Sunday Chat with LeTeisha Newton

Dragon’s Ward: Polyamorous Novel by LeTeisha Newton says Interracial Romance is a Genre Worth Big Notice and Who Cares About the Races of the Characters?

Though the authors may be extremely popular, Interracial Romance doesn’t get the publicity that Romance does. With a twist on love between four LeTeisha Newton’s tale is challenging the mainstream.

Port Lavaca, Texas – The Interracial Romance genre is full of popular writers that have thousands of followers and readers, and yet the authors rarely find spots next to the big fish names of the Romance genre. LeTeisha Newton challenges the authenticity of this view with her sexy novel Dragon’s Ward.

“Why should I write only vanilla romance when I have been color blind in love?” questions LeTeisha Newton. She grew up in a world where she was often told she was too ‘black’ for those outside her race, and maybe just a tad too ‘white’ for those she shared heritage with. “I chose to love because the person resonates with me. Nothing more, nothing less. The same should be said for romance novels. If my character loves a man who is not black and she happens to be black, who cares? Love is love right?” LeTeisha continues.

Her ways have thinking have shown in her works. With fifteen titles under her belt, two forthcoming from Amira Press, LeTeisha isn’t a one-day success story. She pulls readers in, keeps them guess, and wondering what’s going to happen next. “In my book Murder by Ritual people were too caught up in the murder mystery, and it happening in small town Texas to even mention the fact that Eris, who is black, was falling for her partner, Ken Satou, who was Japanese. The story mattered. Not the race. That’s a love story.”

In Dragon’s Ward Brook, the main female character, had been hunted by her stalker, Roach, for nearly two years. He’s become crazed to have her, toying with her, until he can make her his forever. Just that forever for him means death for her.  When Stefan caught the nearly frozen woman in his arms, he never thought he would find the Phoenix to his King Dragon. She’s priceless, and his nobles, Cadoc and Nero, have been awaiting her to complete their quartet as well. Come hell or high water they will save her from Roach and claim her.

LeTeisha Newton’s fans are ever growing in number and they are urged to keep her press date in mind. Dragon’s Ward will be available from Amira Press on September 20th, 2013, and through all other retailers on September 27th, 2013.

Until that time readers can find LeTeisha on her blog at http://leteisha.wordpress.com, at Twitter by following @LeTeishaNewton or by her Facebook Page

How Do You Measure a Self-Publishing Journey?

That’s a good question, isn’t it?

Is it in sales? Is it in positive reviews? Is it in the joy you receive?

Unfortunately, I don’t know the answer and I’m a self-publisher as well as a published author with a small press.

Now here’s what I’ve read about indie authors:

1. They are not taking the time to hone their craft to a level acceptable to a mainstream publisher.

2. They are not using the advantages of peer groups, professional editors and literary agents to produce quality work.

And to this I cry – Bulllshit!.

Indie Authors are out there working as hard as any other independent artist to have their work shown. Is it all stellar? No, it is not.

And neither are all the books published by the giant publishing companies or the movies produced by the giant studios.

Indie film makers and indie musicians get some love. Why not the indie author?

Sad Song for Tuesdays – Cumbersome by Seven Mary Three

Researchers have found, according to a NPR report on a random day, that Americans are most unhappy on Tuesdays. The happy effect from the previous weekend has passed and the upcoming weekend seems far away.

So from the Vallory V blog, I add artistic validity to this sad day:

P.S. This song is best minutes before a break-up.

My favorite line: 

Too rich or too poor, she’s wanting me less and I’m wanting her more

The bitter taste is cumbersome

Nearing the End – Déjà Vu

I finished the outline of Déjà Vu in October 2012. At this time, it was a little over 13,000 words. I had to take a break from it because I was editing the short story, Cheers, and finding cover art.

With promotions for the short story and outlining the follow-up to Amber and Kevin’s story and the holidays, I couldn’t return to Déjà Vu until the end of December.  By mid-January, I had a 52,000 word first draft. That was whittled down to about 47,000 words in the second and third drafts. Between the second and third drafts, my critique group was giving me directions and actually there is a fourth draft that went to my editor in mid-February.

It’s now mid-March. I’m supposed to stop smoking on the 15th, Spring Break is in full swing. It’s my busy season at the day job. The edits? I’m working on them. Slowly, but surely.

I keep reading and re-reading. Does this make sense? Is this sexy? Is this romantic? Questioning every single line while making sure all the words are there and the punctuation is correct.

Scared out of my mind to let this thing go. But I will. Or I’ll have to hear we could have gone here or there! And I promise my family, we will head out of town for a few days of mommy away from the computer as soon as this is published!

Reviews and Ratings: From the Glorious to the Inglorious

Before getting my e-reader, I didn’t notice book reviews. I would wander the aisles of a bookstore and choose a cover that interested me, read a few pages and make a decision. Or I would pick up a recommendation from a friend or find the latest from a favorite author. Sometimes, I got something I liked and sometimes I didn’t. No reviews needed.

Then electronic reading came into my life and wow! Reviews all over the place. I started reading them. Some were glowing recommendations and some were brutal bashings. I had to make a decision on whether or not people I didn’t know were qualified to recommend a book to me. Most of the time – not in the least.

But I keep reading the reviews. And in the defense of the reader reviewers, some of them have a pretty good rating record and give relevant feedback on plot, character development and editing issues. Some of them just seem to want to slam someone with a two-star or one-star for no other reason than he or she can. The same goes for the five and four star reviews of books that truly don’t deserve it!

So what’s a reader to do? For me I’ve learned to read reviews with a critical eye and base my decisions on trying out a new author on a consensus of reviews.

Will I read or won’t I read based on nothing else? It just depends on my mood.

Now as a new writer myself, the question was whether or not to read reviews of my own work.

I did it. I couldn’t help it.

Some were good and some were bad. And some were the best! I’ve gotten critical reviews (I’m talking some two stars) that gave real feedback and I’ve actually started to work specifically on those comments.  Some of my critical reviews stated that they wish a short story was longer, for those – unfortunately, making it longer would have been an injustice to the story as I envisioned it. Those things I won’t change.

Then there were those that left me feeling really bad. According to those reviews, there was nothing salvageable in the work and I should probably never go near pen and paper again. (Okay that’s not a direct quote, but I get the feeling that was the intent.)

So in order to shore up my broken writing spirit, I looked at those reviews again with my critical reading eye and for those low ratings without content. I saw that there was no content. Simply a bashing because he or she could give me one.

For the readers out there, I hope you’ll take a consensus of ratings and reviews before deciding not to take a chance on a new writer. You may be surprised as I have been. And for the writers out there, think of the one and two star reviews as the licks we must take on our rise to the top of the bestseller list.

Happy Reading and Writing,

~Val

The New Year Approaches – 2013

I hope your holiday went well. Mine was spent in South Carolina with my brother and his family and we had a great time. I often complain that my three kids are too loud. However after spending a week with five excited children, there’ll be no complaining from me for a while!

Because there were the grandparents who wanted to spend time with their grandkids, I also got some time alone to write and reflect.

I enjoying writing – bringing characters to life from a snippet of an overheard conversation or song verse and creating a world for them to inhabit. I enjoy working on my craft so that someday I can become a very good (dare I say great?) writer.

I’ve come to enjoy marketing. It has lead me to some very good reads and I’ve virtually met some awesome writers! That has been so cool for me.

HUH?

Publishing? Lately, that has left a sour taste in my mouth. I don’t mind criticism. As I said, I want to be good at this. But I’ve seen some things that my gut tells me don’t fall into constructive criticism. And as a published writer, I can’t call people on their suspected BS even here in my own little corner of the blogosphere.

So I’m seriously considering not publishing beyond my 2013 commitments. While I complete my projects in the next four to six months, I won’t be around much. But know that you can always drop me a line at t(dot)mailhes(at)yahoo(dot)com, I’m still an avid reader and honest feedback good or bad is always appreciated about my writing!

Happy New Year ~Val

April Alisa Marquette and Turnabout

Native New Yorker April Alisa Marquette was once a tutor for middle and high school students. Yet these days she shares her love for reading with adults. She writes detailed sagas depicting smart, sexy, multi-cultural people. Her dazzling debut novel Absolution,about a gay male and his three women friends is the first in The Cohort Trilogy. She has also written The Sea Isles Series, a captivating trilogy that has her currently tweaking Books II and III for 2013 release.

Today, she’d like to share with you her novel Turnabout from April Rain Publications which has been called steamy and powerfully erotic…

Turnabout by April Alisa Marquette: A frustrating & exhilarating romance; this love story encompasses family, friends and foes…   

Sexy Abigail takes care of everyone in her circle of family and friends. Ruggedly attractive Joseph would like them to become a couple. Yet conflicting emotions and other people —namely Abigail’s ex, keep them apart. Amid misfortune, and Abigail’s ex attempting to advance himself, can the seemingly star-crossed lovers pull through?

An excerpt from Turnabout:

Quickly he bent. Holding her beneath her arms, repeatedly he kissed the swell of breast just above her portrait collar. However, when his tongue sought her nipples, he backed away. “Gimme ten,” he said, although he needed a lifetime really, to love her.

When she was alone, Abigail hugged her self. She bit her lip, thinking forget it, all that had just transpired, especially the intense heat. She needed to focus on the displayed measures of Joseph’s success. Then she would think straight.

She gazed at platinum albums and plaques. Yet her thoughts returned to the man in the adjacent room. She ran a finger over an EssenceAward, and ‘saw’ Joseph’s brown skin. She touched the Black Achiever’s Association award and was ‘touching’ Joseph. She eyed a certificate from ASCAP, and numerous AMA’s and a Grammy, and recalled sexy saying that each next award brought more demands for his services. How she needed his ‘services.’

Abigail sighed. No more thinking about slipping out of her dress, and tiptoeing through those doors. No more picturing herself nude and slipping into Joseph’s shower… His mouth would be on hers, as water sluiced over them. With his big hands at her sides, he would slide down her body, and his mouth would trail heat over her breasts, her belly…

Oh! Abigail looked up and her eyes widened, because she was not supposed to have actually entered his cozily lit mosaic tiled lavatory!

Joseph saw her, as glistening, he exited the doorless shower. He watched her eyes travel from his parted lips, to his sparse haired muscular chest. He watched them round when they traveled lower, passing his taut belly to take in his extended formidable male member.

Abigail licked her lips, as forgetting his towel, Joseph crossed to her. Her hands rose. Her palms rested on his chest as he pulled her close. She got stuck again, this time not by thorns, but by his throbbing male staff. Wanton, she moved against him, as he took her mouth with his own. He forced hers wide, as he gave her his very big tongue. He kissed her like he was hungry and had not eaten since who knew when.

Then before she knew, with skilled musician’s fingers, he had her dress at her waist, her thighs parted, and the crotch of her teddy aside. Suckling a needy nipple through the fabric of her dress, Joseph also slipped a middle finger into…her heat…

  Get your copy of Turnabout here:

• Amazon 
• Barnes & Noble
• Smashwords

 Connect with April online:

• Amazon Central https://www.amazon.com/author/aprilalisamarquette
• Blog: http://www.aprilalisamarquette.com/blog
• Twitter: @AprilAMarquette
• Email: AM(at)AprilAlisaMarquette(dot)com
• Author’s site: http://www.aprilalisamarquette.com/