Blogiversary Bash! Amazing #Giveaways for Writers and Readers

It's hard to believe that I've been blogging for a whole year. It started out as a "okay, I'll give it a try" and turned into a full-blown adventure. I'm so glad I entered the blogging world. I've met so many fabulous people and have learned more than I could've imagined.

Let's start with a year in review:

First Post: I'm a Writer (March 18, 2012)

3 Most Popluar Posts: 

Christian Grey is my Hump Day Hunk (May 30, 2012) over 4,000 views

Olympics Hump Day Hunks (July 25, 2012)

Busted for Reading Romance (October 1, 2012)

Post with the Most Comments: Black Friday Blog Hop (Nov. 23, 2012) 59 comments

First Cover Reveal: Time Changes Everything Cover Reveal (Sept. 3, 2012) 

First Character Interview: Jake from Time Changes Everything (April 27, 2012)

First "Real" Person Interview: Chantel Rhondeau, Author of Always and Forever

First Meme: The Lucky Seven Meme (March 22, 2012)

First Book Review: Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis

Now for the FUN! I have super, wonderful, amazing, incredible, groovy, awe-inspiring friends who are bloggers, authors, publishers, editors and they will be donating wonderful prizes for my BLOGIVERSARY giveaways! What are the giveaways? Check this list out:

First 5-pages Manuscript Critique - 

Ashley Christman, Entranced Publishing Executive Editor/Publisher

First 5-pages Manuscript Critique - 
Eden Plantz, Managing Editor for Entranced Publishing

First 5-pages Manuscript Critique - 

Lindsey Louckes, author with Crescent Moon Press & Entangled Publishing

Query Critique - 

ST Bende, Author of Elsker, to be released in May, 2013

$10 Amazon Gift Certificate - 

Louise Gornall, Author of In Stone to be released by Entranced Publishing this year

Sixth South Ebook -

from author Michele Shriver

2 Ebooks: Love by Number and Never Date a Cop - 
from erotica author Kara Leigh Miller

Ebook copy of Too Close to Home -
donated by Rachel Kall, author of Legally Undercover

ARC Crime and Passion Ebook -
from author Chantel Rhondeau

Coming Home Ebook -
from erotica romance author Paloma Beck

5-page Critique & Mainstream Sci-Fi Adventure Ebook Moons' Kiss - 
from professional editor and author Kimberly Comeau

Only in Her Dreams Ebook - 

from author Christina McKnight

Signed Print Copy of The Brookfield Series -
from author Lacey Wolfe

PDF copy of The Hunter Diaries -
from author Serena Zane

Winners Choice: Michal's Window, Broken Build or Hidden Under Her Heart Ebook - 
from author Rachelle Ayala

Ecopy of each: A Ranger's Tale, Tallenmere #1 and Serenya's Song, Tallenmere #2 - 
from author Mysti Parker

5-page critique & Hand-crafted Swag from Liberty Ann Ireland

$5 Amazon Gift Certificate for one of my awesome donation participants (randomly selected) + First 5-pages Manuscript Critique -From Me

Print copies (US only) - The One That Got Away (Harlequin Kiss) by Kelly Hunter and Hitched! (Harlequin Kiss) by Jessica Hart - 
from Sara at Harlequin Junkie

Enter by Rafflecopter Below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How to Pitch Your Book Online

Last Saturday I guest blogged at From Corsets to Bustiers, Christina McKnight's blog. If you haven't checked it out, follow the link below and read my story about Rejections to a Contract. 

I give advice on how to do an online pitch. I'm not an expert, but that is how I contracted my upcoming novel, Time Changes Everything with Entranced Publishing. There are live pitch challenges right now! See what I did and push yourself to get out there.

I love to read comments. Please let me know your experiences with online pitches or what you think about them. 

Alpha Male Gabfest

Do you love to read about Alpha Males? Who are your favorites? In honor of the Alpha Male Blog Hop, I've invited a group of wonderful authors to answer these questions. I hope you enjoy!

Why do I love Alpha Males?

Which book has your favorite Alpha Male?

After reading everyone's responses, go below to enter to win:

A $5 Amazon Gift Card

OR

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $130 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: An Awesome Swag Pack!

So, without further ado, please welcome my featured authors. 

Chantel Rhondeau, author of Always and Forever

Well, you've read my book, Melinda, so you know I don't 100% go for those macho, alpha males. I like a man with a softer side. I'd say a blend of alpha and beta - take charge when I need him to, but be kind and nurturing when I need that. However, my new WIP involves a very alpha male and I have to admit, as we peel back the layers and I get to know him better, he is a wonderful man. Hmmm... too many alphas in books to narrow it down without saying Eric Northman again from the Sookie Stackhouse books, but I've got the perfect one from a TV show. Have you ever watched Law and Order, Special Victims Unit? An actor who used to be on there, Christopher Meloni, played Detective Stabler. Not only was he very alpha, but very, very HOT! :-) Hotness always factors in with those alphas, doesn't it? I would recommend watching reruns of this show if you missed him!

Rachel Kall, author of Legally Undercover, a romantic suspense to be published by Entranced Publishing April 22, 2013

I think a true Alpha Male is the perfect combination of strength and smarts. The Alpha Male knows what he wants and is willing to fight for it. My favorite Alpha Males can be in found in books by Suzanne Brockmann, Roxanne St. Claire, and Catherine Mann all writers of wonderful romantic suspense. 

Rachelle Ayala, author of Broken Build and Michal's Window

An Alpha male is decisive with a take charge attitude and tough exterior. He doesn't like to talk about his feelings, but if you're the special woman who can squeeze into his heart, you'll find him loyal and utterly adorable. Just don't let anyone else catch on.

Dave Jewell of my latest book, Broken Build, is my favorite alpha male. A hard charging CEO who fires at will, he hides his brokenness with a playboy lifestyle... until Jen uncovers the dusty crib and baby toys.

Dariel Raye, author of Dark Sentinels: Sable

Two of my favorite alpha males are Nalini Singh's Noel and Galen, from "Angel's Flight." Both are men of few words, yet when they speak, they are intelligent, insightful, and direct. They are both powerful, protective men who are not intimidated by a strong woman; in fact, they support and encourage strength in the women they love, taking whatever steps they deem necessary to help them acknowledge and fulfill their dreams. These men make me feel safe, willing to risk their lives to protect me from harm. They show me I am loved instead of wasting time with flowery lip-service.  

Christina McKnight, author of Only in Her Dreams

Alpha males? Women still like alpha males? Well, I’m more of a beta male kinda girl! Five reasons I’m addicted to this type of man: 1. He’ll let his woman pay the tab every once in a while, 2. He’ll admit his mistakes and apologize, 3. He doesn’t need the approval of his ‘pack’, 4. He doesn’t bulldoze people to get his way, 5. He’s not afraid to admit when he’s fallen in love!  My advice…whether your beta man is in the flesh or among the pages of a good book, hold tight to him and never let him go!

ST Bende, author of Elsker, a mythology based novel to be published by Entranced Publishing May 20, 2013

I feel like choosing a single favorite Alpha Male is a Herculean task.  I suppose I could start there - Hercules.  Now that's an Alpha Male.  Even the Disney cartoon version was dreamy - strong, sensitive, powerful... a halfway decent singer.  And I'd be remiss if I mentioned a mythological Alpha without bringing up Thor.  Strong, powerful, most likely not all that sensitive (but who really cares when the guy wields the power of Mjolnir and harnesses the forces of thunder?), and probably really good looking, given his Nordic roots.  But I'm fairly certain the ultimate Alpha Male was James Bond himself.  Sometimes dark, sometimes brooding, always elegant, well dressed, refined, dignified, and able to handle any situation.  Doesn't every woman fancy a man who has it all under control?  And who among us wouldn't love to be a Bond Girl?  I wouldn't object to looking even a smidge like Ursula Andress in that white bikini, walking out of the Caribbean to meet James Bond.  Hey, this blog post is about fantasy, isn't it?  

Melinda Dozier, author of Time Changes Everything, to be published by Entranced Publishing June 3, 2013

Alpha males are attractive because they know what they want. There´s nothing sexier than a confident, fearless, bold man. When it comes to love, an Alpha is ahead of the game. He doesn´t ask for love, but he tells the herione he wants it. He needs it. He has got to have it, and he will do whatever it takes to get it.

Jake in Time Changes Everything is the perfect Alpha. He has all the qualities I mentioned above. Once he realizes he's ready to love Amanda, he goes for it. He only has to convince her to admit it, too. What are some of the ways he convinces Amanda to take the risk on love? Find out in June, 2013 when Time Changes Everything is published.
______________________________________________________________________________

Like what you heard? Please click on the author's name for their blog site or their book picture to buy their book!


But that's not all....Enter to win on the Alpha Male Blog Hop hosted by Carrie Ann's Blog Hops.

We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!

Now what are those prizes?

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $130 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: The following Swag Pack!

And that's STILL not all... For a chance to win a $5 Amazon Gift Card, enter my own raffle below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Remember to comment below about your favorite Alpha Males (with your email) and link on to other blog hop participants at: http://carrieannbloghops.blogspot.com/ for more chances to win!

Thanks for stopping by,

Melinda

Author Interview: Christina McKnight, Only in Her Dreams

WELCOME to Christina McKnight! Her new novel, Only in Her Dreams, has been released this month and she took her time out of her busy schedule to be interviewed by me. Hope you enjoy!

1. What sparked your interest in becoming a romance writer?

My love of historical romance novels! Since I was young my mom hounded me to write. Most of the time we read the same romance novels and I’d guess the ending half way through…to both our surprise I was right most of the time. If I wasn’t right, my mom always said my endings were better. I think I’ve always been a romance writer, even if the stories only existed in my imagination.

2. How did you come up with your ideas for Only in Her Dreams?

Only in Her Dreams actually came to me in a dream. Ironic, I know. Several times I dreamt of a man watching me. He never approached, moved, or spoke, but stayed silently in the background. I starting thinking: Who is this guy? What does he want?

A fellow writer -and self-proclaimed dream expert- said the man may be someone I’ve come into contact with recently. My next question: What if this mystery man from my dream showed up in real life? Only In Her Dreams, The Oneiroi Book 1 took off from there.

3. You have an amazing way of organizing your writing time. Want to tell the readers about it?

Ha! By ‘amazing’ do you mean crazy? I find I work best when I’m faced with deadlines. So, I set attainable deadlines and goals for all my projects...then (this step is very important) I tell everyone about my deadlines. This helps keep me on track and focused because I loathe disappointing people. I also schedule my writing, editing, and blogging time each day.

4. Any advice for indie authors?

Ask questions! Seek out other writers and learn as much as you can from their experiences. I have a wonderful support group of writers, some indie and a few traditional. Something I’ve learned is that writers are more than happy to share what they’ve learned. And if they don’t know the answer, they will point you to another writer who does. In addition, as a writer you must be willing to help others as well. Share what you learn with other new writers.

5. What are your future plans as an author?

Oh, I have A LOT planned! Right now I’m writing the first book (out of 3) in my historical romance series.

A few months ago I read Wallflower by Catherine Gayle and she wrote a scene that involved a duel. The heroine wanted to take the place of her beta male counterpart. She was scared to lose him. Talk about true love!

I started thinking...what if a young girl of the ton was responsible for the death of a man because of a duel she egged on? The next logical question was...what if BOTH men died? Then I took it one step further...what if the men were brothers? Shunned No More, The Forsaken Lady Series (Book 1) progressed from there. I have a heroine that the reader should despise during the prologue but hopefully I can redeem her by the end of the book.

Oh, and of course I’m working on Only In Her Nightmares, The Oneiroi Book 2, but you’ll have to wait a bit longer for deets on this project.

Author Bio:

Christina McKnight is a book lover turned writer. From a young age, her mother encouraged her to tell her own stories. She’s been writing ever since. 

In college, Christina took many courses to help develop and enhance her writing skills. She completed a seventy-page dissertation on the need for community policing in American society. Now, she focuses on Historical Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Paranormal Romance.

Christina lives in Northern California with her husband, daughter, two boxers, two cats, and a Beta fish named Marmaduke.  If she’s not behind a computer screen or book, she’s busy leading her daughter’s Girl Scout troop. She is very active in several writing groups and a local book group.

Book Excerpt:

Chapter 8

Darius preferred to let his brothers believe his powers had indeed been stripped, gone with his banishment. That’s where his deal with the Dark One came in handy. He’d had a link to the girl for years now, bringing a dark presence to her dreams-her nightmares.

Closing his eyes he concentrated on the dark side. A thrill coursed through his body every time he traveled to this forbidden land. He would lead these people, his type of people.

His eyes opened and he stood in front of a rusted, black iron gate. It parted to allow him entrance.

He proceeded down the fog-ridden path toward the castle in the distance. It was an imposing structure covered by black tinted ivy. Everything in this place held a black tint; the streets, the building, and most of all—the people. Soon-to-be, his people.

As he approached the massive fortress, the doors glided open of their own accord. The interior was as dark and fog laden as the exterior, dim candles shown upon the rug laden floor he moved across.

“The Dark One will see you in the billiards room.”

Darius stiffened and stopped his progress, turning toward the voice behind him.

No one in sight. What the fuck?

He straightened his shoulders and continued through the foyer and down the hall leading to the billiards room. Again, doors parted and he entered.

The Dark One lounged against the far wall, cue stick in hand. He studied the freshly racked pool table. “You’re in time for a game. Grab a cue, Darius.”

“Yes, My Lord.” Darius retrieved a cue stick from the wall and turned toward the table. The Dark One leaned across it, aiming for the racked balls.

“I hear you have good news for me,” he said as his stick connected with the white ball. On impact, the colored and striped balls rolled toward the corner pockets.

Darius watched in awe. Every ball found its home in a hole, ending the game before it start. What the fuck?! he thought to himself, for the second time in less than ten minutes.

“Well?”

“Yes. My informant gave us accurate information about where the girl lives,” Darius said.

“Have you confirmed this for yourself?” The man stood straight and returned his stick to the rack on the wall. He faced Darius across the table, hands on his hips. The man was intimidating, the thing that nightmares were made of.

“Of course.” I’m not an idiot.

“Well?”

“Well…what?” Darius asked. Standing around a pool table, in such a casual setting should be relaxing, but he was on edge.

“Why isn’t Erebos mine yet?”

Good question. How to answer that without getting his ass set on fire, he wondered. “I’m working on it.”

“Work faster. I’m in need of a new home, this one’s going to shit.” The Dark One stared at Darius, no hint of a joke on his face.

“I don’t plan to drag this out longer than necessary.”

Follow Christina on Twitter! https://twitter.com/#!/CMcKnightWriter

Christina's blog: www.christina-mcknight.blogspot.com

Email: christinamcknight.author@yahoo.com

Facebook 

Goodreads

Buy Link: Amazon  

Guest Author: Christina McKnight - Only In Her Dreams & Giveaway

Christina McKnight, Author

Only In Her Dreams, The Oneiroi Book 1 - Available on Amazon

Book Blurb - Only In Her Dreams, The Oneiroi Book 1

When Lucessa Sarcona awakes from a recurring dream, she has no idea her life is about to be turned upside down. A stranger, familiar to her dreams, shows up in the flesh, and Lucessa knows she’s either crazy or experiencing something not of this world.

A war ensues between three demigod brothers. One, trained to rule Erebos, is violently replaced. One forced to return to his homeland and lead the dream-gods of the Oneiroi. And one is charged with the impossible task of protecting Lucessa. How is she linked to the Oneiroi? Why do two brothers seek to keep her hidden and protected? And how does another plan to use her against the two demigods who love her?

Will Lucessa’s dream man have the courage to claim her as his own or will he bow to the command of another, forsaking the one he loves?

Only in Her Dreams is a modern spin on a Greek legend--the new direction of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, moving from angels, demons, vampires, and witches and toward the realm of demigods.

Excerpt: Chapter One

Lucessa stared at her bed. It was time to sleep again, but it was getting harder to succumb to it. She started to think the day would never come when she could abandon herself to sleep without the feeling of being watched. He was always there--haunting her dreams. Her dreams hadn’t been her own in such a long time.

He was always there. Never talking but always watching. Intently. As if he knew her. Security, even in sleep, eluded her.

She’d lost her father and her husband. Her mother was slipping away, battling a memory loss that was progressing daily. Her dreams were the only place she could remember a family, someone who cared. But he insisted on intruding. Every happy memory and every nightmare included his presence. Why did he always show up? How could she get rid of him?

Lucessa tried for the millionth time to find a solution as she climbed under the covers. Who am I kidding? There was nothing she could do. He was a dream! A figment of her imagination. She sighed and resigned herself to another restless night.

Lucessa was a child again. The cold, pine-scented wind tangled her hair as she descended the mountain path in front of her parents. Her family’s annual summer camping trip to Yosemite National Parkwas in its third day, and that meant they’d conquered Half Dome for the third year straight. Ever since her parents deemed her old and skilled enough for the challenge, they hiked it together. As a family.

She looked back at her smiling parents as they held hands and strolled down the path after her. Her mother, Marie, looked casual in her jeans and the blue“Keep Lake Tahoe Blue” shirt that hugged her frame. Her father wore a San Francisco Giants baseball cap, a wisp of salt and pepper hair showing through. They looked like a couple out of the travel magazine that Lucessa had seen in her father’s study weeks ago.

“Dear, watch where you’re going!”

Lucessa turned back to the trail, nearly colliding with a man lounging against a tree just off the path. Dressed in a thigh-hugging pair of dark pants and a billowy tunic that had to be from at least a century ago, he pushed off the tree trunk and tipped his hat. His blue eyes sparkled with mischief in the evening twilight, letting off a faint glow. The man looked eerily recognizable.

She looked back to reassure her mother that she was okay. Lucessa scanned the woods behind her.

But they were gone. Only the familiar stranger remained.

Christina McKnight

You can find Christina on the following social media networks: 

 Twitter! https://twitter.com/#!/CMcKnightWriter

Blog: www.christina-mcknight.blogspot.com

Email: christinamcknight.author@yahoo.com

Facebook

Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

One lucky winner will win an ecopy of Only in Her Dreams. Enter with the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway