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Triple Threat or Double Trouble?  Interview with Jo Noelle

9/1/2014

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Today I'm happy to host author Jo Noelle... or should I say authors Jo Noelle? Jo Noelle is the pen name of a mother and daughter writing team made up of Canda Mortensen and Deanna Henderson (Hey, Deanna!  Cool last name!).  While some ladies write and publish one book at a time, today I'm floored to announce three, count 'em, THREE brand new releases by this duo.  

First, let's learn a little bit about Canda and Deanna (collectively Jo Noelle, remember). Then we'll move onto each of the three books, and give readers a chance to enter a super-fantastic giveaway for $100 Amazon Gift Card (swooooooon!). Grab your favorite drink and let's get down to some serious girl talk. 

Interview

1. What music do you like?

Deanna: I don’t know how to answer that. Do you mean today? I listen to everything, rock, classical, rap, alternative, opera. And I know the words and sing along—with the opera songs sometimes I sing gibberish until I know the words again.

Canda: Rock. I like rock. Not soft rock—it’s not really rock. I like alternative too. My favorite bands are (in order of their appearance in my life) KISS, Aerosmith, (I really liked the BeeGees but I’ll deny it in public), Nirvana, Good Charlotte, and Linkin Park.

2. What kind of books do you like?

Deanna: I like “issue” book. I like self-helpy books. I like YA romance and Chick-lit. Oh and travel books especially the ones with itineraries that tell you what to eat where and give you maps.

Canda: I like snarky characters, romance is the story not the subplot, and paranormal is a big plus. I hate contemporary literary fiction. Gahhh! Too many issues to deal with in my spare time.

3. What is your favorite snack?

Deanna: chocolate covered macadamia nut with caramel cluster things you buy at Costco.

Canda: Peanut M&Ms

4. Teaser for your book in one sentence?

Falling in love is easy in fiction--in high school, not so much.

5. What is your writing process?

We make an outline, chuck it out the window before chapter 2, we argue, negotiate, plead, pout, sometimes threaten to quit. Then we compromise and keep writing. And we laugh a lot.

6. What was your road to publication like?

We wrote the books, rewrote them a few times, got lots of feedback, rewrote them again, sent them to an editor, rewrote, another editor, rewrote.


7. Favorite dessert?

Deanna: Muddy Buddies

Canda: chocolate mousse

About the Books

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Lexi’s Pathetic Fictional Love Life

Lexi Middleton has been socially invisible to her classmates, but starting her junior year, that’s going to change. First, she’s determined to hook a boyfriend, ensuring dates with flowers and possible kisses on the doorstep. Second, she wants to be a writer for the school paper, even though it freaks her out to think of everyone judging her by her punctuation and metaphors. High school is difficult enough—keeping up her grades, dealing with increasing sibling rivalry, and trying to stay out of the way of her personal nemesis, Amberlee—but when Lexi catches the eye of her long-time crush, she also becomes the focus of mean-girl tactics. Caught between who she was and who she wants to be, Lexi must decide how to confront a bully, and choose who to let into her heart.


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Damnation


Cassie is going to heaven—if she can get amnesty from hell in the next twenty days.  Her assignment is to change the eternal destination of a girl in Albuquerque to earn admittance into heaven.

            No sweat.

But when Cassie returns to earth during her three-week, mostly-mortal assignment, her old habits get in the way, (apparently habits don’t die when you do), the partners assigned to help her are anything but helpful, and it turns out the girl she is supposed to help is the only enemy she made on her first day of school.

            Oh, I’m so going to hell.

Things aren’t all bad—it helps to have a hot angel on your side. Mmm-Marc. Even though he’s all about heavenly business, Cassie would like to make it personal.

            Assignment with benefits.



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Newbie


The housing market is crashing, and Sophie’s life is crashing with it. At twenty-four, her successful real estate career evaporates. She’s broke, can’t find a job, or pay her bills, leaving Sophie wondering how her successful lifestyle became so fragile.

At the urging of her roommate, Sophie accepts a job in her fallback career—teaching six-year-olds. She hopes it’s temporary. After all, how long can a tanking economy last anyway? The best part of the new job is Liam, another employee at Rio Grande Elementary. The worst part of the new job is, well, teaching.

Sophie has a surprise real estate closing from a contract she wrote months ago, leading her to a niche in the real estate market and to a new partner, Kevin. Sophie must choose between Liam or Kevin and between a lucrative career or recess duty.

Meet Jo Noelle

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Jo Noelle grew up in Colorado and Utah but also spent time in Idaho and California. She has two adult children and three small kids.

She teaches teachers and students about reading and writing, grows freakishly large tomatoes, enjoys cooking especially for desserts, builds furniture, sews beautiful dresses, and likes to go hiking in the nearby mountains.

Oh, and by the way, she’s two people—Canda Mortensen and Deanna Henderson, a mother/daughter writing team.

Enter Jo Noelle's Rafflecopter Giveaway

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Connect with Jo Noelle and  Get Your Own Copies

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BUY ON AMAZON  

Newbie  
Damnation 
Lexi’s Pathetic Fictional Love Life  

Visit the Other Blog Hop Participants!

1. Procrastination Station
2. Lala's Books
3. Weaving a Tale or Two
4. Adrienne Monson
5. S. J. Henderson, Author  (MOI!)
6. Lindzee Armstrong/Lydia Winters
7. Renae's Writespot
8. Author, Julie L. Casey
9. Christy Dorrity
10. Writing Robin
11. Jordan McCollum
12. Lisa Swinton, Queen of Random
13. Word Paintings Unlimited, Author Sherry Gammon
14. Cortney Pearson
15. Canda's InkBlast

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Their Tangled Hearts, An Interview with Mary DeWeber

8/25/2014

1 Comment

 
So... Fun fact: I write about children with magical pencils and snarky teenagers making their way through mysterious worlds, but I have a guilty pleasure--romance novels. Call it chick lit, if you want. I'm not afraid of your labels. Because of this, I was excited to share with my readers THEIR TANGLED HEARTS, a faith-based romance with an attractive setting (a ranch!), differently-abled children, and, yes, L-O-V-E. What's not to adore about any of those things?


Let's start out with an interview with the author of THEIR TANGLED HEARTS, Mary Deweber, and then we'll get to hear alllll about her book.

Interview with Mary DeWeber

So, Mary... When did you know you wanted to be an author?

I always thought it would be fun to be an author, but never thought I had what it takes. Even when I finished Their Tangled Hearts, I doubted it would ever get published.

What books have you read more than once?

I love the ‘Love Comes Softly’ series by, Janette Oke.

What is your favorite quote?

The inner side of every cloud is bright and shining.
Therefore I turn my clouds about and always wear them inside out,
To show the lining! 
-Emily Loring

Is THEIR TANGLED HEARTS based on people you know or places you've been?  

The characters and story are purely fictitious. My husband, Jeff, and I did live in the mountains outside of Denver for a while in the early 1990’s.

The characters are a compilation of all the heroes and heroines I’ve read about in the past.

Who would you choose to play your characters if your book became a movie?

I think Julianne Hough would make an excellent Emma! She’s an accomplished actress and sings beautifully. For Jake I’d like Josh Turner. But I’m afraid they might be up-staged by Sam Elliot as Ken the stable boss!

THEIR TANGLED HEARTS is set on a ranch and involves people with disabilities.  How did you go about researching for these characters and settings?

I watched a documentary about large animal therapy. 

Your main character, Emma, takes a job as a cook at a cattle ranch.  I'm a fan of food, so I want to know--what's your favorite food? What is your least favorite food?

My favorite food would have to be chicken enchiladas. Least favorite…canned spinach! I’ll eat it fresh any day!

Speaking of food, I'm a big fan of sucking on Cinnamon Fire Jolly Ranchers while I write.  Is there a snack or drink that's a must-have during your writing process?

Decaffeinated Coffee with milk. Caffeine either makes me grouchy or puts me to sleep!

What was the most challenging part of writing THEIR TANGLED HEARTS?

Trying to keep the details of the tragedy that happened to Emma at a minimum while focusing on her healing.

Best piece of advice for new writers?

Don’t get in a hurry. Let your characters mature. Research your subject matter and check your facts but don’t get so bogged down in details that you get frustrated and quit. And remember that there is no time limit on how long it’ll take to finish your book. It’s not over until you decide it is. (S. J. comment:  Really good advice that I needed to hear today, thank you!!)

About the Book

Picture
Emma had spent the last five years learning to cope with tragedy. She should have known that Doc had something up his sleeve when he'd talked her into taking a cooking job at a Colorado cattle ranch. Cooking was the easy part. Working with disabled children was something she was decidedly not prepared for. Throw in a tall dark mountain of a man with a voice like warm velvet and she was completely over her head! It would take God to straighten out the tangled mess she had made of her life.

Excerpt

“I’m s-so s-sorry.” Emma stammered.

“Don’t be,” the man smiled. “Do you have nightmares often?”

“They’re not usually this bad.” Suddenly cold, she shivered and clutched the blanket to her chest. Confusion colored her voice as she asked. “How-?”

“I came in late last night and couldn't sleep. I was on my front porch waiting for sunrise when I heard you scream.” Smiling he held up his hands. “It’s a good thing I still have the key or I’m afraid I would have broken the door down.”

While he spoke he got up from the side of the bed and moved to a chair. For the first time she saw he was wearing an open jacket and flannel shirt. No wonder he had felt so warm and comforting.

“You must be Emma. I heard about you from Sue, when I called last evening to see if she needed anything from town before I headed out.” 

She realized that he’d deliberately been talking to give her some much-needed breathing space, in which to gather her wits.

When he reached out his hand, Emma didn't hesitate to place hers into it. “I’m Sue’s brother Jake Peterson,” he introduced himself formally, as he politely shook her hand.

“It’s nice to meet you Mr. Peterson,” she said automatically. “I’m Emma Winters.”

As Emma sat looking up at him, she was suddenly struck by the absurdity of the situation. A bubble of nervous laughter welled up from some secret place deep inside and surprised her by escaping. 

Jake, determining she was not hysterical, grinned and soon they were both laughing.

About Mary DeWeber

Picture
Mary DeWeber has always been a voracious reader. She often found unusual places to curl up with book including the branches of a sycamore tree! She spent hours entertaining her five children with stories that she would invent on the spur of the moment. Not afraid of tough subjects, her deep faith shines through her. Mary now resides in Arkansas in a hundred-year-old farmhouse with her husband Jeff and their dog Gretchen.

Connect with Mary

Website
Avery Anne Publishers
Goodreads

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1 Comment

Make the Right Choice - Pick Up LILA'S CHOICE!

8/12/2014

2 Comments

 
For one week, my friend Laura Brown's eBook, LILA'S CHOICE, will be on sale for 99¢!  Romance fans won't want to miss this one! 


If a red-hot sale price wasn't enough, Laura's also hosting a giveaway, too.  Make sure you scroll to the bottom of this post to enter.  No purchase necessary... although, c'mon, purchases do make us writer folks pretty darn excited.. 
Picture
Never let your friends get involved in your personal life.

Lila and Nate learn this the hard way. They are the star-crossed lovers of Glendale High. For three years the students have waited for the two to get together. They begged Nate to put his past relationship behind him, and cringed when Lila started dating Bryce. Just your typical teenage romance, except they’re the teachers.

Lila, a guidance counselor with a sweet demeanor, has an answer for every problem, every problem but her own. A visit from childhood friend Bryce thrusts her calm world into turmoil, as emotions buried deep inside are dragged to the surface. He soon realizes what only a friend can notice and a lover regret, that Lila, unbeknownst to herself, is in love with Nate.

Nate has seen better days. He is a history teacher stuck living in the past. Depression has kept his love for Lila unspoken, his ego frail after being cheated on.

Now Lila and Nate’s coworkers must unleash a scheme and uncover Lila’s true feelings. In a school this nosey what better way to get fast results than to involve the student population? The students are all too eager to get involved.

If everything goes as planned Lila will have to choose between two men. If her friends fail they might destroy these three and ruin their friendship. No wonder the scheme is called Project Torture.


Sounds good, right?  Keep reading on for more word love--an excerpt from Lila's Choice!
Lila Erickson watched with sluggish eyes while her margarita glass was refilled. Again. By her math this was her fifth cup. Maybe her sixth with the way the tan carpet rolled in shallow waves at her feet. She put a hand on the wooden coffee table. It kept floating, bringing her arm along for the ride. She placed her other hand on her head. The rolling stopped. Drats, it was her, not the apartment.

Her good friend and roommate, Ette, hummed as she filled two glasses. She ignored Lila’s hand plastered to her head and pushed the drink closer. “So…” she took a sip of her own margarita. “Bryce is coming for a visit?”

Lila groaned and pushed the cup away. This wasn’t a Saturday night drinking binge. This wasn’t helping Ette get over her latest fling. This was “get the counselor drunk so she’d spill her guts.” Lila wasn’t biting. Yet.

Desperate for a distraction, she became lost in the scene outside their apartment window. The yellow light of the parking lot illuminated a lone tree. The autumn leaves swayed in the light breeze—waves of green, yellow, and red, the latter reminiscent of Bryce’s hair. Her heart skipped a beat. She darted her eyes to the floor, choking on newfound desire. Like all things uncomfortable, she wanted to keep the meaning hidden deep inside. Thanks to Ette, the alcohol had already called her bluff. A shiver raced down her spine as she eyed her friend. Ette grinned over her glass.

Lila grabbed a pillow and thrust her head in. Bryce was her childhood friend, nothing more. They had been friends since kindergarten and stayed in touch after he moved away when they were ten.

“The cute redhead in the flesh, this should be good,” Ette drooled, already planning on her next conquest.

Lila dug her nails into the pillow.

Ette sensed Lila’s capitulation. “Why is this bad? I thought he was one of your best friends?”

“Oh, he is. But he was always just that—a friend. Now the door that leads to ‘other’ has opened and I can’t find the key.” Clutching onto the pillow, Lila’s nails dug into the fabric, threatening to poke holes.

“Sounds like someone has a crush on their childhood friend.”

“Yes.” Lila clasped a hand over her mouth, disbelieving her voice. “And that’s wrong.”

“Oh for God sakes. What’s so wrong about it? So you’ll flirt a little as you talk about days long past. Maybe he’ll flirt too?” Ette leaned forward in anticipation of the chase.

“I thought we were supposed to be helping you?”

Ette rolled over and ran a hand through her long blond hair. “It’s the same-old, same-old. Dating a week and the temperature ran cold. I’m out the door. I’ll drink,” she eyed her empty glass, “which it looks like I’m already up to. From here I’ll sulk in my room for a few days and then get all dolled up and go flirt shamelessly with some unsuspecting stranger.” She licked her lips in anticipation of yet another anonymous sexual encounter.

“Sounds like you’re going to be fine.”

Ette placed an arm around Lila. “Look, you love Bryce, he’s one in a million, and a friend of twenty years is hard to come by. You also know each other quite well. If the feelings are mutual, you can discover where this new path will take you. If not, you’ll still enjoy his weekly e-mails.”

Lila’s eyes drifted away from Ette. She couldn’t put twenty years on the line. She couldn’t risk ruining a friendship, no matter how good looking the pudgy boy had become.

Ette swirled the liquid around, watching her friend. “Do me a favor. Don’t turn into Nate on me.”

Lila stopped cold. She turned sharply to her friend. “What does that mean?”

“Seek out the opportunity in Bryce, don’t hide behind some shadow like Nate.”

“Nate isn’t hiding behind a shadow.” Lila blinked as Nate’s blue eyes came to mind. She shook her head. Great, now she was hallucinating eye colors. “He’s been hurt by a loved one.”

Ette stood up. “Here we go, defending Nate when I was proving a point.”

Lila sat dumbfounded, unable to wrap her head around what had happened.

Connect With Laura 

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CLICK HERE To Enter the LILA'S CHOICE Rafflecopter Giveaway
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