Showing posts with label Rachel Amphlett. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rachel Amphlett. Show all posts

Monday, March 30, 2015

Stealing Time in the Main Stream Free Books From Friends

Comment to win FREE BOOKS -- Stealing Time in the Main Stream

This is not an April Fool's joke. I have a bunch of free books to give away every day this week! Just leave a comment on this blog to enter to win! 

 My debut novel, Stealing Time, is out on all platforms now -- Paperback, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Scribid, Inktera, Smashwords and more! 

 It was released in December on Amazon and has all 5 star reviews on both the US and UK sites. These are natural reviews from actual readers, not persuaded or bought. It's such a thrill to have readers love it as much as I do!
Click here for the Stealing Time Prologue and First Two Chapters plus all of the 5 Star Reviews from Amazon!


Please help me get the word out on my debut novel! I'm an independent author working hard to promote my first book. Please share this post and lend a hand. At the end of this post  I've included the first two chapters to get you hooked.

FREE Books!
To celebrate I am offering FREE books from many of my past Author Spotlights and a few FREE signed paperbacks of Stealing Time!  To see how to win read below!

Half Off Stealing Time on ebook

I have a smashwords ebook coupon for half off an ebook copy if you use the code RA85B, for an incredible value of $1.50 for hours of thrilling entertainment. Click here to take advantage of it for a limited time only. Half off Ebook Copy of Stealing Time




How to Win Free Books!

Comment on this blog to enter to win a FREE autographed copy of Stealing Time and the other books featured below. One random winner per day will be chosen. Please come back each day to qualify for another free book. My author pals are offering paperback, ebooks and audiobooks, depending on what they have available. I'll ask your preference when I contact you if there is a choice.

 In case you don't win but still want a signed copy of Stealing Time, leave me your contact information in a comment or on any of my social media sights below.

Here are my book links:
STEALING TIME

Paperback:

Createspace: http://createspace.com/5265254

 Amazon: www.amazon.com/Stealing-Time-Book-K-Waters-ebook/dp/B00PJMWD6S/

Ebook: 
Amazon:  http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00PJMWD6S

 Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stealing-time-kj-waters/1121455699?ean=2940151669672

 iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id977501005
inktera and Page Foundry: http://www.inktera.com/store/title/6ba521d5-da57-4598-b71b-d8d75925408c

 kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/stealing-time-12

 scrbid: https://www.scribd.com/book/258981760/Stealing-Time

 Soon on txtr, oyster and flipkart

In Europe: 

Author Spotlight Freebies

Here are the FREE books I'm offering this week on my blog and carrying over to next week as well.  To win leave a comment below and way for me to contact you (social media link). I'll add new authors each day so come back and comment again for more chances to win. I'll let you pick which book you want as long as it's available.

 1. Perfectly Flawed by Shaunna Rodriguez. You're going to love this comedy. Here is what one reader said, "It's non-stop laughs when confessions of a shopaholic collides with naive Grace Galloway in Perfectly Flawed." Jessica Taylor From Missouri. Look for Shaunna in next week's author spotlight here with some cool giveaways.
You can find it here on Amazon!


1. Round and Round by Terry Tyler. Terry is one of my first author friends and has been a great supporter. Her book is her 9th published and is a great novella chick lit read.
Check out the write up on Amazon 

2. Savage Payback by Seumas Gallacher is an international thriller. Check out the author spotlight on Seumas here.

3. Thrill by Wendy Potocki, her author spotlight is here. Wendy writes horror and thrillers and this one will keep you on the edge of your seat. 
4. Who Are the Fear Fighters by Bradford Scripps is a children's book that helps kids fight their fears. Here is his author spotlight for more on his apps and the book. 

5. Any book in the Heart Search Series by 
Carlie M. A. Cullen. See her author spotlight here. These are vampire romance stories that you will love!

6. Before Nightfall by Rachel Amphlett. Please check out her author spotlight here and a great story on how she came up with one of book concepts. The story is a suspense thriller that I know you will enjoy.


7. Ocean of Dust a YA thriller from Graeme Ing. Check out his author spotlight with an excellent excerpt on the story. This is a smart, exciting story that even adults will enjoy. 



Graeme is also giving away a signed copy of his other sci fi novel, Necromancer, as well. Here is the cover and amazon link to see what it's about.

Check out the Amazon page here for more on this book.

8. The Rejected Writer's Book Club by Suzanne Kelman. Here is the author spotlight on her and the book. It is a heartwarming funny story of an outsider fitting in. 


9. Wrong Place Wrong Time by David Perlmutter. Here is his author spotlight with an excerpt from the book, a true crime story of David's trip to Spain gone horribly wrong.  He is giving away an audio book!




Come back tomorrow for a few new authors thrown into the mix!

 See below for the first two chapters of Stealing Time.

Connect with KJ Waters


When I'm not working on the Stealing Time series you can find me on my social media at the links below. My novel is out on amazon here.

I am also the CEO of Blondie's Custom Book Covers, a company that helps authors and publishers create stunning book covers. Please follow our links here.
  • Check out our website here.
  • We are on twitter here.


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Monday, January 26, 2015

Blondie's Books From Friends -- Author Spotlight on Rachel Amphlett

Blondie's Books From Friends (BFF) Author Spotlight on Rachel Amphlett


My new author spotlight feature offers my lovely readers a water splash each Monday with booky goodness from some of my favorite author friends. When you see my blog with the BFF title it means you're in for a treat. If you would like to be featured on my blog contact me at any of my social media sights below.

Please leave a comment below to welcome Rachel to my blog and let me know you were here. This month I will choose one random reader comment to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Stay tuned!




Author Spotlight on Rachel Amphlett and Before Nightfall
Rachel Amphlett
What a thrill to be able to connect with authors all over the world! I love social media and its ability to make these connections seamless. Today I bring you one of my Aussie author buddies, Rachel Amphlett, who has been a great connection on twitter. She writes some really bad ass suspense novels so I hope you check out her work. Her current novel, Before Nightfall, is only  99 cents so it's hard to go too far wrong with that. My hope is that you'll be hooked and find her other books as captivating. You can also get her first novel White Gold for free by signing up for her newsletter on her website.

Today I bring you a behind the scenes look at how Rachel came up with the novel concept for Before Nightfall. I have to admit I got chills when I read this, partly due to the magical trip she describes but mostly at how her creative process was inspired by the sea that surrounded her. I wish my writing ideas worked out so neatly. Not that I have trouble but I don't write my books in 9 weeks. I chase kids and work at my two jobs and create awesome things for the PTA. maybe someday I'll get the chance to write in a solid straight line and get something done quickly.  Here is Rachel and her watery adventure.


Inspiration and a Change of Scenery


I’m not naturally drawn to the sea. It’s something I blame on my Anglo heritage, and the fact that if I go out in the sun my vampire-like skin simply burns. I always joke that people will know if I’ve got a tan because I go from blue to white.

However, it was while on vacation in Malta eighteen months ago that the idea for my current thriller, Before Nightfall came to fruition, which goes to show that being out of your natural environment (for me that means countryside and greenery) can often spark your creative juices in ways you might not expect.

It was about three days into the holiday that the idea first popped into my head. I could see a woman on a chair, her hands tied behind her. She had a Hessian sack over her head, and was scared – very scared. Her head was bowed, and she wore no jewelry. She’d tucked her feet under the chair, her toes pointed at the ground.

That evening, we met with family members who had flown to Malta to meet us there, and I described this scene to my aunt over drinks at a bar overlooking Sliema harbour – it wouldn’t let go, and I was aching to find out who the woman was, and why she was there.

What had she done to get into that situation?

Did anyone know where she was?

Would she get out alive?

I’d just published the second in my Dan Taylor thriller series, Under Fire, and my aunt suggested a rest from the series to explore this new idea. Rather than take a break from writing completely, the concept of writing something different as a means to dust off some different writing skills held appeal.

The next day, we spent a leisurely time walking and taking taxi boats between Sliema, where we were renting an apartment, and Valetta. The noises of the busy harbour-side and shouts from people as they worked the docks, and the aromas of salty air, and diesel fumes from the boats, evoked a real sense of place in my mind.


The warm air held an undertone of these smells – it would waft past us as we sat at tables outside cafes, sipping our cool drinks under an umbrella as we watched the world go by.
I knew the setting of the story wouldn’t take place in Malta – the place is too friendly (I wanted a location facing social upheaval), and too small to hide someone for any length of time. However, these sensory moments stayed with me, and the more I thought about it, the more I felt that the woman would be held captive near water.

The overheard conversations of everyday life and salty air would become the sounds and smells that sustained her, and how she would work out her location.

The day before we were due to fly home, we treated ourselves to a boat trip up the east coast of the island towards Comino and Gozo. The owners of the short tour used a traditional Turkish gulet, a beautiful wooden-hulled vessel that held special memories for us from trips to Turkey in the past.


We tossed books, a small camera, and my notebook and pen into a backpack, wandered down to the quayside and found a quiet place to sit on the small yacht.

For a while, we watched the scenery and fell into our usual companionable silence, and then I suddenly reached out for my backpack, pulled out my notebook and pen, and started scribbling.

Twelve pages later, I had the rough outline of the plot completed. I knew who the woman was, how she got there, and how much trouble she was heading for. When I finished, I was stunned and turned to my other half, a huge grin plastered across my face.

‘I’ve got the story,’ I said.

He laughed, shook his head, and turned the page of the book he was engrossed in. ‘Good,’ he said. ‘Then you can start writing it when we get back to Australia.’

I smiled, put the notebook back in my backpack, then went to stand at the guardrail to watch the island of Gozo grow closer to our starboard side.

Nine weeks later, the first draft of Before Nightfall was complete.


Links:

Website: www.rachelamphlett.com
Twitter: @RachelAmphlett (http://twitter.com/RachelAmphlett)
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rachelamphlett/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5070038.Rachel_Amphlett

Before Nightfall is available for the special price of $0.99 until 31 January 2015 from eBook retailers, including:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Before-Nightfall-Rachel-Amphlett-ebook/dp/B00KOAMTRS/ref=sr_1_1_twi_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1421825195&sr=1-1&keywords=rachel+amphlett
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/before-nightfall-rachel-amphlett/1119258325?ean=9780992268527


iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/before-nightfall/id864292743?mt=11





Connect With KJ Waters

When I'm not working on Stealing Time you can find me on my social media at the links below. My novel is out on amazon here.

    I am also the CEO of Blondie's Custom Book Covers, a company that helps authors and publishers create stunning book covers. Please follow our links here.
    • Check out our website here.
    • We are on twitter here.
    • Facebook link here.
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    Wednesday, February 20, 2013

    Blondie's Liebster Award #2



    Liebster Blog Award #2
    My awesome Aussie friend, Rachel Amphlett, nominated me for the Liebster Blog. Thank you so much Rachel for this distinguished honor. Mwah! Be sure to check out her website and thriller novel, White Gold, here. It looks like an amazing read! 

    The purpose of the Liebster Blog Award is to recognize blogs with fewer than 200 followers that deserve a look. This is my second nom in as many months. How exciting, eh? My job is to list 11 random facts about me, answer Rachel's questions and to nominate 11 new bloggers, who should bask in the Liebster glow (by that I mean post a blog linking back here with 11 random facts about you, answer my 11 questions and nominate 11 new bloggers). Let's get right to it. 

    11 Random Facts about Me

    1. My mom is 5'2"and my dad is 6'2". I am thankfully somewhere in between.

    2. I've been to 6 countries. Meh, not great for the rest of the world but for an ugly American, not too shabby! I've been to the UK (All of it including England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Northern Ireland), Switzerland, Bermuda, Italy, and Canada. Plus of course the USA.

    Countries I've been to.
    3.  I was born a poor black child. Not really, but I love that line from the Jerk. 

    4. I'm a bit of an anglophile (and what ever you call someone who loves the Irish and Scots as well). If you're from the UK I would love for you to leave me a boo message stat at audioboo.fm. I've got English, Irish and a few Scots in the novel so any fodder would be greatly appreciated! 
    5. I've lived in 8 different states. One of my favorites is Virginia.  Did you know that more US Presidents were born in Virginia than any other state? Now you can say you learned something today (you're welcome). Isn't their state flag lovely?

    Anyone know why he's stepping on that dude?  
    Oh, that's King George III! Anglophile or not don't mess with Virginia! 
    6.  I've been working on my novel, Stealing Time, for 7 years. I'm working on the last 4 chapters. (I've been saying that for a month now. One of my characters has hijacked my novel. A crazy Scot, by the way, so I had to let her have her way. Sigh.)
    My upcoming novel. You can read the prologue 
    here. Blondie in the Hurricane

    7. Through my previous job I met Al Gore twice. First time I was too shy to eke out a single word. The second time I was determined to make an impression. Let's just say Al and the secret service dudes were a bit nervous about my exuberance. Impression made.
    Al Gore was scared of me!
    8. Last summer I traveled to 13 states on vacation. See my blog: Blondie in the Atlantic Coast for more pics. 
    Ended the vacation in Stonington, Maine,
    a quaint little town outside of Bar Harbor. 

    9. I love medical stuff. Favorite show a few years back was Dr. G. Medical Examiner. Don't recommend watching the autopsies during dinner although if you're trying to lose weight...
    Dr. G. Medical Examiner. Yeah, she does autopsies. Yum!
    10. I did some modeling in my earlier days. Strangest job was modeling for an artists painting a tarot deck. Here is one of the cards.


    This is me, or at least the artist's
    rendition of me.
    11.  I've seen every episode of Spongebob in the last month. It's all my kids want to watch when they're sick. Let's just say we've not had a great month. Thank you stomach flu. 


    Rachel's 11 Questions For Me

    1.    What’s your favorite album cover and why?
    The first thing that comes to mind is Michael Jackson's  Thriller. Why? Because he at that point was black, had a nose, AND was super cool. Who would ever have guessed that none of that would be true 30 years later? Rather symbolic of the moral decline of pop culture, don't you think?

    Michael Jackson -- Thriller. Surprise ending for the King of Pop -- Propofol. 
    2. You’ve got the chance to travel back in time and be in your favourite movie. Which movie, and which character do you choose and why?

     To be completely honest, I'd rather eat a snake than star in a movie. Do I have to pick? Hmmmm, I'd have to pick The Ugly Truth opposite Gerard Butler for obvious reasons.  Another choice would be Brigadoon with Gene Kelly to advise them to, at all costs, avoid this costume horror:
    Travel back in time to prevent the atrocity of these God awful shorts in Brigadoon. Have ye nev'r heard of a kilt, lad?

    3.    You’ve been offered the chance to interview a person of your choosing. Who would you  choose – and what’s your opening question?

     I would love to interview John Adams, our second President. I'm a descendant of his cousin Sam, you know of the beer fame? Opening line: So tell me about the Adams family (cue theme song...dun dun dun deh. Snap, snap.)

    John Adams -- so tell me about the Adams family?
    4.    You’ve been asked to speak about writing in front of a class of 12-year olds. What advice aren’t you going to give them?

    Be a writer -- it's full of fame and fortune (NOT!)
    5.    What’s the worst (repeatable!) joke you’ve ever heard?

     What does a mermaid wear to math class? An algae-bra. 
    An Algae-bra! Get it?
    Or, what my son came home with today: "Mom, someone called you an owl today.  I provided  the requisite answer: "Who?" Yeah, hook line and sinker.
    "Who? Who?"

    6.    Relaxing holiday or action holiday? And where?

    Definitely an action holiday neck deep in some form of water. Where? First choice would be Bermuda. See my blog Blondie in Bermuda for a full picture. (Doubt me? See Blondie in the Pond or Blondie on the Reef!)

    7.    You’ve got the chance to go back to your schooldays. What would you do differently?

    I would have more confidence. I was awesome -- I just didn't know it yet. A few years ago I went to one of my class reunions. Over a cold beverage one of the 'popular' girls told me that  back in the day she wondered why I had so much confidence. I surely didn't feel that way at the time. My parents divorced when I was seven and it set me up for a damaged young ego. 

     That conversation changed how I thought of my younger self. That maybe despite the insecurities I felt I was a much stronger person that I realized.  One of the things I'm trying to instill in my kids is self confidence. We all make better decisions if we believe in ourselves. I want my kids to trust their instincts and stick up for themselves when it really counts. Think of what I could have done in high school if I knew then what I know now?

    8.    Your house is burning down, you’ve got the family and the pets out. The flames are  making their way towards your bookshelves … and you can only save one. Which book do you rescue, and why?

    I'll have to say the photo album my sister put together for me when I turned 16. I don't really have any valuable books and definitely not any I'd risk my life to save.

    9.    You can be a superhero for the day (or a villain). Who are you going to be and why?  (And yes, you get to wear the costume with the cape too if that sort of thing floats your boat.)

    I'm not really into super heroes but if you're gonna make me answer that it'd have to be a hot female version of Aquaman. If you've read my blog you know how I feel about the water -- how frigging cool would it be have aqua super powers?

    You made me do it. If I have to pick I'll be a sexy Aquawoman 
    as a super hero. No cape needed.
    10.   Animal, vegetable or mineral?

    Animal. I'll let you ponder on that.

    11.   If you could play an instrument, what would it be and why? (And if you can already play an instrument, pick another!)

    Another great question Rachel. I already play the flute, recorder, piano and guitar. None of them well anymore, but I was first flute in high school and in the marching band. I guess I'd have to pick saxophone.   
    Who doesn't like sax?

    Questions for My Nominees:


    1.  What is your favorite line from a movie and why?

     2.  What celebrity do you think you resemble or perhaps people have told you look like? I had a guy gush over me in a store hands flapping in excitement. "Oh my Gawd, you look just like Olivia Newton John in Grease. The slutty version."  Nice, huh? He was talking about my hair -- I assure you I was dressed very demurely. 

     3.  Share a favorite line or paragraph from your novel. 

     4. Name 3 things that you love about being a writer.

     5.  What is your favorite place on the planet?

     6. What was your favorite character to write? Why? 
    7.  If you were guaranteed to be safely returned unharmed what risky thrill would you try (i.e., Bungee jumping, free diving, scuba with sharks.)

     8.   Put a link to your favorite blog post here. Tell us why it's your favorite.

     9.   What is your favorite band or singer?

    10.  Pop, rock, opera, classical, folk, rap... what's your favorite type of music?

    11.  What author has inspired your writing the most?

    My Nominees for the Liebster Blog Award

    Be sure to check out these great authors and bloggers hand selected by me.

     1. Dan C. Chamberlain

     2. Kevin Hill Author/Writer ... for those lovers of travel. 

     3.  Roland Garcia The Eclectic Life

     4.  Joey Francisco Soul and Sweet Tea

     5.  R.C. Lewis Crossing the Helix

     6. G.A. Albrethsen

     7. Seumas Gallacher

     8.  Joanne Wadsworth

     9.  Joshua Stern Adventurer, dreamer, author

     10. Carol Hedges I write, I sleep, I try to resist cake

     11.  K.S. Haigwood The Dream of a Writer

     12.  Terry Tyler Terry Tyler's Blog

     13.  Brendy Caldwell The Shore

    Connect With Me
    When I'm not working on Stealing Time you can find me on my social media at the links below. I hope to have my novel completed by spring 2013 with book two close behind.
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