Category Archives: Writing
Reflections on a booksigning; #romanticon2022 #writerslife
If you follow this blog, you know yesterday I posted a picture taken of me at this past weekend’s ROMANTICON 2022 held in Trumbull, CT.
Driving home early Sunday morning I had private time to reflect on a few things about the event, and myself.
First, if you know anything about me you know I am basically a hermit. I have friends – I’m not a social pariah, hahaha -but I tend I stay home a lot, work on my writing, take care of my hubby and dog, and see my daughter and her family. I don’t PEOPLE well. Truthfully, I am a loner/hermit/introvert as many writers are. But when we do an event like a book signing, we have to BE ON. By that I mean we have to smile, engage readers, and generally make ourselves liked.
This is hard for me. So hard. I’d never make a salesperson. I’d be fired the first day because I simply can not sell anything. I never want to be bothered by salespeople when I shop ( which isn’t often) so I wouldn’t want to impose myself on others if the shoe were on the other foot. Having to hawk my books and myself is so alien a concept to me, it’s a wonder I sell anything at all. Luckily, I have a following and am told I can be engaging when I try. Which isn’t often, but necessary when it is.
So.
Enough about me.
The event is put on by writer Kitty Berry and she and her amazing corps of volunteers did a fantastic job. Everything moved swimmingly, door prizes were given out to the joy of many, the food at the brunch was good and the check-in table moved smoothly along.
All in all, a very professionally run event and one which I will return to next year.
Not only because of the readers but my fellow authors as well.
As authors, we do something most of our friends and family don’t do. Many times they don’t want to hear about the trouble we are having with our characters, or that we can’t get our word counts in because of disruptions. The only people who can relate to those lamentations are other writers because they are suffering through the same issues. In essence, they walk the walk and talk the talk of books, characters, marketing, sales slumps, and best sellers’ lists. So seeing so many of my writing friends after 2 years of covid isolation and cancellations was….amazing.
Truly.
It was life-affirming and career motivating. Just to be in a room with 50+ other people who do what I do and know what I go through each and every day was simply…gratifying. The readers were the cherry on top of that beautiful cake.
So, I’m back in my writing cave until the next event/book signing. I think I have 4 more this year. 2023 already has 6 booked with the option to do 2 more at least.
I’ll need to practice my social skills until then…
Happy reading, peeps. get those Summer reading lists moving (hopefully with a book or 2 from me!)
Filed under Writing
Photo of the day, day 200
Filed under Writing
Photo of the day, day 199
I had such a good time at Romanticon and as requested by Magnolia Blossom Publishing, here’s a photo of me hawking the recent books they published with me.
Filed under Writing
#goodreadsGiveaway THE HAUNTING OF WILTON JUNE, #PNR #steamyromance #entertowin
From today until August 1, 2022, you can take a chance to win one of 5 print copies of the second book in my Romantic Hauntings series, THE HAUNTING OF WILTON JUNE via Goodreads.
Here’s the link. GOODREADSGIVEAWAY
and a little about the book….
Hotshot movie director Wilton June is in pre-production for a new movie. The moment he sees Maison Toussaint he decides it’s the perfect setting for the film and wants to rent it. The one stumbling block? The owner isn’t sure she can let her ancestral home be used in a movie.
Botanist Jerica Toussaint needs cash – a lot of it – to keep her home up to code and her herbal healing business alive. June’s financial offer is oh-so-tempting, as is the director himself. But the house has a secret Jerica’s guarded her entire life. Can she, in good conscience, rent it to a man who may expose it?
Convincing Jerica to trust him with her home – and her secret – is no easy feat and after a time Will realizes he needs to convince her to trust him with one more thing: her heart.
Good luck, peeps! And if you just want to buy the book instead of entering, here’s the Amazon link: THOWJ
Filed under Writing
ROMANTICON 2022 Here I come!!!
Tickets are still available and will be at the door, as well. Here’s the info: ROMANTICON
It promises to be a fun day for everyone. 75+ romance authors all hawking our books, giving out swag, and making new friends and readers!
There is a huge door prize raffle with 5 winners!!! you have to be there to be present, so come early and stay til it’s over.
These are the books I’ll have available, so find me at my new hot pink banner to pick one ( or many!) up.
Mix and Match
The Sheriff & the Psychic
Balance
A pride of Brothers: AIDEN
A Pride of Brothers: RICK
Fixing Christmas ( DICKENS)
Holiday Kisses & Angel Wishes ( DICKENS)
Chance ( LAST MAN STANDING)
Merry’s Ghost Romantic Hauntings 1
The haunting of Wilton June Romantic hauntings 2
Dirty Damsels
See ya Saturday, kids!!!!
Filed under Writing
#99centsale THE SHERIFF & THE PSYCHIC #PNR #Westernromance
Police Psychic Silvestra Coeltrain comes to Renewal, OK to visit with old friends and to heal. After a year in which she was tested physically, mentally, and psychically, all she wants to do is sleep, fish, and bask in the tranquility of the sleepy town.
Sheriff Caleb Blackbear doesn’t understand the feelings he’s quickly developing for Renewal’s newest visitor. She responds to his kisses with a passion that equals his own. But she’s an enigma, filled with secrets and evasions, and he’s a suspicious man.
When several of the local ranches begin losing cattle to a mysterious illness, it’s Silvestra who claims the animals are being methodically targeted and killed. As Cal’s investigation zeros in on who and what could be slaying the animals, the murder of a prominent rancher’s daughter – and Cal’s former lover – complicates things. With Silvestra’s life now in danger, Cal is determined to keep her safe at any cost.
But can he?
Add it to your GOODREADS To Be read list
Review it on Book Bub and Amazon
Enjoy the sale, kids. And if you like THE SHERIFF & HE PSYCHIC and haven’t read any of my other books, here’s a list you can choose from. Most of my indie ebooks are only 99cents! PEGGY JAEGER
#Weekendupdate #kindleVella #booksprouts & #preoders Oh MY!
Don’t ever think your favorite writer is sitting at home in lounging pajamas, drinking champagne and eating decadent chocolate after just having written 250 words in her work in progress.
This is an urban myth of the first order!
Writers are more than writers these days. We are business owners, graphic artists, marketing directors, secretaries, newsletter writers, sales people, accountants, and brainstormers.
Here, just to show you how my past week has been, is what I have worked on every day, all the marketing balls I have in the air right now, and the books I am currently either writing, editing, or formatting.
Marketing:
I have 4, count ’em 4 promos going on simultaneously.
- Bookthrone JUNE Kindle VELLA promo
- Bookthrone June KINDLE UNLIMITED promo
- NN LIGHTS Summertime Books Bookish Event
- Booksprout reader and reviewer campaign for CHANCE ( LAST MAN STADNING)
I am writing:
- My 2022 Dickens Holiday Romance
- Nook 3 in A PRIDE OF BROTHERS: DYLAN
- My part in a Ghost anthology
- Book 2 in Heaven’s Matchmaker
I am formatting:
- My Kindlevella serialization VINDICATION Into print
- My Kindlevella serialization THE JANE AUSTEN MURDERS into print
- My Dickens Holiday romance – Sasha’s Secret Santa
In addition, I have released this year this following books:
MIX AND MATCH (Heaven’s matchmaker, book 1)
THE SHERIFF & THE PSYCHIC (( Welcome to Renewal, Book 1)
THE HAUNTING OF WILTON JUNE ( Romantic Hauntings, book 2)
ANGLE KISSES & HOLIDAY WISHES ( A Dickens Holiday romance)
Since I don’t have an assistant or a PA or even a Virtual PA, I have to design and make all my graphics for sales, promos, ads.
So the next time you see me, if I seem tired/confused/out of it/thinking…don’t be insulted. I truly have 1,000,000 things on my mind and an equal number of balls in the air!
The life of a writer….le sigh
And ps….I made all of those book graphics!!!!
Filed under Writing
A #Kindleunlimited Bonanza from @Bookthrone
I am so thrilled to be part of this Kindle Unlimited Book Bonanza!
Two of my books – Mix & Match and The Sheriff & the Psychic are both available thru KU everyday and if you read them and let Bookthrone know – you could Win A 2-Year Kindle Unlimited Membership + A $250 Amazon Gift Card. The rules are below but it’s fast and easy!!!
MIX AND MATCH ( HEAVEN’S MATCHMAKER book 1)
Divorced and lonely, nurse Jasmine Green retains the services of Heaven, NH’s very own successful matchmaker, Olivia Joyner. The bar scene and dating apps give Jasmine hives and Liv’s reputation is stellar. If anyone can help guide her through the quagmire that dating has become, Olivia can.
Architect Donovan Boyd is ready to settle down. He wants the kind of marriage his parents have; long lasting, filled with love, children, and joy. But even after a year of living and working in Heaven, he’s still considered an outsider by many. Finding the type of woman he’s looking for is hard in the tight-knit community. Retaining Olivia Joyner to help him find his forever love is one of the smartest things he’s done, especially after she sets him up with Jasmine Green.
But the red-haired, green-eyed beauty wants a different kind of marriage from the one Donovan considers ideal.
Can these two strong-willed people learn to compromise so they can both find their happily ever after? Or will their relationship forever be relegated to the friend zone?
THE SHERIFF & THE PSYCHIC ( Welcome to Renewal, book 1)
Police Psychic Silvestra Coeltrain comes to Renewal, OK to visit with old friends and to heal. After a year in which she was tested physically, mentally, and psychically, all she wants to do is sleep, fish, and bask in the tranquility of the sleepy town.
Sheriff Caleb Blackbear doesn’t understand the feelings he’s quickly developing for Renewal’s newest visitor. She responds to his kisses with a passion that equals his own. But she’s an enigma, filled with secrets and evasions, and he’s a suspicious man.
When several of the local ranches begin losing cattle to a mysterious illness, it’s Silvestra who claims the animals are being methodically targeted and killed. As Cal’s investigation zeros in on who and what could be slaying the animals, the murder of a prominent rancher’s daughter – and Cal’s former lover – complicates things. With Silvestra’s life now in danger, Cal is determined to keep her safe at any cost.
ENTER TO WIN!!!!!
For your chance to win, all you have to do is READ, READ, & READ. Read any of the books above. All are available for free on Kindle Unlimited. The more you read the better. Our sponsoring authors would love every bit of support from you.
Enter here: KU ( scroll all the way down until you see HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO WIN
Winner will be chosen randomly.
Entries must be received by midnight July 20th, 2022 BST.
The Winner will be contacted via email not more than 48hrs after the giveaway has ended.
(Beware of Scammers! Book Throne will never ask you to fill in a form or ask for any payment whatsoever when you win. We also DO NOT announce winners on Facebook or any social media platforms. Always refer to the giveaway page to check if you’ve won.)
This giveaway is sponsored by the following authors;
Barbara Russell, Peggy Jaeger, Tatenda Creed, C. N. Jackson, R.G. Roberts, Jane Armor, Ashton Abbott, Danni Rose, Craig A. Hart, J. M. Davies, Samantha Adair, Katie Mettner, Gina Manis, Rowan Dillon, Christy J Nicholas, Chiquita Dennie, Changeling Press Authors, Eva DeMoan, Casey Dembowski, Pat Wahler, Jessica White, Book Throne.
GOOD LUCK! And Happy reading!! ~ peg
Filed under Writing
Claire Marti and MONTEREY KING #newrelease
My good friend – and fellow Rone Nominee, Claire Marti, has the third book in her California Suits series, MONTEREY KING releasing today to the book-reading world. When I found out she had a new addition to the series, I just knew I had to spotlight it — and her!
MONTEREY KING
About the book…..
When former Army Major Cameron Taylor comes home a hero from his deployment in the Middle East his scars run deep – both physically and emotionally. But he’s starting over, running a luxury hotel with his best friends. And Lucy Goodwin, apparently…his high school sweetheart who he’s never quite managed to forget.
There’s only one reason Lucy’s been engaged – and walked away – three times and now he’s standing right in front of her. Cameron Taylor is the man she’s never stopped loving, even when he left her “for her own good” all those years ago. There was nothing good about it, that’s for sure. Just like there’d be nothing good about trying to break down Cameron’s walls now. But that doesn’t mean she’s not tempted to try…
***Monterey King is the third book in award-winning and USA Today bestselling author Claire Marti’s spin-off contemporary romance series, California Suits. The series follows the adventures of five best friends who are opening a string of luxury boutique hotels from La Jolla to Monterey to Beverly Hills as each one finds true love…usually where he least expects it. Each book is a standalone.
Excerpt….
But sharing the conference table with the hotel’s Managing Director, Cameron Taylor, who she hadn’t set eyes on since he’d dumped her thirteen years ago? Yeah, that explained why her pulse pounded in her temples like the massive surf crashing on the nearby Monterey shore. She paused in front of the closed conference room door, taking a moment to gather her composure.
“The door isn’t locked.” An unmistakable voice rasped from beside her.
She spun around and her throat tightened the moment her eyes locked with Cameron Taylor’s arctic blue gaze.
How could someone look so familiar yet like a stranger? Lucy studied his lean, angular face. His strong, slightly crooked nose was the same, as was the determined squareness of his jawline. Small lines fanned out from his arresting eyes and grooves bracketed his chiseled mouth, which was pressed into a firm line. His posture was ramrod straight––even more rigid after a dozen years serving overseas in the Army.
“Cam.” How many times had she imagined what she’d say if she ever saw him again? How many impassioned speeches had she rehearsed before moving on with her life?
He inclined his head. “Hi, Lucy.” His crisp tone was as remote as his stony expression. The voice of an acquaintance––not the man she’d shared the love of a lifetime with until he’d broken her heart.
Through impeccable self-control, if she did say so herself, she forced her lips to curve upward. “So… how are you?” Awkward, but it was the best she had to offer. She hadn’t expected to encounter him one-on-one, at least not yet.
“Fine, but we should go in. Ryan and Charlie are waiting.” Cam reached for the mahogany wooden door’s carved brass handle at the same time she did.
His long, blunt fingers brushed hers. A flash of heat sparked up her arm and she snatched her hand back. Muscle memory? Of course, Mr. Poker Face didn’t flinch as he pushed the large door open.
Bright light flooded the conference room and bathed the expansive space in a golden glow. Lucy blinked. January on the Monterey coastline wasn’t celebrated for clear blue skies, but the cloudy gray morning had cleared, and rays of sunshine exposed the rugged Pacific coastline beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Get your copy here:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BG9MP68
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/monterey-king
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/monterey-king/id1578951727
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/monterey-king-claire-marti/1139922605
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/montereyking
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60136171-monterey-king
A little about Claire Marti…
Claire Marti is an award winning and USA Today Bestselling author of swoonworthy Contemporary Romance novels set in Southern California, including the Pacific Vista Ranch series and the California Suits series. She lives in San Diego with her husband, silly dog and three clever cats.
Claire started writing stories as soon as she was old enough to pick up pencil and paper. After graduating from the University of Virginia with a BA in English Literature, Claire was sidetracked by other careers, including practicing law, selling software for legal publishers, and managing a non-profit animal rescue for a Hollywood actress.
Finally, Claire followed her heart and now focuses on two of her true passions: writing romance and teaching yoga.
Social Media Links:
Website: www.clairemarti.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClaireMartiAuthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairepmarti
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8203678.Claire_Marti
Peggy Jaeger, Author 