An Announcement Regarding My Books

I haven't wasted my fingers on here lately regarding my own work. But I guess it's time to inform you all...

You may have noticed a couple of my titles disappeared a month or two ago. Back when I left the writing industry, I took down many of my self-published pieces, but left the publisher-published ones. Some I didn't care about anymore but some I honestly wanted to leave out there. Unfortunately, due to low sales, those titles are now being taken down, or already have been. I don't have the time or the energy--nor do I care to pay for a cover art for a book that has earned me all of a $1.50.

The following titles will soon no longer be available at all. Kindle editions have already come down. Paperback copies are still floating in existence, however. As a matter of fact, Love Request is surprisingly cheap at the moment.

I do have some books still published on Kindle that aren't going away any time soon. (Unless the decision is taken away from me) The girls would kill me if I unpublished their tails.

In Print:

And that's all I wanted to say. If there's a title of mine from the past that is no longer available in any way or form and you wanted to read it, please let me know. I can provide ebooks.

HerStory Special Holiday Sale

21 Days of Solstice - Day 8 - HerStory on Sale for $2.99!

On the 8th Day of Solstice PWP gave to me, a bargain price of HerStory





In ancient times, women were regarded as sacred. They were thought to hold the mystical power of creation—responsible for the continuation of our species. With the rise of Science and Religion, these myths were dispelled and their plight began.

HerStory: Fiction Honoring Women’s History Month is a collection of Flash Fiction and Short Stories from today's top authors featuring female characters that exemplify strong strength of mind, body, and character. Some of these tales are based on real people while others are purely fictional. However, all are standing up for themselves and what they believe in.

Grab yourself a glass of wine or favorite hot beverage and get comfortable as you read about the lives of women who will light the fire in your soul.

Buy links:
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords

Just In Case You've Been Wanting A Print Edition...

It's here early, the print edition of A Healing Love.

It was scheduled for November release, but I got an email saying it was available a few days ago.

So, just in case anyone has been wanting a print copy, here is the data and buy link.

Blurb: Kimberly Rogers vowed to fight a tragic past the only way she knew how: she joined the Army and became strong. No man would hurt her again. But a war wound sends her to her brother's in Cripple Creek, WY, with vision and hearing impairments.

Whereas glasses can help her see and hearing aids can help her hear, nothing can force her to talk again. Is she really unable to speak, or is she hiding behind her disability to protect herself, her pride, and her heart? Regulated to the most menial of jobs, her world in shambles, Kimberly is finally convinced to seek medical assistance.

Carlos Medina is Jackson Hole's best therapist. If anyone can make Kimberly speak again, it's him. But Kimberly has to meet him halfway, and Carlos has his own past tragedy that the young, mute woman threatens to force him to conquer. They both have wounds…and sometimes wounds must be reopened before they can heal. Can they open up to each other? Can Kimberly find her voice again and open her heart? Can love heal them both?

Style Me Sexy Available Again

At the moment it's just pre-order but as of October 1st, it will be available all the time and I'm not planning to nag you about it so this is the only post you'll get. LOL

A charming short story about beauty, the beholder, and believing in yourself.

Bridget knows she isn’t beautiful; her ex made that point abundantly clear. So when her online-only romance suddenly leads to a real-life blind date, she beelines to the salon for a makeover. She’s dismayed and embarrassed when her usual stylist isn’t available and the sexy Javier steps in.

Javier has long been aware of the timid but kind woman, and vows to take this opportunity to make her see that she's beautiful on the outside, as well as in. Will he succeed in keeping his own feelings at bay and style her sexy?

You can mark it To Read on Goodreads.

On Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo

Be Your Own Hero

Growing up, I remember all the cartoons of princesses sitting there looking beautiful but miserable...and they never found happiness until a rich and handsome prince rescued them from whatever was ailing their lives.


I don't write love stories like that. My heroines always meet their prince (or princess) but they aren't sitting there waiting to be rescued.

Take Kimberly for example. She's got the handsome Carlos helping her, but in the end, she really rescues herself by coming to terms with who she is now, hearing loss and all.

There's no contest what song I choose for this book and as you read it, I'd love for you to keep the lyrics in mind and remember...

There's a hero

If you look inside your heart

You don't have to be afraid

Of what you are

There's an answer

If you reach into your soul

And the sorrow that you know

Will melt away...

So even if, or when, a hero comes along, save yourself by looking deep within you. The hero is right there. As the song says, YOU can survive. If you look around you, you will see survivors everywhere. You may not even know their stories. Like Kimberly, they may have hidden disabilities.

Try to take a moment everyday to remind yourself of this.

Thumbs up to Mariah Carey for her song, Hero. *I posted part of the lyrics because some of my followers are deaf/hard of hearing and the video is not cc'd. I have no intention of stepping on anyone's copyright. 

A Healing Love can be purchased on Amazon.

Another Print Edition for You & NEW Release for Those Who Loved Ride...

I have a lot to celebrate this fourth of July. I'll keep this down to basics so ya'll can get back to your fireworks. :)

First of all, the long-awaited sequel to Ride for Rights is available in ebook on Amazon, MuseItUp, Barnes & Noble.

It’s the Women’s Air Derby of 1929 and four women all want one thing: to win.

For Angeline Miller, it’s one last hurrah before she finally takes that leap into motherhood, but will her husband be waiting on the other side of the finish line?

For Penelope Burns, it’s a chance to stick it to her patronizing husband and win her son’s pride and affection back—she hopes.

Veronica Truman just wants to make her ailing mother proud.

Nancy Devine, Hollywood starlet and diva, wants to be the next Lady Lindy of the Air...and will pay any price.

One week, a group of very determined and capable women pilots, sabotage, and fate comes together. Who will fly to success? Who will fail? And what awaits them in Cleveland, Ohio?

Second, I have awesome news for those of you who have expressed an interest in Reading Ride for Rights, but don't have e-readers. I have a print edition!!! And even better, it has Derby Dames in it too! So for 9 bucks (It's like 8 something at this moment) you get two books in one.

It's up on Amazon and for those who may not know much about my first book ever, here's a blurb:

In the summer of 1916 women do not have the right to vote, let alone be motorcycle dispatch riders. 

Two sisters, Angeline and Adelaide Hanson are determined to prove to the world that not only are women capable of riding motorbikes, but they can ride motorbikes across the United States. Alone. 

From a dance hall in Chicago to a jail cell in Dodge City, love and trouble both follow Angeline and Adelaide on the dirt roads across the United States. The sisters shout their triumph from Pike’s Peak only to end up lost in the Salt Lake desert.

Will they make it to their goal of Los Angeles or will too many mishaps prevent them from reaching their destination and thus, hinder their desire to prove that women can do it?

Thirteen years later, Angeline is determined to have one last hurrah before motherhood. She signs up for the Women's Air Derby, with no clue just how interesting the competition will be...and no idea if her husband will be waiting on the other side of the finish line. For Penelope Burns, the derby is a chance to "stick it" to her patronizing husband and win her son’s pride and affection back—she hopes. Veronica Truman just wants to make her ailing mother proud. Nancy Devine, Hollywood starlet and diva, wants to be the next Lady Lindy of the Air...and will pay any price. One week, a group of very determined and capable women pilots, sabotage, and fate come together. Who will fly to success? Who will "crash and burn"? And what awaits them in Cleveland, Ohio?

And I'm so excited about the cover art on this one, I'm going to share both the front and bad, because they just totally rock. Thanks to Erik Schubach for this design.

Happy Fourth!

A Healing Love Released #ContemporaryRomance With #DeafHeroine

You didn't really think I'd stop with just Love Request, did you? I'd like to talk a bit today about my latest full length conrom, featuring a hard-of-hearing heroine. You know how special those are to me.


I'd like you all to meet Kimberly, an Iraqi Freedom war vet healing wounds in her heart as well as her body. In a town called Cripple Creek, she struggles with her new disabilities: hearing loss and vision impairment...but they're only disabilities if you let them be. With the help of a handsome doctor, can she realize this?

Blurb:

Kimberly Rogers vowed to fight a tragic past the only way she knew how: she joined the Army and became strong. No man would hurt her again. But a war wound sends her to her brother's in Cripple Creek, WY, with vision and hearing impairments.

Whereas glasses can help her see and hearing aids can help her hear, nothing can force her to talk again. Is she really unable to speak, or is she hiding behind her disability to protect herself, her pride, and her heart? Regulated to the most menial of jobs, her world in shambles, Kimberly is finally convinced to seek medical assistance.

Carlos Medina is Jackson Hole's best therapist. If anyone can make Kimberly speak again, it's him. But Kimberly has to meet him halfway, and Carlos has his own past tragedy that the young, mute woman threatens to force him to conquer.

They both have wounds…and sometimes wounds must be reopened before they can heal. Can they open up to each other? Can Kimberly find her voice again and open her heart? Can love heal them both?

Excerpt:

Carlos had been expecting a badly scarred, burly woman, not the petite, slender girl from the coffee shop in Cripple Creek. Only, she wasn’t really a girl. Her curves attested to that. He had to remind himself she was twenty-three, as there was something extremely young and vulnerable about her. Only the angry red mark on her throat—not covered by a scarf as it had been when he’d seen her before—marred her beauty…and that didn’t bother him.

She stepped forward, her gaze on his. She looked just as surprised at the sight of him as he was at the sight of her. Had she been expecting an old man with gray hair? He fought the urge not to smile at the idea. Most people expected someone with his reputation to be much older than his twenty-eight years…and not a biker they’d met in a coffee shop who rambled about senoritas and antibiotics. After all, obtaining a PhD was time-consuming. But he’d been lucky, and unlike many other students, had not had to work his way through college, and thus, had been able to focus solely on his studies. He knew he was blessed. A supportive family and a scholarship had seen him through.

Carlos jolted himself from his musings and managed to tear his gaze away from his patient—patient, best not to forget that—and looked for her brother, expecting him to be right behind her. There was no one there; she was alone.

“Hi.” He rose from his chair and reached a hand out to her for her to shake. “You must be Kimberly Rogers. Is your brother with you?” Her hand felt soft and delicate in his own. He was careful not to give it the firm squeeze he normally was prone to giving, careful to keep his expression neutral and not reveal his surprise or pleasure.

She nodded and pointed to the door, in the direction of the waiting room.

He mentally flipped a switch in his mind, from Casual Carlos to Doctor Carlos. Carlos decided the fact she had brought her brother, but not allowed him to escort her into the office itself was a positive sign. She wanted to do this on her own, obviously. She wasn’t weakened to the point she needed someone to hold her hand at all moments. His task may not be as difficult as he’d originally thought. Then again, too much pride could also hinder a patient’s healing. But at least she was willing and comfortable enough to face a therapist on her own. The woman had drive. It was visible in the way she held herself in front of him, back straight, shoulders back, chin up. And though he knew from her records she was wearing contacts, her eyes had a determined glint the lenses couldn’t hide. The removal of the scarf was a positive step as well. She was no longer ashamed of her wound.

“Have a seat.” Carlos gestured to the chair across from his desk, and then, instead of taking his own, he walked around to take the seat a short distance from hers, turning it slightly as he sat so he would be facing her. When she appeared comfortable, despite the fact she was gripping the armrests, he smiled warmly at her. “I’m Carlos Medina. Your brother told me some of your past history and current problems, but I would like the full story from you. Now, I realize you cannot speak; that’s why you’re here, so is there a particular way you wish to communicate with me right now? You want to write? Would you rather fill out a form and then talk to me on the computer until we progress?” He waited, clearing his throat nervously, for her to answer, and shocked himself with his own internal thought. Please, say no.

Yea, he was going to crumple and throw that desensitization, talk via computer crap out the window…if she let him. He couldn’t explain why—some therapist he was—but he didn’t want to this woman to talk to him online. He wanted to talk to her in person. The little switch was slipping back down to Casual Carlos pretty fast. There must be a short in my circuit, because I don’t want or need a woman in my life like that—especially not a patient. It’s not worth my career…or my heart.

Carlos visualized the switch in his mind as he watched the young woman and pictured the little button moving back up to Doctor Carlos.



* * * *



Kimberly stared at the handsome doctor in front of her. Talking online would be easier and more convenient, but she didn’t need that kind of treatment. It wasn’t like she was afraid of going out in public. Plus, she’d lucked out as far as doctors went. The doctors at Walter Reed had been older, gray, and paunchy. Heck, her audiologist wasn’t a young thing, either. But this man…whoa.

He’d been in the back of her mind ever since her failed second job. Meeting him had been the first time she’d felt feelings of attraction or interest in the opposite sex in ages.

This time, the atmosphere was quieter, calmer, and she wasn’t flustered or busy and could take the time to really look at him. He was tall, with olive skin and warm milk chocolate eyes. His face was clean-shaven, his hair ink-black and wavy despite its short length. He sported a very nice suit, a drastic difference from the biker attire she’d seen him in before. An expensive-looking watch was his only jeweled adornment. She’d checked.

He cleared his throat, bringing her back to earth. Kimberly realized he’d been waiting for her to respond. Her face heated with embarrassment. He was looking at her expectantly. What had he asked? Oh yeah, the online thing. No…

Flustered, she merely shook her head at him and reached into her back pocket. She had come prepared. She pulled out her trusty pad, welcoming an excuse to stop staring at him. Her notes were slightly damp from the sweat of her body, and she was reluctant to hand them over, but it was her story, the words she’d written for George. She could sit here all day and scribble in front of him or hand him this.

Deciding she’d rather he be staring at her notes than watching her write them, she handed them over. This way, she would watch him.

He took the notes, and his hand lightly brushed against hers in the process. Kimberly was surprised by the current that traveled up her arm, all the way to her shoulder, on that little contact.

I’m so glad I got contacts.

“Is this what happened to you?” His voice was soft, yet at the same time clear and masculine.

She nodded, very aware of his gaze on her until finally, he looked down at the papers he was holding. A small rush of air escaped her, and she allowed herself to relax. She’d been so conscious of what she must look like; hair tucked behind her aids, the red mark on her throat. It was unnerving having such a handsome man staring at her.

Now, she sat back and stared at him as he read, noting the crease that appeared between his brows, the cleanliness of his fingers turning the pages, the rugged line of his jaw.

Suddenly therapy didn’t seem so bad.

Buy on Amazon, All Romance, Amazon, and Secret Cravings.

Meet the Stars & Judges of The Next Bestseller

In Plotting to Win, I created my own reality TV show... I figure, dancers have a show, bachelors have a show, people who want to eat disgusting things like water buffalo penises have a show...why don't authors have one? After all, it's a very competitive market. We're always trying to outsell, outcontract each other...

I made one. It's called The Next Bestseller and the format of the show is modeled after Ink Master, a personal favorite of mine. There are three judges, all related to the literary world. The head judge has her own TV show and book club. Judge number two is a bestselling romance author. Judge number three is a literary agent...and then we have the contestants.

They all face two challenges each per round. The winner of the first challenge is allowed to manipulate the second challenge, which determines who goes and who stays and in the end...who is the next bestseller--the winner of 100 grand, a publishing contract, and the title.

And here...I'd like you to meet the stars.

The head judge. The lady you don't want to mess with. She can make or break you.

The literary agent judge. I'd be careful with him. Maybe you perform well, win or lose, he may remember you...

Bestselling romance novelist, Nicole comes off as the "nicer" judge, but the woman made it to the top somehow and nice doesn't cut it.

The contestants. Felicity wants to win. She's always wanted to write and she wants to honor her dead parents. Nobody--not even a good-looking man--is going to stand in her way.

Image courtesy of stockimages/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Roy, former military and no-nonsense. Don't underestimate a Vietnam vet.

Image courtesy of stockimages/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Victor. The handsome Latino has to win. There's no question. He needs the money to care for his mother.

Arnold is the youngest and a possible shining star in the horror industry...if he can make it to the finale.

Image courtesy of adamr/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net 

Dez...he's got an attitude and he's determined to win even if he has to fight dirty.

Carmen...she's tough and she's got a lot to prove. Fighting for women everywhere, she's determined not to go down. Will her attitude cost her or push her to the top?

Image courtesy of imagerymajestic/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Tiffani wants to win this to prove everyone else wrong about the erotic industry. It's real, solid writing...it is! Her and Felicity get off on the wrong foot and emotions run high...

Image courtesy of kenfotos/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Want to find out what really goes down? You can download your copy today from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and other leading e-book retailers.

Based on the images and their quotes alone, who do you think is going to be the next bestseller? 

Be AWARE of Hearing Loss

The month of May is Hearing Loss Awareness Month. I'd like everyone to take a moment...not just now, not just this week or even this month, but try to remember throughout the year, that millions of people throughout the United States have hearing loss.

Some tips for the hearing world:

-The next time you speak to someone in a public place and they don't acknowledge you, don't just automatically assume they're being rude. Stop a minute and ask yourself, "Did they hear me?" Maybe they have hearing loss. Hearing loss isn't a visible illness. You don't SEE it. Hearing aids can be well hidden.

-Make it a habit of speaking clearly and enunciating your words. Don't mumble; don't stare at the ground; don't talk too fast. Try to make sure people are looking at you when you speak to them. This was a rule taught in my household growing up, regardless of if someone had a hearing impairment or not. Back in those days, it was a sign of respect to look at someone when they speak to you and vice versa. We need to bring this back.

-Facial hair...is a nightmare for us hard of hearing lip-readers. If we can't see your lips, we don't understand you. Men, keep that hair trimmed.

-Do not assume that because we can't hear, that we're any different from you. I can get married (I am!), I can have children, I can drive, I can ride a bike. I can do everything you can do, except HEAR. This does not in any way or form hinder my mental capabilities or make me dumb. Let's separate deaf and dumb. It's past time.

-Do not speak to us as though we are slow. Speak normally. There's a big difference in plain enunciation (speaking clearly) and spending one minute on each word you utter. Don't draw it out and move your mouth in an exaggerated fashion. We learn to lip-read normal moving lips, not comical.

-Don't yell at us. Many of us are deaf to certain sounds and it doesn't matter how loud you say it, it won't get through. Plain and simple: if you're not speaking clearly, we won't understand it. Your quiet blah blah blah maw wah just becomes a very loud BLAH BLAH BLAH MAW WAH.

-Don't leave us out of things and talk over our heads. We feel ostracized. When everyone around us is laughing at a good joke, we want to laugh too! Include us. Make an effort. If you feel it's too much work to talk to us, we're going to decide it's too much work to be your friend. And you could really miss out on a good friendship.

-Hearing helpers are just that: HELPERS. If you're asked to be a hearing helper, don't permit others to speak to you as though we aren't there. Don't answer for us. If someone says to you, "What does she want to eat?" do not tell them, "She wants pizza." A hearing helper should turn to the deaf person and say, "He asked what you wanted to eat." We can and will answer for ourselves. Be careful not to take over and remember to just help. We do value our independence.

-Don't say something and then get mad when we ask you to repeat it for the second or third time. Count to ten if you have to, but try to avoid that callous "never mind". If you said it once, I'm going to assume you wanted me to hear it. It must be important enough. It's very frustrating when people do this.

-Cochlear implants and medical procedures of that ilk are personal matters. Do not try to fix us. Many of us are happy the way we are and have no desire to change. We don't see ourselves as broken or in need of fixing, so don't act like we are.

-Teach your kids that we're no different from them, that deaf isn't dumb, that hearing aids are nothing to be ashamed of. Talk to your children about bullying and its long-term effects.

Thank you for your time. In honor of Hearing Loss Awareness Month, I'd like to announce that two of my titles, one my memoir of growing up deaf and working in a hearing world (Hear Through My Ears) and one (Love Request) a contemporary novel featuring a hearing-"impaired" heroine, are on sale for 99 cents the rest of May.

Stay for a Song

Love Request: a story about two people reconnecting on the Internet and a young woman discovering she can indeed be truly loved despite her "disability" while at the same time, facing down the bullies from her past. She could have been beaten down, refused to face it, went through life resentful and distrustful, but instead she chooses to open her heart and forgive.


I couldn't settle on one song for this book so I'm sharing with you today two songs, both by Amy Grant. I'm a huge fan of her.

The first one: Stay for A While. This is how Ciara remembers Hunter, years later.

Long time since I've seen your smile,

But when I close my eyes,

I remember

You were no more than a child,

But then so was I,

Young and tender.

Time carries on;

I guess it always will,

But deep inside my heart

Time stands still

The second one...this one has always touched a place deep inside me and though Ciara was never sexually abused, she faced a trauma of a different sort: bullying. Bullying does have long-term effects on people. The feelings of insecurity, fear of people, and extreme self-consciousness stay with people long into adulthood. The question is...how does one handle it? Can they be like this woman in Ask Me? Can they look in the mirror at a lovely woman face and see no more frightened little girl? Or do they still see that frightened child afraid to go to school for fear of what will be done to be her that day?

Now she's looking in the mirror at a lovely woman face

No more frightened little girl, like she's gone without a trace

Still she leaves the light burning in the hall

It's hard to sleep at all.

Not an official music video, but I love it. Someone named Terapath made it.

Make sure you don't live your life as a victim. Live your life as a person.

Choosing a Rhythm for Ride for Rights

Last week, a lady who runs a radio show was asking me if I wished for her to mention my YA historical novel on a special radio program for teenagers. How could I say no?

But then she asked me if there was a song I associated with it, a special soundtrack. After all, it's a radio show, and radio shows are about sound...

I had to really think on it. After all, I'm deaf and though I can hear some music if I connect an iPod to my hearing aid, I'm afraid I don't make it a habit of sitting here jamming. It takes too much concentration.

But I knew there was by Pink I liked. She always does these strong women music videos and stuff. So I sat down and browsed YouTub until I found one that I felt suited the story. Why I associate it with Ride for Rights?

First of all, Angeline and Adelaide are making trouble everywhere they go in the novel--even though it's not intentional. They are for the underdog too--women. Like Pink in the music video, they get themselves arrested, but they don't let it stop them from their goal. And though they come from a life of wealth, they can get nitty, gritty, and dirty when necessary. 

And my fingers

Are bejeweled

With diamonds and gold

But that ain't gonna help me now

And I imagine...if those two sisters ran across a town full of oppressed whores, they'd free them too. LOL

On that note, I'm just sharing the video with you. I'm gonna see what else I can come with for my other novels because truly, this was fun.

Plotting to Win Available for Pre-Order on Amazon

I'm so excited, I can barely contain myself...

As you can see, Plotting to Win is now available for pre-order on Amazon...and I think it's cheaper than it will be upon release.

Reality TV has made stars of dancers, bachelors and singers. Now authors get a turn.

In New York City, seven writers compete for a hundred thousand dollars, a publishing contract with Bright House, and the title of the next bestseller. One is Felicity James. One is Victor Guzman.

Drama, plagiarism, and trash talk play out to enthralled audiences across the country as all seven contestants compete against each other in a range of heated challenges, with tensions reaching breaking point. As Felicity and Victor start up a show-mance, their relationship burns up the ratings.

Will this sizzling fling escalate into a vicious battle for money and fame, or will these two authors manage to write their own happy ending?
This one is a novel length nearly and I had a LOT of fun writing it. Funny thing is...I don't actually watch a lot of reality TV, but I do enjoy reading about it. I hope you do too.

Plotting to Win Cover Art Reveal

Cover Art Reveal!

Coming June 1st from Escape Publishing - Harlequin Enterprises, Australia Pty Ltd, is Plotting to Win, a new reality TV show romance by Yours Truly!

In New York City, seven writers compete for a hundred thousand dollars, a publishing contract with Bright House, and the title of the next bestseller. One is Felicity James. One is Victor Guzman.

Drama, plagiarism, and trash talk play out to enthralled audiences across the country as all seven contestants compete against each other in a range of heated challenges, with tensions reaching breaking point. As Felicity and Victor start up a show‐mance, their relationship burns up the ratings.

Will this sizzling fling escalate into a vicious battle for money and fame, or will these two authors manage to write their own happy ending?

Mark Plotting to Win to read on Goodreads.
Request a Review copy on Netgalley.

What writing challenges do you think they will face?

I'm hoping this story will not only appeal to wanna-be writers, but readers too. Ever wonder what the life of a writer is like, what kind of little challenges they face when they sit at their keyboards?

Cover Reveal & Blog Hop For Maiden Behind the Mask *chance to win a copy!*

You know you’ve done something right in the cover art department when you see not one, but two just like it show up on your Facebook or Amazon feed. Only different titles and author names.

*sigh*

When Maiden Behind the Mask was first published, it had a home with a publisher. Now, the image I wanted and put on the art form was declared too expensive. If you’re an author, you’ve been there. With much grumbling and sighing, I searched for stock art images that looked like a Spanish woman in 1800s Los Angeles (then a part of Mexico) dressed as Zorro.

That saying “looking for a needle in a haystack...”

Yea.

I found a blonde, I found an Asian with way-too-modern bangs, I found lace masks, beaded masks, feathered, masks, women half naked wearing weird masks, pointy-nosed masks, but no women Zorros.

We got as close as we could.

Three weeks later the publisher crashed and people told me I should get new art anyway. The art wasn’t working for them. (If they only knew how very hard it was making that cover...)

I had cover two for a while. It’s a great cover, but it began to irritate me. It would be perfect if my heroine was running around in a lace mask and a dress with a pearl belt. Again, it was the closest we could find that was in the budget. The artist did a superb job.

Regardless, being the type of person who is just plain irritated by discrepancies in covers—they must match the story!—I made a third cover. It wasn’t a lady Zorro, but a Spanish senorita looking coyly over a fan. Because when Catalina Rodriguez isn’t saving damsels in distress, she’s a lovely senorita...with a lot of mischief up her sleeves...

Oh, I made such a good choice. Everyone loved it...and then I saw it twice more...the exact image with no changes made to it at all. Three identical book covers!

URGH!

But the good news is...that image the publisher said was too expensive? The image I originally wanted...is now my cover.

Who says dreams don’t come true? Perhaps this weird twist of fate was just a nudge toward getting what I originally wanted.

Behold...the new Maiden Behind the Mask artfully created by Christie A. C. Gucker!

When Catalina Rodriguez is attacked by a would-be rapist and rescued by the dashing Ricardo Garcia, she not only becomes more aware of the handsome man, but also vows that she'll never be a damsel in distress again. Using the timeless method of blackmail, she convinces her uncle to teach her to fight and becomes a masked crusader in the night, saving other damsels from robbers and rough handling.


However, scandalous rumors and dwindling funds force Ricardo and Catalina to marry. Not immune to each other's charms, their marriage starts fiery, but when one of Catalina's nightly escapades results in dire consequences, she is forced to spurn her husband's amorous advances…or reveal a secret that could turn him away from her forever.

Ricardo’s not a man to be cuckolded or left in the dark. Is his wife having an affair with El Capitan, the masked savior? If so…they will both pay.

Buy on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo

Thank you, everyone, for taking this cover art journey with me! Now, one lucky commenter from each of the following blogs will be given a coupon code to download the book FREE on Smashwords! And yes, you can comment on more than one blog to increase your chances. I’ll be having my trusty canine sidekick choose names from her dog bowl Sunday night, the 31st. So check out the blogs below and start commenting for your chance to win!

Sarah Jayne Carr

Lorraine Nelson's Writing Blog

New Age Mama

Laura DeLuca

Megan D. Martin

Find Your Next Read
Quotidiandose

Indie Writers Review

Madison's Place

Cover Art Woes & the Nonexistence of Lady Zorros

So...I have a book. When it was first released with a publisher, the cover I was given... Let me just say finding a woman Zorro is HARD. Finding a woman Zorro that isn't white and blonde (Really!!! Zorro was Spanish!) was harder. We made do...

My readers hated it. So when the book was republished, a friend redid the art. Readers voted for it on a poll here on Book Babe.

Well....

Had they read the book, they'd known a woman in a dress with a lace mask does not suit the story at all. But they didn't read it--there hadn't really been time as the pub crashed so quickly.

However, the lace mask began to irritate me a few months down the road. The artist did a fantastic job with what she had available--jack squat in lady Zorros, but it wasn't growing on me. So I just did a Spanish senorita thing, as when Catalina is not El Capitan, she's a lovely senorita.

I'm very happy with cover three, but now there are THREE of them. Now, stock images are used over and over. I just saw Avon romance use my dude on Love Request. But there are always little differences. They never look exactly the same. The problem with this is everyone (just like me) just added text to it.





So I ask you, readers and authors, how important is it to have UNIQUE cover art, because I certainly don't.

Thoughts? Opinions? Suggestions? To stand out in this industry, to pimp this book, should I get new art? Go back to lace mask and dress? What?