A Giveaway and Advice: Never Give Up on Your Dream
My journey to publication evolved over time, but it wasn’t until almost ten years ago that I became serious. I already had the equivalent of about 200,000 words on my computer and after achieving a degree in Creative Writing from New York University I was able to convert all those words into something that was worth reading.
The professors at NYU gave me the tools I needed to make my dream come true, and believe me, I had a lot to learn. Punctuation, Pesky run-on sentences and the power of show don’t tell. I still have problems with commas as my editor with gladly tell you, but overall my writing has improved greatly. (I know, I really didn’t need that adverb.)
Armed with all the tools I needed, I converted those words into three books which became my Paradise Series. I read that entering contests was a good way to get noticed so I entered at least three a month and was pleasantly surprised when I became a finalist in many of them.
Two exciting moments stand out in my writing career. The first was winning my first writing contest. I was still unpublished but it gave me the confidence to enter more contests. I was pleasantly surprised when I becoming a finalist led me to my other exciting moment. Being recognized by Cheryl Yeko in a contest she was judging and signing with Soul Mate Publishing.
My advice to other writers is to get involved in the writing community. Join your local writing chapter, visit fellow writers’ blogs, and enter contests. They are a great way to receive valuable critiques on your work, meet editors and agents and gain confidence when you final and maybe win chapter contests.
I am giving away a signed copy of my romantic suspense, Beyond Paradise, the first book in my Paradise Series. Please make a comment below to be entered in this drawing. Thanks!
The Paradise Series is set in present day Manhattan around the glitzy and sometimes gritty New York nightlife.
Beyond Paradise centers around, Jonny Vallone, the dark, brooding owner of Beyond Paradise who doesn’t need any more complications in his life. Then con-artist, Cheryl Benson, barges into his office and spits out a confession that would make most men run for cover. When they team up, their wild ride takes them from the high-powered pace of Manhattan, to the sultry beaches of Miami in a desperate attempt to break free of their pasts while trying to tame the fiery passion and the dangerous deceptions swirling around them.
Dangerous Paradise , which will be published on August 19th, tells Eddie Morgan’s story.
Owning Beyond Paradise with his partner Jonny keeps Eddie more than satisfied until he finds himself breaking up a bar fight at the club and defending hotel heiress, Paige Drake. When Paige enlists Eddie’s expertise in updating one of the hotel bars, the unlikely couple can’t deny their attraction. Even though the Long Island socialite is way out of his league, Eddie can’t resist the challenge, and soon Paige finds herself zooming out of her buttoned-up life on the back of Eddie’s Harley.
Paige revels in the excitement of Manhattan after dark until reality brings her face to face with the seamier side of the business and a shady club promoter. Eddie comes to her rescue but fears saving Paige will drag him back to his violent past.
Forbidden Paradise will be the third in the series published at the end of 2019. It tells the story of Dylan, a savvy, street-smart hustler, who takes a dangerous path to prove his worth to Jonny’s sister, Lena.
All books are standalone and all contain language reflecting the rough edge of the characters with steamy sex scenes.
