Kristie: The biggest challenge I faced while writing Promise and continue to face every day is finding time to balance everything in my life - writing and all my other roles: a partner in a small business, mom of three, wife, homeowner, daughter and friend. Because it’s my passion, writing can easily take over everything else. A peek around my house will tell you in a heartbeat when I’m deep into a writing project (because house cleaning is definitely not a passion!). Then again, I hope you’ll never get that opportunity – the dust bunnies are large enough to be guard dogs and just might attack. My real dogs even run from them.
When I actually have writing time, I have to find balance in how I spend it. I, like most writers, always have more than one project going at a time – at least one in draft mode, where I’m creating and writing furiously, and at least one other in revisions and preparations for publication. Of course, there’s also finding balance between the writing and the promoting, communicating with my fans, blogging, social networking…the list goes on.
Stacey: I feel your pain, Kristie! For me it’s been especially hard this summer. I’m a stay at home mom so I’ve had two little stinkers with me for the past two months. Normally, I like to take the summer months off, because I realize getting anything done is impossible. It just happened that I couldn’t this year and it’s been CRAZY!
I’ve been in intense revisions on two separate stories. What this means is, I haven’t had a single second to relax. If I’m not playing with the kids, I’m cleaning the mess they make, or we’re off to the park. Once they go the bed, I’ve got my laptop open and working my butt off. Luckily, I have a fantastic hubby, who on the weekend takes the kids to the beach so I can have the day to get stuff done. But it’s a bit of a bummer that I have to work when there is fun to be had!
Kristie: I know, right?! The last few months here have been full of graduation for my oldest and getting him off to college. I so badly wanted to take the boys out for one more family vacation but it didn’t happen. At least they got to go to the beach a lot over the summer. But I remember those days when they were little and completely understand where you’re coming from. Balance is tough!
Stacey: All I can say is, I’m looking forward to when school starts in September. With my daughter in school full days and my son going half-days, I’m excited to get four hours a day to write. And next year, I’m going to schedule everything to make sure I have no releases coming out in the early fall, so a repeat of this year doesn’t happen again. It’s been insane!
Kristie: Don’t you wish for a pause button for the clock or calendar so you can just freeze time for a few days and get caught up with the world? Unfortunately, my magic wand is broken and the world continues moving forward.
Stacey & Kristie: Do any of you have a working wand or magic spell to fix this? We know we’re not the only ones wishing for more time. In fact, it’s one thing the entire world probably has in common.
Giveaway:
I'm hosting a giveaway of these books, Promise and Whatnots & Doodads. They'll be a ebook copies, and so it'll be International. I'll pick a winner via random.org on October 4th so you have a week for you guys to enter.
To Enter:
In the comments, tell me something that you think you'd like about each book and your email.
For Bonus Entries, 1 each, (and if you've already done them for a previous giveaway, say that)
-follow this blog by GFC
-follow this blog by email
-follow Kristie on twitter
-follow Stacey on twitter
-follow me on twitter
-add Promise on Goodreads
-add Whatnots & Doodads on Goodreads
For Bryanna, a witch from the Asheville Coven, magic is on the fritz. Shunned by her coven and her boyfriend Layton for her unruly magic, she seeks a new life for herself. It just so happens, fate steps in and brings her to Strange Hollow--a place where being different is not only acceptable, but encouraged.
When Bryanna arrives in Strange Hollow, Zeke, a demon gone good, is burning with Hell’s fire over her. Not only has she set his world ablaze, but he’s found one soul he can save. He’s determined to free her from the insecurities that have damaged her soul.
Together they experience lava-hot passion as they weave their way through a tornado of emotions. But when Layton returns for her, will Zeke’s attempts to break the unworthy cage woven around her be enough to keep her in Strange Hollow forever?
Alexis Ames decides to learn who she really is, with or without the help of her mother, who guards their secrets closely. After meeting Tristan Knight and discovering that he s not normal either, the secrets begin to unravel. Their union brings promise to the future of mankind. But it also incites a dangerous pursuit by the enemy. Because they are a match made in Heaven and in Hell.
Kristie Cook is a lifelong, award-winning writer in various genres, from marketing communications to fantasy fiction. She continues to write the Soul Savers Series, with the first two books, Promise and Purpose, available now and the third book, Devotion, coming February 2012. She’s also written a companion novella, Genesis, coming October 2011.
Besides writing, she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and riding on the back of a motorcycle. She has lived in ten states, but currently calls Southwest Florida home with her husband, three teenage sons, a beagle and a puggle. She can be found at:
Contact and Buy AKA Links:
Stacey Kennedy’s novels are lighthearted fantasy with heart squeezing, thigh-clenching romance, and even give a good chuckle every now and again. But within the stories you’ll find fast paced action, life threatening moments and a big bad villain that needs to be destroyed. Her urban fantasy/paranormal and erotic romance series have hit Amazon Kindle and All Romance Ebooks Bestseller lists. If she isn’t plugging away at her next novel, tending to her two little ones, she’s got her nose deep in a good book. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband. Be sure to drop her a line at www.staceykennedy.com, she loves to hear from her readers.
Contact AKA Links:
Some Upcoming Stops on the Tour for Kristie and Stacey:
Kristie:
August 28 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Words I Write Crazy
August 30 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Immortyl Revolution
September 1 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Ashley's Bookshelf
September 6 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at http://dawn-hagen.blogspot.com/
September 7 – Promise Review & Giveaway at Taking Time For Mommy
September 10 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Live to Read
September 11 - Interview at Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews
September 13 – Promise Review & Giveaway at The Phantom Paragrapher
September 14 - Interview & Giveaway at Bibrary Bookslut
September 15 – Promise Review & Giveaway at Whispered Thoughts
September 16 - Interview/Review/Giveaway at Carrie Ann Ryan's Blog
September 19 – Promise Review & Giveaway at My Kingdom For A Book
September 21 - Interview at Cate Masters
September 23 - Interview/Review/Giveaway at Moonlight Beauty Books
September 25 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at All Things Books
September 26 – Promise Review & Giveaway at From The TBR Pile
September 28 – Promise Review & Giveaway at The Wolfs Library
September 30 – Promise Review & Giveaway at Words I Write Crazy
Stacey:
August 28 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Words I Write Crazy
August 31 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Bibrary Bookslut
September 6 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at AZ Publishing Services
September 9 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Ashley's Bookshelf
September 13 - Interview/Review/Giveaway at Chaos and Insanity
September 14 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Immortyl Revolution
September 16 - Interview at Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews
September 20 - Interview/Review/Giveaway at Carrie Ann Ryan's Blog
September 23 - Interview at Cate Masters
September 27 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Giveaway Blogdom
September 28 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Page Flipperz
September 30 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Reviewers Helping Authors
October 3 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at All Things Books
October 4 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at The Phantom Paragrapher
October 7 - Interview/Review/Giveaway at Moonlight Beauty Books
October 11 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at The Wolfs Library
October 12 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at From The TBR Pile
October 14 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Whispered Thoughts
October 17 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Louisa Bacio
October 18 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Taking It One Book At A Time
October 20 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Taking Time For Mommy
October 24 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at My Kingdom For A Book
October 26 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Words I Write Crazy
October 30 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Alaskan Book Cafe
October 31 - Whatnots and Doodads Review at All Things Books
I know I'll love Whatnots & Doodads because I love books about witches! It sounds exciting.
ReplyDeletePromise: Heaven and Hell, saving the world, what's NOT to like?
Can't wait to read both of these.
I now follow this blog, Stacey on twitter, you on twitter and added both books on goodreads. I already followed Kristie on Twitter.
-Dawn
thedoyle6@rogers.com
Who doesn't love a good witch story? And the ultimate battle of good and evil? Both books sound amazing and I would love to read either!!
ReplyDeleteViajeradelmar@aol.com
Gfc follower
I really like the premise of both books because I'm a fan of anything pertaining to the paranormal. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletechibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com