~~Author Wednesdays-Desiree Holt~~

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It's Author Wednesday at For Whom The Books Toll. Desiree Holt is my guest today and she's giving a little insight to working with other authors on boxed sets.  Thank you for being here today Desiree.

So you’ve been invited to be in a boxed set

A group of authors has reached out to you and said, “Hey! We’d like you to be in a boxed set with us. We’ll sell it for a couple of months for 99 cents, then each author can put their story up separately for $1.99 or $2.99. Wanna play?”

Your first thought is, ohmigod!! They want me! They really want me! The next thought is, holy you-kn0w-what! How do all these authors plan to work together seamlessly, plan a theme, decide on graphics, get the whole thing done without virtually tearing each other’s hair out? How can it be done and how can we all cooperate?

Easy peasey. The first thing you do is take a deep breath and realize that it will take a spirit of cooperation on everyone’s part. Is there a theme already established? If so, good. You know what to build your story around. If not, toss your ideas around and hope others like it but also be open-minded and willing to look at the possibilities that others suggest. The final theme may not be your first choice but if it’s one you can get excited about and write a good story around, you’ve taken step one.

Next comes suggestions for a cover. Again, realize you are part of a group and the graphics have to express the theme of the set not just your particular story. When you are ready to release your story as a single title, you will be able to design your own cover but for now be open to all possibilities as long as they are appealing and stick to the theme.

Next on the agenda is story length. Do you only write full length books? If so, and you can’t write short, this may not be the stage for you. Stories in box sets usually run the wide gamut from 15K-40K. That’s a pretty wide latitude. Some people can tell a complete story in as little as 15K, others need as much as 40K. But if you are up for the challenge, be aware of the parameters and write the story. As my son always says, the story is as long as the story is. You start at the beginning and when you get to the end, you’re done. The variation in length is usually appealing to readers so if you can comfortably within those length requirements then this is the place for you.

And by the way, don’t worry if your story ends up being 15K. Don’t worry that it won’t sell. The very first erotic story I sold was 15K and it’s still selling after seven years.

Be prepared to pull your weight in promoting the set. Make a list of your social platforms and the blogs you exchange with and other areas where you promote. Sometimes the group will decide to do a little paid advertising which requires a small amount from each author.

But here’s the most important thing. Deadlines. Yes, deadlines. To get a boxed set formatted and ready to upload there have to be hard and fast deadlines for each author. Schedule it in your calendar so you aren’t writing at two in the morning the day before it’s due. Nothing disrupts a working relationship faster than people missing deadline so be very, very conscious of what they are.

Okay, all the important stuff is taken care of. Now the formatter uploads the boxed set and ta da! Release day is here. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.

I have two boxed sets about to release” Danger Zone: Tales of Military Passion and Five Alarm Alphas, about firefighters. Here’s one place to preorder them:

Danger Zone:

Demolishing the enemy, then blowing up the bedroom...they're the commanding alpha heroes we all love best, and nine of your favorite romance authors have brand-new stories featuring them. This very special box set is available for a limited time only, with all profits donated to Hope For The Warriors. 

Pre-Order Link: Danger Zone: Tales of Military Passion

Five Alarm Alphas:

Men Hotter Than Fire!!!  Eight Scorching HOT Brand New Stories 

Pre-Order Link:  Five Alarm Alphas: Eight Sexy All New Romances

I've pre-ordered my copies, have you??

Also, don't forget about Desiree's new book, Finding Julia! Make sure to grab your copy today!!

Blurb:
Sometimes life is not fair. For Julia Patterson meeting Luke Buchanan opened the door to a new life and brought her to life as a woman. In his arms she learns for the first time how real passion and emotion can enrich your life. He claims her body with the pleasure of erotic sex and his heart with unrestricted love. But Fate was laughing at Julia, just as she is about to step over the threshold into a wonderful new life. 

When her almost-ex-husband Charles is diagnosed with a fatal heart condition her divorce is put on hold along with the rest of her life. Turning her back on Luke and the intense passion and emotion they shared is the most difficult thing she’s ever done. But Julia has a secret, one that Charles has discovered and uses like a club. Thirteen years later when 

Luke walks back into her life the passion and emotion are just as explosive as ever. Will they finally have their chance at happiness or will her secret destroy it forever?

Buy Link:
Amazon: Finding Julia

Desiree Holt has lived a life of excitement that brings the color to her writing. She was a summer fishing guide, a summer field hand where she was one of only three women working, a member of a beginning ski team that skied in competition (and no, no broken bones!). She spent several years in the music business representing every kind of artist from country singer to heavy metal rock bands. For several years she also ran her own public relations agency handling any client that interested her. She is twice a finalist for an EPIC E-Book Award, a nominee for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, winner of the first 5 Heart Sweetheart of the Year Award at The Romance Studio, and is published by four different houses. Romance Junkies said of her work: “Desiree Holt is the most amazing erotica author of our time and each story is more fulfilling then the last.”


Find Desiree:
http://www.desireeholt.com
https://www.facebook.com/desireeholtauthor
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1270681.Desiree_Holt
https://twitter.com/desireeholt
http://www.pinterest.com/desiree02holt/

Desiree has many many fantastic books, make sure to check them all out by visiting her website!
Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy busy schedule to be here today.

Please stop back next Wednesday, Sofia Grey will be here!

My Family's Heart Presents- Sharon Hamilton's SEAL of My Heart Cover Reveal

Thanks for stopping by today to take a look at Sharon Hamilton's SEAL of My Heart Cover Reveal presented by My Family's Heart.

Title: SEAL of My Heart
Author: Sharon Hamilton
Series: SEAL Brotherhood # 7
Genre: Military Romance/Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Create Space
Publication Date: July 10, 2014
Cover Artist: Kendra Egert
Length (Pages/#Words): Full length novel

Blurb:
Kate Morgan is engaged to the most eligible bachelor in Sonoma County, the son of a wealthy wine family in Healdsburg, California. On a flight to visit her sister in Portland she is seated next to a young hard-bodied elite soldier who ignites her insides in a strange attraction she cannot deny.

Navy SEAL Tyler Gray plans to spend a weekend home before deploying to North Africa with the rest of his SEAL Team 3. But the conversation with Kate has him rethinking his future.

The encounter has both of them feeling fate has stepped into their lives and altered their course. Unable to just say goodbye as lovers, they agree to carry on a correspondence. Kate becomes the girl Tyler wants to come home to while she is pressured by her family to reconsider her broken marriage plans.

Family secrets are revealed from the past regarding a young Marine and Kate’s mother which brings both heartache and a sense of clarity as old loves are unearthed. From the grave, a Marine’s love letters from the past affect the new love between Kate and Tyler in the present. And when Kate’s life is endangered, will Tyler be the man to save her without sacrificing his own?

Amazon US: SEAL Of My Heart (SEAL Brotherhood Series Book 7)

Paperback:  SEAL of My Heart
Audio: SEAL of My Heart: A SEAL Brotherhood Novella
Amazon CA
Amazon UK

Goodreads
Shelfari

Friday couldn’t come fast enough for Tyler. He boarded the plane from San Diego and in just under two hours touched down at Schulz International Airport. Kate ran to him as soon as he entered the small terminal. He dropped his bag and accepted her body slam willingly.

His heart was overjoyed. He’d been heavy with worry she’d call him and postpone their get together, and he’d have to go out of country without being with her one more time.

Her lips were urgent. She clung to him with fierce need, which was just about the biggest turn-on and something he hadn’t dared to dream was possible. He felt her need match and melt into his as the steamy sparks flew and his hands smoothed over her satin skin. Her sweet softness and fresh scent given up to him so willingly, so utterly compliant made him wish somehow his deployment was over, that this was the homecoming he’d get when he could finally stay for more than just two nights.

Two little nights! It’s all they had left. He wanted to see everything about where she grew up, meet her folks. Even take a good look at her asshole of a former fiancé and let him know that he was the man he’d have to answer to if the guy had any designs on her. Of course, he was all in. And, thank the God of SEALs, it looked like she wanted him right there next to her as tight as they could get.

“Baby it was way too long. We should just go runaway,” he kissed into her hair at the side of her head. “We could disappear. Wanna disappear?”

That little giggle as she snuggled under his chin, as her arms came up his back, pulling him into her. Her fingers migrated to comb through the curls at the top of his spine, stroking and squeezing. Her hard pubic bone rode his shaft through his jeans. He pressed her there, hurting with need, and then just hurting.

“If you weren’t the man I know you to be, Tyler, I’d take you up on it. God I wish I had a few million stashed away somewhere so we could just do that. But we have this.” She stood on tiptoes and placed her succulent lips across his.

“And this is pretty damned good, baby.”

“The best.”

With one arm wrapped tight about her waist he practically carried her through the glass doors of the terminal to the parking lot beyond, slinging his bag over his left shoulder. Her feet barely touched the floor. She hung onto his shoulders, using her right thigh to gently balance against his hipbone as he walked. She wasn’t light, but he’d carry her all the way to San Francisco if she’d let him.  And heck, he and his buddies had carried telephone poles up and down the goddamned beach in a full run in combat boots without hardly breaking a sweat.

She’d started to get out her keys and he swiped them from her, giving her another kiss when she showed that fresh smile again. He stowed his bag in the hatch and they drove toward the freeway, heading north.

He found the little town of Healdsburg to be charming, reminding him of some of the villages in the South of France, or New England where shops surrounded a lawn square complete with a gazebo and park benches. The square was a gathering place, and he noted the foot traffic was so thick, maneuvering the car to make a right turn as she had instructed, was tricky.

They drove down a wide street with grand houses, most of them early California or large bungalow style. At a light green mansion, she ordered him to turn right and pointed around the corner to the back of the property, where he located a lemon yellow cottage.

“Nice, Kate. Love it.”

“Thank you.” She said bashfully.  He could see she was thinking about what they’d be doing just as soon as he got them properly naked. He liked that she was shy, that her cheeks had that just-kissed blush on her fair peachy skin. She stole little glances at him which set his insides on fire. He’d never wanted a woman more.

Sharon’s award-winning almost-erotic Navy SEAL stories of the SEAL Brotherhood, have consistently made best sellers lists and review sites. Her characters follow a spicy road to redemption through passion and true love. Her SEAL Brotherhood Series continues with books 5, 6 and 7 all releasing this year, as well as audio versions currently completed for the first four of the series. She has been an Amazon top 100 author in Romantic Suspense since last fall.
Her Golden Vampires of Tuscany are not like any vamps you’ve read before, since they don’t have to go to ground and can walk around in the full light of the sun. Honeymoon Bite, Book 1 of the Golden Vampires of Tuscany Series was recently named the #1 Gothic Romance by Amazon. It is now available on Audible.
Her Guardian Angels struggle with the human charges they are sent to save, often escaping their vanilla world of Heaven for the brief human one. You won’t find any of these beings in any Sunday school class.
She lives in Sonoma County, California with her husband, and two Dobermans. A lifelong organic gardener, when she’s not writing, she’s getting vera vera dirty in the mud, or wandering Farmer’s Markets looking for new Heirloom varieties of vegetables and flowers..

Website

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SEAL of My Heart Launch Party: https://www.facebook.com/events/509921709137604

BMP Presents- Elle James' SEAL's Honor Book Blast & Giveaway!

Today I'm hosting Elle James' SEAL's Honor Book Blast & Giveaway presented by Book Monster Promotions. Thanks for stopping by today please fill out the rafflecopter form for your chance to win!
Have fun and good luck.

Title: SEAL's Honor
Author: Elle James
Series: Take No Prisoners Series: A Military Romance
Print Length: 116 pages
Publisher: Elle James 
Publication Date:  February 9, 2014
ASIN: B00ICAS7R8


Blurb:
SEAL Reed Tucker doesn’t believe in commitment, until he tangles the sheets with one hot pilot, Delaney O’Connell. His phobia against commitment is challenged when his best friend asks Delaney to marry him first. 

As a helicopter pilot for the 160th Night Stalkers, Delaney knows the risks of loving a SEAL. When her lover's friend loses an arm in battle, she can’t refuse his marriage proposal when he's already lost so much. In love with one man, pledged to marry another, she’s torn. 

Tuck and Delaney must come to grips with the happiness they owe themselves and the happiness of their friend who has lost so much. 

Buy Links:
Amazon:

SEAL's Honor (Take No Prisoners Series): A Military Romance

ARe

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Elle was born on Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane, Washington to parents who taught her the value of hard work. She grew up as a military brat moving from place to place, alas, only stateside in lovely places like Glasgow, Montana, Abilene, Texas and various places in California and Washington.Elle got her creative streak from her talented artist mother, her tenacity from her wonderful father and her inspiration from her writing buddy and delightful sister, Delilah Devlin.

In 2004, Elle left her successful career as an Information Technology Manager to pursue writing full time. She loves escaping into her stories, learning and growing with each character and plot. She writes because she likes to experience and evoke all the emotions from happy to sad, funny to frightening. She digs them all!

At home in Northwest Arkansas, Elle is busy writing tales of murder and suspense for Harlequin Intrigue. Her first Harlequin, BENEATH THE TEXAS MOON, was released in March 2006 and was a Romantic Times Top Pick for the month! She 's written numerous Intrigues since and is now writing for Harlequin Nocturne as well. Stay tuned for more from Elle James!

Website:  http://www.ellejames.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ellejamesauthor
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/MylaJacksonAuth
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/28048.Elle_James

The Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway