Happy Friday All, So much to tell! First of all, if you haven't read my Facebook page, then here's my big news:   Surreal has been contracted by a publisher! It's so awesome! I'm not the only one with good news, either. My chapter mate, and talented author, Janet Nash, just had her novel, Powerless Consent , released through Soul Mate Publishing . It's available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble as well. Also, if you're interested in Fantasy, check out Raven Raye's recent release (released in October), Broken Prophecy . It's also Soul Mate Publishing release. You can find it on Amazon and Barnes & Noble . So many exciting things going on! Make sure you stay tuned...either on my Facebook Page or on here! Look me up on Twitter as well (@WriteByBethany). Have A Fabulously Fun-Filled Friday!

Happy Tuesday All, I'm re-reading Beth Fantasky's Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side and gearing up to work on Conjure A Man (my WIP--Work In Progress). The other night I finished reading Tracy Deebs' Tempest Rising . I ended up really liking it. I realize since it was published last year, it's not exactly a new YA novel, but it was new to me because I hadn't known about it or read it. It's chalk full of sea mythical creatures. There's a big battle with a blood-sucking octopus type creature, a power-hungry sea witch, and a mermaid who wants to stick to her human side. I found it a fun read and plan to read the sequel, Tempest Unleashed , which is out. I'm doing all this while I wait for August 15th to arrive. Why August 15th? Well, aside from some real-life things going on, that's the day Shanna Swendson's Much Ado About Magic will be released. I've been waiting at least 2 years or more for this book! It's book 5 i...

Happy Friday All, ***CONTEST/GIVEAWAY portion of this post is now CLOSED***  December Days Blog Giveaway Icon means this post is a December Days Blog Giveaway post  You've heard the phrase, "Tis better to give than to receive", right? Well, that's what you're gonna get 6 or 7 days this month on Write By Bethany. Each day--which are sprinkled throughout the weeks leading up to Christmas, but ending BEFORE Christmas--will feature a different author with a chance to win a copy of his or her novel. Haven't finished your Christmas shopping? What's more awesome than a book that's signed by the author? To kick it off, Will Graham has agreed to something very special. The winner will get his or her choice of one of his in-prints. Yep, you read that right. Whomever wins this giveaway will get to choose one novel of his in-prints to have personalized with whatever name the winner wants. So here's the deal. These are the 3 novels Will ...

Happy Tuesday Everyone, Congratulations to Jessica, winner of Monday's Christie Craig book review drawing ! Today is release day for Christie Craig's Don't Mess With Texas so everyone make sure you get your copy! This is one that will definitely make you laugh at out loud. She's an awesome person and incredibly witty--both in her books and in person. There's chances to meet her in person-- check this blog post to see when and where. Since we're nearing the end of August the time to submit your registration for the Lone Star Confer ence is getting shorter--that is because the conference is on October 15, 2011. I'm mailing in my registration this week. Writers get out there...it's worth your weight in gold to network, get support, and party with me (conference day just happens to be my birthday!) Okay those of you with rain...care to share with Texas? We're in a drought and while I don't want a hurricane, we could sure use some rain to ...

Happy Monday Everybody, ****CONTEST PORTION OF THIS POST IS NOW OFFICIALLY CLOSED!******* Friday afternoon I finished reading Christie Craig’s new book, Don’t Mess With Texas , which is available on August 23, 2011. This is laugh out loud humorous fun! A heroine who pukes on the hero, a no-nonsense Nana (loved her! Nana needs her own story, she's just that funny), a strong defend-and-protect type hero--mix it all together and you've got a novel jammed pack with Christie’s humor, romance, mystery, suspense and everything else she could think of including an English Bulldog sleeping in a coffin. Ex-cop turned P.I. Dallas O’Connor and his buddies got a bum deal when they were framed for a crime they didn’t do. Now out of jail and setting up their P.I. firm they’re ready to kick some serious butt and make sure those who are falsely accused get a fair shake in this system. They’re gonna make sure a 19 year old boy doesn’t get locked up for a murder he didn’t do and...

Happy Tuesday Everyone, Over the weekend I read Melissa Ohnoutka's Faithful Deceptions , which, I talked about not too long ago . Let me tell you...I was totally unprepared for the adrenaline ride her romantic suspense took me on. She grabs hold of you and refuses to let go until the last page. Entering this book takes the reader on one heck of a wild ride. Author Melissa Ohnoutka opens Faithful Deceptions  with a prologue where readers find Hailey trying to wake up from...? Is she in a coma? Also, what's with the green eyes? As you get into the rest of the novel you find yourself wondering what happens when you take revenge into your own hands? And, w ill Hailey even live to find out? What about Roark--the mysterious man who claims to be her husband? Is a happy ending actually possible in the midst of everything? Or is it just another deception among many? To find out, dear readers, you will have to pick up your copy of  Faithful Deceptions...

** EDIT: 1/13/2025:   Author Will Graham, a friend, mentor, and when I was a member of Northwest Houston RWA, a chapter-mate passed away sometime in 2020 (not from Covid-19). He's greatly missed by those who knew him. Hope he's happily in Heaven, regaling everyone with his theories on Sherlock Holmes and James Bond.** Happy Tuesday All, Today, it's my honor to introduce to you author Will Graham.  He generously agreed to do an email interview with me. I hope you'll be sure to check out his story in Suspense Magazine , entitled Perception . It's really excellent, and I honestly didn't know if the character was a good guy or a bad guy until the end of the story. So be sure to go check it out, but first join me in getting to know a little bit about   Will: Me: What was the inspiration behind your story, Perception , which appeared in Suspense Magazine ? Will G. :  There was no one real thing that triggered the idea, but it started after a conversation wi...

Good Morning All, Our fellow blogger (and follower of this blog and literally a "fellow" or as us Southerners say, "fella"), Bane, wrote something about emotion on his post yesterday. (Incidentally enough, he gets a shout out for that post, it was entertaining and informative. I liked it!) Todd Stone says put your hero/heroine in danger. This increases the suspense, emotion and overall encouraging your readers to care about your characters. Of course, depending on your genre this can mean different things: Mysteries it could be that your sleuthing hero/heroine finds themselves finding out someone closest to them is the bad guy. I remember one time when I was reading one of Laura Childs' Tea Shop Mystery book ( the first one in the series , this was the first time I had read any of her work) I thought maybe Delaine Dish was the one who committed the crime, but she was innocent. (By the way, if you like "cozies" her books are awesome. She's also in...