Spring Break, Spring Books, and #WINNING!

It's Spring Break, reader-friends! whoop whoop!!!

I'm still in the Midwest at the moment, but my Southern home-fries are enjoying 70 degree sunshine (my dad told me he had to cut the grass yesterday--!), and we're looking forward to hitting the road, chasing the sun!

Incidentally, I'll be spending the week right smack in the setting of The Dragonfly Series! Yep, OBA FTW! Mosaic is cruising along nicely, and it's looking like a May/June release date...

I'll be posting Mosaic updates as they occur in April~

This week is a writing break for me, but that means it's a time to READ! And I've got TWO fantastic new books to share with you today... and Two ways to WIN!

First up is a New Adult contemporary romance by a great writer-friend of mine Elle/Lee Strauss!

I read Sun and Moon, the first book in this "series," and loved it! You can get it FREE on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. (links below) But it's not a true series, as each book can be read in any order.

Check it out:

Introducing Flesh & Bone, a contemporary romance

(The Minstrel Series #2)

Coming April 3rd!

(Another amazing cover by the very talented Steven Novak of Steven Novak Designs!)

Here's the blurb:

She can’t remember. He can’t forget. Eva Baumann is invisible. Sebastian Weiss is famous. In a perfect world Eva would be fearless and Sebastian would be guiltless.

It’s not a perfect world.

The Minstrel Series is a collection of contemporary romance novels set in the singer/songwriter world. The books are companion novels, with shared settings and characters, but each is a complete stand-alone story with a HEA (happily ever after) and no cliffhangers! 

FLESH & BONE INCLUDES MORE GREAT ORGINAL MUSIC MP3s!

Haven't read #1 Sun & Moon? Get it FREE!!!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo'

And now for your first chance to WIN!

Click Here! And enter to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card and three MP3s, including Flesh and Bone! (link)

* * *

The second New Release I have for you today is an *adult* romance by the leader of the Romance Writers of America group I'm in here. It's about a HOT Fireman, and it sounds yummy!

Check it out~

Love Over Troubled Waters

by Lanora Mangano

On Amazon

Here's the blurb:

It should have been a normal drive home from work for Maggie Connors.  However, a freak rain storm had other plans for her when the bridge she crossed, in her car, collapsed plunging her into the river below.

Para Rescue man, Jake Madison wasn't looking for a life changing event, but he got just that when he saved Maggie's life.  He couldn't get the red hair beauty out of his mind but was determined to give her back the courage she lost in the traumatic event.

For more information about LaNora's upcoming books, please visit:

www.findinglanora.weebly.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lanora-Mangano/527909407268248

Get your copy of Love Over Troubled Waters on Amazon Today!

* * *

Now for your second chance to #WIN! 

Hop over to my group blog YA Confidential EVERY MONDAY and enter to win a Free Book!

We post "From the Vault" questions and answers, and one lucky commenter wins the book of his or her choice every week!

Any book, every week! 

Check it out (link)~

* * *

Now I'm headed to pack. I hope you all have a fantastic week. Stay warm, read a book, and keep in touch! Love ya~

Friend News & Fun Stuff (you can #WIN!)

Superfun announcements today!

First off, my good writer-friend Elle/Lee Strauss's book Sun & Moon (link) is LIVE!

It's a really great New Adult/Contemporary love story. I read an early draft of it, and fell in love. It's very clean--no coarse language or sex.

Sun & Moon is about a girl living in Germany, who is a struggling musician. She falls on hard times, is robbed, and is forced to make a tough decision until she meets a really great guy who helps her out. The only problem is he's hiding some issues himself...

Elle is a fantastic storyteller, and I recommend checking this one out!

Here's the scoop and your chance to WIN!

If you’re a fan of the movie Inside Llewyn Davis or ABC television’s Nashville, the Minstrel Series is for you!

The Minstrel Series is a collection of contemporary romance novels set in the singer/songwriter world. The books are companion novels, with shared settings and characters, but each are complete standalone stories with a HEA (happily ever after) and no cliffhangers!

She has a past. He has a secret.

Katja Stoltz is a risk-taking singer-songwriter hoping to make it in the indie music scene in Dresden, Germany. Micah Sturm's a brooding uptown banker on a quest.

Driven to the streets, Katja is picked up by Micah - but he doesn't want what she thinks he does.

There’s an undeniable attraction between them, a gravitational pull they both struggle to resist. Katja knows she mustn’t fall in love with this handsome enigma. There’s something dark lurking beneath the surface. He could be dangerous.

And even if her life isn’t on the line, her heart most definitely is.

 *not erotica - no explicit sex or coarse language

Get your copy today!

 Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

Here's how you can #WIN!!!

Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card, MP3s of all four songs featured on Sun & Moon, and a 12-month calendar from Dresden, Germany, featuring many of the settings found in Sun & Moon.

Dresden, Germany

Click here to enter (link)!

* * *

Free Books! Free Books!!!

We're still snowed in where I live and dealing with sub-zero temperatures and two-hour school delays...

But I'm doing my best to get back into my Mosaic notes. It's been a while since I looked at all of these, but I am so excited about the direction of this final installment of the Dragonfly series.

So what's all this about Free Books???

If you purchase the print copy of The Truth About Faking or Dragonfly on Amazon, you can get the Kindle version for FREE! It's true!

So you can get a copy for you (or a friend) and keep a copy... or gift it... or have both versions... or whatever you want!

ALL of my books are in the Kindle Matchbook Program--the others are buy the print version on Amazon, get the Kindle version for only 99 cents!

Here's the link to my Amazon Author page (link), where you can find a list of all my books in their different formats.

Thanks for being so awesome, reader-friends! Stay warm, and have a great week~

So You Want the Truth? Can You Handle It?

Streamline...
Write more...
Get more out there...
Market more... 
Market smarter...
Indie's saturated, go back to traditional...
No, join an author group...
Author groups don't market enough...
Author groups shouldn't market...
What should author groups do?

...Hang on... where is everybody???

It's a new year, reader-friends! 

I bet all you guys are making plans, setting reading goals, maybe exercising more, possibly making resolutions...

Behind this little indie-writer's scenes, a lot of talk is going on about how publishing is changing (again!), author support groups, what we should be doing heading into the new year.

Personally, I've also been looking at what's coming next, what's working and what isn't. Many of you have asked about Mosaic, and Yes! That is up next on the agenda!

Once we get un-snowed-in and the little ladies back in school. Snow Day #2 starts tomorrow~

In other news, would you LOOK at this blog? What a mess. *smh*

That's another thing everybody's talking about--Author Websites and Branding. (They've actually been talking about that one a while... I'm still talking.)

When I started this blog in Feb. 2010, it looked almost exactly how it looks now. Okay, my photos have changed.

I started out looking like this:

2009-2011

Then I looked like this:

LTM avatar

Now you see me as I am up there. (I actually look like all of these pictures... Just depends on if my hair's straight.)

I was also very much a traditionalist. I was querying agents, working, and waiting... waiting... waiting... write while you wait... quietly go insane...

Until I started this blog.

And lo and behold, this amazing tribe of writer-friends formed!

We would send each other little "awards"--which were actually networking-style greeting cards. You'd get one and then you'd pass it along and tag each other and tag the person who sent it to you... and the tribe grew.

It was how we met new friends before Facebook took over.

All those little awards still line this blog as you can see... (that's what you did when you got one--put them in the sidebar.)

Then some of us started getting deals. I can't remember who hit it big first. Maybe it was Sarah Fine, maybe it was Elana Johnson, maybe it was Lydia Kang...

Somebody can remind me.

The awards started moving to separate pages under tabs on the different blogs. The different blogs started looking more professional. The ones who'd gotten those big deals started getting too busy to blog... They had to write, y'all!

Totally understandable.

Then the revolution started. Jolene went indie... Susan went indie... Elle went indie... RaShelle blew up the indie scene with Blood & Snow...

I started editing for hire and when I did, I really saw how many of our friends had left the traditional game--AND how successful they were on their own.

Some days I still feel like a Major Dummy for waiting so long to join them, but I'm catching up. The only thing I haven't done is changed this blog.

It's hard because when I come here, I'm reminded of all those days we bonded over how hard this business is. How much those rejection letters hurt. How close we were to giving up. How we didn't think we could keep going any more. How we weren't even sure if we even had what it took to be a published author any more. How we wondered why we even started doing this to begin with...

This page has so much history.

I have an "official" web page that's pretty professional-looking---leightmoore.com.

Go there if you want to see me all spit and polished and looking like a Real Author.

But if you want the True Story, if you want to see behind the curtain, the journey, well, you've come to the right place.

Maybe one day I'll sit down and clean this blog up a bit. Make it look like a True Author Website...

*shrugs* I don't know.

Maybe instead, I'll pull down one of those awards and try circulating it again. See if anybody's still out there. If anybody else misses those old days.

Have a great week, reader-friends! Stay warm! I'll be heading back into the cave soon~ 

Rainy Days & Mondays and a chance to #WIN!!!

Happy Monday, reader-friends!

Shew, we made it through some rough weather yesterday! I hope all of you are safe and sound reading this--thoughts and prayers with those dealing with storm damage~

It seems like every year, right about now, I'm thinking, "Where did the time go?!"

This time last year, I was also still reeling with amazement over reader-response to The Truth About Faking (link), my very first book published.

I'm still pretty amazed by it. Love you guys!!!

Then in February, I released The Truth About Letting Go (link), which is a different story, a little more serious...

Readers are always "discovering" these books, and I LOVE when they/you touch base with me, either by email or Facebook or Twitter.

Over the weekend, Dia of Book Junkie Joint (link) wrote an amazing review for Letting Go. She said so many great things, but this was my favorite part:

"What I liked best about this story is that it masterfully depicted how different people had different ways of coping with pain. Others find that acting reckless gave them a sort of high which made them feel alive. Others simply move on and move forward. The key point is ... it's not the same for everybody. This was how it was for Ashley and Colt. It was also the reason why I understand Ashley's compulsion to be with Colt."

Love it when people "get" it...

Please hop over and leave a comment for Dia--Here's the (link).

Today, I've got two NEW books to share from two amazing author friends--check them out~

#1-Is a New Adult/Women's Fiction by Elle Strauss (link), who is an amazing writer-friend for whom I've beta-read for years.

On Amazon

I love the story behind this book, which she originally released in German in 2000!

Elle is Canadian/native English speaker, so this is the first time her non-German-speaking fans get to read it! More here (link).

East of Eden
by Elle Strauss

Regret is a formidable foe.

Eden Kelley is the primary caregiver for her mother who’s in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease, and she’s only twenty-four. Not what she planned to do when she left her husband for a new start with her four-year-old daughter in tow. She’d hoped for free babysitting, but instead she found a mystery. The discovery of an erroneous marriage document leads to more questions, and unfortunately Eden can’t ask her mother for answers because she doesn’t remember. 

Her mother’s antics drive her crazy, but Eden’s determined to make the best of it. That includes finding the exciting romantic adventure she’d dreamed about. But when trouble knocks, it’s her husband Cade who arrives to help. It’s awkward and tense. And Eden comes to one sure conclusion: leaving her handsome, caring husband was a huge mistake.

Her parents had a second chance at love? Would she and Cade get one, too?

"I was enamored with the mystery surrounding her [Eden's] mom and dad. I eagerly read wanting to unearth their secrets. I was thoroughly pleased with what I found and how the whole story pieced together. ...And how her parent's story related to what Eden and Cade were going through...A perfect read if you are seeking a read that is light and mysterious." - Mandy Anderson, I Read Indies

Get it TODAY!   Amazon | Kobo | Smashwords

* * *

#2-Is by another great writer-friend Ali Cross (link), and it's the next installment in her Desolation Diaries series.

On Amazon

Tattered Dreams
by Ali Cross

Miri has seen Akaros’ return—and James’ death. 

But James has been to Hell and back and refuses to let Akaros rob him of his future with Miri. 

Desi might not be there to save him this time, but James is determined to save himself. 

A Desolation Novella.

Get it TODAY!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords

And enter to #WIN All Three books in the Desolation Diaries series--go here to enter (link)!!!

* * *

And what about you? Read any good books lately that touched you?

Have a SUPER week, reader-friends! Love ya~

Thank YOU! And a Special Cover Reveal~

I'd like to say a HUGE THANKS to everyone who helped with the cover reveal for Watercolor on Wednesday!

FYI, Dragonfly (Book #1) is still on sale for 99 cents right now!

Run grab your copy and get started: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

The Dragonfly series is my first true series to write (meaning one book depends on the other, and the story builds with each installment), and today I'm thrilled to welcome my longtime writer-friend and fellow Indelible Elle/Lee Strauss talking about series-writing and showing us the gorgeous cover to the final book in her Perception trilogy!

So without further ado, take it away, Elle/Lee~

* * *

The Perception Trilogy is my first real series, meaning the story begins in book one and doesn't complete until the end of book three. (My Clockwise series is unconventional that way, which is why I point this out.)

What a ride! It's a bittersweet to be closing in on the end. I've spent so much time getting to know and love my characters! It's kind of like having to wave good bye as your child leaves for college - it's good and necessary, but it marks a dramatic change. You're happy to see them develop and grow, but at the same time, you can't help the tears that well up.

You find you make frequent trips to the baby albums, reminiscing on the growing up years. I began the first draft of Perception two and a half years ago, while on a trip to Romania. I'd meant to take a break from writing, but instead I started getting all these great ideas for a new sci/fi dystopian. Everywhere we went I'd be stopping to type in  quick notes on my iphone, and at night I wrote scenes on a borrowed laptop.

I published Perception on September 01, 2012, almost one year ago. Since then I've written and published book 2, Volition, and now in just a few short weeks, the final book.

Yes!

CONTRITION is releasing September 26th! Of course, there will be swag/contests/sales leading up to the launch. I hope you join in on the fun!

Without further ado....(drum roll)....

Zoe, Noah and the other plane crash survivors

 are stranded
in the Arizona desert.

They all have secrets,

and reasons to hide.

But they’re not alone.

Cyborg soldiers.

War.

Humans and humanoids.

Who can be trusted?

Zoe’s life is in danger.

Noah must make an impossible choice.

Will their love survive their brokenness?

Will the world as they know it end before they can find out?

CONTRITION COMING SEPTEMBER 26th!

* * *

Thanks so much, Elle/Lee! I can verify this story is fantastic. So run out and grab your copy today, and have a super weekend, reader-friends!

Sales and Trailers and Tinkerbell and a #WIN!

It's the first day of summer, reader-friends!

If I were still in the south, I'd be moaning and complaining about how hot it is right now. Instead, I'm excited that we might hit 80 degrees today! Ahh, how life changes.

I'm also excited to share LOADS of great stuff for you here today!

For starters, if you missed it, the cover for Undertow has been unveiled. Check it out here (link). Oh, what the hay! I'll go ahead and post it again here (designed by the multitalented Jolene Perry)...

Add on Goodreads

And to celebrate this lovely,

Dragonfly is only 99 cents for the next two days--whoop whoop! So it's time to 1... 2... 3... one click (link)!

(Or you can go to Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes)

I have to confess, I'm having the hardest time coming up with a non-spoilerish blurb for Undertow...

I think readers have to expect a little info from the end of Book 1 will be given away in the description for Book 2 of a series, right?

What say you, reader-friends???

* * *

In other fun news, my great writer-friend Elle Strauss has grouped all her supercute Love, Tink serials into one volume, and I have the gorgeous cover for it designed by Steven Novak!

Add on Goodreads

Is that beautiful or what? If you're new to these serials, they're a re-imagining of the Peter Pan story as a YA romance. The first serial is FREE, so run get it and see what you think (link)!

* * *

Finally, who has two thumbs and loves Debt Collector? This girl right here! And the trailer for this series is ROCKING!!!

Ready to see it? Hang on, because this is the last of the news before it's time to get out and get to loving the sunshine.

Sue is having a giveaway for audiobooks of Debt Collector!!! Go here and enter to #WIN!!! (link) **Cool aside: the narrator of the audiobooks is the voiceover in the trailer...

What? You want to see that trailer now? OK! Let's go backwards. 3... 2... 1...



The first installment of Debt Collector is FREE, so go here (link) to get it~

* * *

Have a super week-end, reader-friends! And remember to email, tweet, post on my Facebook, leave a review--let me know what you think about Dragonfly~

Volition, #WIN $200, & a #Sale Update

Another new release from great writer-friend Elle/Lee Strauss! I read the first book in this series (Perception), and it was SO GOOD! Can't wait to grab my copy of the next installment.

Here's the scoop:

Volition, the exciting continuation of Noah and Zoe's story from Perception, is LIVE!

On Amazon

What doesn't kill you ...

Zoe Vanderveen is on the run with her captor turned rescuer, Noah Brody. They're in love. Or at least that’s what he tells her. 

Her memories have returned but her feelings are dreamlike—thin and fleeting. Her heart can’t be trusted. Just look at what happened with Taylor Blake.

Senator Vanderveen’s new team of cyborg agents are in hot pursuit, and a reward for their capture is broadcast nationwide. Record breaking cold and snow hinder their escape. Someone dies helping them.

And their fight for survival has only begun.

Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Smashwords

Haven't read PERCEPTION yet? It's FREE for a few more days!

On Amazon

Eternal Life is To Die For

For seventeen year old Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP—a genetically altered person. She lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along side other equally beautiful people with extended life spans.

Her brother Liam is missing.

Noah Brody is a natural who lives on the outside. He leads protests against the GAPs and detests the widening chasm they’ve created between those who have and those who don’t. He doesn’t like girls like Zoe and he has good reason not to like her specifically.

Zoe’s carefree life takes a traumatic turn. She’s in trouble and it turns out that Noah, the last guy on earth she should trust, is the only one who can help her.

It's FREE on Kobo | iTunes | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Amazon

To celebrate the arrival of Volition, Lee Strauss is giving away a $200 Amazon, Nook, or iTunes gift card! Contest ends tonight!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Lee Strauss

Lee Strauss writes historical and science fiction/romance for mature YA and adult readers. She also writes light and fun stuff under the name Elle Strauss.

To find out more about Lee and her books check out her Facebook page. You can also follow her on Twitter @elle_strauss and on Pinterest. To find out about new releases sign up for her newsletter at www.ellestraussbooks.com.

Geaux, Elle! Can't wait to read this one~

* * *

Mini-sale alert & An Update!

On Amazon

 Tax man take a bite? I've got a sale for that:

The Truth About Letting Go is only $1.99 for a limited time on

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

If you haven't already, grab your copy today, and please spread the word~ 

And if you like(d) it, please remember to leave a short, happy review. Thanks!

Update: Revisions/rewrites of Dragonfly, Book 1 in my brand-new contemporary romance series, are coming to a close, so I should have teaser quotes for you soon! SO excited.

Happy playing, good luck, and have a super week, reader- and writer-friends~ <3