A Good Excuse To Be Bad Book Trailer

 

In four days my novel A Good Excuse To Be Bad releases. I’m excited. Check out the trailer for a teaser of the series.

New Devils and The Next Level

 

New Devils and The Next Level

“Show us the father and we will be satisfied.”John 14:8-14

As I grow closer to my novel’s book release, I stumble over more stumbling blocks, hit road blocks,detours, disappointments and, yet through it all, discover new great things about God. These things give me solace, because when you’re this close to experiencing a personal dream come true life gets pretty weird.

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Red Beach Bag Books: The Lightkeeper’s Ball

“The New York brownstone was just half a block down from the Astor mansion on Fifth Avenue, the most prestigious address in the country. The carriage, monogrammed with the Stewart emblem, rattled through the iron gates and came to a halt in front of the ornate doors.”

I like when I read the first lines of a fresh novel and it pulls me in as if I’m the character. Colleen Coble does a great job of transporting you into her character’s world. If you’re into elegance, romance, regencies, and a story written with a Christian worldview then this book is for you.

So to kick off my Red Beach Bag Summer Books Spotlight I introduce you to The Lightkeeper’s Ball. (The bag is a Carolina Herrara.)

Synopsis: Olivia seems to have it all, but her heart yearns for more.

Olivia Stewart's family is one of the Four Hundred-the highest echelon of society in 1910. When her sister dies under mysterious circumstances, Olivia leaves their New York City home for Mercy Falls, California, to determine what befell Eleanor. She suspects Harrison Bennett, the man Eleanor planned to marry. But the more Olivia gets to know him, the more she doubts his guilt-and the more she is drawn to him herself.

When several attempts are made on her life, Olivia turns to Harrison for help. He takes her on a ride in his aeroplane, but then crashes, and they're forced to spend two days alone together. With her reputation hanging by a thread, Harrison offers to marry her to make the situation right. As a charity ball to rebuild the Mercy Falls lighthouse draws near, she realizes she wants more than a sham engagement-she wants Harrison in her life forever. But her enemy plans to shatter the happiness she is ready to grasp. If Olivia dares to drop her masquerade, she just might see the path to true happiness.

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A Sweet Incentive & Book Hug

This month is a busy one for me, because A Good Excuse to Be Bad releases. I had this great idea to pos every day leading up to the book launch. But then I thought to myself, would it be too much? Would you be sick of my by the time the book releases? Because who can take that much self promotion.

So I decided to do something else. I wanted to countdown my book release thanking the people who helped me get published. Therefore, for the next fifteen days I will be breaking down my acknowledgments page with you.

I think this is much better than me talking about myself. Most importantly, I think it’s important to know what goes on behind the scenes for a published author. What does it really take to create one of these books.

Tomorrow we will begin and I hope you join me. To make this journey a sweet incentive, I will be giving away a box of one of my chocolate guilty pleasures to the best lurker of my email.

You don’t have to miss a beat by subscribing to my blog or subscribing to my Facebook Fan Page. Click the blue to get connected.

Thanks so much for being a part of this journey with me.

 Miranda P

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Seven Authors on Faith, Fiction, and Summer Retreats

Seven authors participating in the 5th Annual Faith and Fiction Retreat are featured in the June issue of Christian Fiction Online Magazine. Click here to read more. 

10 Things to Do the Month Before your Book Releases

  My novel, A Good Excuse to Be Bad has its national release June 28, 2011. When I noticed how I close I was to the book launch date I realized that although I have had the busiest, most trying, family in crisis year than I’ve ever had still needed to apply the action items I often encourage my clients and my Dee Goody Mail members. So as a reminder to myself and to up my accountability, I am sharing my checklist here.

Continue reading "10 Things to Do the Month Before Your Book Releases" »

6 Reasons Atlanta Made Amazon.com Top 20 Most Well Read Cities in America List

 

Amazon.com announced its list of the Top 20 Most Well-Read Cities in America. Atlanta placed 20.

Why did Atlanta make the list?

1.  Vibrant Book Club Culture

Atlanta has a vibrant reading culture. In every county you can find bookclubs meeting in libraries, coffee shops, winebars and hosting their own events. RAWSISTAZ Book Club has its annual RAW Affair in September, the National Book Club Conference meets here every year in July, and many more.

 

2.  Book Events Galore!

a. The AJC Decatur Book Festival is the  largest independent book festival in the country. Last year some of the most popular authors in the country were there like Jonathan Franzen and Emily Giffin. (Shameless plug. You can meet me[Miranda Parker] there this year. The DBF doesn’t just work the 3 day Book Festival it hosts year round literary events. This month they hosted a dinner with NYT Bestseller Kim Severson.

b. The Georgia Center of the Book is the state affiliate of the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Dekalb County Library is its host and sponsor. It funds some of the best literary events in the city. June is going to be an incredible month with Tayari Jones and  Mary Doria Russell visiting.

3. Reading and Reader Hot Spots.

I’ve spent many date nights at Barnes & Noble Peachtree Starbucks.  The Grounds Coffeehouse is a nice place to listen to author readings.  The now gone Vino Libro (Wines and Books) was a great hot spot for readers and wine connoisseurs. There are also nice spots for poetry reading and spoken word artists like Hank Stewart’s White Linen Affair.

4. Popular Authors in Resident

• Emily Giffin
• Pearl Cleage
• Kathryn Stockett
• Joshilyn Jackson
• W. Dale Cramer
• Natasha Trethewey
• Karen White
• Karin Slaughter
• Jelani Cobb

5. Independent Bookstore Haven

Atlanta also houses nationally recognized independent bookstores like:

• Foxtale Bookshoppe
• Blue Elephant
• Outwrite
• Charis
• Medu
• Little Shop of Horrors
• Eagle Eye
• Acapella,
• to name a few

6. Strong Reading Initiatives

a. Atlanta’s R.E.A.L. Men Read is a great organization and mentoring program for Atlanta Public Schools

b. Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta is an organization that assists with adults with learning to read. 

I’m sure other cities have a great reading culture. These are just my reasons why Atlanta made the list. What should I add?

To Read More  about Amazon’s Top 20 Most Read American Cities list Click  here.

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10 Things to Do the Month Before Your Book Releases

  My novel, A Good Excuse to Be Bad has its national release June 28, 2011. When I noticed how I close I was to the book launch date I realized that although I have had the busiest, most trying, family in crisis year than I’ve ever had still needed to apply the action items I often encourage my clients and my Dee Goody Mail members. So as a reminder to myself and to up my accountability, I am sharing my checklist here.

1. Relax. (you don’t have to do anything us, but enjoy it all. so chill)
2. To enjoy this time throw a party.
3. Now promote that party in every free outlet you can find.
4. Get some door prizes for the party.
5. Promote the biggest door prize on your site and every where you can near the venue two weeks before the event.
6. Book a second event, because this party will be so cool. Your buddies will not want it to end, so have another place for them to meetup and provide an invite at this party.
7. Invite people who matter to you and gift them for being such a great help.
8. Prepare what you will read. Practice it.
9. Pay for an ad in your local paper or local email blast.
10. Prep the venue staff for your party. Early visit. Take your book. See who will be working for you. Give them a phone script in case someone calls wondering are you actually there.

Bonus. Have Fun. If no one else have fun, you better! LOL

One more thing. Today is the last day to enter to win a free autographed copy of A Good Excuse to Be Bad. Click the Good Reads pic or the link above to enter.

Dee Stewart is an inspirational book reviewer for Romantic Times Magazine,  contributing writer to Hope for Women Magazine, staff columnist for Christian Fiction Online Magazine, owner of Christian Fiction Blog and DeeGospel PR, an entertainment PR boutique. She is alsoMiranda Parker, novelist for Kensington Publishers Dafina Books. Her debut novel “A Good Excuse to be Bad” releases July 2011

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