What tips does Daryl Devore have about writing blurbs? #writers #DarylDevore

We've talked blurbs before. Do you have any tips for writing blurbs?

Hire someone to write it. I'm only sort of kidding. 

Blurbs can be annoying, I truly do understand.

I try to keep my blurbs short. I've read some where I pretty much don't need to read the book because the blurb as so long. And in keeping it short, you tend to do write what a blurb is supposed to be - a tease. Like a movie trailer - you watch the 2 minute clip and decide on watching the movie or not.

A blurb is the same thing only with words. So - write the blurb. Put everything in it. THEN - edit it. Cut it down to 250 words or so. If you can't cut it then ask a writer friend. Just remember

- Keep it short.

- It should be like a tease.

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On this week's Open Book Blog Hop - Daryl Devore writes a review for someone else’s books and then writes one for one of her books. #OpenBook Blog Hop #writers #DarylDevore

Welcome to the Open Book Blog Hop! This week’s theme - Write a review for someone else’s books. Now write a review for one of yours.

 By chance I still have a review I wrote for a friend and she's been a member of this blog hop - Viviana :-)

Here's the review I wrote a few years ago - 

If you have any romance in your soul, you have to read Scott and DJ’s story – All Those Miles I Walked. Viviana MacKade has penned a tale of lovers ripped apart because they were “too young” then forced to deal with each other as the pains of the past crumble ever so slowly. And just when you think, everything is going to be ok – don’t relax. Viviana is not done yet.

Her ability to craft a romance that you can just settle into is amazing. There is humor, adventure, life, suspense and sexual tension – no - make that simmering sexual tension that is just about to hit the boiling point.

I highly recommend any and every book that Viviana MacKade has written and especially this one – All Those Miles I Walked.

Now for me. Ugh. This is hard. 

What do dragons, knights and romance have in common? Daryl Devore’s sweet medieval fantasy romance, The Last Dragon, has it all. On a quest to slay the devil-demon, Ayrradex, Prince Hawkyns is injured and wakes in a unknown village. A lass snags his attention, but he cannot find her until a horrendous situation throws them together. They race away, protecting a newborn babe from being fed to a dragon.

Derry, raised by an ancient sorceress, has a powerful she is unaware of. And telling you what it is would be revealing a major plot twist.

Together, Prince Hawkyns and Derry, accompanied by a youth, Parriset, rescue the baby then charge through adventures – an enraged mob, an evil sorceress, dragons, treachery and betrayal, and one last demon dragon.

Through it all, love grew between Derry and Prince Hawkyns. A love that would save the world from evil dragons from that day forward.

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The secrets of the bayou dance to the rhythm of jazz! Quake - Jazz Sessions Book 1 by Maya Alden #RomanticSuspense

 

 The secrets of the bayou dance to the rhythm of jazz!  

Quake

Jazz Sessions Book 1

by Maya Alden

Genre: Romantic Suspense  

The secrets of the bayou dance to the rhythm of jazz!

She was the princess of Bayou Belle, sleeping with me, a bayou rat born on the wrong sides of the sheets.

Gaia Doucet was my first love, the one who had me body and soul…until she accused me of something terrible; and I was sent into cruel exile by her mother. But now, ten years later, I'm back. Her grandfather has left me controlling interest of the Doucet empire and I'm ready to enjoy my revenge. I'll start with her mother and end with her.

While I made a fortune in New York, she's slinging drinks at Jazz Sessions, her brothers' bar in the pulsing heart of the French Quarter. I have achieved all my dreams and she's a failure.

I'm ready to crush her into the ground even though I want her with the same desperation as I did a decade ago.

But when someone hires a hitman to kill her, it sets off a tumultuous QUAKE that shakes the very foundations of our lives. Hate her, I may, but I won't be able to live in a world where she's not there.

In the steamy, seductive streets of New Orleans, where secrets and scandals are as common as the sultry jazz rhythms, Quake is the first book in the Jazz Sessions series. Please note, each novel in this series is a standalone romance, complete with its own satisfying happily ever after. Yet, the shadow of a sinister family mystery stretches across the arc of the first three books.

Perfect for fans of LJ Shen and Shain Rose.

Note: This book contains mature themes, including violence, strong language, & sexual content, for full content warnings, please see Content Warnings page on Maya's website

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Maya has a passion for weaving tales of love and desire.

With a background in literature and a heart filled with hope, Maya pours her emotions onto the pages of her novels, capturing the essence of true love and the power it holds to transform lives. Combining unforgettable characters, sizzling chemistry, and heartfelt emotions, Maya's stories will whisk you into a world of passion and enchantment.

Maya invites you to join her on a journey of love, laughter, and happily-ever-afters that will leave you with a sigh and a smile.

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A Cuban American woman searches for her long-lost mother and fights to restore a beautiful but crumbling Art Deco home in the heart of Havana in this moving, immersive new mystery. Last Seen in Havana by Teresa Dovalpage #Mystery

 

A Cuban American woman searches for her long-lost mother and fights to restore a beautiful but crumbling Art Deco home in the heart of Havana in this moving, immersive new mystery, perfect for fans of Of Women and Salt. 

Last Seen in Havana

A Havana Mystery Book 4

by Teresa Dovalpage

Genre: Mystery 

A Cuban American woman searches for her long-lost mother and fights to restore a beautiful but crumbling Art Deco home in the heart of Havana in this moving, immersive new mystery, perfect for fans of Of Women and Salt.

Newly widowed baker Mercedes Spivey flies from Miami to her native Cuba in 2019 to care for her ailing paternal grandmother. Mercedes’s life has been shaped by loss, beginning with the mysterious unsolved disappearance of her mother when Mercedes was a little girl. Returning to Cuba revives Mercedes’s hopes of finding her mother as she attempts to piece together the few  scraps of information she has. Could her mother still be alive?

Thirty-three years earlier, in 1986, an American college student with endless political optimism falls deliriously in love with a handsome Cuban soldier while on a spontaneous visit to the island. She decides to stay permanently, but soon discovers that nothing is as it seems in
Havana.

The two women’s stories proceed in parallel as Mercedes gets closer to the truth about her mother, uncovering shocking family secrets in the process . . .

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Death Under the Perseids

A Havana Mystery

(Prequel to Last Seen in Havana)

There’s no such thing as a free cruise in Cuban American author Teresa Dovalpage's addictively clever new Havana mystery.

Cuban-born Mercedes Spivey and her American husband, Nolan, win a five-day cruise to Cuba. Although the circumstances surrounding the prize seem a little suspicious to Mercedes, Nolan’s current unemployment and their need to spice up their marriage make the decision a no-brainer. Once aboard, Mercedes is surprised to see two people she met through her ex-boyfriend Lorenzo: former University of Havana professor Selfa Segarra and down-on-his-luck Spanish writer Javier Jurado. Even stranger: they also received a free cruise.

When Selfa disappears on their first day at sea, Mercedes and Javier begin to wonder if their presence on the cruise is more than coincidence. Mercedes confides her worries to her husband, but he convinces her that it’s all in her head.

However, when Javier dies under mysterious circumstances after disembarking in Havana, and Nolan is nowhere to be found, Mercedes scrambles through the city looking for him, fearing her suspicions were correct all along.

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**Don’t miss the rest of the series!**

Find them on Amazon-

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0881XQZPK

Writer, translator and college professor, Teresa Dovalpage is a Cuban transplant firmly rooted in New Mexico. She is the author of twelve novels, among them the Havana Mystery series, three short story collections and four theater plays. She lives with her husband, one dog and too many barn cats. Her website is  http://teredovalpage.com

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Daryl Devore answers the question - Does she have an 'elevator pitch' for her books? #OpenBook Blog Hop #writers #DarylDevore

Welcome to the Open Book Blog Hop! This week’s theme - Do you have an 'elevator pitch' for your books?

 I have tag lines for several. "Elevator pitch" no. 'Cause there is no way in h*ll I'd talk to someone. Total and complete introvert. Besides - I'd never recognize someone that was remotely involved with books or movies. I could ride the elevator with Steven Spielberg and not know who he was.

Here are a few tag lines.

Arianne’s just a regular girl pushed into a corner and desperately looking for a way out.

What's a woman to do when a voice follows her home and makes mad, passionate love to her?

Leading an army of faeries and pixies into battle against mountain trolls was not what Cadi expected when she accepted the task of rescuing Ewen - the son of the Overseer of the Faeries.

To save Darien's life his brother asks, "Can you walk in high heels?"

 Now, please visit the other #OpenBook Blog Hop writers. You can find their posts at

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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A totally gripping and addictive psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist. If I Go Missing by Leslie Wolfe #Psychological #Thriller

 

A totally gripping and addictive psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist

If I Go Missing

by Leslie Wolfe

Genre: Psychological Thriller

 “WOW!… Never did I anticipate I would be closing the book at 3am... This book was insane!… gripping… so darn good!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you’re reading this, I’ve gone missing.

I close the binder I’ve been writing in, and walk into the living room. As I stare out of the window at your house next door, I think about all the things I stand to lose if someone comes for me. My handsome, loving husband, who has no idea what I’ve done. My family, who have supported me no matter what. This beautiful home near the ocean, where I thought I would be safe.

Everyone says that I’m paranoid, but I just think I’m prepared. My secrets have placed me in terrible danger.

So if the worst happens, this binder contains everything you’ll need to find me, hidden in a place only you could guess. You’ve always known me best of everyone, ever since we were girls. You’ll be able to put the pieces together and uncover the truth.

Only you can find me. But you’ll need to do it fast.

Because if you don’t, all your lies will come to light too…

From the no.1 Kindle bestselling author of The Surgeon, comes an outrageously twisty and compelling psychological thriller that you simply won’t be able to put down! Perfect for fans of Shari Lapena, Gillian Flynn and Freida McFadden.

See what readers are saying about If I Go Missing:

“WOW!!! What a way to kick off 2024!!!… the best missing person case EVER that I have read (and I read a lot)!!! I just loved this book and could not get enough of it!!… beyond 5 stars!!… an insanely gripping fast-paced read that will keep your eyes glued to your Kindle!!” Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Wow!!!!! Secrets, secrets, and more secrets!!!!!… I loved… I was like OMG turning each page… fantastic.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Wow, I wish I could give this more than 5 stars! What a ride… had me gripped from the beginning, and it was such a roller-coaster… I couldn’t wait to find out how it ended… Definitely recommend!!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“WOW!!!… more twists and turns than a plate of spaghetti!!! I loved it. A must-read.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Wow, just wow! Misdirection and twists snuck up on me when I was least expecting them… I found myself holding my breath waiting for the next gotcha… I can’t recommend this book highly enough!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A must-read… I loved this!… You will not be able to put this one down!… Fast-paced, twisty, and well-plotted. It will keep you turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning… Fantastic.” @JudithDCollins, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“There is so much more to this story!… So many layers, so many questions, my mind was busy seeking new answers every chapter! I’ve read many of Leslie Wolfe’s books – If I Go Missing is one of the very best!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Damn good! Gripping… I tried to force myself to stop because I didn’t want to finish too quickly but that didn’t happen and oh boy that ending was mind-bending!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Literally read in one day this book is SO good!… When you think you have this mystery figured out the author throws in another twist. Excellent book!!” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Amazon * Audible * Bookbub * Goodreads

Meet Leslie Wolfe, bestselling author and mastermind behind gripping thrillers that have won the hearts of over a million readers worldwide. She brings a fresh and invigorating touch to the thriller genre, crafting compelling narratives around unforgettable, powerhouse women. 

Her books are not only an adrenaline-packed ride, but they're also sprinkled with psychological insights, offering readers an immersive, authentic experience that goes beyond conventional suspense.

You might know her from the Detective Kay Sharp series or have been hooked by Tess Winnett's relentless pursuit of justice. Maybe you've followed the dynamic duo Baxter & Holt through the gritty streets of Las Vegas or plunged into political intrigue with Alex Hoffmann.

Recently, Leslie published The Girl You Killed, a psychological thriller that's pure, unputdownable suspense. This standalone novel will have fans of The Undoing, The Silent Patient, and Little Fires Everywhere on the edge of their seats.

Whether you're into the mind games of Criminal Minds, love crime thrillers like James Patterson's, or enjoy the heart-pounding tension in Kendra Elliot and Robert Dugoni's mysteries, Leslie's got a thriller series for you. Fans of action-packed writers like Tom Clancy or Lee Child will find plenty to love in her Alex Hoffmann series.

Wolfe’s latest psychological thriller, The Surgeon, will have you racing through the pages gasping for breath until the final jaw-dropping twist, delighting fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train.

Discover all of Leslie's works on Amazon.com/LeslieWolfe. Want a sneak peek at what's next? Become an insider for early access to previews of her new novels, each a thrilling ride you won't want to miss.

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Daryl Devore answers the timely question - Do you ever ask yourself if you are still a writer? #OpenBookBlogHop #writers #impostersyndrome #DarylDevore

Welcome to the Open Book Blog Hop! This week’s theme -Do you ever ask yourself if you are still a writer?

 I've been away from this blog hop and from writing since before the summer. My muse up and walked out on me. It was a tough break-up. I wanted to write. I couldn't. I gave up.

Life went through some messy times. I struggled to get through those and way - waaaay - in the back of my head - every so often that little voice would pop up and toss out an idea for a scene for the book that's been sitting un-loved for about a year.

Then a friend - who is an editor for a local newspaper - asked me to write a series of articles on being a caregiver. I had just spent 10 minutes b*tching about something.

So at 3 in the morning, I wrote 4 articles. I wasn't sure what she wanted so I emailed them to her. I explained they were raw - I hadn't sent them to a cp to be checked. She said they were perfect.

The first one has been published. It's short. She gave me a short word limit per section. Hard to fit the pain and frustration into 300 words. But I did it. I wrote something. And if I can do that - I can still write. Therefore, I am still a writer. (Happy face)

Hey, is that my muse peeking out there?

Image by Ara_a from Pixabay

Now, please visit the other #OpenBook Blog Hop writers. You can find their posts at

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Thank you, Yoga. My new Mantra makes dealing with reviews easier. #yoga #author #reviews

So what prompted this.
I'm a writer.
Yeah - you know that, but it needed to be said.
I have published books.
Some have been harshly slammed.
Reviews are hard to take.
We love our books.
We know they are perfect.
When someone doesn't like it - it hurts.
I pretty much live by the code of - if you can't say anything good- don't say anything.
I - also - know - not everyone will like my books.
I don't like every book out there.
But still - it hurts.
When you are a new author- what nobody tells you is that a good review makes you feel good for a day.
But ----
One line of criticism from a stranger reverberates in your skull forever.
So where does yoga come in???
When I read - stupidly on my part - I know better - read that 1st not so good review I got angry.
I wanted to jump up and down, screaming.
I wanted to write a super long, very vicious reply.
Instead I breathe and chanted.
And it worked.
So at your next not so good review -

Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.
Breath in Strength. Breathe out bullshit.

Try it.
It works.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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What does a s’more, a tent, and a campfire have in common? Trusting Love Clumsy Little Hearts Trilogy Book 1 by Julie Navickas #Contemporary #Romance

 

What does a s’more, a tent, and a campfire have in common?

Trusting Love

Clumsy Little Hearts Trilogy Book 1

by Julie Navickas

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

What does a s’more, a tent, and a campfire have in common? For Ryan Prescott, it’s a typical weekend camping trip. But for Tess Browning… it’s a recipe for the truth.

Tess Browning earned the nickname Little Vixen for a reason. And she has no incentive to play by the rules anymore. Because why bother? All it ever did was trap her in a loveless marriage. Tossing faithfulness out the window, the only thing she is committed to now is her new code: keeping it fun, flirty, and deliciously sultry.

That is, until Ryan Prescott walks in and charms his way into her heart with a leather tool belt strapped around his waist. He’s sexy, smart, and as emotionally damaged as they come. And Ryan seemingly wants nothing more than to have Tess pick up the pieces of his broken heart.
But there’s one thing he doesn’t know about her.

When the details of Ryan’s past heartache come to light, Tess digs her hot pink heels into the ground and will stop at nothing to hide her past indiscretions from the man who stole her heart. Because if there’s one thing Ryan won’t tolerate—it’s dishonesty.

Will Tess manage to keep the truth hidden? Or, will the secrets of a lifetime shatter her one true chance at love?

Best-selling and award-winning author Julie Navickas brings back fan favorite, Tess Browning for her own shot at love. Readers of the Trading Heartbeats trilogy will recognize the flawed heroine but may not recognize the woman she’s become. After all, no one is above redemption. Fans of Lynn Painter’s Mr. Wrong Number and Katie Cotugno’s Birds of California will find a swoon-worthy and engaging romance in TRUSTING LOVE.

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Julie Navickas is an award-winning, nationally recognized contemporary romance novelist, known for her keen ability to tell heart-wrenching, second-chance love stories through relatable characters with humility, humor, and heroism. She is also an award-winning university instructor and serves as the executive director of The Writing Champions Project. Julie earned master’s degrees in both organizational communication and English studies with an emphasis in book history, as well as a bachelor’s degree in public relations, graduating cum laude from Illinois State University.

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