In My Mailbox: Week of May 6

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

Title: The Cowboy Singer

Author: Paula Tiberius

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: April Connors figured her love life was on hold indefinitely now that she was about to have a baby while temporarily staying at her grandmother’s house (what a turn-on!). Meeting infamous country singer Jimmy Wick may have made her giant belly flip, but she was filing him under a big “as if.” No man in his right mind would fall for a gal this pregnant, and besides, she needed to focus on herself and the baby. James Warwick (a.k.a. Jimmy Wick) was not in his right mind. His ex-wife was petitioning for full custody of the only thing that made him happy besides playing music, his four-year-old princess, Summer, and the thought of losing her had him crazier than an outhouse rat. His saving grace was his new ‘friend’ April who he was falling head over heels for. The only problem was, April had just been knocked up, dumped and stranded by the last guy she was with and was in no mood to go down that road again. She was hellbent on getting her life back on track just as James was watching his fall apart, leaving them both caught off guard by the unstoppable romance that would sweep them off their feet.

Title: Brownie Fix

Author: Ellen Cardona

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: Chocolate. Love. Sex. Really, what else could a woman want in life? For Persey, the heroine of Brownie Fix, her days are fun-filled until what is normally one of life’s most fulfilling experiences, the birth of her son, leads her straight into a dark state of postpartum depression. Wandering in her own postpartum hell, Persey meets people that are absurd, like the swinging neighbors who want a little more than a cup of sugar and a group of mothers who become whipped up in worship to a climactic furor. On top of the madness, she keeps seeing a yellow-toothed old man who acts like he wants to breastfeed from her. Or is it her imagination? Add the voices in her head that become louder and louder, and it’s little wonder that Persey reaches for brownie mix to soothe her insanity. Buckling under the pressure and lack of sleep from motherhood, Persey experiences the five stages of grief that lead her to uncover a buried secret, and gradually she begins to heal with the help of her family, friends, and, of course, brownies.

Title: Then Came You

Author: Jennifer Weiner

Received: Via SheKnows Book Lounge

Synopsis: Jules Strauss is a Princeton senior with a full scholarship, acquaintances instead of friends, and a family she’s ashamed to invite to Parents’ Weekend. With the income she’ll receive from donating her “pedigree” eggs, she believes she can save her father from addiction.

Annie Barrow married her high school sweetheart and became the mother to two boys. After years of staying at home and struggling to support four people on her husband’s salary, she thinks she’s found a way to recover a sense of purpose and bring in some extra cash.

India Bishop, thirty-eight (really forty-three), has changed everything about herself: her name, her face, her past. In New York City, she falls for a wealthy older man, Marcus Croft, and decides a baby will ensure a happy ending. When her attempts at pregnancy fail, she turns to technology, and Annie and Jules, to help make her dreams come true.

But each of their plans is thrown into disarray when Marcus’ daughter Bettina, intent on protecting her father, becomes convinced that his new wife is not what she seems…

With startling tenderness and laugh-out-loud humor, Jennifer Weiner once again takes readers into the heart of women’s lives in an unforgettable, timely tale that interweaves themes of class and entitlement, surrogacy and donorship, the rights of a parent and the measure of motherhood.

Title: In the Bag

Author: Kate Klise

Received: Unsolicited, HarperCollins

Synopsis: A European vacation. A luggage mix-up. A note from a secret admirer.

Meet two single parents who think they’re too busy to date.
And two teenagers who can’t stop writing flirty emails.
This is a tale of connections—missed and made—in a universe that seems to have its heart set on reuniting Ms. 6B and Mr. 13C.

Webb
I can’t believe I picked up the wrong bag at the airport. My dad is never going to let me hear the end of it.

Coco
I don’t understand why Mom told me to pack my worst underwear. And now I’ve lost my bag? Ack!

Andrew
I cannot stop thinking about that woman in seat 6B on the flight to Paris.

Daisy
I don’t have time to worry about the creep sitting in 13C who slipped a note in my purse. I have to find my daughter’s missing bag before this ruins our vacation.

In the Bag is a smart and stylish story that explores the old-fashioned art of romance in a modern world, where falling in love can be as risky as checking a bag on an international flight. Buckle your seat belt—it’s going to be a bumpy vacation!

In Sara’s Mailbox:

Title: The Making of Us 

Author: Lisa Jewell

Received: Najma @Cornerstone Publicity

Synopsis: Lydia, Robyn and Dean don’t know each other – yet. They live very different lives but each of them, independently, has always felt that something is missing. What they don’t know is that a letter is about to arrive that will turn their lives upside down. It is a letter containing a secret – one that will bind them together, and shows them what love and family and friendship really mean…

Title: Wishful Thinking

Author: Gabi Stevens

Received: Unsolicited

Synopsis: Free-spirited artist Stormy Jones-Smythe was raised by two talented Wizard fathers but never showed the slightest hint of magical abilities. Which is why she’s totally surprised when three famous fairy godmothers show up at her door to tell her she’s one of them. Surprised, and none too happy.  The godmothers are fugitives, framed for treason, and the last thing the magical Council wants is another fairy godmother going rogue. Hence Stormy’s new full-time Guard, Hunter Merrick.

Stormy quickly realizes she’s not going to escape Hunter’s watch…and before long, she’s not sure she wants to. But her freedom depends on her ability to expose the plot against the godmothers, and that means getting control of her magic. Despite the growing chemistry between them, Hunter is fiercely loyal to the Council—and duty-bound to keep Stormy from doing either of those things. But he didn’t count on Stormy’s irrepressible exuberance and passion for life. Before long, even Hunter isn’t sure which side he’s on, and he can’t contain Stormy either way.

Title: The Lovers of Pound Hill

Author: Mavis Cheek

Received: Unsolicited

Synopsis: When city girl Molly Bonner arrives in the village of Lufferton Boney, she creates quite a stir. With her non-country-style boots, determined manner and alluring looks, she sets off a wave of intrigue that ripples through the lives of everyone there, from Julie the barmaid at the Holly Bush to antiques dealer Dryden Fellows and Montmorency the cat. Nobody knows exactly what she’s up to, but one thing seems certain: her presence will alter the lives and loves of the village and its people for good.

For Molly is a girl on a mission: to discover the truth behind Lufferton Boney’s sinister and most notorious resident, the giant (and slightly obscene) Gnome, a fertility symbol etched into the face of Pound Hill. As she works her way into the villagers’ hearts and lives, Molly needs to keep one step ahead. She has a few demons of her own to settle, as she pursues the wonderful secret that only the Gnome can reveal.

 

GIVEAWAY: Prosper in Love by Deborah Michel

A good marriage lasts forever…until it doesn’t.

From the start, Lynn and Jamie Prosper were one of those couples who seem meant to be—so content with each other that they barely notice the rest of the world nodding approvingly at their wedded bliss. But sometimes, even in the very best of marriages, all it takes is a mischievous outsider to bring the perfect couple toppling off the top of the wedding cake…
True, Jamie has been working so hard and traveling so much as a young lawyer that he hardly has enough energy to show his devotion. Not that Lynn, a junior museum curator, has any reason to question it. But when Lynn’s old college friend turns up at a cocktail party, chinks in their marriage’s previously unassailable armor start to show.
Suddenly, without meaning to, Lynn and Jamie have both acquired divorce lawyers. And those benevolent onlookers—meddling in-laws and competitive friends alike—eagerly bear witness to each new misstep. Is love really enough to make a marriage last?

I have one print copy of Prosper in Love by Deborah Michel up for grabs! To enter, please leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen on Wednesday May 9. Please note this open to US/Canada residents only. Thank you to Erin @ Penguin Group for sponsoring this giveaway!

 

**The winner is Jennifer Starr!**

 

Beauty Review: Lip Plumping Shop

When I was asked by the Lip Plumping Shop to review their product for the beauty section on CLP, I jumped at the chance. I use many different lip plumping lip glosses, so I definitely wanted to give this a try. I guess I didn’t quite read the concept behind the Lip Plumping Shop when I said yes, because I was surprised a few weeks later when a pink pump arrived in my mail. A bit taken aback, I was wary to try out the device. Putting something over my lips and suctioning them seemed a bit off to me. But because I had agreed to review the product, I gave it shot. Using the lip glosses provided as well as the device, I used the products as directed for one week. And? Well, I actually did notice results! I was surprised, I’ll admit, but it seems the products do work as they say. I stopped using the products after that one week of use though. I’m not sure how comfortable I feel with the suction on my lips and since I have a fairly full pout anyway, I really don’t need something extreme. I will say I let a girlfriend try it out as well and she loves it, so I guess it probably just depends on your comfort level.  If you do try out this unique  product, I just recommend really reading the instructions first before you use it.

Guest Post by Caroline Burau

Thank you to Caroline Burau for her guest post on self-publishing!

 

Self-publishing: The good news is, it’s all you! And the hard part is, it’s all you.

 

Having my memoir, Answering 911: Life in the Hot Seat picked up by a well-respected publisher in 2006 was a huge thrill. I signed a contract, finished my first draft, and immediately the wheels started turning.

During the six months leading up to publication, someone other than me did a whole slew of things I didn’t fully appreciate at the time. A gorgeous cover was designed, drafts of the book were edited multiple times (some with, some without my input), advanced copies were sent out to numerous media outlets for reviews, and respected authors were picked to provide blurbs. As if this wasn’t enough, about a month before the release date, a lovely young lady name Jana called me and introduced herself as my publicist. My publicist? I have a publicist? Jana took care of booking readings, signings, radio, newspaper, and TV interviews.

In short, I wrote a book, participated in the editing process, then basically made sure I showed up when and where I was told to go. The pace got somewhat rigorous, and I fought my own nerves at every single appearance, but it was a wonderful ride that I know many writers would kill to experience.

And then it was over. One day, I called Jana about a request I’d gotten for a reading at a local library and she broke the news: “I’m not your publicist anymore.” I was aghast! But it was nothing personal. My time was up; she was on to the next new title.

Over the years, I continued doing occasional readings and appearances for Answering 911. In 2011, I completed a novel, Sugarfiend, and hoped that my status as a published author would give me an advantage. After querying more than two dozen agents and getting little to no response, I felt like giving up.

Novels, I was told, are more numerous and therefore harder to sell than memoir or nonfiction. I would have to be patient. I’m not big on being patient. Self-publishing seemed the logical choice.

And it’s been great . . . but it’s been slow. Why? Because I’m it. I’m the writer, editor, cover designer, marketing department, publisher, and publicist. If it wasn’t for my husband’s technical know-how and marketing background, I might truly be overwhelmed.

To start, I had to get over my biggest fear: that because the book hadn’t been picked up by a “real” publisher, it wasn’t any good. But over the course of four meticulous full edits, I at last reached a point where I not only liked Sugarfiend, but enjoyed it. That’s when I knew it was ready.

From there, I formatted the book for three different self-publishing formats: Kindle, Nook, and CreateSpace (for the trade paperback.) It was time-consuming and taxed my scant technical know-how. (Again, husband! To the rescue.)

Now that the book is available, the responsibility of getting the word out is all mine.  Media outlets tend to look askance at self-published works. They get a lot of queries from people looking for publicity, and without a reputable publisher’s seal of approval, it’s hard to get them to pay attention.

So, while my royalties are much higher with my self-published book (70-50 percent versus 10 percent or less with a traditional publisher) the number of units sold will inevitably be much lower. But thanks to the power of social media, newspapers, radio, and TV no longer hold a monopoly on information. Plenty of self published authors have used Facebook, Twitter and other outlets to drum up huge word of mouth.

To get the word out, I now blog regularly for www.women.com and as a guest blogger for anyone who will have me (like this awesome site). It’s fun, and it keeps my writing chops up. I stick to sites where I think my target audience will find me: women, sugar “addicts”, and lovers of humorous fiction. I also hired a web designer to set up my own author blog and web site (www.carolineburau.com) a central location for fans to check out both books, read updates, and link to my social media pages.

In short, the great part is that it’s all up to me. And the hard part is that it’s all up to me.

It’s too soon to tell whether I made the right choice. I still entertain fantasies of Sugarfiend getting the attention of some big exec at Penguin, getting signed to a 50,000-unit first-run, then being adapted for a major motion picture (which I’ve already decided must star Kat Dennings.)

But mostly, I’m glad I can say to fans of my first book and anyone else who asks, that Sugarfiend is out there and ready for the world to enjoy. And I didn’t wait for anyone’s nod of approval. I did it for myself.

 

Caroline Burau is a freelance writer in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and author of Sugarfiend http://www.amazon.com/Sugarfiend-ebook/dp/B0071BFKOW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1328076456&sr=8-2  and Answering 911: Life in the Hot Seat. http://www.amazon.com/Answering-911-Life-Hot-Seat/dp/0873516028/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328076456&sr=8-1

You can also follow her on Twitter (@carolineburau)

 

 

Guest Post by Terri Giuliano Long

Big thank you to Terri Giuliano Long to stop by CLP on her blog tour for In Leah’s Wake!

 

“It is our choices…that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, 1999

 Finding Balance – Or Not

 As a young mom with four active daughters, involved in school, music and sports, my life was a hodge-podge of bustling activity. I wrote part-time, at night or in the wee hours of the morning, while my family slept. Back then, I fantasized about a time when my life would be my own – no more afternoons spent driving from one activity to the next, no volunteer work, no laundry fairy multiplying the loads. I imagined long, uninterrupted days at my desk, immersed in my work.

Now our daughters are grown, two with families of their own. While, yes, I occasionally spend 10, 12, 14 hours at my desk, those days are rare. Like most women writers, I constantly struggle to find balance.

My husband is a terrific guy. When the girls were little, he, not I, got up in the middle of the night. Even now, he does more than his fair share of the chores. When our daughters need something fixed – their car breaks down, for example – they don’t hesitate to call him. With emotional issues, I’m the one they rely on. Believe me, talking is far more time-consuming than finding a mechanic to fix the transmission.

Whenever the need arises, because I’m a mom first, before anything else, my work takes a backseat. Deadlines get pushed back, the article or story goes unedited, the book sits in a file, waiting, neglected. And I feel guilty for letting it go. If I do focus on work, I feel guilty for not devoting more time to my family. Either way, I feel bad about myself.

Every female writer I know says the same thing. We love our families – we want to give of ourselves – but why does it have to be either-or?

Years ago, I attended a seminar with Alice Hoffman as the keynote speaker. It was not merely that I loved and admired her work. No, I wanted to be Alice Hoffman. This successful female writer put out a bestselling book every year. And they were good. Very good. And she had kids.

This was a woman who did it all, and did it all well. I couldn’t wait to learn how. Imagine my surprise when she talked about the difficulty of striking a balance. “My kids,” she said, “think I don’t have a job.”

 Say what? Would the kids think the same if their dad were a writer?

Probably not. Because he’d have an office and it would be off-limits.

Most men I know store their roles in separate compartments, to be taken out, dusted off, and worn at appropriate times. Our role is fluid. We can’t turn off, tune out or otherwise escape family responsibility. We’re always on. In all fairness, fathers are fathers every day of their life. The difference is, we mothers are moms every minute of ours.

I don’t resent this, not for an instant, and I’m sure you don’t either.

I want to be with my family. In fact, as I’ve come to realize, I’ve actively chosen this life.

Men find balance – by marrying us. Yet, even if we had wives, their needs, I suspect, would be at least equal to ours. Most women are people-centric. Sure, we value success, but we’re relationship-oriented. The people we love truly are our reason for living.

I’ve spent a lifetime seeking balance only to find that it doesn’t exist. Balance is elusive, a figment of our imagination, reinforced by culture in movies and TV. If we’re to be contented, we have to let go. We’ve got to accept that we can’t always do it all – and quit feeling guilty!

She who dies with the most toys – or the cleanest house or the best brownies – does not necessarily win. Or maybe she does. But, believe me, unless she’s got ice running through her veins, she feels guilty too. That’s who we are. Better to accept it than always fight and feel guilty.

Our lives are big and wonderful and, yes, messy. And that’s OK. So go ahead – kiss those boo-boos. Call a friend. Spend an extra hour or two at your desk. The beds will get made, the cleaning picked up, the laundry folded. Maybe not in that order. Really, why does it matter?

 

Website: www.tglong.com
Blog: http://terriglong.com/blog/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tglongwrites
Twitter: @tglong

 

Novel Spotlight: Vivid by Andrea Murray

When Vivian Cartwright was five years old, she witnessed her mother’s death.

Now, sixteen-year-old Vivian only wants a normal life—hard to accomplish when you possess the power to control energy. Her entire life she has feared her power and its connection to her mother’s murder. She has kept her ability a secret from everyone except her guardian, Charlotte, who has hidden Vivian from the man responsible for her mother’s murder.

Her secret is safe until Vivian subconsciously defends herself at school using her power. After this first use of her gift in many years, Vivian’s power seems to take on a mind of its own, increasing in strength and demanding to be used. This increase in power also brings dreams of her mother’s death and the mysterious man connected with it. When she is assigned to tutor the would-be boyfriend of Trista Parmer (a.k.a. the biggest diva in school), Vivian cannot deny the electrifying connection that she feels for the boy, Easton Garrett. In her desire to get Easton away from Vivian, Trista doubles her efforts to humiliate Vivian, forcing Vivian to use her supernatural gift over and over. With each use, Vivian fears she is losing control and discovers her powers are growing—maybe too much—bringing her unknowingly closer to the man who murdered her mother.

Challenge 2012:Post Reviews:May

May Reviews

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 Please note this is not the sign up page. To sign up, click here

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Only signed up challengers are eligible to win

Prize for April: Six (6) winners will be chosen at random and will win  either an eBook (worldwide) or print copy (available for US/Canada residents only) of MOMNESIA by Lori Verni-Fogarsi. In order to qualify, you must post the link to your review in the Mister Linky below. This can be to your blog, GoodReads page, or other sources such as Amazon.

Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite & Giveaway

Charming Tuesday Product Of The Week: Lip Product

Samantha’s Must-Have:

I don’t wear a lot of lipsticks, because I actually realized years ago I have very sensitive lips. Many times after wearing a lipstick I will break out around my lips. Lip gloss and chapstick luckily don’t have the same affect on me, but I still minimize what I put on just in case. One product that I have recently fallen for and am happy to report has yet to cause me to break out is the Jouer Lip Enhancer. I received a sample of this in my November Birchbox, and recently purchased a full-size. I had used lip plumper’s before, but couldn’t get over the sting that would come along with use. The burning and tingling sensation was so bad I quit using them all together. But there is no discomfort with Jouer, and it still gives me a lips a noticeable boost. It also moisturizes the lips and makes them silky soft, and I love the light pink color to it. Just enough color but not overpowering. One of my favorite beauty products!

Sara’s Must-Have:

I am a self-obsessed lip gloss junkie and on most days, I have at least eight in my purse. My go-to brand for lip gloss has always been MAC because I love the color selection and the quality of product … but the MAC Clear LipGlass beats them all hands down. With the perfect amount of shine, this product plump’s lips easily and can be worn by itself, over a colored lip gloss or lip stick, or even just a liner. My preferred method is when it is worn by itself. I have never found another product that works as well, offers a glassy-shine, and hydrates all in one. This is my go-to lip product when dressing up.

 

Now, when dressing down, I am an avid chapstick user. I have one in my purse at all times and also one on my desk at work. I just love having hydrated lips … some people actually think that I may be addicted, but if it’s wrong, then I don’t want to be right. I used to keep things simple and use Aveeno or a basic Blistex on my lips, but a few months ago, Maybelline introduced their new Baby Lips collection. I am obsessed with the hydration that they offer and the subtle selection of colors. My favorites are the clear and calming Peppermint and the pink-hued Cherry Me!

Chick Lit Plus will be giving away one Maybelline Baby Lips color of your choosing. Please leave a comment below and tell us what your all-time favorite lip product is and we will select a winner at random by 6:00AM Friday Morning. Good luck!

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED AND A WINNER HAS BEEN SELECTED. CONGRATS AMY ORVIN! PLEASE CONTACT CHICKLITPLUS@GMAIL.COM WITH YOUR MAILING INFO AND YOUR SELECTED COLOR.

In My Mailbox: Week of April 29

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

Title: Chocolate Shoes and Wedding Blues

Author: Trisha Ashley

Received: Unsolicited, Harper Collins UK

Synopsis: When Tansy Poole inherits a run-down shoe shop tucked away in the village of Sticklepond, ‘Cinderella’s Slippers’ is born — providing the footwear to make any fairytale wedding come true! Carrying everything a bride would want to walk down the aisle in, Tansy’s shop soon expands to carry shoe-themed wedding favours, bridesmaid gifts and even delicious chocolate shoes. It’s the dream destination for any shoe-lover! If only everything in her personal life could be as heavenly — but with a fiance trying to make her fit into a size 8 wedding dress, not to mention the recent discovery of disturbing family revelations, Tansy takes refuge in the shop’s success. But one man isn’t thrilled by the stream of customers hot-footing it to Cinderella’s Slippers! Actor Ivo Hawksley, resident of the cottage next to the shop, is troubled by a dark secret in his past and has come to Sticklepond to nurse his own broken heart. However, Ivo realises that he and Tansy have a link in their past and soon, they both find out how secrets shared can make a very strong bond indeed! Forget the Jimmy Choos, Chocolate Shoes and Wedding Blues is the only accessory you need for spring 2012!

In Sara’s Mailbox:

Title: Summer of Secrets

Author: Alison Lucy

Received: Emily @ Constable & Robinson

Synopsis: One heady summer. Three big secrets.

1989: Newlyweds Danny and Harriet arrive at their honeymoon paradise in the Caribbean. Days later Harriet returns home. Danny is left distraught but finds comfort in the arms of two women. Nine months later, three baby girls are born…

2010: Megan leaves her childhood sweetheart behind in the UK to go in search of her long-lost father. Miles from home and temptation is at every corner – not least in the arms of the gorgeous Ray…

Esmé, a Mexican beauty, married Miguel at fifteen. In unlocking the secrets of her past, can she shed the shackles of her enforced marriage?

Claudia has led a life of privilege but she’s never really known what it feels like to be loved. Could David be the answer? Or will he disappoint her, just like her mother always did?

Three women set off on an adventure to uncover the secrets surrounding their missing father. It may be the only way to lay their demons to rest but seeking out the truth could tear their lives apart.

 

Title: Confessions of a Cake Addict

Author: Emma Kaufmann

Received: Emma Kaufmann

Synopsis: Londoner Kate Pickles has hit rock bottom. She’s funny, kind, and talented but totally unaware about all the great things she has going for her. Day in and day out, she sits back and whines to her sister Laurie in Sydney, Australia, as her boss walks all over her and her best friend Eva bags the hot guys while Kate ends up dating whack jobs and comfort eating cake. Pouring out her heart to Laurie in a series of letters and emails, Kate longs for her sister to confirm she really is the loser in love she fears she is.

Abruptly, Kate’s life is turned upside down when, on a trip to Vienna with her glamorous pal, Eva, Kate falls for a sexy Austrian and gets sucked into making a Bollywood film.

 

Guest Post by Nancy Scrofano

Letting Characters Go

I love characters from my favorite TV shows, movies, and books, so I definitely fell in love with my own characters from my debut novel, True Love Way. I spent over two years with these characters, thinking about them, writing dialogue for them, and developing them. It was much more time than I had ever invested in characters from other works because there was one key difference. The characters in my novel are mine. It seemed like I would never be apart from them, since the writing and editing process was long and arduous. But when the day finally came to turn in my final version of my manuscript, I thought I was ready. I wanted to finally be through with two year’s work. I wanted to share these characters and their story with readers. However, I soon found myself thinking, so, that’s it? They’re gone? I didn’t have to create scenes for them anymore or come up with their lines or their personality traits. And to be honest, I was sad. I was also relieved, happy, excited, nervous, and the list goes on. It was a mix of emotions. I adore these characters, especially since they are in my first novel. They are the first group of characters that I brought to life in a full, complete published work.

The best way to move on from one book is to jump right into the next one, right? Wrong. For me, anyway. I tried to get started on my next book immediately after I turned in my final draft of True Love Way. I even wrote thirty five thousand words of a young adult novel while I was in the midst of trying to get True Love Way published. But something just wasn’t quite right. I wasn’t connecting with the new characters because I was still too focused on the characters from True Love Way. I hadn’t actually let them go, even though I was sure I had. It was just too soon.  And I think part of me didn’t want to let them go. I wondered if I would find the right mix of characters ever again. I was letting doubt take over. But eventually, in time, I was ready to create again. I cleared my head and to my surprise, when I wasn’t searching for new characters or forcing them, they found me. I’m getting to know a new group and loving them. It’s an exciting journey again, and I can’t wait to see where these new characters go and where the story takes them. I realized that sending characters on their way so they can entertain readers is actually a wonderful part of the publishing process. Hopefully, readers will love them like I do. And who knows? Maybe I’ll revisit the True Love Way characters someday to write a sequel.

Author Bio

Nancy Scrofano is the author of True Love Way and writes book reviews for a prestigious book review magazine. Additionally, she is the founder and managing editor of The Chick Lit Bee, a book blog that promotes and celebrates women’s fiction. Nancy is at work on her next novel. For more information, please visit http://www.nancyscrofano.com.

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