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Kiru Taye writes steamy contemporary, historical and paranormal romance. Her debut historical romance novella His Treasure is a Love Romances Cafe Best Book of 2011 award-winner and an All Romance eBooks bestseller in Historical Ancient romance category. Her stories are steamy and sensual, her characters are passionate and sassy and her settings, atmospheric and exotic.

When she’s not writing, she’s reading, hanging out with family or traveling. She lives in the United Kingdom with her husband and two young children. You can reach her via her blog, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads

How did you start out your writing career?

With 2 young kids at home and a husband who travels a lot for business I wanted a career that gave me flexibility. I’d always wanted to write but my busy career in the corporate world meant I never had the time. So when I decided to change careers, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to write.

What did you learn while writing this book?

With this story I was writing out of my comfort zone. I had to do a lot of research into Igbo culture and history. I also spoke to older relatives and friends who recalled stories where told as children. I learnt some new things about my cultural heritage.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

I wanted to write about African heritage and culture in a positive light. African isn’t all about war and poverty. People fall in love and are romantic just like in every other part of the world.

What came first with this story, the characters or the plot? Why?

I’m not a plotter. I tend to write my stories, one chapter at a time. So this was no different, it was character-driven. The first scene that came into my head was of this young woman on her way to the market early in the morning in ancient Africa. I didn’t quite know who she was or what her conflict was. But she was walking along chatting with her friend who happened to be pregnant. From there the story developed.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

I’m pleasantly surprised everyday by the overwhelmingly positive reception my debut book has received. It is a historical romance novella set in Ancient sub-saharan African, not something you read every day.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

I love the whole process of just writing when the idea is fresh in my head. Just me and my laptop, typing away as the story develops.

I won’t say I hate but I don’t like line editing. I always cringe whenever I read the line editor’s comments on my WIP. :)

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

Do learn – Read a lot. Find out what you love about your favorite novels and try to work that into your books.

Don’t give up – Don’t throw the towel in because you receive a rejection from a publisher. Rewrite and refine your manuscript and send it to other publishers.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

Writing is a job. At least for me it is. It’s not a hobby. I’d like to earn a decent living from it, just like everyone else doing a job.

Tell us something few know about you?

I was born in Enugu, Nigeria.

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

I love reading, hanging out with friends and family and traveling.

What do you do to interact with your readers?

I interact with readers online via my blog, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads

Our theme for this month is Writing the book, what advice do you have for staying motivated to complete the book?

I think it’s important to engage with your characters. My characters tend to be quite loud and ‘in my ear’ so I’m always motivated to keep going.

Another point is to just write. When I write my first draft, I don’t do any editing. I just write. It’s only when the first draft is complete that I go through and edit.

Do you do anything to promote Black History Month?

In the UK, Black History Month is on October. I participate in events with other authors to promote books of African history.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

I know that I love God, my husband and children.

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

My next book is out already. A Valentine Challenge is a contemporary romance set in Nigeria. Here’s the blurb.

Ex-soldier Michael Ede’s spent his time building his life exactly the way he wants it. Life is good. Or so he thinks. So when his friends set him a challenge to exorcise the memory of a woman from his past, he expects it to be a walk in the park.

Socialite Kasie Bosa is spitting fire at men. Her long-term boyfriend has asked for a break via text message of all things. How dare he? She’s told him to go take a dive into the River Niger. And not so politely too. So the next man who dares to cross her path is at risk of getting shredded with her spa manicured nails.

Bad news for Michael who has chosen her as the object of his challenge. But neither of them can deny the sizzling chemistry between them nor control their responses, it seems. It’s the season of love. Can either of them escape unscathed?

A Valentine Challenge is available now on Amazon US, Amazon UK and All Romance eBooks.

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

Readers can reach me via my blog - http://kirutayewrites.blogspot.com, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads

His Treasure

In a time when men ruled their households with firm hands, can a quiet man tame his rebellious wife with persevering love?

Angry at being forced to marry a man not of her choosing, Adaku stubbornly shuns her new husband on their wedding night. However, she soon discovers there are worse things than giving in to a man whose touch awakens her deep desires. In a land where fruitfulness is celebrated, she could soon be labeled a barren woman.

Obinna knows there are several ways to tame a rebellious woman. Patience and perseverance are two of them. Adaku is his treasure and he will never let her go. When her fears push her into his arms, will he be able to convince her to stay with him forever by unleashing the passion within her?

His Treasure is available now on Amazon US, Amazon UK, All Romance eBooks and other online retailers.

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I am an undergraduate student at Concordia College Selma. I am a Lutheran as is my father, he is also the school Chaplain(retired) and has been a Lutheran minister for forty years. I traveled a lot during my youth since my father was a Navy commander/chaplain. Touring the country instilled in me a desire to learn about different cultures. I grew to appreciate America’s landscape and began to develop a thirst for knowledge.

Concordia College is nestled in a small rural town located approximately forty-five minutes outside of Montgomery, Alabama. It was here that Rosa J. Young started her first school also known as Alabama Junior College. My father, uncles, and cousins began their early educational experiences when not farming in the cotton fields.

Selma, AL is considered to be the crux of the civil rights movement. The town hosts a Jubilee each year to commemorate the tragedies that took place on Bloody Sunday. Many influential visitors have made the annual sojourn there to reenact the march that took place with Dr. Martin Luther King. I have used the pen name Desiree Lane to author this first book in a series of novella'.


How did you start out your writing career?

I began writing while studying for my BS in Elementary Education. The endless school reports and the new awakening of my own academic abilities inspired me to write. I have tutored at-risk youths and counseled teens. I wanted to share my story in my own words.


What did you learn while writing this book?

Despite any editorial jargon that is atypical of critics in the writing community; I have learned how to release the crippling prejudices that keep me from being productive. Being able to close a chapter of my life and begin again was the goal that I had set out to accomplish with this new publication.


What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

I wanted to provide hope to the young adult readers that had monumental struggles in their lives. I wanted to encourage them to enter into college. I also needed to reach the young adult that were just venturing into the world.


What came first with this story, the characters or the plot? Why?

I developed the plot initially because it was derived out of my personal experiences. As the plot developed the characters begin to unfold as well. Sometimes people relate well to experiences versus that character which can have a unique identity.


What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

The most rewarding part of being a teacher is teaching children to read. Inspiring young minds to develop a sense of cultural awareness was essential to this authorship. Self-Publishing a series of novellas was an easy transition for me but, I would like to be represented by an agent.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

I like have the freedom to be a creative thinker and the eccentricity that inspires me to be an individual. The editing and publishing is time consuming. I really hate when I have to redraft my work.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

Looking back at it with the acuity of 20/20 vision is not always appealing. But, I will say that the rewards outweigh any regrets that you may have about writing. Realizing that time is invested into the project and having statistical data to support the endeavor is undermined by any financial obligations that must be met. I would have to say that the relationships that I repaired and built were reinforced by my books. Being able to abolish any stereotype about women in my writing and how this would impact the readers was as important to me as publishing.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

Don’t be dissuaded by rejection letters. Take any advice and use it if you find it useful. Do research your demographic and target audience before publishing and find a way to meet the masses. If your work is worth publishing there will be opportunities available to writers of all skill levels.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

Writing is an art. It is done so with professionalism and integrity. It is meant to entertain and it can be a very personal experience.



FREEDOM RINGS

Desiree Lane is a young woman that has encountered insurmountable odds. Her life was normal and her childhood seemed to be ideal. She seems to be impervious to the lifestyles of urban Americans. While enjoying her perceivably faultless suburban community in which she was bred. However, lurking in the foreground were gangs and drug addicts. When her parents divorced, her life would be augmented by the influx of crime in the inner city. She becomes encumbered by the loss of stability. Eventually, the violence in her new dwelling becomes insipid and she is assaulted. She tries to cope with the loss and betrayal while trying to maintain the equilibrium that would allow her to transition well into adulthood.



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King: The Martin Luther King covers the years 1954 through 1968, taking Rev. King from his first peaceful protests against segregation in Montgomery to his murder in Memphis.

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Tell us about RUTH’S REDEMPTION.

RUTH’S REDEMPTION is a historical Romance set in 1830s Virginia. It’s a slave era story about a young female slave named Ruth who is defiant and bitter from the abuses of her slave existence. Her life becomes entangled when she’s purchased by a free black man named Bo. Bo is an educated man of strong faith in Christ. Ruth wants no part of Bo’s faith or life. All she craves is to be free, free from bondage to whites, free from uncompensated servitude and free from men. Bo, however is a different sort of man and he wins her heart. She discovers the true freedom from sin, slavery and the ghosts of the past. GOD sets her free in every imaginable way. The story is told with the backdrop of the Nat Turner rebellion.

How did you come up with ideas for this book? 

The spiritual answer is the idea came from the Holy Spirit. The anointing falls and the ideas flow, a novel is born and takes shape. My more humanistic response would be first I decided I wanted to try to write a historical romance based loosely on the book of Ruth in the Bible. I thought the slave era would be a good subject matter. I was sitting in my office and looked over at my bookshelf and my eyes fell on a book about the Nat Turner rebellion. That clicked as a historical point to place the story around.


Who are your main character(s)? 

Ruth, a young defiant breeding slave and Bo an educated free black and land owner.

Did you have a favorite character(s)? Who and why? 

I really don’t have a favorite but Naomi is very dear to my heart because she is the voice of love, reason and life going forward. She embodies the strength, tenacity, love of family and faith that I believe held the African American together through all the hardships of slavery. Like so many strong black women she kept it going through her own pain and everybody else’s around her.


Did you have to do quite a bit of research for this novel? 

Yes I did; I had to research the rebellion and life in the 1830s. I had to be more specific to that area and the slave existence. That includes how they dressed, talked, and lived in general.


What do you hope readers will learn/discover from reading RUTH’S REDEMPTION.

Not so much to learn as to question. I would like my readers to ask pertinent questions about social issues then and now. What is our responsibility as a society to make sure everyone lives with equal freedoms and the right to dignity in life? Questions like is violence ever justified outside of clear self-defense or saving someone’s life? Is violence a solution to social injustice? Does being a Christian mean being a coward when you don’t strike back? Was Jesus a coward going to the cross or is self-sacrifice the bravest road one can take? And also questions like how far have we really evolved with racial bigotry in this country? Are Christians supposed to compartmentalize GOD or is He Lord of everything? Do we trust him to handle even the social political issues as well or do we take matters in our own hands? How do we know when GOD is telling us to fight? What impact did Nat Turner’s rebellion and other’s like it have on slavery. Was it worth it or not?

As you see there are endless questions this story evokes. I don’t provide answers I just stir the mind to ask the questions so the reader can seek the answers for themselves. Answers relevant for then and for now.


Okay, a not-so-fun question. How important are reviews to you as a writer? 

Reviews are important to the marketing of a novel but they are simply opinions made by other people. So I don’t judge the quality of the story by a review necessarily. Reviews meter people’s reactions to my work. That is important in the market place of course but a wonderful story can get a poor review. A lousy story can get a great review. It’s all so terribly subjective when you deal with the critiquing process. Reviews have a place and function but it does not tell me the true quality of my work per se. It tells me the probable marketability of it which is crucial in publishing but not the main thing as a literary craftsperson. I love writing, crafting engaging stories that inspire and make people think. I am an inbred story teller so that to me is the primary goal; to tell a good story in an interesting and entertaining manner.

About the Book

Set in the 1800s, Ruth’s Redemption, depicts slave life in the south. Bo, the main character who was educated while a slave is a freedman who now owns a farm and buys slaves for the purpose of giving them their freedom. Bo is also a widower whose life is destined to changed when he meets the stubborn, proud and hard-hearted 20 year old slave girl, Ruth.

Ruth has known nothing but harshness and brutality since being separated from her mother at age thirteen. Purchased and sold primarily for breeding and the enlargement of her master’s slave stock, Ruth struggles to understand the way of her new master. Bo is unlike any master she’s known and what she experiences in his care will leave her forever changed.

A gripping pre-Civil War slave era novel, Ruth’s Redemption is a story of forgiveness, acceptance and redemption. Set against the backdrop of the Nat Turner Rebellion in Tidewater, Virginia, this novel shines the light of God’s unconditional love in the darkness of the evils of hatred and acts of inhumanity.

About the Author

Marlene Banks is a Philadelphia, PA native. She attended Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA and has an Associate’s Degree in Theology from the Rhema Bible Institute in Keysville, VA. She is the director of ministry at Lifeline Mission of the Gospel. Through her writing ministry, Marlene’s desire is to promote the gospel and serve the needs of her community.

Visit the author online at:

http://www.marlenebanks.com

http://www.ruthsredemption.com

BookTrailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKwbmpX1H0I&feature=youtu.be



View the blog tour schedule at:
http://www.tywebbin.com/blog-tours/authors-on-tour/2012-tours/


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The Day I No Longer “Heard” the Sun Shine is an informative, but emotionally connected book, speaking from experiences from the heart about enduring and overcoming the diagnosis of Cancer. Whether you are a cancer patient, caregiver to someone battling cancer, or medical professional, the pages within this book will encourage and touch in ways that will heal your mind and spirit as well as inform you to help you endure this time. There is hope in the midst of tragedy, and you will “hear” the sun shine again!


How did you start out your writing career?

I've been writing since I was young, probably about 8 years old. I've always loved the art of writing and its expression. I started writing poetry, inspirational, and motivational messages. It became a career for me once I developed my very first book.

What did you learn while writing this book?

I learned how simple documentation of facts are very vital in capturing vivid details of one's experience. I also learned how much I loved writing and how easy it was for me. I also learned about the importance of research.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

I hope to reach millions of women suffering with breast cancer to encourage them with an awareness of the disease and inform them of what to expect with their experience...every step of the way. I also hope to help comfort breast cancer patients as well as the caretakers that care for them.

What came first with this story, the characters or the plot? Why?

The plot of my story came first. I write for a cause...the fight against breast cancer. So I guess you can say that the plot of my story was my own experience to share with the world.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

As a new author, I've been most surprised by the time involved in developing a book. There's much involved in formatting, structuring events in readable order, then placing all contents in a form that would be an interesting read to my audience. I was also surprised with the vast integral aspects of writing of publishing, marketing, promoting, and publicizing your work. Writing the book is only the beginning of your work...the hard work comes after it's published.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

The aspect of writing that I love the most is expressing my thoughts on paper. I love writing as opposed to speaking. I feel that I express myself so much better on paper. However, I communicate well verbally, but prefer writing. I love writing when my creative juices are flowing uninterrupted. What I struggle with the most in writing, and I guess I can say I hate, is grammatically constructing proper sentences.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

1.) That my publisher does not provide marketing/promotional services; 2.) I would have to do my own marketing of my book and contacting media/advertising agents 3.) My book is not automatically placed in every bookstore and retail outlet nationwide.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

Do=Be inspired and write your heart...and allow it to be expressed in your own words. Don't=Reluctantly not research your audience and you cause. If writing fiction/non-fiction..know your audience.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

Allow oneself to imagine and put yourself in the shoes of the writer; explore their writing; and try to read their books through the eyes of the writer. I finally desire that the non-writer uses their creative minds.

Tell us something few know about you?

I'm a loner. I love being alone. While I can be a "social bee"...I really am not. However, I can mix and mingle with the best of them!

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

I'm an organizer. I love organizing and arranging things in my home, or office. I'm an advocate that an organized person can more easily achieve goals.

What do you do to interact with your readers?

I love to go to speaking engagements, present my testimony and book, then answer questions from women who are either battling breast cancer or have loved ones that want to know how to better care for them. As someone who's gone through the whole process of diagnosis, treatment, surgeries, and recovery, I can offer assistance from a real point of view. I love discussion, and also hearing other women's plight with this disease. It sheds new light from various experiences and helps me to help and comfort more women. Finally, I go to doctors offices, health facilities, and even surgical procedures with women in support of them. This also helps give them a sense of peace and comfort.

Our theme for this month is Writing the book, what advice do you have for staying motivated to complete the book?

I believe when you have a burning story, cause, or message to write in a book, it should be the most important thing in your life at that time. I'm a witness that one must write immediately when inspired, in order to capture that pure and authentic thought. There should be nothing more imperative than getting that story out. When a thought pattern grows cold, or the creative juices refuses to flow, it will stifle any goal of completion of any story. You have to see that story to its end. But most importantly, see the thousands, and even millions of readers waiting out there to read your words. Finally, you must be willing to put in the time and hours of reading, re-reading, editing, and making the necessary corrections to make your work presentable to a Publisher.

Do you do anything to promote Black History Month?

I have not done anything personally to promote Black History socially. However, I play a primary role in the lives of my grandchildren to take them on tours of the King Center, Museums, and Historical sites to educate them on Black History. We also do projects to give them hands on understanding about what the movement meant, means, and how it will ultimately affect their lives.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

I know for sure that I have a specific mission in life. I want to be a servant to others (as my Lord and Savior commissions us), and help to make someone else's life more meaningful. Once this is done, our life has true relevance.

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

I have prayed and seeked the Lord occasionally on a next book, if there be one. I have no idea at this time what that would be, but know that it will be inspirational.

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

I can be reached at Althea Baldwin at my email address: alb370@bellsouth.net ; my home address: Mrs. Althea Baldwin 3770 Clearwater Drive College Park, Ga. 30349 ; or my website at http://www.altheabaldwin.moonfruit.com/

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FEATURED AUTHOR: Kirby Roy III
http://sormag.blogspot.com/2012/02/featured-author-kirby-roy-iii.html
Black History: Roots
http://sormag.blogspot.com/2012/02/black-history-roots.html
Morgan Love Series
Virtual Book Tour
http://sormag.blogspot.com/2012/02/morgan-love-series-virtual-book-tour.html
Black History: Freedom Riders
http://sormag.blogspot.com/2012/02/black-history-freedom-riders.html
FEATURED AUTHOR: Quiniece Sheppard
http://sormag.blogspot.com/2012/02/featured-author-quiniece-sheppard.html

EBLASTS
Contest Newsletter – February
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs044/1101726524994/archive/1109228346550.html
BOOK INTRO - Reluctant Protector by Nana Malone (Romance/Paranormal)
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs044/1101726524994/archive/1109239103820.html
SPOTLIGHT - BOOKS By Francine Craft
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs044/1101726524994/archive/1109248797011.html
A Valentine Treat
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs044/1101726524994/archive/1109249003585.html
On The Shelf Now - A Man Of My Own by Barbara Joe Williams (Mainstream Fiction)
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs044/1101726524994/archive/1109260542650.html
New On The Ereader This Week
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs044/1101726524994/archive/1109249345366.html
COMING SOON - And You Call Yourself A Christian by E. N. Joy (Christian Fiction)
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs044/1101726524994/archive/1109197076502.html


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SORMAG started as romance magazine in 2000. We loved featuring multicultural authors who wrote romance. Over the years we evolved into a literary magazine that features:

Romance

Mainstream fiction

Christian Romance

Christian Fiction

Science Fiction

Urban Fiction

Paranormal

Children Books

Young Adult

Mystery

Non Fiction (Biographies, self help, business, cook books etc)


SORMAG has a special place in our hearts for the self published/independent author.

We know how hard it is to get your books to the reader, so we open our pages to help you.

We’ve created our promotional packages with your budget in mind. We feature eblasts and online promotions.

We invite you to take a look at what we have to offer and look forward to working with you.

http://sormag.com/advertise.htm

P.S. We also can create you a promotional plans according to your budget contact us for more info or questions – sormag@yahoo.com




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