Do you re-read old favorites? As I'm on a very limited book budget this topic has been on my mind quite a bit lately. I am so lucky to be one of those people who can enjoy a good movie or book over and over again.
A few of my favorite re-read authors are Jennifer Crusie ( she's really great if your a little down), Nora Roberts, Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon and Lora Leigh. I just finished Larissa Ione's Pleasure Unbound last night for the fourth time. The second in this series is out today and I can't get it yet so I re-read the one I had. It was just as engrossing as it was the first time I read it. The characters were so easy get caught up in. If by some chance you are a paranormal romance fan who hasn't read Ione, GET A MOVE ON! She's wonderful and the third installment of this series will be out next month.
Movies are another thing I can happily repeat. My favorites are the Harry Potter movies, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Sahara (who could get tired of looking up at a wet Matthew), Live Free Die Hard and Transformers.
Do you have books or movies that you like to enjoy over and over?
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, December 8, 2008
Jennifer Turner interview and contest at bitten by books
A big welcome to our readers today! Be sure to read to the end of the interview to find out how to WIN the the great prize being offered up. The contest runs until 3:00 pm Eastern time tomorrow to give our east coast and international readers a chance to participate.
NOTE: this is not a fixed time event, the post just goes live at 8:00 am PST. You can stop by any time during the day or evening and leave your questions and comments.
Interview:
Hi Jennifer!
Welcome to Bitten by Books, we are excited to have you here today!
I would like to thank you taking the time to join us for the question and answer session with our readers. It has been very interesting to get to know more about you and what makes you tick as a writer! Readers, if you haven’t done so already please stop by and get your copy of Jennifer’s latest release Eternal Seduction.
BBB: What do you find the most challenging aspect of writing?
JT: Learning to stop when I’m ahead. I’m the kind of writer who will go back over chapters and change little things here, tweak other sentences there. I’m a perfectionist at heart, so it’s very hard for me to tag a filename with FINAL and leave it alone. It usually takes my husband or my mom reading me the riot act to break through the perfectionist haze and make me realize I’m being an unruly snot. But I love them for it!
BBB: What is the most rewarding aspect of writing for you?
JT: Hearing from my readers. I love hearing from all the different people who’ve enjoyed Eternal Seduction, be they family, friends or fans. I have bad days just like everyone else, and when those days happen sometimes I’ll go back through reader e-mails/guestbook entries and it helps me refocus. Helps me remember there are others who want to play in my world as much as I do. I think that’s why I say thank you so much in my blog. Selling books definitely motivates me, but it’s the comments and notes from my readers that keep me going when I want to toss my laptop out the window.
I also get a huge kick out of reading comments where my characters are referred to in the same context as someone you might meet on the street. There’s no greater feeling of satisfaction for me than hearing someone talk about Odin as though he might sit down next to them at any moment. If the characters have come to life in a reader’s eyes or heart…well, it doesn’t get any better than that!
BBB: What or who was your muse that got you started writing?
JT: The title of “Muse” goes to three people. My mom, because there isn’t a weekend I can remember when I was a kid that she didn’t have a Red Silhouette novel in her hands. Her love of reading made me want to read, which inevitably lead to my love of writing. My husband, because not only is he my pillar of stability, he made me promise once I started writing that I wouldn’t stop until it took me somewhere. And Sherrilyn Kenyon, because after reading Night Play, I was so enthralled with the world she created, I wondered if I could make someone else feel that way about my own. If it wasn’t for all three of them, I’m not sure I’d be doing this interview right now!
BBB: What do you feel are the benefits of the new electronic readers such as Kindle or the Sony Digital Book Reader to the environment?
JT: In terms of the Kindle, I don’t think there really are any yet. Most of the portable readers currently on the market are too expensive for the majority of consumers. I think in a few years when they’ve mastered the technology and the prices come down to something a little more reasonable, then you’ll see benefits to the environment. Less paper means more trees. Trees are good. Unless, of course, your name is Will Scarlet. Rumor has it he hates trees.
BBB: What impact do electronic readers create on the bottom line for authors in the end? Do you feel they have a negative impact or positive, or no impact at all that you can see?
JT: I know that I’ve sold twice as many eBooks of Eternal Seduction as I have print. So for me, the impact is definitely positive. And really, I think it’s positive all the way around. A lot of great authors who’ve been turned away by traditional publishers are finding very happy homes with e-publishers. That’s a win for everyone. The authors, who now have a market and home for their work when they may not have otherwise. The publishers, who are getting top notch authors to build their business on and around. And the readers, who literally have thousands of wonderful books available to them 24 hours a day – and they don’t even have to leave the house to go shopping!
BBB: Who among your character families is your favorite and why?
JT: Hmmm. If we’re talking about the families spawned by the six Original vampires, I’d have to say it’s a tie between the Mystics and the Warriors. The Mystics because their powers are off the charts and they can make almost anything happen if they really put their mind to it. The Warriors because they’re all heart and passion. They prize loyalty above all else, and will fight to the death for anything and anyone they care about.
If we’re talking about individual family bloodlines, I’d have to say it’s a tie between the Nelek family and the Black family. The Neleks because I love writing Stefan and his kids. They span such a wide range of age and personalities, they always keep me guessing. The Blacks because Justin holds a very, very special place in my heart. He’s one of the strongest, most confident characters I have – but at the same time he’s so lost and trapped in his own guilt.
BBB: Are Servios ever allowed to become a vampire or are they always a servant?
JT: Truthfully, it all depends on their Master. Some vampires won’t make someone a Child unless they’ve served as a Servio for a specific and usually extended period of time. Think of it almost like an internship, where you learn all the rules and come out more prepared to finally take the big step into true immortality. Other vampires will tell you, “Once a servant, always a servant.” They see Servios as second class citizens and can’t imagine one of them actually earning fangs, let alone passing their curse to one of them.
Believe it or not, the decision to turn a Servio into a Child gets more complicated the older a vampire is. If you’re a 10,000 year old vampire, and your personal Servio has been with you most of that time, chances are they’re more of a friend than a servant. No doubt you’ve come to depend on them during the day, will most likely listen to their council for better or worse, and you might even love them in some ways (and/or vice versa). Turning that beloved friend into a vampire can be a risky gambit. Vampires are constantly in competition with each other for food, power and prestige. Is it really a good idea to put someone who knows you so well on even ground with you? What if the new relationship between Sire and Child sours? Your former Servio, now Child, knows your greatest secrets…and more importantly, they probably know when and where you sleep.
So, is it physiologically possible for a Servio to be turned into a vampire? Yes, absolutely. Is it necessarily a good idea to allow it…maybe, maybe not.
BBB: Can you tell us how many books are planned after Eternal Seduction and when we can expect them? Or what your next releases will be if they are stand alone titles?
JT: As it stands, I have about 13 books and a few novellas planned for the Eternal Series. My goal is to release them no more than 6 months apart. Books 2, 3 and 4 are written and going through final revisions, and I’m writing book 5 (Odin’s Book!) on the in between. I promised myself I’d keep the series going as long as there’s interest, and as long as I never reach a point where I feel like I’m writing the same story over and over. If that happens, I’ll write the last book and move on to something else.
BBB: Succubus or Vampire. Which would you choose to be and why?
JT: Definitely a vampire. Although, in my world, the most effective way for a vampire to hide their feeding is to bite their prey during orgasm…so I suppose you get the best of both worlds! As for why, I think it’s because I’m strangely comfortable with the idea of never seeing the sun again and sleeping all day.
BBB: How would you describe the writing style in the Eternal Seduction? Is it serious dark paranormal or a cross between Urban Fantasy and paranormal or something else entirely?
JT: Personally, I’m still trying to figure out exactly what Urban Fantasy is. I’ve been told it’s essentially a paranormal romance novel where the romance takes a back seat and the fate of the world is always at stake, usually resting in the hands of the protagonists. To be honest, I’m not a big fan of series where the fate of the planet is hanging in the balance in every single novel. I’m all for putting a character’s personal world in jeopardy, but I don’t think every book needs an Earth shattering battle sequence.
So, with all that in mind, I’d say Eternal Seduction is Dark Paranormal Romance with mild horror elements. I know there’s been a big trend lately to stray away from the more romantic aspects of vampire/paranormal novels, but I don’t intend to follow that curve. Call me a rule breaker, but I really enjoy writing romance and I love the complexities that particular emotion brings out in my characters, ancient or otherwise. Will there be a little sarcasm and ass-kickery to go along with all the love? Of course, but only when pertinent to the story and characters.
As for serious, there are certainly moments in my novels when things take a more serious turn but I wouldn’t necessarily choose that word to describe my series. Dark? Definitely. I’m not sure I could write a novel that didn’t have some horror elements in it. I mean, we’re talking vampires here, some of whom are truly ancient. They prey on the very species they once were a part of. Now, that’s not to say I don’t have my good guys, but you’re not going to find any of my vampires frolicking in a sunlit field of poppies.
Side note: Every time someone uses the term Urban Fantasy…I automatically think of Marvin the Martian. “Where’s the ka-boom? The earth shattering KA-BOOM?!?”
BBB: How do you keep track of your characters and world building?
JT: Right now, it’s all in my head. I keep telling myself that I’m going to go buy one of those fancy little notebooks with the fabric cover then write all the rules and whatnot down, but whenever I actually make it to the store I always get sidetracked. And usually it’s because of something shiny or containing dark chocolate.
BBB: What is your favorite paranormal fiction book of all time?
JT: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. I read it for the first time back in 5th grade, and to this day, I’m still fascinated by the idea of the 4th dimension.
BBB: What do you like to do in between all the time you spend writing?
JT: I like to spend time with my daughter and my Husband. We’re feeling the economic crunch just like the rest of the country, so we’ve been staying home a lot and having Call of Duty 4 tournaments (my husband couldn’t live without his X-Box). I know COD4 is probably not the best video game for a 9 year old girl, but there’s something seriously funny about watching her use her infamous brute force machine gun attack, then hearing her talk smack to her Dad.
I also like to watch movies, read, and listen to music. Music is a huge part of my life, and there aren’t many moments in the day where there isn’t music playing somewhere in my apartment.
BBB: What made you decide to self publish instead of go with an e-pub or print publisher? Are you glad you did? Would you consider making the move over and letting somebody else do it all?
JT: To be completely honest, I chose to self publish because I couldn’t find an agent who wanted my series. I ran into a lot of opposition concerning Logan Ellis (the heroine in Eternal Seduction) because she starts out as a homeless drug addict. Apparently that concept pushed the bounds of Dark Paranormal a little too far for them. I was given the option a few times to change those elements and resubmit, but after a lot of thought I decided against it. Not because I was trying to be difficult, but more because I felt those aspects were very important to Logan’s character. I’m all about compromise, but removing Logan’s addiction and homeless status would have changed who she is and her outlook on the world, which inevitably would’ve changed the way Kerestyan saw her, and in turn changed the entire novel. Plus, considering the issues they had with the darker nature of Eternal Seduction, I could almost envision the look of horror on their face if they saw what happened in the next book.
Am I glad I self published? Yes. If nothing else, I learned firsthand about the amount of work that really goes into preparing a book for publication. The editing, proofreading, formatting, cover design, proofing and general hair-pulling-out feeling you get when that one line just won’t go where you want it to. Then you have the marketing and promotion. Self publishing has been a very trying road to walk at times, but getting a 5 Tombstone review and hearing from all the people who’ve enjoyed the first book…makes it all worth it!
Would I consider making the move over and letting someone else do it all? Gladly! Know anyone who’s interested??
BBB: Do you plan on having the twins battle each other?
JT: Believe me when I tell you – they already are…
BBB: Will Odin get his own book or Drake??
JT: Drake’s book, Eternal Hearts, is next in line with a scheduled release date of May 1, 2009. Odin’s book, Eternal Embers, is book number 5, but you get to meet his woman in book 4, Eternal Desires.
BBB: What did you do before you became a writer? Do you write full time?
JT: I’ve been a cashier, a press operator at a dry cleaner, a food court attendant, an assembler at a chemical factory, a data entry operator, a recruiting specialist, a human resources assistant, a tattoo artist, a payroll clerk, an administrative assistant, a distribution clerk, and an inside sales representative…in that order!
I became a serious writer in between the last two. I do write full time now, but only because my husband, the awesome man he is, works a standard 48 hour week to give me this opportunity.
BBB: Why does Logan brush her teeth so much?
JT: LOL! For her, it’s a somewhat twisted but comforting affirmation of survival. Most people brush their teeth first thing after they wake up, to most, it’s an absolute necessity. So if she lives to brush her teeth that day and has the means to do so, she knows her life could be a lot worse.
BBB: Katie who reviewed your amazing book has one big question she would like to know but at the same time wouldn’t want to know, is Drake the vampire/werewolf?
JT: Is Drake a vampire/werewolf? Yes. Is he *THE* vampire/werewolf…you’ll have to read his book to find out.
What?!? You didn’t think I could just give that one away…did you?
BBB: Do you have any pearls of wisdom you would like to share with our readers here today?
JT: The sarcastic side of me says: Don’t eat yellow snow. But the other side says: Go ahead, a little dog pee never killed anyone.
Jennifer, thank you again for being here today, it has been fun!! Readers be SURE to check out Jennifer’s website here:http://www.darknesswithinnovels.com/
****************************************************
Questions and Contest: Now, I am going to open up the internet floor so to speak and let our readers ask Jennifer some questions. Feel free to post as many questions or comments as you like. She will be popping in and out today and tomorrow to answer them.
Readers, here’s how to enter the contest. You can do ONE or ALL of these things, and each one will give an additional entries at a chance to win. One lucky participant will be chosen to win an amazing prize package containing a copy of Eternal Seduction and an ARC of Eternal Hearts AND Eternal Embrace, a month or two before they are set to release. The contest will be open to our international readers as well.
Please note, the prize package IS the prize you will receive, there will be absolutely no substitutions or changes the prize is non-transferable. If you don’t want the prize being offered, please don’t enter the contest. If you ever win an electronic copy of a book, please note that it is ILLEGAL to forward, give away or copy it in anyway once you receive it. Doing so violates copyright. If we find out that it has been done, you will no longer be eligible to win any of our contests.
1. Ask Jennifer some questions. Ask as many questions as you like, you can also start a stimulating discussion.
2. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter here on the right hand side of the site. This is for new subscribers only.
3. Post the link to the interview here today (http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=2780) at another blog, website, Myspace, Ning Group, Facebook, Yahoo Group (any group where it is appropriate) and you will be given TEN additional entries for a chance to win for every link you post. BUT you MUST come back here to this interview and post those links in one response here in this thread. The more places you post the event, the more entries you get, so spread the word! NOTE: if you post multiple links here, your post will not show up right away. If you don’t see it, don’t keep posting it, we WILL approve your entry later on in the day.
4. Purchase copies of Jennifer’s awesome book TODAY or TOMORROW and send us a copy of the receipt VIA email (sorry no faxes) for your purchase to: racoo.smith @ gmail.com (no spaces) for TWENTY additional entries. You get TWENTY entries for each one you purchase. Not valid on past purchases. Click this link to buy her most recent book.Eternal SeductionEternal Seduction - Kindle Version
Or buy ANYTHING from Amazon today by using the Amazon search box to your right hand side on our site and get 10 entries
Books make GREAT gifts for friends and family anytime!
5. Add us as your friend on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bittenbybooks
Add us as your friend on Facebook: http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=614064436
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Be sure to mention that you are friending us for this contest so we know to enter you!
6. Stumble, Digg or share the post with any social networking sites. There is a button right at the end of this post that says “Share” that you can use.
7. Twitter and ask your friends to re-tweet the URL for this event: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=2780
8. Read the Bitten by Books review of Jennifer’s book here:
http://bittenbybooks.com/?page_id=58&book_author_id=Jennifer%20Turner
Then leave a meaningful comment IN THE REVIEW post that shows you read the review, not just a post that says “sounds good” or “nice review”, a couple of sentences would be great! Simply share your thoughts, ideas or opinions and show the author some love.
9. Add Jennifer’s blog to your blog roll or links page: http://www.darknesswithinnovels.com/
10. Add Bitten by Books to your blog roll or links page: http://bittenbybooks.com if you leave our link up permanently you will always be entered into our contests automatically. Just be sure to stop by each contest we hold and leave the link to where it is so we can give you your entry!
11. Email ALL of your friends and invite them to come by today! If your fiends come and post here and say you sent them, they get TWO entries and you get TWO entries! They have to tell us who you are so we know who to give the entries to. You can invite as many people as you want and get all the extra entries!
12. Join the The Blood Bank the Bitten by Books Community! here: http://bittenbybooks.ning.com/ then come back here and tell us your username. Be sure to post something about yourself on your blog there.
The contest will run through tomorrow 12/9/08 at 3:00 pm Eastern time to allow our East coast and international readers a chance to win too!
Be sure to include an email and name where we can contact you if you are a winner.
We will be awarding the AMAZING prize and announcing the winner to the Bitten by Books website later. And REMEMBER you can’t win if you don’t play!
NOTE: this is not a fixed time event, the post just goes live at 8:00 am PST. You can stop by any time during the day or evening and leave your questions and comments.
Interview:
Hi Jennifer!
Welcome to Bitten by Books, we are excited to have you here today!
I would like to thank you taking the time to join us for the question and answer session with our readers. It has been very interesting to get to know more about you and what makes you tick as a writer! Readers, if you haven’t done so already please stop by and get your copy of Jennifer’s latest release Eternal Seduction.
BBB: What do you find the most challenging aspect of writing?
JT: Learning to stop when I’m ahead. I’m the kind of writer who will go back over chapters and change little things here, tweak other sentences there. I’m a perfectionist at heart, so it’s very hard for me to tag a filename with FINAL and leave it alone. It usually takes my husband or my mom reading me the riot act to break through the perfectionist haze and make me realize I’m being an unruly snot. But I love them for it!
BBB: What is the most rewarding aspect of writing for you?
JT: Hearing from my readers. I love hearing from all the different people who’ve enjoyed Eternal Seduction, be they family, friends or fans. I have bad days just like everyone else, and when those days happen sometimes I’ll go back through reader e-mails/guestbook entries and it helps me refocus. Helps me remember there are others who want to play in my world as much as I do. I think that’s why I say thank you so much in my blog. Selling books definitely motivates me, but it’s the comments and notes from my readers that keep me going when I want to toss my laptop out the window.
I also get a huge kick out of reading comments where my characters are referred to in the same context as someone you might meet on the street. There’s no greater feeling of satisfaction for me than hearing someone talk about Odin as though he might sit down next to them at any moment. If the characters have come to life in a reader’s eyes or heart…well, it doesn’t get any better than that!
BBB: What or who was your muse that got you started writing?
JT: The title of “Muse” goes to three people. My mom, because there isn’t a weekend I can remember when I was a kid that she didn’t have a Red Silhouette novel in her hands. Her love of reading made me want to read, which inevitably lead to my love of writing. My husband, because not only is he my pillar of stability, he made me promise once I started writing that I wouldn’t stop until it took me somewhere. And Sherrilyn Kenyon, because after reading Night Play, I was so enthralled with the world she created, I wondered if I could make someone else feel that way about my own. If it wasn’t for all three of them, I’m not sure I’d be doing this interview right now!
BBB: What do you feel are the benefits of the new electronic readers such as Kindle or the Sony Digital Book Reader to the environment?
JT: In terms of the Kindle, I don’t think there really are any yet. Most of the portable readers currently on the market are too expensive for the majority of consumers. I think in a few years when they’ve mastered the technology and the prices come down to something a little more reasonable, then you’ll see benefits to the environment. Less paper means more trees. Trees are good. Unless, of course, your name is Will Scarlet. Rumor has it he hates trees.
BBB: What impact do electronic readers create on the bottom line for authors in the end? Do you feel they have a negative impact or positive, or no impact at all that you can see?
JT: I know that I’ve sold twice as many eBooks of Eternal Seduction as I have print. So for me, the impact is definitely positive. And really, I think it’s positive all the way around. A lot of great authors who’ve been turned away by traditional publishers are finding very happy homes with e-publishers. That’s a win for everyone. The authors, who now have a market and home for their work when they may not have otherwise. The publishers, who are getting top notch authors to build their business on and around. And the readers, who literally have thousands of wonderful books available to them 24 hours a day – and they don’t even have to leave the house to go shopping!
BBB: Who among your character families is your favorite and why?
JT: Hmmm. If we’re talking about the families spawned by the six Original vampires, I’d have to say it’s a tie between the Mystics and the Warriors. The Mystics because their powers are off the charts and they can make almost anything happen if they really put their mind to it. The Warriors because they’re all heart and passion. They prize loyalty above all else, and will fight to the death for anything and anyone they care about.
If we’re talking about individual family bloodlines, I’d have to say it’s a tie between the Nelek family and the Black family. The Neleks because I love writing Stefan and his kids. They span such a wide range of age and personalities, they always keep me guessing. The Blacks because Justin holds a very, very special place in my heart. He’s one of the strongest, most confident characters I have – but at the same time he’s so lost and trapped in his own guilt.
BBB: Are Servios ever allowed to become a vampire or are they always a servant?
JT: Truthfully, it all depends on their Master. Some vampires won’t make someone a Child unless they’ve served as a Servio for a specific and usually extended period of time. Think of it almost like an internship, where you learn all the rules and come out more prepared to finally take the big step into true immortality. Other vampires will tell you, “Once a servant, always a servant.” They see Servios as second class citizens and can’t imagine one of them actually earning fangs, let alone passing their curse to one of them.
Believe it or not, the decision to turn a Servio into a Child gets more complicated the older a vampire is. If you’re a 10,000 year old vampire, and your personal Servio has been with you most of that time, chances are they’re more of a friend than a servant. No doubt you’ve come to depend on them during the day, will most likely listen to their council for better or worse, and you might even love them in some ways (and/or vice versa). Turning that beloved friend into a vampire can be a risky gambit. Vampires are constantly in competition with each other for food, power and prestige. Is it really a good idea to put someone who knows you so well on even ground with you? What if the new relationship between Sire and Child sours? Your former Servio, now Child, knows your greatest secrets…and more importantly, they probably know when and where you sleep.
So, is it physiologically possible for a Servio to be turned into a vampire? Yes, absolutely. Is it necessarily a good idea to allow it…maybe, maybe not.
BBB: Can you tell us how many books are planned after Eternal Seduction and when we can expect them? Or what your next releases will be if they are stand alone titles?
JT: As it stands, I have about 13 books and a few novellas planned for the Eternal Series. My goal is to release them no more than 6 months apart. Books 2, 3 and 4 are written and going through final revisions, and I’m writing book 5 (Odin’s Book!) on the in between. I promised myself I’d keep the series going as long as there’s interest, and as long as I never reach a point where I feel like I’m writing the same story over and over. If that happens, I’ll write the last book and move on to something else.
BBB: Succubus or Vampire. Which would you choose to be and why?
JT: Definitely a vampire. Although, in my world, the most effective way for a vampire to hide their feeding is to bite their prey during orgasm…so I suppose you get the best of both worlds! As for why, I think it’s because I’m strangely comfortable with the idea of never seeing the sun again and sleeping all day.
BBB: How would you describe the writing style in the Eternal Seduction? Is it serious dark paranormal or a cross between Urban Fantasy and paranormal or something else entirely?
JT: Personally, I’m still trying to figure out exactly what Urban Fantasy is. I’ve been told it’s essentially a paranormal romance novel where the romance takes a back seat and the fate of the world is always at stake, usually resting in the hands of the protagonists. To be honest, I’m not a big fan of series where the fate of the planet is hanging in the balance in every single novel. I’m all for putting a character’s personal world in jeopardy, but I don’t think every book needs an Earth shattering battle sequence.
So, with all that in mind, I’d say Eternal Seduction is Dark Paranormal Romance with mild horror elements. I know there’s been a big trend lately to stray away from the more romantic aspects of vampire/paranormal novels, but I don’t intend to follow that curve. Call me a rule breaker, but I really enjoy writing romance and I love the complexities that particular emotion brings out in my characters, ancient or otherwise. Will there be a little sarcasm and ass-kickery to go along with all the love? Of course, but only when pertinent to the story and characters.
As for serious, there are certainly moments in my novels when things take a more serious turn but I wouldn’t necessarily choose that word to describe my series. Dark? Definitely. I’m not sure I could write a novel that didn’t have some horror elements in it. I mean, we’re talking vampires here, some of whom are truly ancient. They prey on the very species they once were a part of. Now, that’s not to say I don’t have my good guys, but you’re not going to find any of my vampires frolicking in a sunlit field of poppies.
Side note: Every time someone uses the term Urban Fantasy…I automatically think of Marvin the Martian. “Where’s the ka-boom? The earth shattering KA-BOOM?!?”
BBB: How do you keep track of your characters and world building?
JT: Right now, it’s all in my head. I keep telling myself that I’m going to go buy one of those fancy little notebooks with the fabric cover then write all the rules and whatnot down, but whenever I actually make it to the store I always get sidetracked. And usually it’s because of something shiny or containing dark chocolate.
BBB: What is your favorite paranormal fiction book of all time?
JT: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. I read it for the first time back in 5th grade, and to this day, I’m still fascinated by the idea of the 4th dimension.
BBB: What do you like to do in between all the time you spend writing?
JT: I like to spend time with my daughter and my Husband. We’re feeling the economic crunch just like the rest of the country, so we’ve been staying home a lot and having Call of Duty 4 tournaments (my husband couldn’t live without his X-Box). I know COD4 is probably not the best video game for a 9 year old girl, but there’s something seriously funny about watching her use her infamous brute force machine gun attack, then hearing her talk smack to her Dad.
I also like to watch movies, read, and listen to music. Music is a huge part of my life, and there aren’t many moments in the day where there isn’t music playing somewhere in my apartment.
BBB: What made you decide to self publish instead of go with an e-pub or print publisher? Are you glad you did? Would you consider making the move over and letting somebody else do it all?
JT: To be completely honest, I chose to self publish because I couldn’t find an agent who wanted my series. I ran into a lot of opposition concerning Logan Ellis (the heroine in Eternal Seduction) because she starts out as a homeless drug addict. Apparently that concept pushed the bounds of Dark Paranormal a little too far for them. I was given the option a few times to change those elements and resubmit, but after a lot of thought I decided against it. Not because I was trying to be difficult, but more because I felt those aspects were very important to Logan’s character. I’m all about compromise, but removing Logan’s addiction and homeless status would have changed who she is and her outlook on the world, which inevitably would’ve changed the way Kerestyan saw her, and in turn changed the entire novel. Plus, considering the issues they had with the darker nature of Eternal Seduction, I could almost envision the look of horror on their face if they saw what happened in the next book.
Am I glad I self published? Yes. If nothing else, I learned firsthand about the amount of work that really goes into preparing a book for publication. The editing, proofreading, formatting, cover design, proofing and general hair-pulling-out feeling you get when that one line just won’t go where you want it to. Then you have the marketing and promotion. Self publishing has been a very trying road to walk at times, but getting a 5 Tombstone review and hearing from all the people who’ve enjoyed the first book…makes it all worth it!
Would I consider making the move over and letting someone else do it all? Gladly! Know anyone who’s interested??
BBB: Do you plan on having the twins battle each other?
JT: Believe me when I tell you – they already are…
BBB: Will Odin get his own book or Drake??
JT: Drake’s book, Eternal Hearts, is next in line with a scheduled release date of May 1, 2009. Odin’s book, Eternal Embers, is book number 5, but you get to meet his woman in book 4, Eternal Desires.
BBB: What did you do before you became a writer? Do you write full time?
JT: I’ve been a cashier, a press operator at a dry cleaner, a food court attendant, an assembler at a chemical factory, a data entry operator, a recruiting specialist, a human resources assistant, a tattoo artist, a payroll clerk, an administrative assistant, a distribution clerk, and an inside sales representative…in that order!
I became a serious writer in between the last two. I do write full time now, but only because my husband, the awesome man he is, works a standard 48 hour week to give me this opportunity.
BBB: Why does Logan brush her teeth so much?
JT: LOL! For her, it’s a somewhat twisted but comforting affirmation of survival. Most people brush their teeth first thing after they wake up, to most, it’s an absolute necessity. So if she lives to brush her teeth that day and has the means to do so, she knows her life could be a lot worse.
BBB: Katie who reviewed your amazing book has one big question she would like to know but at the same time wouldn’t want to know, is Drake the vampire/werewolf?
JT: Is Drake a vampire/werewolf? Yes. Is he *THE* vampire/werewolf…you’ll have to read his book to find out.
What?!? You didn’t think I could just give that one away…did you?
BBB: Do you have any pearls of wisdom you would like to share with our readers here today?
JT: The sarcastic side of me says: Don’t eat yellow snow. But the other side says: Go ahead, a little dog pee never killed anyone.
Jennifer, thank you again for being here today, it has been fun!! Readers be SURE to check out Jennifer’s website here:http://www.darknesswithinnovels.com/
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Questions and Contest: Now, I am going to open up the internet floor so to speak and let our readers ask Jennifer some questions. Feel free to post as many questions or comments as you like. She will be popping in and out today and tomorrow to answer them.
Readers, here’s how to enter the contest. You can do ONE or ALL of these things, and each one will give an additional entries at a chance to win. One lucky participant will be chosen to win an amazing prize package containing a copy of Eternal Seduction and an ARC of Eternal Hearts AND Eternal Embrace, a month or two before they are set to release. The contest will be open to our international readers as well.
Please note, the prize package IS the prize you will receive, there will be absolutely no substitutions or changes the prize is non-transferable. If you don’t want the prize being offered, please don’t enter the contest. If you ever win an electronic copy of a book, please note that it is ILLEGAL to forward, give away or copy it in anyway once you receive it. Doing so violates copyright. If we find out that it has been done, you will no longer be eligible to win any of our contests.
1. Ask Jennifer some questions. Ask as many questions as you like, you can also start a stimulating discussion.
2. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter here on the right hand side of the site. This is for new subscribers only.
3. Post the link to the interview here today (http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=2780) at another blog, website, Myspace, Ning Group, Facebook, Yahoo Group (any group where it is appropriate) and you will be given TEN additional entries for a chance to win for every link you post. BUT you MUST come back here to this interview and post those links in one response here in this thread. The more places you post the event, the more entries you get, so spread the word! NOTE: if you post multiple links here, your post will not show up right away. If you don’t see it, don’t keep posting it, we WILL approve your entry later on in the day.
4. Purchase copies of Jennifer’s awesome book TODAY or TOMORROW and send us a copy of the receipt VIA email (sorry no faxes) for your purchase to: racoo.smith @ gmail.com (no spaces) for TWENTY additional entries. You get TWENTY entries for each one you purchase. Not valid on past purchases. Click this link to buy her most recent book.Eternal SeductionEternal Seduction - Kindle Version
Or buy ANYTHING from Amazon today by using the Amazon search box to your right hand side on our site and get 10 entries
Books make GREAT gifts for friends and family anytime!
5. Add us as your friend on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bittenbybooks
Add us as your friend on Facebook: http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=614064436
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BittenbyBooks
Be sure to mention that you are friending us for this contest so we know to enter you!
6. Stumble, Digg or share the post with any social networking sites. There is a button right at the end of this post that says “Share” that you can use.
7. Twitter and ask your friends to re-tweet the URL for this event: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=2780
8. Read the Bitten by Books review of Jennifer’s book here:
http://bittenbybooks.com/?page_id=58&book_author_id=Jennifer%20Turner
Then leave a meaningful comment IN THE REVIEW post that shows you read the review, not just a post that says “sounds good” or “nice review”, a couple of sentences would be great! Simply share your thoughts, ideas or opinions and show the author some love.
9. Add Jennifer’s blog to your blog roll or links page: http://www.darknesswithinnovels.com/
10. Add Bitten by Books to your blog roll or links page: http://bittenbybooks.com if you leave our link up permanently you will always be entered into our contests automatically. Just be sure to stop by each contest we hold and leave the link to where it is so we can give you your entry!
11. Email ALL of your friends and invite them to come by today! If your fiends come and post here and say you sent them, they get TWO entries and you get TWO entries! They have to tell us who you are so we know who to give the entries to. You can invite as many people as you want and get all the extra entries!
12. Join the The Blood Bank the Bitten by Books Community! here: http://bittenbybooks.ning.com/ then come back here and tell us your username. Be sure to post something about yourself on your blog there.
The contest will run through tomorrow 12/9/08 at 3:00 pm Eastern time to allow our East coast and international readers a chance to win too!
Be sure to include an email and name where we can contact you if you are a winner.
We will be awarding the AMAZING prize and announcing the winner to the Bitten by Books website later. And REMEMBER you can’t win if you don’t play!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Do you know who Angela James is?...
Well for Heaven's sake, if you don't let me educate you. Angela is an editor and she has a wonderful blog that is worth a visit on any given day. I have her bookmarked and I visit every day. The next two weeks are really special though. She is holding a "The Twelve Days of Christmas Givaway". What is she giving away? you ask.
2 KINDLES ( not one but TWO KINDLES!!!!!!!!)
as well as
gift certificates (to bookstores of course),
Books,
a laptop bag,
Books,
an Australian gift pack,
Books,
a Vera Bradley purse,
Books,
promotional items ( Samhain's famous coffee mug for example),
Books
and more!
*****This is important. Look close*****
GO TO http://nicemommy-evileditor.com/blog/ so that you too may have a chance to win!!!
2 KINDLES ( not one but TWO KINDLES!!!!!!!!)
as well as
gift certificates (to bookstores of course),
Books,
a laptop bag,
Books,
an Australian gift pack,
Books,
a Vera Bradley purse,
Books,
promotional items ( Samhain's famous coffee mug for example),
Books
and more!
*****This is important. Look close*****
GO TO http://nicemommy-evileditor.com/blog/ so that you too may have a chance to win!!!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Bitten By Books' new contest. Free books !!!!
Well, we know how much you ALL love free stuff, especially FREE BOOKS, so be SURE to mark your calendars for the Bitten by Books BOOK Blog Carnival event! The carnival starts at 8:00 am Central time Monday November 3rd and lasts ALL WEEK and ends on Sunday November 9th at 11:59 pm Pacific time. Comments are closed until the carnival starts.
The winners will be contacted and announced sometime the week of the 10th. You will have to give us some time to sort through all of the hundreds of entries. Thanks for your patience on this.
Unlike the Haunted Bloggy Carnival, this one is ALL about books and book related items! We have some great prizes coming your way. Here’s a sampling of just a few of the prizes our blog will be offering up next week. It is a smaller carnival, so it should be a breeze to do your entries. International entrants welcome!
Keep checking back here daily, because the list will GROW larger as more companies join in on the Book Blog Carnival fun! We already have over $655.00 in prizes lined up! Be sure to stop by the main carnival page here to see all of the participating blogs!
If you would like to contribute a prize and promote your books or business, please email us through our CONTACT FORM.
Now I bet you are wondering just how you can win some of this spectacular loot! There are a TON of ways to win. Do to different states laws you MUST be 18 to enter. You do NOT have to have a blog to participate.
OH!! and if you like FREE STUFF, be sure to stop by our Freebies Page!
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CONTEST INFO
Readers, here’s how to enter the contest. You can do ONE OR ALL of these things, and each one will give an additional entry and thus MORE chances to win. Check next to each contributors page to see if there are MORE ways you can get chances win.
1. Join the NEW Bitten By Books Community and start a page to talk about all things paranormal fiction! Meet authors, join in on upcoming contests an more! You can have your own blog where you can post about THIS contest (and that gets you an entry). You can start groups and chat in our forums as well as participate in live chat. Best of all it is FREE. Paranormal authors come and start fan page for yourself! Here’s the link! Sign up and join in the fun!http://bittenbybooks.ning.com/You get 10 additional entries for joining our community!
2. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter here on the right hand side of the site. You MUST verify your subscription via the email the site will send you. Unverified subscribers will not be entered into the contest. This option is for new subscribers only.
3. Post this blog post in it’s entirety with a link to our contest on your blog, groups, forums or websites and you will be given FIVE additional entries to win for EACH place you post. You MUST post the links where you have shared the info in one response here in this thread. The more places you post the event, the more entries you get, so spread the word! NOTE: Don’t worry if your post doesn’t show up right away or you get an error message, the spam filter on the site will catch it if there are too many links. I will approve your posts so no need to worry, if this happens please don’t post your list multiple times. Check back later in the week to see if it is up.
4. Make a purchase between 10/27-11/2 from ANY or all of the retailers / book sellers participating on our page (see list below) and send us a copy of the receipt for your purchase to: racoo.smith @ gmail.com (no spaces) for an additional FIVE entries. You get entries for every purchase you make. Be SURE to put BBB Contest Entry in the subject line so it doesn’t get lost in our spam filter. NOT valid on past purchases.
5. Check every contributor’s prize listing below for a way to gain additional entries. This is an easy way to get more chances and really increase your chances to WIN!
6. Add us as your friend on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bittenbybooks
or Add us as your friend on Facebook: http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=614064436
Be sure to mention that you are friending us for this contest so we know to enter you!
7. Make a purchase from the Bitten by Books store here: http://bittenbybooks.com/?page_id=5 and send us a copy of the receipt for your purchase to: racoo.smith @ gmail.com (no spaces) for an additional TWENTY FIVE entries. You get entries for every purchase you make during the week. Be SURE to put BBB Contest Entry in the subject line so it doesn’t get lost in our spam filter. NOT valid on past purchases. The entries are per purchase not per item you purchase. So, if you place multiple orders during the week you will get 25 entries for each order. We can and will verify that you purchased the items from our store.
8. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BittenbyBooks
Be sure to mention that you are friending us for this contest so we know to enter you!
9. Stumble, Digg or share the post with any social networking sites. There is a button right at the end of this post that says “Share” that you can use.
10. Twitter the URL for this event throughout the week: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=1752
11. Add Bitten by Books to your blog roll or links page: http://bittenbybooks.com if you leave our link up permanently you will always be entered into our contests automatically. Just be sure to stop by each contest we hold and leave the link to where it is.
12. Invite ALL of your friends! If your fiends come and post here and say you sent them, they get TWO entries and you get TWO entries! They have to tell us who you are so we know who to give the entries to. You can invite as many people as you want and get all the extra entries!
13. Read through the Bitten by Books blog and find your favorite review and come back here and post the LINK to it. One favorite review per contestant please.
14. Read through the Bitten by Books blog and find your favorite reviews. Then leave a meaningful comment IN THE REVIEW post that shows you read the review, not just a post that says “sounds good” or “nice review”, a couple of sentences would be great! Simply share your thoughts, ideas or opinions and show the author some love. You can do this as many times as you like. One additional entry per meaningful comment.
Be sure you leave a valid email and your name AND COUNTRY when posting here so we can contact you if you are the winner. We will contact the winners and request your first/last name and a valid email which we will give to the retailer whose prize you have one. It is up to the individual retailers to award your prizes. If we do not hear back from winners within one week of contacting you, you prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner will be chosen. We reserve the right to delete any inappropriate or inflammatory remarks or comments. Bitten by Books is NOT liable for prizes that are not delivered, awarded or lost in the mail. It is the sole responsibility of each contributor to honor their prize obligation.
And last but certainly not least A BIG thank you to our fabulous contributors!!
Here is the list of AMAZING prizes you are trying to win!
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Dreamspinner Press - 4 each $25.00 Electronic Gift Certificates to their website AND 1 - Paranormal Book Set including: Alliance in Blood by Ariel Tachna, Cursed by Rhianne Aile and Children of Bacchus by Andrew Grey. All signed by the authors. Five winners. Valued at $139.00. Worldwide shippinghttp://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/***ADULT CONTENT***“Publishers of m/m romantic fiction.”*** For an additional contest entry to win go to the Dreamspinner Press site and pick any book you would like to read, then come back and post a LINK to that book here. Only one book choice is necessary.
Charlotte Boyett-Compo - 20 electronic copies of her books. Twenty winners win one book and can choose from the following titles: WindKeeper, WindSeeker, WindWeeper, WindHealer. WindReaper, WindDreamer, WindBeliever, WindDeceiver, WindRetriever, BloodWind, DarkWind, EvilWind, NightWind, WyndSheer, WindBorn, In the Wind’s Eye, Shadowlord, Prince of the Wind, DesertWind, Taken by the Wind. Valued at $120.00http://www.windlegends.org/“Where dark fantasy slips into the arms of his readers.”*** For an additional contest entry to win go to Charlee’s site find the book page and pick any book you would like to read, then come back here and post a LINK to that page and the title of the book. Only one book choice is necessary.
Ricki Marking-Camuto - A grab bag of 9 romance novels sure to warm you on cold winter nights. Valued at $71.00, US shipping only.http://www.theetailerreviewspot.blogspot.com/*** For an additional contest entry to win go to Ricki’s Blog and pick your favorite post, then come back and post a LINK to that post here. Only one choice is necessary.
Frank Say - 4 autographed copies of his book Nine Lives. Four winners. Shipping worldwide. Valued at $64.00http://www.franksay.com/“Announcing the release of debut novel, Nine Lives.”*** For an additional contest entry to win go to Frank’s site find the book page and pick any book you would like to read, then come back here and post a LINK to that page and the title of the book. Only one book choice is necessary.
Kim McDougall - 10 Luminari flasks. 10 winners. Valued at $50.00 shipping to US and Canada.http://www.kimmcdougall.com/“Between the Cracks Fiction”*** For an additional contest entry to win go to Kims’s site find the book page and pick any book you would like to read, then come back here and post a LINK to that page and the title of the book. Only one book choice is necessary.
Bitten by Books Review Site - $20.00 Amazon.com Gift Card
Diane McEntire - A prize package including a $20.00 Walmart Gift Card, t-shirt, cap, pen and other goodies. Valued at $30.00. Worldwide shipping.http://www.dmcentire.com/ **Adult Content**“Paranormal, Western, Action/Suspense, and Historical Romance”*** For an additional contest entry to win go to Diane’s site find the book page and pick any book you would like to read, then come back here and post a LINK to that page and the title of the book. Only one book choice is necessary.
Katie Bug - is a Nature Tea for One Set. It includes a 15 oz pot with a 8 oz cup and saucer. Both have the larger handles for easier pouring. I will also throw in a few goodies that I have received from some of my favorite authors. Valued at $25.00, US shipping only.http://katiebugdomesticdiva.blogspot.com/“My own site where I post anything that pops into my head.”*** For an additional contest entry to win go to Katie’s Blog and pick your favorite post, then come back and post a LINK to that post here. Only one choice is necessary.
Mayra Calvani - 1 copy of The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing, nonfiction, ebook, value $5.00http://www.slipperybookreview.wordpress.com/“The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing was written not only with the aspiring reviewer in mind, but for the established reviewer who needs a bit of refreshing and also for anybody-be they author, publisher, reader, bookseller, librarian or publicist-who wants to become more informed about the value, purpose and effectiveness of reviews.”*** For an additional contest entry to win go to Mayra’s site find the book page and pick any book you would like to read, then come back here and post a LINK to the book page and the title of the book you would like to read. Only one book choice is necessary.
Dawn McClure - Electronic ARC of Azazel, a paranormal romance, coming from Samhain November 25, 2008. Valued at $4.50http://www.dawnmcclure.com/*** For an additional contest entry to win go to Dawn’s site find the novel page and tell us the name of the second book listed on that page, then come back here and post a LINK to that page and the title of the book. Only one book choice is necessary.
Tabitha Shay/Jaydyn Chelcee - An Amazing prize package including: 2 books, “Witch’s Moon” and “In the Arms of Danger” in E-format.There is adult content in both books. Signed copies of these two book covers and signed post cards. Valued at $15.00. Worldwide shipping.http://www.tabithashay.com/“Witches, wizards and things that bump in the night. Hot cowboys who make the Wild West seem tame.”*** For an additional contest entry to win go to Tabitha’s site find the book page and pick any book you would like to read, then come back here and post a LINK to buy the book and the title of the book. Only one book choice is necessary.
Rose Pressey - A free download of her e-book, “Me and My Ghoulfriends”. Valued at $5.50http://www.rosepressey.com/“Paranormal Romance Author”*** For an additional contest entry to win go to Rose’s site find the book page and then come back here and post a LINK to that page and the title of the book she has coming out. Only one book choice is necessary.
Virginia Hendricks - Two prizes, two winners. 1 copy of Candace Havens book: Charmed and Ready AND A lovely swag bag with lots of goodies from various authors. Valued at $20.00. Worldwide shipping.“Reviewer for Bittenbybooks.com”
Madeleine Urban - One Madeleine Urban-Abigail Roux eBook gift pack: “Caught Running”, “Love Ahead”, and brand new top-reviewed release “Cut & Run”.http://madeleineurban.livejournal.com/ ***Stories are of an adult nature****** For an additional contest entry to win go to Madeleine’s site find her booksand pick any book you would like to read, then come back here and post a LINK to that page and the title of the book. Only one book choice is necessary.
C.A.Milson - 5 e-books of his novel, The Chosen. 5 winners. Valued at $30.00http://authorcamilson.blogspot.com/*** For an additional contest entry to win go to Chris’ Blog and pick your favorite post, then come back and post a LINK to that post here. Only one choice is necessary.
Chrissy Munder - Two Chrissy Munder ebook gift packs (one each for two lucky winners) containing 3 of her short stories - Brush with Desire, Bridge of Dreams and Business Before Pleasure. Valued at $12.00http://www.chrissymunder.com/ ***Stories are of an adult nature***“I’m a m/m author celebrating the love, laughter and desire found in the relationships important to us all.”*** For an additional contest entry to win go to Chrissy’s site find the book page and pick any book you would like to read, then come back here and post a LINK to that page and the title of the book. Only one book choice is necessary.
Skyla Dawn Cameron - 1 print copy of her novel Bloodlines and one electronic download copy of her novel River. Two winners. Valued at $21.00. Worldwide shipping.http://www.skyladawncameron.com/“Step out of the light…and into my world.”*** For an additional contest entry to win go to Skyla’s site find the Novels page and pick any book you would like to read, then come back here and post a LINK to that page and the title of the book. Only one book choice is necessary.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Demon Bound Again, .....
but it's another chance for you to win a free book and you get to look at the pretty man on the cover photo. Well, you would if there was actually anybody out there. If you should happen upon this before Monday Dec 3, go to http://irysangel.livejournal.com/480909.html and find out how to win an autographed copy of this book.
**** By the way. It helps if you can LOLcat. (Whatever that is) ****
Monday, October 27, 2008
Widget insertion - Yeah Right!!
Okay, I'll be the first to admit that I'm an idiot when it comes to managing this blogsight. Practically everything I do on it is a learning experience. This was supposed to be this neat little widget to go along the sidebar. It had talent people, it could do things. And will my computer let me see how to insert it? ... NO, because it is an ancient POS and can't run the nifty little program to show me how.
Now, interested as to what this "Demon Bound" bookcover has to do with any of this? Demon Bound is the 7th in Meljean Brook's Guardian Series. It will be releasing on November 4 (Election Day - GO VOTE!) and is going to be a phenominal read. I've read two in the series and have the rest on my wishlist. Ms Brook is sponsoring a contest to celebrate the release of this title and I'm doing my part. Please check out this site for more info on the Guardians and Ms. Brook. http://meljeanbrook.com/blog/dbhq
Once again I've learned something. Apparently Blogspot (Bless their hearts) is like my email and when I type in a web address it automatically creates a link. If this isn't the case, somebody please tell me why the address changes colors.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Shiloh Walkers November Release....
Excerpt
The weird sense of deja vu exploded into something else entirely. Something that shook her to the core. His eyes narrowed and he reached up, caught her chin in his, staring at her.
She was pale and Cullen thought she looked every bit as shaken as he felt. “The dreams,” he muttered. He caught her face in his hands and forced her to look at him, staring into her pale gray eyes. The ugly, dark bruise around her left eye made her iris seem that much paler and as he watched, the pupil flared, enlarging until just a sliver of gray of visible.
Taige tried to jerk away and he wouldn’t let her. “You had the dreams, too, didn’t you?” he demanded.
Her voice shook as she reached up with one hand to jerk on his wrist, trying to break his hold. “Let go of me.”
Slowly, he shook his head. “You have,” he whispered, dismay spreading through him.
Dismay–and something else. She’d always held herself apart from him in those dreams. But through those dreams, he’d gotten to know her, gotten to know the woman she had become. She was pulling away from him not because she was angry at him, or because she didn’t want anything to do with him.
She pulled back because she still loved him.
releasing 11/4/08…
Want to read more? Click here
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