Thursday, May 30, 2013

Sizzling Summer Reads Party reminder

I'm participating in the Sizzling Summer Reads Party, sponsored by the popular reader/author site The Romance Reviews.  If you're a romance fanatic like I am, this is a can't miss event because over 400 authors are participating and likewise there will be over 400 giveaways!  It's a great way to discover new authors and maybe even score some free books!

I'll be giving away a copy of Designs For Him, my short story from the Promoted By The Billionaire anthology published by Total-E-Bound.  You can enter for a chance to win by going to http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php on Wednesday, June 5, 2013 and participating in the Q&A which will consist of a question based on an excerpt from Designs For Him provided on this blog.  Be sure that you're registered and logged in at The Romance Reviews site because that's the only way you'll be able to play the game.

This is the biggest author promotion I've ever taken part in and I'm really excited not only to showcase my book but to also discover some new books from my fellow writers.  Be sure to check back in on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, when I'll post an excerpt from Designs For Him that will provide you with the answer to the Q&A and give you a chance to win your own copy of the e-book.  Good luck!



Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Back in the swing of things

I've been in kind of a funk for several weeks but I think I'm getting my mojo back.  I've been pretty productive this week because there's nothing like a deadline to get the motivation flowing.  There are two anthology submission calls I'm targeting, and I'm still working on an outline for a novel.  I love it when I'm busy like this instead of being stuck in my head.  It wasn't easy getting out of the rut, and I'm not sure if I'm totally out of it yet, but I'm definitely feeling like I'm in a better place.

It had been my intention to blog about Game of Thrones each week after each episode but (a) my funk took over and (b) there are lots of other blogs that are doing a better job than I could ever dream of doing.  My favorite is The Tower of the Hand because the writer incorporates knowledge from the books into his review of the show and provides a greater overall context of what's happening with the plot and characters.  Great recappers include Andy Greenwald at Grantland.com and Alan Sepinwall at Hitfix.com, and I highly recommend the Game of Thrones recaps at Wired.com and TV Equals.  I'm really excited about this week's upcoming episode because it is THE episode I've been waiting for ever since I read the books.  It's going to be a good one, so I'm really hoping I have most of my work and writing out of the way so that I can enjoy it without feeling guilty over work I should be doing.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

An Emergency Servicing Review from "The Romance Reviews"

I'm happy to announce that The Romance Reviews has posted a review of Emergency Servicing Anthology! Although it's been out for several weeks, I'm thrilled the anthology is still garnering notice from reviewers and web site.  It's a crowded field and I'm grateful and thankful for any attention the Emergency Servicing Anthology gets, especially my story, Trusting the ER Doctor.  Please check out the review, which described the anthology as a collection of "short, steamy, and sweet love stories," at http://glbt.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=8485.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

My First Featured Review!!!

YAY!!!  Trusting the ER Doctor is a featured review at Rainbow Book Reviews!  It's the first time a story of mine has been reviewed by itself and featured in its own blog post.  I feel like I've arrived as a writer!!  :-)


Okay, I guess I have to admit in the interests of full disclosure that Serena Yates is a fellow Total-E-Bound author, but it's just one of several of her publishers.  I'm thrilled that a writer whose work I admire took the time to review my book, and I'm over the moon that she liked it!  Please check out her review at http://www.rainbowbookreviews.com/book-reviews/trusting-the-er-doctor-by-noelle-keaton-at-total-e-bound while I do my happy-in-the-spotlight dance for the rest of the night.  :-D

Monday, May 20, 2013

Romance Reviews Sizzling Summer Reads Event!!

I'm participating in The Romance Reviews Sizzling Summer Reads Event and will be giving away a copy of my story Designs For Him, which is part of the Promoted By The Billionaire anthology from Total-E-Bound.


If, like me, you are a big romance reader, this is a can't miss event because there will be lots of e-book giveaways and many chances to win gift cards and other prizes.  Go to http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php for more details.  I hope you all check it out!!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Stuck

I'm still working on the outline for my novel but I've also been trying to work on a short story, trying being the operative word.  I got about a third of the way through my story before I realized it was too close to the plot of another story I've already published.  There's something to be said for working in your comfort zone, but there's also something to be said for not duplicating your efforts.  I've never liked it when I bought a second book of an author's and found it to be almost a xerox of the last book I read by them.  I'm going to keep the setting and the characters, but going to think a little more about changing the plot.  Hopefully, I won't be stuck too much longer and will be back to being productive.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Promoted By The Billionaire is a bestseller!

The new anthology from Total-E-Bound, Promoted By The Billionaire, which includes my story, Designs For Him, is a bestseller and I have a snazzy new banner to celebrate.


I had a lot of fun writing Designs For Him and I'm thrilled that the anthology is doing so well.  I'm working on a new story now and I can only hope that it has similar success.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Total-E-Bound New Releases Now on Fridays!

My publisher, Total-E-Bound, is making a big change....instead of releasing new books on Monday, they are now doing it on Fridays!  I like this because I'm a big weekend reader and it will be great to read the latest books and then blog or tweet about them along with everyone else instead of being a month or two behind like I usually am.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

What's in a name?

I'm working on an outline for a novel and in creating one of my main characters, I realized I didn't like her name.  The character is the leader of her social set, very powerful in terms of the people who run in those social circles.  I've been calling her 'Teresa' after a girl who used to bully me in grade school, and this character is definitely a bully.  But in fleshing out the characters a little more, I'm finding 'Teresa' doesn't work for me, I need something more threatening, like a 'Scarlett O'Hara' or a 'Victoria Grayson.'  Ultimately though, I know the name won't matter as much as how I write the character and portray her.  Her name could be Bitchy McWitchy and it still won't be an engaging character if I don't write her in an engaging way.  Still, I'm going to find something that excites me a little more than 'Teresa.'