This past week has been just plain awesome.  I'm receiving lots of positive feedback on "Murder At Castle Rock" (can't wait for reviews to start coming in!), and I've even had several people send me pictures of themselves with their copy when it arrived in the mail.  If you ordered a copy and want to submit a picture of yourself with the book, feel free to shoot me an email (annemarie@amstoddardbooks.com) with the picture attached, and I'll create a photo gallery on the site and include your picture :)

To celebrate on launch day, I went out for Trivia night and drinks with a few friends.  By a pretty awesome coincidence, a "Castle Rock" question was asked during trivia:  What Rob Reiner company gets its name from a fictional town in a Stephen King novel?  Answer: Castle Rock, of course.  How...appropriate :) The day after the launch, I flew to Las Vegas with my sister, brother, and sister-in-law to visit my best friend and unofficial "Gchat editor," Stella. With the ties to Vegas in the book (I won't spoil it for you if you haven't read yet!), there couldn't have been a more perfect place for me to go to celebrate.  What an awesome weekend!

I won't bore you with my vacation stories any longer, though--let's move on to the real point of this post.  Now that I'm back in Atlanta, I'm helping a new site spread the word about their launch.  Momma Says Read!  Momma Says Read is a site dedicated to connecting authors to readers, and they also offer several great services for authors--for FREE! 

If you're a bookworm looking for your next fix, MSR has tons of great book recommendations and listings for book bargains and even free book offers.  If you're an author, MSR is offering you free book reviews, author interviews, book blog tours, and more.   It's a great site with a lot to offer any book lover.

To help kick off Momma Says Read, I'm not only giving away a copy of "Murder At Castle Rock" on their site (giveaway will be posted soon!), but I'm also co-sponsoring their Kindle Fire giveaway!  Head on over to the site here to enter for your chance to win a free Kindle Fire--and while you're there, look around at all of the great books that are already listed on the site--you might find your next favorite author!

For the next month, Momma Says Read is throwing their Big Launch Giveaway Blitz, so be sure to follow Momma on Twitter and Facebook for chances to win daily book giveaways!

Happy Sunday, and Happy Reading!

What good is a mystery in the music industry without a little music?  Click on the links below to find out what the staff of Castle Rock is listening to, and don't forget to check out "Murder At Castle Rock" next month!  Subscribe to your favorite staffer's list on your own Spotify to enjoy these often updated playlists!

Music & mystery fan?  What songs do you like on these mixes, and what songs do you think the staffers should be jamming to?

Happy New Year, Reading World!  It's been a busy month for me as I prepare to release "Murder At Castle Rock," but over the holidays I still made time to talk to popular author, Tonya Kappes! 

Tonya writes fun, humorous romance and mystery fiction and is currently conducting a blog tour for the release of her Divorced Divas mystery, "Strung Out to Die."  I had the privilege of speaking with her recently about another series of hers, however:  The Magical Cures Series.  After reading "A Charming Cure," the second book in the series, I reached out to Tonya to learn more about her magical world and her writing career.   

For more information on Tonya and her books, check out her website.  Until then, enjoy this look into Tonya's world: 

1)  Hi Tonya! Where do you draw the most inspiration for your Magical Cures series?  Real life experiences, movies or dreams, etc.?

Good question! Growing up in the 70’s I had some great television programs to draw from, especially I Dream of Genie and Bewitched. But I have to say that I absolutely love the movies Bettlejuice and Practical Magic which are funny and that is how I write.
And I have to mention that I have visited a palm reader, psychic a few times in my life. . .okay. . .a couple times a year!

2)  Are any of the characters in the Magical Cures series based on people that you know in real life?

No. I do get strange emails from people accusing me of using them/their personality in my books, but until you can prove to me that there are Fairy God Cats, I’m going to have to stick with no.

3)  Speaking of June's fairy god cat, Mr. Prince Charming is quite the character himself!  What inspired you to make June's pet such a vital and integral member of the series?
I usually write a dog or two in my other novels. I needed an animal that was sneaky and smart. Mr. Prince Charming had to be there when June needed him. A cat was perfect because they have a lot of those qualities.

Since there will be a lot of novels in the series (six planned so far), cats have nine lives, and it was perfect for the journey that June has throughout the series. I wanted a pet that she could rely on and help her through her changing life. Animals are so loyal and forgiving. That is why he’s so important to the series.

4)  As your avid writers know, the Magical Cures series is only one of many series that you write.  The Olivia Davis paranormal mysteries are my personal favorite :)  Is there any one particular series or protagonist that you feel you more closely relate to than the others?

I’d have to pick Hallie Mediate from my stand alone Chick-Lit novel, Carpe Bead ‘em or maybe Holly Harper from my new series A Divorced Diva Mystery with Strung Out To Die as book one.

Both of those characters are jewelry beaders, have great friends, and lost love. I have done all of those. I co-owned a jewelry beading business, Beadnicks, I have a great set of friends, and I’ve been divorced. There might just be a little bit of me in each of those gals. Plus they are fun!

5)  If it were up to you and only one of your main characters to save the world, which would you team up with to get the job done, and why would he or she be the best equipped to save the day?

Olivia Davis for sure!. She is a go getter and doesn’t take no for an answer. She isn’t scared to get her hands dirty when she needs to.

6)  Here come a couple of writing questions!  I know that you write pretty much anywhere and everywhere you can (at the boys' sports practices, at coffee shops, etc.)--still, do you have any particular pre-writing rituals to set the tone for your writing sessions?

This is a good question too! I keep a journal for each novel I write. When I begin a new idea, it sits in my head for a few months, and I gather little ideas/scenes in my head. I jot all of those down. It might range from a character name, flaw to complete scenes.
As for when I actually put my butt in the chair, I don’t have a ritual. I just make myself sit and type.

7)  Besides being a prolific writer, you're a whiz at book marketing and promotions!  What is your number one tip for other aspiring self-promoted authors?

I’m not going to give the same drab story most writers do about sit butt in chair, we all know that!

Find your target audience and market to them! A lot of writers make the mistake to spend all their time marketing to other writers or spending a lot of their free time on other writer sites etc….writers are very important for networking or being with like minded people, but that is not your target audience!

For example, My newest novel, Strung Out To Die, is set in a bead shop. I target that beading audience by doing guest blogs on beading sites, having book signings at local bead stores etc….TARGET AUDIENCE!

6)  If you could collaborate to either co-write a novel or contribute to a collection of short stories along with five of your favorite authors, who would you choose to work with?

I’d have to say no one….UNLESS it was a really sweet relationship we had. Writing is very personal for me and hard. I don’t like people telling me where to take my story. I have been approached, but I quickly found out that the story was already written in their head and no matter what I write, I could never write a story that would absolutely fit their idea or the character they want me to write.
Relationships are too important to me and no story is worth a ruined friendship!

7)  You're known for your fun and entertaining street team book release parties and chats.   Can you hint at anything exciting you might have in store for your Facebook street team in the coming months?

Um. . .I do, but it’s a secret! BIG PLANS!!

8) Rose Pressey mentioned in a previous interview that she had never been asked her favorite color--so just to make sure we've got all our bases covered, what is *your* favorite color? :)

Orange!

9)  Are there any other questions that no interviewer ever asks that you would like to address for your fans?  

First, I’m not a big FAN of the word FAN. I do love my readers and I’m so grateful for every single one of them. I think they all know that too :)
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Thanks Tonya!  Now here comes the fun part--A GIVEAWAY!


Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win the Tonya Kappes e-book of her choice!  

Tonight I've got a special treat for you guys--my first author interview!  This first interview is with best-selling author Rose Pressey, who has recently released the third book in her Rylie Cruz series, "How To Date a Demon"!  Check out her interview below and then scroll down for details on a special Rose Pressey giveaway!

You can find out more about Rose and her books at her website!

You recently released the third book in the Rylie Cruz series, "How To Date a Demon," and have quite a few other series published.  Do you plan each series (i.e. the plots for each book) far in advance, or do you write each new book as the idea comes to you?
Mostly I write the idea as it comes to me. I had the idea for the titles for all the Rylie Cruz books when I started writing the first book in that series. But I never know what happens until I start writing the books.

You use some great imagery of New Orleans in the latest Rylie Cruz book.  If you were to ever have Rylie & Co. pack up and move to a new city, which city would you pick and why?
That’s a good question. Maybe I’d take them somewhere with a beach, like Miami. I’m sure Rylie would appreciate seeing all the guys without shirts.

What is your favorite pre-writing ritual?
I don’t think I have a ritual. I do like to write with a full stomach though. Ha-ha. It makes for better creativity.

Aside from your home or office, where is your favorite place to go and be by yourself to write?
Usually my bedroom. I can sit on the bed and relax. Once the dogs realize I’m on the bed though, the quiet is usually over. I like to go to the park when the weather is nice.

Have you ever considered writing a full series with a male protagonist? 
I’ve never considered a full novel, but I’ve thought of writing a novella with a male protagonist.

Of all of the strong female protagonists you include in your series, do you have a favorite?  Or does one relate more to you personally than the others? (My personal guess would be Larue Donovan since she owns a book shop!)
I do relate more to Larue. I think I have the most in common with her.

Many authors include at least the tiniest bit of personal experience in their stories.  Paranormal activities aside, are there any wacky scenarios in any of your books that have happened to you in real life?
I do include some personal experiences. In my book, Murder at Honeysuckle Hotel, the opening scene involves a missing glass eye. That really happened to my grandmother.

Which author, independently or traditionally published, most inspires and influences you?
My favorite author is Molly Harper. I love her books. I started writing after reading a Mary Kay Andrews book. I loved the book so much that I wanted to write one like it.

This question is for the benefit of all the other aspiring authors out there--What do you find is your most successful marketing strategy for your books?
Honestly, word of mouth is the best marketing. Connecting with readers via social media.

It's no secret that you love to connect with your readers through various forms of social media and with your street team!  Is there anything more you'd like to share with them that no interviewer has ever asked before?
LOL. It’s funny I just mentioned social media in the question above. I can’t think of any particular question. I’m not sure if anyone has ever asked my favorite color. I love lime green. :)

GIVEAWAY ALERT!  Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win one of Rose's e-books of your choice!

          Love him or hate him (though I don't see how anyone could hate him!), Stephen King is one of America's most prolific horror writers, and his work is EVERYWHERE.   I was beyond excited when I stumbled upon a Stephen King movie marathon last weekend, and my boyfriend and I settled in on the couch for a night of Thinner, Cujo, Christine, and Pet Semetary.  It was gory, horrifying bliss :)

          The next morning, after waking up from a King-induced nightmare about gypsies, zombie cats, and rabid Saint Bernards, I decided to pick up one of his books from my shelf and re-read it.  While I enjoy  his full-length novels like Misery, Desperation (my favorite!), and the like, I'm a huge fan of his collections of shorter stories.  I immediately went for Skeleton Crew, a great collection of his short stories that includes "The Mist," "Here There Be Tygers," "Mrs. Todd's Shortcut," "The Jaunt," and more....and, of course, my personal favorite, "The Raft."

          I'd completely forgotten about "The Raft," since it's been years since I picked up Skeleton Crew.  When the title caught my eyes I immediately flipped to the beginning of the story.  It's about four college students who decide to celebrate the end of summer by driving out to a remote Pennsylvania lake and swimming out to an abandoned raft floating in its center.  Things quickly take a turn towards terror when a mysterious oily, black patch on the surface of the water floats closer and closer to the raft, apparently stalking the two men and two women.  The strange black blob begins to pick off its victims one by one, luring them one off of the raft with its hypnotic swirling colors and even oozing from the cracks in the boards to attack another.  Once the creature has its hold on a victim, it covers them in its black sludge, completely dissolving them as it consumes them. 

        For a short story, "The Raft" is incredibly gory, terrifying, and one of those tales that will stick with you long after you read it (trust me--I first read it nearly four years ago and could still remember the way the sludge oozed through the cracks to attack Deke, pulling him down through the boards inch by inch as it consumed him...ick!)

          After re-reading this short story, I felt a renewed sense of inspiration to finish a short of my own (which I might now develop into a full-length novel) in which a similar creature plagues the streams off the hiking trails of a small mountain town.   Thanks, Stephen King, for inspiring me to get back into that gruesome groove :)

******************************GIVEAWAY ALERT************************************
What better way to celebrate Halloween than to give away a work from the master of horror fiction himself?   Check out the giveaway below to enter for a chance to win your own brand new paperback copy of Stephen King's "Skeleton Crew"!  Once a winner has been drawn by Rafflecopter, I will notify the winner and purchase the copy and mail it to you :)  Good luck!

In the beginning, there was just this site, and just this blog post.  But don't worry, there will be much more soon enough.  Keep checking back for updates on the release date for "Murder At Castle Rock," as well as news about my other works in progress, contests, giveaways, and more!