Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Newest Computer Update - February 25, 2014

Got Computer back....

They replaced a part, and well, my computer is like new, I lost everything on my hard drive.....  So I am starting from scratch, it is going to take me a while to get important programs back on my hard drive, all my email is gone as well as my e-books etc... that were on my hard drive, lesson learned everything from now on will be backed up on an external hard drive.  Even though I now have my computer back, I have to take time off from touring as I do not have any media, books etc... to fulfill my tour obligations.  I need to take this time to organize and revamp everything, so that I can better help with tours in the future as well as establish what I want my blog to be about and revamp it to have more interaction with my readers and decide what else I would like to add to it.  I ask everyone to please have patience with me during this time of rebuilding.  I am so disappointed I lost everything, but so majorly glad that my computer is fixed even though I have to restart from scratch.

Dalene K Rodman

Update to all my readers, tour companies and authors I work with....

I do not know yet how long it will take, it ended up being a week longer before they sent me a box, because there was a mix-up in communication with me and the first rep I spoke with.  When I called in to check why they had not sent me a box yet, they had no confirmation that I had even spoke to the first rep.  Talk about frustrating to the extreme, it all finally got corrected and they finally got me a box last week and I got it sent in, but I still have not had any email communication letting me know anything yet.  This frustrating to the extreme, all promotion companies I work with please replace me on all my upcoming tours.  I pray that I don't lose all my e-books as they fix my computer.  If it is all their, I am going to do external hard drive back up first thing, then I am going to take time to organize myself and time better before I take on tours again.  I will update everyone when I get my computer back and as I progress.  Please pray or whatever you do that I don't lose my e-books.  But if I do, it will be a lesson learned always keep an external hard drive backup of my books.  I vow to become organized and have everything backed up before I proceed with tours in the future so that if I ever have computer issues again, that I am covered.  I know I am basically rambling and ranting, but frustration of the situation will do that to you.


Dalene K Rodman


Please have patience.

I am having problems with my computer, it is trying to do a fix, but does not seem to be able to do it.  It is looking more like I am going to have to call and get them to send me a box so I can send it back into get fixed, and hope I don't lose my eBooks and data in the process.  I will try to communicate from my daughter and son-in-laws computer when I can.  I use Microsoft office 2007 outlook to download all my email, so all that is on my computer as well.  But I will look in my online access to see if I can find the important emails not deleted yet.  I will be down for at least a couple of weeks, and this is upsetting me as I just had to send my computer in for repair in November, this time it has to do with driver issues and not sure what else. So this puts me in at an unfortunate standstill with my blog hosting as well.  Which, now more than ever I know I am going to have to get all my eBooks off the computer and on a backup hard-drive, I had been so busy catching up and getting back on track I hadn't figured I would have computer problems and which angers me to no end.  Especially when I normally buy my computers from best buy so I can have geek squad coverage, the kids replaced my last laptop because my grandson being a toddler at the time messed up my last laptop.  When the did they bought from Walmart and got their warranty thing that they have now, so I can get it fixed, it is just a longer process, and I dislike buying computers from Walmart, for this very reason.  I know I am ranting, I am just so blessed mad that I never had these kind of issues from computers I bought through Best Buy as to where buying one from Walmart has become tedious.  Anyway as soon as I can get back on track, I will inform everyone.  I will try to keep up with what I can, but eBooks that are on my computer will not be able to be read and reviewed as well as hosting media that I am scheduled for.  Thank you for understanding and baring with me as I get this fixed and everything back on track.  I am sorry for the inconvenience this will and is causing everyone, including myself, because I don't need this frustration and aggravation for me or everyone I am committed to host and do book reviews for.

Dalene K Rodman

I cannot call the Walmart Warranty Center until Monday, I am still trying to get back on my laptop in the meantime.  If I can fix it myself, I will contact everyone and catch up immediately.  If not, It will be two to three weeks to get it fixed, I pray sooner.

Saturday, February 8, 2014

All Promotion companies I host for and Authors - Important message....

Please have patience.

I am having problems with my computer, it is trying to do a fix, but does not seem to be able to do it.  It is looking more like I am going to have to call and get them to send me a box so I can send it back into get fixed, and hope I don't lose my eBooks and data in the process.  I will try to communicate from my daughter and son-in-laws computer when I can.  I use Microsoft office 2007 outlook to download all my email, so all that is on my computer as well.  But I will look in my online access to see if I can find the important emails not deleted yet.  I will be down for at least a couple of weeks, and this is upsetting me as I just had to send my computer in for repair in November, this time it has to do with driver issues and not sure what else. So this puts me in at an unfortunate standstill with my blog hosting as well.  Which, now more than ever I know I am going to have to get all my eBooks off the computer and on a backup hard-drive, I had been so busy catching up and getting back on track I hadn't figured I would have computer problems and which angers me to no end.  Especially when I normally buy my computers from best buy so I can have geek squad coverage, the kids replaced my last laptop because my grandson being a toddler at the time messed up my last laptop.  When the did they bought from Walmart and got their warranty thing that they have now, so I can get it fixed, it is just a longer process, and I dislike buying computers from Walmart, for this very reason.  I know I am ranting, I am just so blessed mad that I never had these kind of issues from computers I bought through Best Buy as to where buying one from Walmart has become tedious.  Anyway as soon as I can get back on track, I will inform everyone.  I will try to keep up with what I can, but eBooks that are on my computer will not be able to be read and reviewed as well as hosting media that I am scheduled for.  Thank you for understanding and baring with me as I get this fixed and everything back on track.  I am sorry for the inconvenience this will and is causing everyone, including myself, because I don't need this frustration and aggravation for me or everyone I am committed to host and do book reviews for.

Dalene K Rodman

I cannot call the Walmart Warranty Center until Monday, I am still trying to get back on my laptop in the meantime.  If I can fix it myself, I will contact everyone and catch up immediately.  If not, It will be two to three weeks to get it fixed, I pray sooner.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Warriors Moon by Jaclyn M. Hawkes

Warriors Moon

Warrior's Moon Medieval Historical Romance by Jaclyn M. Hawkes   Never in all the kingdom has there been a more brave and protective champion. Nor such a loyal and capable maiden. And they loved each other desperately. But is their love strong enough to withstand all their dark age holds—danger, feudalism, disease, and unfair oppression? Yes, they truly loved each other desperately. They loved their kingdom more.  

Praise for Warrior's Moon
"This book has adventure, memorable characters, and tons of action. There is even romance! I absolutely loved it!!!" ~Laura (Goodreads)
"I loved this book! Great characters, I love a strong female lead. I really enjoy all of Jaclyn Hawkes books, but I must say this in one of my favorites!" ~ KMon (Amazon)

Warriors Moon Tour


jaclynAuthor Jaclyn M. Hawkes

Jaclyn M. Hawkes grew up in Utah with 6 sisters, 4 brothers and any number of pets. (It was never boring!) She got a bachelor’s degree, had a career and traveled extensively before settling down to her life’s work of being the mother of four magnificent and sometimes challenging children. She loves shellfish, the out of doors, the youth and hearing her children laugh. She and her fine husband, their family, and their sometimes very large pets, now live in a mountain valley in northern Utah, where it smells like heaven and kids still move sprinkler pipe.


  BookBlast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 2/10/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

M-Day by D.T. Dyllin

Zombies? That's kids stuff.  

Welcome to the ultimate battle of the sexes. Welcome to M-Day... 

Available now and on sale from February 7-14!



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18755234-m-day?ac=1

Title: M-Day (M-Day #1)
Author: D.T. Dyllin
Genre: Dystopian Romance
Publisher: Tik Tok Press
Cover Artist: Lindsay Tiry
Interior Book Design: The Eyes For Editing
Buy on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1fdcqz4

Synopsis:

Before the day… before M-day… people used to read books and watch movies about zombies. They used to dress up as zombies; pretend to kill zombies… Basically, zombies had become a part of popular culture in a very unexpected way.

The highly anticipated zombie apocalypse never came.

What did come was much worse than any city over run with shambling corpses after brains and flesh. A virus… a virus that only affected men. Nobody knew what caused it, or where it had come from, not that it really mattered. It's here and there’s no going back.

Maxine was one of the lucky ones--she got out alive. She and her friends banded together to survive the new desolate conditions left behind by the virus. When a supply gathering mission goes awry, Max and company are left with no better choice than to trust a group of uninfected military men. No longer on the run from her infected husband, Max discovers there could be worse dangers for her on the horizon… Like losing her heart to her mysterious savior everyone calls Zee.  

About the Author

D.T. Dyllin is a Bestselling Romance Author who writes in both New Adult and Adult genres. She is a member of the RWA (Romance Writers of America) and also her local chapter, the MCRW (Music City Romance Writers).

D.T. was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Black & Gold for life, baby!) She now lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and two spoiled GSDs.

 

Thursday, February 6, 2014

The Silver Crescent by Debby Grahl with Interview

Interview

Thanks, Dalene, for having me here today.

First, tell us about yourself – where you live, your family, and those sorts of details.

I grew up in Michigan. Now I live on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with my husband David and our cat Tigger. When I go home to Michigan, there are three things I like to do: listen to a Tiger Baseball game, drink a milk shake called a Boston cooler, and eat a Lafayette Coney Island chili dog.

I was born with a deteriorating eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa. This has limited my vision to the point that I use screen-reading software to research and write my books. Even though my vision loss has prevented me from doing everything I’d like to do, I’ve never allowed it to stop me from trying new things. Life is too short not to experience all you can.

How long have you been writing?

I wrote my first book, a mystery cozy, titled Decorated for Death, ten years ago. I now have four completed manuscripts. After submitting Decorated For Death in a contest and receiving a low score, but helpful advice on all my beginner writer’s mistakes, I began to take online writing classes. These were extremely helpful and I highly recommend them. The Silver Crescent is the second book I wrote, and this December my third, Rue Toulouse, is to be released.

Do you have a favorite place to write?

I’m going to answer this in two parts. If possible, I’d like to be able to write at the location in which the book takes place. I love absorbing the atmosphere around me. In The Silver Crescent, the town Cedar Bend is fictional, but Ann Arbor and Brighton are real places. I have family nearby and did a lot of the writing for this book at my uncle’s house on Sand Lake.

As for where I sit to write. I used to do all my writing at my desk, but last year I had back surgery and my desk chair wasn’t comfortable. So I began writing seated on our love seat with my feet propped up and the key board on my lap. I decided this was a lot more comfortable than my desk, so I’m still here.

Why did you decide to write The Silver Crescent?

This is kind of an unusual story. We had friends visiting and they told us about going on a    garden tour of historic homes. One couple had taken old tombstones and made their patio out of them. I thought this rather creepy. Kiddingly, I wondered if they’d brought any ghosts along with the tombstones? This question led to more speculation and the idea for the book was born.

Who is your favorite character in your book and why?

Oliver Chandler has to be my favorite. His character is a combination of two dear friends of mine. When I did the outline for my characters, I had no idea Oliver would become so prominent.
                 
How about your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you?

Well, I have to say I like them all, LOL, but if I had to choose, I’d say Garrison. I find it a lot easier to create nasty personalities for women than I do for men.

Do you proofread/edit your own books, or do you get someone to do that for you?

My husband David proofreads my manuscripts before I send them to the editor. He’s been doing this for me for so long, he says he can’t read a book without proofreading it as he goes along.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

We have a tandem bike and there are wonderful bike paths here on Hilton Head so we do a lot of biking. I enjoy traveling, especially going to places I’ve read about. The three main things on my bucket list are swimming with dolphins, going on a horse- driven slay ride and visiting the castle where the television series Downton Abby is filmed, which I’m going to get to do this October.

Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?

I love to read, although I actually listen to books. The National Library for the Blind has a fantastic selection. They also now have books available as digital downloads. I love anything from regency romances to mystery cozies, along with time travel, paranormal, and contemporary romance.

A few of my favorite authors are, Heather Graham, Jayne Ann Krentz / Amanda Quick, Nora Roberts, Stephanie Laurens, Janet Evanovich, Carola Dunn, Martha Grimes, and the mystery classics: Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh and Dorothy L. Sayers.


Where did you come up with the idea for the ghosts?

I think ghosts are fun to use in books because you can write about them in so many different ways. You can have them talk and move around like normal people, or they can be there but never seen. They can be friendly or mean, mischievous or serious. They can be any gender and from any time period.


Available from The Writer's Coffee Shop and Amazon (B&N, Kobo and iTunes - available soon)

Summary:
Betrayal, murder and a stolen fortune bring Elise Baxter to Cedar Bend, Michigan, on a quest to solve a family mystery—and recover the missing treasure.
Max Holt impulsively buys a crumbling Victorian mansion and fulfills his dream of restoring it as a restaurant and inn. Aware of its reputation for being haunted, he adds to the mystique by building a garden path of old tombstones, one of which belongs to the original owner of the house, Cyrus Mosby—the man whose legacy Elise has traced, and who allegedly stole her ancestral share of a Colorado silver mine over a century ago.
Following clues gleaned from old diaries and a visit from the spirit of her great-great-grandmother, Elise seeks out Max and his inn. Not knowing if she can trust Max with her family secret, Elise pretends her interest is in researching Cyrus, whose own violent death remains a mystery.
An intense attraction between Max and Elise leads him to believe she may be the girl of his dreams. But when he discovers her true interest in him and his inn, memories of a past betrayal threaten to end their passionate relationship. Elise, finding herself falling in love with Max, fears her deception may cost her more than she is willing to lose.
Once persuaded the stolen silver is hidden somewhere in the inn, and captivated by the idea of a treasure hunt, Max and Elise begin the search together, aided by the resident ghosts, Cyrus and Virginia.
The treasure hunt seems like a harmless adventure until someone tries to steal the diaries. Unknown to Max and Elise, there are others—including an evil presence—who are driven by greed and will stop at nothing to unlock the mystery of the Silver Crescent.

 Introducing Debby Grahl:
Debby Grahl lives on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with her husband, David, and their cat, Tigger. When she’s not writing, she enjoys biking, walking on the beach, and having a glass of wine at sunset. Her favorite places to visit are the Cotswolds of England, Captiva Island in Florida, New Orleans, New York City, and her home state of Michigan. She is a history buff who also enjoys reading murder mysteries, time travel, and of course, romance. Visually impaired since childhood by Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), she uses screen-reading software to research and write her books. Debby belongs to RWA, Florida Romance Writers, Hearts Across History, and Lowcountry Romance Writers.
Connect with Debby

This has been a TWCS Blog Tour!