Friday Fantastic Feature:Author Sasha Summers

Today I'm hanging out with Sasha Summers, a fellow Inkspeller, and the author of the upcoming contemporary romance 'Hollywood Ever After'.  Not only is the cover beautiful, the story is utterly romantic. Can't wait to grab a copy and immerse myself in the world she has created.  

Cece: Please tell us your name

Sasha: Sasha Summers (it’s a pen name )


Cece. Please tell us about your book. When will it be released and by which publisher

Sasha:  Hollywood Ever After is a yummy contemporary romance that starts in Hollywood but travels all over the place. It’s a wonderful love story, but it also touches on the importance of self worth and trust. InkSpell Publishing will be releasing it on July 21st, and I can hardly WAIT.

Cece:  What project are you working on?

Sasha: I’m juggling two projects right now. The sequel to Hollywood Ever After, Hollywood Homecoming – Jennifer and Ben’s story. And the third in my mythology series, Loves of Olympus, through Crescent Moon Press. It’s Apollo’s story – and it’s a tear jerker. I’m massively addicted to tortured love stories – that’s why I’m into myth retellings.

Cece: How much research did you do for this project?

Sasha:  Before I write, I have a fairly good idea of where I’m going on the page so I try to come to the computer with all the info I’m planning on using. Of course, my characters frequently have other ideas, so sometimes I have to do more research as I go along. I’m a fluid writer, I try to go with it. Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes not so much J

Cece: How did you come up with the story idea?

Sasha: I love Hollywood and movies and happily ever afters. This story kind of came together gradually, but I knew it was something a lot of women would enjoy. InkSpell seems to agree- hurray! Medusa, the first in the Crescent Moon Series, was a dream. I almost forgot it, but the song Cosmic Love by Florence and the Machine (thank you Florence J) brought it back to me. It was so vivid I had to write it down.

Cece: Which genre is the book?

Sasha: Hollywood Ever After is steamy, funny contemporary goodness. Think Victoria Dahl, Lori Wilde and a little Kristin Higgins. That’s might vibe.

Medusa is romantic fantasy.

Cece: Which genres do you enjoy reading and writing

Sasha: I’m a reader, period. I read everything. Books make me happy – most of them do. I give every book til page 50. If I’m not hooked by then, I’ll set it aside. As far as writing… I write the stories I see, if that makes sense? I’m a romance writer, first and foremost. But the genre depends on the love story I’m telling.

Cece:  Where can readers and fans find you - online that is?

Sasha: I’m trying to make myself as easy to find as possible! LOL. I’ve an author page of FaceBook: Sasha Summers. I’m @sashawrites on Twitter. You can find me on Goodreads and Pinterest too! And my blog is www.sashasummers.com.

I also participate in a group blog, Plotting Princesses – tiaras optional ;): http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com/

And my publishers: www.CrescentMoonPress.com and http://www.inkspellpublishing.com/


I also have an awesome book trailer for Medusa, here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90fH7xoZiCo

Here is the cover as well as the blurb:

She wasn’t meant for movie stars, Hollywood, or happy endings. And then she met him.

Happy Endings are for fairy tales. Or the movies. Not for real life. At least, not Claire’s life. Even though she’s starting over, she knows better than to want too much this time. But when she falls, literally, into the strong arms of Hollywood’s ‘it’ boy Josh Wiley, Claire’s in for some surprises. Her plans for rest and relaxation are forgotten as one incredible night with Josh becomes two… And her heart begins to want him as much as her body. Will two kids, one bastard ex-husband, and Josh’s juggernaut career mean the end of their affair? Or can Claire find her happy ending after all?


Hollywood Ever After is available to preorder through InkSpell Publishing:

http://www.inkspellpublishing.com/store.html

Hollywood Ever After book trailer:

And... here is Medusa book trailer.

F for Florence 

Florence is one of those cities I've marked up in my '1001 places to visit list when I'll eventually have enough time to travel. I've lived in Austria close to eight years now. It'd take me a few hours by flight, car or by train to Italy. Well, about 5 hours by car to the border, but for some reason, when I make plans, I end up cancelling them. One day, I keep saying, I'll get there.  I will.

Reasons why I'd love to visit Florence, the birth place of Renaissance and classical art.

 - The city's medieval art and architecture - I'm obsessed with the design and facade of medieval buildings

Narrow Sidewalks in Florence I love the historical-sy feel 

Experience the culture

Epiphany,

Not to mention the various events celebrated in Italy throughout the year from Epiphany -
Epiphany commemorates the arrival of the Three Kings in Bethlehem to Festa di Santa Reparata


Would love to visit Uffizi Gallery, the oldest gallery in the world. Imagine all the wonderful things inside just waiting patiently to be ooh-ed and aaah-ed at.

Fantastic Florence

What about you? Ever been to Florence? Or any city begining with an F?

Chocolate Aftertaste Book release

Today I have the pleasure of announcing Liz Grace Davis' Chocolate Aftertaste book release. I can't say how much I adore the book cover, as well as the storyline, which sounds very interesting. I'm really looking forward to reading this book. For a chance to get  a feel about the book, please read on the excerpt as well as watch the wonderfully done book trailer.

Book Summary

At her pre-wedding dinner, Nora Darkin, the daughter of a wealthy entrepreneur, discovers her fiancé is not the man she thought he was. As her father hoists his glass to toast them, she makes an announcement: there will be no wedding to her father's right-hand man.


Due to the fresh rift driven between her and her father, Nora escapes to the quaint town of Dreara. Determined to live her life her own way, she makes new friends and pursues her lifelong desire of becoming a chef. Ethan Danes, a neighbour with his own broken heart, helps soothe hers.


Just as Nora discovers what it means to be happy, and she begins to fall in love with Ethan, a woman from his past re-enters his life…

Excerpt

Nora turned her attention back to the reality in front of her. She hated arguments; sometimes she wished she could hide somewhere, just wait them out. Unfortunately, life was not like that.

She lifted her eyes to meet Liam’s. The ice in his eyes had not melted. She dropped her gaze.

Instead of flirting with her appetite, the large marinated tiger prawns made her stomach queasy, and the oriental noodles looked like neglected yarn left out in the rain. From the way he dissected his steak, Liam’s appetite was just fine. She gritted her teeth as his knife scraped the porcelain plate.

Unable to bear the silence between them, she leaned forward and whispered, “I hate it when you ignore me.”

“What do you want me to say?” He chewed the last of his food and waved for the waiter. “We’re done.”

The waiter nodded and scuttled over to remove their plates.

When the waiter was out of earshot, Nora hissed through clenched teeth, “I wasn’t done.”

Liam took a swig of water, probably wishing it was something stronger. “You didn’t look like you were hungry.”

“Stop treating me like a child,” she snapped.

“Stop acting like one.”

Nora’s cheeks heated. She contained her anger with difficulty. “That’s really insensitive.”

“What do you want from me, Nora?” A vein pulsed in his neck. “What exactly do you want me to say?”

“Say you want me to be happy.” Her eyes brimmed. “Don’t ask me to get rid of my best friend.”

He loosened his tie—and then slammed his fist on the table, knocking over Nora’s glass of water. The silver stream raced straight for her lap.

The waiter appeared as if from nowhere to replace the white tablecloth with a new one. Nora forced a smile and whispered an apology. The waiter nodded, and a minute later he left.

Ignoring the curious looks they got from the other diners, she dabbed at the moisture on her black jeans. “You can’t always explode every time I refuse to do what you want.”

Liam ignored her. “Ask to pay. I want to leave.”

Nora flinched, but abided. Paying wasn’t so bad—so long as it was fair. On their first and second date, he paid. On their third and a few more after that, they went Dutch. After one year, he asked her to pay for an occasional meal until it became an unspoken arrangement between them. The only thing Liam had paid for himself in three years was her engagement ring. 

About The Author:

Liz Grace Davis is a Namibian author. She grew up in Angola, Namibia, South Africa and Germany. She now lives with her husband in Vienna, Austria. Growing up, Liz spent most of her days in school libraries, diving into the world of books. In her spare time she loves to travel as well as creating jewelry and digital scrapbooks. She's in her element when she is doing anything that requires creativity. Liz is the author of a young adult fantasy novel, Tangi's Teardrops and a contemporary romance novel, Chocolate Aftertaste.

Contact info:

Facebook Book Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Liz-Grace-Davis/333441076698284

Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5450561.Liz_Grace_Davis

Blog: http://www.novel-moments.blogspot.com/

Email: Liz_davis1@yahoo.com

Twitter: @Liz_Davis1

Chocolate Aftertaste Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfnwdX3ke2I

Purchase Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-Aftertaste-ebook/dp/B007R6KYG0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333569881&sr=8-1

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/148437

E for E.E. Cummings

One day I was searching on the web for poets and poerty, and came across E.E. Cumming's 'I Carry Your Heart With Me'. After I read it once, I was hooked. I kept reading it over and over, savouring the  words, letting those emotions wrap around me:  love, loss and so much promise.  Everyone has their own way of interpreting stories and poems, I think. For me,  this  poem served as a  muse in one of my stories where the character suffers a great loss, and also when she finds love.

I Carry Your Heart With Me

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)

i am never without it(anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)

i want no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

One word. Intense. 

Quote from the Author

A wind has blown the rain away and blown the sky away and all the leaves away, and the trees stand. I think, I too, have known autumn too long.

What about you? What are some of your favourite poems or poets?

D  for Dear Diary

Dear Diary,

Today is the fourth day of this  challenge. I'm I challenged yet? Not really. Just the opposite. I'm having way too much fun meeting new, and travelling to different cities and places (virtually, of course), and I think I've gotten better in coming up with blogging topics :) 


I'm also looking forward to visiting other blogs and meeting other bloggers.

What about you? Challenged yet?

C is for Colour (Your World)

Colours brighten our lives,  giving them life and pull us away from the bleak of gray and black.Colouring your world can be anything you choose to do. I believe everyone has a way or method they apply colours in their on world. Something to take you away from the mundane, splash it with vibrant, eye popping colours. I believe this is important to help us maintain our sanity and to relax. Life is all about how you handle it. Imagine just having a day where you wake up, shower, eat break fast, go to work, come back home, eat, go to bed. Every day. Nothing more and nothing less. It would be exhausing ,wouldn't it?


So how do I colour my world? 

There are so many things I do to bring vibrancy in a life that would otherwise be boring. I'll name a few. I surround myself with things I like and enjoy doing. For example: Due to my profession (I am an assistant nurse) and the working times which can be quite challenging in terms of spending time with my kids, I snatch whatever time I get to spend time with my lovelies (That's Alyssa up there. She is seven. The other is my 14 year old son, Donell. At the moment he  has a certain aversion to photos. I guess that has something to do with being 14.. :D Everything is irritating all of a sudden. Both Ally and Donell are right up there with the other colours of my rainbow.)




I go dancing with some friends, attend balls during the ball season here in Vienna, take Archery classes( very relaxing and helps in concentration. Besides it helps me with my back problems). I read a lot, love going for strolls in the city (a ride on the horse -pulled carriages), stare at photos of castles the whole day..LOL (I have a folder full of those :D ),

How do you Colour your world?

Easter Egg Treasure Hunt Day 34

 

 Welcome to day 34 of the Treasure hunt. I really do hope that everything's gone well so far, and you are all having fun. If you are joining the Easter hop for the first time, and you'd like to take part in the fun, please go to Read 2 Review. There you'll find the list of blogs which are taking part. 

The Letter on my blog is: Y

I am giving away a copy of Truly, Madly, Deeply, You to one lucky commentator. To enter please leave a comment on this post on how you celebrate Easter as well as your email so I can email you back. 

on

To enter the Grand Prize on the 8th April you will need to collect 39 letters hidden on the different sites through the tour. Blogs participating on this hop can be found HERE

Good luck and have fun hopping! :)