Book Blast

To save her country and her secrets, CIA operative Talia Reynolds must sacrifice the man she loves—but your choice is much easier! Just buy a copy of I, Spy during the book blast AND receive awesome prizes!

What you have to do

Step 1: Buy the book any day from September 19 to September 22. Any retailer will do!

Step 2: Email Jordan a copy of the receipt (jordan at jordanmccollum.com). Yes, even if you buy the book from Jordan's site, we need to know you want to receive the freebies.

Step 3: Wait with bated breath.

What you're going to get

EVERYONE who participates gets fabulous prizes, including 13 free books and samples from wonderful authors!

The fabulous prizes!

a free copy of A Body in the Backyard (A Myrtle Clover Mystery) by Elizabeth Spann Craig	a free copy of Rose, Undercover (Dead Roses #1.1) by RaShelle Workman	a free copy of Anasazi Intrigue: The Adventures of John and Julia Evans by Linda Weaver Clarke
a free copy of Writing Your Family Legacy by Linda Weaver Clarke (Isn't she awesome?!)	a free copy of Secret Sisters by Tristi Pinkston	a free copy of Dead Running by Cami Checketts
a free copy of First Kiss (Confessions of a 16-Year-Old Virgin Lips 1) by Cindy Hogan	a preview of A Change of Plans by Donna K. Weaver	a sneak preview of The Witnesses by Stephanie Black, out next month!
a sneak preview of Pocket Full of Posies (Hostage Negotiation Team #3) by Julie Coulter Bellon, out next month!	an exclusive look at "I'll Cry for Christmas," a short story by Rachelle J. Christensen	a free copy of Mr. Nice Spy (I, Spy Prequels) by Jordan McCollum

PLUS!

An exclusive sneak preview of Spy for a Spy (Spy Another Day #2) by Jordan McCollum

What if I've already bought I, Spy?

First of all, THANK YOU!! If you take a picture of you with your copy of I, Spy (or the cover on your reading device) and post it somewhere public on the Internet— Facebook (or maybe on Jordan's Facebook page), a Tweet, Flickr, Tumblr, Instagram, sky's the limit—send Jordan the link and you can have these fabulous prizes too!

So spread the word! The more, the merrier!

Cover Reveal - Spy for a Spy by Jordan McCollum

I'm so excited about this book because I loved I, Spy!

Spy for a Spy, the sequel to I, Spy, will be released November 12, 2013 (11-12-13!)

Already know you want to read it? Add Spy for a Spy on Goodreads.

Today, I am especially excited to reveal the cover! But first, a little more about the book.

About the Book

Canada is probably the last place you’d expect to find an American spy. And it was the last place CIA operative Talia Reynolds expected to run into fellow operative Brand Copley. AKA her new boss. AKA her ex-boyfriend.

Just the guy every woman wants to face in the middle of planning her wedding. Once again, Talia’s lying to the man she loves, but this time, to protect his heart.

After Brand takes over Talia’s latest case and steals her newest agent, he assigns her to spy on her old boss—who’s suddenly giving her every reason not to trust him. With only weeks until the big day, planning falls by the wayside as she goes into damage control mode. But when Talia discovers Brand’s real motives, fighting him is the only option, no matter what the personal and professional cost.

And now for the cover!

More about Spy for a Spy | Add Spy for a Spy to Goodreads!
Join Jordan’s mailing list for sneak peeks & a chance to get an advance review copy!

Advance praise

Spy for a Spy is the perfect followup to McCollum’s exciting debut, I, Spy. With more tension, more romance and higher stakes than ever, Talia’s story won’t let you go until you’ve come to the heart-stopping, surprising conclusion. Such a fun read!

— Emily Gray Clawson, author of A Way Back to You

Jordan McCollum’s talent for first person present tense narrative puts the reader in the driver’s seat for heart-pounding action in Spy for a Spy. . . . Talia is back along with her fiancé Danny, and many of the same great characters from I, Spy. We also meet a man from Talia’s past, a high ranking CIA operative with secrets that threaten the U.S. . . . This novel is a perfect blend of danger, intrigue, romance and even a little of the LDS religon. It is a great read the whole way through.

— Becki Clayson

Spy for a Spy is a story threaded with an unforgettable main character, high stakes espionage, and a case of wedding jitters that would try the patience of any groom. McCollum deftly keeps us on a tightrope of page-turning suspense balanced with witty romance that will not let you down. A great follow-up to I, Spy, and one you don't want to miss!

— Julie Coulter Bellon, author of Ashes Ashes

About the author

An award-winning author, Jordan McCollum can’t resist a story where good defeats evil and true love conquers all. In her day job, she coerces people to do things they don’t want to, elicits information and generally manipulates the people she loves most—she’s a mom.

Jordan holds a degree in American Studies and Linguistics from Brigham Young University. When she catches a spare minute, her hobbies include reading, knitting and music. She lives with her husband and four children in Utah.

Follow Jordan on Twitter, like Jordan on Facebook and add Spy for a Spy on Goodreads today!

Check out Jordan’s blog tomorrow for your first chance to get a sneak preview!

Guest Post - Author Jordan McCollum

I'm still on a blogging break.

While I'm on a blogging break, author Jordan McCollum

is here to share some of her secret sauce.

You can get more of her awesomeness by following her blog.

Motivation-Reaction Units
By Jordan McCollum

Motivation-reaction Units are a very simple principle taught by Dwight Swain in Techniques of the Selling Writer. Basically, it means that, because writing and reading a (generally) linear activities, we need to make sure that the actions that happen are also linear.

On a plot level, that's not always strictly necessary—I'm sure we can all think of a story with a good nonlinear plotline (my favorite is Memento but examples include even the famous "backwards" finale of Seinfeld). However, in the live action of our stories, it's much, much easier to follow and understand when things happen as they do in the real world: first a stimulus, then a reaction.

An example
Surprise is definitely a good thing in fiction—we don't want to read the exact same story in every book—but surprise when it doesn't make sense only confuses our readers.

Here's an example of a somewhat minor violation of the motivation-reponse rule:

Marie continued blathering on and I turned to look out the window just for a minute.

"Ouch!" I yelped, grabbing my head where a water bottle had just hit it. "Why did you do that?"
There are several motivation-reaction units in these three sentences. Marie's rambling is the first stimulus, and the narrator's reaction is to look out the window. So far, so good: things are happening in the natural order.

But then we get off course in the next sentence: we get the narrator's reaction (Ouch!) several words before we see the stimulus (water bottle to the head).

That's not the way it works in the physical world where we live. We drop something, it falls. We throw an object, it sails through the air, maybe hits something. We stub our toes, we yelp in pain. These things don't make any sense if they don't happen in order. (Yelping before you stub your toe? Psychic phantom pains?)

I like to give my readers a lot of credit, but to ask them to reinterpret the simple sequence of actions just to make sense is making my readers do too much work. I'd rather them spend their time reading my words, not reanalyzing them!

The fix

"Water Bottle" Installation by Stefan Simov

Photo by Klearchos Kapoutsis, via Flickr & CC license

So how do we fix these sequential slips? Always show the motivation before the reaction. Or, in our example:

Marie continued blathering on and I turned to look out the window just for a minute.

Something hard hit the back of my head. "Ouch!" I turned in time to see a water bottle clattering across the floor, rolling away. I shot an accusatory look at Marie. "What was that for?"
Notice that we're not adding something the narrator can't see: Marie behind him/her, throwing the water bottle. We still stay firmly in the narrator's head and POV, but now we have the motivation first to give their reaction context and just. make. sense!

What do you think? Do motivation-reaction units trip you up?

About the Author
An award-winning author, Jordan McCollum can’t resist a story where good defeats evil and true love conquers all. In her day job, she coerces people to do things they don’t want to, elicits information and generally manipulates the people she loves most—she’s a mom.

Jordan holds a degree in American Studies and Linguistics from Brigham Young University. When she catches a spare minute, her hobbies include reading, knitting and music. She lives with her husband and four children in Utah.

Jordan's first novel, I, Spy, is out now: To save her country and her secrets, CIA operative Talia Reynolds will have to sacrifice the man she loves. More about I, Spy

Reflections on a Book Launch

This last week has been insane on so many levels.

For my day job, I run the election for my city. Last week we had eighteen (yes, you read that right) people file for council and five for mayor. We have also lost both of our office clerks who left to seek higher pay in the private sector. My deputy and I are going crazy as we try to carry our regular work load, the additional work that comes with an election, and the work our clerks used to do. Ha! And now we're going to be doing interviews. Like we have the time.

Crazy time to launch a book, wasn't it? But I was too busy during the day to worry much about the book launch.

Blog tours are interesting things, very much in flux. Real life happens and some of the people who signed up to help either couldn't, forgot, or posted late. And it's all good. I was just thrilled so many people were willing to help a debut author. I got to meet some awesome new people while wanting to hug so many that I already know. Thanks so much to my trooper followers who visited my blog every day and commented (Alex and Pat, you know who are).

As for the physical launch, I loved being able to do it with another author. It really lowered my stress level, and I'm so grateful to Jordan McCollum for suggesting it. If you aren't following her blog, you should. She's a great resource on writing. Her book, I, Spy, is a dang fun read. We had so much fun we're going another joint event (different theme) on June 19th at the American Fork Library.

Because of an arthritis flareup, my son, Paul, created some artwork to make a stamp to help with the signing. Pretty cool, huh? His wife, Kelsey, came to take pictures. In spite of her camera dying, she managed pretty well with my camera.

Some things I learned from watching the footage:

• I talk a lot with my hands. How did I never realize that?
• I'm a podium hog.
• I open my mouth a lot and make funny expressions. Embarrassing.

Following is a video montage of our Saturday event.



What's your experience been at book launches--either ones for your own books or that you've attended? What have you liked or not liked?

I, Spy by Jordan McCollum and A Change of Plans Block Party - Day 4

I've got a special guest today, Jordan McCollum. I'm excited that we're both launching our books so close to each other because we get to do a joint launch event together on June 8th. Picture will follow.

Take it away, Jordan!

We're celebrating the launch of I, Spy! Read on to find out more about the book, get a cool spy tip for your daily life and download a free gift! Then find I, Spy on Amazon, Kobo, and JordanMcCollum.com!

About the Book
Canada is probably the last place you'd expect to find an American spy. But even idyllic Ottawa has its deadly secrets—and so does CIA operative Talia Reynolds. She can climb through ventilation shafts, blend in at the occasional diplomatic function, even scale buildings (small ones). But there’s one thing she can’t do: tell her aerospace engineer boyfriend Danny about her Top Secret occupation.

It worked for a year, keeping Danny in the dark, keeping him away from danger, keeping her secrets. And then Talia finally catches a hot case: Fyodor Timofeyev. Russian. Aerospace executive. Possible spy?

She can make this work, too—until Danny needs her at the same time her country does. And when Fyodor targets Danny? Suddenly her schedule isn't the only thing suffering. Now to save her secrets and her country, Talia must sacrifice the man she loves.

More about I, Spy | Add I, Spy to your Goodreads to-read list!

Advance praise

The edge-of-my-seat undercover operations kept me turning pages, and just when I thought the story would go one way, plot twists sent it down another path. Thrilling, adventurous, and romantic, this book has it all for an Alias fan.

— Jami Gold, award-winning author

Jordan McCollum’s debut novel is a delightful combination of mystery, action, and romance. Talia’s CIA training and almost OCD caution feed her quirky humor while exposing her very human fears and insecurities. Add in her boyfriend Danny, and it's enough to twist your heart.

— Donna K. Weaver, author of A Change of Plans

Clever, suspenseful, and charged with political intrigue and romance, I, Spy is the perfect combination for a fun and captivating read!

—  Michelle Davidson Argyle, author of Monarch

About the author

An award-winning author, Jordan McCollum can’t resist a story where good defeats evil and true love conquers all. In her day job, she coerces people to do things they don’t want to, elicits information and generally manipulates the people she loves most—she’s a mom.

Jordan holds a degree in American Studies and Linguistics from Brigham Young University. When she catches a spare minute, her hobbies include reading, knitting and music. She lives with her husband and four children in Utah.

Hone your spy skills
Donna didn't ask a spy (novelist) for advice, but I'm giving it anyway, inspired by Donna's debut novel:


Further hone your spy skills by reading I, Spy!

The clue!
As part of the debut of I, Spy, Jordan is hosting a contest to figure out the song that inspired the story. Collect clues at each blog stop and use your spy skills to piece together the clues to win a $25 Amazon gift card! How to enter

The clue for this stop is:

The singer-songwriter duo behind the I, Spy song also collaborated to compose the theme to the soap opera Days of Our Lives.

The freebie!

Thanks for participating in this launch tour! As a free gift this week, Jordan is giving out free copies of Mr. Nice Spy, an I, Spy prequel novella. Simply to go http://JordanMcCollum.com/store/. You can also get 40% off I, Spy!

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

That video totally rocked! I LOVED her book--it's so much fun! You want to read it. I'm tellin' you.

Today is 

You can check out today's participants:

Cindy Hogan - Review + Guest Post/Author Interview - Cindy's website

Heidi Tighe - Review + Guest Post/Author Interview - Heidi's website

Jordan McCollum - Review - Jordan's website

Robin Ambrose - Review + Guest Post/Author Interview - Robin's website

Wendy Knight - Review - Write Through The Noise

Canda Mortensen - Review + Guest Post/Author Interview - Canda's Ink Blast

Melanie Macek - Review - Feathers Pens, Tartan Dreams

Shelly - Highlight plus Metal Teeth - Two Fur Peeps and A Writer

And don't forget the Giveaways!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Insecure Writers Support Group - Book Launches

Click here for details.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Book Launches

A month from today, my debut novel, A Change of Plans, will be born. A month and a week from today, and I'll be participating in my first book launch. Can I say one word? 

Scary!

The awesome Jordan McCollum (you can read about her book--I, Spy--in my post here) and I are teaming up together for our launch. I'm so glad I'm not doing this alone. My biggest worry has always been  that I'd have a launch--and no one would come.

I guess in a couple of months I can address whether or not my worries were justified. How about you? Do you worry about this, too?

Cover Reveal - "I, Spy" by Jordan McCollum

I, Spy by Jordan McCollum—Coming June 5, 2013!

About the Book

Canada is probably the last place you'd expect to find an American spy. But even idyllic Ottawa has its deadly secrets—and so does CIA operative Talia Reynolds. She can climb through ventilation shafts, blend in at the occasional diplomatic function, even scale buildings (small ones). But there’s one thing she can’t do: tell her aerospace engineer boyfriend Danny about her Top Secret occupation. It worked for a year, keeping Danny in the dark, keeping him away from danger, keeping her secrets. And then Talia finally catches a hot case: Fyodor Timofeyev. Russian. Aerospace executive. Possible spy? She can make this work, too—until Danny needs her at the same time her country does. And when Fyodor targets Danny? Suddenly her schedule isn't the only thing suffering. Now to save her secrets and her country, Talia must sacrifice the man she loves.

Add I, Spy to your Goodreads to-read list!

Advance praise

The edge-of-my-seat undercover operations kept me turning pages, and just when I thought the story would go one way, plot twists sent it down another path. Thrilling, adventurous, and romantic, this book has it all for an Alias fan.

— Jami Gold, award-winning author

Jordan McCollum’s debut novel is a delightful combination of mystery, action, and romance. Talia’s CIA training and almost OCD caution feed her quirky humor while exposing her very human fears and insecurities. Add in her boyfriend Danny, and it's enough to twist your heart.

— Donna K. Weaver, author of A Change of Plans

Clever, suspenseful, and charged with political intrigue and romance, I, Spy is the perfect combination for a fun and captivating read!

— Michelle Davidson Argyle, author of Monarch

About the author

An award-winning author, Jordan McCollum can’t resist a story where good defeats evil and true love conquers all. In her day job, she coerces people to do things they don’t want to, elicits information and generally manipulates the people she loves most—she’s a mom. Jordan holds a degree in American Studies and Linguistics from Brigham Young University. When she catches a spare minute, her hobbies include reading, knitting and music. She lives with her husband and four children in Utah. Follow Jordan on Twitter, like Jordan on Facebook and add I, Spy on Goodreads today!