Chat with Brant Randall this Sunday at TWC

I keep hoping that google/blogger will get this issue resolved, but ... I'm still having to sneak through the back door to get into my blogs - one at a time. The dashboard seems to slap my hand every time I get near it.

If these 404 error problems persist I'll have no choice but to move this site elsewhere. Please stay tuned.

This Sunday, May 25th I'll be interviewing Brant Randall, author of Blood Harvest (and his alter-ego Bruce Cook of Philippine Fever) at The Writer's Chatroom.

Brant/Bruce is becoming one of those "old friends" and I hope he keeps pouring out the books. His writing style is one I enjoy very much whether he's in historical mode or action mode.

On June 1 I'll be interviewing J D Rhoades at TWC! I'll even admit to cyber-stalking him until he said yes.

I've completely re-vamped my website again. This time you'll find oodles of writer's and reader's aids with an abundance of live links to helpful "stuff". Take a look and let me know what you think: www.lindajhutchinson.com

I'm hoping to have more reviews up soon. Have finished Brett Battle's The Cleaner. Fabulous book! He is the only author I know who sold his first book to a major publisher.

Have also finished reading Pandora Key by Lynne Heitman, Glitter of Diamonds by N J Lindquist, and Beloved Castaway by Kathleen Y'Barbo.

And ... I made today's freelance deadline only 4 minutes late - even though the deadline had been moved up because of the holiday weekend.

Now to reward myself by going outside and pulling weeds in one of the new flower beds ... ahhhh, life is good.

I ALMOST FORGOT! Lisa Logan sent me this:

Catch the Creme de la Highlights of Behind-the-Scenes Romantic Fiction!

Ever wonder what parts of a book the writer likes best? Author Lisa Logan shares a special glimpse of her works-in-progress...by posting her favorite line written each day. http://authorlisalogan.blogspot.com/

Review of Blood Harvest by Brant Randall

Title: Blood Harvest
Author: Brant Randall
Pages: 286
Publisher: Capital Crime Press
ISBN: 13:978-0-9799960-1-6
ISBN: 10: 0-9799960-1-5

Brant Randall delivers in this historical mystery based on a story told to him by his grandmother. Although most of us think the KKK was a southern phenomenon, it had a direct hold on the New England states where this story unfolds—and in most other states across the nation.

Brought to life is 1920’s America; a time of prohibition, bootleggers, mob rule, the first sexual revolution, unionization of the workplace, the Spanish Influenza epidemic, returning war veterans of all races and ethnicities, the League of Nations’ promise of no more war, a huge influx of immigrants, speak-easies and jazz. It was a time of extravagant prosperity and extreme poverty.

Told in nine unique voices is the story of the trial and lynching of one successful immigrant, brought about by the greed and jealousy of a moonshiner rival. More intriguing is that the immigrant was married to the rival’s daughter.

How did another body show up at the death site? How much did law officials know beforehand? Was “justice” manipulated to serve specific purposes?

Although fictionalized, Blood Harvest brings us real history. How many of our direct descendants were members of the KKK in that time? Or are now? This book will beg you to search for answers to those questions.

The author’s impeccable research brings history to life. Blood Harvest is a highly recommended read!

Linda J. Hutchinson
www.lindajhutchinson.com
http://reviewhutch.blogspot.com

Winner of a $20 Gift Card to B&N!

During the month of March, The Writer's Chatroom hosted a virtual book tour for debut author Jordan Dane. We had a great time doing it!

Those who posted comments on the blogs of VBT hosts were eligible to win one of five $20 gift cards to that fabulous bookstore.

At the "Show--Not Tell" "Launch P-A-R-T-Y!" on March 30th, we scrambled the names of blog visitors and randomly drew five winners.

All of the winners have been notified except for Margay who visited at Billie William's Printed Words blogsite. We'd love to send Margay the gift card. So ... if you know Margay, please contact me at linda@lindajhutchinson.com.

I've been in Hijacked Browser hell once again

I'm still attempting to repair the damage done during the last attack (which Norton seemed to not notice and IE was oblivious to).

And I'm still having issues getting signed into blogger. My issue isn't covered in any of the blog posts at the help section and trying to post a message is a nightmare.

Every time I attempt to sign into www.blogger.com I receive a 404 error code. This code tells me I've made it to the site, but can't get in. UGH! Ha! Today I found my own way in. Arduously, I might add.

Please bear with me until these challenges are resolved. I've been reading some fabulous books when not fixing my laptop. Upcoming reviews include Glitter of Diamonds, The Cleaner, Holiday Writes (which I have a story in), Blood Harvest, Beloved Castaway, and The Pandora Key.

The "Launch P-A-R-T-Y!" for Jordan Dane at The Writer's Chatroom on March 30th was a hoot. We had a great time at all the stops on the virtual book tour! You go, girl! This one is destined for many years of success!

You just never know who might stop by our Wednesday or Sunday evening chats at TWC. Last Wednesday's surprise visitor was Danielle Steel!

Hope to see you soon!

Win! Win! Win!

· Visit each stop of the Jordan Dane Virtual Book Tour and leave a comment (with your name). Each stop enters you into the drawing to be held at the live “Launch P-A-R-T-Y!” on March 30th. (Up for grabs are FIVE $20 gift cards to B&N bookstores.)

· Stop by Jordan’s website: Jordan Dane says, “By going to my website contest page, you get an exclusive sneak peek inside my book-up to 20% of it. And to celebrate my first release, my publisher is giving you three different ways to WIN MY BOOK or OTHER BOOKS from HarperCollins. Click on the links below for more details.”

· The Browse Inside Link: http://tinyurl.com/28nd9x)

· Visit Jordan’s contest page: http://www.jordandane.com/contest.php

· Show up for the live “Launch P-A-R-T-Y!” on March 30th! Who knows what might be up for grabs there! After all is said and done, this is TWC.

Next up on the tour:
March 19 Cricket Sawyer at http://www.Cricketshearth.blogspot.com
March 22 Diana Castilleja at http://dianacastilleja.blogspot.com
March 26 Renee’ Barnes at http://msqtpi.livejournal.com/
March 29 TWC founder Glenn Walker at http://www.monsura.blogspot.com/

Jordan has had plenty to say in our TWC interviews. If you haven’t already done so, visit these previous stops for some first-hand info on how to succeed as a novelist:

Billie Williams at http://printedwords.blogspot.com
Linda J. Hutchinson at http://reviewhutch.blogspot.com
Kim Richards at http://kim-richards.livejournal.com/
Lisa Haselton at http://lisahaselton.tripod.com/reviewsandinterviews/

Do You Wannabe Like Jordan (Dane, that is)?

We’ve certainly had some great comments during each stop of the Virtual Book Tour for Jordan Dane.

Why was she chosen to be our first vic … I mean featured author? Because she has a very professional website. Because she has a very professional blog. Because she has a presence on MySpace and other networking sites around the ‘Net. Because she attends every writer’s conference she can possibly get to to network with successful writers, editors, agents. Because she promotes herself as a professional writer.

She isn’t resting on her laurels after having sold SIX books to Avon HarperCollins before the first one hit print.

If you’re like me and wannabe like Jordan, take a look at how you’re promoting yourself. Does your website look like a novice put it together? Do you remember to blog more than once a month? Do you network with other writers?

Or do you do like too many very good should-be-published writers … and hunker down in the corner pretending that you’ve done everything you can and the publishing world and all its agents are against you?

Think about that as you visit the next stops on The Writer’s Chatroom’s “Show—Not Tell” virtual book tour featuring debut author Jordan Dane. Jordan and Avon HarperCollins are offering opportunities to win great prizes all along the tour.

Next up:
March 19 Cricket Sawyer at http://www.Cricketshearth.blogspot.com
March 22 Diana Castilleja at http://dianacastilleja.blogspot.com

Give yourself every advantage to learn from this marketing dynamo—who just happens to also be a very good writer—and read the interviews and comments at previous stops:

Billie Williams at http://printedwords.blogspot.com
Linda J. Hutchinson at http://reviewhutch.blogspot.com
Kim Richards at http://kim-richards.livejournal.com/
Lisa Haselton at http://lisahaselton.tripod.com/reviewsandinterviews/

And don’t forget to come to the “Launch P-A-R-T-Y!” on March 30th! There are prizes galore!

Now She's Gone and Done it!

As if offering up five $20 gift cards to B&N bookstores for the drawing on March 30th (from those who leave comments on TWC’s “Show—not tell” Virtual Book Tour) wasn’t enough ...

As if giving away hot-off-the-presses copies of NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM at the live “Launch P-A-R-T-Y!” on March 30th wasn’t enough ...

Ohhhhhhh, nooooooooooooooooo. Not good enough for debut author Jordan Dane—who is teaching us all how to launch ourselves into the world of “published author” status.

Now she’s got her publisher, Avon HarperCollins, involved in it. And they’re giving away books, too!

This just in from Jordan under the heading of “More Fun Stuff”:

New 3-Ways to Win Contest

“HarperCollins has graciously offered a wonderful incentive to promote the debut of my suspense novel NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM, upcoming release March 25th.”

“By going to my website contest page, you get an exclusive sneak peek inside my book-up to 20% of it. And to celebrate my first release, my publisher is giving you three different ways to WIN MY BOOK or OTHER BOOKS from HarperCollins.

Click on the links below for more details.”

Well … there was a big ol’ hurkin’ link inserted, but our very first Virtual Book Tour host Billie Williams shortened it for us. Here it is, The Browse Inside Link: http://tinyurl.com/28nd9x

And here is a link for a contest on Jordan’s website to promote the Browse Inside post, listing the three ways to win: http://www.jordandane.com/contest.php

Jordan adds, “No obligation of course, but feel free to forward or post. I'd appreciate it.”

This VBT just gets better and better! The next stops on the tour:
March 15 Lisa Haselton at http://lisahaselton.tripod.com/reviewsandinterviews/
March 19 Cricket Sawyer at http://www.Cricketshearth.blogspot.com

Jordan has had plenty to say in our TWC interviews. If you haven’t already done so, visit these previous stops for some first-hand info on how to succeed as a novelist:

Billie Williams at http://printedwords.blogspot.com
Linda J. Hutchinson at http://reviewhutch.blogspot.com
Kim Richards at http://kim-richards.livejournal.com/