Goodreads Giveaway and other updates…

If you are a Goodreads member, you can sign up for my free giveaway. The drawing ends May 28, 2013. At that time, Goodreads will select a winner to receive a free paperback copy of Lessons, which I’ll ship directly from the printer. 

I’m trying to get more involved over at Goodreads. This morning I deleted the few blog posts I’d made on the site – I think there were only seven since I signed up. Instead, I’ve redirected this blog to Goodgreads, so when I post here, it will also show up on my Goodread’s author page.

Last night I started entering books I’ve read to Goodreads – with ratings. A couple I left reviews on, yet most I didn’t considering the number of books I entered. These are by no means all the books I’ve read, just those I could remember and leave an honest star rating.

In other news, my newest book in The Sensual Romance Series, While Snowbound, is off with the editor. I am currently working on my third book in that series, Sugar Rush, which should be ready for the editor within two weeks. That is of course, if I can stay off Facebook and Goodreads.

Write on!

A One Star Review I'm Okay With

I received my first Amazon one star review on After Sundown. I’m not really upset, because the reviewer didn’t slam my writing, and I suppose his/her comment “The writing style could not make up for such an unlikeable character” might be taken as a backhanded compliment.

The reviewer is right, Cole, the male protagonist (whom I would not term the hero of the story, as the reviewer did) behaved like a jerk. It’s true he molested Kit, the female protagonist on the dance floor – yet she never said no, and from his perspective and considering the situation and her reaction, he reasonably assumed she wanted his attention.

Did he almost rape her? Sort of. The reviewer stopped reading at that point.

I never said my books were politically correct. Was his behavior totally inappropriate? Yes.

For the record, the story doesn’t condone date rape – yet it does feature a character who almost commits it.

I might argue Cole confronted his dark side; horrified at his own behavior. But I could only push that argument so far. Sure, he experienced a revelation and regretted being such a jerk. But he didn’t completely change his ways, and much of his behavior later in the story is not politically correct.

But like I said, I never promised political correctness.

I finished the first draft of my second book in the Sensual Romance Series - While Snowbound. Our male protagonist is a famous rock star – voted sexiest man of the year - twice. He is used to woman falling all over him, which is why he decides to head for the mountains alone – away from the paparazzi and fawning fans.

Ella isn’t a fan. In fact, she has no clue who he is – nor is she particularly impressed when she discovers his identity. She’s heading to her mountain cabin to work on her manuscript.

When a blizzard hits, Ella rescues the careless rock star. With the roads closed and no telephone service, the two stay warm and safe at Ella's cabin while the rock star finds himself attracted to the one woman who sees him as an ordinary man.

Of course, that is not all bad.

There is still work to do on the story - rewrites, beta readers and the editor. In the meantime, have a look at Anna J. McIntyre's new Facebook Page!  I'd love your like! 

While you are there, I hope you answer my question, sexy or subtle? What do you want on the covers of your romance novels?

After Sundown No Longer Exclusive to Amazon

After Sundown, the first book in my Sensual Romance Series is no longer exclusive at Amazon. You can now purchase the eBook at Barnes & Noble, All Romance and Smashwords. It is also on its way to other eBook stores, such as Kobo, Sony, Apple, Diesel, Page Foundry, Baker-Taylor’s Blio and Baker-Taylor’s Axis360.

Each book in the series is a standalone love story. Expect sexual tension and happy endings.

Reviews have been trickling in, and so far I am pleased. For the record, I’ve never paid for reviews or actively solicited them. As far as I am aware, none are from personal friends or family members. 

If you prefer paperback books to ebooks, you can purchase After Sundown in paperback. Click here for the paperback version.

Amazon UK

1 Five-Stars

Amazon US

5 Five-Stars

1 Four-Stars

Goodreads

5 Four-Stars (really liked it)

2 Three-Stars (liked it)

2 Two-Stars (it was ok)

I Love it When They Laugh

My sister, Lynn, arrived in Havasu after Christmas, to spend time with my mother and me. While she was here I read her my work in progress (WIP), which is about 1/3 of the way through the first draft. It brought back memories of when I read the early drafts of Lessons to her, many years ago.

Sisters are different than friends. Friends may be hesitant to tell you if your story is missing something – or is basically, crap. Thing about sisters, even if they want to tell you your book is good, when it is bad – they normally can’t pull it off. At least my sister can’t. We are too close, and know each other too well.

So I was tickled when she really got into the story – and started laughing out loud at just the right parts.

For almost two months I had been having a problem committing to a new manuscript. I kept hopping from one project to another, leaving first chapters scattered all over my hard drive. Finally, I settled on my current WIP.

It seems I made the right choice, if my sister’s reaction is any indication. Now, I just need to figure out a title. And, finish the book, of course.

Photo: My older sister, Lynn and me.