Of Ink and Quille

Please welcome back, Tami who honors us with her presence at today's interview. H ow did you get started as a reader for Champagne? I had been a book reviewer for Simply Romance Reviews for a while and I was just dying to get 'more'! So I decided to go to the publishers websites and click on all of the job link pages and see what they had to offer. When I got to the Champagne website they were 'hiring' for readers. So, I got to pre-read manuscripts that were coming into Champagne. I felt privileged and honoured! What, or who, inspired you to get involved in the publication industry? I'm a horrible bookie. I have been since I was a child. I started writing a book almost 7 years ago and I've always had the dream of being a writer. So when I started reviewing I said to myself, "Self you can do this too you know. And the only way to get into any biz is from the bottom up." I am one of those people that wants to know how all the nuts and bolts work. So,...

Tami Winbush: Marketing/PR rep for Champagne Books said: I don't know how it's possible to hate talking to people and love talking to people at the same time. But somehow I end up doing it. I do not like to get up in front of a crowd. It makes me sweat, get all red in the face and my heart beats out of my chest. Textbook heart attack, I mean panic attack. But once I get in front of said people, I can talk to them as if I have known them forever. I love to talk. I've been told that I have NEVER met a stranger, and it's true. The smaller the group of people I meet the better I am. So you would think that marketing Champagne and Carnal Passion Books to people online would make my life really easy since I don't actually have to get up in front of any people, right? WRONG! There is 'something' to a face-to-face connection and being able to show someone something tangible. "Here my dear reader, look at this wonderful book. The cover art is exquisite, the stor...

For those of you who know me I tend to be a bit of a procrastinator...and overly prolific. I'm always doing something and it shows. I'm currently going to be revamping my google group Of ink and quille. If anyone has any suggestions, comments, or thoughts on how to make it a better, more informative and fun group please, please feel free to drop me a note. I'm going to be opening it for discussions, promotions, etc as well as to do a monthly fun feature so please come out and join me in launchin this "New" face of my group in January 2010.

Please welcome author, A.C. Mason to the blog. She was kind enough to volunteer to do an interview. Feel free to post questions/comments. What inspired you to begin writing? I saw a biography of Mary Shelley on the history channel when I was about thirteen. If she could write Frankenstein by the age of eighteen what could I do by then? I didn’t know, but I sure wanted to find out. For each writer their genre is the one they’re comfortable with. Why did you begin writing within yours? I’ve had a fascination with American horror, thrillers, and sci-fi films since I was a very small child. In the eighties many interesting movies like The Shinning, Scanners, Angel Heart and The Lost Boys came out which further molded my young mind. Most kids thought I was disturbed but I couldn’t get enough of these dark places. Eventually I wrote my own scary places. What was your initial reaction when you got that first contract? Let me provide some context. Technically I don’t write romance but most of ...

Wow, only thirteen days left until the big day. I thought it would be fun to share some things about Christmas. Today I'm including an excerpt from my Christmas Novella, Christmas for the Cowboy. Happy Holidays - may they be blessed. Christmas For The Cowboy Chapter One Excerpt Beyond the window a blanket of white lay over the land as Holly Walker snapped the clasp on her bag shut. A sweeping glance around the room revealed her neatly made king-sized bed, two oak dressers, and armoire; each item lovingly cleaned in preparation of her week-long absence. She traced over the wedding ring quilt on the bed and tried to ignore the tremble in her fingers. Her stocking feet made no sound as she walked to the dresser and lifted the small envelope that rested there. “All set,” she murmured to herself, tucking her cell phone into her purse, and starting down stairs. The Christmas lights flickered and danced off the rings on her hands. Holly paused in the doorway and looked around. A massi...

With several books now available, I was honored when a local bookstore asked me in for a booksigning. Like any author, I ordered a few of each of my books in both print and ebook (CD's) and prepared to wow the crowds. I got there an hour early - set up, got organized, made sure my pens worked and waited. Waited for friends, co-workers, family - who'd said they'd be there but didn't show up. By the time my signing was over, I'd become almost resigned to its failure. After all how can it be a success when I sold one book and talked to a few people - who asked questions but didn't make a purchase? Yet it wasn't a complete frustrating failure. Oh no, by making one sale I have my book(s) in another persons hands. There was another lady there as well who gave me her card and said "call me". Is she a buyer? Yes, she is. She owns a book store several hours away from my hometown. And i will definitely be calling her. As well, I learned a few other tidbits a...

Submissions Call: Saddle Up Length: 50,000 – 55,000 Who doesn’t love a Cowboy? Our new line, Saddle Up, focuses on anything western. What we are looking for, for the series, are innovative well written stories that focus on strong, likeable, and appealing heroes and heroines. The tone of the story can be upbeat, fun, and flirty, or dark, sensual, and erotic. We are always on the lookout for a story that pushes or exceeds the boundaries of characterization, plot, and explicit nature. Saddle Up stories can be about an alpha cowboy fighting for his farm, a cowgirl fighting for her man, or a new widow who now finds herself doing something she never thought she would have to do … farm work. We want stories with real people; stories that pull the reader in till the very last page. Saddle Up stories are set in both small town communities and large urban areas. The first of the Saddle Up books will be released in 2010. Our goal is to release 2 books each month thereafter. Please send your sub...