Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Interview with Author JV LaMotte


Interview with Author JV LaMotte
 
Janice Lamotte Lavallee
I am presently in the process of returning to Massachusetts, the place of my roots.


Good morning, Janice.  Welcome to Vision and Verse, the Place for Art and Authors.  What have you written?
My first novel is – The Peacock Butterfly - and I recently finished the sequel - The Peacock Butterfly Redux – Second Chances - to be released Fall of 2014. Waiting in the wings I have a children’s series to be finished.

What is your favorite genre to write?
At the moment my genre is fiction comprised of contemporary history and romance.

How old were you when you started writing?
I’ve been a storyteller my entire life, and somewhere along the way I began to write. I began by keeping journals. I love travel and would write in detail about trips I would take. The story of The Peacock Butterfly came to me late in life. 

Describe your perfect evening.
Dinner with friends and family with wonderful food and vibrant conversation is my perfect evening.

Favorite food.
It is difficult for me to pin point a favorite food as I live to eat, not eat to live. The enjoyment of food is a part of my life, and I write about cuisine in both books. However, being a true New Englander among my favorite foods are lobster, steamers and clam chowder.



What makes Janice LaMotte LaVallee laugh?
Who cannot laugh at the funny side of life? One only has to listen to comics like Billy Crystal to see there is much humor in our daily lives. I think we take ourselves too seriously most of the time. I find myself guilty of this, as well.

Where would you like to visit?
I have a very long bucket list including a trip to Machu Picchu, the Far East and a safari to Africa during the migration.

Favorite musical artist. 
Yo Yo Ma tops my list. I have been following his career for years. His growth as a musician is phenomenal and inspiring.

Do you listen to music when you write? 
I do like background noise when I write - I have an eclectic taste in music from jazz to blues to rock 'n' roll to classical - whatever is playing generally suits me.

Where do you get your inspiration?
Life inspires me. People inspire me. Nature inspires me. There is enough inspiration in these alone to inspire a person for a lifetime.

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
It is not one person but an extended family of parents, siblings, grandfather, aunts, uncles, cousins and a cast of characters on a farm where I grew up that influenced my life through unconditional love.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?
Since I am a storyteller I would like to sit down with the first ruler of Sumer - King Etana of Kish from the region of ancient Mesopotamia who lived before the invention of writing in c.3600 BCE. I would like to know what he knew from the oral history of his time. I have a curiosity of how civilizations evolved. There is so much missing in our history that archeologists have yet to discover. It would be amazing to know what these ancient people knew that we don’t.

Oh, you aren't going to believe this, but my husband has been going on and on about King Etana of Kish and his role to have scribes copy an epic poem  (Gargamel? Gargamoosh?  Gargamesh?  I wasn't really listening to him.) in cuneiform.  I had never heard of him before, now twice in one day.  Wow.  Who is your favorite author?
Not one in particular - Hemmingway, Updyke, Bellow, Antonia Fraser and Oliver Bernier are at the top of my list -each for a different reason.

Best book you ever read.
I cannot honestly answer this question, as there are too many, but Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery the first book I remember reading as a young girl left a lasting impression on me, and a thirst for reading.

What do you do when you get a writer's block?
When I need a break from writing, I concentrate on the marketing and selling of the book, plus getting the sequel to the editor.
   
What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer? 
When I told someone who writes for a prestigious magazine I did not consider myself a writer, he told me that I had written a book something he had been talking about doing for 20 years. He said that qualified me as a writer. If one has the desire to write then the only advice I have is to sit down and write. I think there are stories in all of us that are worth sharing and telling, it just depends if one has the passion to write them down.

Do you have any links for us to follow you?
The book can be purchased from the sites below:






For face book page, and web page visit links below -





Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Lauren Ulen Curtis' SECRET ALPHA Release Party Today!




I’m Dan Smith, and I’m currently living two lives. Maybe even three if you really look into it. Haley, Allison, Hunter, Wade, Sergio, and Isla all exist in one or more of them somehow.
Am I a supporting role in their stories, or are they merely characters in mine?
You decide.

Haley told her story. Now I’ll tell mine.

She said. He said.

This is my story.


Lauren Ulen Curtis

Note: Secret Alpha is the second book in the A is for 
Alpha Male Series and must be read after A 
is for Alpha Male.

Warning: Some explicit language and sexual content.




Buy Links:  Playlist embed code: <iframe>
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Rafflecopter embed code: <a id="rc-d201b45" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d201b45/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Secret Alpha Buy Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1itCwi7
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/QW2f71
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1nX5wOE

A is for Alpha Male Buy Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1do8T0t
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1nRQBcd
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1hdtN1u



Monday, April 28, 2014

BELTERRA

My novel BELTERRA defies classifying.  It is sci-fi because it takes place on a planet that is not Earth, but shares many similarities.  It is fantasy because of magical healing and the mention of crystals.  It is a coming of age story because of the age of the heroine at the beginning of the novel.  It is a romantic action adventure because it is the story of Neeka and Braedon and their relationship as one person changes the course of the planet.  It is the story of good and evil and how one lie could ruin everything.

Excerpt:
Setting:   Braedon is called to a meeting on neutral ground with the other leaders of their world to discuss Neeka's "abduction." 
She goes with him to prove to her father that she was not kidnapped and went with Braedon of her own free will.  The Science Lord Seth demands Braedon be handed over for punishment.

“No!” said Neeka,  “I will not agree to this.  No crime was committed.   I was not stolen.  No punishment is warranted.  I will not allow this.”
“The choice is not yours to make, Neeka.  Put her down, War Lord,” demanded her father, “and then we will talk.”
Braedon gently kissed the back of her head, inhaling her scent, fearing he may never hold her again.
“It will be okay, Neeka.  I am willing to do this his way.  I will come to Westwind.  I will come back for you.  I promise you.  I will ask his permission,” he whispered as he gently lifted her down.
As soon as she was on the ground and Braedon straightened up, Lord Seth threw a knife at his chest.  It ricocheted off his armor.
“What the hell?” Seth expected blood, not the twang of metal.  “She armored him!” Seth shouted. 
“Braedon, are you okay?”  Neeka screamed.  She reached for him.  He pulled her back up to him.  She touched his face.  He held on to her hand and kissed her fingers.
“I’m okay.  Don’t worry,” he whispered to her.
“You are despicable!”  A wild Neeka screamed at Seth.  “You make an attempt on his life in the neutral zone!  And who else but an arrogant scientist would desecrate the sanctity of this place?  And who else but a scientist would have access to a supply of chemicals to slowly poison him.  Why?  You started poisoning him before he ever came for me.  Why?”
The men back home watched for suspicious behavior as the whole village listened to what was going on.  Two people ran.  They were shot immediately, according to directions from Braedon.
“This is not over, Neeka.  I will have you back.”  Science Lord Seth turned and rode away.
“Who IS that guy?”  Braedon whispered in her ear.
“My husband,” she whispered back.  Braedon gasped.