Contractversary + Giveaway!

Hi folks!

Exactly four years ago, I was signing my first contract with Entangled Publishing. I knew my book, A Vengeful Affair, got approved a few weeks before that. Still. Signing the contract was a big deal.

I look back and realize so much has changed. I have learned so much more about the craft, and the industry changed a lot too. When I started, I was so green. I mean, I'm still green and trust me, there's still a lot to learn. I guess what I meant to say was I didn't know much. I loved writing, but I was a dummy in so many ways.

Six months after the contract, A Vengeful Affair was released. Thankfully, it got amazing reviews and it was on Amazon's Romance Series bestselling list for a several weeks. Again, I was so green-- I knew nothing about promo. I had virtual no support; I didn't know what a teaser was, or how to make a banner. When someone told me about street teams, I laughed it off. Who in the world would want to invest their time and effort to help me get exposure and boost sales? Really, that was such a silly idea.

Thankfully, the past few years taught me a lot of lessons. In particular, the past two years. Why? Because I was so new at everything, that when my book got picked, I had no back-up plan. I didn't have another romance ready to submit, I had no idea where to go from there. Nowadays, I get antsy if I don't have anything else in the works, with EP or self-pubbed.

Again, I know and hope this is still just the beginning for me. But I must say, all in all, I'm grateful I've been blessed with working with talented professionals. And the street team? I have one now, believe it or not, with well over 300 fabulous members. I'm getting better at promo, although I can't make my own teasers. They suck. Seriously. :)

So. To celebrate my contractversary, I'll give away a digital copy of A Vengeful Affair. For a chance to win, answer the question: what fear have you overcome or would you like to overcome?

Howdy, folks! Guess what? Red Hot Christmas is going on sale for 99cents for a VERY LIMITED time. That's two books, two lives, one hot price. And to top it off we're running a giveaway! From Sunday the 30th November to Sunday the 7th of December, get ready to be nice...and naughty, in fact get ready for Christmas to be Red Hot. To celebrate Cyber Monday, Red Hot Christmas is on sale for 99cents AND Michele de Winton and Carmen Falcone have a Red Hot prize pack up for grabs. The nice? Eight backlist titles. The naughty? A walk on Red Hot role in one of their next books. Your nominated names (we need two, real or fictional) will be used in a Red Hot Romance, for a character in a new book by both Michele and Carmen. You can even nominate a name as a great Christmas present! We've got nice and naughty sorted! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Easter Misbehaving Challenge!

Hi, folks! Are you enjoying the long holiday? Whether you celebrate Easter or not, please come on over my Facebook page for a fun Easter Misbehaving Challenge.

Click here --> https://www.facebook.com/carmenauthor and come CAPTION the three misbehaving eggs and enter for a chance to win a signed print copy of my Entangled debut, A Vengeful Affair.

Hope to read your caption soon!

Carmen

ARE YOU READY TO JOIN THE CREW?

If you’re into reading romance, winning cool giveaways and helping me promote my books, please join my street team! Think random questions, quirky pictures, and an all-around feel-good online group. It will be tons of fun. I promise a Magic Mike DVD autographed by Channing Tatum. Okay, maybe just the DVD to a lucky winner. But hey we can still all dream about Channing together!

Please send me a message so I can invite you and let’s get the party started! J

Embarrassing Halloweens (We've all been there, right?)

Are you ready for a treat? Entangled kicked off a Halloween blog hop with awesome prizes, tons of swag, and, let’s not forget, great posts! Please read mine and leave a comment to enter to win a $25 Amazon GC, which I’ll draw October 31, and then keep on hopping for more fun!

Embarrassing Halloweens (We’ve all been there, right?)

2003

It was my first week at my new job, and my first week in the United States, fresh from Brazil. I became super excited when work informed me that they were throwing a party for the employees.

I went to Party City, but the check-out line was huge, so I ended up buying a costume from a small, thrift store in downtown Austin. This store was crowded too, so I grabbed this long, purple number from the  sale rack without trying it on. A quick glance assured me that it looked decent—long and purple. How can anyone ever go wrong with purple, right?

Well, one could go very wrong. As I removed it from the box just before the party, I realized that my purple dress turned into a cheap, shiny fabric when the light hit it and had a V-neck deeper than the Grand Canyon. It was tight, oh so tight. When I walked, it was like every stitch was gripping my skin. Oh, and the high slit. How did that go unnoticed?

Well, I wouldn’t be the first person to dress slutty for Halloween, right? It was a work function, but it was still Halloween. I remember all those B-movies from the States I watched growing up. Hollywood couldn’t be wrong (by the way, writing this post, I came up with my costume for this year: Self-Denial Queen), could it?

Just in case, the good Catholic girl inside me (synonym for smothering Catholic guilt) pinned the V-neck so my girls would stick together and be covered. I realized that if I walked slowly, the high slit wouldn’t make an appearance, and if it did, those black fishnets would cover my legs. Classy, I know. 

So, not having time to buy another costume (I didn’t have a car yet), I ventured to the party as Spider Witch.

As I faced the fluorescent lights and the family-oriented costume-wearing crowd, my heart froze—non-alcoholic fruit punch and tons of clowns, superheroes, presidents, and Wizard of Oz witches greeted me. Some of my colleagues gave me a once over and frowned; others offered a sympathetic half smile. I didn’t know which was worse, being judged or being patronized. To be honest, I still don’t know.

I spotted the buffet, and the table with the cold cuts seemed like an oasis of understanding, of escape, and it called my name. When food calls your name, it’s rude not to answer, so I rushed to find solace in crispy chips and spicy salsa.  Or so I hoped.

On my way, I slipped on the hem of my dress and lost balance, and BAM! I fell on my butt on the polished, lemon-scented hardwood floor. I started to move to get to my feet and felt rather than heard the back of my dress rip a bit while my dignity shredded exponentially.

I surged to my feet and cleared my throat.

“Are you okay?” a sympathetic voice asked behind me.

I smothered laughter. Oh crap! How can a slutty witch not be okay on Halloween?

Do you have any embarrassing Halloween stories to tell? Is there anything you find cringe-worthy? J Share your thoughts and good luck! 

Heating Up Hawaii Release Partay!

Exciting news, folks!

 

Today my sexy contemporary novella Heating Up Hawaii is out to face the world and bring summer early this year! GIVEWAY ALERT!

 

 

Drumroll, please...

 

I’ll be giving away not one, but TWO $25 Amazon gift cards to two commenters if you help me get the word out.

 

 

How can you help? Please make sure you enter a comment below when you’ve done any of the things listed above for a chance to win :)

 

ü  Copy and paste this post on your blog, and promote it on Facebook or Twitter. Or...

 

ü  Add Heating Up Hawaii to your TO-READ list on Good Reads

 

ü  Buy the book if you enjoy sexy romances.

 

ü  Leave an honest review on Amazon, Goodreads or the Breathless Press site.

 

 

ü  The contest will close on May 10th, 2013 at midnight CDT.

 

 

Good luck!!!

Let's connect:

Goodreads ∙ Twitter ∙ Facebook

Blog

 

BUY LINKS:

 

Amazon

Breathless Press site.

Blurb: There is just one person standing between Penny Ashbrook’s dream of opening her own PR business or being stuck at her job–the formidable Luc Leoni–her first lover, and the man who lets nothing and no-one get in his way. Seeing him after so long brings all the hidden emotions after a life altering break-up to surface. Pain, denial and…lust.

Luc has made many sacrifices for his career, including Penny Ashbrook, the woman who set his aspirations back a year, but now she has returned and is more alluring than ever. After all these years, he thought a self-made billionaire as himself could master everything, but to resist the strong pull toward the one woman he can't have is an impossible task.

When this unlikely pair is reunited they will have to face the many challenges set in their way, especially an attraction that has only heightened with time and a deadline quickly approaching. Can their new bond surpass old—and new—fears? Read the excerpt

 

 

Interview with Kamy Chetty

Today, the talented Kamy Chetty is here with us to talk about her release. And there's a giveaway!

 

 

 

 

 

Kamy, what inspired you to write Falling into Paradise?

The characters. I started with the what if question/ What if there was this drop dead gorgeous playboy who was the sheriff of this small town, in walks this city slicker who is cute but has all these rules you have to follow. She prim and proper and the total opposite of him who is a total charmer, wouldn’t you want to lock them in a room, turn on the heat and see what happens?

Describe Falling into Paradise in 140 characters or less.

Two people who are afraid to love or trust for different reasons, are thrown together by fate and their mutual attraction for each other. Sophie must rely on Damon to help clear her of charges brought against her by the family of the woman he once loved. As their attraction grows so does the danger and when Paige, Sophie’s sister is rescued from the foster system and placed in her care, things become more than complicated as Damon faces the things he’s missed and ached for. But is that life a dream and is the playboy willing to risk his heart once again.

What actor and actress would play Damon and Sophie in a movie?

That’s easy- Damon would be played by Ian Somerhalder of course because that’s the Hottie I looked at when I was writing him and Sophie will be played by Charlize Theron

What advice would you give to someone experiencing writer’s block?

It’s really hard but it helps to have a routine, like music, I have the same playlist I play when I am writing the book. I light scented candles and prepare my office and my workspace, then I play my special playlist and then I am off.

If it’s bad, try walking or some other exercise. And if it’s really bad and nothing you do helps then don’t waste that time- use that time to edit another piece of work.

 

What's next for you?

I have another book coming out in June, it’s not tied to this- it’s a medical set in the US. The story is Nick and Skylar. He is an ex-marine- yes I have a thing for men in uniform. But I already have calls for Wolfe’s story so that needs to be written and I have a few ideas for that book so watch this space.

I have a thing for men in uniform, too! Your book sounds intriguing. Good luck! Kamy has kindly offered to giveaway a copy of Falling into Paradise to one lucky commenter. Be in it to win it, folks!

 

Kamy Chetty was born in South Africa. She is now settled in New Zealand with her family. She began her career as a nurse but she is now a published author. Her novel FALLING INTO PARADISE (genre: sexy romantic suspense) was recently released by RED SAGE.

 

 

 

 

BUY LINKS:

Red Sage Publishing

Amazon

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

A Vengeful Affair Giveaway Extravaganza!

***UPDATE: even if A Vengeful Affair doesn't reach the minimum goal, I'll still give away one $25 gift card on Monday, October 15th. So please help promote anyway and leave a comment below! Have a great weekend! :)***

 

 

I’m celebrating three months since A Vengeful Affair was released, and it’s still a Top 100 bestseller on Amazon Kindle’s Romance Series list! Thank you to my readers!

If A Vengeful Affair continues to climb, I’ll be giving away up to five $25 gift cards (Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes—winner’s choice!). That’s up to $125 worth of prizes, and your help will dictate how many gift cards will be given out.

So get your sneakers on and let’s climb! A Vengeful Affair is currently at #73, but we can do better!

How can you help?

ü  Copy and paste this post on your blog, and promote it on Facebook or Twitter.

ü  Buy the book if you enjoy sexy romances. J

ü  “Like” my page on Amazon. Tagging would be nice, too!

ü  Leave an honest review on Amazon, Goodreads or Barnes & Noble.

ü  Scream from your window! Well, I’m grateful for the yell, but please be social media savvy. J

 

Prizes:

If/when A Vengeful Affair reaches #60, I’ll give away one $25 gift card.

If/when A Vengeful Affair reaches #50, I’ll give away another $25 gift card.

If/when A Vengeful Affair reaches #35, I’ll give away an additional two $25 gift cards.

If/when A Vengeful Affair reaches #25, I’ll give away one more $25 gift card.

 

Please make sure you enter a comment below when you’ve done any of the things listed above for a chance to win :)

The contest will close on October 15th, 2012 at midnight CDT.

Let’s get the word out!

Until later,

Carmen