Saturday, May 04, 2013

Suddenly Royal - Tour (GUEST POST)




Release Date: April 23rd, 2013
Genre(s): New Adult Contemporary Romance

SUDDENLY ROYAL Synopsis:



Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.


Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.


While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders.







Whirlwind Books: What I wish I’d known before I published.

I never thought I’d be an author. Oh, I wanted to be one, but thought it was a long shot. How many people actually get published? And out of those, how many are able to make a living out of it? Back when I was trying to pick a career, the honest answer was, very few. So I wrote for myself, for my sister, and for my friends. I didn’t really pay much attention to what all went into being a writer—like many people I just thought they made up stories. Okay, I knew there was more to it than that. I knew they had to research and that they needed to impress an agent or editor. And that last part? It was the nail in the coffin for me. I’m not Dickens or Austin. Who would want to read my books? So I was beaten before I even started.

But when self-publishing began to change the industry, I looked over at the unfinished manuscripts I had and took a deep breath. Maybe this was what I needed. No gatekeepers—my stories would go straight to the readers. And oddly, that eased my fears. If the readers didn’t like it, then I’d really know. Of course, now looking back, I realize there was still a lot I didn’t know about the publishing industry despite all of the research I did. And believe me, I researched everything I could think of and anything new I stumbled across.

One thing I wish I had known before publishing was how much reviews could affect you. We all know that bad reviews hurt. What I hadn’t expected was the pressure good reviews would have on me and my future books. The desire to not disappoint can be overwhelming. I also wish I had understood the saying, “Every reader is different.” I mean, I knew that some people would like a book and others wouldn’t. That’s natural. But I didn’t really get it until I was getting conflicting reviews on a daily basis. A 5 star review that loved the humor and tenderness in my book would be countered with a review that hated, loathed, despised, the ‘cheesy’ romance and jokes. After a while I leaned to shrug it off. I write what I like to read. Not everyone likes the same books that I do. And you know what? That’s okay.

Something that I would go back and change would be my management of time. It’s hard to be a full time author while at home with an adorable three year old that begs to play dress up while blinking large blue eyes at me. (It’s also hard to concentrate when she’s calling my name from the bathroom, asking if the remote was supposed to float in the toilet.) Being a work from home mother means that I have to be flexible, so when I say time management, I mean how much time I spend on the everyday author stuff. Mainly social media. Being present and accessible is one of the things that sets self-published and indie authors apart. However I had no idea how incredibly time consuming and draining it could be. If I could go back, I would set a time limit for that stuff. Which is very hard to do with today’s electronics. If you catch me without my phone, I’m probably walking around with an arm across my chest and a hand in front of my crotch, a’la The Venus style. Why? Because I feel naked without it. However, it can cut into your writing and if you’re not careful—into your real life as well. So, set time limits!

Most importantly, remember to trust your inner story-teller. Self-doubt is normal. Heck, it’s natural. And if you’re not worried you’ve done something wrong, you likely have. But never let someone cut the heart out of your story. Only you know what you’re trying convey. (However, this does not apply to editors. They likely know where that comma is supposed to go.)

I wish all aspiring writers luck and patience. Writing is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. So hang in there for the long haul.


Thank you for being part of the Suddenly Royal blog tour! 




Here's what Nichole had to say about the giveaway:


"To celebrate the official release of Suddenly Royal, I wanted to do something special. I could have done another giveaway, but that just didn’t seem like enough. This year, I’ve seen a lot of sad things, but I’ve also seen some amazing, spectacular people step forward to help. In a time of uncertainty and confusion, I feel like it’s important to celebrate those that are doing good and making a difference around them. So, this is what I want to do. I want to treat someone like a princess for a day. Really pamper them and make them feel special and loved.


But how to choose? Instead of doing a random drawing, I want you—my readers—to nominate someone deserving. Leave a comment on this post describing your deserving nominee and I will choose five people. Then you guys get to vote on who is the most deserving. All five of those people will receive a small package from me—but the one person with the most votes will receive the grand prize!


What is the grand prize, you ask? Well, let me tell you. We’re pulling out all the stops!
The grand prize winner will receive:
Signed swag from Suddenly Royal
A signed paperback copy of Suddenly Royal
A $100 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Certificate-I’m donating to this too! You do the Ulta and I’ll do the bookstore
A handmade necklace by moi!
A $100 ULTA gift certificate!
And what princess is complete without a crown and wand? Those will be provided for their special day as well!



Let’s give a deserving woman (or man!) the pampering they deserve! Leave a comment with your nominee’s name, why they deserve to be Princess for a Day, and a way for me to contact you. (I may need more information from you for the next round. If I can’t get in touch with you, I may have to move on to one of the other stories.)


Let’s get started! We’ll be accepting entries until 11:59pm on Saturday, April 27th. KP Simmon of InkSlinger PR and I will be choosing the top 5 stories on Sunday and posting the open voting on Tuesday, April 30th. We’ll keep voting open until Friday, May 3rd, at 12:00am and we’ll announce the winner on Sunday, May 5th! I’m a firm believer in passing things forward and I’ve been very lucky this year. Hopefully we can bring a smile to someone that needs it!"






Author Bio:


Nichole Chase is a daydreamer. No, really, just ask any of the math teachers that had the misfortune of seeing her name appear on their class schedule.



For years she has had story lines and characters begging for attention, but she resolutely pushed them aside to focus on more normal (read, boring) jobs.


Well, no longer! She is currently heeding the voices in her head and frantically writing their stories. Ms. Chase is the author of the Dark Betrayal Trilogy, Flukes, and Suddenly Royal (including several short stories).


Nichole resides in South Georgia with her husband, energetic daughter, dog, tortoise, and two cats. When not devouring novels by the dozens, you may find her writing, painting, crafting, or chasing her daughter around the house while making monster noises.


Links:


Books a Million:
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