The Para-Posse: Posse Power by Sara Humphreys

The Para-Posse: Posse Power by Sara Humphreys: I am so psyched to be back at Para Posse and to be a monthly blog contributor. This is a rather sassy, powerful group and I'm thrilled ot be...

A Winning Workshop Experience

This weekend I had the distinct pleasure of being the guest speaker at the CTRWA chapter monthly meeting. When Jennifer Fusco, the CTRWA Chapter President, asked if I could be a guest speaker, my answer was a big YES!  I've been a professional public speaker and speaker trainer for over ten years, so it's a natural fit.

Just one problem...I was stumped about what topic to speak on.

I'm a relatively new author on the scene and I wouldn't dream of telling anyone how to write their book or coach them on characterization. I'm just not comfortable with that.  However, through my company Taney Speaker Training I run full-day workshops on public speaking all the time. Why not offer a workshop for authors on communication skills and public speaking that is specifically designed for authors?

In my experience, most authors are introverted and love the solitude that comes with being a writer. They can create fantastical worlds and characters you'll never forget...but ask them to pitch an agent, editor or bookseller and they are suddenly at a loss for words.

So I took the highlights from my public speaking & communication skills workshop and geared it toward writers. I'm happy to report that the workshop went well and the feedback has been extremely positive. Phew! Good thing....because I'm delivering the same workshop at RT 2012 in April! 

If you're interested in setting a up a workshop like this for you group or company, visit my website http://www.taneyspeakertraining.com

Me with the CTRWA gang!

The CTRWA group was just wonderful! They were engaged, asked great questions and many of them were willing to get up in front of the group and work on some of the skills we touched on.

This is a shot of me and the CTRWA President Jennifer Fusco!

While I was there, Jen was kind enough to give me a copy of the latest book in her Market or Die series, Integrated Marketing Plan Advice for Writers. I read it in under two hours but then I went and got a highlighter and a pen so I could back and take notes.

If you are a writer, self-pubbed or traditional, you must get this book! The entire MOD series is a must-have for every author. She takes marketing, which can be a daunting task for many authors, and makes it easy! I mean...it's like marketing for dummies...but she doesn't make you feel like a dummy. When you read this book, it's like you have your own personal marketing professional (which she is by the way for her day job) walking you through the process.

My favorite part was the Mad-Libs type exercise when she shows you how to create a positioning statement for your books.  I know. You may be thinking...What the hell is that?  However, Jen explains it all clearly and simply.

If you're an author and attending RWA Nationals in Anaheim this year, then you must attend Jen's workshop--Integrated Marketing Advice for Writers!  Can't go to the conference? Don't sweat it because you can pick up a copy of her book and when you read it, you'll feel like you have her right next to you walking you through the process.

You can get your copy here on Jen's Market or Die blog.

Promo Prizes with Pop

With Untouched, the second book in the Amoveo Legend series, coming out in April, promo and blog touring is on the menu for the spring. However, it's not just the book release on the calendar that had me thinking about giveaways because from April 11th-15th I'll be attending the RT Booklover's Convention in Chicago with hundreds of other romance readers and authors. Last year was my fist convention and one thing I noticed were all of the cool promo items that authors and publishers had for the readers.

Needless to say, my marketing mind has been busy coming up with some fun ideas that could stand out in the crowd.

 For the month long book launch contest, I'll be giving out weekly prizes that include signed copies of Unleashed or Untouched and other things like coffee mugs, t-shirts, tote bags, note pads and personalized m&m's...all of which have the book cover on them. Except the m&m's....they were too small so instead I wrote Eagle Clan, Wolf Clan and Amoveo Legend.

There was one idea that I thought would be kind of funky and different--temporary tattoos. I have to admit, I saw a cool one at RT 2011 that author Tamara Hogan had done for her novel Taste Me. (Excellent book by the way!)

So I decided to bite the proverbial bullet and have some made up of the book cover of Untouched and much to my surprise...they came out rather well.

So, what do you think?

Post a comment here on the blog by 11:59 pm on Sunday February 12th and I'll select 3 winners to receive two of these, as well as a couple of bookmarks! Don't forget to post your email so I can contact you.

A Melody for My Muse

People often ask where I get ideas or how I overcome an uncooperative muse and for me the answers lie in music. When I'm plotting out a book, one of the first things I do is create a soundtrack for it. When I'm at a crossroads with a character or a hiccup in the plot, I listen to the songs I selected and usually it helps trigger and idea. Sometimes, the soundtrack will get new additions.

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For example, I was driving up to our summmer home in Rhode Island (the backdrop for Unleashed) and the song "All Summer Long" by Kid Rock came on and conjured up all kinds of great images for Samantha and Malcolm. That wasn't originally on the soundtrack for Unleashed but you can bet your butt it was added. I hope you enjoyed Malcolm and Samantha's story and will want to read more about the Amoveo.

"Sleepwalking to Dreaming"--Amy Petty *used in the book trailer for Unleashed
"All Summer Long"--Kid Rock
"Katmandu"--Bob Seger
"The Way You Look Tonight"--Frank Sinatra
"Don't Stop Believin'"--Journey
"Unwritten"-Natasha Bedingfield

Coming April 2012

Pre-Order on Amazon

Pre-Order on B&N

If you read Unleashed, then you've already met the heroine and hero of Untouched

and I'm hoping you're excited to read their story.

 Here's the soundtrack that I used while writing Kerry and Dante's story.

Enjoy!

"Honey on the Skin"--Amy Petty *song used in the book trailer for Untouched
"Hurts So Good"--John Cougar Mellencamp
"Teenage Dream"--Katy Perry
"November Rain"--Guns-n-Roses
"Fire Down Below"--Bob Seger
"Lay All Your Love on Me"--Mama Mia Soundtrack
"I'm So into You"--The Strike Nineteens
"Tipitina"--Professor Longhair *this gave me the Louisiana flavor when I needed it

Coming November 2012

Before I get to the soundtrack, can I tell you how much I'm loving the cover of Untamed?!

It is the arc (advanced reading copy) cover and will likely change a bit before the final version

 but I love it so far. The art department at Sourcebooks is amazing and

 somehow manages to capture the spirit of every single book.

Okay, on to the music.

William and Layla are a very different couple from the others you've read about. For starters, Layla knows what she is. She knows she's a hybrid. Half human and half Amoveo from the Cheetah Clan. She's spent her entire life in fear that her Amoveo mate will find her and

conk her on the head like a caveman and drag her away.  

William is a cold, calculating attorney and member of the Gyrfalcon Clan.

He is used to everyone following his instructions without question so when he meets his firey red-headed mate...the poor guy is baffled.

"Promise's Demise"--Amy Petty *this song is used in the book trailer

"Paris (ooh lala)"--Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

"I Run to You"--Lady Antebellum

"Can't Be Tamed"--Miley Cyrus

"The Edge of Glory"--Lady Gaga

"I Go to Extremes"--Billy Joel

"Going Under"--Evanescence



Dream on....

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Giveaway! Win an ARC of UNTOUCHED!

Look what I got in the mail!! I am so excited for the release of Untouched and I think the art department at Sourcebooks did an absolutely amazing job with this cover. When I first saw it, I just sat and stared at it for for several minutes because the guy on the cover is Dante. I don't know how they do it...I'm just glad they do.

For those of you who read Unleashed, you'll recognize the hero and heroine in Untouched. Dante and Kerry's story is definitely different from Samantha and Malcolm. Kerry has hidden a dark secret from everyone in her life, including her best friend, Samantha. When she touches another human being it causes excruciating pain and evokes mind-numbing visions.Except when she touches Samantha. When she touches her friend, there's no pain and all she sees is the image of a wolf. She doesn't know why it's different with Sam and not one to look a gift-wolf in the mouth, she doesn't dare question it.

 As a result of her bizarre curse, she's learned to navigate daily life without even the briefest of human contact. As a plus size model, she lives almost every day in the public eye but even amid all of these admirers she feels isolated.

Until she meets Dante.

Dante Coltari, the owner of Inferno Securities and an Amoveo warrior from the Fox Clan, has finally found his mate.  He realizes that like Samantha, Kerry is unaware of her Amoveo heritage. However, her gift of second-sight gives him hope that she'll be able accept who and what she is with ease.  Too bad she thinks he's a big Neanderthal and makes no secret of her opinion.


Most of this book is set in New Orleans, which is one of my favorite cities. My husband and I have been there several times and we're going back in April for a book signing at The Hotel Monteleone. I'm so excited for that trip! The Monteleone is one of only three Literary Landmark Hotels in the USA and it's featured prominently in Untouched. 

The first time we went to New Orleans was about ten years ago and we stayed at the Monteleone. We knew a hurricane was coming but decided to go ahead with our trip because the folks at the Monteleone assured us that we'd be perfectly safe at their gorgeous hotel.

They were right.

When we landed the airport was a ghost town and all of the screens had CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED written all over them. Our flight was the last one permitted to land in New Orleans because of the hurricane that was bearing down hard and fast.

We arrived at the Monteleone in a deluge of rain. It was coming down in sheets and they were sandbagging the entrance of the hotel as we checked in. We got into our room, which was just gorgeous, and decided to run down to the CVS on the corner and pick up a few things. 

By the time we got out of CVS, the water in the street was up to our knees. I have to admit...I was getting nervous.  We had a great dinner in the hotel that night and went to bed hoping that New Orleans and the French Quarter wouldn't be under water when we woke up.

The next morning, the sun was out and the water was gone! However, Bourbon Street, and the rest of the quarter, was completely deserted. Everything was boarded up and I wondered if our trip would be a complete washout.

Nope.

By five o'clock that night, you'd never have known that there was a storm. The entire quarter was bustling and Bourbon Street was full of folks out to have a good time.

I've never seen anything like it.

Needless to say, we had an amazing time and have been back twice since. It's a gorgeous city with a rich, colorful tapestry of people and places.  I can't wait to go back!

How about you? What's your favorite vacation spot?

Leave a comment anytime from January 11-January 18 and be entered to win a signed arc of Untouched! Let me know if you Tweeted & FB'd it and get an additional entry for each. For every day you tweet or FB it, you get additional entries!

I'll announce the winner on January 19th.

UNLEASHED: Reader's Choice BEST BOOK of 2011 at Grave Tells!

Whoo Hoo!!! What a great way to ring in the new year. I am thrilled to report that Unleashed won Best Book of 2011 at the Grave Tells Reader's Choice Awards!

I have to throw out an enormous THANK YOU to everyone who voted, posted the link, re-posted the link and relentlessly passed the word about the contest. My readers are the best! Thanks for telling folks how much you enjoyed Unleashed  and for sharing this new shifter series with your fellow PNR junkies. I'm thrilled that you're enjoying the world of the Amoveo and hope you'll continue the journey this spring with Untouched.

I wish you and your loved ones a safe, healthy and happy 2012!

Dream on....

UNLEASHED is up for Best Book of 2011 at GraveTells: Vote here!

Holy Cow! Unleashed is up for Best Book of 2011 over at GraveTells Reviews! I'm beyond psyched! I do hope you'll take a moment and pop on over to cast your vote. You can also vote on several other topics like, sexiest story, best cover and hottest hero. So get on over there and check it out!

GraveTells 2011 Readers Choice Awards: Vote here!

Unleash Your Pictures- $25 Gift Cards Up for Grabs!

I thought it would be fun to have one last contest to close out 2011 and give away a couple of gift cards. 'Tis the season and all that good stuff.

I wanted to do something a little different that could give me a chance to get to know some of my readers a bit better.

Interested? Want a chance to win a $25 Amazon or B&N gift card? Have you read Unleashed?

If you answered yes to these questions then here's what you need to do to enter.

1. Upload a picture of you with your copy of Unleashed onto the Amoveo FB page. It could be your paperback or the book cover on your Nook or Kindle.

2. Make sure you do it by 11:59pm on 12/31/11.

That's it!

Here's an example from Robin C! Robin took it the extra mile and included her limited edition of the original release.

Looking forward to seeing your pics! I'll announce the 2 winners on New Year's Day!

Dream on...

Tenacity Tested

As you may know, I run a contest for U.S. Military Wives every year from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend. Last year's Grand Prize Winner was Carrie Reyes and part of her prize was for me to come have a book signing in her hometown. Carrie graciously agreed to hold off on her prize until the release of Unleashed. The plan was to hold it at the Columbus, Georgia Barnes & Noble from 1pm-4pm.

I was very excited because we were able to get some coverage in the local newspaper, the Ledger Enquirer. I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Katie McCarthy, who also happens to be a military wife and you can read the article here if you'd like.

At any rate, all of the planning looked like it was going to help us get the event off without a hitch.

Well you know what they say about best laid plans....

Needless to say the trip evolved into a series of planes, trains and automobiles.

I arrived at White Plains airport with plenty of time to spare and everything looked like it was going smoothly. Sitting in my aisle seat with the earbuds of my iphone nestled snugly in my ears, I waited patiently for the flight attendants to begin their familiar albeit slightly unnecessary here's-how-to-put-on-a-seat belt-bit.

However, the pilot came on to inform us that there was a mechanical problem with the plane. Apparently, they discovered a leak in one of the fuel pumps. Hmmm. I was just happy they found it before we took off. The flight attendants and pilots were really very accomodating and kept the passengers comfort their top priority. Bottom line: they let us off the plane and allowed us to wait in the terminal as opposed to beging squished inside the airplane.

After a couple of hours of waiting, the flight was cancelled but I was able to get booked on a flight out of LaGuardia that was scheduled to leave in just 90 minutes. I caught a van ride with ten other displaced souls, made it to the airport and ran through the place like I was on an episode of The Amazing Race.

Phew! I made it to the plane and arrived in Atlanta at 1pm....yeah....I was supposed to be in Columbus for the book signing at 1pm. Not so much.

Next step--the rental car.

If you're reading this and you've been to Atlanta International Airport you know that it's really like a small city. I disembarked my plane and hopped two separate trains to get out of the terminal and to the rental car center.

Then I had to drive about 90 minutes to Columbus. All I will say is that the speed limit on Georgia highways is 70 mph :)

I finally made it to the B&N in Columbus at 3:30pm and was greeted by the smiling faces of Carrie Reyes, her mom and two of her kids. I'd called ahead and kept them in the loop about my misadventures and they were very understanding.

Since Carrie won last year, we've become friends on Facebook so it was wonderful to finally meet her in person and get to know her kids. Carrie's mom, Joyce, was the one who actually sent her story in and nominated her daughter. They were real troopers and stuck around for the next three hours while we sold all of the copies they had in stock.

I'm a new author so when I have a book signing, I don't expect there to be throngs of people waiting for me. However, this time we had several folks show up who had read the Ledger article and came out to get their signed copies of Unleashed. I even had two guys who were sent there specifically by their wives to get a copy. Now that is romance!


I'm happy to report that we had a SOLD OUT event! The staff at the Columbus Barnes & Noble was absolutely fabulous and were very understanding about my travel conundrum.

After we ran out of books, I took Carrie and her family out to dinner. Good food, a very good beer and really good people.

Throughout this publishing adventure, I've had the opportunity to meet some pretty fantastic folks. Life is good.

If you know any military families, please feel free to tell them about the contest. I accept entries all year long and will start posting stories Memorial Day weekend 2012. People can send their story and picture to info@novelromance.net Please put 4th annual U.S. Military Wives contest in the subject line.

Dream on...

Ledger-Enquirer.com | 11/11/2011 | Katie McCarthy: Army wife brings author to Columbus

Ledger-Enquirer.com | 11/11/2011 | Katie McCarthy: Army wife brings author to Columbus