Winners....Sorry I'm late....

In the flurry and excitement that was a four day weekend for me I completely forgot to do this - my apologies. And since I was forgetful both commenters win..YAY!!!

PatriciaW & Vixen Pearl

Please email me at lauriekap at yahoo .com by Saturday the 11th to claim your books. If I don't hear from you prizes are forfeit. Email me your snail mail and two genre's you like and I'll see what I can do (since this is a grab bag) :-)

So for my littlt ditty:
I've chosen #1 and #4 - couldn't use #2 no matter how much I wanted to because he's the muse for a story I'm already working on...LOL

Okay this was a bit rushed, but here goes

International business man Stephan Francotti was finally taking a much needed vacation. His yacht, docked in Dubi, he soaks up the sun before he attends a private auction that evening. The last thing he expected was to have a woman climb aboard and threaten him at gun point to take her away from the most decedent place on earth.

Shannon Blake had been kidnapped and taken to a foreign land where she overheard she was going to be sold to the highest bidder. Shannon slips away in the dead of night with help from an undercover agent sent to uncover the sex trade organization. All he gives her is the name of a yacht and tells her to go as far away as possible. Could she trust that this millionaire wasn’t the one who had her kidnapped and would become her saving grace? She wasn’t sure, but currently she was out of any other options.


Hugs
LKap

Winner and Writing Ramble....

Drum roll please............
from the randomizer - The WINNER is....

Anonymous TARA you are the winner of a shiny ;-)
Contact me so I can get you your prize.

So now onto my writing ramble.

A friend suggested that I give examples of how stories come to me. Well as of right this minute I'm working on one book and decided to do another open call submission. Which means, these characters aren't ones I've let cultivate in my head. I have to create them out of nowhere, basically.

Most times my characters just show up. I know what they look like, they typically even give me their names, I know their basic personality traits and as I put them to paper more of those traits just come out. And I love it when they do something that surprises me and I didn't expect them to do it!!!

For the novella I'm brewing in my head--those traits aren't there yet. And it scares me shitless to think I have to totally create these people from scratch.

Well last night after some long talks with other authors, and friends, I only had a small grasp where this book was going. But in saying that...The damn arrogant man (which is a trait of his I know now) woke me up early in the morning to converse with the other male character. And yes, I looked like an utter fool telling the voices in my head it was too early for this. And HHB asking me who I was talking to. ;-)

But, this is pretty typical for me. I usually get the man's POV first. Don't ask me why...I just do. So my heroine is tight lipped - which is pissing me off at this point since I don't have a lot of time here. But I got a jumping off point for the book--which helps some.

I say some because I only have a few minor conflicts in my head and they are not as strong as I'd like them to be at this point. So more cajoling must be done. And honestly I'm wondering if it will be worth it in the end.

It will, I know it will. I'm accomplishing two things with this task. One, I have a forced deadline. As an unpubbed author I feel it's important to push myself with limits that will be expected of me when I am published. Two, It's also forcing me to create something out of my norm. Also once I'm pubbed there will hopefully be times I'm asked to write with another author, or write to a specific theme. This exercise will only make me stronger. Or so I hope. :-)

So there you have it. My mind, how it works, and how crazy I really am first thing in the morning.

BTW - any writing suggestions on how to get this moving - I'm all for it!!!
I love hearing how others do this process.

Hugs,
Laurie
LKap

We Have a Winner - The Phoenix Charm

Wasn't it a blast having Helen Scott Taylor with us, sharing about her newest release, The Phoenix Charm!! She is such fun and an amazing author.

It was really tough for her, but she's selected a winner.  Zina!!

Please email me at vickilanewrites@yahoo.com with you snail mail addy and Helen will be sending you a signed copy of The Phoenix Charm.

I know, I know, everyone wanted to win. But I've got good news. Next Friday, I'll be interviewing Helen on my group blog (which I've got the link to on the sidebar), and I'll remind you guys again before Friday. So if you didn't win this time check it out. I'll be giving away a copy of her book to someone.

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend and if you're off work on Monday then enjoy that extra day doing what you love best.

Hugs,
Vicki

Winner of the Surprise Box O’ Books is….Oh yeah, and a really cool contest

The winner for last week’s contest, who will win a surprise books of books (at least 4, maybe more), is….Liza!!! Email me your snail mail addy at vickilanewrites @yahoo.com. Please put in the subject line Blog Winner.

I’ll get the books out to you on Saturday. If I don’t hear from you by Friday, I’ll choose another winner.

Also, could Violet please contact me at the same email address above? :) Sometimes, a second type of surprise is in order. Heehee, it is the month of treats, right.

There’s a really cool contest happening this Wednesday over on Lori Brighton’s blog.

To enter you’ll leave your first chapter of your finished (or very close to finished) manuscript in the comments. After that 20 people will be chosen to continue on and they be sending their first pages. There’s more but you can find the rules (in case I’ve said anything incorrect) over on Lori’s blog

And the ultimate winner will have their first 3 chapters read by Megan Records of Kensington Publishing! How freakin’ cook is that!!!

You must be unpublished in print form to enter, so epubs, get your stuff in this contest.

So, what are you waiting for? Go check it out and come back and let us know if you think you’re going to enter it?

Me? Ummm…yes. This is a great way to get in front of an editor.

xoxoxo,
Vicki

Karin Tabke - Winners

We have two winners for Karin Tabke books from last week. WhooHoo!!

Cathy M - won Master of Craving

Bonnie Jean - won Have Yourself a Naughty Little Santa

Please email me at vickilanewrites@yahoo.com with your snail mail addys by Friday of this week. In the subject line, please put, "Winner Karin Tabke". If I don't hear from you by Friday a new winner will be chosen.

Thanks, hugs, and tons of love goes to Karin for making this a fabulous fun week. :)

This coming week will be ramblings and so forth. Plus you never know when a little contest will be thrown in.

xoxoxo,
Vicki and Laurie

Shayla Black Winners And Another Surprise Winner

Last week was great. Having Shayla popping in when she had internet and having the surprise added was just plain ole fun.

It’s time to announce the winners and what they’ve won. Oh and just for added measure we’ve thrown in one more surprise winner. Heehee, L and I like surprises so we figure you probably do too.

Are you ready to find out?

The winner of Tempt Me With Darkness is – tetewa

The winner of an ARC (OMG, and ARC, I don’t even have this one) of Seduce Me In Shadow is – Bella

The winners of the sneak peek of Seduce Me In Shadow (as in three chapters) is – Greta and Sabrina Pugliese

And the surprise winner just announced today (see why you need to check back often) is for Bound and Determined by Shelly Bradley / Shayla Black is – CrystalGB

Please email me at vickilanewrites@yahoo.com with your snail mail addy’s for the books and the email addy you’d like the sneak peak sent too. Also, please put in the subject, "Winner - Shayla Black Contest". You have until next Sunday at midnight to email the information or a new winner will be chosen.

Wow, that’s a lot of winners and major congrats to each of you. We had a blast and hope you did too.

There’s a surprise coming for Laurie on Thursday, you don’t wanna miss it. And next week we’ve got a copy of Karin Tabke’s Master of Craving.

WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki

House Update and the Winner of Tap and Gown

First, a quick apology to everyone for not posting the winner this weekend. If you’ve been reading the blog then you know Science Guy and I have bought a house, which means we’re major busy in the packing arena. Fun? Not so much. Moving to our place? Fabulous!

We close on the house tomorrow. Or at least we’re set up to close tomorrow. I’m quickly learning in the world of real estate and banks that can change. Fingers crossed tomorrow will happen since we need to move the moveable that the movers who come on Thursday can’t.

Now to the fun part. The winner of Diana Peterfreund’s last book in the series, Tap and Gown is….

Patricia!!! WhooHoo!!! Please email me at vickilanewrites@yahoo.com with Tap and Gown Winner in the subject line to claim your book. If I don’t hear from you by next Friday, the randomizer will choose another winner.

For those who didn’t win, this is a wonderful series and the link above will take you directly to Borders where you can purchase your own copy. It’s one you’ll want to read more than once.

Hugs,
Vicki

A New Winner for

It time to choose a new winner for Angie Fox's The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers.

Since the first winner didn't contact me at several attempts, the number randomizer's little engine began to purr. She likes eating the numbers and tossing out one to become the winner. :)

So...the winner of the book and a tee-shirt from Angie (and another surprise from me), is...


Liza!!! WhooHoo!! Confetti flows, the cyber cork is popped, and celebrations abounds.

Liza, you have until next Friday to contact me at vickilanewrites@yahoo.com with your snail mail addy. Please put in the subject Winner Angie Fox

Hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend and check back next week to see what's happening. You never know what it could be.

Smiles,
Vicki

AND THE WINNER IS........

flchen1

You are the winner of S.J. Day's Eve of Darkness

Please contact Vicki (blueeyes4u1112@yahoo.com) or I (lauriekap@yahoo.com) within before next Sunday the 24th - if we don't hear from you by this date a new winner will be choosen - to get your prize
Send one of us your snail mail info via emai

Congrats
LKap

Happy Mother's Day and We Have a Winner

Happy Mother's Day to everyone and if you're also a mom to your furry friends, here's a pic for you too. Totally saw this on the Wicked Writers loop (greeneyes sent it) and for those of us with our furry babies it's so fitting. My daughter actually sent me a card from my two little girls. :) So cute. I loved it.

Now for the winner of Angie Fox's latest release The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers is...

Drum role please...


BonnieH!! WhooHoo! Send me your email and your snail mail addy to vickilanewrites@yahoo.com. Please put in the subject Winner - The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers.

We'd love to have you give us your review once you've read the book.

Hope everyone has a great Sunday and Mother's Day.

WW's and PD's,

Vicki

Chocolate Bunny Highs and the Newsletter Contest Winner

It’s time for a ramble from V. Way busy weekend and sitting down to write the blog, vision of…well, read on, you’ll get it. :)

Oh yeah, chocolate bunny’s galore for Easter. They come in all shapes and sizes. Some drive little sporty cars, while others smile demurely, holding a painted flower bouquet.

They still melt in your mouth and give you that close your eyes, mmmm sigh.

Being writer’s its only natural for us to gravitate toward to the chocolate bunnies. We really do eat chocolate. :) No matter how hard we try, we find ourselves winding through the isle with thoughts of, I’ll just look real quick. Or I’ve got to make the baskets, why not pick up one extra bunny. Have you seen the one with the really really long ears? Chocolate goodness to savor for days.

Which made me think about our hero’s. They come from different walks of life, some drive sporty cars, some ride horses, some are surgeons…Okay, sounds like doctor, lawyer, Indian Chief, from back in the childhood days.

The thing is no matter what they look like, what they drive, or what they do for a living, there is one common thread.

They’re all yummy. Maybe he’s not in the beginning or maybe he is right from the start. Either way, by the time you finish the book, you’ve hopefully had lots of mmmm and sigh moments with your hero. He’s the yummy.

Now, for the winner of the first quarterly VLN newsletter contest. The one that’s only for those subscribed to the newsletter.

Munk!! Please choose your choice of any one of the books on the list from the contest. The delivery is subject to release date. Email you’re info to vickilanewrites@yahoo.com and/or LaurieKap@yahoo.com

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki