Soul Mate Feature End of Month Wrap Up and GIVEAWAY

A huge thank you to everyone who jumped in to make this Soul Mate feature a success. To all the authors, editors, and staff from SMP, a special thank you. And everyone who followed along, and especially commented, I love you! Please come back for March's feature to meet more amazing people.

Some quick stats:
Most popular Author post: Rose Lange
Most popular Staff post: Janet Clementz
Most popular post overall: Acquisitions Editor: Janet Clementz
Countries where the most visitors came from: 
1. US
2. Russia
3. Canada

Now, for the big event, the GIVEAWAY!!!

For all those who have commented throughout the month you are instantly in the draw once for each comment you made. To enter, comment below on what you enjoyed about the feature month and what you learned. Winners will be announced the second Saturday of March. Here are the prizes! (ebooks unless otherwise stated)

I'm throwing in a copy of my own book Branded

Signed copy of Stepping Up To Love by Katie O'Boyle (US Only)

Signed copy of Cursed be the Wicked by J.R.Richardson (US Only)

$25 Star Bucks gift card and 3 ecopies of Kiss Me Dead by Dale Ibitz

$10 ITunes card and Almost Wrecked by Crystal Firsdon

A Pair of earrings and Perfectly Honest by Linda O'Connor

2 ecopies of Protect Her by Sophia Kimble

2 ecopies of The Tithe by Elle Hill

In My Wildest Dreams and Dreams Do Come True by Larynn Ford

Bleddyn Hall by Amanda L.V. Shalaby

Haunted: Ten Tales of Ghosts by Carole Ann Moleti

Riding for Love by Tina Susedik

A Mighty Good Man. Rebecca E. Neely

Souls Entwined by Anne B. Cole

Between Land and Sea by Joanne Guidoccio

Gracie's Plan by Rose Lange

And since I have some left overs from last month, I'm going to give them away too!

CQ has donated 12 ebooks of the winner's choice!

Three of Matthew Cox's books, winners choice, of Division Zero, Virtual Immortality, Caller 107, or Operation Chimera

Death, the Devil, and the Goldfish, and Stiltskin by Andrew Buckley

The Undead by Elsie Elmore

Destruction by Sharon Bayliss

Scrapbook by Amy Lynn Spitzley

Soul Mate Publishing Author: Victoria Pinder

Author Bio:

Victoria Pinder grew up in Irish Catholic Boston then moved to Miami. Eventually, found that writing is her passion.

She always wrote stories to entertain herself. Her parents are practical minded people demanding a job, but when she sat down to see what she enjoyed doing, writing became obvious.

The Zoastra Affair, Chaperoning Paris, Borrowing the Doctor, and Electing Love, Mything the Throne and Favorite Coffee, Favorite Crush will be published in 2014.

Now she is represented by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency.

Also she’s the Vice President for the Florida Romance Writers. Her website is www.victoriapinder.com.

Contact Information

Website: http://www.victoriapinder.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoriapinder1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/victoriapinder

Blog: http://victoriapinder.com/?cat=6

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8120316.Victoria_Pinder

1.      Tell us how you came to be an Author with Soul Mate Publishing.

So at RWA Anaheim I heard about Soul Mate Publishing. I submitted the first book I ever wrote to them in hopes of a contract, and I never heard back. Perhaps it was for the best. The book is hard for me read now too. Then I saw online that Debby liked sci fi romance, and I had a story I intended to self publish. I decided to submit that and they bought it. I then sent in my contemporaries and Debby signed them too. I knew I made a good decision when I met Debby Gilbert at RWA Nationals in Atlanta.

2.      What do you enjoy most about being a SMP Author?

This is a hard question. I think I like that I have input in all things. My covers are top notch. I had to listen that perhaps something in a story wasn’t right, but if I felt it important I had the right to say something.

3.      What have your experiences been like working toward being published?

English is totally subjective. I knew this in high school as I thought that class was always just a grade based on personality of the teacher more than facts. Plus I used to be a lawyer, so I know how to talk to people. I love pitching. It’s super easy for me, but you live and you learn.

4.      What would you have done differently?

I’d have not been so eager for my first book contract which was not with Soul Mate. That book has never seen the light of day, and I’m thankful to have worked with Soul Mate Publishing. Other books have now been born.

5.      How has your book been marketed?

Marketing is on us. I wish I was a better marketer or life worked out to market at the time I’m supposed to. But I learned from other authors that it’s a day to day jog and not a one day party. So I’m still doing it.

6.      Any advice on how to better market a book?

Listen to people and be willing to jump in. Do something until you learn a better way and then figure that out.

7.      Last question; If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go, when would it be, and what would you be wearing?

For my honeymoon last year I truly wanted to go to Alaska on a cruise, but the wedding cost too much. We’re saving for a house, so one day. I also totally want to go to Greece, and I have a friend and fellow Soul Mate author who is getting married there in 2016. I have plans to go. But for a dream, I’ve always wanted to go to New Zealand. To me it looks so cool. I’d be wearing sneakers wherever I go, unless the beach beacons. Then flip flops are great. I’d go with my husband of course, and no matter what it will be a great time.

Book Title: Borrowing the Doctor

Link: http://amzn.to/1wc1u6X

Book Blurb:

Party girl. Art thief. All around bad girl. It’s what all the newspapers call socialite and heiress Kate Sparrow. It’s all untrue. Kate’s been set up and she’s following the orders of the FBI to get the real criminal, her father. She’ll have to put up with her sister, the wedding fiasco, and her own fears that someone is after her, trying to stop her to get what she needs to prove her innocence. 

Doctor Daniel Collins joins his brothers on a cruise to the wedding of his young cousin. His cousin begs him to keep a close watch on the bride’s sister, Kate. He's to keep her from ruining the wedding. 

Kate doesn’t trust Daniel's help in her life, but the man’s interference is blocking a few problems. She lets him. After all, he spent a few years in the military and having a friend like Daniel is nice. But when her fears become true, someone is after her, pretending to be in a relationship with the sexy doctor has its benefits. What she hadn’t planned was opening her heart to trusting him. But if she doesn’t open up, she’s going to lose out on far more than her life, she’d lose out on love. 

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/VUcbTGD7UnE

Soul Mate Publishing Author: Zen DiPietro

Bio:

Zen DiPietro is a lifelong bookworm, a fantasy/sci-fi writer, a dancer, and a mom of two. Also red-haired, left-handed, and a vegetarian geek. Absolutely terrible at conforming. Particular loves include badass heroines, British accents, baba ganoush, and the smell of Band-Aids. Writing reviews, author interviews, and fun stuff at www.womenofbadassery.com. Very active on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

1.     

Tell us how you came to be an Author with Soul Mate Publishing.

I signed on with SMP in the very typical way. I did my research and queried with the desired materials. I got a request for the full manuscript and sent it. Some time later, I was offered a contract.

I actually wasn’t sure at first if SMP would be a good fit for my particular book, since it is a modern epic fantasy with some sci-fi and romantic elements. But I found that SMP is really stretching beyond its romantic roots and getting into all kinds of genres. I like being a part of something progressive and new, so I was glad to become a part of that.

2.     What do you enjoy most about being a SMP Author?

It’s such a great community of authors, with so much variety. I was really welcomed into the fold and the other authors are so helpful about chiming in with their experiences. Publishing can be a very hurry-up-and-wait industry, so it’s very valuable to have author friends who understand the unique nature of the business. SMP authors really reach out and go out of their way to help one another. There’s just not enough of that in the world, so I value it tremendously when I find it.

3.     What have your experiences been like working toward being published?

I’ve been fortunate to get just enough rejection to appreciate acceptance, but not so much rejection as to crush my soul. It’s also interesting to find out how inaccurate people’s perceptions of writers and the publishing industry are. Patience and the ability to work alone are incredibly important, so being an introvert works to my advantage.

4.     What would you have done differently?

So far, I wouldn’t change anything. (Knock on Kindle.) The things that didn’t work out for me were learning experiences that needed to happen.

5.     How has your book been marketed?

I’ve put in a ton of work into marketing my new series, which doesn’t even come out until March. My book blog www.WomenOfBadassery.com features strong heroines who don’t follow any rules about how women are supposed to be. It’s a subject that I’m passionate about, and my own books fall into that category. I love sci-fi and fantasy, so I’m an avid consumer of such books as well as a producer of them. In the process of building my blog, I’ve also built up an audience that is interested in the same things that interest me. Hopefully that will equate to my book being seen by the people who will appreciate it.

6.     Any advice on how to better market a book?

Doing a ton of research is key. The first thing to consider is genre. Everything follows from there. Tapping into the right venues and outlets is critical. Social media is very important, not just for marketing books but for finding them. I find all my reading material via social media.

7.     Last question; If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go, when would it be, and what would you be wearing?

It’s hard to decide whether to revisit someplace I love or to try out somewhere I’ve always wanted to go. I’ll go with the adventurous side, so Ireland will be my answer. I’m the only redhaired person anywhere on my family tree, and I’ve always thought that being somewhere with a lot of gingers would be pretty amazing. Plus, I can listen to an Irish accent all day long. I’d love to see all the beauty of Ireland in person, which would be so different than what I’m used to here in the States.

I’d try to find a time to go that would offer good weather but not be during the high tourist season. I’m not a fan of long lines. As for what I’d wear, I’m guessing I’d kit myself out in native tartan. And a tam. And a sporran. Because it would be awesome and I don’t care if people give me the “she’s obviously a tourist” fish-eye.

Seeking Sorrow: Guardians of Terath, Book One

A logical ninja-like judge called a justice and a mercurial wizard-like guy who uses a natural resource called mana. An empathic psychologist called a reader and a painfully polite young hired blade. Add in a master archer with a quirky sense of humor.

These five people are thrown together to quietly get to the bottom of a mysterious mana event that must stay quiet. If the population of Terath becomes aware of the truth, it will spark a civil war. That war would pit the majority of the population against the powerful minority with the ability to harness and manipulate mana. The resulting cataclysm would decimate the population and tear apart the foundation of society.

The five people chosen for this must reconsider everything they thought they knew about mana, even as they learn to trust one another’s abilities. They must embrace everything they never wanted to prevent the devastation of their world. One of them will be forever changed.

Even success comes at a price.

SMP New Release: The Widow's Walk by Carole Ann Moleti

A suspenseful romantic read just in time for Valentine's Day

What if you got a second chance?

Blog landing page http://caroleannmoleti.blogspot.com/p/the-widows-walk.html
Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Widows-Walk-Carole-Ann-Moleti-ebook/dp/B00PHYCLHY

       Blurb

   Mike and Liz Keeny are newlyweds, new parents, and the proprietors of the Barrett Inn, an 1875 Victorian on Cape Cod, which just happens to be haunted. By their own ghosts. The Inn had become an annex of Purgatory, putting Mike, Liz, and their infant son in danger. Selling the historic seaside bed and breakfast was the only answer, one that Liz and her own tortured specter refused to consider. Were they doomed to follow the same path that led to disaster in their previous lives? Was getting out, getting away, enough?

             
Excerpt:

    Silk rustled as she ran her hands over the dress. The lavender scent deepened as Elisabeth swirled around inside, Her mind went numb as the ghost took control. She slipped out of her clothes and stood naked in front of the mirror. She put up her hair, preening for her husband, before she stepped into the middle of the deep green skirts and pulled them up over her waist, slipped her arms into the sleeves, and twisted them behind her back to fasten the buttons. She used the buttonhook to do up the shoes, then peered out into the hallway.
Liz bundled the sweat suit into her arms, along with the soap and paper goods, and hurried to the attic door. It wasn't until she placed her hand on the banister and started up the steep staircase to the roof that Elisabeth's needling eased. Like an addict in the throes of withdrawal, just the promise of being up there, her spirit communing with the long lost sea captain, offered relief.


Bio

Carole Ann Moleti lives and works as a nurse-midwife in New York City, thus explaining her fascination with all things paranormal, urban fantasy, and space opera. Her nonfiction focuses on health care, politics, and women's issues. But her first love is writing science fiction and fantasy because walking through walls is less painful than running into them.

The first book in Carole's Cape Cod paranormal romance novel series, The Widow's Walk, was published by Soulmate. Her short fiction appears in the Toil, Trouble and Temptation Anthology by Mocha Memoirs Press. Short stories set in the world of her novels are featured in Haunted: Ten Tales of Ghosts, Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires, Beltane: Ten Tales of Magic, and Seers: Ten Tales of Clairvoyance.

http://amazon.com/author/carolemoleti

http://Twitter.com/Cmoleti

https://www.facebook.com/caroleannmoleti

http://caroleannmoleti.blogspot.com

Soul Mate Publishing Author: Felicia Rogers

Felicia Rogers born and raised in the southern part of the United States is a Christian wife and mother, with a side interest-- writing. She won the Celebrate the Season Contest by Solstice Publishing in Sept. 2010 allowing her first novella, "The Holiday Truce" to be published. Since then she has published more than fifteen novels and novellas.

To learn more about this author visit her website at www.feliciarogersauthor.weebly.com or check her out on facebook at facebook.com/feliciarogersauthor.

website: Felicia Rogers Author

Facebook: www.facebook.com/felciarogersauthor

email: feliciarogersauthor@yahoo.com

Goodreads:  www.goodreads.com/feliciarogers

Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Felicia-Rogers/e/B004FD7TLG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

1.      Tell us how you came to be an Author with Soul Mate Publishing.

I became an author with Soul Mate Publishing with my story, A Month in Cologne. This story was written as a challenge in which three concepts had to be inserted into the story. I had fun trying to insert a fluffy pillow, a porch swing, and I never can remember that third item! But I’m so happy that Soul Mate accepted the story and helped me bring it to life.

2.      What do you enjoy most about being a SMP Author?

What I enjoy most about being an SMP author is working with the staff and meeting some great new authors.

3.      What have your experiences been like working toward being published?

Working toward being a published author has been a learning experience, and not an easy one. I never realized how much work goes into editing and publishing the work. But the most important thing I’ve learned is how essential reviews are to an author. Reviews are something we can’t accomplish on our own, but without them we can’t promote in certain venues.

4.      What would you have done differently?

As for what I would have done differently, sometimes I think that if I’d known how much work writing can be for such a small reward I might have stayed out of it altogether and just remained a reader. I love to read! Now I don’t get to do that as much as I like because I have to write or edit my own work. But on the other hand, if I’d kept my stories to myself then the characters in my head might not have been happy. So I guess it is best that I let them out.

5.      How has your book been marketed?

A Month in Cologne has been shared by my street team, The Inspired Inkpot.

6.      Any advice on how to better market a book?

I’m still looking for the best way to market. Like I said before without reviews most sites won’t list your work. Also most sites only market novels instead of novellas. So for me I think the best way has been word of mouth or offering a book for sale.

7.      Last question; If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go, when would it be, and what would you be wearing?

If I could go anywhere in the world, I would pick Scotland and I would go in current times. I would love to see the rolling hills filled with purple flowers. I have no idea what I’d be wearing, but I hope the pattern is plaid.

A Month in Cologne - Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JVAO2AE

Blurb: Rachel Wilson has committed to working in Cologne, Germany, for one month. Consigned to a tiny apartment, she looks forward to completing her responsibilities to the museum so she may explore Europe and begin her new life. 

John Viteri is a confident museum curator, but when he arrives at his new job in Germany, he struggles to find God’s plan for his life. 

Thrown together, will Rachel and John allow God’s providence to guide them, or will they choose their own path?

Soul Mate Publishing Author: J.R Richardson

Bio:
A movie fanatic, a writer of stories, a lover of life.
Jo grew up in Maryland with four siblings, three parents and an endless number of cousins within the vicinity – but it was too cold up North for this thin blooded girl. So today, she lives in Florida with her two girls and a husband that shares her same sense of humor and basic take on life as we know it.
Life is too short to put dreams on the back burner.
Jo tells contemporary stories with romance, humor, the supernatural, the paranormal, suspense, mystery, action and anything else she can think up.
In 2012, she wrote Cursed be the Wicked, a character driven, paranormal mystery romance that was picked up by Soul Mate Publishing and released in March of 2014. Since then, Jo has also written a couple of short stories and recently contracted a romantic comedy entitled Cookie Cutter, with Little Bird Publishing, that is expected to release in the Spring of 2015.

Where you can find Jo:

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | PINTEREST

1.      Tell us how you came to be an Author with Soul Mate Publishing. 

    Long story short, in 2012 I finished my first full length publishable novel. I queried, and queried and queried and queried until one day, Debby from Soul Mate sent me the nicest email, stating she loved the story so much, she wanted to publish it. I was spinning for a week.

2.      What do you enjoy most about being a SMP Author? 

    Writing what I want to write instead of feeling like I have to fit in to one particular genre.

3.      What have your experiences been like working toward being published? 

    It’s an awful lot of hard work, from editing to marketing yourself, to making connections and finding spots on blogs to get some exposure and sending out review requests, which in a lot of ways, feels like the query process. But totally worth it. I’ve learned so much priceless information over the past year and ½.

4.      What would you have done differently? 

    Honestly, no much. I think I would have made sure I cut out more writing time for myself instead of spending quite so much time on the marketing side. But live and learn. I know now. There needs to be balance, always.

5.      How has your book been marketed? 

    I did a blog tour, I’ve done a thunderclap campaign, had free days on amazon, sales, giveaways, and requested reviews from lots and lots of book review blogs.

6.      Any advice on how to better market a book?

    I truly believe that word of mouth is the best marketing you’ll ever get. Don’t worry so much about placing an ad somewhere as much as getting reviews from readers and bloggers. And don’t fret too much over the not so great reviews, either. Even Jim Butcher and J.K. Rowling get them.

7.      Last question; If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go, when would it be, and what would you be wearing?

    Ireland, when the weather is at its best there (I’ll have to Google), and probably comfortable shoes.

Cooper Shaw lives his life under a pen name and enjoys the anonymity it provides during his journeys across the globe as a seasoned writer for a travel magazine. When his job lands him in his hometown of Salem, Massachusetts to cover the famous Festival of the Dead, he soon realizes that he can’t stay invisible forever as he faces ghosts from a past he’s been trying to forget ever since he left.
The city holds nothing but bad memories for Coop until he meets a quirky young woman with an old soul and curious insights by the name of Finnley Pierce. While she acts as his tour guide through a town he thought he knew, Finn helps him unearth the truth of his childhood and might even begin to open up his heart.
By unraveling the mystery of his father’s murder, Coop may finally accept who he is, where he came from, and perhaps even realize what he wants for his future.

Excerpt:
“It’s you.”

The woman from the front desk of the B&B. The fake Betsy. She’s right there, plain as day and still disheveled.

A smile crosses my lips involuntarily.

“Yeah,” she announces, with her very own brand of contempt, apparently not recognizing me at all.

I’m not sure whether I’m glad about that or not.

“It’s me,” she continues, “And if you don’t mind, I’m trying to listen to the lecture.”

“No,” I say, still grinning over at her like a complete idiot and still finding the need for her to recognize me. “It’s me.” I shift and put my things down to turn for her to see me full on. “From last night? At the Bed and Breakfast?”

Her facial expression doesn’t change one iota. “Yeah, I know who you are.”

“I was looking for you this morning.”

Her eyebrow lifts, her arms cross, and I’m feeling the urge to grin even wider.

Until she answers me.

“Why, so you could scream at me some more?”

“No,” I tell her. “Actually, I was hoping to apologize for last night, but . . .” I hesitate. I’m not exactly saying it like I’d planned to but in my defense, she kinda has this way of getting me all tongue tied.

“Hoping to?” she asks. “You were hoping to apologize?” She feigns flattery. “I am just so, thankful that you were hoping to apologize. Oh my, really, I just . . .”

She shakes her head as she trails off, and, ouch. I hold my hand up in surrender.

“Okay, okay, I get it. I apologize,” I tell her, quietly and leave it at that. I turn my focus back to the task at hand, but find myself mumbling an explanation. “I don’t even know what got into me, I’m just . . .” I breathe out and let it out, “having a bad week.”

“Bad week,” she mocks me under her breath. Then she slouches back into her chair. I’m thinking this conversation is over until I hear her ranting in angry undertones, “Did you know the number of public apologies that famous people make have tripled since nineteen-eighty? I don’t even wanna think about the number of private ones that aren’t being counted.”

I peek over at her, reluctant to say anything but curious as to where she’s going with this.

She catches me staring, and then whisper yells at me.

“Do you know how many of those apologies are probably genuine, Mr. Stone?”

It’s a good question. I hadn’t really thought about it. Before I can answer, she does it for me.

“Probably about one percent. And that’s being generous, in my opinion.”

“Look, lady, I just--”

People from the audience let out dramatic shushes and give us dirty looks before returning their attentions back to the speaker. A few minutes later, my row companion finishes her thought.

“Apologies are a dime a dozen. I don’t need an apology. What I need is sincerity.”

She settles down after that and I’m not sure if I’m supposed to apologize again or just shut up.

I go with shutting up.

Reviews:
“This is a beautifully crafted story with a plethora of plot twists! Several chapters end as cliffhangers and leave the reader scrambling to quickly turn the page to learn what happens next!”  – 5 star review from InD’tale Magazine
“Coop and Finn are two of those adorable characters that you can sink your teeth into; they had to work for their HEA; the flirty, sassy banter; the whole mystery of Coop’s father’s death; and the tiny bit of occult that works its way in -not too over the top, it is tiny things here and there that make it believable.  The book is well plotted, and is full of twists and turns.” – 5 star review from Lori at I am, Indeed
“I highly recommend this book if you're looking for adult mystery, romance, and a little spookiness to dabble in.” – 4 star review from Itching for Books

Links:
AMAZON | B&N | GOODREADS

Other works by Jo:
Coming Soon: Cookie Cutter – a contemporary romcom releasing in the Spring of 2015 through Little Bird Publishing.
Dealing with the Dead, a short prequel to Cursed be the Wicked in the voice of Finnley Pierce. (Available for FREE on Wattpad)
WATTPAD
Lost in Christmas, a short story included in Soul Mate Publishing’s 2013 Christmas anthology

AMAZON | GOODREADS