Follow Me
Grab my feed
Posts
All Comments
Wanna Shop?
2013 Reading Challenge
Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) has
read 0 books toward her goal of 75 books.
New-To-Me Authors
2013 reading goal:
15 new-to-me authors.
1) Stacy Gail
2) Heather Massey
3) Sidney Bristol
4) Ann Mayburn
5) Thea Harrison
6) Virna DePaul
7) Mary Quast
8) Molly Harper
9) Eleri Stone
10) PJ Schnyder
11) Kait Ballenger
12) Denise L. Wyant
13) Lucy Monroe
Sunday Snippets
More Blogs
original images by marin & papaija2008 at FreeDigitalPhotos.com
banner designed by Jennifer from Books Make Me Happy
Showing posts with label Robyn MacKenzie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robyn MacKenzie. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Contest Winner - Infinite Betrayal
I would like to thank everyone for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About for my Authors After Dark 2012 Feature Author Spotlight with Gayle Donnelly and Robyn Mackenzie. I also want to thank Gayle and Robyn for graciously donating an electronic copy of their newest release, Infinite Betrayal for our giveaway.
Every person that commented on the Author Spotlight was entered into the contest - one entry per person. The winner was selected using random.org.
The Winner:
Sariah
CONGRATULATIONS!!
I am sending the winner an email verify the address before the authors send the ebook. You have until Monday November 28, 2011 (end of day) to contact me. If I don’t hear from you by then, I will draw another winner.
Thank you and Happy Reading!
Labels:
Friday, November 18, 2011
AAD Author Spotlight: Gayle Donnelly & Robyn Mackenzie
Hello Readers! Today I have two special guests, Gayle Donnelly and Robyn Mackenzie. Both authors both hail from the Midwest. Writing partners as well as friends (perhaps even sisters in another life), both are married and each has two wonderful children. The similarities don’t stop there. Both earned degrees in English education, both have a profound weakness for Starbucks coffee, and both are completely captivated by the ethereal beauty found in the Pacific Northwest. Their individual passions for writing and storytelling, led them to create Infinite Betrayal, the first book in their Infinity Series. (Please see Vampbard’s review of Infinite Betrayal HERE.) And KEEP READING for your chance to win a copy of Infinite Betrayal... Details for GIVEAWAY are below.
Gayle and Robyn are both featured authors attending Author’s After Dark in New Orleans. For more information about AAD2012, click HERE.
Please help me welcome Gayle and Robyn to That’s What I’m Talking About.
1) Can you each tell us a little something special about the other one?
Robyn: Probably one of the most special things about Gayle is she balances me and forces me out of my comfort zone when needed. She’s much more of an extrovert than I am and I’ve grown so much in that area because of her. She’s also the type of friend you can call at 2:00 in the morning and she’ll be at your house in 10 minutes, no questions asked.
Gayle: There are several things I can think of but I think the most important is that she - no matter what the situation – will always fill where I am lacking. If I am depressed or stressed about something, she always ends up being my touchstone to bring me back to reality. When I need something, she provides – no matter what.
2) Book one is Infinite Betrayal. Tell us a little about Mathias and Mina’s story.
Gayle/Robyn: Infinite Betrayal starts out with the death of Mina Roarke’s mother and the mystery surrounding the background of an absentee father. She travels to Germany to try and get answers when she comes in contact with Mathias; who says he has been sent from this mysterious father of hers that she knows nothing about. She soon finds out that her heritage is not what she ever thought it would be and is quickly thrust into a war between two species that have been in existence for thousands of years. Mina becomes the target and well, you will have to read the story to get the rest!!
3) Tell us about Mathias & Mina…
Gayle/Robyn:
Mina is a complete smart ass but her best attribute is her loyalty to the people she loves. She has major trust issues but once someone is in her fold, they stay there. She has long, auburn hair, is about 5’6, lives outside of Seattle and works as an insurance adjuster.
Mathias is the youngest General of the Coteri. His parents died when he was young so he was raised by Roderick, King of the Coteri Race. He worked extremely hard to overcome the stigma of being raised by the king and proved to himself and everyone around him that he earned and deserved the rank of General of the German Coteri forces.
4) Book two is Infinite Surrender. This is your current work in progress. Can you tell us a little more about it?
Gayle/Robyn: Infinite Surrender follows the story of Chloe and Talon, who are both introduced in Infinite Betrayal, and continues the storyline progression from the first book. It takes place in the Pacific Northwest but unfortunately, we can’t tell you too much about the story since we don’t want to give away too many secrets from the first book. We can tell you that Talon is all Alpha and he definitely meets his match in Chloe. Infinite Surrender is action-packed and introduces several new interesting secondary characters. And of course, the romance/heat level is hot, hot, hot!
5) I can’t wait to read more! Book three is Infinite Desire. What can you tell us about this book?
Gayle/Robyn: Infinite Desire takes place in New Orleans and centers around the General of the South; Devereux. I don’t want to get too much into the story but I love the outline we have come up with.
6) What made both of you want to attend the 2012 Authors After Dark Conference?
Well, we had planned on going to the last conference because Larissa Ione was the Mistress of Ceremonies (and we both completely worship her and her books!) Unfortunately, my (Gayle’s) daughter got sick and we ended up not attending. But for 2012, the minute we heard it was going to be in New Orleans, we KNEW we had to go! There are so many of our favorite authors attending this session that just being there is going to be a treat!
But to add a cherry on top, we found out that we were nominated in 5 categories for the AAD Bookie Awards!! Best Non-Wolf Shifter novel, Best Cover, Best World Building, E-book Only novel of the year, and debut author. We were stunned to say the least! Of course, we would love to hear our name called but honestly, just to be back in the Big Easy will be prize enough! We both cannot wait to go to Pat O’s and grab a hurricane to-go and walk down to the French Market and shop! Of course, we’ll melt along the way with the conference being in August but hey, what’s the South without a little heat!!
Then to top it all off, we recently found out that Infinite Betrayal has also been nominated by Romantic Times for Best Indie Paranormal/Fantasy/Futuristic book for 2011!
Needless to say, it has been a whirlwind of a year for us and we can only hope that 2012 will bring more fantastic stories and allow us to continue to live our dream!
Well first, I’d like to say CONGRATULATIONS on all of your nominations! What an honor for you both! Second, I have never been to New Orleans and cannot wait to get there - I hope to enjoy a hurricane to go with you both!
ABOUT Infinite Betrayal:
He would protect her with his life…
Mathias has been ordered to protect Mina Roarke at all costs while keeping her Father’s secrets concealed. But from the moment he sees her, the hunger he’s desperately tried to bury, roars to life. The beast within is awakened and wants only one thing…Mina.
But when his enemies target her life, Mina and Mathias become caught in a lethal game of revenge. To save her, Mathias must not only expose the truth…but also what lies deep within him.
She was just looking for answers…
Mina had always been told she was special. In what way, she never fully understood until her life and everything she thought she knew and believed in was turned completely upside down.
After the unexpected death of her mother, Mina finds clues about her past that trigger more questions than answers. Her quest to find those answers thrusts Mina deep into the Black Forest of Germany and into the arms of a man who tests her control…in more ways than one. She is wrenched from her own reality into a world filled with adrenaline-charged danger, blazing sexual heat, and the answers that have been hidden her entire life.
Mina alone holds the power to change her future but when she comes face to face with ultimate betrayal, can she still trust in the one man that has captured her heart?
Thank you Gayle and Robyn for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About. Gayle and Robyn are graciously giving away one (1) electronic copy of Infinite Betrayal. Please leave your comments for the authors by Tuesday November 22, 2011, at 9:00 PM EST to be eligible for the contest. One entry per person, winner will be selected from eligible entries using random.org. Contest is open internationally; please leave your email address so the authors can send you the book. Thank you to Gayle and Robyn for this fun giveaway!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Review: Infinite Betrayal
Infinite Betrayal
Author: Gayle Donnelly & Robyn Mackenzie
Release Date: March 22, 2011
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
The Infinity Series #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
|
He would protect her with his life…
Mathias has been ordered to protect Mina Roarke at all costs while keeping her Father’s secrets concealed. But from the moment he sees her, the hunger he’s desperately tried to bury, roars to life. The beast within is awakened and wants only one thing…Mina.
But when his enemies target her life, Mina and Mathias become caught in a lethal game of revenge. To save her, Mathias must not only expose the truth…but also what lies deep within him.
She was just looking for answers…
Mina had always been told she was special. In what way, she never fully understood until her life and everything she thought she knew and believed in was turned completely upside down.
After the unexpected death of her mother, Mina finds clues about her past that trigger more questions than answers. Her quest to find those answers thrusts Mina deep into the Black Forest of Germany and into the arms of a man who tests her control…in more ways than one. She is wrenched from her own reality into a world filled with adrenaline-charged danger, blazing sexual heat, and the answers that have been hidden her entire life.
Mina alone holds the power to change her future but when she comes face to face with ultimate betrayal, can she still trust in the one man that has captured her heart?
What VampBard is talking about:
|
Infinite Betrayal is the first in what could be a powerhouse series by Gayle Donnelly and Robyn Mackenzie. To say that I enjoyed this book would be an understatement. I devoured it in a day. The authors artistically crafted a world wherein they created a race to act as liaison between the human population and the natural world without humans being aware of their existence. Me likey :) Additionally, this race - the Coteri - are a strong, gentle presence. Although, a faction - the Valta - are wreaking havoc in the human world, and the Coteri, through their King's leadership, are trying to squelch the chaos.
Where to begin... ah, yes... our hero, Mathias. Strong, stubborn and driven to complete his mission. Too bad he didn't factor in falling in love with Mina, the King's daughter. Kinda complicates his position as a General in the Royal Guard a bit, huh? Especially when the King doesn't know, and Mathias' is compelled to act on his desire to be with Mina prior to the end of his assignment. The internal conflict Mathias endures is beautifully depicted, and focuses on his inner battle to do his job and follow his heart. We get a decent description of Mathias near the beginning of the book when Mina sees him for the first time, and when she's describing him to her bestie, Chloe. What's better than the physical description of Mathias is the way he interacts with Mina, from start to finish. His protectiveness as well as the way he fights to retrieve her when she's been kidnapped is nothing less than spectacular characterization.
The perfect compliment to Mathias is our heroine, Mina. Strong-willed, independent and taking control of her own life after facing the death of the only parent she's ever known, Mina learns exactly how 'special' she is through the course of the book. Even while dealing with immense inner-conflict, similar to Mathias, Mina pulled-off the appearance of being confident and self-assured. Her psyche was further exposed during her captivity with the baddie, Luca, and she brought to the forefront some of the strategies she used to ensure that her sanity was retained during that ordeal, as well as at other times during her life. These coping strategies, as well as others Mina displayed, were excellent examples of strong traits that women world-wide need to embrace. Kudos to the authors for ensuring that their heroine exemplified what so many women struggle to emulate.
Roderick. We saw a lot of him in this book, and learned about his motives for laying low in Mina's life until this point. He appears to be selfless, and appears to rule with confidence even when filled with self-doubt. He's lost the love of his life, Mina's mom, Julia. He's in mourning, and while he should be allowed time to grieve, he is not afforded that luxury. My favorite scene involving Roderick, the King of the Coteri, also involved Mina. She was in his office, and on the mantle were keepsakes from her childhood that her mother had sent. As she took in how involved Roderick really was in her life, even if from afar, he simply sat in a chair taking it all in. Taking in her reactions, taking in the way she moved, analyzed the items, and the way she communicated her emotions. Well, that's how it appeared anyway! He really did have the best interests of his daughter at heart when he distanced himself from their lives, all the while ensuring their safety and comfort through strategically placed protective measures and financial support.
There was one plot concern in the story. Mathias took Mina to Munich (say that fast 5 times!) for a shopping expedition. He told her prior to departure that she would be unable to meet with her father for a few days because he was tied up with business. Later, Mina indicated that she couldn't wait to leave Munich so that she could meet her father. I felt this was a plot-gap, and either needed further development or a bit more clarification for the reader. I went back and re-read the entire section in question twice, to make sure I hasn't missed anything - flipped a page without reading it accidentally, etc. It confused me as a reader.
Over-all, I really enjoyed Infinite Betrayal. It has tidbits that reminded me of Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling series (a favorite of mine), although I didn't feel as though the plot at all mimicked the other series. The strong characterization, and the way the authors introduced the characters have set-up a great universe from which I hope to read several more installments in the future.
VampBard's Rating:
|
Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
*** Be sure to come back tomorrow when authors Gayle Donnelly & Robyn Mackenzie stop by for a visit. They have a book to give away!!!
Monday, June 6, 2011
A Visit to Lori Foster's (not so little) Event
Dear readers. NO... Unfortunately I did NOT attend the marvelous gathering that Ms. Lori Foster throws every spring. However, my dear friend, Nima (short for Nissan Mama) did attend the public signing. Being the amazing friend that she is, she wrote up this wonderful post and took some photos so that we could share the experience with you all.
Nima claims to be an apprentice fairy godmother. Until she earns her wings, she spends her time as a spinning instructor, riding her bike around the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio, and consuming large quantities of chocolate. She plays the flute, loves to read, and has issues with paper clutter. She’s in total denial that she has a college student in his twenties, but as a peri-menopausal woman likes that her other two children are teenagers because life is so much more fun when everyone’s hormonal. Her husband escapes the insanity by taking to the road on his Harley. Nima encourages this because who doesn’t love a man in leather?
Amazingly, to her anyway, Nima is a published author. Her emphasis has been non-fiction in periodicals and documentary scripts. She has worked as on on-line video editor and voice-over artist. At present she is attempting to actually finish her first fictional novel, but is easily distracted by sparkly objects and all the books in her to-be-read pile.
Nima will likely show up here when you least expect her. Please help me in giving Nima a warm welcome here at That's What I'm Talking About! Take it away Nima...
*hangs head in shame* I didn’t know. I didn’t know! I swear I didn’t know!
I live in suburban Cincinnati, Ohio. There is a best-selling author, you might have heard of her, Lori Foster, and she lives in Ross, Ohio, about 30 minutes from my house. Every year for the last five years she has worked to sponsor this little affair un-astonishingly called the Lori Foster Reader and Author Get Together. Sounds intimate and low key, doesn’t it? Quaint even. Yeah, not so little. Why did no one tell me this was going on in my back yard all these years?!
I finished Hawke’s book yesterday, closed it with a sigh, and was giddy that I would be meeting Singh in less than 24 hours. Today, my car thermometer said the outside temperature had hit 100 and I was glad to be heading for air conditioning at the Marriott in West Chester, Ohio. I had no trouble parking and walked into the lobby forty-five minutes ahead of the signing, hoping the line wasn’t already too long. Hoping, that not many people had heard about this signing and I wouldn’t be subjected to the long lines I had recently endured for the J.R. Ward signing. (Totally worth it, by the way, the woman is a stand-up comedienne.) I figured out this was no small deal when I saw that Barnes and Noble had taken over the smaller ballroom and set up an on-site bookstore.
I wound my way through the crowds to the main ballroom. Inside they were handing out raffle prizes. I could see digital slide shows of book covers and trailers flashing to my right while waiters hustled to and fro to clean up lunch service. Male cover models (hip dents anyone?) and life sized cardboard cuts-outs decorated the room as much as very colorful participants—some authors, some readers, some publishers. Think feather boas and sequined hats and themed t-shirts. My favorite was worn by a very large, intimidating man and it said, “Ask me about my wife’s books.” Clearly this was a party and I had missed it.
Determined not to miss anymore, I was second in line behind a woman who had driven 4.5 hours from West Virginia to get Singh to sign her 30+ books. As I looked around, I realized there were tables and tables and more tables set up for authors, all making themselves available to readers for signing and chatting. Scanning the room when 2:00 pm had come and gone, I finally saw Singh making her way through the crowds. She wore a starched, white ruffled blouse, gray pinstripe slacks, and carried a soft pink leather purse. While she does look like her picture in the jacket of her books, I found her to actually be much softer and prettier in person. Perhaps it was the difference between living color and a black and white photograph? While being quite petite, she has a smile the size of Texas. Singh was one of the last authors seated because she had been part of a live internet chat/interview with Foster. Apologizing profusely for being a mere four minutes late, she announced that she had brought “sparkly pens” to make up for her tardiness. She then proceeded to sign ALL 30+ of Ms. West Virginia’s books.
When it was my turn, she graciously took a picture with me and I asked if she had actually spent any time in San Francisco for that was what had originally drawn me into the Psy/Changling series, being born and raised there. She replied in the affirmative and then asked me, “Did I get it right?” I laughed, assured her that she did with one exception. She referred to “old subway tunnels” which if you’ve ever been to the City by the Bay, you’d know are BART tunnels, not a true subway since it runs mostly above ground and is a monorail system, not at all unlike the ride at Disneyland. And there aren’t very many of them. Only a native San Franciscan would note that, however, and I grant her full leave to exercise literary license for the sake of storytelling. The rats have love somewhere, right?
Over the next half hour, I met multiple authors and had them sign bookplates, the modern answer to having something for the author to sign if you’re an e-reader . I learned that many of the authors are huge fans of each other--squealing, geeked-out fans. Virna DePaul, Chosen by Blood, was so excited she got to sit next to Singh that I thought she was going to wet her pants. She had a large stack of Singh’s books on the floor next to her own. Jess Granger had a stack on her table too, although she turned them face down while she was signing her latest, Beyond the Shadows. With first time published author Keri Stevens I discussed the advantages of different e-readers. Donna MacMeans and I chatted about Victorian vs. Regency historical novels, she gave me an unpublished excerpt from her latest Redeeming the Rogue, which won’t be released until August of this year, and a peacock feather to adorn my hair since it was pulled up in a French twist. The apparently hysterical antics of Dakota Cassidy at a recent conference in Columbus, Ohio was a source of great entertainment among readers waiting their turn to speak to the next author or their “must meet” list. I ended up in a lengthy discussion about the pros and cons of classifying a book as either sci/fi or romance since romance sells more books, but many hardcore sci/fi fans who enjoy a little romance in their stories would never venture into the romance section.
Next year! Next year! I promise to register and I’m taking Twimom227 with me!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Grab My Button
