May Featured Author: Neetu Malik
May 14, 2021 by marianne h donley in category Featured Author of the Month tagged as May Featured Author of the Month, Neetu Malik, Poet's Day, poetry
Neetu Malik’s poetry is an expression of life’s rhythms and the beat of the human spirit. She draws upon diverse multicultural experiences and observations across three continents in which she has lived. She has contributed to The Australia Times Poetry Magazine, October Hill Magazine, Prachya Review, among others. Her poems have appeared in The Poetic Bond Anthology V and VI published by Willowdown Books, UK, NY Literary Magazine’s Tears Anthology and Poetic Imagination Anthology (Canada).
Her poem, “Soaring Flames”, was awarded First-Place by the NY Literary Magazine (2017). She has also been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, 2019 for her poem “Sacred Figs” published by Kallisto Gaia Press in their Ocotillo Review in May, 2018.
Neetu lives in Pennsylvania, USA.
You can find Neetu’s poetry in these volumes.
Hover on the cover for buy links. Click on the cover for more information.
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Spotlight on Tara Lain
April 27, 2021 by marianne h donley in category Apples & Oranges by Marianne H. Donley, Spotlight tagged as frat houses, Nerds vs Jocks, opposites attract, Tara Lain
Tara Lain believes in happy ever afters–and magic. Same thing. In fact, she says, she doesn’t believe, she knows. Tara shares this passion in her stories that star her unique, charismatic heroes and adventurous heroines. Quarterbacks and cops, werewolves and witches, blue collar or billionaires, Tara’s characters, readers say, love deeply, resolve seemingly insurmountable differences, and ultimately live their lives authentically.
After many years living in southern California, Tara, her soulmate honey and her soulmate dog decided they wanted less cars and more trees, prompting a move to Ashland, Oregon where Tara’s creating new stories and loving living in a small town with big culture.
Tara loves animals of all kinds, diversity, open minds, coconut crunch ice cream from Zoeys, and her readers.
You can find out more about Tara using the following links:
Website
Facebook
Readers Group
Newsletter
Amazon Page
BookBub
Twitter
Tara’s Nerds vs Jocks Series
By clicking on the book cover below, you can find more information on each book in the series.
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Isn’t It Bromantic–A Review
April 24, 2021 by marianne h donley in category Apples & Oranges by Marianne H. Donley, Book Reviews tagged as humor, Isn't It Bormantic, Lyssa Kay Adams, romantic comedy, The Bromance Book Club, Vlad and Elena
Isn’t it Bromantic
Bromance Book Club 4
Lyssa Kay Adams
Berkley
Available July 20, 2021
978-0593332771
With his passion for romance novels, it was only a matter of time before Vlad wrote one.
Buy Links
About the Book
Elena Konnikova has lived her entire adult life in the shadows. As the daughter of a Russian journalist who mysteriously disappeared, she escaped danger the only way she knew how: She married her childhood friend, Vladimir, and moved to the United States, where he is a professional hockey player in Nashville.
Vlad, aka the Russian, thought he could be content with his marriage of convenience. But it’s become too difficult to continue in a one-sided relationship. He joined the Bromance Book Club to learn how to make his wife love him, but all he’s learned is that he deserves more. He’s ready to create his own sweeping romance—both on and off the page.
The bros are unwilling to let Vlad forgo true love—and this time they’re not operating solo. They join forces with Vlad’s neighbors, a group of meddling widows who call themselves the Loners. But just when things finally look promising, Elena’s past life intrudes and their happily ever after is cast into doubt.
About the Author
Lyssa Kay Adams is an award-winning journalist who gave up the world of true stories to pen all-the-feels romances featuring sexy heroes and women who always get the last word. Lyssa lives in Michigan with her family and an anxiety-ridden Maltese who steals food and buries it around the house and who will undoubtedly be a character in a future book. Keep up with Lyssa on Twitter at @LyssaKayAdams.
Review
It’s no secret that I have enjoyed all of Lyssa Kay Adams’ book, but I especially love her Bromance Book Club series. They are laugh out loud funny, yet they manage to include complex subjects like failed marriages, sexual harassment, and family secrets. Isn’t It Bromantic is no exception.
Elena and Vlad have a modern marriage of convenience. She wants out and he wants a genuine marriage—what could go wrong?
Elena is wounded but strong. She’s used to being overlooked and ignored. While she’s convinced she doesn’t deserve Vlad, she doesn’t let anyone—not even Vlad walk all over her.
Vlad (also known as the Russian), may be my favorite character in the entire series. He’s just adorable, and he’s writing a romance novel! (I may have cheered when I read the tagline for the book: With his passion for romance novels, it was only a matter of time before Vlad wrote one.) This man seriously believes in romance, and he’s determined to have one of his own.
The Book Club bros, meddling neighbors, and a dog and cat who just show up every day for Vlad’s attention add to the humor. And seriously, the Cheese Man had better get his own book.
Isn’t It Bromantic is smart, heartfelt, and hysterical. You will laugh and cry—sometimes in the same scene. Lyssa hit a grand slam with the fourth installment of her series.
Available July 20, 2021, you can order Isn’t It Bromantic using one of the following Buy Links:
Calling Published Romance Authors
April 23, 2021 by marianne h donley in category Contests, Published Contest tagged as 2021 BBB Contest, OCC/RWA, occ/rwa BBB Contest, The Book Buyers Best Contest
2021 BOOK BUYERS BEST
CONTEST FOR PUBLISHED AUTHORS
Deadline is April 30, 2021
The OCCRWA is running its annual Book Buyers Best Contest for traditional or indie romances in print or e-novel format published during 2020.
Non-refundable entry fee: $30, RWA members; $50, non-RWA.
The contest is open now and closes on April 30, 2021. We invite you to submit to our contest (and tell your non-RWA writer friends about it, too!).
Even if you’re not entering one of your books into the contest, you’re invited to be one of our judges. It’s a fun experience to be introduced to the writing of published authors you don’t know (see link below).
Follow this link to learn about contest categories rules, entry form and fee, past winners, and call for judges
Thanks, Nancy Brashear and Cathleen Armstrong, BBB Coordinators
Go here for BBB Categories and Rules
Go here for BBB Entry Form and Fee Payment
Go here for BBB Past Winners
Go here for Judge Sign-Up
Go here to Contact BBB Contest Coordinator
Please contact OCC/RWA BBB Coordinators, Cathleen Armstrong and Nancy Brashear, at bbbcontest@occrwa.org
Orange County Chapter/Romance Writers of America®
0 0 Read moreHow’d I Miss That?
April 18, 2021 by marianne h donley in category Ages 2 Perfection Online Class, Online Classes tagged as A2P, A2P Online Class, Kathryn Jane, Self-editing, self-publishing
“How’d I Miss That?” (Self-Editing)
Presented by: Kathryn Jane
Date: May 1 – 31, 2021
Pricing: A2P Member fee: $15
Non-A2P Member fee: $30
About the Workshop:
Sending to a contest? Sending to an agent? Sending to an editor? Self-publishing?
No matter where your words and pages are headed, they need to be the best they can possibly be, and that means self-editing. Yep, the initial cleanup is your job and that’s why self-editing skills are so darned important.
This workshop will provide you with all the tips and tricks I wish someone had shared with me.
About the Presenter:
Kathryn Jane, author, artist, and coach, loves to share her knowledge and experience in workshops designed to assist others in every stage of their publishing adventure. Her own career has included everything from short stories and novels, to multi-book series. Whether romantic suspense or the escapades of feral cats, Kathryn’s unique voice will take you on a journey rich with pitfalls on the way to the always promised happy ending.
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