Author: Carla Swafford, Author

Carla Swafford loves romance novels, action/adventure movies, and men, and her books reflect that. And that’s not all, she’s crazy about hockey. She’s married to her high school sweetheart and lives in the Southeastern U.S.
Posted in Advertisement, Book Signings, Savage Champion, Sen, Special Price, Writing

Newsletter: Author Carla Swafford – On To The Next One

Posted on by Carla Swafford, Author

Presently, I’m working on the second book in the Southern Crime Family series, Sen. It’s half written and I finally have a sense of where I’m going with it. Hopefully, it’ll be finished by this fall. There is so much planned this year. Special vacations and such. That is one of the great things about being retired. You have unlimited vacation time.

By the way, be sure to buy Jake, the first book in the series. It has an excerpt from Sen’s book in the back.

Book Signings

This last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the Capital City Author Event in Montgomery. So well organized. I met so many nice people. When I returned home, I had to take a nap.

This October 12, there will be another Book Fest in Sumiton, Alabama. Last year, I had a blast and it was a big success for myself and the group who put it together. I’ve been told it will bigger and better. Considering how wonderful it was at the time, that’s saying something. I hope to see you there.

Don’t forget I’m on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Writing Tidbit

I try to include a little of writing information in my newsletter, for I know there are authors or want-to-be authors who are subscribers.

For those who have Mac products, the software Vellum is worth every cent. It formats your ebooks and paperbacks quickly. A friend of mine was dreading formatting her book with Word as it took so much time. I offered to do it in Vellum to show her how efficient it was, and she was amazed. We had it done in less than twenty minutes. If I understand correctly, Atticus is similar to Vellum but for Window PCs and laptops.

Dark Romance

The other day, another author and I were talking about, “what’s dark romance?” She said it was violence done by the hero “on-screen.” Or there is the use or sale of drugs, or some type of dangerous crime performed by the hero. To me, that would only mean the book is about a criminal, not considered to be dark romance.

In a dark romance, the hero is considered to be an anti-hero. His actions are extreme, not just threats or the crime he commits against miscellaneous secondary characters, but a true danger to the heroine. The hero can actually abuse or/and wound/maim her. It’s not a taste for everyone.

My books are gritty, but rarely dark like that.

Latest Ad

Here’s the latest ad I’ve placed on social media.

Remember, if you wish for a copy of the short story, Kidnapped For A Day, just email me and let me know. Plus Savage Champion (ebook version) will be priced 99 cents until the end of May. Then it will go up to $6.99. Paperback version is $12.99.

Take care and happy reading.

Carla

Posted in An Atlanta Edge Hockey, excerpt, Fake Play, My Books, Savage Champion

Newsletter: Author Carla Swafford’s First Audio

Posted on by Carla Swafford, Author

Yep, Savage Champion will also be my first audio and with a real live person(s). It should be released by the fall. As soon as I have a date, I’ll pass it on. If it goes well, I hope to have my other books narrated (gradually). By the way, Savage Champion rose to #203 (Enemies to Lovers) under Amazon’s ebooks. The 99 cents for the ebook will change after Memorial Day to $6.99. So buy it while the price is low.

Oh, if you don’t remember, Savage Champion is a standalone. I plan on more vampire, shifter, and other paranormal stories. They may be in the same “world” but not dependent on each other.

In Honor of The NHL Play-Offs, An Excerpt of Fake Play

Connor Ellison’s POV

For the next twenty game-clock minutes, my attention is plastered to the opposing team trying to protect their home ice. I manage to play without sneaking a look at Lily. When the buzzer sounds for intermission, I gamble I can handle another peek without going blind to my surroundings.

She’s exactly where she’d been before the game started. Fuck, she looks so good. My jersey fits her just right. Even from across the ice, I see her eyes bright with excitement. It’s a hell of a game so far, but I managed to get a point for an assist. Her head turns to the person next to her. For a second, jealousy swamps me, until I see the man has to be in his seventies. From what I’ve experienced so far, Lily doesn’t have a weakness for much older guys.

Tearing my gaze away, I follow my teammates off the ice.

“If Coach doesn’t kick your ass for letting your gonads control your attention, I sure as hell will.” Nick slaps my back.

Can’t get mad at the man. He’s right. No more asking Lily to come to games. My mind refuses to stay on what’s important. Far back in my brain a little voice sneers, “Like she’s not important to you?”

More significant than I should feel in such a short time.

We listen to Coach chew us out and then give the usual pep talk. Then back on the ice.

The second period is a jumbled mess. We miss passes, have too many interceptions, play like a bunch of girls —shit, if Lily read my thoughts, she’d cut my dick off—play like zombies. Yeah, that’s a better analogy.

Somehow we pull it together in the third period. We even edge by New York and win in overtime. I dare to check her out while in line to knock helmets with Liam in congrats on the win.

She’s jumping up and down, waving. I lift my hand and slam into a teammate. We barely remain upright on our skates.

“Fuck, Elly. What’s wrong with you?” Big Ryan gives me the evil eye with good reason.

“I think I’m in love,” I mutter beneath my breath.

“What?”

“Nothing.” Love? Yeah. And I have no idea how to handle it.

Finally Back To the Southern Crime Family

Once again, I’m working on Sen’s story. Hopefully, I’ll have it finished before the end of the year. Maybe it’ll be early enough to get published before Christmas too. We’ll see.

Hey, be sure to tell your friends about my books and get them to sign up for my newsletter. Pretty please. 🙂 CLICK HERE.

Hugs,

Carla

Posted in Advertisement, My Books, Savage Champion, Video

Reminder: Tomorrow Release Day for Savage Champion

Posted on by Carla Swafford, Author
From bestselling author Carla Swafford a new genre for fans of her gritty romantic suspense books. When a private investigator tracks down a client’s lost sister, he discovers she’s not lost or the client’s sister. The woman is a vampire on a campaign of vengeance. Somehow he must stop her killing spree and protect her at the same time.
Posted in Giveaways, My Books, Newsletter, Savage Champion

Let’s Party – Author Carla Swafford’s Newsletter

Posted on by Carla Swafford, Author

If you enjoy an old fashioned on-line party with giveaways, come and join in the fun at Southern Sizzle Reader Party Facebook group. I will be hosting a party April 23 from 6-9 p.m. central (USA). Click on the button to join the group after you go to this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/southernsizzle

Bzzz! Busy Bee

The past couple weeks (and more) I’ve been busy. As many authors do, I try to help other writers with their work. At first, it had started with one friend asking me to be a beta reader. That’s when an unedited book is read by someone and they give suggestions about the story. It may include catching grammar or spelling errors, but is not considered to be editing.

Then another friend asked me to check their synopsis. It’s to make sure the heart of the story is provided in a concise but entertaining way. Usually one to three pages, sometimes five (but rarely). Most editors and agents prefer one page. Another friend asked for help with their blurb. That’s the short information on the back of a book. Then finally, as pre-arranged by my best friend, I beta read her book.

I tell you, I’m a slow reader. So it’s amazing I did all of that in such a short time. I read numerous books each year, but my attention span is short. Thus why I only publish one to two books a year. Well, that and all the promo that I have to do to get my name out there.

Triggers

Authors are placing trigger warnings and tropes in the front pages of their books and on their websites with the book descriptions. I have too because certain triggers and tropes are what many readers want to read.

Used to be a reader only needed the blurb on the back, but I understand triggers and tropes helps. With the extra information, hopefully, the book won’t get a one-star rating just because it has foul language or bondage or sex. Yep, some people give books less stars because of “too much sex.” Like one of mine. Crazy, right?

Don’t forget to order your copy of Savage Champion. Release date is April 23.

Regards.

Carla