Update and a Thought

 All the Lilac City audiobooks are on YouTube now, and I'm working on uploading my Safe Harbors series. Lilac City is western historical, while the Safe Harbors books are contemporary.

And, of course, pirates have begun stealing some belonging to other authors and posting them. So far, the ones I've seen reported are done by Tantor. I hope they can fix that. What a pain to have to keep searching. There's always someone out to steal a buck.

Click the image above to listen.

Second Chances 101 Audiobook

It's a holiday in the US, and I'm in Hawaii again for a granddaughter's birthday, so I wasn't going to post today. But I have a new audiobook out, and I had to blow my own horn a little.

Thirty-seven-year-old, empty nester Francie Davis is sure her luck has changed when she lands a job on campus that will pay her tuition. But when her handsome new boss yells at her on the first day of work, Francie learns that the last person you expect to fall in love with might be the one that’s the most perfect for you.

AUDIBLE

iTUNES

AMAZON

GOODREADS

Not So Easy by Sherry Gammon

Since I posted about myself on Friday, I'm turning today's post over to the awesome Sherry Gammon.  And ooo ... an audiobook giveaway. You so know I'm in! 

Take it away, Sherry!

To celebrate the re-launch of Not So Easy (Souls in Peril) I am giving away TWO audio books!

Not So Easy (Souls in Peril) has a new cover, exciting edits, (a new chapter has been added), and now Not So Easy is an audio book, narrated by the talented Ryan Shaughnessy.

Not So Easy has a 4.9 out of 5 star rating on Amazon!

Blurb:

Senior Max Sanchez has it all. 

He’s the star pitcher for Port Fare High’s baseball team. He’s dating the head cheerleader, Emma McKay, and he has a great group of friends. 

Junior JD Miller’s life is Not So Easy. 

Unlike Max, JD struggles with making friends. He’s a social misfit, and he’s being bullied at every turn. He’s also barely surviving. 

A tragic accident changes everything, merging their lives together, and Max soon learns that life is not so easy for everyone. Max works to the point of exhaustion trying to help JD survive the chaos that is his life, and his eyes are opened to a world he had no idea even existed.

Not so Easy is a story about hope, surviving, and never giving up. 

What other are saying about Not So Easy (from the Souls in Peril series):

*Once Upon a Twilight: As I try to compose all my emotions to write this review I feel an overwhelming responsibility to do justice to this book through my review. I laughed, I cried, I felt such bewildering sadness and in the end I laughed again. Sherry Gammon takes us on an astonishing journey through the eyes of Max Sanchez. Handsome and athletic with a wonderful and supportive family, Max lives a charmed life. Even as a seventeen year old Max knows that his girlfriend Emma will be the woman he grows old with. Em's beauty and brains are only out shone by her inner compassion and kindness. Max already recognizes that he can learn from her sweetness and tolerance. For the full review click her (Warning: SPOILER ALERT!)

*Kindle booklove: Dani: 10 Wonderful, Amazing, Fantastic Stars This story will stay with me forever. It spoke to my soul because I know what it's like to be bullied relentlessly by kids at school and then go home and have to deal with an abusive stepfather and feel like you have nobody to turn to, nobody to trust, and nowhere to go. I know as it said at the end of the book that not all people being bullied have the same home situations but mine almost resembled Izzy's experience with some differences of course. My heart broke while reading about JD's and Izzy's story. I cried for them and their situation. I fell in love with Emma's character because she was one of those rare people with an untarnished soul who doesn't look at people and judge them by what they look like....Read the full review here:

* Momma's Books. Brandy: If I could rate this book a 10 I would but Goodreads as well as amazon will only allow a 5. So it is 5+++++++  It was such an emotional read for me. It took me less than 24 hours to read this book once I started I could not put it down. I am honestly at a loss for words to explain how I feel about this book. But I will try so here I go… You will be taken on an emotional ride and your heart will hurt more times than not. You will wish you could just jump into the book and just rescue JD. I know I absolutely fell in love with Em she is the sweetest and kindest kid. I can only hope that my children turn out to be like her... It is absolutely AMAZING! Read full review (and check out the old cover;) here:

                 * Dani of KindleBookLove.blogspot.com: Wonderful, Amazing, Fantastic Stars. This story will stay with me forever. It spoke to my soul...This book is amazingly written and so awesome. I will never forget this book. It got me deep... I recommend it to everybody with children, children, and adults alike. Everybody should read this amazing book. 

*Camelia Skiba: Sherry drives the reader to real emotions masterfully creating trials, conflicts and doubts. You'll cry and laugh, ache and root for these heroes. I also liked the messages that come with this book, that life is worth living, that we should never give up and we should always try our best.

                   * Cindy Bennett: Souls in Peril is seriously one of the best books I've ever read. It had me in turn laughing and crying, my heart aching for all the characters involved. 

Gammon's writing is full of humor, sorrow, realism, and pulls you into places you might not want to go, but will be happy you did when all is said and done. I HIGHLY recommend this book!  

* Donna~ The Romance Cover Heart wrenching, sobbed and sobbed through this book, so many familiar circumstances it was like reliving my school life all over again...very sad, very emotional but unfortunately oh so very true. A fabulous book, that puts you through an emotional wringer..not my usual romance but a great YA book that had some very important messages throughout the book..brilliant.

More reviews here, here and here.

Purchase links

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks | Scrib | Audio

Not So Easy ebook is specially priced for the next few weeks as I introduce the exciting audio book. 

Here is a fun interview with my narrator Ryan Shaughnessy

1.  Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I’m from a cornfield an hour and a half southwest of Chicago and the oldest of three children. I was high school valedictorian and passed the CPA exam after obtaining a Masters degree in accounting. Then I followed my dream and moved to Los Angeles to make a career in acting and not from a cubicle. Every day brings a new adventure!
2. What do you do when you are not acting/narrating? Every day I’m doing something that relates to my acting. Whether it be auditioning, shooting, or social networking, the acting never stops. Even when I’m watching shows on Netflix, I watch certain shows that would appeal to my age demographic.
3. What is your favorite smell? Mom’s pot roast coming from the slow cooker when I travel back to Illinois.
4. What was your first acting project? There were the spring concert shows in grade school, but my first main gig was in the summer before my 8th grade year where I was the ventriloquist’s dummy in the radio show in a production of “Annie”.
5. How/Why did you get into acting? I love entertaining people. After getting a feel of making so many people laugh with my lines, I was hooked. Looking back, I wish I would have pursued in sooner, but I didn’t realize I could make a career of it because of how and where I was raised.
6. If you had 24 hours to live, excluding spending time with your family, what would you do? Skydive, ride in a hot air balloon, bungee jump off a bridge, and take my family to the gorgeous beaches of Thailand
7. What is your favorite kind of cheese? Pepperjack
8. Is there any particular actor or book that influenced you growing up or as an adult? I grew up watching all the James Bond and Indiana Jones movies. It’s been a goal of mine to be James when I’m the right age. But Harrison Ford has always been an influence because he is also from Illinois and wasn’t given much of a shot at the beginning of his acting career. I feel I am very similar to him in that regard in that we both have had a chip on our shoulders to prove the world wrong.
9. Would I find anything growing in your refrigerator right now? Nope. I keep things pretty clean. If I let one thing go, it would probably be the dust in my bedroom.
10. How would you describe yourself in three words? Intelligent, sarcastic, loyal
11. Who is your favorite actor? It’s hard to pick just one. Sean Connery, Harrison Ford, Denzel Washington, Matt Damon, and Tom Hanks are at the top of the list.
12. What is your favorite part of acting and why? Your least favorite and why? Favorite: Things are always changing but yet they are still structured. You may be on the same set, but the storyline is changing and things don’t get stagnant. Worst: Rejection haha.
13. Chocolate or Brussels sprouts? I’m a fan of both actually, especially if the brussels sprouts are doused in butter.
14. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an actor? I was new to a class and the teacher thought I wasn’t taking the scene seriously. He said I wouldn’t amount to anything.
15. What has been the best compliment given to you as an actor? I took a three week intensive with a casting director, and after we finished the scene in the last week, he told me he could easily see me as a contract role on the show.
16. What is your least favorite smell? Rotten eggs
17. Do you have any advice to give to aspiring actors? If a kid from a small town in Illinois with no formal training can move across the country and find a place in this crazy entertainment world, there is no reason you can’t do the same. You will most likely need lots of patience and a strong backbone, and most people from back home won’t understand the extent of what you are doing. But you will. As long as you believe this is what you were made to do, you will find a way to make it happen.

Ryan's Links

http://www.imdb.me/ryanshaughnessy

Demo: http://youtu.be/hZ9ox8Q2HbI

Viral Clip: http://youtu.be/hbeEuYAZFL4

@RynoShaughnessy (Twitter and Instagram)

Enter to win an audio book!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by!

Sherry Gammon

What Is Whispersync?

Whispersync is Amazon's technology that lets readers switch “back and forth between a Kindle book and Audible professional narration - without ever losing your place.” The way it works is that you first buy the Kindle book, and then for Whispersync enabled books you can add the Audible audiobook to the purchase.

I've actually noticed this even when listening to an audiobook at home and then I decide to download it at work. It opens up right to where I was at.

Why do I bring this up?

Because if someone owns that Kindle book, the Whispersynced audiobook is substantially reduced. For example, the audiobook for A Change of Plans has a list price of $19.95 (which Amazon will discount, of course, if you buy from them).

BUT if you own the ebook, you can purchase the Whispersynced audiobook for $1.99.

I don't know about you, but I think that's kind of a big savings.

I hear from a lot of people that they don't simply listen to the audiobook but prefer to follow along with the ebook.

Because this week has been a celebration of the release of Torn Canvas's audiobook, the ebook is on sale for $.99. That makes it easy to get the Whispersynced audiobook which is $1.99.

So, for $2.98 you can have both the ebook and the audiobook.

So, check out some of your favorite ebooks if you're even the least bit curious about giving the audiobook experience a try. 

My Audiobook Journey - Reviewing ... & an Update

Part 4

Click here for Part 1, Getting Started
Click here for Part 2, Finding My Producer

Click here for Part 3, The Audition

So. you've signed with your narrator, and the process of production has begun. There are different ways for your producer to submit the product for your approval.

1. Wait to submit the entire audiobook.

2. Submit the chapters one at a time or in smaller batches. My narrator, Tristan Hunt (aka Jason Downs), did it this way, and I loved it.

Either way you'll need to listen to your audiobook--with the manuscript open before you. Getting the chapters in smaller batches made it easy for me to go through a few chapters after work and get back any feedback. By the time he submitted the last of the book, it was almost ready to be reviewed by ACX before going live.

Something to consider--what if once in a while your narrator reads the words a little bit differently from how you wrote them? What if he uses a contraction when you didn't? You can certainly request that s/he fix it. Bear in mind that ACX allows a small percentage of differences between the ebook and the audiobook. Maybe 3%, I think Jason said. I forget the details.

Prior to starting this process, I'd seen a discussion where an author chose to accept some of those variations and changed her manuscript instead. I kept this in mind. I chose to be flexible and made several small changes to the ebook manuscript. There were some that I had him change back to the way I'd written them. So, it was a give and take.

Remember, you are the author. This is your story. But the audiobook is a collaborative effort. If you've got a good narrator who's "getting" your story and your characters, be open minded. If it makes for a better end product, you might decide to accept a few changes.

I'll conclude with an excerpt from one of the early reviews because the third sentence made smile:

I really enjoyed both the story and the narrator. He added a lot of personality to Jori by just the tone of his voice. I might have a little bit of a crush. ;)
     ~K.R. Patterson

Next week, I'll be sharing an interview with Tristan, and you'll get to hear a sample of his work. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Update - Operation Underground Railroad

Source: ourrescue.org

Last month I posted about the tough issue of child sex slavery. I'm excited to see the movement is gaining momentum now that Timothy Ballard has become a spokesman for the program of rescuing these poor kids.

There's a great post here, I would recommend you check out. I love the concept of the Abolitionist Moms. She's got some great suggestions for ways to help. One is by joining the Facebook Group where various events to raise money to help free these children will be posted.

The words of Edmund Burke were never so true:

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil

is for good men to do nothing."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

What I'm currently listening to is White Dragon by Rebecca Shelley. This is the second book in Shelley's Dragonbound series. It continues the adventures of Kanvar from Blue Dragon. 

What do I think? Holy smoking volcanoes but there's a lot of action in this book. It's got me sitting right on the edge of my seat as I listen. Tren Sparks, the narrator, does a great job handling the mental communication between Kanvar and his dragon.

While Kanvar searches for his grandfather, Kumar Raza faces a savage Great White dragon that attacks his village. With no armor and only a fishing spear, Raza fights the white dragon but is mortally wounded in the battle. Raza's youngest son, Denali, must find a way to save his father and bring him safely out of the frozen wasteland. Lost in a blizzard, hunted by a pack of wolves, followed by a Great White dragon hatchling, Denali must use all his wit and skill to survive.

What have you been up?

Have you ever become involved in a social movement like Operation Underground Railroad?

  

My Audiobook Journey - The Audition

Part 3

Click here for Part 1, Getting Started
Click here for Part 2, Finding My Producer

As you go into the production of your audiobook, you may end up with a lot of people auditioning to do your book. Some of them are very experienced. Others ... not so much. As you listen to those auditions, ask yourself some questions.

1. Does it sound professionally done? In other words, are you hearing other sounds that shouldn't be there? Does the reader take a lot of breaths or swallow but not edit them out? Is that even an issue for you? Just so you know, they can be edited out if they bother you.

2. Does the producer's voice match what you think your character(s) sound like? If not, is it a problem? Sometimes, a producer can add depth that you didn't imagine when you wrote the characters, so it's not a bad thing. Necessarily. Be open and flexible. Your readers, when looking at an ebook or paper copy, won't necessarily be reading it the way you hear it in your head either. But, would you want to listen to the book read this way? If not, that's a concern. Communication with your narrator is key here.

3. Does your narrator "get" you characters? This is important. How dialogue is read can change the entire meaning of a scene. For example, is the character angry vs frustrated as the narrator reads some dialogue? Does that scene lead to action that, if read incorrectly, won't make sense later?

4. How quick is your producer in responding to your questions, concerns, suggestions? Just like on the dating scene, if you don't like the way your producer "treats you," be wary. If you have concerns about the narrator's attitude or responsiveness, don't assume it will get better later on. Remember, you're being courted for a job. Applicants should be trying to impress you. If they aren't trying now, don't assume they will later.

I had one advantage. I'd already heard and knew I liked my producer's finished product. I'd heard good things about working with him from that book's author. He let me know right up front that he had other commitments and if I was in a hurry to get the book out, I might want to look for another narrator.

So, this is another question you might want to ask yourself: how quickly do you want your book finished? I was willing to wait.

There are things you can do to help the narrator "get" your characters. I'll talk about that next week.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

What am I reading (listening to)?

As the title says, it's an Alzheimer's love story. What do I think? It's a poignant story and takes the reader through the Alzheimer's journey. It's a touching and frightening story and is driving home what this terrible disease steals from its victims and their families.

Did you have a nice weekend? Do anything fun? 

We got a new grandson on April 1st and got to watch his big sister for a few days.

My Audiobook Journey - Getting Started

Part 1

Torn Canvas (Safe Harbors #2) came out last June. My publisher had arranged for the audiobook production of A Change of Plans, but I had to do this one myself.

 I read 83 books last year, most of them audiobooks. Anyone who knows me understands how much I love them and why it was important to me to find a good narrator.

I'm kind of picky about narrators of any book because they can enhance the story or they can detract from it. You don't want your listener irritated by the reader.

And so the search began.

I logged into the ACX site, and listed my book, including posting a manuscript sample that potential narrators would use to audition. You can have potential producers (also called narrators or readers) apply, or you can go searching and invite someone to audition--or both.

One thing you'll need to consider is how to handle royalties. There are a variety of ways to negotiate the royalty shares (meaning you and your producer split royalties). If you're interested, you can check them out here. Or you can pay your producer outright.

Next week I'll talk about which path I chose and the search for my producer.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Yes, the above means there's an audiobook for Torn Canvas. I'm going to be having a blog tour for the release of the EPICALLY AWESOME ...

*takes a deep breath and lowers the volume* 

... audiobook for Torn Canvas. If you think you could help by hosting me for the tour, please sign up here. I will be forever grateful!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Aren't you proud of me? I didn't forget to share about the books I've been reading.

The first is an audiobook by Patricia Briggs. It's the fourth in the Alpha and Omega series, an offshoot of the Mercy Thompson urban fantasy series.

I'll admit I started this book with some trepidation. In book 3, Briggs threw in a (nongraphic) completely inappropriate-for-the-story sex scene.

Because of the circumstances, it lowered my opinion of the characters. Because it did absolutely did nothing for the story, it also lowered my opinion of Briggs's writing. And I love her books! It was like her publisher told her she had to put in a sex scene, so this was what she threw in. Ugh.

Dead Heat? So far, so good. I'm really enjoying it. Briggs is a great storyteller. Now, is she just doesn't screw that up ...

What's it about?

It's Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings meets Stargate.

What do I think so far? It's intriguing. There are two main groups that haven't come together yet, adults and high school kids. I'm sure there's a connection and they will eventually. Could be soon too.

It kind of has a Michael Crichton feel to the story.

What about you?

Have you ever thought of listening to an audiobook? 

Ever been disappointed by something an author does in a book? 

Do anything fun this weekend?

Monday Meanderings - February 16th

In the US, it's a holiday here.

First Meandering ...

I like what Canda Mortensen does at the beginning of each of her blog posts where she comments a little on what she's currently reading. So here's what I'm listening to.

Every Day meets Cloud Atlas in this heart-racing, space- and time-bending, epic new trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray.

What do I think? I'm really enjoying it. The time bending is a little mind blowing, and I love the characters.

This better not be a cliffhanger ...



Second Meandering ...

I got to review the next three chapters of the Torn Canvas audiobook.

I'm seriously holding back a squeee here. It's wonderful to hear someone, who gets your story, read it aloud.


Third Meandering ...

Brother in law returned home yesterday. I don't know about what he and my hubby think, but I'm thinking we're going to have to find bare land and build what we want. I don't know why it's so hard to find.


Fourth Meandering ...

I attended LTUE for three days last week. It was wonderful to be with my tribe.

Besides being energized and inspired, I also came away with some concrete goals to help me.

1. Calendaring my personal time for better use of my writing time. I've already got my first week up on Google Calendar and it's synced to my phone. *crosses fingers*
2. John D. Brown and Larry Correia did a fabulous job in showing how to plot an action story. 

Something John said that really struck me was that the author isn't just writing a book. S/he is providing a guided experience for the reader. You have to ask yourself what experience you want the reader to have.

Kind of brilliant, isn't it?

So, what did you do this weekend?

Monday Meandering - January 19th

First Meander

We had SO much fun at Disneyland last week. The weather was wonderful. Since Christmas is over, can we have April now? But I'm exhausted. I'm glad today's a holiday for me.

My daughter, oldest granddaughter, and me. Oh, and Minnie.

Second Meander

A couple of items about Torn Canvas, Safe Harbors #2.

First item--new cover.

It's important to pay attention. I've noticed a few comments that the old cover for TC made it seem like a steamy story. Expectation is huge when you're trying to decide on a book to buy. It made me wonder if perhaps my target audience--people looking for a clean read--might not be picking it up because of the cover.

I posed the question in two "clean read" groups and a third one with a broader readership. The overwhelming response was that the old cover with a guy wearing an open shirt implied steam. And the vast majority said they would not pick up the book because of the cover--though my discussion about the book made it sound like something they'd like to read.

So, I went to work with my cover designer and this is the new cover. I've also tweaked the cover copy to give less emphasis on the romance since it's not really a romance. It's really a tale of redemption.


Modern-day pirates took more than Jori Virtanen’s friends; they stole his face. Not only does the twenty-four-year-old former model have to confront months of reconstructive surgery, he discovers his previous life was as superficial as his looks. Up-and-coming talk show host Olivia Howard wants an interview. She, like the rest of the press, expects a hero, but Jori knows the truth. His beauty masks a beast. 

In seclusion and evading the press, Jori struggles to make a new life as an artist. But he can’t hide from himself; more than his face is damaged. How can Jori possibly make amends for all that he’s broken? When Olivia finally tracks him down, he must decide if he can trust her. Could this unlikely woman be a key to freeing his heart and healing the beast?

Second item about Torn Canvas.

The audiobook is in production! I've approved the first two chapters and am loving how the narrator is doing. *sigh*


Third Meander

A Season of Change, Safe Harbors 2.5. is getting close to its release date. It's time to share the gorgeous cover and a bit about the story.

It’s a time of change for Jori Virtanen. The former playboy model is about to be married. He juggles wedding arrangements, a bachelor party, and plans for keeping the ceremony secret from the press. 

But Jori has another problem. He has to figure out how to tell one of his best friends, Marc North, that his girlfriend may not be what she appears.

Sherry Gammon Audiobook Cover Reveal

Welcome my special guest, author Sherry Gammon!

Unlovable is now an audiobook!! If you click here you can get the audiobook for free with a 30 day free trial of Audible on Amazon!! You can't beat free!!

Along with the release of the audiobook, I've redesigned the covers of the first two books in the Port Fare series. ( I'm designing covers now. Click here and check them out!) To celebrate the new look, I am giving away paperback copies of the entire series. 

Here is the new cover for Unlovable. I didn't change it too much because I really loved the original one. (Thank you, Paul Beeley), but another author came out with almost the exact same cover, including the coloring :'(

I kept the girl on the swing because she fits Maggie's story perfectly, though I did add flowers to the swing. The rest has been changed completely. I love the blues and pinks, and I've always wanted a moon on the cover. I also added Maggie's trailer in the background!

                                                       
                                                             Here is the eBook cover:

And this is the Paperback

     This is the audio book cover.

 This is the new cover for Unbelievable! It's a real change. I feel this cover fits the story so much better. Lilah feels trapped by her domineering father and his demands. She desperately wants to break free...can't tell you anymore or I'll spoil the story  I feel this new cover portrays Lilah and what she is going through in a much stronger way, and it seems to fit in better with the other covers. While I loved the old cover, and had a huge say in its design, (Thank you again, Paul) it seemed out of place with book one & three's covers. This one holds the same "feel," if you will.

Here is the Ebook cover:

And this is the paperback

Unbearable's cover didn't really change, only the back was updated.

So, what do you think??

Sherry's Web page | Sherry's Goodreads page

Purchase links:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iTunes

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday Teaser

What I've been working on ...

Rough Excerpt from A Dangerous Reflection* * * * * * * * * * * * *

I'm pretty excited. I've been working to get Torn Canvas as an audiobook. My dream narrator has said he's very interested. 

Yes, that was squeee you just heard. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

And just for fun ...

I'm not normally a country music fan, but I grew up with Johnny Cash music because my dad was a fan. However, I am a huge fan of A Capella anyway, but men's A Capella? *sigh*

Did you do anything fun this weekend? See any movies?

Final Day - A Change of Plans Audiobook Giveaway Blog Tour

The Last Day!

The blog tour continues for my A Change of Plans audiobook. 

Don't forget there are TWO opportunities to win and TWO blogs to visit.
I'd like to thank all the awesome people who have helped out this week!

Date        Blogger    

24-Aug    Amber Argyle     
24-Aug    Shantal Session    

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here's a short sample of the book:

 

Day 5 of the A Change of Plans Audiobook Blog Tour

The blog tour continues for my A Change of Plans audiobook. 

Don't forget there are TWO opportunities to win.

 

Date        Blogger    

22-Aug    Angela Corbett    
22-Aug    Phil L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Guest post on showing vs. telling
22-Aug    Lindzee Armstrong     
22-Aug    Stephanie Abney

23-Aug    David Powers King    
23-Aug    Maria Hoagland . . . . . . . . Interview
23-Aug    Merita King    
23-Aug    Robin Ambrose     
23-Aug    Taryn A. Taylor

24-Aug    Amber Argyle     
24-Aug    Shantal Session    

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here's a short sample of the book:

And if you don't win? Audible is an Amazon company, so the ebook and the audiobook are linked. When you purchase the ebook, you can download the audiobook for $1.99. So ebook and audiobook for $6.98.
 

Day 3 of A Change of Plans Audiobook Giveaway Blog Tour

Woohoo! Day 3. 

Don't forget, there are TWO prizes.

Here are the blogs to visit:

20-Aug    JoAnn Arnold     
20-Aug    Heidi Murphy  . . . . . . . . . . Interview
20-Aug    Sherry Gammon     

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Change of Plans Audiobook Giveaway!

If you've followed my blog much in the last month or so, you'll know that my adventure romance, A Change of Plans, has come out in audiobook. You'll also know that I'm a huge audiobook fan, so I'm really jazzed to have my book now available in that medium. I want to spread the word!

And how cool is this? Because Audible is an Amazon company, the ebook and the audiobook are linked. When you purchase the ebook, you can download the audiobook for $1.99.

Yeah. You read that right. You can get the ebook AND the audiobook for $6.98.

Well, my publisher, Rhemalda, and I are hosting a giveaway. 

And there can be two winners!

 Here's a short sample of the audiobook:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You have several chances to win
and different blogs to visit each day:

Date        Blogger    

18-Aug    Jaclyn Weist     
18-Aug    Cindy Hogan    
19-Aug    Heidi Tighe  
19-Aug    RaShelle Workman     
20-Aug    JoAnn Arnold    
20-Aug    Heidi Murphy  . . . . . . . . . . Interview
20-Aug    Sherry Gammon    
21-Aug    Taffy Lovell . . . . . . . . . . . . Interview
22-Aug    Angela Corbett    
22-Aug    Phil L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Guest post on showing vs. telling
22-Aug    Lindzee Armstrong    
23-Aug    David Powers King    
23-Aug    Maria Hoagland . . . . . . . . . Interview
23-Aug    Merita King    
23-Aug    Robin Ambrose    
23-Aug    Taryn Taylor
24-Aug    Amber Argyle     
24-Aug    Shantal Session    

19-Aug    Wendy Knight     

23-Aug    Stephanie Abney 
   

When Lyn sets off on her supposedly uncomplicated and unromantic cruise, she never dreams it will include pirates. All the 25-year-old, Colorado high school teacher wants to do is forget that her dead fiancé was a cheating scumbag. Lyn plans a vacation diversion; fate provides Braedon, an intriguing surgeon. She finds herself drawn to him: his gentle humor, his love of music, and even his willingness to let her take him down during morning karate practices. Against the backdrop of the ship's make-believe world and temporary friendships, her emotions come alive. 

However, fear is an emotion, too. Unaware of the sensitive waters he's navigating, Braedon moves to take their relationship beyond friendship--on the very anniversary Lyn is on the cruise to forget. Lyn's painful memories are too powerful, and she runs from Braedon and what he has to offer.

It’s hard to avoid someone when stuck on the same ship, and the pair finds themselves on one of the cruise's snorkeling excursions in American Samoa. Paradise turns to piracy when their party is kidnapped and Lyn's fear of a fairytale turns grim. Now she must fight alongside the man she rejected, first for their freedom and then against storms, sharks, and shipwreck.

A Change of Plans Audiobook

I'm so excited about this! A Change of Plans is now available in audiobook. I'm a huge audiobook lover, and I'm picky about narrators. 

As authors, we create this world in our minds. We know how we think each of the characters are saying things, the emphasis they give. I've heard many other authors say they hate hearing their books in an audiobook. So, it was with some trepidation that I started listening to Karen Kruper's interpretation of MY characters.

It was such a relief because I really enjoyed it! Kruper catches Elle's bubbly enthusiasm, Lyn's more low-key tone, and Braedon's seriousness. She gives Jori a fun Finnish accent, Jimmy a great Texas drawl, and Maria a Spanish accent. Jack's voice is rougher and gruffer, just like it should be. Emily was brisker than I had imagined, but it fit her character, so I was able to move easily from the voice in my head to the one in my ear.

As for the story itself. Well, I'm biased. :D

Here's a sample:

Do you have anything in audiobook? If yes, are you happy with it?

If not, have you ever considered it?