It's the First Dellani's Tea Time of 2022!

 

It's a New Year! Let's fill it with warmth and happiness for all! As we often do, Christina and I will be talking amongst ourselves – and we've got a lot to say! As authors, we sometimes get caught up in the dream of getting our work published, but we don't always consider how to get from Point A – writing the novel, to Point B – publishing and selling our work.

For the first show of 2022, Christina & I plan to give some helpful advice, as well as dispelling some of the myths of becoming a published author. Be sure to join us.

Christina Giguere writes under the name Rachel Rueben and is the author of Hag, a YA novel. She's also written a romantic suspense called Fedelta, and is working on the next exciting book in that series, Fedelta 2. She's got a lot to say on how authors can promote themselves, and some of the pitfalls even experienced authors face.

Dellani Oakes is the author of 15 published works. She prefers romance & romantic suspense, but has toyed with fantasies, mysteries and thrillers. She's been the host of Dellani's Tea Time and What's Write for Me since 2009, and also has a lot to say about writing, publishing and general nonsense.

Join us live, or listen at your leisure Monday, January 10 from 4-6 PM EST

Red River Radio Presents What's Write for Me with John, KG & Ryanne on TODAY, December 26 from 4-6 PM Eastern

What's Write for Me with John, KG & Ryanne

It's the last show of 2018, and it's fitting to see the New Year out with some wonderful guests! One is returning, the other two are brand new. Please help me welcome them.

First up is new guest, Ryanne Anthony, author of the Negative Ion Series, The M Series, The PlayNISE Series. This is her first visit on the show. Welcome to the show, Ryanne! 

Next, is John Clark, author of Finding God, Depression Blues, 30-day Optimism Solution, and more. John is also a new guest. Welcome to the show, John! 

Finally, is KG Bethlehem, the author of Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Dystopian novels, including Avenging Knights, Astronomical, and The Forever Spring. This is KG's second visit to the show. Welcome back, KG! 

Join Us Live, or at Your Leisure!

Red River Radio Presents Dellani's Tea Time with Heather, Karen and Ruth

Monday, July 11 at 4:00 PM Eastern (3 Central, 2 Mountain, 1 Pacific) Christina and Dellani will chat with several of their author friends; Heather Poinsett Dunbar, Karen Vaughan and Ruth Davis Hays. Among the topics of conversation, their Cereal Authors project. Of course, anything else can and will come up. Join in the chatroom for this fun and lively discussion.

To Listen Live or to the Podcast at Your Convenience 

HeatherPoinsett Dunbar is co-author of Morrigan's Brood Series, with husband Chris Dunbar.

KarenVaughan is the author of cozy mysteries; Left for Dead, Jamaica Dead, Dead Comic Standing, and more.

RuthDavis Hays is the author of the Translations of Jorthus fantasy series.

Rachel Rueben Rocks!

Recently, Rachel and I sat down for a chat on our monthly radio show. We never take the time to really talk about ourselves so Monday, May 13 was our day to shine. We had a wonderful time, and we even talked a little bit about our books! We didn't ask all the questions we had prepared, so we decided to share them on our blogs. These are the questions I had for Rachel. Enjoy!

When did you first realize you'd been bitten by the writing bug?

I was about 17 when I decided to take my first adult writing class. I did this because of boredom because I wasn’t learning anything interesting in school and out of sheer curiosity.

What made you decide to publish your own work?

After getting 40 rejections for my children’s book Escape of the Dodos, I got weary and decided I was through with rejections. At the time, I was writing my YA novel, Kindle, had just become wildly popular and Amazon was giving writers who published with them, a 60% royalty rate which is killer compared to the industry standard.

What have you learned from this experience?

I learned how hard it is to create a book from conception to birth LOL! I also learned a lot about the publishing industry and how it really operates. It’s not all queries and editing as some authors foolishly believe.

What prompted you to write Eternal Bond?

I began Eternal Bond in 2007 when Stephenie Myer’s book Twilight was being made into a movie and felt I could do better, to make a long story short, I ended up doing a Mark Twain and walked away for 5 years.

How much research did you have to do for Eternal Bond?

I did a little online research regarding the Middle Ages and the black plague but nothing extreme. I was more focused on delivering the best story I could. I don’t think people really care about whether women wore long open sleeves or kirtles. Research is nice but only if it enhances the story. If you’re stopping a fight scene to describe the red velvety drapes, something is wrong!

How long did it take to write Eternal Bond?

Embarrassingly enough 8 years. 1 year to write it, another 6 to ignore it and one year to pick up the pieces

and completely rewrite it.

Is it more important to write to trends or write what interests you?

As I proved with the whole trying to mock Stephenie Myer thing, I can’t write according to the trends no matter how hard I try. I have to write what’s on my heart.

When you aren't writing, how do you spend your time?

What’s this free time thing you speak of? Just kidding. Currently, if I’m not freelancing, I’m reading about self-publishing or taking a blogging course. Writing and learning to make a living at it has become my life 24/7.

If you had it to do over, would you pursue your career differently?

I probably wouldn’t have given up so soon after high school. I most likely would have hung in there and gotten more aggressive but I didn’t know any better. I figured if I was getting rejections, that it meant I wasn’t any good. I now know that the publishing industry publishes only publishes what the current trends are and rarely ventures out of that.


Rachel Rueben had no intention of becoming a writer, but after numerous attempts at being normal she gave up and became an author. Her first novel Hag made it to #10 on the Amazon’s bestseller’s list in its first month. Her next project includes a series of supernatural books called, The Eternal Bond Series due out in the fall of 2013.

Rachel is a blogger, freelancer, and content contributor to several writing blogs. The first three chapters of Eternal Bond are currently available on Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/9639612-eternal-bond-chapter-1

Eternal Bond - Rachel's Vampires Don't Sparkle

Our tour bus has chugged its way back to Cleveland to get a glimpse of Rachel Reuben's upcoming book, Eternal Bond. You think vampires are glittery and sweet? You won't after you read this!

Eternal Bond Excerpt

Taking the only road out of town, Clara went as quickly as she could.  Her nervousness and glee made her heart race as she briskly walked out of town and out of Lester’s life.

There was only a small glow of light left from the sun, putting the landscape in shadows.  Soon, the only thing illuminating her path would be moonlight, and she cursed herself for not bringing a lantern.  Only ten minutes into her journey, the cobblestone road ended.

Realizing she had reached the city limits, she continued on the dirt road straight into the countryside.  This was a harrowing journey for someone who had never left Norwich in her whole life.  She remembered all the stories told to her about witches and thieves who would victimize night travelers.  Nonetheless, breaking this hex was more important than anything, so she pressed onward into the dark countryside.

It wasn’t long before everything was covered by a blanket of thick darkness.  In near blindness, Clara struggled to keep herself on the road.  It took almost an hour before she gained confidence and suddenly the night didn’t seem so terrifying.  Just as Clara was starting to feel good, she heard rustling in the grass just next to the road.

Stopping in her tracks, she heard it again.  Not knowing what to do, she stood there completely still hoping it would just go away.  That’s when she heard the sound of growling directly next to her.  It was a wolf that and it had been stalking her for a distance.

In sheer terror Clara bolted, only further convincing the wolf that she was prey.  Running, she screamed as loud as she could before realizing it was no use.  Trying to wear her down, the wolf casually galloped behind her.  Just when it seemed Clara was doomed to become a chew toy, her salvation came in the form of a sign post which she ran smack into.

Dazed, Clara tried to get back up, but soon discovered her leg was dislocated.  Seizing the opportunity, the wolf pounced, grabbing her by the back of the neck.

Desperate, Clara picked up a stone and started hitting the wolf.  In this demented frenzy she not only killed it, but mauled it.

Within minutes, it was over and the victor stood in silence, hovering over the battered carcass.  Casting the stone aside, she slowly circled the body dragging her mangled leg behind her.

Taking notice of the blood on her hands, she smiled and licked her fingers.  In this euphoria she found herself delighted by her own savagery and in that moment Elizabeth ceased and Clara reigned.

Author Bio:

Rachel Rueben went to school to become an administrative assistant but instead, wound up an author.  In her defense, she tried freelance writing, virtual assisting, and blogging to pay the bills, but creating worlds was her one and only passion.

This past summer, Rachel entered the sacred order of authorhood with the release of her first novel “Hag” which made it to #10 on the Amazon’s Women’s and Girl’s Literature list.

To find out what Rachel is up to you can check out her new site at: http://www.rachelrueben.com


She continues to blog about her publishing journey at: http://www.writingbytheseatofmypants.com

You can also find Rachel on Twitter @RachelRueben

And catch her on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorRachelRueben

Hag, a Young Adult Novel by Rachel Reuben

Next on the Fantastic Blog Hop, we stop once more in Cleveland, Ohio. Today, we're chatting with Desmond, one of the main characters in Hag. He's chatting with Jamie Livingston. Let's see what he has to say.

Hi everybody it’s Jamie Livingston and today, I’m here with a very controversial figure, Desmond. Do not adjust your headsets, you heard me right, the ex from hell, is here to answer questions about his role in Rachel Rueben’s novel, “Hag” and I can’t wait to get started…

I’m gonna get to the point, why on earth did you date Audrey? I mean what was the point?

Desmond: “I don’t know, you just can’t be real in a town like Cleveland. It’s not the most sophisticated place in the world. You saw what they did to Roddai. There was no way I was going to be the ‘here and queer poster child!’”

So you’re insecure about your sexuality?

Desmond: “I ain’t insecure about a damn thing! It’s called smarts, if you wanna survive, you play by the rules. I don’t hate the players, just the game!”

What does that mean?

Desmond: “I didn’t get to make up the rules, I didn’t choose to be born in a homophob town, and I didn’t choose to fall in love with my best friend.”

Which one Roddai, or Audrey?

Desmond: “Both”

So you’re bisexual?

Desmond: “Don’t know. Jeez lady I’m only 17. Who knows, I might decide to marry a chick and have kids. You know, live the American dream, out in the burbs and all.

How did those boys find out?

Desmond: “My guess is Roddai, I’d been frontin’ for years. I was an expert at it. Roddai, not so much. He just couldn’t hide it.”

Do you regret how your life ended?

Desmond: “Man I ain’t got time for regrets, okay, maybe one… I should’ve had more backup at that damn fight!”

Hag is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo both in print and ebook form. The first three chapters are free to check out in Goodreads, Wattpad and Amazon.

You can also sign up for Rachel Rueben’s newsletter to get updates and discounts on her next novel “Eternal Bond” a vampire novel series that will knock your socks off.   

Rachel Reuben - Author Extraordinaire!

Today, the Fantastic Blog Hop tour bus is making its first scheduled stop in the chilly north. We stop to warm our hands at the home of author, Rachel Reuben. Hi, Rachel! Welcome to the tour! Tell us a little about yourself.


What is your story about?  
My story “Hag” is about a girl who discovers her ex is gay through tragedy.

Where does your story take place?
My hometown, Cleveland, Ohio.

Is writing a natural talent, or did you take classes to hone your craft?
I can honestly say it was a learned skill.  The people I grew up with were constantly telling tall tales.  Mainly to get me to do what they wanted like; eat my veggies, go to bed, etc.  I just started writing my lies down and selling them LOL!

Do you have a ritual when you write?  (Special time of day, music etc.)
I like to write at night, but that’s hard to do now that I have to go to bed at night.  My ritual consists of answering emails, blogging, and writing at least one scene of my book.

Do you write in multiple genres?
Yes, I’ve done nonfiction, children’s and now YA/fantasy.

Most people want to know, is writing really all that hard?
It can be if you choose a difficult topic.  My newest book Eternal Bond took several years to write because I had no experience writing a novel.  I made all the typical rookie mistakes; writing in first person, following trends, and not knowing much about the genre.

Do your family and friends read your work? 
Only my aunt has read my book.

Have you ever had writers block and if so, how did you overcome it?
I’ve had it and I actually gave up and started freelancing, thinking I didn’t have what it takes to write novels.

Do you have an illustrator, or co-author, if so, who?
No.

Who is your favorite author of all time?  
Mark Twain, hands down.  

What is your latest release?

Hag.

What other books do you have published?

None.

Where to Buy Hag: 

Amazon Link 

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

First Three Chapters: 

Goodreads

Wattpad

Amazon

Review of Hag

Audrey Saldano has learned to be tough. Living on the less posh side of Cleveland, she's learned to defend herself. The only thing she can't defend herself against is the pain she feels when she sees her ex-boyfriend, Desmond, with his new girlfriend, Raquel.

Even the appearance of a hot, interesting new guy, Roddai, can't make her feel any less upset. In fact, Roddai irritates her even more. He's persistent and, eventually, Audrey finds that she enjoys his company.

Audrey isn't quite sure what's going on when Desmond shows up at her home and wants to be friends again. In fact, he asks her out to a carnival and she agrees to go. While there, he's jumped by a bunch of boys from another school. Desmond fights them off, but gets surrounded. Fortunately, Roddai isn't far away and jumps in to help Desmond, scaring the other boys off.

For a time, life seems pretty good. She and Desmond are back together and she's friends with Roddai. Everything is fine until Desmond decides to get even with the guys who jumped him at the Winter Carnival. This time, things don't go so well and Desmond is seriously hurt. Audrey's life falls apart. Desmond's death reveals secrets he'd been keeping, even from her.

Hag is an intense, real life drama for teens. Gritty and hard hitting, Hag closely examines Audrey's situation and asks the question, "What would you do if...?"

The characters in Hag are well fleshed out and seem authentic to the reader. Audrey is an especially good, three dimensional character. Her grief and anger are very real. While we might not agree with her actions, we can see why she reacts in the way she does. She is tough, independent, self-sufficient and doesn't rely on others to fight her battles for her.

I really enjoyed Hag is a great coming of age story for young adult readers 16+ and adults. It will make you laugh, cry and cheer.

Welcome to the Fantastic Blog Hop!

What is the Fantastic Blog Hop?

Rachel Rueben -Cleveland

A few weeks ago, I had a chat with some friends asking if they would be willing to do a blog tour with me in order to publicize our work. Of the two dozen or so people I invited, only three said yes. Then I got in touch with a friend I haven't seen in ages and asked if she would like to join us.

Karen Vaughan - Ontario

And so the Fantastic Blog Hop was born!

The idea was a simple one, but getting it all put together wasn't as easy. For starters, we had to get our acts together and provide book blurbs, short biographies, excerpts and answer interview questions. Then we had to make sure each person had the required information.

Ruth Davis Hays - Kissimmee

While all this was going on, we discussed when to do this. We chose the first week of April. No one wanted to be first. There was a mad scramble to take the end of the week, leaving the early days for those who were too slow to respond.

Not realizing that each of us had different levels of skill for preparing these blogs, I forged ahead, wielding words and pictures haphazardly. It's been quite a learning experience, but a worthwhile one. I hope the others feel the same way.

Dellani Oakes - Daytona

Our tour bus will make stops in Kissimmee, Florida; Cleveland, Ohio, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Peterborough, Ontario and Daytona Beach, Florida. So climb aboard, fasten your seat belts and hold onto your hats because you're in for a great ride!

Crimson Kildare - Minneapolis

A big thank you to Crimson Kildare for creating the Fantastic Blog Hop bus logo and to Karen Vaughan for suggesting it.

Our blogs will feature one another on the following days:

Here on Writer's Sanctuary:

4/2 Rachel

4/3 Me
4/4 Crimson
4/5 Karen
4/6 Ruth
4/9  Rachel
4/11 Crimson

4/12 Karen
4/13 Ruth
4/19 Karen
4/20 Ruth
4/26 Karen
4/27 Ruth

Ruth Davis Hays:

4/2 - Rachel
4/3 - Dellani
4/4 - Crimson
4/5 - Karen

Karen Vaughan:

Crimson Kildare: 

4/1 notice
4/4 Dellani
4/5 Rachel
4/6 Karen
4/7 Ruth
4/8 Crimson and Kat

Rachel Rueben: