Friday, April 30, 2010

And Still.... It Continues!

I'm all over the blog-o-sphere today. Yessir. I'm hanging out with Lisa at Lisa Leibow's blog, talking about Right Where I Need to Be.

And as a special treat to me and you all who are my readers, I'm at my very good friend Ashley Ladd's blog. We had the honor of sharing April 19th as a release day and who better to share the day of your first release! And score one for me, I even know Ash in real life.

Be sure to check out Ashley's release: Bad Conduct, available from Total-E-Bound. Click on the cover to investigate more.

Bad Conduct
by Ashley Ladd
Sequel to The Perfect Gift

When Captain Ty Gibson comes home from a tour of duty in Iraq to marry Bianca, their sometimes third lover Brendan stirs up a mess of trouble.

Captain Ty Gibson has made up his mind. He loves Bianca and he's going to marry her. But when he comes home from his tour of duty in Iraq, their sometimes third lover Brendan fights for Ty. Although Bianca once enjoyed their occasional ménages, she's ready to settle down with just one man and wants that one man to settle down with just her.

Brendan's troublemaking jeopardises everything in Ty's life – his future with Bianca and his military career.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Off to blog at Book Junkie!

I'm still on my whirlwind tour, and today I'm at Book Junkie: http://myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com/

Stop by... and you know the drill.

PS: My head still hurts and the cold still sucks ogre balls. But I'll live.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

No Stops Today... and Probably Good

As the parent of a school-age child, I was given the special honor of getting the first summer cold of the year. So, today I feel like death warmed over. Yup, this stinks. So... back to beddie-bye for me.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

I Feel Like Where's Waldo, but Its Fun!

Try to find me today. Where am I? I'm at the Fickle Fan blog! Come join me and put your name in the hat for a copy of RWINtB or LHtB.

Monday, April 26, 2010

It's Still Going!

Yup, the tour continues. Today, I'm over at Kaye Manro's blog: http://kayemanro.blogspot.com/2010/04/welcome-wendi-zwaduk.html

Take a peek and enter yourself in the contest by commenting. Can't wait to see you there!

Friday, April 23, 2010

I'm on a Roll and in two places at once!

As my good friend, Marianne pointed out, I'm over at Whipped Cream all week promoting Learning How to Bend. Check it out!

But while you're cruising around, check out my interview at The Biblioliphic Book Blog! Yessir, I'm featured there today. And make sure you comment if you want to win!

I can't wait to see you at either place.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Where Am I Now?

So?

I"m at Marianne Arkins blog, Reading, Writing, & Stuff That Makes Me Crazy. She asked some tough questions and I probably said too much, but... really... what's new? Check it out: http://reading-writing.blogspot.com/2010/04/special-guest-blog-my-friend-wendi.html

And don't forget to comment!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

The Tour Continues and Some Handsome News!

The tour indeed continues. I'm over at My Reading Addiction. Come on over and comment. You just might win and discover new stories you just might NEED to read.

But at the same time, the cover fairy dropped by my door last night and woweee! I was blessed. I wanted to share my new cover for my upcoming short story Must Be Doing Something Right, the follow-up to Learning How to Bend. I hope you enjoy it. I sure am.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

I'm at Tory Richard's Blog Today!

For the second day of my tour, I'm a guest blogger at Tory Richard's blog Romance with Attitude. Come check me out: http://debbiewallace.blogspot.com/2010/04/hey-friends-look-whos-here-today-please.html?zx=58efcb1973c1e78a

Monday, April 19, 2010

And It Starts!

My blog tour for my first ever release (with Total E Bound)
Learning How to Bend and my book Right Where I Need to Be (With the Wild Rose
Press) starts today and it kicks off at both Helen's Heroes
http://helensheroes.blogspot.com/2010/04/meet-hero-logan-from-right-where-i-need\
.html

and the Menagerie Authors blog
http://www.menagerieauthors.blogspot.com/?zx=31b00e57ccd5820b

Come hang out with me! I'm giving away a pdf of my book to one lucky commenter,
so you gotta stop by to enter.

I"m also the featured author on the Long and Short of It's Whipped Cream site:
http://www.longandshortreviews.com/WC/index.htm

Want to follow my tour? Go
here:http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2010/04/virtual-book-tour-wendi-z\
waduk.html


Thanks and hope to see you on the tour!

Wendi

Sunday, April 18, 2010

My Virtual Tour for Right Where I Need to Be and Learning How to Bend




Goddess Fish Promotions organized a Virtual Tour for the release of Right Where I Need to Be a contemporary romance and Learning How to Bend a contemporary erotic romance by Wendi Zwaduk. Hey! That's me!

Right Where I Need to Be

Sometimes the love of your life isn’t the one you expect, but he’s the one you need.

Cass Jensen needs an actor for her made for TV movie. The previous actor dropped out, leaving her stranded. Her savior shows up looking sinfully sexy and totally right for the part, but what part is she auditioning him for? Her movie or her bed?

Logan Malone needs an acting job and fast. With his string of broken hearts, his professional life lies in shambles. To resurrect his career, he must audition for a television role which could be the job of a lifetime. That is, if he can work with distraction and Cass is a major distraction with a heart of gold. Is their budding relationship enough to survive separation, lies, and a couple zany fans?


Learning How to Bend

Their marriage is about to fall apart, but not if she can help it and he’s willing to bend.

Abby Donovan imagined nothing could change her simple life as a librarian. Her loving husband Seth, a mechanic in the Air National Guard, is scheduled to return from a short deployment in Iraq. Before he gets home, a letter arrives. It seems Seth is asking for a divorce. She must decide whether to walk away without a fight or to wait and confront him with the thing he's always dreamed of - a ménage a trois. But all is not as it seems.

Seth Donovan wanted an idyllic life to go along with his career in the military. Then he sees the atrocities of war firsthand. A conversation with a colleague ends up as fodder for the rumour mill and so much more. Seth never wanted a divorce. He wants his wife. Will she accept him despite the rumours and advances from another man? Or can their relationship withstand the turmoil of war?

Her tour dates will be as follows:

April 19: Helen's Heroes
April 19: (Stop #2) Menagerie Authors
April 20: Romance With an Attitude
April 21: My Reading Addiction
April 22:
April 23: Bibliophilic Book Blog
April 26: Kaye Manro
April 27: The Fickle Fan
April 28:
April 29: Book Junkie
April 30:
May 3: You Gotta Read Guest Blog

I'll be giving away the winner’s choice of either an eBook copy of Right Where I Need to Be or Learning How to Bend to one randomly drawn commenter from the tour.

Neglected

Yes, my poor blog has been neglected. My pal Megan keeps reminding me that she needs to post too, but like me, she hasn't.

Why?

Oh, too many irons in the fire. The recent rejection kicked my butt, but I keep working on my stories. I have at least one character who shouts in my head because he wants to get out. Then there was that little family incident. It's just been more than a tad frustrating.

So what am I doing right now, besides blogging? Goddess Fish Promotions set up a cool blog tour for both my books. I can't wait. But then it also entails answer questions and writing blog posts. So, while I'm writing them for other places, my blog gets... well, you get the idea.

I"m twiddling with a WIP that was my NaNo story. Maybe, just maybe I'll get it in shape. I'd love to if for no other reason than the characters want their say. I only hope it's as punchy and fun as Right, since it's the follow-up.

I have a story that I'm not even sure my CP's will help with because it's a taboo... a M/M story. Well, really, the character wants to be with his wife and his boyfriend in a committed threesome. We'll see.

I'll try to post the days and locations of my tour tomorrow.

Oh and Monday, besides visiting Helen's Heroes with Logan, and hanging out with Kealie at the Menagerie... It's the OFFICIAL RELEASE DATE FOR MY FIRST EVER RELEASE: LEARNING HOW TO BEND! For that, I truly am stoked. Great day and I get to spend it with some of my very favorite-est people.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

I'm A Bit Late... What's New?

I thought I'd celebrate Hump Day in my own fashion, even if it's practically over.










Hunk Day.











I know real original.











But the concept came when I realized I spent lots of time sketching female nudes in art classes and VERY RARELY male nudes.










So I'm celebrating the male nude.
Enjoy!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Red Hot Reads for April!

I know I am really late in getting these out. But it's been that kinda month. Still. If you want some great reads, then these are the ones you need to find. With my pleasure...

Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery
Harlequin Enterprises, Ltd.
Contemporary

Ever wanted something so bad it hurt? But when you got what you wanted, it wasn’t what it was cracked up to be? Sounds like the story of pro cyclist Josh Golden. But what about Charity Jones? Well, nothing in her life is quite what it seems and you need to read Chasing Perfect to get the whole story.

Caging the Tiger by Michelle Huston
Phaze Books
Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Coming clean about your fears can sometimes be the most rewarding experience of your life—if you’re willing to relax and trust. That’s what makes Caging the Tiger such an engaging read.

Consuming the Darkness by Shiela Stewart
Breathless Press
Action/Adventure, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Hearts wanted for feast. Applicants need only offer their lives.
Sound scary? It’s a little disconcerting, but if you read The Darkness Series Book 7: Consuming the Darkness, everything will make sense and it’ll be worth the read.


I Love This Bar by Carolyn Brown
Sourcebooks
Contemporary

Act fast before the something good in your hands slips right through your fingers. But be careful, if you don’t act at all, you’ll wish you had.

Or at least read I Love This Bar. You’ll be glad you did.


Without Mercy by Lisa Jackson
Kensington Books
Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery

Can one change the decisions in life just by being sent to a special place? Can one embrace a love lost due to a misunderstanding? And can this all happen while a murderer runs free?

Read Without Mercy and get the whole story!

I Saw a Movie Today... Oh Boy....

I love to watch movies, but I rarely get the time anymore. Why? Because I want to enjoy the movie. I want to savor what I'm watching.

So what did I watch?

Actually, I watched a Sean Penn movie, Milk.

I like a movie that makes me think. And this one did, but not just because of the political statement. Yes, I liked the statement, but I'm not here to get political. I find myself feeling awful for Scotty in this movie. He loved so much, but other stuff got in the way. The tragic-ness of it tugged at my heart.

Actually, I wanted to blog about being accepted and this just fit-when something becomes tragic and doesn't need to.

Some people just can't accept. That's sad. I recently had an instance where a person found out I wrote erotica, and that person vented their opinions.

Is there something wrong with someone writing a story that celebrates sexuality? I don't think so. It's not.

But I think I'll stop now because I'm afraid I'm getting preachy and that's not my intention at all.

And yes, I still feel sorry for Scotty.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Well.... poo

Okay, this will sound like a pity party post. It is, to a degree.

I knew when I got into this industry that writing is subjective and there are a whole lot more tears than joys because, well, you're gonna spend more time learning and producing than contracting.

They (whoever they are) weren't kidding.

Now, you probably remember I subbed my farmer again. This time, I heard from one publisher, who told me the subplot didn't move her. Okay... and she wasn't convinced of the romance, but the writing was tight.

Okey Dokey.

I'm really not pissing and moaning. I'm not. But when I get two rejections and neither one mentions the same stuff... it makes me wonder. What's really not up to par with this story? And how do I figure out what to fix, if anything?

One last thing, Editor said, "What isn't right for one is perfect for another."

Then slip me the name of the one who does, yanno? Just sayin'. And is that nice-speak for, thanks but no thanks?

I know not everything I submit will be accepted. The publishing industry is a competitive, cutthroat industry. So, I knew going in that I had a 3% chance of acceptance. But still, no one said I had to like rejection, even if it's accompanied by great advice.

So back to the drawing board...

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

So he's done....

He? He who?

OH, you want to know which he I refer to. Hee hee.

I'm talking about my Greek. Yes, I finished the first draft of his story. It was sorta hard because I didn't use contractions because I have no idea how Ancient Greeks talked and though I'd suppose they used contractions, it didn't sound right. Then again, I never really thought stories set in say, Ancient Rome sound right when the antagonist uses the word F**k. Did they actually use that word? If someone can prove they did, I'll amend my statement.

Anyway, so the first draft of my Greek is done. The challenge in him was not only to keep away from the contractions, but to actually write a historical. I've been infatuated with Ancient Greece since college when I took a whole bunch of Greek Art classes. Thankfully that group of folks bathed and used razors. You'd be surprised who in history chose to forgo baths and hygiene. ::Shudder::

But I need to get back to him and fill his story out with world building and some more of the five senses.

Then I'll try to tackle the idea for the follow-up vampire story and the next story in my Besta Pizza series. Oh yeah, I can't turn off my brain even when I want to.

But I'm off for now. I need to get a couple of other things done.

Toodles.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Love Divine: The Book Tour! Featuring Genella de Grey


Genella DeGrey's here at the blog. Welcome!

Thank you so much for having me, Wendi!

1. You wrote about Scotland. Exciting. How'd you get your idea?

You know, I never thought of it as Scotland! LOL Only because it wasn't quite yet Scotland in 420. :) I will tell you though, I do seem to have some sort of spiritual connection and deep adoration for the UK and can't wait to go there someday. In this lifetime, that is – LOL

The idea came to me – oddly enough – when I was standing in my bathroom one morning putting on makeup. The thought sort of flitted through my mind about how disrupting it must have been for the inhabitants of Britania when the Church of Rome introduced their new religion to the Druids.

Around 410ish, Rome pulled out of the UK, then later they came back not as solders but as missionaries. I felt that there was a story there, and moments later, the heroine, Aslyn, came to me wanting me to tell the tale.

2. I see it's a historical. 420 isn't the most popular time period to write about, but it's unique. What made you decide to go with that time period?

Because I write historicals, the choosing the correct time period is absolutely essential. I chose that particular time period because it would have been about ten years since Rome left Britton after a significant time of occupation of the area, and I wanted Aslyn to be the right age so that she remembered when the solders last came through. The fictitious village of Cardamon Long and its location would have been about as far north as Rome had originally gone. Of course, later when they came through as missionaries they no longer were subject to boundaries.



3. When you write: music, silence, or white noise?

I like to have music playing, but I try to keep true to the time period in which I am writing. I listened to Lorenna McKennett and Enya while writing Love Divine.

4. Everyone has one or two bad habits. Name one of yours.

I spend way too much money on skincare and makeup. I can't help it. I love the stuff. One of my favorite places is The Body Shop. GADS, the $$$ I could (and do) spend in there! LOL

5. What's in your To Be Read pile?

You mean my TBR Mountain? LOL I go to at least one major convention a year and if you've ever been, you will know the HUGE amount of free books they send you home with. So I would say I have about sixty books in print waiting to be read.

My e-reader is in the shop, so when that gets back, I have about six ebooks I want to get to – and SO many more I want to buy! Between Total e-Bound and Resplendence alone, I see new ebooks *all the time* I MUST have. :)

I suppose one could say that my accumulation of books is a bad habit, but I like to tell myself it's all in the spirit of research. (Insert evil laugh here*)

6. Say someone wanted to make a t-shirt with a slogan for you and it could be anything. What would your shirt say?

What a great question! Every once in a while I hear something that I deem worthy of a bumper sticker or a tee-shirt. Recently, one of my friends said, "I'm not mad, I'm just done." We both stopped for a second and laughed. I turned around and made a tee-shirt for her and put it up on my Caffee Press store. As for something for me . . . I didn't make this one up, but I love it. "I'm only wearing black until they make a darker color." :)

7. What do you do besides write?

Aside from reading and watching movies – and going out occasionally to see a live swing band, I also love to tinker around in the kitchen. Notice I didn't say "cook." LOL I really only know about four things I can actually "cook" from scratch.

8. Sometimes you just need to get into the mood to write that hot love scene. What are your tricks for making it work?

This question could get me into some serious trouble. LOL I suppose I just have me some hot sex. Hahaha! Seriously, I do need to give my muse a kick start sometimes. Here is one of the pictures I used for inspiration for LD. Beautiful, isn't it? Very Druid to me. I even drew my own interpretation of it (and I don't draw very well at all!) You can find it on my website or on the items I will be signing this year at the Romantic Times Booklover's Convention Expo in April.


9. Cat, dog, dragon, or shifter? Which pet would you prefer to have?

Oooooh, I'd love to have a dragon.

10. Who serves as your role model for your hero/heroine? Have you ever seen a person and said "gee, that person would make a great hero in my next book"?

I usually have a vague idea of what my hero or heroine look like, but once in a while I stumble across a picture that is a perfect likeness of one of my characters. For instance, the character in Braveheart, Princess Isabelle *is* Aslyn.

And I have a character in one of my Victorian old west stories (Come the Rain: Book one in A Touch of Destiny) that looks just like Tristan Ludlow in Legends of the Fall.

Thank you so much Wendi, this was fun!

Namaste, everyone!


Here's the blurb:

In the Highlands of Britannia, 420 A.D., Aslyn, was raised a Druid by her late mother.

Now Rome has returned, but in place of a legion of solders, a single man peddles a new Roman god.

Ryus Jorian was sent on a mission for the new religion. But instead of a cave of barbaric souls in need of saving, he finds an intelligent, beautiful, hedonistic distraction whom his Bishop finds equally delectable.

Ryus must choose between the salvation of his soul and the woman he loves.

Aslyn must escape before she becomes the Bishop’s newest sacrificial lamb.

Want to read a bit? Here you go!

Reaching up to entwine her arms around his neck, Aslyn’s heart raced when his mouth softly coaxed her lips part. She nearly toppled over when he groaned as her tongue touched his. The wood post which bordered the stable separated their bodies, and Aslyn longed to be rid of the thing.

Suddenly remembering that anyone who had a view of the stable could see them, she broke out of the kiss.

“We shouldn’t be—”

“I know, I’m sorry.”

Aslyn glanced over her shoulder and back up to Ryus. No one was about, but that could change at any moment. Her breath came out in a huff that may have been part laughter. “Let me finish. We shouldn’t be doing this here.”

She saw his eyes light up like flames. “Then where?”

“Come to me after sundown,” she whispered, unable to believe the words actually came out of her mouth. Oh, she was thinking them, but once they passed over her lips, the bones were cast. He would be leaving soon, and it would be good for her to take a few more memories with her to her grave.

Without another word, Aslyn pushed away from the stable fence and headed straight for her lodging.

She paced in her room and wrung her hands, the same way in she did just before she met Ryus in the ancient grove of Ardwinna.

Aslyn almost yelped when he came bursting through her front door.

“You have more faith in me than I do if you think I can wait until sundown.”

Thanks Genella! I've enjoyed having you here! If you want to follow her tour, you can go here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2010/03/vbt-genella-degrey.html and make sure to comment!

Hugs to Genella!

Monday, April 5, 2010

Genella deGrey stops by tomorrow for her book Love Divine

Genella deGrey stops by the blog tomorrow! Check her out!

Here's her information and the info on Love Divine:

Blurb: In the Highlands of Britannia, a Druid beauty and a reformed rogue-turned-missionary of the new Roman religion find salvation in each other.

In the Highlands of Britannia, Aslyn, was raised a Druid by her late mother. Rome has returned, but instead of a legion of solders, a single man comes to the little village of Cardamon Long, peddling a new Roman god.

Ryus Jorian was sent on a mission for the new religion. But instead of a cave of barbaric souls in need of saving, he finds an intelligent, beautiful, hedonistic distraction who makes him question the very reason for his journey.
Accolades for Genella's previous work:
"The writing was so seamless that it never missed a beat... Remember Me is a historical paranormal that will leave any reader breathless and wanting more... This is a treasure to anyone who needs a get-away read that has it all, romance with heat burning up the pages, a historical set in polite society, and even an angel or two..." ~~Kristy Bock, Paranormal Romance

Genella will be giving away a PDF of Love Divine to one randomly drawn commenter, as well as a goodie bag from RT 2010 to the blog host with the most comments, excluding Genella's own or duplicates.

Here's her site: http://genelladegrey.wordpress.com/
Here's where you can find her book: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=0&P_ID=734&strPageHistory=search&numSearchStartRecord=1
Check out her tour at: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2010/03/vbt-genella-degrey.html

Sunday, April 4, 2010

HAPPY EASTER!

Happy Easter!

Thinking about what Easter symbolizes and realizing that people have better things to do on a holiday rather than read a blog, I thought I'd babble for a bit.

Shouldn't surprise you much, me babbling.

But the idea of renewal, rebirth, and second life had me thinking.

If you'd asked me ten years ago what I'd be up to, I'd have told you I'd be a teacher, I'd be making art, and probably single again. That didn't quite happen. Well, I did become a teacher, I did create art for a living, and I am happily a married mom of one. But I guarantee, I'd never thought back then that I'd be a writer. Do I consider myself a professional? I'd like to, but I can't quit my day job. Still, writing has opened up totally new worlds to me and given me a day job I actually love (besides writing and playing mommy). I met some great friends who are my closest friends. I've learned that happiness comes in the form of an email. And an email can be the worst thing in the world. I've found that people only think you are a writer if they can hold your book in their hands. An ebook to most people I know, is just a thingy on a screen. I found that waiting for contracts, edits, cover art, and release dates is just about as infuriating as nine months of pregnancy. Sheesh. I love my Ds, but I thought he'd never arrive. Same thing for my novel. Kinda like him, when I hold it in my hands, I'll know it's real.

But enough babbling for now. You've got things to do and people to see. So do I.

Toodles.

Friday, April 2, 2010

NEWS!

After the semi-depressing day that was yesterday, I kinda forgot about the fab news I wanted to share. Sick kids take the fun out of news... and when it comes at 2 AM, well, I plum forgot.

So what is the news?

Remember my vampire story? Well, I ended up naming it My Immortal because Just the Way You Are sounded too...sweet. Yes, there are sweet little moments in the story, but come on. It's a vampire story. Not every moment will be Hallmark. So I renamed it. Back in February, I sent him out into the world and hoped he'd find a home.

HE DID!

Total-E-Bound decided to contract it. How cool is that! Would I consider myself a paranormal author? Um... I'll hold judgment til it comes out and reviewers get a hold of it.

But at the same time, my editor paid me a high compliment. Now working with Jess, like working with most editors, isn't wine and roses all the time. But, there is a faith and trust factor. She trusts that when she asks me to do edits, I'll do them up to snuff. I trust her to not slice and dice with my story. So I told her that because she was willing to work with me and has been up front with me on all my TEB submissions and contracts, she rocked. In return, she replied, you are one of the easiest authors to work with because you listen, but you're proactive. It's a joy to work with you because I know what you can do and have seen it.

Talk about a compliment!

Oh and then, have to add this one in, m a very good friend of mine who, when she critiques my stuff honestly... she scares me because she's wicked thorough and wicked good at what she does. Well, she's hard to please as well, but then again, when looking for quality, you should be hard to please. Anyway, she told me that she was proud of me. "If you keep writing and learning and submitting... you'll get published. And you do. I'm proud of you.. you keep on keeping on."

Imagine my shock.

Half the time, I'm not even sure if she likes me or puts up with me because she has to. (I love it because it sounded like an old Allman Brothers or Lynard Skynard type of song).

So, I'm not trying to brag, but I wanted to share my good news. Hopefully, I helped another friend and she'll have great news to share soon too.

Toodles.