Samhain Publishing Ltd. Weblog

So You Want To Be In Pictures by Mary Eason

The Skinny on Book Trailers

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, or perhaps hiding out in the same cave as Osma, the chances are you’ve seen one book trailer at the very least. If you are an author, you may have tried your hand at creating one, or if your talents don’t tend to gravitate in that direction, then you may have paid someone to turn your book into a video trailer.

What the heck is a video book trailer and why should I care?
According to a recent article on the subject by bestselling, author Allison Brennan, book trailers are the hottest new thing in promotional tools for writers.
Book trailers are a short visual commercial that gives the viewer and idea what a particular book is about, including the tone of the book as well as its genre and main characters.

Ever Wonder What It Would Be Like To Become Someone New?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to simply start over? Become someone new. No doubt, everyone at one time or another has speculated. But what if your life depended on it? Would you be willing to leave everything behind in order to survive?
Well, that’s the subject of my upcoming, July 14th release from Linden Bay Romance , entitled Worth Staying For.
For Doctor Jordan Scott, the most dangerous place to be in love.
Dr. Jordan Scott thought she knew her fiancé, Caesar, better than anyone…until Detective Riley Donovan confronts her with the truth about her brother’s death. His murder was no random act of violence—and Caesar is the prime suspect, which puts her directly in the path of danger. Their relationship may be strained, but Jordan can’t believe Caesar lied when he claimed he’d severed all ties with his drug cartel family.Riley has seen enough to know that Jordan is telling the truth, despite what his partner believes. Then again, his instincts aren’t exactly on point when it comes to Jordan. He’s already broken two hard-and-fast rules when it comes to witness protection: never get emotionally involved and never fall for your star witness.Now the trick will be to keep her alive long enough to convince her to trust him—and find the truth behind her brother’s murder. Before she becomes the next victim.Warning: Contains a hero to die for, one courageous leading lady, lots of heart-pounding action, and a rollercoaster ride of emotion.
Read an excerpt:
Check out all of my latest releases at:
http://www.maryeason.com/
All the best…
Mary Eason

Reviews - Love um, Hate um, Is There Really Such a Thing As A Bad Review?

Book reviews—love them or hate them, they are part of a writing career. Stephanie Giancola tells you how you can tip the odds in favor of getting your book reviewed, but, she cautions, no one can guarantee a great review.
If you are a published author,then chances are you have gotten a review at one time or another. And if you’ve been around for any time at all, the odds are you’ve gotten a less than favorable review from someone.
As much as it pains me to say, I’ve received my fair share of them. I don’t think it matters how seasoned you are or how much you prepare for them, they still sting.
Although this was not a scientific poll, it is a quick snap-shot of what some readers are thinking. I got 100 responses from readers to the following questions. Here’s my summary of the results: Do you read book reviews? • 48% said yes What do you look for in a book review? • 47% said the story description. • 22% said the rating analysis. • 12% said snappy writing. • 2% said the rating. How influential are book reviews on your purchase of a book? • 44% said somewhat • 12% said hardly • 8% said not at all • 5% said very If a book had the lowest rating possible, how likely would you be to buy it? • 28% said hardly likely • 25% said no effect • 12% said somewhat likely • 12% said not at all likely • 4% said very likely.
So, I’d like to hear your thoughts on the subject. Do book reviews matter to you as a reader?
Al the best…

Worth Staying For – Coming July 14th to Linden Bay Romance
http://www.lindenbayromance.com
Mary Eason
www.maryeason.com

The Dark Side of Writing Dark Romantic Suspense...

What would you do if a killer were hunting you? What if you’re child was the target? What if the killer was someone you knew?

Ask any author who writes dark romantic suspense and they’ll tell you, it ain’t no walk in the park at times. I think even for writers who create fictitious killers it’s still disturbing to consider that there are really such depraved people living in the world amongst us.

To make a believable killer you have to do your homework. For me, I love to watch Forensic Files and 48 Hours Mystery on TV. You can gain a great deal of knowledge simply by studying old case files.

So why do people kill? Well, most psychologists will tell you there are two fundamental reasons someone will take another life. Love and money. Both truly are the root of all evil.

But there is another type of killer that is far more evil and cunning than all others. He’s extremely intelligent, he can blend into society well enough to be the neighbor next door, and he lacks anything resembling a conscience. He’s a sociopath known as the serial killer.

The FBI estimates that today there are some 50 active serial killers working among us in the US alone. That’s a frightening statistic to consider.

For me, writing about the dark side of romance is both rewarding and challenging. The characters leave their mark on you and make it hard to move on to the next story. And if they’re really chilling, they make it hard to sleep with the lights off at night.

All the best…
Mary Eason
Worth Staying For – Coming soon to Linden Bay Romance
http://www.maryeason..com

New Year. Clean Slate. New Me?

By now, even though it’s only January 3rd, most of us are tired of hearing about New Year Resolutions. I have to agree.

So this year, instead of making the usual resolutions I make, such as watching what I eat, spending less money, not working too hard, (all good ideas, mind you,) I decided to try something entirely different. I’m not going to make any resolutions, which doesn’t mean I won’t do any of those things, but instead of focusing on just them, I want to look at each day as if I’m facing a clean slate, full of promise.

Anything’s possible.

For writers this is a familiar situation to find oneself in. When we start a new book, we have an idea of where we want the story to go, (in this case, our life), then we type that first word, followed by the next and the next, and before we know it, we’ve finished an entire chapter.

So today, and tomorrow and the day after that, I’ll get out of bed, face the day and its challenges and who knows where it will lead me.

How about you? Care to join me on this adventure called life?

All the best…

Mary Eason
Romance. Passion. Suspense.
www.maryeason.bravehost.com
Survivor – Available now in print and ebook format
Check out the book trailer at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlJHjY23Srg
Also available at Samhain:
Thirty Lessons
The Things You Think You Want

SURVIVOR - In Print December 30th

“Survivor PRINT” by Mary Eason
Read An Excerpt Online
Genre: Chick Lit
ISBN: 978-1-60504-022-6
Length: 248 Pages
Price: 13.00
Publication Date: December 30, 2008
Cover art by Scott Carpenter

The biggest challenge to Grace’s self-imposed celibacy? Love.

As a little girl, Grace Caldwell watched her father walk out on her mother as she struggled through the final stages of breast cancer. Grace, knowing the odds that she could suffer her mother’s fate, resolves to never to let any man close enough to hurt her that way.

Her new boss, Aaron Severn, isn’t hard to figure out—his reputation with women is legendary. She’s confident it won’t be hard for her to resist his charm. To her surprise, Aaron seems sensitive and caring, the kind of man who will be there for her, no matter what. Despite her vow of self-imposed celibacy, Grace finds herself allowing their friendship to grow deeper.

When her worst nightmare becomes reality, Grace’s past fear rears its ugly head, driving her to push him away. But Aaron’s not the kind of man to give up on Grace’s love—or her life—without a fight.

All the best…

Mary Eason
www.maryeason.bravehost.com

Read on for an excerpt…

The Things You Think You Want - Now in print!

The Things You Think You Want is now in PRINT at Samhain Publishing
by Mary Eason
Genre: Chick Lit

ISBN: 978-1-59998-968-6
Length: 272 Pages
Price: 14.00
Publication Date: September 30, 2008
Cover art by Scott Carpenter

Carrie Sinclair thought she knew exactly what she wanted from life until she came face-to-face with the bluest eyes in Texas.

Caterer Carrie Sinclair thinks she has the perfect life and doesn’t need a man to complete it. Her pudgy kitty Max is the man in her life, and that’s enough for her. Then, quite by accident, she comes across the man of her dreams. Tyler Bennedict is perfect boyfriend material: Charming, sweet, rich, and incredibly sexy. No matter that he’s made it clear he’s not looking for a serious relationship. One night in his arms, and all her usual warning bells about men go silent.

She should have listened to those bells, and to Aunt Mable. Enter Tyler’s real estate tycoon father, Richard. He makes it relentlessly clear she is not the woman for his son, and comes up with creative ways to keep them apart until Carrie sees the light.

In one fell swoop she swears off all men, closes her business, and gets out of Austin. But no matter how far and how fast you run, the unexpected bumps in the road have a way of revealing the truth and turning your life—and your heart—a complete 180.

The Evolution of Romance

Okay, I confess, I started reading happily-ever-after romances before I became a pre-teen, which was somewhere in the early seventies, (yes, I’m dating myself). At that time, romance novels fell into pretty much two categories. The bodice rippers and the sweet romances. I read the sweet romances, mostly because I could find them at the local library and my parents wouldn’t buy me the bodice rippers.

Those ladies (and men) who wrote back then helped pioneer the start of what would later become the billion dollar business it is today.

Why God Intended Children For The Young

Did you ever wonder why women in the old days had their babies at a very young age?

I confess I never really gave it much thought until I became a grandmother.

At forty-eight, I thought I was in pretty good shape. I mean, I have a daily rountine of walking and I try to take care of myself.

But as it turns out, I’ve been living under a delusion. My daily workout is nothing compared to the one I get trying to keep up with a twenty-one month old toddler who loves to take her grandmother on LONG walks peppered with multiple stops along the way to bend and squat. Oh and don’t forget those floor exercises. You know, horse back rides and crawling on the floor, then there’s the hours spent building towers of blocks only to tear them down again and again. And Again.

And then there’s the late night cram sessions. You know when my precious baby girl wakes up at 2AM full of giggles and needs grandma to watch the Backyardigans with her and carry her on her hip so that she can go back to sleep.

Oh, don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade a second of my wonderful time with her, but I can say that it was during one of these late-night sessions that I had an epiphany.

I now understand why God intended children for the young and why grandparents are supposed to spoil their grandbabies and then when they are pooped send them home to mom and dad so that grandma can take a nap.

All the best…

Mary Eason
www.maryeason.bravehost.com

Survivor -- Now Available

I’m thrilled to announce the release of my latest romantic comedy Survivor through Samhain Publishing.
The biggest challenge to Grace’s self-imposed celibacy? Love.
As a little girl, Grace Caldwell watched her father walk out on her mother as she struggled through the final stages of breast cancer. Grace, knowing the odds that she could suffer her mother’s fate, resolves to never to let any man close enough to hurt her that way.

Her new boss, Aaron Severn, isn’t hard to figure out—his reputation with women is legendary. She’s confident it won’t be hard for her to resist his charm. To her surprise, Aaron seems sensitive and caring, the kind of man who will be there for her, no matter what. Despite her vow of self-imposed celibacy, Grace finds herself allowing their friendship to grow deeper.

When her worst nightmare becomes reality, Grace’s past fear rears its ugly head, driving her to push him away. But Aaron’s not the kind of man to give up on Grace’s love—or her life—without a fight.

All the best..

Mary Eason
Survivor – Available now
The Things You Think You Want – Available now
Thirty Lessons – Available now in ebook and print
www.maryeason.bravehost.com