XoXo Publishing™ a div of Ninni Group Inc

St. Patrick's Lucky 7 Day Contest!!

2012-02-17T14:25:00.002-05:00

BE SURE TO COME ! AND POST ,TWEET TO YOUR FRIENDS!

Soon more details to follow!

No-Dud Spuds

2012-02-17T14:23:00.000-05:00

Sure, you love potatoes, but you may be challenged in finding new ways to prepare them. On beyond french fries, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, and boiled potatoes, your repertoire may include scalloped potatoes, twice-baked potatoes, and home fries, but have you ever cooked Gorgonzola Scalloped Potatoes, Cajun Potatoes, or Mashed Potatoes with Prosciutto and Parmesan? How about potato soups? How many potato salad variations do you know? And let’s not forget sweet potatoes—they have a presence in this book, too. Get ready for some seriously delicious eating!

New Books added to XoXo

2012-02-17T14:20:00.000-05:00

Occupational Hazards- By Cynthia MaCgregor

It’s all in a day’s work…including the things that can go wrong. This funny book describes a plethora of work mishaps—on the job, on an interview, or otherwise. Have you ever had “one of those days” at work? Laugh at your own expense. One of these mishaps could happen to you.

A Day Before Valentine's Day Super Contest!!

2012-02-13T10:30:00.000-05:00

6 great prizes! See the picture attached and it's posted in our XOXO Publishing Blog and Facebook page:

How to win?
Answer the questions below:

Submit your answers to ana@xoxopublishing.com

Good luck!
XoXo Media

For Pas Des Deux
In her Secret Admirer
What is the name of the Chocolatier that Will wants Cindy to consider?

What is the name of Cindy’s business?

In the Conversation Cars

What is the setting for the story?

What is the name of the T.V.show the hero of the story stars in?

For Haiku

On page 7, the lovers fit together like what?

What is the name of the person who inspired the poems?

Who did the book design.

Pas des Deux - WIN a box of BACI Chocolates!

2012-02-06T21:26:00.003-05:00

Win a box of Baci Chocolates!

When you buy a copy of Pas De Deux by Denyse Bridger and Brigit Aine. To enter send us your name and proof of purchase. In time for Valentine's Day!

Send your proof of purchase to ana@xoxopublishing.com

PAS DES DEUX - Her Secret Admirer - Brigit Aine
PAS DES DEUX - The Conversation Cards - Denysé Bridger

One sweet, one sexy - both passionate and guaranteed to make you smile!

BUY IT HERE

Two very different stories of love and passion. In Brigit Aine’s enchanting tale, Her Secret Admirer, love is being discovered, with all its magic and mystery and hope… and in the second movement of the Duet, The Conversation Cards, two people already involved in their passionate love affair learn new things about each other, and reaffirm their bond.

Pas des Deux: Her Secret Admirer – Love is often found when it’s least expected. Cindy is working hard at making her business a success, and at her side offering solid support is Will. When she arrives home one evening to find a Valentine Love Coupon taped to her door, a romantic game of dreams and hope begins as her Secret Admirer begins a courtship that will win her heart long before she knows his name…

Pas des Deux: The Conversation Cards – Two modern lovers, living often separate lives, discover that making time for their relationship isn’t always easy. A whimsical, spur of the moment purchase of a Valentine novelty evokes an open and honest conversation that makes their secret getaway an even more romantic rendezvous, and renews hope for a future that is the stuff of dreams…

BUY IT HERE

The Napkin Manuscript: Involvement I & II

2012-01-26T17:20:00.000-05:00

The following feature article about "The Napkin Manuscript: Involvement" was just published in The Independent January 25-31, 2012, Vol. 14, No 4 (Creative Arts Section)

Advice from Dad on napkins

By Jessica Curry

Asked to pick a favorite character from his book series, “The Napkin Manuscript,” East Mountain author G. Mitchell Baker names them all.
Baker’s series is about a father, Jon Emerson, a man without a way, drifting, who writes life lessons for his children on napkins with an expensive pen – a remnant of his former life.
Other characters in the books include Chilly Belly, a homeless veteran, a bike messenger named Speedy G and even an abandoned dog named Bug Dog.
Baker lost his father – a drama professor who wanted to write – when he was only seven years old. He said his writing is not about reviving a dream of his
father ‘as much as it was about walking in my father’s footsteps from a perspective of legacy.”
Baker took a sabbatical from the legal profession and relocated to the area from Seattle. In just a few short months “The Napkin Manuscript” was born, the
beginning of a 12-year career in writing feature length screenplays and novels.
The stories are meant to be entertaining “but from
a responsible perspective,” Baker said.

See, ADVICE page 14

ADVICE
Continued from Page 11

He researches and writes “at all times of the day or night” that time available,
writing on paper “right into the laptop” or dictating to voice recognition software
and said that alternating between media is helpful to him when he is writing a
lot.
Speaking with the writer at a grocery store café, his excitement and enthusiasm
about the stories is contagious. “Everything has meaning,” Baker says.
Being a published author is a “wonderful experience” and “validation”, Baker said. He is currently under contract with two publishers, one for “The Napkin Manuscripts” and another a five year deal for “all I can write in science fiction,”
he said.
Asked about advice for other writers, Baker replied, “It really helps to like what
you are doing … deep down in your psyche and well into your heart.”
“The Napkin Manuscripts” are available at xoxopublishing.com/Products/ and amazon.com for under $7.

Best Selling Author Mary Balogh Gives Rave Review On "Moving On A Prairie Romance" By Annette Bower

2012-01-24T23:02:00.000-05:00

Annette--

a gentle, feel-good book with a nice variety of individualized
characters and a positive over-all message. The familiar setting
was a treat too. Congratulations! I would recommend it.
                                           ~Mary Balogh

                                            

New Facebook Group - Latinos & Italian Writers / Authors Open Group

2012-01-24T00:29:00.000-05:00

This is new. If you ever wanted to write a book and didn't know how to begin or where to start here is your chance. If you are already a published author, feel free to join and share your stories how you did it, and you can promo your books here as well. Hope to get more to follow. I will be setting up a yahoo group, will provide the link when it is up.~ Ana~
Latinos & Italian Writers and Authors

Valentines is almost here. Love Tell All.

2012-01-24T00:14:00.000-05:00

A collection of romantic stories set around Valentine's Day.

Moving On-A Prairie Romance by Annette Bower

2012-01-23T23:54:00.000-05:00

Anna is a mysterious woman that has just moved to Regina Beach. The residents of the small town know everyone’s business and they are very interested in discovering Anna’s secrets. Nick was a Sergeant in the Canadian Army, doing active duty until a horrific accident sent him home to recover. He helps Anna feel safe and comfortable in her new environment, just as he has always done for his men in strange, dangerous places. Meanwhile, he focuses on preparing for his future physical endurance test to prove that he is capable of returning to active duty.

Anna doesn’t talk about her past, and Nick doesn’t talk about his future therefore she is shocked to discover that his greatest wish is to return to active duty. She won’t love a man who may die on the job again. Intellectually, she knows that all life cycles end, but emotionally, she doesn’t know if she has the strength to support Nick.

Ageless New Book Click on link. Life begins after 40!

2012-01-23T23:41:00.000-05:00

Two short stories proving that love and lust do not end after age 40! “Sweet Stuff” Antonia and Charles are a typical, middle aged couple who run a successful bakery. As they head toward retirement, each has resorted to having personal fantasies about sexy,
Ageless

New Site on Facebook to do Promos'

2012-01-23T23:38:00.000-05:00

Att: Everyone this group is for XOXO Publishing authors and readers.
Only XoXo Publishing authors may promote in this group. If you wish to promote your own books with other publishers kindly join our third open promo group by clicking below

EbooksNBooksPromosGroup

XoXo Publishing is happy to announce the 2011 Awards

2012-01-15T16:45:00.000-05:00

XoXo Publishing is happy to announce the 2011 Awards

Best Selling Author of the Year 2011
Denyse Bridger

Best Selling Ebook of the Year 2011
Subordinate Position Delaney Diamond

Best Selling New Author of the Year
Heather McAlendin

Best Erotic Author of the Year
Sharita Lira

Best Young Adult Author of the Year
Kristal McKerrington

Best Selling Non Fiction Author of the Year
Cynthia MacGregor

Best Anthologies of the Year 2011
Evernight
Dancing with Fireworks
and
Lost to the Night: Vol 1

Best Book Cover Artist of the Year
Kayden McLeod

All winning authors including anthologies listed, kindly contact our new publicist, Ana Torres completely with your email address and postal address. ana@xoxopublishing.com

Welcome back Timothy Watson as our Editorial Director and let’s say Goodbye to: Tina Brunelle and Kim Seidel, we want to wish them good luck and good health!
Hello to Ana Torres who is stepping in for Tina, as our promotional person and to Courtni George who is stepping in for Kim as our review coordinator. Lenore Butcher is back as one of our freelance editors/proofers and Amanda Struz will be freelancing book cover artist upon request.
Thank you and Congratulations to all of XoXo Publishing authors and staff!
Gina and Penny
XoXo Publishing
__._,_.___

XoXo Publishing - We take you and your book seriously...
Visit us: http://www.xoxopublishing.com/
Shop with us: http://www.xoxopublishing.com/Products/
XoXo Publishing
www.xoxopublishing.com

XoXo Publishing

www.xoxopublishing.com

It's XoXo Publishing Second Birthday come and celebrate!!

2011-12-22T10:53:00.000-05:00

It's XOXO Publishing's second birthday

and we have presents and lots of them.

Beginning the 22nd of December and carrying on until midnight Boxing Day Dec 26, 2011,

ALL of our

ebooks will be selling for just $.99.

http://www.xoxopublishing.com/shop-online

This is our way of saying thank you to our readers, our writers and

to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Interview with Authors C. Almeida and C Aubrey

2011-11-15T11:11:00.000-05:00

What is your newest release?

We have two that were published at the same time, The Hottest Chapter and Dream Instruction.

Where can we buy it?

From XOXO publishing store:

https://www.xoxopublishing.com/shopping/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164&products_id=164

https://www.xoxopublishing.com/shopping/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=163&products_id=163

From Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Hottest-Chapter-ebook/dp/B005BJ2KD0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1310319859&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Dream-Instruction-ebook/dp/B005BJ2QHA/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1310319746&sr=1-2

Do you have blogs, Facebook, twitter, website? How can we stalk you on the web?

With a geek on the team, we are everywhere and love to have visitors. We are always open for comments and love having discussions with our readers about our books and characters. Here are our links:

Facebook:

Chris Almeida - http://www.facebook.com/Chris.Almeida.Author

Cecilia Aubrey - http://www.facebook.com/cecilia.aubrey.author

Authors Facebook Fan Page - http://www.facebook.com/CAlmeida.CAubrey.Authors

Series Facebook Fan Page - http://www.facebook.com/Counter.Measure.Series

Websites:

CA Duo Books - http://caduobooks.com/

Countermeasureseries - http://countermeasureseries.com

GoodReads Author Pages:

http://www.goodreads.com/chrisalmeida

http://www.goodreads.com/ceciliaaubrey

Twitter:

http://twitter.com/CAlmeidaCAubrey

What inspired these releases?

We had originally written them as part of a story line in a paranormal role playing group we belonged to. We loved the premise of the romance and excitement in both so much that we decided to use them as the foundation for the two shorts, completely changing the scene and characters to be in a more contemporary setting.

Are these your first publications?

Yes. We have had the pleasure of working with XOXO on the two releases and hope to work with them again in the future.

Where do you see yourselves going in the future?

We are looking forward to a long and satisfying writing partnership and are currently working on putting the final touches on the first book of our romantic suspense series.

Who do you have on you keeper shelf?

Chris teases me that I am a book hog but between the two we cover the spectrum from paranormal to contemporary romance, thrillers and suspense. Among our favorites are Jeaniene Frost, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lara Adrian, Jacquelyn Frank, Robert Ludlum, J. D. Robb, John LeCarre and Jack Higgins.

What makes a book memorable to you?

Strong characters, settings, and hot romance. A book that doesn’t want to let you go and keeps you coming back for more.

As new writers, what advice would you give an aspiring writer?

Read everything you can get your hands on and more importantly write a lot. Stand tall for your own style, make it even more personable, and gather a group of friends and followers behind you as a support group. Do not let strong critics influence your voice or story in a way that you don’t like or approve of in the end. Use a critique group to keep you grounded, as a guidance tool, but do not let it change what makes you and your story unique.

We have also found that there are a lot of resources available. Join an organization like the Romance Writers of America (RWA) group and a local chapter. They have a number of workshops and resources to help guide veteran and newbie writers alike. Research writer blogs, and know your genre.

Have you written a character based on you?

In our current novel the characters, while not 100% based on us do have some of our background— Chris’ geekiness and Cecilia’s military upbringing—and both our humor mixed in. We find that to be with case with the characters in our shorts also—there are little bits and pieces of us everywhere.

What makes a good hero? And what makes a heroine memorable?

A great hero is one that is strong, protective, dominant but at the same time vulnerable. A memorable heroine is one that overcomes the difficulties in her life and shows her strength in a way that awes and surprises the readers.

If I would pick you up for the first time, which book would you recommend and why?

We would recommend Dream Instruction. A good friend and beta reader for us purchased it and just told us the other day that she has read it five times. We were tickled that she continues to enjoy the story.

Describe the perfect day this can be real or imagined.

One where we can wake up in the morning to a quiet house with a cup of coffee, boot up the computer still dressed in pajamas and then have the story, ideas and all else flow unrestrained from fingers to keyboard to screen.

What would you like to tell the readers about you?

We love what we do and are suckers for feedback, soaking it up like sponges. We take it very seriously and incorporate it into what we do even if it means rewriting a chapter. Our greatest joy is when readers come to us and tell us what they think or that they enjoyed in a certain scene. We are usually online during daytime and open to discussions.

Blurbs:

The Hottest Chapter

Searching for inspiration, Eva sets out to organize her day. Armed with a cup of coffee and her to do list, she knocks out a great deal of work. Stumped on where to take her story, she breaks for lunch. It’s her lunch that gives her the inspiration to open the door into Lily and Jacob’s world. Before she knows it, they take control and she becomes mesmerized by their little game of sensual payback, leaving her hot and needy.

Dream Instruction

After a year of defensive training classes together, Darci Meyer would like nothing better than for Darius Lawrence, her hot instructor, to show the same interest in her that she has in him. Little does she know Darius is finding it difficult to stay in control around her. Will either of them survive the next lesson or will their feelings get the better of them?

Interview with Duane Vorhees

2011-11-14T15:07:00.000-05:00

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theendsoflove-517450-175.html

http://www.amazon.com/The-Ends-of-Love-ebook/dp/B004SHNZ08/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320285882&sr=1-3

THE ENDS OF LOVE explores a multitude of situations associated with the most-often-written-about-but-not-

yet-exhausted subject in the poetry universe. Although presented as a series of short verses, in its entirety

it is an epic of eroticism, yearning, heartbreak, romance, and ultimate satisfaction. It makes a great gift

for the other person in your life ... or anyone you would like to seduce.....

GIFT represents a lifetime of poetic explorations, including new kinds of written verse, and meditations on

life and death, love and family, politics and the mundane. Some of the poems are humorous, some are profound,

but all of them are worth reading again and again.

HEAVEN is a collection of 20th-Century Korean poetry translated into a modern, readable English by a noted

American poet who formerly taught at Seoul National University and learned of these works through the passion his

students had for them. The centerpiece of the anthology is the complete output of Yun Dongju, a poet-patriot

who dedicated his life work to combating cultural imperialism between the two world wars. He died in a Japanese

prison just months before the liberation of his country.

biographical and confessional

Duane Vorhees has lived and traveled extensively in the Americas and Asia while holding a variety of jobs. He has

been a journalist, a poet, an actor and model, vocalist and composer for the Kimchi Cowboys, a truck driver, a

dishwasher, a lifeguard, a door-to-door salesman, a carpenter.... But most recently he has taught American military

personnel about US literature, history, government, society, and philosophy for the University of Maryland University

College.

"Writing has always been a passion for me. I started inventing horror and superhero stories even before beginning

elementary school, but it took a long time and a lot of practice to learn how to express the ideas well. In college,

when I should have been studying for exams, I began seriously to compose poetry and have been trying to master that

medium ever since.

"Telling stories is the chief means of transmitting personal and cultural truths to others. Stories may (must!)

entertain, but they should also inform us about our world and ourselves. We usually don't know what we know until

someone tells us we know it. And while the novelist may explain large, complicated truths, the poet is more surgical,

operating at the fundamental level of existence. Even a fragment of a line of truly great poetry will reverberate

in the soul of humanity for generations without number.

"My poetic work -- and it is indeed hard work -- has always been written with this idealistic concept of poetry at

its core. But, at the same time, I firmly believe in popular poetry that is simple and direct, not grandiose and

ostentatious. Above all, a good poem must be immediately and indubitably true -- every line, every word, every sound."

Michael Mandrake

2011-10-30T14:57:00.000-04:00

The Appeal of Vampires

Greetings fans!

I’m Michael Mandrake, an XOXO author writing an article about vampires. Why is it that we love a good vampire story?

Could it be the attraction to how they look? The fact they’re immortal and live just on the blood of humans? Maybe it’s something about how they kill to survive? Whatever it is, vampires will always be lauded as some of the most entertaining paranormal creatures in fiction and movies.

Now, I’m old school so Twilight is not one of my favorites. Some of the things that exist in that movie aren’t befitting a typical vamp. The type I love are more of the Bram Stoker or Anne Rice Variety.

One of my favorites remains to this day, Louis and Lestat in Interview with A Vampire. Since I’ve read all of the books, I looked for the similarities between the book and the film and when I saw it years ago as when I see it today, it’s one of the closest adaptations from movie to film there is.

Louis portrayed by Brad Pitt, Lestat by Tom Cruise, “chile” and maker respectively, a couple who I rooted for throughout the movie. Of course, everyone might not have been looking for the homoerotic cues in the film but there were several something this gay male muse could appreciate. However, the lure of this story is the beauty of the characters, how they became almost unstoppable, their youth maintained when they feasted on other mortals to sustain themselves. I loved the story and how it continued with Louis developing a father like relationship with the child and Lestat getting jealous.

So many great things about the film but I won’t go into any more but I believe Anne Rice’s books and the films that came later have made vampire culture strong within today’s society. Look at what’s out now; Vampire Diaries, True Blood, and Twilight all taking cues from Interview and creating their own stories. Like them or not they all hold a certain appeal, meaning vampire tales will always be popular.

So, what is the appeal? Many things but rest assured, a vampire story will always be welcomed in entertainment no matter how good or bad, something that will never get old or grow stale.

I’m in for the ride. Are you?

The Power of Muse and Inspriration: An M/M paranormal tale about love and sacrifice.

Blurb: No such thing as vampires!

William Chatterley is an up and coming author looking for a partner after many dead end dates. Finally, he believes he’s found a suitable mate in Andrew and they see one another.

The vampire Jude is weak from being without love in his life. When he sees the author, he desires him right away but his companion is a stumbling block.

How will he get passed it and when he does, will the mortal want to be his partner? What will he choose? Will Jude convince him to become his eternal lover?

PG Excerpt

“Yes, yes, come to me my child!” Jude lay his head against a dead tree. He sensed two virile young men he might like to enjoy for a double entree. Since he couldn’t have love why not fill up his belly with young blood for nourishment. He waved his long fingers and opened his eyes, gazing around the open field till he caught sight of the two he’d seen in his mind’s eye.

As always the faces were skewed when he looked deep within to see his prey but now that they’d come into view, he noticed one he didn’t want to destroy.

“Wha…I…” At a loss of words was Jude, gawking at the handsome man running away from another. “My, I’ve never seen in all my years a more gorgeous sight.” That moment the old immortal felt his muscles strengthen and his face tightening. A new feeling of love and inspiration came over him.

A mortal, so lovely and beautiful, the desire to live started to return.

BIO: Michael Mandrake is a BRIT!

A 39 year old Brummie who loves to write tales of love and romance between two men that aren't afraid to show their sexuality. At least that's what this 39 year old mom from the US thinks he is. They talk on a regular basis, Sharita and her muse.

Now for the truth, Sharita, who also writes under Rawiya and BLMorticia is a happily married mom of 2 who loves everything about British culture and hopes to visit someday.

Michael M is her most successful pseudonym. To date, he is the only muse with 2 sole author books, 2 more coming before the end of 2011. He is contracted through XOXO pblishing, Sizzler Editions, and does shorts through STARbooks Press.

Michael shares Sharita's love for writing tales where the characters aren't perfect, they cross into new territory and resolve their struggles through communication and mind blowing sex.

At the moment, Mandrake’s books are only small steps into what’s to come. Look for longer works from Sharita and the muse, Michael very soon.

Links

Sharita L aka Michael M/Rawiya/BLMorticia

The Literary Triad - http://www.thelitriad.com/#!
Michael Mandrake - http://tabooindeed.blogspot.com

BL/Rawiya - http://blrawiyaerotica.blogspot.com

Twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/rawiyamikembl

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSharitaLira
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3542690

Talking with Author T. A. Grey

2011-10-18T11:15:00.000-04:00

My short story featured in Allison Cassatta’s Evernight Anthology is “The Vampire’s Mate.” My purpose with this short story was to create something with a lot of tension. I wanted to make people squirm in their seats! I also wanted to make the story larger than life, which is how Salazar’s (the hero’s) back-story came about. He is a vampire imprisoned for murdering another vampire over one-thousand years ago. It’s alluded to that Salazar murdered the vampire who hurt his daughter. On the one day Salazar happens to catch a breeze from inside his cage, he smells the most delicious scent—his mate. Suddenly, he’s fighting to be free, screaming for his mate. Yet something almost stranger than scenting his mate happens, the guards come to release him—his sentence has been completed. Now Salazar is out in the night and ready to find his mate.

I think the Evernight Anthology is a wonderful compilation of talented writers. I’ve read every story in there and it’s something I really enjoyed and would recommend to paranormal erotica lovers. The variety of voices and writing styles is something I always look forward to when I read an anthology.

I am a full-time writer, which means I spend Monday through Friday working for about six or more hours on whichever book I’m writing. I write between 4000-5000 words a day (if I’m not on a deadline) and if I have time after that, I try to update my website, write a blog post, or find a good snippet to post on Facebook. I also spend time reading over on Facebook to catch up on what everyone is doing. I have a lot of funny friends on Facebook, so I really enjoy reading over their posts. That’s not creepy, right? Right now I create my own covers, though I’m looking into hiring a designer for future books. I also edit my own books (to the disdain of many of my readers), but I have found an editor. Hopefully, my future books are polished to a sheen.

To promote my books the most I do is run an active blog and website. I also have a newsletter that people can join, where I send out a monthly letter talking about the books I’ll be putting out that month, with usually a snippet or excerpt from the book. It’s short and sweet and people can sign up for it on my website. I did run a short Google Adwords and Facebook advertisement campaign; however, those are finished now and I have no idea whether any of those people who clicked on my ad actually purchased a book from me. So, I try to keep my promotion simple. I believe the best form of promotion is word-of-mouth. So my goal is to write a great book then hopefully people will talk about it. All else I can think of is for readers who enjoyed my work to leave a review on the website they bought it from and maybe on Goodreads.

I absolutely love Halloween. To celebrate it this month, I’m running a contest. I’m giving away ten free copies of my next book, Chains of Frost. Chains of Frost is the first book in my newest paranormal erotic romance series called The Bellum Sister’s Trilogy, which is about three succubus sisters who are forced to live with three of the most dangerous and renowned supernatural beings in the world. The deadline to enter is October 24^th and anyone who wants to enter for a chance to win can do so at my website. Winner’s copies will be distributed after the final copy is finished in about the first week of November.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Halloween and Thanksgiving. Watch a lot of scary movies and eat lots of candy. I know I’ve already started doing both!

Happy reading everyone,

T. A. Grey

www.tagrey.com

INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR Cynthia MacGregor

2011-10-17T11:41:00.004-04:00

INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR
by
Cynthia MacGregor

In a transparently lazy ploy to write something that requires
only the easiest of research, we (that's the editorial "we" I'm not
admitting to a split personality) decided to interview an author of over 100
published books (54 conventional books and 50-some e-books)‹namely myself‹on
the subject of being a freelance writer.

Q: What's the best thing about being a writer?

A: You can give mean or nasty or unsavory characters the same name as that
fourth-grade teacher you hated. (Note: This is even funnier if the character
is a woman and your fourth-grade teacher was a man.)
Actually I don't even remember the name of my fourth grade
teacher.

Q: What's the worst part of working at home?

A: You mean there's something bad about not having to fight the traffic
twice daily on I-95 (currently undergoing major construction work), about
being able to work dressed any way I please, about being able to work any
damn hours I want, about...oh, wait...there is one thing: the daylong
proximity of my fridge and its contents.
It's a little too convenient, if you know what I mean.

Q: What makes you feel good inside when you think of people sitting in their
homes reading your writing?

A: The knowledge that if they come to one of the places where I've made
another bad pun, I won't have to personally listen to them groan.

Q: What's the most fun a writer has?

A: Thinking up amusing names for characters, like Ignatz Hoobenwhatzen,
although giving a character such a name may not be a good idea if you're
writing a romance novel. Or nonfiction.

Q: Since you've had over 100 books published, why aren't you rich or famous?

A: You've noticed that too, huh? Actually, I'd settle for "rich" and never
mind the "famous."
Obviously I don't have the answer to that question. I must be
doing something wrong. If you figure it out, you tell me.

Q: You wrote several cookbooks. How do you write a cookbook and not put on
weight?

A: Not put on wh wh ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
ha!

Q: What's the worst part of being a freelancer?

A: No boss to blame if my career doesn't advance. Also, since I don't work
in someone else's office, I have to clean my own work area.

Q: Doesn't it get lonely working at home all day?

A: Lonely? The mail carrier talks to me every day when he stops at my
mailbox, if only to show off the muscles he's building up from lifting
stacks of rejected books. UPS brings enough rejects, book galleys, comp
copies, and other work stuff that he honks "Hi" on the days he passes by
without stopping. And the FedEx truck is at my house so often, the neighbors
think we're having an affair.
Moreover, the phone rings countless times daily. I never knew
how many caring people there are out there who are worried that I don't have
the right Long Distance carrier or the best insurance company (isn't that
just so caring of them?!); then there are those friendly folks who are
trying to collect for "my" firefighters or police officers.
I even get calls from people I know! They usually manage to call
just when I've figured out what was wrong with that last page I wrote and am
rewriting it quickly so I don't forget the idea I've got in my head.
What was that you said about "lonely"?

Q: Do you have a writing partner?

A: Apparently the IRS must believe it's my partner, to judge from the amount
of money it expects from me.

Q: What's your biggest failing as a writer?

A: Constantly confusing Pompeii and Bombay. It makes me ineligible to write
about geography, history, or world affairs. (And speaking of affairs, if the
neighbors were right about FedEx's frequent although brief stops, we would
have to be setting a new world record for speed of quickies!)

Q: What do you expect to get out of writing this interview?

A: You mean besides enough rejection slips to repaper a whole room in my
house?
If I can persuade just one reader that freelance writing,
although the most wonderful and satisfying life, is not the path to fame
and/or riches...I will have eliminated one more potential competitor from my
path in my quest for fame and...uh...what was I saying?

South Florida resident Cynthia MacGregor is the author of over 100 books, 54
conventionally published (paper) and 50-some-odd e-books. Cynthia is the
host and producer of Solo Parenting, a TV show that airs weekly in South
Florida and will soon air nationally as well. She also is the site owner of
www.TheSoloParent.com. Her website is www.cynthiamacgregor.com. Her email
address is Cynthia@cynthiamacgregor.com.

Do you love Chocolate?

2011-10-16T13:44:00.000-04:00

Do you LOVE Chocolate?

XoXo Publishing(TM) is proud to announce a new innovated and exciting series starting Feb 2012.

Chocolate for Me and You

XoXo Publishing is seeking full length novels and novellas for

"Chocolates for Me and You"

65,000 words Novellas

111,000 to 165,000 words Novels

Stories must contain a chocolate theme and romance in any genre. We are accepting romances of all genres including YA, contemporary, comedy, GBLT, pirates etc.

All submissions must be original never published before.

All submissions will be considered for electronic release and print.

Standard royalties 45% print TBD.

Please note that All accepted submissions will be entered in a ballot to Win an exclusive one of kind box of chocolates.

$150.00 retail value. Coming soon at XoXo Publishing. Deadlines are listed in our guidelines please inquire.

Brianna Martini

briannamartini@live.ca

http://www.facebook.com/pages/XoXo-Publishing/258678558724

Author Interview with Denysé Bridger

2011-09-26T18:35:00.000-04:00

Creative inspirations and NEW books, too!

As authors, we get asked this question and variations of it many, many times over the course of years in the business. But, rarely does the reader get asked the same question, so I’d like to ask you–what inspires you and your imagination when you are reading the stories your favorite authors write in the hopes that they entertain you? Have you ever wanted to be able to order up a book with all your special elements?

I get my idea everywhere I turn, in the scents that I encounter from all around me, when I walk in the local park, or stand looking out over the ocean… it’s all speaking and telling a story. I see images and they whisper their stories to my mind, captivating my imagination and making me dream of how to make the visions come to life for readers. Music is another huge inspiration for me, and I’ve always got a soundtrack for the important stories and books that I write.

The newest of my books is a short story called PRELUDE TO ETERNITY and it came about when I was attending a convention a few years back and one of the guests, an actor friend, proposed an idea for a character he was playing. It caught my imagination and never left me, so I told him I wanted to write it. He loved the result, and here it is for you to contemplate, apart from his idea, you have a few of my own, of course, and when you read the story I hope you will think about the whole concept and find it interesting, as well.

Since our lovely hostess has been kind enough to let me take up her space at the moment, I thought I’d share both my new books with you. One is my first novel in over a year, and the second one is this short, historical tale – both are paranormal, vampire stories, and I hope they both contain a few surprises!

Thanks for stopping by and if you leave a comment, we’ll pull a name and I’ll send you a surprise package of at least two titles if you win, ok? Now, here are the two new books:

This book was released a few days ago, and it's my first full-length novel in some time. A paranormal thriller that is part historical and part modern day. The first reviewer stated: "Out of the Past is a crime-mystery, a thriller, a romance—intensely sensual, interweaving 1880's London with present day Toronto in a heady blend of carefully constructed scenes and a cast of characters that bring the story to life with an undeniable authenticity. This is a tale that will satisfy on many levels. I heartily recommend it for your 'must read' list. Well done, Denysé Bridger."

I hope you'll have a look, and enjoy it if you decide it's to your reading taste!

Thanks!!

OUT OF THE PAST

A new paranormal romance/mystery novel

Publisher: XOXO Publishing

Cover by: Kayden McLeod

BUY IT HERE:

https://www.xoxopublishing.com/shop-online/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=202

eBook Page count: 260 - Price: $5.95

Blurb:

A series of killings has the Toronto Police Department in turmoil. The press has labelled the killer a “werewolf” and hysteria is on the rise in the heat of the summer… Detective Damien Knightley is the lead investigator, but he’s got secrets of his own that need guarding in this very public investigation. Knightley is a vampire, and as the case gets more complex, what he discovers has him both baffled and worried.

In the Northern Ontario town of Brighton, a visionary woman finds a stranger outside her door, and because he’s near death she brings him into her home. In the wake of her kindness, dreams and visions expose things that terrify her. The stranger is a wolf, and history is about to repeat itself and explode in violent death if they can’t reach Toronto and capture a renegade on a blood-hunt.

As Damien recalls a love from a century ago, the threads of time are being pulled together, joining the past and the present. The beautiful woman he is falling in love with is bringing back memories he’d rather forget, and when the killer is finally revealed, there are more questions than answers in the identity…

Excerpt:

PROLOGUE

January

The flames rose, blindingly intense, searing away the last vestiges of reality. Somewhere inside her, Shanna Blackthorne felt a scream of terror begin. Her hands moved, sluggishly, as though through mud, until they reached her face. She wanted to obliterate the inferno that raged before her, but it refused to be extinguished so easily. She gulped air into desperate, struggling lungs, but only the hot, dry fire poured into her body.

The scream escaped.

There was no one to hear it.

Pain exploded within her, but in its wake was clarity. She writhed, whimpered weakly, and shook her head in denial of what unfolded before objecting eyes...

Fog shrouded the night, curling, mist-like tentacles that floated above the street in search of human warmth. Despite the relative earliness of the hour, the normally busy roads were eerily quiet. Only the occasional burst of noise from an opening door gave evidence to the teeming life of the vast city. Outside the noisy pubs, a lone figure prowled the streets.

He watched, and waited. Patience was a familiar imposition, but it ended well, usually.

Tonight would be no different.

He picked one of the oldest dives in the vicinity, a place he knew well. He also knew most of the women who frequented the establishment. He had long ago decided he preferred the sweetness of feminine flesh to males. There was one lady in particular that he had wanted to get close to, but she had always eluded him. It was the eve of a new year tonight, and he decided it would begin with her company.

He didn't have to wait long, but she emerged from the tavern with another man in tow. Furious, he followed.

He hesitated as he watched the couple from the mouth of a darkened alley. They were less than a block from the Britannia, a public house located at the North corner of Commercial Street and Dorset Street. He'd witnessed the customary exchange of coin, and could clearly hear the sounds of the whore's business being carried out. The chill of December didn't reach him as he continued to hover, torn between his anger and the fury of his lust. He could have had his pick tonight, but he had chosen this one. She had always disappointed him, of course. The entire great city was in a drunken Holiday stupor.

The scents of sex and sweat teased his senses and he felt another, stronger pang of hunger deep within him.

He stepped into the alley and approached the couple in complete silence. She knew he was there, he realized a moment later when her liquor-brightened eyes pierced the shadows and found him in the darkness. His heartbeat quickened, he heard his own sharp intake of breath, felt the rapid pulse he'd learned to associate with fear and excitement. Her customer quickly pulled himself together and stumbled off without a backward glance. The passage of time held hunter and prey motionless, clear blue eyes locked with glassy hazel. When she held out her hand to him, he stepped toward her.

"You're not like the others, are you?" she questioned in a slurred voice.

There was still enough awareness to make him pause. He took her chin in his hand and tilted her head so he could look more closely at her. She was very young, especially for life in Whitechapel. She was not overly pretty. Before long she would be like so many of the women who populated this area, aged by the harshness of a life that meant little to any of them.

"What's your name?" He pretended not to know as he kept his tone a gentle, compassionate whisper.

"They call me Emma, my lord," she grinned, the expression exposed rotting teeth and foul breath. He might have been wrong about her age, he realized distantly. She straightened her clothes and inched closer to him. Here was a handsome young lord, and if she played this right, she might be rewarded richly for her trouble.

"Do they?" He smiled, imagined he could hear the shift of her thoughts as she contemplated her chances of successfully robbing him. Still smiling, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold coin. Her eyes fastened on the proffered money, greed easily read past the haze of alcohol. When she snatched the coin from his hand, he pressed her back against the cold brick of the building.

Emma's spurt of laughter was abruptly silenced when her head was yanked to one side. The snap of bones was audible, followed by a groan of pain. Then the only murmur that could be heard in the blackness was the soft maddened laughter of pleasure as his teeth tore her flesh from her bones...

"No... Dear God! Enough... please?"

Shanna wept bitterly, disoriented and horrified by the latest dream/vision. The savage inner conflagration had receded, replaced by the reality of the tiny blaze in the ancient stone fireplace that dominated her small living room. There was little comfort in the awareness that what she had seen was very old. The agony of the killer still twisted around her heart, chilled her despite the heat that emanated from the hearth. This was simply the latest in a long line of dreams that had brought unbearable terror into her life. She'd heard about the others, those that were not ancient deaths, but happening now, and with each murder came the fear that she might have stopped it. The reasonable part of her mind knew better, of course, she never saw a death before it occurred, but that did not make it easier to witness people being destroyed. She cringed, tried to escape the rest of the thought, failed. She could still feel the flesh being torn from fragile bones, muscle and sinew shredding like paper in the hands of a killer that was more monster than man.

She forced herself to her feet, and walked into the lovely, old-fashioned kitchen. As she went through the ritual of making tea, she made herself recall every detail of the murder she had been forced to witness and feel. Within the heart of the killer was a conflict as old as the latest vision itself.

Pain, coupled with deeply repressed fears. The mind of this killer was not mayhem and madness, despite the obvious appearances. She sensed agony, and loneliness, and confusion. Like an empath, she absorbed the emotions, made them part of herself, and cried softly without truly being conscious she did so. Shanna had known isolation and ridicule in her own life, knew what the scorn and contempt of others could drive someone to, if they didn't learn to draw on inner strengths.

She pulled her lacy shawl closer to her, huddled against its illusory warmth. Long waves of auburn hair fell to her waist, and she swept the heavy fall back in a gesture as natural as breathing. The whistle of the kettle drew her wandering attention back to mundane tasks, and she finished her chore automatically.

A short while later, curled before the fire once again, Shanna shivered. Her gaze flew to the door of her cottage- style home, and the sound of a low, anguished howl wrenched at her soul. Pure, raw agony flooded her body, and with it came a terror stronger than anything she had ever before known.

PRELUDE TO ETERNITY

Publisher: XOXO Publishing

Genre: Historical paranormal

Blurb:

Ever wonder why a vampire cannot walk in the light of the sun... why he was cursed to nocturnal existence.... reviled by all... a symbol of evil? I have a theory... the Prelude to Eternity....

Excerpt:

The man was dying. Alexander had a keen sense of encroaching death. He was often the cause of it. Angelo della morte – Angel of Death.

He wasn’t sure if the words inside his head were his own, or a whisper from the man who was near death before him. It was an appropriate name to give him, the most honest of the many he’d taken over the past several centuries.

A chill touched his spine.

The shadows were growing longer, yet the sun blazed infinitely brighter behind the

figure who commanded the former priest’s enraptured attention.

‘You have damned your kind to a darkness greater than any you have known before.’

Again the words whispered softly, sadly, into his barren consciousness.

As Alexander watched, the sun passed behind the prisoner. He stood, immobile, and felt the shadow of the cross settle over him. Pain, a searing, fiery force that drove him to his knees burned into his dead flesh. He was being torn apart from within, and was helpless to move. Ice flooded through him in the fire’s wake. Again, he was paralyzed by the onslaught of terror and anguish.

For endless, eternal minutes, Alexander writhed before the cross. His mind screamed in a steady litany of agonized horror and emerging understanding. The darkness grew absolute around him and his pain eclipsed all other awarenesses…

Denysé

Denysé Bridger

WEBSITE: http://www.denysebridger.com

BLOG: http://fantasy-pages.blogspot.com

Sensual Treats Magazine: http://www.sensualtreats.webs.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/denysebridger

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/denysebridger

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/denyse.bridger

Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/Romance.and.Fantasy

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003LUHE96

Warning To All Authors! Your eBook Has Been Stolen

2011-09-21T12:55:00.002-04:00

This is a warning to all authors,

Many of you have expressed concerns regarding copyright issues and pirating of ebooks in general.

What I'd like to suggest is for you to do the following:

1. do not share your ebooks with anyone.

2. Unless you're submitting it for reviews, to a trusted beta reader or a contest let us watermark the ebook for you. Or if you plan to give away one of your ebooks, have it published on a mini CD

or complete XoXo Publishing CD sampler (TM). We do this regularly for book fairs, shows, conventions and such.

3. Add a warning to your website, blogs and social pages: You do not have permission to copy, print or transfer any ebooks listed on my website, unless authorized by the author or publishers.

4. to check out copyrighted materials: http://www.copyscape.com

5. Another preventable measures XoXo Publishing has taken on is to test our website security daily by our website hosting and our accounting department tests our shopping cart on a weekly basis. If you have any concerns, kindly email legal@xoxopublishing.com.

To report any pirated ebooks and paperbacks not only XoXo Publishing books but others please contact:

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/fep-pelf/ipr-dpi/guide-eng.htm CANADA

http://www.fbi.gov/ipr USA

http://www.iwofa.net/Epiracy.htm

http://www.copynot.com/

http://www.dmca.com/?ad=cprgt&gclid=CLvvy9XGrqsCFQLBKgodeEi_Jw

Note that all blogs and social networking have a Pirating - Copyright clause which contains a contact number or email to report an illegal action.

Information please note the date of these articles maybe outdated and the sites may have already taken care of steps to clarify any issues stated within. If these links don't work below kindly copy and paste in your browser window.

Two different opinions:

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/survey_finds_e-book_piracy_occurs_among_a_surprisi.php

http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/03/04/looks-like-google-is-starting-to-listen-hundreds-of-pirated-booksapps-deleted-off-android-market-minutes-after-report/

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-18438_7-20033437-82.html

http://www.pcworld.com/article/185335/ebook_piracy_the_publishing_industrys_next_epic_saga.html

http://torrentfreak.com/publishers-fear-ebook-piracy-but-shouldnt-100103/ Please note that Torrent is a sharing - pirating site what you're reading here is their blog.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2011/04/19/f-vp-misener-ebook-piracy.html

Take a look into the mind of a ebook pirate....and discover why he likes to steal ebooks.

http://www.themillions.com/2010/01/confessions-of-a-book-pirate.html

Also remember that not all copyright issues are similar in Canada , USA or the world. We would suggest that you copyright your manuscript(s) with the copyright office in your country. This is optional not mandatory. But in the event there should be any type of pirating or illegal use of your work you will have proof in your hands as the sole owner of the written work your published manuscript.

LS Beck Interview

2011-09-09T22:43:00.003-04:00

What is your newest release?

Evernight is actually my first piece released. I am working on a manuscript or two right now to send in soon hopefully.

How can we find it?

You can find the book at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and on the XOXO Publishing website itself. The release date of Evernight is the 15th of September.

What publishing houses are you with?

I am with XOXO Publishing. No others as of yet.

Do you have blogs, facebook, twitter, how can we stalk you on the web?

*laughs* I do have a Facebook page, LS Beck... and http://lsbeck.blogspot.com. Not on Twitter yet but I am sure I will be eventually

What draws you to the genre you write?

I have always let my mind live in a world of fantasy. It was an escape, a way to be exactly what and who I wanted to be. The genre of exotic fantasy romance is so full of life, almost tangible to me. I seem to love creating the vivid imagery that breathes vitality into my characters.

What makes a book memorable to you?

When it makes me feel that the possibility is there that it could actually be the way the author portrays it, when I look at my world differently and say... just maybe... and I can usually tell if the author loves what they are writing about, and if they take pride in their work.

What do you hope your readers get out of a L.S. Beck book?

I want my readers to not be able to lay the book down until they have finished it, and then want to read it again. To anticipate the next release, to actually be a part of it, to fit themselves into the story like they are one of the characters. There is not a person on this planet that has not felt at least alittle of what I write about, so they can relate in some way.

Are you working on just individual works or will you be writing a series eventually?

Well, my manuscript that is in the works right now I hope to make into a series. I have plenty of material swimming around in this mind of mine *smiles*

What makes a good hero? And what makes a heroine memorable?

hmmm... well, to me a good hero is grown, not made. He evolves into who he needs to be. They don't always start out that way. But the quality is already there. As for a memorable heroine? The strength she has, and I am not just talking about the physical. True strength comes from within... I know that may sound corny but thats how I see them.

Are you going to any reader events for the readers to meet you?

Nothing has been set up as of yet, but if any are in the near future, I will be posting it on my blog, so keep an eye out.

People think that writers have such glamorous lives what is the most unglamorous thing you have done lately?

You mean besides my complete existence? My life in general is not glamorous but the most unglamorous thing lately for me would have to be cutting coupons off cereal boxes to get my favorite ice cream for free... I smiled all the while I ate it, things always taste better when they're free *laughs*

Who would be a dream collaborator for you?

I have always loved Dean Koontz... his work enthralls me. He knows just how to capture and hold your interest.

What would you say to any aspiring author about how to be a writer?

Well, I was that aspiring writer not that long ago, so I would definitely say have the courage to take the step and send your work to a couple publishers, or enter a few writing contests. It just takes once to get your foot in the door.

What would you like to tell the readers about you?

Wow... talking about me is not easy, but I'll give it a shot. I live my life to the fullest as I have come too close to not having another chance at it to waste a single day. I will never act my age, no matter how old I get. My son is my soul purpose for existing so his needs come first. But I always try to be just me for a little time each day. So I don't forget I am an individual.

What would you like to ask the readers?

I would love to ask the readers of my work, why they chose to read it, and if they would continue to read as long as i was true to myself.

ok heres the links for some promo stuff too

http://www.allisoncassatta.com/images/Evernight2.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpeWw6DifMo

http://www.facebook.com/pages/LS-Beck/244355582269128

http://lsbeck.blogspot.com/

It's Back to School at XoXo Publishing.

2011-09-08T06:21:00.000-04:00

10 Universities Offering Free Writing Courses Online

Education-Portal.com. Education-Portal.com.

Whether you're currently writing professionally or still looking to break into the field, formal writing courses can help you hone your skills. If you don't have the money or the time for campus-based courses, there are plenty of universities that offer free writing courses online.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (mit.edu)

MIT offers dozens of free undergraduate and graduate writing courses online through its MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) initiative. Course topics include everything from writing fiction, poems and essays to analyzing all forms of literature. Lecture notes, videos, suggested reading lists and more will help you to become the writer you've always wanted to be. No registration is required.

2. Utah State University (usu.edu)

Utah State University's Department of English publishes three free courses devoted to the art of writing through the school's OpenCourseWare program. The courses are extensive and may take up to 16 weeks to complete if you study at the average pace. No registration is required. Courses are similar to the courses that might be found in a professional writing degree program.

3. Open University (open.ac.uk)

Open University, the UK's largest academic institution, offers a number of different writing courses through their OpenLearn website. The free curriculum includes both undergraduate and graduate level writing courses that are available to everyone regardless of country of origin. No registration is required.

4. University of Utah (utah.edu)

Introduction to Creative Writing

The University of Utah's English Department offers free courses to self-learners around the world. Currently, there is only one free writing course, but it offers a strong introduction to creative writing for beginners. Free registration is required.

5. University of Massachusetts Boston (umb.edu)

Critical Reading and Writing

The University of Massachusetts Boston offers one free writing course through its OpenCourseWare initiative. The course is designed for people who are seeking to strengthen their academic writing skills, and would be ideal for someone considering going back to school. No registration is required.

6. Purdue University (owl.english.purdue.edu)

Purdue University brought their writing lab to life online in 1994 to offer a writing resource to students no matter where they were located. Online Writing Lab (OWL) materials are now free to everyone regardless of location or student status. The OWL site offers writing instruction, grammar and usage information, individualized help from tutors and much more. No registration is required.

7. Steven Barnes' UCLA Writing Course (lifewrite.com)

9-Week Introduction to Screenwriting Course

Best selling author and screenwriter Steven Barnes offers a free version on his website of the writing class he has been teaching for many years at UCLA. The course offers in-depth instruction on writing, which is why Barnes suggests completing each part of the nine-week course one week at a time. Nevertheless, the course can be downloaded all at once. No registration is required.

8. News University (newsu.org)

News University has a solid e-learning program designed to provide training to journalists and otherprofessional writers. Most of the courses offered at News U are free, especially those that are self-directed. Courses cover everything from writing and editing to reporting and ethics. News U also offers a newsletter, a blog and other great resources. Registration is required, but the courses are free for everyone.

9. E-Zine University (ezineuniversity.com)

E-Zine University offers quite a few courses written by Internet publisher Kate Schultz and visiting professors. Although the courses offered at E-Zine University are designed mainly for web writers and e-zine writers, they would be helpful to almost any scribe. Courses are very short and don't take much time to complete. No registration is required.

10. Wikiversity (wikiversity.org)

Wikiversity is an active learning project that encourages people to create and benefit from online courses and tutorials. There are currently several different writing courses that can be found at Wikiversity, many of which focus on technical writing. Although these courses vary in length and content, there's something for everyone. No registration is required.

The following article has been reprinted with permission. Educational-portal.com

XoXo Publishing Additional Information related to the above:

Canadian Colleges and Universities. If you know of any other educational institution not listed on here please post it in the comment area. Thank you.

Athabasca University

Creative Writing

Writing Creative Non-fiction

Canadian Literature

http://www2.athabascau.ca

Humber School of Writing
is one of Canada's top school for writers they offer many courses.

http://creativeandperformingarts.humber.ca/content/writers.html

Simon Fraser University Offer a wide selection of courses for writers, publishers
and editors.

http://www.sfu.ca/wp/

http://www.ontariolearn.com/index.php?page=course_1377

Creative Writing-Beginners

Creative Writing-Intermediate

Documentary Scriptwriting

Dramatic Scriptwriting

Expressive Writing

From Harry Potter To Aslan: Exploring Wrld of Fantasy in Chlds Lit

Introduction to Children's Literature

Introduction to Children's Literature (August Monthly Intake)

Introduction to Children's Literature (December Monthly Intake)

Introduction to Children's Literature (October Monthly Intake)

Introduction to Non-Fiction

Life-writing: Telling our Stories

Myths and Legends

Myths and Legends (July Monthly Intake)

Myths and Legends (November Monthly Intake)

Myths and Legends (October Monthly Intake)

Poetry Writing

Romance Writing

Science Fiction

What in the World is Going On?

What in the World is Going On? (October Monthly Intake)

Writing Mysteries

Writing Short Stories

International Expert Rating

They offer many on line courses for writers, editors and artist.
http://www.expertrating.com/

XoXo Publishing Summer End Sale buy three get two FREE!!!

2011-08-25T19:39:00.002-04:00

XoXo Publishing Summer End Sale buy three get two FREE!!!

by XoXo Publishing on Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 11:29am

Buy three ebook at regular price and the the third ebook FREE!

But wait there is more get the fourth ebook FREE!

How buy three of our ebooks below, send us your sales receipt and we will
send you your Two ebooks FREE!
tina@xoxopublishing.com

Tina B's Alternative Vol. 2. Romance Anthology

Tina B's Alternative Vol. 2. Anthology (18+ Section)
by Allison Cassatta,Cyril J. Michael,Michael Mandrake and Ashley Marie Lucas

What do a vampire, a masseuse a baseball player and a werewolf all have in common? Four talented authors tell you, in this second Gblt anthology!~

A super hot late summer read! Featuring 4 top best selling XoXo Publishing Authors you can't go wrong with Tina B's Vol. 2 Gblt Anthology.
Brianna Martini

Tina B's Alternative Vol. 2. Romance
$2.99

http://www.xoxopublishing.com/shop-online

The Crazy Nurse

The Crazy Nurse (18+ Section)
Kathleen S. Allen

Molly, a new nurse on the psychiatric unit, falls in love with her manager John Whitefeather. His heart has been broken and he resists his attraction to her...at first. Afraid of getting hurt again after letting his guard down John leaves without a word. Molly quits her job and moves to San Francisco to take care of her brother who has AIDS. When they unexpectantly run in to each other again can they make their relationship work or is it too late for them?

Expect the unexpected! Once you start reading The Crazy Nurse you won't to put it down!
Brianna Martini

$3.49

http://www.xoxopublishing.com/shop-online

Moonlight Tales

Moonlight Tales (18+ Section)
Venus Cahill
Ashley Marie Lucas

When the bodies of beautiful blond women start showing up in Silver Wolf territory Alpha Jason Likos contacts the Blue Moon pack to help him solve the murders. Detective Phoebe Azure and pack Beta Alex Yarrow are sent to help solve the crimes but as soon as they arrive in town they are get a very unwelcome surprise. Phoebe’s Wolf Used to relying on her detective skills and her were abilities Phoebe Azure is beyond frustrated to find herself in serious trouble. The only man who can rescue her is Silver Wolf Alpha Jason Likos but can he save her in time to catch a murderer and find Phoebe’s missing friend? Yarrow’s Vampire Honoria, ruthless mistress to the Haven Coven is used to defending herself from those who wish to over throw her and gain control but she has never had to defend her heart before. Can a strong man of action like Beta Alex Yarrow be content to let his woman fight her own battles?

When Venus and Tina get together the whole room gets HOT with their exclusive duet Moonlight Tales! This novella will with out a doubt keep the reader hot and bothered.
The ultimatum ooooooooooooooooooo will get you with Moonlight Tales. Brianna Martini

$2.99

Moonlight Tales

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A Second Chance

A Second Chance (18+ Section)
Michele Mandrake

Two cops who’ve lost their partners in the line of duty and life are both lonely but hesitant about beginning a relationship with someone new.
Will one of them accept the others proposition to start over or remain alone because of their places on the police force?

A Second Chance, we all want one don't we? Imagine getting that chance find out what happens, why and how it ends?
I loved reading A Second Chance, Michael delivers an intense summer read.
Brianna Martini

$1.50

http://www.xoxopublishing.com/shop-online

Divining Avon

Divining Avon
Elizabeth Lynn
(General Adult)

The residents of the sleepy town of Avon, Ontario go about the business of their daily lives and then a stranger moves into the Strauss farmhouse. It is inherited by Wanda whose occupation as a psychic is as intriguing as she is to the town’s residents. Several people pay for readings and it sets off a chain of events that result in life changing decisions. A middle aged couple’s marriage is put to the test as well as is a long term friendship. Two best friends face decisions about their current lifestyles and a large family looks for a way to escape their financial woes. The largest employer in town is affected by the readings of others close to him. With a mixture of humour and drama the stories all intermingle resulting in surprising results. Can one’s future be predicted or does the prediction influence one’s future?

Once in awhile I like to read a good Canadian content book and this is it, Divining Avon.
Diving Avon has a mix of comedy and drama just what I like to read! Hopefully this new book will hit the XoXo Publishing best seller list!
Brianna Martini

$3.49

http://www.xoxopublishing.com/shop-online

Stealth Leftovers

Stealth Leftovers (cookbook, non fiction, general adult section)
Cynthia MacGregor

LAMB RISOTTO
Mmmm, my mouth watered when I taste-tested this one…and I had to go back for seconds. Unlike some risottos, it doesn’t demand constant stirring, but you do want to stir it frequently.

3 cups cooked lamb, cut bite-sized
2 tablespoons oil (preferably olive oil)
2 medium onions, finely chopped
1 cup uncooked rice
4 cups chicken stock/broth or vegetable stock
2 tomatoes, cubed
1/4 cup dill
1 teaspoon rosemary
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Salt and fresh-ground pepper to taste
3 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese

In a large saucepan or Dutch oven over moderate heat, heat the oil and then add the onions, sautéing them until they’re transparent. Add the rice, stirring to be sure all the grains are well coated with the oil. Cook till the rice is translucent—2 or 3 minutes.
Now begin adding the stock to the saucepan, a half-cup at a time. Reduce the heat if needed—you want the stock to simmer. Each time you add stock, allow it to be absorbed by the rice before adding more stock to the saucepan. Stir frequently as it cooks.
When you add the last half-cup of stock, add the rosemary, dill, tomatoes, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and lamb as well. When the last of the stock has been absorbed (but the rice is still moist), add the cheese and stir well one last time. Serve with a salad or a vegetable—asparagus goes particularly nicely; another good choice would be spinach. Serves 5.

You can't go wrong with one of Cynthia's cookbook! Healthy, delicious recipes, tips and personal quotes. Just like the Firehouse Diet Cookbook this cookbook is jammed pack with great recipes.
Brianna Martini

#3.95

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Gift

Gift
Duane Vorhees

A collection of poetry by Duane you will enjoy reading. A keepsake!

$1.99

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Just Be Yourself

Just Be Yourself (Non fiction, Self Help, How to, Women)
Cynthia MacGregor

Many women's magazines sell copies by the carload with cover lines promising to tell their readers what they need to do in order to catch and hold a man. Plenty of books, too, offer advice on how to attract and catch a guy. The problem is that the overwhelming majority of these books and articles tell you to change something (or plural things) about yourself; the real you isn't good enough, they seem to be saying.
They want to make you over into someone else, but they're advocating making yourself over into someone you're not. The problem? If you do catch the attention of that special guy, how will you know it's really you he likes or loves.and not just the woman you're pretending to be? Just Be Yourself advocates doing exactly what its title says, gives you good reasons for that advice, and helps you to find and present the authentic you, so you can be confident in who you are and in your special guy's attraction to the real you.

EXCERPT: If, after trying, you find you don't like fishing, biking, Western dancing, skeet shooting, bird-watching, or attending every Packers game no matter how cold the temperature, say so. It isn't absolutely essential that a man's and woman's every interest dovetail. You want to have some interests in common, but you don't have to be each other's mirror image.

Maybe he'll play golf on Sunday mornings while you sleep late or go to church or visit your mom or play volleyball or go to the gym or just enjoy a quiet Sunday morning with the newspaper; then he'll show up with a box of donuts or a bag of bagels and spend the rest of the day with you. It's healthy for a couple to have some separate interests and to enjoy a little time on their own, separately. Too, it gives you more to talk about when you're back spending time together.

$1.99

https://www.xoxopublishing.com/shop-online

Please do check out our three divisions http://www.xoxopublishing.com

Join our Facebook page and we'll keep you posted with new releases, virtual/book signing tours,
contest and more. http://www.facebook.com/pages/XoXo-Publishing/258678558724

The Blogging Mamma has arrived!

2011-08-22T13:14:00.000-04:00

Audrina Leone has finally setup he official blog. http://theblogginamamma.blogspot.com/

Free blog exchange, interviews, contest and more. email audrina at thebloggingmamma@gmail.com.

Press Releases and more

2011-08-16T07:47:00.000-04:00

To get great coverage, you need a great media list

By: Shannon Cherry

You've written a great press release and it's ready to go.
But the bigger question remains: who do I send it to?
Before you begin sending the release to anyone and everyone, take heed. By not targeting the release to the right person at the right media outlet, your release will simply go into the trash and you'll never gain the respect of any reporter.
So look long and hard at your perfect release. Who would be truly interested in it? Let's face it, Oprah probably doesn't care you have developed additions to your product line.
So look for publications and media that match your target market, not where you'd like to appear.
Where to find media listings?
Once you determine who you want to send the release to generally, you need to get all the information on the media. You can use the following to find who your looking for:
1. Surf the 'Net. Several databases are available for a fee. But you may find they are out of your budget. In addition, there are several free listings of media on the Internet. These are great for a start, but often leave out important contact information and may never be updated.
2. Use the library. Most libraries have resource directories that list local and national media. Take a few hours and write down all the information you need. You'll need to remember, however, that since these directories are in print, many of the listings may be out of date.
3. Use what you already have. A savvy person is already monitoring what's going on in their target market's media, often to subscribing to publications and using RSS feeds & news alerts on the Internet. (Check out Google's News Alerts to create your own). Every time you find a story that is related to your topic, write down the name of the reporter and contact information.
Don't forget you need to verify the information. Editors and the like often change roles or switch companies, so regardless how recent you feel the information is that you have, you need to call to verify it. Gatekeepers (the receptionists) can often be protective with contact names and employee information and very seldom just give this information away. Asking them to verify what you have can prove to be more productive.
Author Bio
Shannon Cherry, APR, MA helps businesses, entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations to be heard.
http://www.ArticleGeek.com

Christmas anthology two submission calls

2011-07-30T10:13:00.001-04:00

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS TO 2 ANTHOLOGIES

TWO CHRISTMAS ANTHOLOGIES SEEK STORIES

XoXo Publishing, an e-publisher will publish two anthologies in November of
Christmas-themed short stories.

Edited by Cynthia MacGregor, the anthologies' working titles are Christmas
Warmth and Hearts 'n' Holly.

To submit stories (specs follow), please do NOT use the regular XoXo
submissions address but send directly to: Cynthia@cynthiamacgregor.com.
IMPORTANT: In the subject line, put either Christmas Warmth or Hearts 'n'
Holly, depending which antho you are aiming at.

Specs specific to Hearts 'n' Holly:
1 -- These are romance shorts.
2 - M/F only.
3 - Any heat level from Sweet to Searing.
4 -- Happy ending is imperative.
5 -- Must take place around the Holiday Season.
6 -- The standard taboos apply (all sex consensual, no underage/incest, and
all the other usual taboos).
7 If a sex act is depicted and more than two people are involved, must be
safe sex

Specs specific to Christmas Warmth:
1 -- Must take place around the Holiday Season.
2 -- These are not romances. There may be an element of romance involved,
but the stories should not be romances per se. Paranormal themes OK. Stories
about kids--great. Stories to do with Christmas in the manner of O. Henry's
classic "Gift of the Magi" are encouraged. Mysteries are another good
choice. Non-classifiable general fiction? Bring it on!
3 -- Nothing "Adult" (i.e. sexually explicit).
4 -- Heartwarming stories are especially encouraged.
5 -- True stories as well as fiction will be accepted.
6 -- We also welcome recipes for Holiday foods for this antho but will not
make any payments for recipes. "Payment" will be that we will print your
name and website, which should generate traffic to your site, so if you
submit recipes, be sure to include your website if you want it in the book.
7 -- If submitting a recipe, the same requirement applies that you be sure
to put "Christmas Warmth" in the subject line. The editor has other projects
in progress that include recipes and does not want to mis-direct your
contributions!

Specs relevant to both:
1 -- Word count 1000-6000 words per story.
2 -- You may submit multiple stories for consideration, but please know only
one story per author per book will be selected. (That is, you can have one
story in each antho, but no more than one per each.)
3 -- Previously published material OK if you have regained full rights to
your material.
4 -- Simultaneous submissions acceptable if so noted.
5 - Include a brief author bio.
6 -- Submit as attachment in either doc or docx format. Use rtf as a last
resort.
7 - Payment as follows:
~Ultimate cover price of each book will depend on number of stories therein.
~ Total royalties paid out to authors will be calculated on 45% of cover
price times number of books sold.
~ Total royalties will be divided by number of participating authors, with
equal shares to each. (That is, if there are 15 stories in the book, for
example, each author gets 1/15 of the total author royalties paid. Payment
is NOT based on the word count of your submission.)
8 -- Deadline for submissions: October 1. GET YOUR STORY IN ASAP!

Again, the address for all submissions and for any questions is:
Cynthia@cynthiamacgregor.com -- and don't forget to put the title of the
book you are aiming at in your e-mail's subject line.

Thank you.

Halloween Submission Call

2011-07-29T23:08:00.002-04:00

Halloween submission Calls

Trick Anthology (sexy) can be ménage GLBT or MF in nature

Treat mf in nature only (P.G.) anthology

We are seeking stories for these two anthologies, with beautiful ghouls, slithering zombies, and alluring aliens. If it goes bump in the night we want it.

Six to eight thousand words, safe sex must be addressed if multiple partners.

One submission per author per category please.

Manuscripts must be doc or rtf only. 12 pt times Times New Roman 1” margins all around, no indentations. (Indent paragraphs with tab).

We will NOT accept cruelty, abnormal acts, pedophiles necrophilia bestiality or golden showers. Skat or other standard industry no no’s please leave out.

Contact Penny@xoxopublishing.com In the subject line Halloween anthology, please state if you are pitching for the trick or treat anthology.

Deadline is September 15 2011