Category: books

Guest Post: Tina DC Hayes @Tina_DC_Hayes

Today I’m excited to welcome Tina DC Hayes to my blog for a guest post!

VPK PreOrder 7

 

 Guest Post from Tina DC Hayes

Character Bio for Valentino

 

(Valentino is a fictional character who stars in a novella by Tina D.C. Hayes, Valentino, Be Mine, which is included in the Valentine Pets and Kisses Box Set.)

Full Name: Kingsley’s Prince Valentino the Mighty

Nicknames: Goes by Valentino, also answers to Val and Love Bug

Breed and Description: Male teacup Yorkshire terrier who weighs under 3-1/2 lbs soaking wet. Cute, smart, affectionate and loving, and he enjoys getting his way.

Age: Three years old

Occupation: Starred in commercials for Yummly dog food until he retired a year ago due to the brand changing spokesdog breeds from Yorkies to French bulldogs.

Education and Skills: Along with basic obedience and agility, Hollywood trainers taught him plenty of tricks he performed on command in front of the camera. He can sit and stay (though he prefers not to), shake hands, walk on his hind legs, jump through hoops, and look adorable even when in a bad mood.

AKC Titles: Valentino has earned his CGC (Canine Good Citizenship), RN (Rally Novice), and NA (Novice Agility).

Goals and Problems: Valentino needs a new home, but isn’t sure who his new person is going to be. Kaylee has dog-sat for him plenty of times and he already loves her bunches, but he likes Carter too, and has spent a lot of time with him at the bar when his former owner was busy with clients. Valentino doesn’t understand why those two can’t get along and play nice, but he’s happy to be the center of attention.

More about Valentino

(Exclusively in the Valentine, Pets & Kisses Box Set)

Sparks fly when two people wind up looking after a rambunctious Yorkie who needs a new home.

 Kaylee Rose is thrilled when a neighbor asks if she’ll consider taking in her teacup Yorkie, Valentino. But there are strings attached. The dog’s other caretaker turns out to be Carter Hartley, an arrogant jerk she’ll have to deal with until they decide who keeps the pampered pooch permanently. Kaylee and Carter can’t stand each other even though they both love the dog, but they’re forced to either get along or risk losing Valentino to a heartbreaking fate.

 

More about Tina DC Hayes

Tina D.C. Hayes writes romantic suspense and cozy mysteries while her pampered pooches and parrots stand guard against writer’s block.

Website: http://tinadchayes.wordpress.com

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Tina-DC-Hayes/e/B00B0RSVVM

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TinaDCHayesAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tina_DC_Hayes
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7011950.Tina_D_C_Hayes

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Valentine, Pets & Kisses Box Set

Amazon US ~ B&N ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~ Amazon UK ~ Google

ONLY 99c for 14 All-New Sweet Romances!

You’re Invited to the Valentine Pets & Kisses Countdown Launch Party! [Jan 1 – Feb 2]

Chat with the authors and win great prizes! Come join the Fun.

EXCERPT – The Crazy Girl’s Handbook by DelSheree Gladden – VALENTINE PETS & KISSES BOXED SET

Thank you for sharing the excerpt from THE CRAZY GIRL’S HANDBOOK, Rachelle!

rachelleayala's avatarRachelle Ayala

The Crazy Girl’s Handbook by DelSheree Gladden
Spending the weekend babysitting her two nephews and a puppy was supposed to be fun. Sweating to death at a baseball game while getting gum in her hair, soda down her shirt, and an ice cream pedicure wasn’t part of the deal. Neither was finding out the best guy she’d ever missed a blind date with had witnessed it all. Longest. Weekend. Ever.
Excerpt
EXCERPT: The Crazy Girl’s Handbook – DelSheree GladdenWe looked both ways before crossing the street. Both boys held my hand and Thor stayed right at my heel with the leash wrapped around my wrist. The second we set foot on the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street, the boys took off and Thor made a valiant attempt at following them. Problem was, his leash was still looped around my wrist so I could hold the boys’ hands…

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Romance, Ghosts, Laughs and Sharks for Christmas!

I’ve got some fun projects coming up now and in the next few months. So if you need a last minute gift idea, or want to stock up of great deals now for your new Kindle, here’s your chance!

BARGAINBARGAIN: is a themed anthology put together by the Creative Writing Institute, a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides writing classes to cancer patients.

I was so pleased to be invited to contribute a short story to the anthology. This is the first look readers will get at the first book in my new project, The Eliza Carlisle Mystery Series. So look for “Grandma Crazy Town” in the anthology!

BUY ON AMAZON

97b84-the2bghost2bhost2bnewThe Ghost Host is ON SALE!

Pick up your favorite medium this week for ONLY $0.99

The sale only lasts until Dec 26th, 2015, so grab your copy now and meet Echo and Ghost Host crew before things get too spooky!

BUY ON SALE 0.99

 

 

SharkinTroubledWatersfront

 Shark in Troubled Waters (Date Shark #4) is up for pre-order!

Date Shark fans already know Sabine, but Michael is a bit more of a mystery, for readers and Sabine. Come join them on their adventure full of laughs, heartache, and surprises.

PreOrder ON AMAZON

 

 

VPK Final 14

Valentine, Pets & Kisses is up for pre-order as well!

Check out these 14 All-New sweet romances. This is where readers will get their first look at “The Crazy Girl’s Handbook” in the novella version included in the set. The full novel will be coming Feb 2016!

PreOrder ON AMAZON

Stereotypes in Character Devlopment

What are Stereotypes and why should you be careful when using them?

StripedShirtWomanStereotypes

A character that is so ordinary or unoriginal that they seem like an oversimplified version of a person, class, gender, etc.

Why should you avoid this?

Stereotypes are rarely accurate. Not only can they be offensive, they make for poor characters because readers can guess exactly what they will think, do, say, or respond. That’s boring.

Straight stereotypes lack depth and are predictable. Readers immediately think they already know how their story will go because they feel like they have already met this character and read their story in a dozen other similar stories. Your goal as a writer is to surprise your readers with new and unique characters and stories.

Should you NEVER use a stereotype?

OSC quote stereotypesStereotypes develop for a reason

High school for example: there are jocks, cheerleaders, nerds, emos, skanks, etc.

  • At this age, being defined and having a “label” provides safety and confidence (“self” on some level)

Now think about the adult workplace: there are brown-nosers, slackers, workaholics, gossips, etc.

  • You have a wider variety of personalities, but there are always those few in nearly every workplace that fit “the mold”

How do you use this the right way?

Start with a level of stereotype to instantly familiarize readers with the character’s traits…then delve deeper, expand on what is on the surface. You still have to be careful with starting out an introduction with a stereotypical portrayal because it can turn readers off if they think all they are going to get is a stereotyped “blah” character, i.e. the handsome and charming billionaire out to sweep Miss Innocent off her feet.

Make it clear from the beginning that even if this character exhibits stereotypical behaviors, the reasons behind them are deep and layer, and there are consequences for the way the act or live. Hint at complexity so your readers are left wanting more and searching for the truth rather than sighing and thinking, “I’ve already read this a hundred times before.”

SURPRISE YOUR READERS

If you want to hear the full discussion now, listen to “Episode 5: Creating a Character with Depth” on #WritePublishRepeat Podcast.

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Writing a Character With Depth: Where to Start

Characters can make or break even the best of ideas, but where do you start when building great characters?

It might depend on what type of writer you are. Here are a few options for getting started.

Character Profiling

Invisible Cast

Start with the basics: Who is your character?

  • Create a character profile sheet and be as detailed as possible
  • Physical characteristics
  • Eye/hair color, weight, height, etc.
  • Personality traits
  • Happy, gloomy, morose, optimistic, etc.
  • Likes/Dislikes
  • Fears/Dreams
  • Talents/Goals
  • Secret or otherwise
  • Flaws (We’ll talk about this on in more depth later)

Start with a picture

Car Man Head in HandsInstead of starting from scratch, find a picture you think is interesting and describe what you see. Go deeper than how they look.

  • What motivates these characters?
  • What are there goals?
  • What are they afraid of?
  • How did they end up in this situation?
  • What emotions are they dealing with?
  • Where will they go from here?

Start making a list of character traits that will help bring them to life.

The key with the beginning stages of character development is to get to know your characters, find out what problems they are facing (there MUST be a problem), and what the first stage of their journey looks like.

If you want to hear the full discussion now, listen to “Episode 5: Creating a Character with Depth” on #WritePublishRepeat Podcast.

⭐️ Blog Tour ** The Only Shark in the Sea by DelSheree Gladden ⭐️

Thanks so much for sharing The Only Shark In The Sea with your readers and for such a wonderful review!!

aalyandthebooks's avatarBlog

Vance Sullivan has always been the rock everyone turns to for help…

His work with patients recovering from traumatic events makes him the perfect person to help his friend, Guy Saint Laurent, with one of his Date Shark appointments. When Vance meets hesitant, frightened Natalie Price, he suspects she’s hiding the truth behind her fears, and he’s drawn in by a need to help her.

Haunted by a terrible event from her past, Natalie can’t even endure being touched without suffering a crippling panic attack… 

She doesn’t know why, but Natalie feels Vance might be the only one who can help her put the pieces of her life back together. Despite the tension their arrangement causes with his girlfriend, their bi-weekly sessions seem to be helping…as long as he keeps his promise not to push her to reveal more than she’s ready to share.
Suddenly the tables have turned…

When…

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The Only Shark in the Sea. The Date Shark Series #3. By Delsheree Gladden

Thanks so much for sharing about the release of The Only Shark In The Sea!!

heavenisabookshop's avatarHeaven is a Bookshop

The Only Shark In The Sea Front

Title: The Only Shark In The Sea

Series: The Date Shark #3

Author: DelSheree Gladden

Low Key Shot of a Young Couple Embracing

SYNOPSIS:

Vance Sullivan has always been the rock everyone turns to for help…

His work with patients recovering from traumatic events makes him the perfect person to help his friend, Guy Saint Laurent, with one of his Date Shark appointments. When Vance meets hesitant, frightened Natalie Price, he suspects she’s hiding the truth behind her fears, and he’s drawn in by a need to help her.

Haunted by a terrible event from her past, Natalie can’t even endure being touched without suffering a crippling panic attack…

She doesn’t know why, but Natalie feels Vance might be the only one who can help her put the pieces of her life back together. Despite the tension their arrangement causes with his girlfriend, their bi-weekly sessions seem to be helping…as long as he keeps his promise not to…

View original post 424 more words