Monday, April 30, 2018

Gifts for your Author #OpenBook Blog Hop


When writing is your profession or hobby, chances are you’ve received all sorts of bookish gifts from friends (or purchased them for yourself)!

I trend towards minimalism when it comes to decorating. Obviously, books and computers don't count. The more books the merrier. So, I don't normally ask for "bookish" gifts, I ask for books.

My birthday is easy. That's about the time of year a new Longmire book comes out. All I have to do is give my darling hubby a gentle reminder, and a new book will show up along with my cake.

For Christmas I often asks for books of poetry or books about the art of writing. Last year I got adventuresome and requested the first book in the Jack Reacher series, Killing Floor. I enjoyed it, but I don't know if those books will become a tradition.

I have been gifted two "Harry Potter" wands that are also pens. I guess that counts as "writer-ish"?

So what's on my wish list if you want to buy a book for me? I can always find room for a new book on my already crowded bookshelves.

Introduce me to a new science fiction author. I haven't read science fiction for too long. Or perhaps a few biographies. I might be hard to please there, because they can't be of current  political figures or celebrities. I haven't kept up with the Collegium Chronicles by Mercedes Lackey (and there's a bunch of her books I  haven't read) so, that might be an easy place to start.

While I find room a place for that new book (that isn't piled on my desk!) let's head over and find out what the other authors suggest.


April 30, 2018 - A list of book-related gift ideas
When writing is your profession or hobby, chances are you’ve received all sorts of bookish gifts from friends (or purchased them for yourself)! Whether it’s a book light that you love, a framed print of your favorite literary quote, or a pair of Hobbit-inspired socks, these accessories can serve as the start to a great blog post. Though this type of content can work all year round, we find the greatest success in December as book lovers start looking for holiday gift ideas.

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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Monday, April 23, 2018

Bookshelves and Reading Nooks #OpenBook Blog Hop



Is there such a thing as a bookworm who doesn’t appreciate photos of cozy reading nooks or gorgeous bookshelves?

I've got three full size bookshelves in my writing area. They are pretty well packed, although not necessarily only with books. (There's also my collection of LP's. And computer parts.) But the house is in transition now, so no pictures.

To appease the blogging gods, I went looking for a few dream spots for reading. Everyone has a different idea of what that means. (Thanks, Pinterest!)


I love the way this one looks—the combination of light and dark, the wood and the tree. Unfortunately, it doesn't look all that comfortable. No good back support for long reading sessions.



This one is better. All that space for books, and the fireplace is great. (but where's the chair to sit in front of the fireplace?) And I love the window seat, but again, if you put your legs up on the seat and lean against the wall, your back will start hurting before long.


What's the deal with blocking off the bottom shelf in this one? And if you stand on the bed to reach the top shelves, you'd better find something better than than antlers to hang onto.



This looks comfortable, but where's the bookshelf?




This one isn't bad, but I'd replace the knickknacks with books. At least there are enough pillows that you should be able to get comfortable.

So I didn't find the "perfect" reading nook. But what it comes down to is the perfect spot is wherever you can find a place to sit down, open a book, and ignore the rest of the world, even for a few minutes.So find your favorite spot, open up your copy of Wolves' Gambit, and read away, while I head off to see what the other authors are sharing.


April 23, 2018 - Images of reading nooks or bookshelf designs.
Is there such a thing as a bookworm who doesn’t appreciate photos of cozy reading nooks or gorgeous bookshelves? We think not, and have found success rounding up these types of bookish images. Choosing a particular season or unifying theme helps to keep the content focused and repeatable, like outdoor reading nooks or DIY bookshelves. Pinterest and Instagram are great channels to repurpose this image-based content.

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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Thursday, April 19, 2018

P.J. Fiala and her new release, Ford.


Yes, a different PJ and another new release!


Book Description:

Sometimes the flames of desire run hotter than a mere fire.

Ford Montgomery is working the case of his life. Trailing the arsonist who killed his parents, the former bounty hunter will soon make this guy pay for his crimes. After that, Ford plans to reclaim his house from his ex-wife and retire to his home in the mountains. 

Megan Marshal thought she'd ditched her ex husband, until she finds out the lying scumbag stole from a man nobody steals from. Megan has no clue where he is now, but the cartel is convinced she's the key to getting their product back and they're determined to make her talk.


When Ford rescues Megan from a burning building, their paths abruptly align. However, Ford keeps secrets from her, and she’s had enough of men and their secrets. Can they work together to accomplish their goals? Or will they get scorched by the blazing passion sparking between them?

EXCERPT 

Rummaging in the cupboards to find something to scrounge up for dinner he tried relaxing his jaw. If he kept it clamped tight like he was doing now, he'd end up with lock jaw, or arthritis or something equally awful. But, he was irritated that he was here, in this house, that he swore he wouldn't come back to until it was his, completely, lock stock and barrel. Trouble was, when he tried to think of a safe place to keep Megan, this was the first place that came to mind. He knew it was safe, he'd built it with safety in mind. In his line of work, it wasn't uncommon for some of the people he had to locate to have angry family members or associates and he didn't want to be taken unawares. Which reminded him. Walking to the desk in the corner of the living room, he unlocked the top drawer. Lifting the lid on the laptop he kept in there he waited for it to wake up, logged in, pulled up his security system. Turning all the cameras on and monitoring the entire property via closed circuit monitors, he went back to the kitchen to finish looking for something to eat. Tomorrow he'd have to see if Emmy could bring some food up here.

A few cans of soup, some crackers, and some cans of peaches would be lunch. Pretty bleak, maybe he'd call Emmy to bring supper up here. Turning he spied the wine rack, ah things were looking up. Selecting a nice, full bodied red sangria, he set it on the counter as he pulled a pan from the drawer below the stove to heat the soup in. Setting to the task of pulling bowls and spoons from their respective spaces, he set their eating places at the counter. Wiping the dust from the wine glasses he set them in front of the bowls and opened the shallow drawer that held the wine opener.
Popping the cork from the top, Megan entered the kitchen, a soft smile on her face. "How long have you lived here?"

"About eleven years."
She walked to the french doors and looked out over the scenery. "But, you don't live here now?"

"No."

"Why?"

"It's a long story." Pouring their glasses of wine. "It's also temporary."
She turned toward him, crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. "Where do you live since you're not living here?"

He took a deep breath. Figures she'd want to know all about him. He didn't usually share much of his life. Still too much up in the air.

"I have a little cottage down the mountain by my sister's house. I stay there when I'm not working."

He watched her move toward him, the sun streaming in the French doors perfectly outlined her body in those sexy jeans and pink t-shirt. Purely sexy from head to toe. He'd bet she didn't even know it. Her full breasts jiggled as she walked and his mouth went dry. It'd been far too long. Unfortunately he hadn't thought this through completely. Staying here with her just might be harder than he thought.

"So, you work so much you have a house in the mountains you don't want to live in because it's a long story so you stay in the cabin down by your sister. And then you go to work. Is that about right?"

"About."

She chuckled. "Well, I don't know how I'm going to get any peace here what with you talking so much and all."

Turning to the stove, he stirred the soup, twisted the knob on the stove to turn the burner off and filled both of their bowls.

"Vegetable soup and crackers and wine. It's not much, but it's all I have. I'll call Emmy to bring up some food later. I also have some meat in the freezer downstairs that I can thaw if Emmy's busy."



He sat next to her at the counter and they began eating in silence. Or so he thought.

"What does Emmy do for a living?"

"She's a defense attorney. A damn good one too."

"Is your whole family involved with criminals?"

He chuckled, "Nah, just Emmy and me. Dawson is a plumber and owns his own company. He deals in shit, just not the same kind as Emmy and I."

She giggled. "That's a good one."

"So tell me about Waylon. Why did you marry a piece of scum like him to begin with?"

She bit into a cracker and stared straight ahead. "Gosh damn, but isn't that the million dollar question right now? I've been kicking myself since the first year."

She sipped her wine and he watched her swallow, the graceful curve of her neck, her unblemished skin, her auburn hair looked thick and shiny and he wanted to touch it. Run his fingers through its softness. Tuck the strands that had escaped her ponytail behind her delicate ear.


PRAISE FOR FORD

Bounty Hunters, bad guys and babes, oh my!!

Justice keeps slipping away and Ford is determined to grab it so that his parents can rest in peace and for his siblings peace of mind.

With the bad guys on the run, Ford is forced to pursue.  And he runs right into Megan, who is somehow in the mix.

Fast paced action, ups and downs, hot, sweaty sex and beautiful mountain views.  What more could you want from a book?  The story sizzles and leaves you breathless from all the action going on, both in and out of the sheets



About the Author

Writing has been a desire my whole life.  Once I found the courage to write, life changed for me in the most profound way. Bringing stories to readers that I'd enjoy reading and creating characters that are flawed, but lovable is such a joy.


When not writing, I'm with my family doing something fun.  My husband, Gene, and I are bikers and enjoy riding to new locations, meeting new people and generally enjoying this fabulous country we live in.

I come from a family of veterans. My grandfather, father, brother, two sons, and one daughter-in-law are all veterans. Needless to say, I am proud to be an American and proud of the service my amazing family has given


Author web links:

Website: www.pjfiala.com
Amazon Author Page: www.pjfiala.com/PJFialaAmazon

Monday, April 16, 2018

Bookish Memes #OpenBook Blog Hop


A collection of bookish memes your audience can relate to.

I wasn't sure if this sounded like fun or not. But I've shared a good meme or two along the way, so although there's no overriding theme, here's a few I've enjoyed.

My husband shared this one with me. Made me chuckle.



Not sure who I stole this one from.



I borrowed this one from another author, Terry Odell. Looks like I do have a theme going, after all— word play.


I ran across this one today. Describes my writing method beautifully.




And one more. I can't resist adding one for my new book.

Now let's go see if the other authors can make us giggle!


April 16, 2018 - A collection of bookish memes your audience can relate to.
Humor is a great way to connect with your audience, and positions itself as a highly-shareable content type. Is there a particular reading pet peeve you could create a narrative around? Or perhaps a favorite fandom your readers might enjoy, too? Pinterest is a great platform to find relevant images — just make sure to always credit back!

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

Wordpress:






Custom Blog:




An InLinkz Link-up


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Saturday, April 14, 2018

Happy Release Day! #WolvesGambit



I'm tickled to announce the official release of Wolves' Gambit. Lori Grenville, a minor character from Wolves' Pawn, bugged me to tell her story, and here it is!

Wolf-shifter Lori Grenville was rescued from near-slavery and a brutal pack leader by the Free Wolves. To pay back the favor, she's dedicated her life to helping others in the same situation, leading shifters to safety and a new start, risking her life in the process. She's faced down alphas and has no qualms in undermining pack structure. 

Now she's challenged with the task of restoring an alpha to his rightful place. If she gets it right, she can stop a war from ripping apart two packs and spreading across an entire state. If she fails, she'll be among the first to die.

There's still the option of walking away and letting the Jaeger and Destin packs destroy each other. That means she'll fail in her original mission of rescuing the daughter of the Jaeger alpha before the girl is forced into marriage for political gain.

Lori hasn't failed in a mission yet. This one may be the exception.





Although Wolves' Gambit is the third book in the Free Wolves series, each book can be read as a standalone.


Thanks to K.M. Guth for another great cover.



You can get Wolves' Gambit in e-book form here:

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1368542376

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/wolves-gambit-1

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BZLFCPV

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1128396666?ean=2940159062932

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07BZLFCPV

Amazon AU https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07BZLFCPV

The paperback version will be available soon.



Thursday, April 12, 2018

Hamburger Soup, A New Release and a Giveaway!







First the soup! Winter is over, but while the cold air and snow sticks around in some parts of the world, I thought I'd share this recipe. I won't be able to start gardening for a few more weeks.

Hamburger Soup

1 1/2 lbs hamburger (or for added flavor, do half hamburger and half Italian sausage)
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
4 cups shredded cabbage
1 sweet bell pepper, chopped (and if you want, add a yellow pepper for added color)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 8oz can tomato sauce
4 cups beef broth (I always end up using more)
1/2 tsp seasoning salt
1/2 tsp basil
1/4 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

In a large skillet, brown the meat, onions, celery, garlic and pepper until the meat is no longer pink. Add the cabbage and cook together for a couple of minutes. (Tip: Unless you have a really big skillet, all the cabbage isn't going to fit. No worries. Just add what's left to the pot in the next step.) Drain and add the seasonings.

Put the beef stock and tomato sauce in a stock pot. Add the meat and vegetables mixture. Mix. Simmer 30-45 minutes. I like to serve with some shredded cheese to throw on top and some warm bread to dip in your bowl. Happy eating!

Now the new release.



Wolf-shifter Lori Grenville was rescued from near-slavery and a brutal pack leader by the Free Wolves. To pay back the favor, she's dedicated her life to helping others in the same situation, leading shifters to safety and a new start, risking her life in the process. She's faced down alphas and has no qualms in undermining pack structure.

Now she's challenged with the task of restoring an alpha to his rightful place. If she gets it right, she can stop a war from ripping apart two packs and spreading across an entire state. If she fails, she'll be among the first to die.

There's still the option of walking away and letting the Jaeger and Destin packs destroy each other. That means she'll fail in her original mission of rescuing the daughter of the Jaeger alpha before the girl is forced into marriage for political gain.

Lori hasn't failed in a mission yet. This one may be the exception.

Although Wolves' Gambit is the third book in the Free Wolves series, each book can be read as a standalone.

Excerpt:

     With a smooth motion, she swung the shotgun to her shoulder. Without taking time to aim, she squeezed the trigger. The recoil pushed her against the wall, which held her up. The wolf, still advancing, snarled and tightened the muscles in his hindquarters. Lori didn't have time to figure out his plan of attack. She fired the second barrel. He dropped to the floor, whined, and crawled under a table.
     She retrieved two more shells from her pocket and reloaded. Outside, a lone wolf howled. It echoed in the night but received no answer. Surely Eugene hadn’t taken down an enemy already? Or had he abandoned her?
     With her back against the wall, she took a deep breath and braced herself for another attack. An oppressive silence, broken only by her breathing and the soft whimpering of the wolf she'd shot, blanketed the bar. Lori jerked her head, trying to shake a few stray hairs away from her eyes. She didn't dare loosen her grip on the gun.
     Then two wolves, side by side, emerged from the darkness outside and hurtled through the window frame. A third followed. The first two paced towards her shoulder to shoulder. When she pulled the trigger, the scatter of one shot hit both of them. One stumbled for a fraction of a second, but didn't stop. In two steps, they'd be on her.
     She fired again, the recoil pushing her hard against the wall. The double damage at close range forced them back. One limped to the window and crawled out. The other sought refuge behind the bar.
     She still had the third wolf to deal with and empty chambers. She broke open the gun and dumped the spent casings. They clattered to the floor, rolling towards the center of the room. The last wolf gathered himself for his onrush. Her hands shaking, Lori pulled more ammo from her pocket. One slipped from her fingers and rattled to the floor. There was no time to get another. She dropped the lone round in the chamber.

You can buy the e-book version at these retailers:

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1368542376

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/wolves-gambit-1

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BZLFCPV

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1128396666?ean=2940159062932

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07BZLFCPV

Amazon AU https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07BZLFCPV

Keep scrolling for the giveaway!



And a Giveaway! In celebration of the release of Wolves' Gambit, one or more lucky people will win an e-book version of Wolves' Pawn, the first book of the series. You can enter here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, April 9, 2018

Books to Read #OpenBook


April 9, 2018 – Recommend books to your readers in your genre(s).

Here's the thing. I try not to read books from my genres while I'm writing in that genre. And as I usually have a project going in both series at the same time, that means I rarely seek out new authors on those genres, and that most of my reading is in other genres.

There is one writer I'd like to recommend from the cozy mystery category. Jenna Bennett, the author of the Cutthroat Business series, is a hybrid writer. That means she writes and publishes as an indie, but also sells her stories to major publishing companies (sometimes using a different name.)

But back to the Cutthroat Business books. (also known as the Savannah Martin mysteries.) I read A Cutthroat Business, the first book in the series, long before I ever thought of writing a mystery myself. So, it's earned an exemption from my rule about not reading in my genre. Besides, I love the overall story line and most of the books. Jenna is up to number fifteen  now, Home Stretch, but she's also written a couple of novellas in the series as well as books outside of the series.

While not each of her books is gold, at least they are silver. And since I've grown fond of her characters, I'll keep on reading.

Interesting side note: Jenna has changed the covers of her first books several times. I don't know if that has helped her sales or not.

The second series I'm going to recommend are also mysteries. If you read this blog regularly, you already know I'm a fan of Craig Johnson and the Longmire books. Again, I liked the earlier books more than I like the later ones. (He's up to number thirteen.) I think he's gone more commercial, whether it's because he was spending more time on the TV show or under pressure from his publishing company, I don't know. Still, his books are worth the read, and I support him as a Wyoming writer.

Interestingly enough, most of the books I've read lately are romances. That's one genre I've tried and failed to write. Sure, all my books have a romantic element, but they aren't pure romance. That's very true for my newest book, Wolves' Gambit. The action takes precedence over the romance. (It's there. Maybe not where you expected it.)


So there are my recommendations. Let's head over to the other authors and see what they are reading.


April 9, 2018 – Recommend books to your readers in your genre(s).

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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Monday, April 2, 2018

Work vs. family time #OpenBook Blog Hop



April 2, 2018 – Work time vs. family time. How do you manage it all?

Being a writer is at it's heart, a lonely task. Hours sitting in front of a computer or a notepad, trying to get the right words to spill from your brain into some resemblance of a story. But not all of us live solitary lives. There's work and families to consider in how we schedule our time.

So how do I do it?

Easy answer—not very well, I'm afraid.

I admit to spending far too much time in my writing space, away from my family. Especially when I'm at a turning point in the story and the words are flowing freely. While my husband watches television, I work on whatever my latest story is. I've tried to do it in the same room he's in, but it's too easy to get distracted by whatever is flashing across the TV screen.

So, I try to limit myself to writing when everyone else has gone to bed. Get in a lot of writing in a short period of time. If I mull where the story is going when I'm doing other things, hopefully I'll be able to capture the thoughts later. Of course, that partially depends on my characters not changing things up on me when I have the opportunity to put words on paper.

Because there is another factor that plays into this time management mess. I have a full-time job, and work really hard not do any writing while I'm supposed to be doing something else. Granted, I've been known to sneak in a few minutes of writing here and there, but I can't let it interfere with doing what I get paid for. But occasionally work bleeds over into my time, so I don't feel too guilty about taking back a few spare moments.

And I haven't even mentioned the time spent on social media trying to promote my books. Which I do badly, I'm afraid.

Speaking of promotion!





Now let's head over to the other authors and see how they juggle it all.


April 2, 2018 – Work time vs. family time. How do you manage it all?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

Wordpress:






Custom Blog:




An InLinkz Link-up:


get the InLinkz code