by Lisa N. Paul
To the Tapas group – It doesn’t matter how long I knew you, just that I did. It doesn’t matter how much I love you, just that I do. Your very presence improved my life at a time when I needed it most. So thank you…I’m grateful and I miss you.
To my Beta Readers – I’m not sure if people understand how hard it is to be a great beta reader. Being a Beta reader isn’t about liking a pre-published book. It’s about finding every single possible flaw, inconsistency, character issue, story plot problem, overall positive and negative issue with the story. Once they have found those things, they then need to find the best possible way of informing the author. It’s one thing to write a negative review on a book already written, it’s another to contact a writer and tell them all of the things you think they should fix/change in their story. It isn’t an easy thing to do and we, authors, depend heavily on our Betas. I can say with great confidence, I have the GREATEST Betas EVER!!! Thank you, Cary Bruce, Kathy Sizemore, Ilsa Madden-Mills Jenn Wolfel, Amy Barber, Jessica Sharff, Jennie Wurtz and Carey Heywood.
Cary Bruce, I was so lucky when I found you during the final days of my TN editing. You came on and offered me amazing encouragement. (Shaking my head) Poor you, got sucked in for the rest of the series. You have offered me amazing feedback and wonderful pep talks throughout this entire process. Your help is so appreciated. I’m thrilled to have you on my team!
Kathy Sizemore, you are such a gift. From Lisa’s Reads to Thursday Nights to Las Vegas… meeting you was such a treat. You are a fun and wonderful woman. You read my words with enthusiasm and excitement…you offer wonderful feedback and such a great way of looking at things. I adore you Kathy. Thank you so much for finding me!
Ilsa Madden-Mills, You my friend have been the sweetest breath of fresh air. I can’t remember how we met, maybe in one of the writer’s groups, but I am really freakin’ grateful that we did. Your input on SF was wonderful. You told me what you loved and gently told me what you thought would make it better. I’ve grown so fond of our chats, your sweet southern voice brings a smile to my face each and every day. Thank you for coming into my life!
Jenn Wolfel, It has been such a pleasure getting to know you. I love discussing books with you…your take on the stories is refreshing and honest, that’s why I was thrilled to include you to my team. You’ve added so much with your opinions and suggestions. I know I tend to get lost in my “ho’house” when I’m writing, but you’ve kept tabs on me. You didn’t let me disappear…thank you, Jenn. I appreciate you.
Amy Barber, Oh, Amy – How anyone can say that people can find family on Facebook has never met us. You have given me so much support in these many months, I can’t begin to explain how I feel about you. So…I’ll stick to the book. Your time and dedication to all things Charistown has been flat-out amazing. I feel truly blessed for meeting you. I can’t wait to spend some quality time with you.
Jessica Sharff, I met you during TN and I was thrilled when you wanted to stay on for SF. I knew I was going to run the Beta process differently the 2nd time around and you were so patient with me. Jessica, you have no idea how helpful your patience was. When you finally got the MS, your reaction was priceless. Thank you for sticking by me. I’m thankful for you.
Jennie Wurtz, Meeting you in Vegas was great, but playing Dirty Minds with you on Friday nights…the best!!! So when things started to get funky and I needed extra help, you were there and I will be forever grateful. Jennie, your feedback was spot on! I’m thrilled that we discussed, “REALLY THANKFUL” I think the whole chapter is better thanks to you. What can I say, I’m REALLY THANKFUL! ;)
Carey Heywood, Ahhh!!! I love you!! Thank you for believing in me. You read SF in its early stages and you offered great feedback. You stood behind me when I wavered and you stood beside me when I chose to change things you wouldn’t have. You are a true friend. Thank you!
To my Editing Team – Ryn Hughes, Toni Pirrello, Ellie Folden, Nicole Tway, and Robyn Petrilli, Pamela Moseley and Gary Patrick—Wow, people,—I’m not even sure of what to say. This was a truly a marathon. Ryn, your content edits were beyond amazing. You taught me how to see my work from a different point of view (haha) and I am grateful. You were right…it all makes perfect sense. Toni, you are and will always be my Pretty-Maker. Seriously, how do you do it? Ellie, you stepped up when I was frantic and you calmed me down. Thank you for giving me the confidence to know it would be ok. Robyn and Nicole, You girls are like my power-play…you came in and kicked ass just before the timer buzzed. Pamala, you saved me from complete hysteria, I will forever be in your debt. Gary, my semi-colon God, without you…my life would be fiilled with ;;;;;; - There are not enough words to thank the group of you… Well…there are 107 thousand+ but you know what I mean.
So, the coolest thing happened to me…two days before Thursday Nights published, I got an invitation to sign at the very popular, extremely anticipated, Naughty Mafia – Sunday Sinners 2013 Signing Event in Las Vegas. I was in shock. I looked at the email and laughed. I then wrote back to the sender and told them they sent their letter to the wrong person. Did I want to go to that event? HELL YES!! But I was nobody. My book wasn’t even released. I then received another email from Ellie Lovenbooks. She explained that her blog read Thursday Nights and loved it. And they wanted to invite me to sign during the Sunday signing. I accepted and went on to experience my first ever author signing. It was the greatest weekend!!! I got to meet so many talented authors, fantastic bloggers, and incredible readers. I will forever be grateful and indebted to Ellie and to Lovenbooks. They changed my career and my life. Xoxox!
One of the most important things on my “to do” list for Las Vegas was to finally meet in person my soul sister, L.b Simmons. I had been talking to her since February 2013 almost every day and I was finally going to get to hug my girl. Never in my life have I met someone who looked more like me. Not only did we act alike, people kept thinking we were sisters. What a compliment for me! (She’s pretty gorgeous). L.b Simmons, you came into my life when it was dark and you shined your light all over it. You make me laugh, you make me smile and there are not enough words to thank you for all you have done for me. I love you, I truly do.
When I’m not absorbed in my computer, I actually have a three dimensional life. I have an amazing family and incredible friends. I don’t tell them enough how much I appreciate them, but I do. They have supported me through all of my book “stuff”…but there support has been so much more than a pat on the back or an obligatory question. They are excited for my stories and interested in what’s coming next. Without them, there would be no stories. Thank you for your love and support, it doesn’t go unnoticed. I love you back even harder.
To my little boys – I know, I’m writing AGAIN. No, you can’t read over my shoulder because it’s totally inappropriate. That being said, I love you to pieces and I am super proud of you.
To Jon…you got all sorts of love at the beginning. That’s it for you.
To my readers, While Storm Front is over 107 thousand words; there aren’t enough words to describe the heartfelt gratitude I feel toward you. I am blessed. Every review, every PM or message, every “like” has warmed my heart. You truly have no idea how your voices have rocked my world. Thank you.
XO,
Lisa Paul
LISA PAUL IS A wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, reader, writer, blogger, and self-proclaimed comedian—just not always in that order. Ever since she was a little girl, she has devoured books. Falling in love with the Sweet Valley High series at a young age drew Lisa to series books and inspired her to write her own. Storm Front is the second book in her Charistown series following Thursday Nights. When not writing, Lisa can be found eating french fries and Godiva raspberry truffles or hanging out with her husband and two sons. Visit her website at http://www.lisanpaul.com
Very Bad Things
by
Ilsa Madden-Mills
Now Available at your favorite book store
New Adult
/Contemporary Romance recommended for 18 and older.
Contains adult themes and content.
“Very Bad Things is maddening, passionate, heart-breaking, all-encompassing, and about a million other adjectives.”
–Sarah Griffin of Books to Breathe and Angie’s Dreamy Reads
Born into a life of privilege and secrets, Nora Blakely has everything any nineteen-year-old girl could desire. She’s an accomplished pianist, a Texas beauty queen, and on her way to Princeton after high school. She’s perfect. Or is she?
Leaving behind her million-dollar mansion and Jimmy Choos, she changes the course of her life, becoming a girl hell-bent on pushing the limits with alcohol, drugs, and meaningless sex.
Then through a chance encounter, she meets her soulmate. But he doesn’t want her.
When it comes to girls, twenty-five-year-old Leo Tate has one rule: never fall in love. His gym and his brother are all he cares about…until he meets Nora. He resists the pull of their attraction, hung up on their six year age difference.
As they struggle to stay away from each other, secrets will be revealed, tempers will flare, and hearts will be broken.
Welcome to Briarcrest Academy…where sometimes, the best things in life are Very Bad Things.
Deadly Seduction
by
Selene Chardou
Welcome to Northern Nevada. The scenery is idyllic, the people are friendly and three Motorcycle Clubs rule the tricity area between Reno, Carson City, and Lake Tahoe with an iron fist.
Gisela wasn’t introduced to the thug life, she was born into it. The daughter of an American gangster, her life has been carefully orchestrated with private education, a law degree and now a respectable law firm.
Cillian is not an average criminal, he was brought up in the Lucifer’s Saints MC and is now V.P. of a powerful criminal enterprise. He’s a survivor and luck has always been on his side until he’s charged with the murder of an undercover Fed.
An unconventional love story, unfinished business between these two passionate people—physical, emotional and professional—will spark a fuse that will leave a path of death and destruction in its wake.
Release Date: Dec. 23rd, 2013
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18138654-deadly-seduction