authors

Who’s Feeling Lucky?

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Do you enjoy discovering new authors? Have you ever been hesitant to try a new author? Maybe your budget doesn’t allow you to try all the authors you’d like. Well, here’s a super opportunity for you! While this weekend might be all about shopping, here’s one thing that won’t cost a dime––enter for a chance to win eight books from a group of Kansas City authors. It’s a multi-author, multi-genre opportunity!

oban giveaway (1)

One lucky reader (U.S. only) will win all eight books. The books will be mailed in December after the close of the contest. Keep them for yourself, or give them as gifts! You can visit the Of Books and Nooks website to check out the individual authors and their work. 

While we all write individually, the group has teamed up to offer you a glimpse into the lives of writers, travel adventures, recipes, book reviews and more! Come along and follow us!

Don’t miss this opportunity.

Good luck and happy reading to all!

Darlene

Holiday Giveaway

It’s Snippet Sunday!

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Hey, readers,

Here’s a treat for you today. I’m inviting authors of all kinds of genres to share a tempting snippet from one of their books to give us a quick peek into their story. It’s a fun way to get a look at new authors and books you might not have discovered.

If you’re an author, please post in the comments a short paragraph or few lines to give us a hint about your book and writing style. (No erotica. One buy or website link only, please)

I’ll start. Here’s a snippet from Barefoot Days, book three in my small-town women’s fiction trilogy. Coming soon!

John gave a barely perceptible nod, and walked past Mary.

Mary stepped to the counter and gave her order while frost settled in her chest. What in the world was going on? She couldn’t remember offending anyone – recently. Mentally, she ticked through the various committees she served, trying to pinpoint an issue. She came up empty, but she was no stranger to drama. The slightest ember could erupt into flames with but a whisper of hot air.

Find books one and two here!

Authors in Bloom Blog Hop

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Dianne Venetta_AIB Logo_2015

Hello, everyone! Thanks for visiting the Authors in Bloom Blog Hop! Spring has sprung, and we’re celebrating! Visit all the authors on the tour for great gardening tips, recipes and a chance to win some fantastic books and prizes!

Here’s my tip:

Location, Location, Location!

My tip is more about how to enjoy your garden than growing or protecting it. If you’re considering a water feature, here’s something you might want to think about:

yellow birds

Birds love water features. Now, you may love birds, but do you want them on your patio? Trust me. You don’t.

My husband and I installed a water feature a few years ago. We thought we had the perfect place for it –– a small cut-out in our patio, at the edge, near the house. We’d be able to see the feature and birds from inside the house. And, of course, we’d hear the water bubbling pleasantly when we were outside on the patio. We like the birds, and I love the sound of the water.

The problem? It’s not a good location. A couple of times a year there must be something the birds eat that makes them very thirsty. They converge on the water — and patio — in great multitudes. And they leave a little something behind. Yep. Bird poop. Everywhere. On the patio, the chairs, the pillows, the cushions . . . ugh.

I was prepared for the annual winterizing and refilling. But I wasn’t prepared for the constant clean-up detail. Consider placing your feature a little farther out where birds can perch on trees or shrubs rather than patio furniture. Choose wisely, friends! And enjoy your outdoor space!

 

PRIZES!

Leave a comment (and your email contact info in case you are a winner!) to enter the giveaway drawing. To be eligible for the Grand Prize, you MUST visit and comment on each participating author’s site!

GRAND PRIZE: We are giving away a Kindle Fire or Nook (winner’s choice) along with a 2nd prize of $25 gift card. Woo-hoo!!

DARLENE’S PRIZE: I’m offering two prizes:

  1. a signed paperback copy of one of my novels plus author swag. Please note, will be mailed to U.S. resident only.
  2. a digital copy of one of my novels — international eligibility

For “extra” entries in my giveaway, follow my blog or my Facebook page!

Darlene’s Facebook

The Tour ends April 16th at 11:59pm EST. Tell your friends!

 

Visit all the participating authors, and leave your comment!

Good Luck, and Happy Spring to all!

Click on the link below to see all authors

AUTHORS

 

 

Huge Holiday giveaway

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Hey, everyone, I’ve joined with a great group of authors to bring you an exciting Christmas giveaway! Okay, it may seem a little early, but the holidays will be here before you know it. And it’s always a good time to find some new reading material for those cool days when you just want to curl up with your favorite beverage and a good book!
This promotion gives you dozens of chances to win books, gift cards, swag and cash prizes! Not only could you win some great stuff, you just might discover your new favorite author!

Enter today, and happy reading to all!

Inspiration and affirmation in Palm Springs!

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roneSo here we are facing down October, and I still can’t get my head around September! It’s been such a flash! A new release, a book fair appearance, a writer’s conference and awards gala, and a trip to see the college kid!

It’s all been fun, but I want to pause just a minute and revisit the InD’Scribe Conference and RONE Awards ceremony in Palm Springs.
I didn’t meet as many readers as I had hoped for, but the rest of the conference was outstanding. I met so many awesome authors and industry professionals! It was great to meet in real life several people I’ve only had a Facebook relationship with, and put names with faces. The keynote speakers, Catherine Bybee and Anne Perry, were fabulous and inspiring. I found myself wishing I could just get away and write! Ah, but that real life thing . . .

I still haven’t had time to thoroughly go back through all of my notes, and implement everything I learned, but it’s on my list of things to do! One of the most valuable things about a conference and sitting down and chatting with other authors, is hearing about their success and failure. What they’ve tried in terms of marketing, what was effective, and what wasn’t. Tips and tricks. It’s always encouraging to find other authors who are living the dream and willing to help others. And it’s energizing to feel like I’m part of something bigger. Sometimes writing can be isolating and I feel like a gerbil spinning in circles on one of those little wheels all alone in a cage. It’s really good to get out and about! 🙂

And then there were the RONE Awards. “Something Good,” my finalist in the Sweet Contemporary Romance category, got the first-runner-up spot! Of course it was disappointing not to take home the big prize, but still, simply being there was so affirming! I was among very talented company, and the book was read by four to seven judges who gave it a strong thumbs-up, and that in itself is a wonderful thing!

I extended my stay in Palm Springs a day after the conference to settle down and enjoy another day of summer. Great decision! I got to have dinner with a long-time friend from high school who was one of my bridesmaids from thirty-some years ago!! 🙂 Ah, what a three-hour dinner with a good friend can do!

I also spent some time at the pool and had fun giving a few leftover books to readers lounging in the sunshine. I gave one gal the choice between my new release Her Greatest Risk or Something Good. She read both covers, and chose Something Good, saying it sounded like a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. So many people have said that!! I’m wondering if my next visit to southern California should include a stop in Hollywood!? Well, a girl can dream!

Happy reading, everyone! Wishing you a lovely Autumn!

Click HERE to find Something Good on Amazon!