January 30, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "Ravenswood Authors"

    Check out the talented authors from Ravenswood Publishing. A 2 day event going on RIGHT NOW!!!!

https://www.facebook.com/events/324288791106359/?ref_notif_type=event_mall_reply&source=1

January 29, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "HUNGRY!"

    So, I've gone 10 days with my new Nutri Ninja. And I feel great. Although, I would love to chew on something.

    I think this weekend, I'll have some solid food and see how I feel.

                                 I can taste it now... Yum!

                                      That's more like it!

January 28, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "My Hard Work"

    Alright! Now that I have feeling back in my arms I can at least type without too much difficulty. We had 24 inches of snow in less than 24 hours. My first obstacle was to just get out the front door.

    As you can see, I have no storm door and the main door opens OUT. Unusual...

                              Next... Get through the drifts...

                             Too much work... Snow hip high

                                 LONG ASS DRIVEWAY!!

                                Can I move to Florida now?

                          No one ever had to shovel sunshine!

                                Ooooh the aches and pains

January 27, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "Juno"

    We interrupt this nightly blog to report Nik August is too tired to think. Juno kicked my ass. Thanks you!

January 26, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "Diet Till You Die? Exorcise Gone Wrong"

    Well, this sheds some light on shedding some pounds...

   http://weight-loss.viralnova.com/the-biggest-loser/?mb=fbko

January 23, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "New Archery? Old Archery"

    This is the coolest thing I've ever seen. Gotta love ancient times.

      http://www.themarysue.com/master-archer-real-life-legolas/

                                                        Although...

January 21, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "Real Life Disney Princesses"

        Yep. This is awesome! I think they got all these perfect!

         http://disney.viralnova.com/real-life-disney/?mb=fbko


   

January 20, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "Did I Stutter?"

    Okay. As a writer, I love words and their meanings. Here are some!

            http://vocabulary.viralnova.com/the-project-twins/

   
   

January 19, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "Sharpie Tattoos?"

    I'm not against tattoos. I just think they could have made better choices. That's all I'm saying.

            http://tattoos.viralnova.com/terrifying-mugshots/

    
    Someone should have told this guy when he was younger, tattoos change GREATLY as you age. WOW!

January 16, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "Deep Seeded Problems"

                     Oh, I'm laughing at some of these so hard!

                  http://humor.viralnova.com/quick-escalation/

    Gotta wonder what some of them are thinking. I mean, take a chill pill gang!

January 15, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "Love This Dog!"

    YOU GOTTA LOVE THIS PIT BULL! His owner obviously took time with this dog and he's better for it.

                  http://dogs.viralnova.com/yes-no-pit-bull/

January 14, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "Careful, Fire Ants"

    Living in Florida you can't escape these nasties! But once you learn how to watch for their sign, you can avoid them.

            http://fire-ants.viralnova.com/terrible-fire-ants-facts/

January 13, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "Nerika Parke And The Love After Death Series"

    I'm an author, but besides that, I've always been an avid reader. That's why I enjoy reading so many other indie authors. I've given up on looking for the best sellers because there are so many great new authors out there.  Here are two of them. Every Touch. And Oliver's Choice.

       http://www.amazon.com/Every-Touch-Love-After-Death-ebook/dp/B00NS6MB32


     

    They can be read as a stand alone, but there SO much more fulfilling together.

   http://www.amazon.com/Olivers-Choice-Love-After-Death-ebook/dp/B00QXUYBMY/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

 
  

    To say Nerika Parke can immerse you into her world with words is an understatement. You'll only need two things: a comfy chair, and a BIG box of tissues. 

     http://www.amazon.com/Nerika-Parke/e/B00K5YR3WO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

   Give her author page a follow! She has other books as well.

January 12, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "Very Scary Lady"

    Yikes! Talk about the worst serial killer! I can't even imagine what challenged this woman to kill children. It's not like they would give her a fight. What a sicko. It's just gross.

                  http://london.viralnova.com/amelia-dyer/

January 10, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "Animal No-nos"

    Yes, these are animal regrets, but did some of this stuff happen by accident, or were they helped along? Hum...

                                      Puppy pole dancing?

                    http://dog.viralnova.com/animal-regrets/

January 9, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "Dark Moon Series Hosts Ravenswood Publishing Authors"

    Okay universe. Many Ravenswood Publishing authors will be having an event hosted by Dark Moon Series! That's right, you heard me. A plethora of talented writers all giving away their wonderful stories. FREE books to read? WOW! You will have your choice of many different genres. You don't want to miss THIS!!

     https://www.facebook.com/events/324288791106359/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular 

January 8, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "I Got Nothin"

    I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm trying to figure out what to write about tonight, but I got nothin'. Zip. Nada.

    Creative juices are NOT flowing and nothing is catching my eye on the 'what the hell' front. This has been the look on my face today.

January 7, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "Dog Breeds And Their Changes"

    I've been seeing this story around lately. You won't believe the difference in our dogs breeds. It's so sad. I feel sorry for some of these breeds. 

  http://www.sunnyskyz.com/blog/618/Here-s-What-100-Years-Of-Dog-Breed-Improvements-Has-Really-Done-To-Our-Loyal-Companions

January 5, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "Putrid Pig Farms"

    Okay, I was a Vegan for 7 years, but I've let my choice dictate what I feel like eating the last 3 years. But this... this is just nauseating.

               http://farms.viralnova.com/drone-over-farm/

    

    I can't understand why we need to be so cruel when we raise animals for food. This pisses me off. What's wrong with the way we did things years ago? Why try to make something better? If it ain't broke, don't fix it, for crying out loud!

                                Is this REALLY so hard?

January 3, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "Dark Moon Series"

    I'm truly blessed to have the second half of the writing duo for the Dark Moon Series. Michael S. Stewart. He'll be fielding the same questions thrown at Shelly yesterday. Without further ado...

 What were you like at school?

Mike: I was shy, introverted, a bit of a dreamer, I suppose.

Were you good at English?

Mike: Yes, I did. My favorite subject was history.

What are your ambitions for your writing career? 

Mike: To produce books that people enjoy, with characters that are entertaining. I would love to be a novelist full-time.

Which writers inspire you?

Mike: Dean Koontz, Jim Butcher, V. C. Andrews, Lawrence Sanders, Stuart Woods, Sidney Sheldon, and Jackie Collins. Yes, you read that right, Jackie Collins! Her novels are wildly entertaining.

So, what have you written?

Mike: this is my first published work. I wrote a novel in the early 90s, but it was raw, to say the least.

Where can we see them?

US http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OJQ0WL8

UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00OJQ0WL8?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?

Mike: yes, we have a few. Mike Hardy is a good man, a shape shifter, who is estranged from his family. He chafes at conformity which puts him at odds with his rigid father. He's never had someone see the best in him until he meets Bentley.

What are you working on at the minute? And what is it about?

Mike: we're nearly through the second installment of Dark Moon Series. It's entitled Dark Harvest. It's also about the domino effect showing how all actions, no matter how well intentioned, have consequences.

What draws you to the Paranormal, Supernatural, Action/Adventure genre?

Mike: I agree with Shelly. It's a love for the genre. I grew up watching Christopher Lee as Dracula, and Lon Chaney Jr., as the Wolfman. When I got older and discovered the works of Koontz and King, I was hooked.

Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?

Mike: Taylor Kitsck for Mike Hardy, and the bond era Sean Connery for Conri. As for her current actor for Conri, perhaps Clive Owen, or Kyle Chandler.

How much research do you do?

Mike: It really depends.

When did you decide to become a writer?

Mike: this year, after receiving encouragement from someone who had taken the plunge.

Why do you write?

Mike: it's cathartic, exciting, frustrating, funny, and many other things. It's something I've always wanted to do.

Do you write full-time, or part-time?

Mike: part-time, with never-ending dreams of doing it full-time.

Where your ideas come from?

Mike: From our depraved imaginations and I love it!

Do you work to an outline or plot, or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?

Mike: I'd like to think we have a skeleton to work with, so all the bones and structure are in place, but how the flesh of it will fill out is not determined in till we get in the heat of writing.

How do you think you've evolved creatively?

Mike: I'm hopeful that each day we are getting better than the day before, but I think that's how all writers feel, constantly striving to improve.

What's the hardest thing about writing?

Mike: for me, it's having to stop when we have a good rhythm going, due to the real world intruding. Even though that is not something that can be avoided by anyone.

What is the easiest thing about writing?

Mike: playing off Shelley with characters we know so well. I don't have to think "what would Mike say here to Bentley?" I know it sounds strange, but the characters thinks for themselves and that makes writing so much easier.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

Mike: Dark Harvest, we've been working on since June and it's not done yet, so I guess it depends.

What are your thoughts on writing a book series?

Mike: It's fun and exciting, we have so much more to get out there!

Do you read much, and if so, who are your favorite authors.

Mike: not as much as I'd like, but I hop on any of Jim Butcher's "Dresden Files" novels that come out. I also love reading.

For your own reading, do you prefer e-books or traditional paper/hardback books?

Mike: I have tons of paperbacks, some I've had since my Army days in the 80s, but for convenience, I'm building a library of e-books that I can read on my tablet.

What books are you reading at present?

Mike: I just finished reading "Ghost Story" by Jim Butcher again. I love his imagination.

Do you proofread/edit all your own books, or do you get someone to do that for you?

Mike: We do that on our own. But it's not something we enjoy. One day, I'd love for someone else to do that!

Who designed your book covers?

Mike: a very talented woman named Cris Palomino. She's fantastic.

Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?

Mike: If the cover doesn't pull you in, you're less likely to pick it up.

What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?

Mike: It's something that goes with putting your work out there. We love and appreciate the good reviews and consider any negative ones. If it's something we feel we should work on or change, we try to do so.

What's your views on social media for marketing?

Mike: In this day and age, I don't know how you cannot use it to help you, especially when you are trying to get established and don't have an automatic huge fan base.

Which social network worked best for you?

Mike: Shelley is really the one who handles this area, and she's fantastic at it.

Any tips on what to do and what not to do?

Mike: believe in yourself, your work, no matter what.

What do you think of "trailers" for books?

Mike: I enjoy them and they are a good way to promote your work.

Do you have a trailer or do you intend to create one for your own books?

Mike: Yes we do. http://youtu.be/IwDjZaGw21k

How do you relax?

Mike: Watching TV and movies, reading, and playing video games, especially Grand Theft Auto 5!

What is your favorite positive saying?

Mike: It's by Michael Jordan. "I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. What I can't accept is not trying."

What is your favorite quote?

Mike: "we do not look for allies when we love. Indeed, we often look upon those who love with us as rivals and trespassers. But we always look for allies when we hate." ~~Eric Hoffer~~

What is your favorite film and why?

Mike: it's almost impossible for a film nerd like me to pick just one, but I'll go with "The Long Hot Summer" because I love the misunderstood character of Ben Quick, played by Paul Newman and his interaction with the repressed Clara Varner, played by Joanne Woodward.

Where can you see yourself in five years time?

Mike: Sitting in the owners box of a Lakers game!

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Mike: believe in yourself.

Which famous person, living or dead, would you like to meet and why?

Mike: Martin Luther King Jr. I'd like to hear what he would do to continue the great work he started.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Mike: keep writing, and believe in yourself, you have something unique to share with the world.

How can readers discover more about you and your work?

Website: darkmoonseries.wordpress.com:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Moon-Series/1383292888619153?ref=hl

 Twitter: @ScribeShelly    @LakersGold     @DarkMoonSeries

January 2, 2015 Insane Wine Infused Ramblings "Dark Moon Series"

    I have the pleasure of offing an interview with Shelly Burrows, one half of the writing duo for the Dark Moon Series. Check out the full interview about a fanciful world of wonder!

    
 What were you like at school?

Shelly: I was a goofball. When I lived in Michigan I played volleyball and basketball, but when I moved to Ohio, I got out of sports.

Were you good at English?

Shelly: I LOVED English… well the writing aspect. I hated grammar.

What are your ambitions for your writing career?

Shelly: I've always wanted to write, but never really considered doing it full-time. That is what I'd love to do, be a writer full-time.

Which writer inspires you?

Shelly: I read a lot of Stephen King, Kresley Cole, Gena Showalter, Dean Koontz, and thanks to Michael,, Stuart Woods.

So, what have you written?

Shelly: Blood Moon is our first novel, but I've written short stories through our role-playing.

Where can we buy, or see them?

US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OJQ0WL8

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00OJQ0WL8?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

 Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?

Shelly: Well, we have a few. Bentley has had a rough life. She grow up in a crack house, but managed to get through school and into college. Life had other ideas for her though. She's definitely a fighter. Saoirse on the other hand is tough, kind when needed, but has a deep hatred for vampires. Though, I'd say she is fair. She has a lot to think about at the end of the book.

What are you working on at the minute?

Shelly: We're nearly through with the second installment of the Dark Moon Series. Dark harvest.

What is it about?

Shelly: it's a continuation of the story started with blood Moon, but you'll get to meet more people in the variant world. It's about reaping what you so.

What genre are your books?

Shelly: Paranormal, Supernatural, Action/Adventure with some romance up in there.

What draws you to this genre?

Shelly: I have always loved the supernatural and hard type stories. It seemed natural to write about it.

Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?

Shelly: For Bentley, I would love to see Laura Vandervoort, And for Saoirse, Rachel Weisz.

How much research do you do?

Shelly: it depends on what the story calls for. For example, part of Blood Moon takes place in North Carolina, so I wanted to make sure I got the folklore right, even though I'm a transplant to North Carolina.

When did you decide to become a writer?

Shelly: We were actually encouraged to write.

Why do you write?

Shelly: Because I love seeing people engage in the world that Michael and I have created. It's like letting your child grow up and go into the world for the first time. It's exciting.

Do you write full-time or part-time?

Shelly: Oh, it's a part-time thing for now. Hopefully it will blossom into a full-time career.

Where do you your ideas come from?

Shelly: most of our characters come from role-playing, but then there are some new characters in our books as well.

Do you work to an outline or plot, or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?

Shelly: We have an idea of how the book will turn out, but were up to changing it if we feel it pulled in a new direction.

How do you think you've evolved creatively?

Shelly: I'm learning that sometimes less is more, but you need to know when to use that.

What is the hardest thing about writing?

Shelly: I find that I have a harder time writing for all the dark characters. It's hard for me to get into that frame of mind… Which you will see one of those characters in our next book.

What is the easiest thing about writing?

Shelly: For me, it's playing off of Michael. He is such a skillful storyteller and he makes it easy to get on board.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

Shelly: Blood Moon was done fairly quickly. A couple of months, but those characters we are very familiar with and knew intimately.

What are your thoughts on writing a book series?

Shelly: It's exciting, though we have a few characters that are screaming for attention!

Do you read much, and if so who are your favorite authors?

Shelly: I love reading. When I find a series, I dive right in. I love Kresley Cole, Gena Showalter, Stacia Kane, Karen Marie, Moning, and Stephen King. Though, to be fair, there are many, many more.

For your own reading, do you prefer e-books, or traditional paper/hardback books?

Shelly: I prefer to have the book in hand, but I do have e-books. I'll use my e-reader while waiting in line for my son at school.

What books are you reading at present?

Shelly: Necromancer awakening, by Nat Russo and I just finished Demonically Yours by Lauren Peyton.

Do you proofread/edit all your own books, or do you get someone to do that for you?

Shelly: We do that on our own. But it's not something we enjoy. One day I'd love for someone else to do that!

Who designed your book covers?

Shelly: A very talented woman by the name Cris Palomino. She is fantastic.

Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?

Shelly: Absolutely! If the cover doesn't pull you in, you're less likely to pick it up.

What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?

Shelly: well we love our good reviews, I mean who doesn't? But we also learned from constructive criticism.

What's your views on social media for marketing?

Shelly: I think it's important. You can reach more people through social media.

Which social network worked best for you?

Shelly: I'm a fan of Twitter. I like being able to interact with people. Facebook is a close second.

Any tips on what to do and what not to do?

Shelly: never give up. You may encounter rejection, but then again that's what makes you better.

What do you think of "trailers" for books?

Shelly: I think they're fun. We have a dream cast video for our books.

Do you have a trailer or do you intend to create one for your own books? 

Shelly: Yes, we do.  http://youtu.be/IwDjZaGw21k

 Do you think that getting books away free works and why?

Shelly: I think it's a necessary thing. You can't underestimate the power that word-of-mouth carries.

How do you relax?

Shelly: Watching TV, reading, and spending time with my kiddo.

What is your favorite positive saying?

Shelly: After every storm, the sun is waiting to shine.

What is your favorite quote?

Shelly: "Choose your friends by their character and your socks by their color. Choosing your socks by their character makes no sense, and choosing your friends by their color is unthinkable."

What is your favorite film and why?

Shelly: True Romance. It has everything. Action, adventure, romance…

Where can you see yourself in five years time?

Shelly: Sitting on a beach somewhere sipping a fruity drink.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Shelly: Don't listen to the negativity. You are beautiful just the way you are.

Which famous person, living or dead, would you like to meet and why?

Shelly: Alice Paul. She was one of the key figures in the women's suffrage movement. I'd like to pick her brain. What life was like, the struggle she endured and what she would think of our world today.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Shelly: Never give up. Even if it's writing for yourself, you never know where it can lead.

How can readers discover more about you and your work?

Website: darkmoonseries.wordpress.com:

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Moon-Series/1383292888619153?ref=hl

 Twitter: @ScribeShelly    @LakersGold    @DarkMoonSeries