Help Support Fellow Authors

In late January, it came to my attention a few of my author friends had books releasing in February. What a perfect time to celebrate them. So, I offered to feature them, each on my blog, by doing an author interview. It was such a great feeling giving those authors a place, center stage on my blog that I decided to make it a month long event.

So I've launched Feature February and I'm hosting it on my Word Press blog. Yes, I have another blog on Word Press. I also write twice a month for the Writing Wenches. How do I have time for all these blogs?  I make time. But let's not get off track.

This month, I've made time for my fellow authors. They work hard, they are all unique, have something special to say, and they deserve the spotlight. I firmly believe in supporting my fellow writers and authors. I know I would've been lost and maybe still would be if it hadn't been for a few authors, giving me tips, showing me the way, and mentoring me along my first few months in this business. Every single day, I learn from them.

We are not alone. Writing is a solitary experience, but so many people are needed to make you a successful author. Not only your readers, but all the people that come before them: your editor, cover designer, formatter, beta readers, critique partners, marketing partners, bloggers...And most of these people are also writers.

I know some of the most avid readers are writers, so thank you, fellow writers and authors, for teaching and supporting me. I truly appreciate you and feel lucky to be part of this community.

You can find Feature February here: https://jsenhaji13.wordpress.com/
Follow along and meet some great authors.

You can find me online at www.jennifersenhajiauthor.com
#SupportIndieAuthors

A Writer's Logic

This past Thursday, I had a little minor surgery to remove my gall bladder. It needed to go since it was impeding my ability to consume good food. I did, however, benefit from the lucky side effect of weight loss, which I won't complain about. I'm sore, moving slowly, and it's hard to sleep, but otherwise I'm okay.

Was I concerned about having the surgery? No. I felt confident my surgeon would do an excellent job. Was I worried about taking time off work? No. I have a ridiculous amount of sick time and vacation time because I'm one of those people who never takes it. Was I nervous?

No. I was excited. Why you ask? Because it meant that I was going to be in bed, recovering from said surgery with nothing to do but rest and...write.

Yes, I'm one of those writers who has a full time day job. Between working, family, blogging, social networking, and reading, I get very little time to actually write. Yes, I was looking forward to having this surgery so I would have time in bed with my laptop. Nothing kinky (well maybe on the page), just writing.
Here is what a normal day looks like for me and how I manage my time.

7:30am- Check in on social media and then read on the commute train to work.
8:00am-5:00pm- Day Job (These are my scheduled hours, although I do sometimes work later.)
5:00pm-6:00pm- Check in on social media and read on commute train home.
6:00pm-9:00pm- Homework with son, prepare and eat dinner.
9:00pm-10:00pm- Get son to bed, spend time with daughter/husband.
10:00pm-As late as I can- Last check in social media, blog, beta reads, editing.
If I have time after that, I write.

Yeah. It's tough to find time, so since I'm going to have this down time where I can't work, I'm taking advantage of it. The plan is to finish edits on my novel, work on my current short story, outline two novellas and work on my marketing plan. It's ambitious, so we'll see how much I'm able to accomplish.

I'm really hoping this time is productive.

Do you have an activity that you wish you had more time for? What is it? How do you make time? Can you share any time management tips?

Jennifer Senhaji

Find me online at www.jennifersenhajiauthor.com

Choosing to Dream, Book 2 in the Sunset Dreams Series coming soon.

Jump, Jive and Wail Release Day

 

 

 

I am pleased to announce the release of Jump, Jive, and Wail by Kathryn R. Biel. Kathryn is a fellow Writing Wench and I've had the pleasure of getting to know her during our daily chats. I was even lucky enough to weigh in on the cover of this book, which I love.



Here is a summary:

 

A rebel on the run…

Kaitlin Reynolds is used to fearlessly flying off mountains. But nearly two years after a devastating injury has ended her ski jumping career, Kaitlin is still struggling to put one foot in front of the other and find her new life. A chance meeting with a handsome stranger begins to put life into perspective. Dashing figure skater, Declan McLoughlin has just returned from the Olympics amid a swirl of publicity and fan fare. Just as Kaitlin begins to have hope again, her charming savior turns out to represent everything she has lost. If Kaitlin can just let go of the past and take a leap of faith, will she find herself soaring into Declan's arms?

 

I am adding this to my Goodreads list as should you. Here is the link: http://bit.ly/GRJJW

Ready to one-click? Here are the Buy Links

Amazon US: http://bit.ly/AmzUSJJAW

Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/AmzUKJJAW

 

Telling stories of resilient women, Kathryn Biel hails from upstate New York and is a spouse and mother of two wonderful and energetic kids. In between being Chief Home Officer and Director of Child Development of the Biel household, she works as a school-based physical therapist. She attended Boston University and received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from The Sage Colleges. After years of writing countless letters of medical necessity for wheelchairs, finding increasingly creative ways to encourage the government and insurance companies to fund her clients' needs, and writing entertaining annual Christmas letters, she decided to take a shot at writing the kind of novel that she likes to read. Her musings and rants can be found on her personal blog, Biel Blather. She is the author of Good Intentions (2013), Hold Her Down (2014), I'm Still Here (2014), and the short story, Fly Robin Fly (Part of Cupid on the Loose: A Valentine's Anthology 2015).

You can find Kathryn online below. 

 

Website: http://kathrynbiel.blogspot.com

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/GRKRBiel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathrynrbiel

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KRBiel

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kathrynrbiel/

Congratulations on your new release, Kathryn. I can't wait to read it.

Find me online at www.jennifersenhajiauthor.com



Jennifer Senhaji

Romance-What are you thinking?

What goes through the mind of a romance writer? I can't speak for all romance writers, but here's a glimpse into how I find ideas.

Have you ever had that dream? You know, the one you desperately try to go back to sleep to finish because it was that good. Yeah, that dream.

Do you wonder what the story is behind a couple holding hands in front of you in line at the local coffee shop?

Or how about a daydream that wanders through your mind when watching that actor strut his stuff on the big screen?

Well, those are all potential books for me. Now I know to write those little gems down whenever I get the chance.

Until we are capable of lucid dreaming, I will be taking those daydreams and letting them play out on paper to see where they go. They may end up a pile of notes that never become anything, or they could end up becoming a best seller.

Imagination is a splendid thing. Not to be wasted, but to be cultivated.

I'll let you in on a little secret...my first novel, Sweet Dreams, was based on two reoccurring dreams. Yep, I used my dreams to spark the idea for the book and let my mind wander until the plot took shape. The whole story didn't present itself in the dream and the actual book does vary greatly from the dreams, but I took those images and built on them. I guided my thoughts to see where those images would take me. And it worked.

So now as I walk the farmer's market on Fridays or think about that photo I saw on Pinterest, I let the ideas run wild. And when a good one comes along, I write it down.

Have you ever had a dream you couldn't forget? Have you ever thought about turning it into a story?

Jennifer Senhaji

You can find me online at www.jennifersenhajiauthor.com

Thanks for reading.

Undercover Heat Release Day Giveaway

Today, Undercover Heat by Tami Lund officially goes on sale. Whoohooo! It's no secret that I love this author. I've read several of Tami's books and I'm a big fan.

I've had the pleasure of getting to know Tami through our writing group, the Writing Wenches. Personally I can tell you she's funny, a grammar Nazi, partial to shower sex (in her books, wink), and a great supporter of her fellow writers.

Undercover Heat is the second book in her Tough Love Series, and I know for a fact she is working on the third right now.

Here is the blurb:

A year ago, agent Kyra Sanders almost closed the case of her career - almost, but not quite. Her boyfriend and colleague ended up cheating on her with the perp she was chasing, blowing the case and ruining Kyra’s belief in happily ever after. When she’s given a second chance to catch this crook, she’s determined not to let anything interfere.

Quinn Daniels is an FBI agent with a hell of a skeleton in his closet: his father was a career criminal. Locked up in federal prison, he still manages to torment Quinn, never letting him forget that he failed as a son and a human being. Hard-drinking, hard-talking Quinn vows to stay on the straight and narrow.

But when Kyra and Quinn are assigned to go undercover as a married couple, trouble - and desire - flares. Opposites may attract, but can they keep the heat between them undercover long enough to close their case?

 

Intrigued. I am. If I know Tami and her writing style, the characters are sure to have great chemistry and make me laugh along the way. I'm adding it to me TBR list right now. As should you.

 

Goodreads Link

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23698442-undercover-heat

Now that it's on your list, below you can find the links to buy. Go ahead, you know you want to one-click it.

Buy Links

Amazon US: http://bit.ly/AmzUSUndercoverHeat

Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/AmzUKUndercoverHeat

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/BNUndercoverHeat

Tami Lund likes to live, love, and laugh, and does her best to ensure the characters in her books do the same. After they've overcome a few seemingly insurmountable obstacles first, of course.

 

Tami is multi-published, both self and with a few publishers, including Crimson Romance, Liquid Silver Books, and Soul Mates Publishing. Chances are, there is a new book coming out soon. Be sure to stalk her on social media, so you know when.

And most important, if you enjoyed one of Tami's books, please let other readers know by leaving a review on the site from which you bought it, or on Goodreads. Otherwise, how will they know which book to read next?

Social Networking Links

Website: http://tamilund.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5169798.Tami_Lund

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTamiLund

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TamiLundAuthor



 

Here is a little giveaway for you to sweeten the pot.

 

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Three prizes (in one Rafflecopter):

1. The Resort series-5 e-books; the entire collection.

2. $20 gift card to Amazon.

3. Candy Crush e-book.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Have you read any of Tami's books? Which one is your favorite?

Jennifer Senhaji, Your Sweet and Spicy Romance Author
Find me online at www.jennifersenhajiauthor.com

Happy reading.

Self Editing Tips and Tricks For January

So, you've finished your first draft. Great. Congratulations. Now the real work begins.
If you're with a publisher you'll be turning in your manuscript for editing. The editor will make notes of changes they want and send it back to you for you to edit and re-submit.

If you're self publishing, then you will need to hire your own editor. I say need, because this is a must. An editor is the most important investment you can make in your writing. Book covers, marketing, branding, all are important, but before you do any of those things you want your book to be the best it can be. I thought I couldn't afford an editor. I didn't know where to even start looking my first time around. Rookie mistake, but I'm telling you this so you don't make the same mistake I did.  Now, I know better. I'm even having my first work of fiction re-edited.

An editor makes you a better writer. I recommend the professionals over at PageCurl Publishing and Promotion. I worked with Patricia, Samantha and Melody on my recent holiday romantic short, I'm currently working with them to polish up my first work of fiction, and edit my current WIP.

That said, there are a few things you can do yourself before handing your manuscript over to your editor, which your editor will also appreciate. Here are some tips I've learned that I hope will come in handy. I write contemporary romance. Not all the tips below may be applicable if you are writing scifi, historical fiction or suspense. Keep that in mind. I will

1. Always spell out the word okay. Don't overuse.
2. Always capitalize God.
3. Avoid the word just. It tends to be a crutch for a lot of writers.
4. Use contractions. Find all the instances of it is, she is, I am, that is, he will, etc. and contract.
5. Use the Find tool to find and replace words too often used as well as contractions.
6. Do not use the Find and Replace all tool. This is tempting, but should be avoided. There are some instances where it is isn't it's, but its.
7. Use first line indent at the beginning of each paragraph. Do not tab or use space bar. Use the tool bar at the top to format your entire document.
8. Use insert page break at the end of the last sentence of each chapter.
9. Numbers under 100 should be spelled out. Exceptions to the rule are for an address or time.
10. Always have a minimum of two or three beta readers read before submitting for final edit to catch those things you are too close to see.

I hope those were helpful. I'll post more again in the future.

Do you have any quick tips you can share for self-editing?

Thanks for reading.

Choosing to Dream, Book 2 of the Sunset Dreams series is coming soon. Stay tuned.

You can find me online at www.jennifersenhajiauthor.com

Undercover Heat by Tami Lund Cover Reveal

The Tough Love Series by Tami Lund follows the lives of men and women in tough jobs who deserve to find their happily ever after, but often need a little help getting there. The first book in the series is Naked Truth, which was released in June.

Jack, from Naked Truth, is an FBI agent, a playboy, a man who is happy tasting the flavor of the month and not staying for breakfast. He’s perfectly content with his life and has no interest in finding his happily ever after. So when he is attracted to Kennedy at his partner’s wedding, he naturally takes the opportunity to seduce her. Now it’s time to focus on the next good-looking woman who comes along, right?

Ah, you don’t always get what you expect.

Kennedy was burned by her ex-husband—badly. She told everyone he cheated on her, because the truth—that he stole all of her money before disappearing out of her life—is far more embarrassing. For the last three years she’s struggled to pay off her debt, ignoring her libido and refusing to consider allowing another man to get close.

A one-night stand with Jack is the perfect way to break her sexual fast—until she discovers that he’s pouring her morning coffee and frying bacon.

While Jack goes undercover at a male strip club, the two begin an affair that distracts him from his job and puts their hearts—and Kennedy’s life—in danger. Now there’s only one way Jack can stop this killer, and it involves making that declaration they both swore they didn’t want.

On January 19, Crimson Romance will release the second book in this series, Undercover Heat. A year ago, agent Kyra Sanders almost closed the case of her career—almost, but not quite. Her boyfriend and colleague ended up cheating on her with the perp she was chasing, blowing the case and ruining Kyra’s belief in happily ever after. When she’s given a second chance to catch this crook, she’s determined not to let anything interfere.

Quinn Daniels is an FBI agent with a hell of a skeleton in his closet: his father was a career criminal. Locked up in federal prison, he still manages to torment Quinn, never letting him forget that he failed as a son and a human being. Hard-drinking, hard-talking Quinn vows to stay on the straight and narrow.

But when Kyra and Quinn are assigned to go undercover as a married couple, trouble—and desire—flares. Opposites may attract, but can they keep the heat between them undercover long enough to close their case?

Sound interesting? Check out the cover!

And while you’re impatiently waiting for Undercover Heat to be released, why not pick up a copy of Naked Truth, to tide you over? Buy link: http://www.crimsonromance.com/contemporary-romance-novels/naked-truth/

And don’t forget to add Undercover Heat to your TBR list on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23698442-undercover-heat

Tami Lund likes to live, love, and laugh, and does her best to ensure the characters in her books do the same. After they've overcome a few seemingly insurmountable obstacles first, of course. If you enjoyed one of Tami's books, please let other readers know by leaving a review on the site from which you bought it, or on Goodreads. Otherwise, how will they know which book to read next?

You can find Tami online at http://tamilund.com/