FALL, 2017: what a crazy world we live in. I'm here for you -

My God, it's been a long, long, long time since I've updated this blog.

Pull up a chair and pour yourself some coffee -

Personally, it was a busy summer filled with a lot of family obligations and cookouts. Admittedly, I took some time off writing, and I needed it. Nine books in three years is A LOT of writing. I'm not complaining or bragging, just stating. 

Lately, I've been getting back to my roots. Writing from the heart, letting a story ferment and bloom. I'm working on a few stories simultaneously, but Claire + Aiken (tentatively named Heart-ached) is where my head and heart is MOSTLY stuck. They will be next when they make their way out of my labyrinth of a mind.

The world is a scary place these days.

Hurricanes, earthquakes, countless natural disasters rocking the earth coupled with the largest mass shooting in U.S. history is enough to make most of enough curl under the covers and hide.

Believe me, there are moments I want to do just that.

There are other moments, I think to myself: why the heck am I writing? I need to do something more humanitarian. But then you say, escape is what you need. So I continue to write.

Last but not least, while you wait for my next story, I've published a very LIMITED EDITION duet, containing Redemption Lane and Absolution Road with a new cover. It will only be available through the end of the year and for sale at my next signing in NOLA.

GRAB it here: getBook.at/CrossRdsAmz

Information on signed copies coming soon.

xoxoxo,

Rachel

Gratuitous Thanks and Run-On Sentences

Excuse me for a moment because I'm about to get all sappy...it could just be that Hello Again by Neil Diamond is playing. OR not. It may be...a year and a few days ago, I hit publish on my first novel. With one stroke of a button, I put all my hard work, blood, sweat and tears on the line. My friends bought it, my mom read it, and soon...a small group of unknown-to-me readers read it. Some loved it, others abhorred it. My editor told me to strap on a thick skin (in a much nicer way); my husband assured me that if I didn't receive any bad reviews, I hadn't really gone mainstream; my mentors said to just write another book.

What did I do? I dried my tears and wrote another book. Well, actually two more in a year's time. I just kept typing, dreaming, and marketing. OH, the fucking marketing. It's 97 & 1/2% of my day. Marketing. There are fun parts of this like talking to readers––the ones who like your books––and meeting bloggers. Bloggers are hard-working people who actually do work-for-free most of the time. If not, they make pennies while helping us––authors––with marketing. All for the love of reading and romance in my case.

There are not-so-fun parts like ad placement and reading bad reviews, feeling the need to apologize that my book wasn't your cup of tea (I really do feel this way), blogging myself, running giveaways, etc. Most of these are not all bad just tedious and keep me away from writing. I'm not going to lie, reading a bad review hurts, but I get over it now. AND I have Nicole now. She makes everything better...are you reading this Nicole?

Anyway, I digress (a bad habit of mine). A year after publishing Electrified, it's still growing and gaining new readers/fans (?!?!) and sometimes I run to the mirror and check that I'm still standing...and this is happening. BTW, Pam is going to shoot me over the run-ons here, but it's my party, and I'll clearly run-on if I want to!

I continue to be shocked how Electrified is still moving and shaking. Sienna is special to me...Asher even more so––at times. Smoldered was my most emotional to write, and clearly polarizes audiences to the max. I was still a new & fairly dumb idiot back then, and I made Asher an absolute cheating prick with a heart of gold. I love him that way.

Redemption Lane brought a new set of characters and a less glitzy background. Lane and Bess made me cry, Jake makes me swoon...I'm writing him now. And then there's my soon to be released, Tiberius. He's not what you think, debunks all those preconceived notions you may have, and was totally new for me to write.

It wasn't planned this way, but somewhat ironic that the cover reveal for Vérité fell on the same week as Electrified's anniversary. Yesterday blew me away, toppled me over––and that's not easy when you're 5'10. Thank you so much for all the messages, emails, texts, posts etc - bloggers, readers, friends, enemies alike.

Bloggers who were on vacation reached out, new reviewers sent messages for my current books and wanting to be on the list for upcoming titles, and my mom forgot (I think she did, but she played it off). There's also the other authors I've met and fallen in love with...too many to mention. But they really have circled around me when this author stuff got too hard and celebrated with me when it's going well.

So, just thank you. Thank you so much for making this last year incredible. I look forward to the next few - Rachel XOXOXO

Special Giveaway because I can't resist

HEY!! I'm offering a special giveaway for readers who sign up for my mailing list and leave a review of one of my books.

For a chance to win this beautiful Sabika Swarovski Yellow Pendant, paperback copies of ELECTRIFIED, SMOLDERED, and REDEMPTION LANE, plus swag, all you need to do is sign up for my mailing list (on the sidebar) and then leave a review for one of my books on your blog, Goodreads, Amazon, or other retailer.

Enter the Rafflecopter below to enter! Good luck and thank you.

**Comment if you know why the pendant is yellow :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Why Reviews Matter to Independent Authors

From time to time, you may have heard me saying something like, "If you liked my book, please leave a review where you purchased it or on Goodreads or both..."  

And you probably think, "GOD, that Rachel is such an ego-maniac. First we have to buy her book and now we have to go write a review about her writing. How much ego-stroking does this lady need?'

I know it appears that way, but let me explain why reviews are important to any author, but especially an independent one. We [I] do all our own marketing. We make teasers, interact daily/hourly in Facebook and Goodreads reading groups, we love to talk to readers, and we take time every day to do all of this and more. It's time-consuming, and I'm sure it sounds like I'm whining, but I would not trade my relationships I have with readers for anything. Nothing. Not even my own Dunkin Donuts franchise.

But I also want to write more books and I can't keep up with everything, and this is where reviews come in. Reviews are really helpful marketing tools for authors. They live and breathe on the pages where readers visit to peruse and buy books. They are read by potential customers and influence their purchasing decisions. Yes, that was a mouthful, but basically, your kind [or not so kind] words help me promote my books, which let's face it––I appreciate that immensely. I spend a lot of time writing each and every title, and I want to share them with as many readers as possible.

An ego-trip is the furthest thing in the world that I want or need, but don't think that your reviews go unnoticed. I try to like, comment and touch base with as many reviewers as possible.

What did you say? You don't want your name associated with a romance review. NO problemo.

Reviews can be short, sweet and to the point. A quick little note, and if you don't want to include your name––that's cool. Just put Amazon Customer or Nook Lover or Reader Extraordinaire. You can call yourself whatever you want, and I don't even have to know it's you.

So far, today had been one of those oh-so-NOT-glamorous days, being an independent author. Mostly, I'm already pulling my hair out regarding uploading Redemption Lane to the various places you'll be able to buy it. Currently, it's stuck in review purgatory at iTunes and from what I hear, Amazon is running slow in approving titles. So, I'm panicking. All the while, I'm trying to rush getting the paperback approved because I know there are a number of you who prefer the feel, touch, and smell of a real book.

And even though all this seems so crappy, I'm super excited to share my latest title with YOU. Seeing your feedback after it releases lets me know my hard work was not for nothing.

At the moment, I look ghastly, and that's being generous. Still, I am about to publish my third book, and my stomach is a mix of nerves and mostly excitement.

So, if you happen to read Redemption Lane and enjoy it, please leave a quick note where you purchased it. And to those of you who have read my other titles and left a review -- THANK YOU! And if you haven't written one yet, you still CAN!

~ Rachel

XOXO

p.s. Smoldered is on sale for 99 cents --> EXTENDED through the release of Redemption Lane on 2.19.15

amazon 

iBooks 

barnes&noble

Win an ARC for Redemption Lane

 

As I sit at my desk and the snow falls outside, I'm growing even more excited to share my new Crossroads series with you. Set between Ligonier, Pennsylvania and my hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania––with a jaunt or two to Miami––Redemption Lane is certainly special. An angsty, emotional story between two broken souls both in need of repair, Lane and Bess find peace in the most unlikely of places.

With the snow-lined trees peeking through my window, I may as well be sitting in a setting or two of Redemption Lane. There I am reveling in my own little world when it hits me! I haven't even shared an extended teaser for this book...

SO, I decided to do something about that-->

Actually TWO things.

Please sign up for my mailing list and during the first week in February, you will receive a special preview of Redemption Lane delivered right to your inbox! There is a little sign up box right in the sidebar over there -->

AND one lucky random winner, will receive an ebook Advanced Reader Copy of Redemption Lane. You don't have to do anything else other than sign up for the mailing list.

[Winner will be selected by random.org by midnight on Wednesday Feb, 11th]

ADD Redemption Lane to your TBR list on GoodReads here.

Find my new column, In Bed with an Author, on Facebook here.

XOXO

R

2014 Holiday Reading Recs

The elf is hiding and everyone is having twelve days of Christmas or this or that...and I'm editing. And maybe doing a little internet shopping. But with winter break coming, I thought I would share a few of my holiday reading recs.

Grab any or all of them and enjoy them by the fire or while ignoring your kids or when you're on vacation.

The Redemption by S L Scott

The second book in the Resistance Series. I think I loved the Redemption more. While the Resistance was frisky and fun, this installment is angsty and painful. But oh so, so good. Rochelle is a widow and a single mom. Dex, her late husband's closest friend has been in love with her from afar––since they met. Now, he has his chance, but there are so many misgivings and secrets that their romance is cloaked in twists and turns and more twists.  A holy hot mess of a rocker,  Dex has a sweet side and it makes this read totally worth it. It is an absolute one sitting read because there's simply no good point to put it down.

The Signature by Susan Ward

I picked this book up one afternoon and didn't put it down. Krystal, a rockstar fugitive, and Devon, an investigative reporter, should stay away from one another, but they don't. And sparks fly. Emotional ones. This is a fabulous contemporary love story with the beauty of old school romance woven through it. A perfect read for someone who is looking for a book without all the erotica. But have no fear...there is still steam and sparks.

With Everything I Am by Kristen Ashley.

Although this is an older read, the next book in the series comes out after Christmas and I LOVED this one. A werewolf and his betrothed carry secrets and as their love unfolds, these secrets become more and more entangled. A perfect paranormal romance, there is beauty and passion. And it is KA––so you know, it's amazing. And, at the time of writing this, it is on sale for 99 cents.

Unscripted by Christy Pastore

With a sneak peek at the end of Smoldered, I luckily had the chance to read an ARC of this book...and it is on fire. Sexy, sensual, and dreamy Ronan Connolly falls for Holliday Prescott, a contradiction of a woman. Strong yet broken, Holliday refuses the Irish actor's advances until she can't hold out any longer. An affair ensues with many ups and downs, and we are left hanging...I know, I know! It is tough. but it will be worth the wait. This book is a fabulous escape for any romance reader. Debuting on 12/9, it is avail for preorder now.

And if you read either Electrified or Smoldered...THANK YOU! from the bottom of my heart.

2015, Get ready! Coming in February, the first book, Redemption Lane, in my newest series, Crossroads.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! xoxox, RB