin--to not take critique so seriously. I agree. In critiquing, we can choose which  to take and which to leave, although we can learn from each. I know I have, and will continue to learn, but I hope I will never get so thick-skinned that I won't stand up for my writing when I know I'm right.

K is for Kindness

In the world of writing, we interact a lot via the Internet. Either emailing, or messaging, or text, our toneless words reach out to others while we write blogpost, do critiques, or leave comments. If you are one of those authors who are lucky enough that your book is being published through traditional avenues, then you are now, or have had at some point, dealt with an editor attached to your publishing house. After you signed that contract and wait what seems like forever to get that first round of edits, the difficult part of your journey might just be beginning. You signed over your manuscript, your baby, to a total stranger, and you have to put your faith in that stranger to do the right thing. But it doesn't necessarily work out how you dreamed it would, and this is where kindness is essential.

In editing a manuscript, you will be emailing large portions of your book that has edits blanketing every page that you will be asked to accept almost without question. Kindness in the email explanation can mean the difference between a cordial relationship and heartbreak. Your kindly worded emails to your editor can mean the difference between that continued relationship and the breaking of your contract.

It's the same way with critiques. A fellow writer gives you a chapter, or even a whole manuscript for critique. Remember how you felt when you saw your edits, and be kind in your comments. This doesn't mean you can't be honest. How else can you help?

K is for kindness.

Just Do IT!!!

Just Do IT!!! That's right, you read me. If you're messing around, tying to find another excuse not to start that story you had an idea for, then this is me telling you to stop it! Turn off the radio, TV, and for Pete's sake, stop surfing the Internet and just start free writing that idea into something you can work with.

I woke up one morning remember a single scene of a dream. I was being chased outside down a long set of steps. On one side was a sheer drop into a body of water, and on the other was a rock face that was too steep to climb--and then I woke up in panic. Why was I being chased? How could I get away from the bad buys I knew were after me? I laid in bed thinking about this for several minutes, letting that scene set into my mind until even after 10 years I can still see it like I'd dreamt it last night. I took that one scene and wrote over a 900 page book. It's since been turned into a paranormal thriller trilogy, but don't you understand? You don't have to know what your whole story is about before you start writing, or even know about your character's deepest reasons for doing what they do before you start that first sentence. Getting down that first frame of a story is what's important.

JUST DO IT!!!! 

Help Someone in Need: A Book Bomb for Ben Wolverton

Ben Wolverton, age 16, was in a tragic long-boarding accident on Wednesday the 4th, 2013. He suffers from severe brain trauma, a cracked skull, broken pelvis and tail bone, burnt knees, bruised lungs, broken ear drums, road rash, pneumonia, and is currently in a coma. His family has no insurance.

Ben is the son of author David Farland, whose books have won multiple awards, and who is widely known as a mentor to many prominent authors, such as Brandon Sanderson, Stephenie Meyer, and Brandon Mull. Costs for Ben's treatment are expected to rise above $1,000,0000. To help raise money for Ben, we are having a book bomb (focused on Nightingale and Million Dollar Outlines) on behalf of Ben.

You can learn more about Ben's condition, or simply donate to the Wolverton family HERE! http://www.gofundme.com/BensRecovery

What is a Book Bomb?

For those that don’t know, a Book Bomb is an event where participants purchase a book on a specific day to support the author, or, in this case, a young person in serious need: Ben Wolverton. 

David Farland’s young adult fantasy thriller Nightingale has won seven awards, including the Grand Prize at the Hollywood Book Festival—beating out ALL books in ALL categories. It has been praised by authors such as James Dashner (The Maze Runner), Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn), and Paul Genesse (Iron Dragon series), and has received four and a half starts on Amazon. You can read reviews HERE!

NIGHTINGALE Synopsis

Some people sing at night to drive back the darkness. Others sing to summon it. . . .

Bron Jones was abandoned at birth. Thrown into foster care, he was rejected by one family after another, until he met Olivia, a gifted and devoted high-school teacher who recognized him for what he really was—what her people call a "nightingale."

But Bron isn't ready to learn the truth. There are secrets that have been hidden from mankind for hundreds of thousands of years, secrets that should remain hidden. Some things are too dangerous to know. Bron's secret may be the most dangerous of all.

Nightingale is available as a hardcover, ebook, audio book, and enhanced novel for the iPad. 

You can purchase it on Amazon HERE! 

Barnes and Noble go HERE! 

on the Nightingale website go HERE! 

or, you can get the enhanced version, complete with illustrations, interviews, animations, and its own soundtrack through iTunes: go HERE! 


If you are a writer, you may want to consider purchasing David Farland’s Million Dollar Outlines instead. Both books are part of the book bomb. Million Dollar Outlines has been a bestseller on Amazon for over a month and is only $6.99.

This is the book's description:

As a bestselling author David Farland has taught dozens of writers who have gone on to staggering literary success, including such #1 New York Times Bestsellers as Brandon Mull (Fablehaven), Brandon Sanderson (Wheel of Time), James Dashner (The Maze Runner) and Stephenie Meyer (Twilight).

In Million Dollar Outlines, Dave teaches how to analyze an audience and outline a novel so that it can appeal to a wide readership, giving it the potential to become a bestseller. The secrets found in his unconventional approach will help you understand why so many of his authors go on to prominence.

Get the Kindle ebook on Amazon HERE! 

Or on Barnes and Noble NOOk Book HERE! 

Would you like to just donate money? You can do that HERE! http://www.gofundme.com/BensRecovery 

If you can’t spare any money, but would still like to help, you can do so by telling others about Ben’s donation page, and/or this Book Bomb. Share it on facebook, twitter, pinterest, your blog—anywhere you can. We have an event page set up on facebook HERE! 

Thank you!
Ben and his family greatly appreciate your support, and so do all who love and care about them.