Showing posts with label Sapphire Blue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sapphire Blue. Show all posts

Friday, September 9, 2011

Interview with Tia Dani


I’d like to welcome our guest today, Tia Dani. It’s a pleasure having you come visit us at Much Cheaper Than Therapy, where chocolate is plentiful and advice is free. So grab some chocolate and a lounge chair. Your therapy session has begun.

I understand you have a release out called Death Unseen. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous book?


We’d love to Kim. It starts when Navajo Tribal Policeman, Lance Logan, discovers his cousin’s body brutally mauled and senses there’s more to the death than it appears. His intuition leads him from Four Corners, New Mexico to Phoenix, Arizona where he finds himself embroiled in another murder.

Our heroine, Carly Carlton, could be considered an ordinary woman—except for two traits she tries to keep hidden—clairvoyant powers and the ability to experience death in dreams. Her talent to see beyond the veil of reality, as she and Lance try to find a killer, helps to soothe his embittered heart and softens his revenge.

DEATH UNSEEN is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?


It seemed fitting for our mystery. Murder, intuition, and death in dreams, are all a part of this book.


What made you decide to write in this genre?


Although we write in various genres, paranormal has always been our favorite. When this story line bloomed in our minds, we became so excited that we put all our other stories on hold until this project was completed.


Where did you get your idea for this particular book?


We must have channeled it from somewhere out in the universe. The idea came to us as we talked about storylines over coffee. We bounced it around for several days and did a lot of research, but before long we had a basic plot down. Of course we had to work out the details, but the main idea popped out during brainstorming.


What are your favorite paranormal research books or sites, and why?


In truth there isn’t any one particular book that’s our favorite. We use a mixture of books that explore all types of elements. In, Death Unseen, we researched a lot on Native American teachings and modern clairvoyant experiences.


Which character did you like writing about the most, and why?


All our characters are special to us, but maybe Lance. He gave us an exciting, strong and determined man to work with which is always a good thing. Although, our villain was certainly interesting. He’s a very sick and evil man who gave us an opportunity to step outside our comfort zone.


Tell us about how you develop your characters. Do you create character sheets, do interviews, that sort of thing? How does your research and/or world affect your character development?


Character sheets are very important to us and we get very detailed with them. We write background history for each character, including, family, hobbies, pets, and relationships with brothers and sisters. We go through magazines and cut out clothing items our characters would wear. We feel, to be able to write about a character, we need to know everything about them and how they would react in any given situation.


How do you go about building your world if you use one? Do you use maps, charts or drawings?


Photographs of scenic places helped visualize the landscape and buildings. We also created a scrapbook page of each chapter with important points. It helped us by looking at it whenever we became stuck.


Do you have any authors that inspired you?


We’ve discovered that every author we read, from best-selling to first-selling, gives us an insight into writing one way or another. To mention them all would take forever.


What do you feel is the most effective promotion you have done for your book?


Promo is hard. As fairly new authors we are still experimenting with author promotion. We want to find out what works the best for us and what doesn’t. Authors need to get their name out there. A nicely designed website is important, along with personal blogs, and other internet sites such as facebook and twitter. Contests with prizes seem to generate interest. Be creative. Your goal is to draw readers to your site and get them excited about your writing and your books. Another step is to be involved with local and national activities. We have several workshops planned and will be offering them at different conferences in the near future.


What do we have to look forward next?


We have another short erotic story that just released with Sapphire Blue Publishing, titled, COME FLY WITH ME.


Blurb:


Expanding her business means constant travel, leaving Bree Alexander with no time for a social life and no sex life. For months, she has fantasized about a fellow frequent flyer she’s labeled Mr. Sex God.


Steven Cain notices her every time he travels. Despite his secret desire he hasn’t been able to “connect” with her—at least not in the way he’d like. But when an unexpected flight delay strands them together, will Bree and Steven take the opportunity to turn their erotic fantasies to reality…before their layover ends?


Thanks, Tia Dani!

Bio.

Tia Dani is the published writing team made up of good friends, KrisTia Eaton and Dani Petrone. Together they create endearing and realistic characters, humorous dialogue, and unusual settings.


Storytelling has been a passion for Tia since childhood when she regularly enthralled the neighborhood children with make-believe fairy tales and wild adventures.


Always the lover of a good romance, Dani’s goal is for you to step into the shoes of her heroine, fall head-over-heels in love with her hero, and most of all believe in the magic of love.


Tia and Dani happily call Arizona home where they play in the sunshine and dance in the twilight of the beautiful Sonoran desert.

Check out author’s website at www.tiadani.com

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Have You Seen My Muse?

It seems every time we meet and chat with new readers, the subject of storylines always comes up. We get questions like: “How do you get your ideas?”, and “Do you ever get writer’s block?”


The answer is everywhere, and maybe.


We always have ideas. With the two of us, we can take a small idea and turn it into a full blown storyline over breakfast. And as for the writer’s block, that’s just when we’re too tired to think. There are too many interesting characters running around in this universe to worry. With our active imaginations usually working overtime, writer’s block isn’t something we are concerned about. However, finding the time to write our stories, that’s what’s difficult for us.


We’ve read a lot of helpful articles on writers block lately and they all give great advice on how to get your creative juices flowing. We’re sure you’ve read many of them yourself.


We thought you might like to hear some of our own tips for dealing with the attack of the dreaded writer’s block or how to come up with a new storyline.


Be an avid people watcher. We certainly are. One our favorite things to do while out and about, say lunching at our favorite restaurant, is to observe those around us. We see a couple across the room and decide to create an entire story about them. Out comes a notebook. Did they meet online and this is their first in-person date? Or, are they superheroes plotting how to save the world?


How about the great looking guy you noticed in line at the supermarket or Starbuck’s, have you ever considered him as the hero (or villain) in your next story.


The ‘what if’s’ are endless. And, fun. Here we are brainstorming with our friends.



If you’re still stuck, take a break and watch some TV. Watching television is a great way to get inspired. Daytime TV has taken a hit recently with all the soaps that have been canceled and replaced with more talk shows. Come on. Really? How many self help shows do we need? Wait, before we get all the comments about the stupid soaps, let us remind you, General Hospital’s Luke and Laura were household names and their GH marriage made the front of Newsweek.


But, if daytime TV isn’t for you then take a look at nighttime TV. Boy, there are some great ones coming this fall. Talk about cliff hangers and upping the stakes. Bones, where Temperance told Booth she’s pregnant? And, Castle? Oh, goodness, Montgomery involved in a cover up? Will Kate live? Of course she will since the show wasn’t canceled, but did she hear what Castle told her as she lay dying in his arms?


Some of our favorites for inspiration are, The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles, NCIS, and Memphis Beat, and of course, Hawaii Five-O. The list goes on and on. Tia even draws some of her quirky characters or story twists from Midsomer Murders.


Hawaii Five-O Cast



Alex O'Loughlin.


Dani see him as her next hot hero. Tia sees Alex as a villian.



And the movies??? The wealth of ideas continues to be endless.


Still have writer’s block? Here’s another tip. Before you start working on your current project, relax, take a deep breath and think about all your wants and desires. Then take another deep breath, and after you exhaled slowly, say aloud, “I release all my wants and desires; all I need comes to me exactly when I need it.”


The story will come, trust us.


If not, there’s always chocolate and martinis.



Live your dream passionately.


Have a wonderful Week.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Sapphire Blue Publishing Contest

Sapphire Blue Publishing, LLC. celebrates their 1st year anniversary by thanking their amazing readership, authors, editors, cover artists and all the SBP team for an exciting and productive first year. The electronic publishing company has had an exciting journey, which has been both rewarding and breathtaking.

In today's challenging economy we have spent this last year offering:

• a thrilling portfolio of multi-genre books that enchant readers,

• superior customer service,

• and, a place for authors to write what is in their hearts.

This Arizona born company is proud to have been nominated in 2008 as publisher of the year. This is a huge achievement for a small press company just starting out in this industry. In addition, Sapphire Blue Publishing has stayed true to their goal of being environmentally friendly and green by offering only electronic books.

In the future of SBP will continue to:

• look toward the future of new document technology,
• build a solid company based on innovative goals,
• educate readers about the environmental impact of e-books versus print books,
• deliver more great books that tantalize, thrill, and enchant,
• and, continue to deliver our personalized attention for readers and authors.

Come and celebrate with us and enter our contest for a new Amazon kindle.

TO ENTER is easy -

Just register and sign up for our newsletter to be eligible (If you've signed up previously you are eligible). http://www.sapphirebluepublishing.com/info/index.php?id=54

The contest will end on September 15, 2009. The winner will be notified by email and will also be announced on our site.

THANK YOU FOR CELEBRATING OUR 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH US!!!!

Special note: SBP employees/contractors, or currently contracted SBP authors are not eligible.

The Kindle will be given in the form of an Amazon gift certificate (price+tax). This certificate can then be redeemed for an Amazon Kindle.

Electronic books available on the Sapphire Blue website can be read on the Kindle. **Any format can be emailed through Whispernet and Amazon will convert and send the updated file to yourKindle device.