In Sync

Facebook, Twitter, RSS, LinkedIn, etc. Oh my!  The internet is a hub for creating your online presence, which is crucial to any business -- including writing -- yet at times it can be a bit daunting. I’ve spent a couple of days trying to sync my social media sites so that I don’t have to repost, retweet and rewrite every tidbit of information I want to share with my friends and readers. Unfortunately, this can be a challenge at times.

I’ve learned if you’re not careful, some of the apps for these sites will take over your media presence -- even without your knowledge -- and have a field day informing your friends about your every move. For example, some will post things on your behalf even if you don’t expect them to. Articles you read may magically appear on your Facebook wall for others to see where you’ve been. Yikes! That feels a bit invasive to me. My least favorite little app demon is the one that checks your e-mail contact list to invite EVERYONE from your personal attorney to your contact at your online bank to join you on the social media site. Double yikes! That feels a bit like spam to me. I would prefer the app to access my list and let me choose who I’d like to invite to my social circle and not just send out a blanket invite to the entire list.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not against anyone wanting to join my social circles (the more the merrier), but let’s face it, my attorney might not be interested in my tweets about my latest romance book and there’s a good chance that the lady I send my online bills to doesn’t really care if Steel Magnolia Press is running a $.99 promotion on our books. Unfortunately, they both may now get to see and hear every “share” I send forth into the internet world, which could become annoying if they really didn’t want to hear it in the first place. So the bottom line is one must be careful about which apps they allow to access their information. I’ve learned this the hard way.

However, I still think syncing your sites is a good idea, and after working with the social sites I’m a member of I’ve hopefully -- with fingers crossed -- now synced them so when I post on one, it will post to the rest as well. I’m hoping this will cut down on the double and triple postings about the same topic too. Seriously, who wants to see the same information posted three different times on your Facebook wall from several different venues?

So, my question for our readers is: What social media sites do you frequent and are you “in sync” as well? I’d love to hear your solutions to some of these issues and maybe even learn about a new media circle or two to get in “sync” with too.

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Tamelia Tumlin has worked with several online publishers, but is now writing exclusively for Steel Magnolia Press. Juggling motherhood, teaching and writing is a challenge, but one she welcomes to pursue her passion. Her romance novels range from sweet and sassy to dark and dangerous.

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6 New Releases - 3 Free on July 12 Only! Plus, How to Win a Kindle Fire!

While others may be slowing down for those lazy days of summer, we're just gearing up. It's no secret Jennifer Blake will be re-releasing 36 of her bestselling novels in digital format through Steel Magnolia Press over the next few months. This week saw the first 4 of them published to Amazon. For the next 2 weeks, we'll be offering them at a very special discount -- one of them for FREE today only! After July 24, all titles will be $3.98 or more.

Two other Magnolias also released their new romances. Act fast to pick them up today for FREE.

And remember, if you don't have a Kindle, you can still read Kindle books on just about any device, even your phone or computer, with a free app from Amazon.

 The Louisiana Plantation Collection

Jennifer Blake's Louisiana Plantation Collection features 4 unrelated, stand-alone, long and lush historical romance novels all set in antebellum Louisiana's aristocratic plantation society.

ARROW TO THE HEART
By Jennifer Blake

FREE July 12 - or

$2.99 Before July 24

Temptation too powerful to resist...

In steamy nineteenth century Louisiana, a Southern version of the medieval court of love flourishes. It's Katrine's creation, her refuge from an arranged marriage that has left her untouched in heart and body. But her husband is using it to gain the child he can never sire.

Rowan de Blanc seeks out Katrine to unmask a heartless siren, but discovers instead a gallant and beleaguered lady. Caught up in the tournament arranged by her husband, he becomes the champion -- and wins Katrine as his prize.

Katrine and Rowan refuse to couple at her husband's command, and yet love and desire are strong beyond imagining, and time is running out...

SILVER-TONGUED DEVIL
By Jennifer Blake

$1.99 Before July 24

After a steamboat disaster, Angelica wakes in the bed of a man she doesn't know, tied to him in a wedding she can't remember. Yet his kiss is sweetly familiar...

Renold took Angelica in a moment of madness, and kept her for the sake of her dowry - the plantation stolen from his family. Yet living with her is daily, and nightly, torment.

What began as an act of vengeance becomes searing desire and heedless love. But what redemption, what possible sacrifice, can lead to forgiveness and the possibility of forever?

MIDNIGHT WALTZ
By Jennifer Blake

$2.99 Before July 24

He came to her in the dark of the moon...

Arranged marriages are common among Louisiana's aristocratic Creoles, but Amalie's new husband shows little interest in his bride. That is, until his handsome cousin Robert arrives at Bonheur Plantation. How can the man she married remain so cool and aloof during the day, while approaching her with such tender passion at midnight?

Robert declines the outrageous favor asked of him -- yet some sins are impossible to resist...

As mystery, deception and murderous danger stalk the sultry land, Amalie and Robert must choose between love and duty, between desire's sweet rhapsody and the painful truth.

TENDER BETRAYAL

By Jennifer Blake

$2.99 Before July 24

She married him for revenge alone...

It was Melanie's mistake and Roland's drunken ardor that brought them together in illicit passion. If she hated him before for causing her beloved grandfather's death, Melanie had even more reason after Roland seduces her and drives away the man she was to wed. She accepts his duty proposal, then, swearing to use it to destroy him.

The passionate intimacy of the bedchamber is no place for vengeance, however, and pride and anger melt in desire's white-hot heat. A final act of treachery will surely end it. Yet betraying Roland may well break her hungry heart... 

More New Releases

NIKO'S STOLEN BRIDE
by Lindy Corbin

Contemporary Romance
Category-Length Novel

FREE on July 12

Reg. $2.99

Faced with the fiasco of her cancelled wedding, Kara wants to hide from the world while her heart heals. A day trip aboard the yacht leased for the honeymoon cruise sounds like the perfect escape. If only the captain hadn’t turned out to be the man she’d practically begged to kiss her after her failed bachelorette party. A rebound relationship with the handsome Greek should be the furthest thing from her mind, shouldn’t it?

Niko Maragos has spent more time in meetings than on the decks of his family’s ships in recent years, but after he dances with Kara, he’s eager to captain the yacht to Key West. To ensure that she can’t return to her ex-fiancé, he steals her away. His plan to get Kara in his bed seems fail-proof, until pirates attack…

DEADLY IMAGE
By Tamelia Tumlin

Inspirational Romance - Suspense
Long Novella

FREE on July 12

Reg. $2.99

Gone without a trace ...

Lexi Yates knows she hasn’t harmed her three-year old daughter, yet the Louisiana town of Gator Bayou seems to think she’s guilty. With her daughter missing, the evidence stacking up against her and her faith in God tested to the limit, Lexi must find a way to convince FBI agent Ace Valdez she’s innocent before she becomes the next target.

Ace Valdez doesn’t trust easily, and he certainly knows better than to fall for a case, yet there’s something about the widowed mother that makes him want to believe she’s innocent, but evidence doesn’t lie. Or does it?

Win a Kindle Fire

Steel Magnolia Press is delighted to be sponsoring the Kindle Fire Giveaway this month at the FREE KINDLE BOOKS AND TIPS and KINDLE BOOKS FOR A BUCK blogs. There are several ways to be entered to win, along with ways to earn more chances for winning. Stop by, enter, and subscribe to the blog either through your blog reader or email (free) or via your Kindle ($0.99 for a subscription or get a free app for your Android or Fire) to receive daily announcements about free and/or 99 cent Kindle books. We'll resume our regular SMP giveaways in August.

http://www.fkbooksandtips.com/2012/07/09/kindle-fire-giveaway-enter-now/

Contest Ends July 22!

An (Almost) Tale-Less Dragon

I was pleasantly surprised to learn A Dragon’s Seduction received the coveted Night Owl Top Pick Reviews stamp and a rating of (gasp) 5 stars from Night Owl Reviews. First, I’d like to give a HUGE thank-you shout out to Angibabi4 for the wonderful review of my novella. You can read it here if you like.

Now, this story is the one I like to think of as the (almost) Tale-less Dragon. It has had a bit of a journey before finding a home with Steel Magnolia Press. I’ve always enjoyed writing and reading paranormal novels. I’ve written a few short stories with shifters before and quite enjoyed the process. Werewolves and jaguars, I understood. But this story is a little different. The idea came after an editor (from another publisher I was submitting to a few years ago before I signed on with Steel Magnolia Press) mentioned she want to see dragons in her paranormal series. Of course, my first thought was, “Okay ... there’s a call for submissions, get after it before someone else does.”

Then my second thought was “Dragons? Huh? Are you kidding me?" You see, I’d never read (and actually still haven’t) a dragonshifter story before, and really, let’s face it, a dragon is a reptile. Ewww … scales and claws and just … eww!

My next thought was, “How in the world does one make a reptile sexy, loveable and perfect for the heroine?” Not very easily I found out.

Now, I’m one of those who’ll try (almost) anything once, so I began plotting. Thus, the Gatekeepers were born. Honorable, ultra-sexy, and very worthy of their heroines' love. And yes, at times a bit scaly. But hey, what man doesn’t have his flaws? The first novella, A Dragon’s Seduction, came easily enough. The hero is a water dragon and what better way to put his extraordinary skills to use than to make him a hot fireman? Of course, his heroine has a few skills of her own. One of which will kill him if he’s not careful.

During the time I was writing this story and contemplating making it a series, there was a medical emergency in my family, so the story, completed only in its first draft, sat on my hard drive collecting dust for the next two years or so. Writing was placed on the backburner, so to speak, as my family dealt with the situation at hand. The Gatekeepers series became a distant memory and the opportunity to “get after it before someone else did” passed. Edits were not finished. The story was not tightened and polished, and it did not get submitted as I had planned. My water dragon’s story was … well, dead in the water I supposed, and I just assumed my dragonshifter would be without a tale.

After joining Steel Magnolia Press, I began to work on my contemporary romance and really didn’t give much thought to the little novella still collecting dust on my hard drive until Jennifer Blake mentioned releasing her backlist. Hmmm … that gave me an idea. I had a nice, completed novella ready to edit and polish. But, was there still a market for it? Would readers even be interested? Who, if anybody, reads dragonshifter romances? So I tossed the idea of releasing the finished story around with the other Magnolias and, after a bit of encouragement from the other authors, I decided to go for it. Being the logical girl that I am, I thought, “What have I got to lose? The story is finished. If it doesn’t sell or there isn’t a market for the genre anymore then that would be okay too.” No harm, no foul.

At the time I still hadn’t decided to finish the other three Gatekeepers' stories. After all, I didn’t even know if there would be any interest in the first one. But, after seeing some very lovely reviews from readers and since several readers have asked when the next Gatekeeper story is coming out, I decided it was time to give each of my other dragonshifters a tale as well.

So to answer the readers' question, I’m hoping to release the second Gatekeeper story by August or September 2012.

Now that you’ve heard the trials my first Gatekeeper novella went through before publication, I’m sure you can see why the 5-star review and Night Owl Top Pick stamp is very special to me. After all, A Dragon’s Seduction was nearly a Tale-less Dragon.

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Tamelia Tumlin has worked with several online publishers, but is now writing exclusively for Steel Magnolia Press. Juggling motherhood, teaching and writing is a challenge, but one she welcomes to pursue her passion. Her romance novels range from sweet and sassy to dark and dangerous.

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June Bride Celebration - June 20-21

You're invited -- save up to 80% on 8 Bridal Romance titles!

99 cents each

June 20-21

Wedding bells, bouquets, dresses and quilts! What's more romantic than a wedding? And we know these weddings will all go off without a hitch. Right?

Participating authors include Jennifer Blake, Pat McLinn, Sandra Edwards, Shadonna Richards, and Geralyn Dawson. Check their pages for steep discounts on other titles.

Historical

Pieces of Dreams
by Jennifer Blake
(REG $2.99)

Amelia "Melly" Bennington's dream of married bliss comes undone when she mistakenly kisses the wrong man -- not her staid, hard-working bridegroom but the dashing sea captain who is his twin brother.

As the wedding draws near, she is torn by long-held affection for one man and sensual attraction to the other. Animosity between the two men reaches such a fever pitch that a tragic break seems inevitable -- unless Melly can force her unruly heart to decide which brother to favor and which to send away forever.

Novella. 30,000 words -- about 100 pages. 

Originally published by Berkley in THE QUILTING CIRCLE anthology and by Jove in the WITH LOVE anthology.

Contemporary

The Rent-A-Groom
by Jennifer Blake
(REG $2.99)

Even though Gina cancels her wedding mere days before the ceremony, she's determined to keep her reservation for a famous honeymoon suite in Dallas.

Enter Race, a Texas cowboy who cleans up rather well, and who declares himself her substitute groom for the week.

Thinking her best friend hired Race, Gina goes along with the fun - at first. But is Race really who he seems? Why is Gina's ex-fiance staying at the same hotel? And just how far is Gina prepared to go with Race and that model-worthy face of his on their "honeymoon"?

The Wedding Series

Prelude to a Wedding (Book 1)
by Patricia McLinn
(REG $2.99) 

The Wedding Series
You are cordially invited ... to join the celebration as college friends embark on the greatest education of all -- falling in love.

Charming Paul Monroe has the Peter Pan thing down pat. As an antique toy appraiser, even his work involves play. Which is fine, unless your job is to keep his Chicago business running smoothly . . . and all that charm -- and sexiness -- is aimed at you.

Organization and reliability are Bette Wharton's hallmarks. She handles the toughest clients with aplomb, until Paul provides a challenge that goes way beyond the office. She has a plan and a timetable. How can she let herself fall for Mr. Live-for-the-Moment when all he offers is Love-for-the-Moment?

Wedding Party (Book 2)
by Patricia McLinn
(REG $3.79)

Michael Dickinson is delighted to be best man at his friend's wedding - but there's one complication. Tris Donlin is a bridesmaid. He's wanted her for longer than he cares to remember, but to her, he's just good old Michael - college pal, confidant, best buddy ... Would a few days of wedding celebration let him finally get her out of his system once and for all?

Her cousin Paul's wedding party has Tris's head and heart full of memories of college days with him, Michael and their friend Grady. Grady was her college crush and Michael was her buddy. Now that they're all grown up, my how things have changed.

She's certain she's found the best man for her . . . if only she can convince him.


Contemporary

The Marriage Bargain
by Sandra Edwards
(REG $4.99)

Camille Chandler is a tabloid journalist whose career is right on track--until her boss sees a curious ad in the L.A. Trades.

Wanted: Single actress for an extended gig abroad.

France's mega-rich playboy Julian de Laurent is up to something and Camille's boss expects her to find out what. Who knew the eccentric gazillionaire was looking to hire a temporary wife?

When Camille refuses to accept Julian's proposal--and secretly write a juicy tell-all about the de Laurent family--she's fired and left financially destitute, forcing her to entertain Julian's proposal for real.

But what'll happen at the end of the contract period, after Camille has spent six months as the wife of a man she learns is capable of stealing her heart?

Approximately 60,000 words. About 236 pages.

This is a re-release of The Marriage Bargain, originally published in August, 2010. This version has an ALL NEW ending.

The Bride Series

The Bride Series (5 Bestselling Novels in 1 Volume)
by Shadonna Richards
(REG $4.99) 

Over 87,000 copies of the individual titles sold in 9 months!

AN UNEXPECTED BRIDE - Book 1
Emma Wiggins is about to marry her heart-stopping gorgeous boss, CEO Evan Fletcher, in seven days--too bad he doesn't know it yet! Desperate to fulfill her ailing grandfather's last wish to see her settle down, she tells him a little white lie on his deathbed about being engaged to her secret crush--commitment-phobic Evan. Can love blossom in the most unlikely situation? 

THE JILTED BRIDE - Book 2
Jody Anders' adoptive grandparents surprised her with a short one-day visit from New York and they can't wait to meet Gregory, her wonderful new husband with whom she eloped. Trouble is, she forgot to mention that he jilted her at the altar and is no longer in the picture. Will her gorgeous neighbour, Jake help her out? 

THE MATCHMAKER BRIDE - Book 3
What happens when a lonely matchmaker unexpectedly falls in love with a forbidden client-- a gorgeous, high-flying CEO with a secret past? Read the story of Sophie Wilson and Carlos Bradley III. 

HIS ISLAND BRIDE - Book 4
Jessica Mills wasn't looking for love, but love found her...while vacationing on the sunny island of Jamaica. Undercover billionaire, James Carrington thought he was through with serious relationships...that was until he met darling Jessica. 

AN UNEXPECTED BABY - Book 5
Getting a man is one thing...keeping him is a whole different story!

Recently wed to her hot boss, CEO Evan Fletcher, Emma Wiggins-Fletcher thinks her sizzling hubby is avoiding spending quality time with her...that is until Emma discovers that her pregnancy test is positive.

A baby changes everything. Jetsetter Evan discovers his new wife is pregnant and cancels an important business trip and prepares to rearrange his workaholic life to pamper his newlywed princess. Emma is over the moon about the new special affection from her spouse and her ill grandfather. Gramps has been given six more months to live, and he is so delighted about the baby news, he plans a surprise for the couple.

Too bad her world is turned upside down when she discovers the pregnancy test was false. Emma has been enjoying Evan's renewed attention and he's already shifted his life around to be daddy to their unborn. How could she possibly break the news to her husband and to her ailing grandfather without breaking their hearts? Still, pretending to be pregnant is a whole different story and can only last so long before they find out the truth.

The Bad Luck Wedding Series -
Books 3-7 Also on Sale!

The Bad Luck Wedding Dress (Book 1)
by Geralyn Dawson
(REG $3.99) 

Finalist for Romance Writers of America's RITA award!

They call it the Bad Luck Wedding Dress, and now Jenny Fortune's dressmaking clientele has begun staying away in droves. Yet, Jenny is sure that she can turn her luck around if she wears the dress herself at her very own wedding--all she needs is a groom.

Trace McBride is an attractive widower raising three little girls--or outlaws--and he badly needs a woman's loving touch. Jenny isn't sure she knows how to win a marriage proposal, but she is willing to take off her spectacles, let down her golden hair, and even give flirtation a try. When seduction turns to passion, Jenny risks everything--even her life--in the hope that she'll be lucky in love.

The Bad Luck Wedding Cake (Book 2)

by Geralyn Dawson

(REG $4.99) 

Finalist for Romance Writers of America's RITA Award!

Sexy Tye McBride steers clear of marriage hungry females, but when the McBride Menaces, his three incorrigible nieces, need protecting, he's willing to do just about anything to save them--even take a bride in name only.

Bakery owner Claire Donovan is dead-set against marriage, but when Tye makes her a proposal she can't refuse, the marriage of convenience is on.

It's their bad luck that sometimes, convenience isn't very convenient.

The Appeal of Romance

Ah, romance, it’s everywhere. It shows up in ancient plays and troubadour tales, in grand opera, in thrillers and suspense stories, in western and sci-fi adventures, paranormal epics and even hard-boiled mysteries. It is an important element in thousands upon thousands of movies, giving light to the darkest of dramas and sanity to the zaniest of comedies. If romance lurks in nearly every story, why shouldn't novels dedicated to the subject be wildly popular?

And yet, just what is their appeal? It’s not the love scenes -- the sex -- alone, though romances have been labeled “soft porn for women.” Unfortunately, those making this claim can’t recognize the eternal theme of romance novels for concentrating on the emotions which drive them.

The purpose of love and its accompanying desire is to forge a pair bond that will lead to successful procreation. The eternal question -- the one which animates romance novels -- is whether any particular pair bond will prove strong enough, permanent enough, to insure the wellbeing of the children born of it. Romance novels, then, are about the human relationships which allow survival of our species. Is it any wonder that women, the gender most intimately concerned with childbearing and rearing the next generation, should be enthralled by stories which help point the way to this essential happy ending?

It’s as simple, and as life-affirming, as that.

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Since publishing her first book at age 27, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Jennifer Blake has gone on to write over 65 historical and contemporary novels in multiple genres. She brings the story-telling power and seductive passion of the South to her stories, reflecting her 8th-generation Louisiana heritage. Jennifer lives with her husband in northern Louisiana.

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