Category: Audio

Posted in Audio, Book Signings, Newsletter, Savage Champion

Newsletter: Author Carla Swafford – Staying Busy

Posted on by Carla Swafford, Author

For any of my newsletter followers who are barely (or not presently able) to read this for they are dealing with real life issues of a partial or fully destroyed home and/or lost family members, I’m keeping you in my prayers. We never know when or where a natural disaster will strike, and Hurricane Helene has certainly reminded us of that.

In case you’re one of the lucky ones and not dealing with Helene’s aftermath, be sure to prepare ahead. Hurricanes, tornados, snow, fire, heat, terrorists, locust, anything can interfere with our lifestyle. The government has a website for a survival kit. You can click here for the list of items needed.

Reviews

Well, from what I hear by emails/messages/texts, readers are enjoying Savage Champion and even giving it lots of five stars. Bookbub has one written review (thank you, Bleem58, whoever you are). There’s a nice comment on one of my ads in Facebook, and two written reviews at Goodreads.

And WOW, the long one from Suzanne (I don’t know her, I swear) makes me feel like a genius. The awesome review blew me away. Though she gave it four stars (negative due to world building-that’s okay-I know I can always improve), she said so many nice things. Her recommendation was “…for Lovers of darker paranormal romance with multi-dimensional characters and situation-mandated moral ambiguity on a frequent occasion. Fans of series by J.R. Ward, Nalini Singh, or Laurell K. Hamilton will find just the right dose of suspense, supernatural creatures, and romance they love.”

Audio

I still have free codes for Savage Champion’s audio (U.S. and U.K.). If you have friends or relatives ready to listen to a paranormal romance in time for Halloween, let me know, and I’ll send them a copy or you can forward to them. The code will only allow one download. When it comes to the review, they can do just stars. By the way, the prologue has a gory scene. You can skip through the first couple minutes if it bothers you.

Bookfest

You can find me at Sumiton’s (Alabama, USA) Bookfest October 12, Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 5 FOUR p.m. I think the time is right. There will be many other authors, and vendors selling book related items. Plus food vendors. Got to have eats! Hope to see you there. Let me know you’re a newsletter subscriber and I’ll give you a small gift.

Writing

There are only six chapters left to write in Sen (A Southern Crime Family Novel – book 2). I hate it has taken me so long to finish this book. Hopefully, the next one, Ethan, will go faster. Then I have several books /ideas lined up (a paranormal, hockey, or billionaire romance). Surely, I’ll make up my mind by then what to write.

Per John Steinbeck, “I guess there are never enough books.” So true.

Happy reading.

Carla

Posted in Audio, Savage Champion, Special Price

Free Audio Copy of Savage Champion

Posted on by Carla Swafford, Author

Are you interested in receiving a free copy of Savage Champion’s audio? As a subscriber ANYONE CAN AS LONG AS SUPPLIES LAST – go to message form – click here [updated 9/18/24]you can. You will receive a code and instructions on how to download. Only one user per code is allowed. All that I ask is that you review it on Goodreads and/or Audible.

Note: I presently only have 20 copies each for USA and UK. Be sure to let me know which you want.

Here’s a short blurb about it.

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.

Thanks!

Carla

Posted in Audio, Movies, My Books, Newsletter, Sen, Southern Crime Family series, Writing

Newsletter: Author Carla Swafford – Short One

Posted on by Carla Swafford, Author

I’ve decided I need a friend called Sam. They’re loyal. They’ll follow you into danger and protect your back, tell you when you’re wrong, support you when you’re right, and so much more. Why do I say that? You may have already guessed. As many of you have done, years ago, I’d watched all of the Lord of The Rings movies. Now, I’m watching the Game of Thrones series. When it was originally on, I missed numerous episodes. So I decided to watch them from beginning to end. I’ve already seen several I had missed. You may remember in the two series, they have a main character whose best friend is name Sam (or Samwell). I wouldn’t be surprised to find other series with loyal friends with the same name. There has to be a reason they’re called Sam.

Writing Tip

How often have you read about the shape of a character’s furniture or the way rain hits a puddle of water? If I kept those type of descriptions in a short sentence or two of setting, I believe most people would find the description interesting enough. Even a list of items in a room, no longer than a sentence, can be entertaining. It’s when an author types paragraphs and pages describing rooms, plant uses, or the weather (etc.) that bores me. I usually skip over it. While for other people they claim such writing gives the story layers. I guess my imagination doesn’t need all the extra words to help a story along. All of that is something to think about, heh?

Next Book

Presently, I’m working on the next book of the Southern Crime Family. It’s been a rough go, because I couldn’t get a handle on Sen (middle brother) and what his deal was. Finally, I figured it out and it’s coming together. Sorry for being vague, but I should provide excerpts before too much longer.

Here’s what the cover will look like.

Audio Coming Soon

The narration for Savage Champion should be finished in a few more weeks. I keep saying it, but I’m so excited. There are two narrators (female and male) and I think you’ll enjoy it. More details to come as soon as I’m notified they’re finished.

This is the cover for the audio. Note the narrators.

As you can tell, this is a short newsletter this time.

Take care. Read, read, read. And be sure to let people know about any books you enjoyed.

Carla

Posted in Audio, Giveaways, Love In A Small Town, Loving The Small-Town Hero, Loving The Small-Town Preacher's Son, My Books, Newsletter, Savage Champion

Newsletter: Author Carla Swafford – Book Covers

Posted on by Carla Swafford, Author

This is not certain, but this may be the hardcover design beneath the jacket wrap with the original cover (same as ebook and paperback–gold apple wrapped barbwire). It will probably be released in September with the audio. You are the first to see this.

Audio, you say? You caught that, did ya? Yep. The narrators are working on it now. I’m so excited. If you knew me, you would know I rarely get excited about anything. Happy, yes. Excited, no.

As this is the hardcover design, I’ve been thinking of changing the cover design on the ebook. Maybe after Christmas. What do you think of a sexy person or couple? Or it could be similar to the hardcover? What do you think.

Speaking of covers, what do you think about the wave of romance books with artistic designs or cartoon covers? I don’t know about you, but when I see cartoon covers I think rom-com or sweet (closed-bedroom-door) stories. And I think women’s fiction (no or a little romance) for the artistic ones. Yes. I know my vampire book had the apple. Not very vampire-ish, but think Twilight.

I suspect there are two reasons for this. First, newer readers love paperback and hardcovers. They are embarrasses by the clutch or bare chested men on the covers. I think they are gorgeous, but I always kept in mind, people around me might not appreciate the view. So when I worked and took a book with me (for breaks and lunch), I turned it upside down. On the books I released last year (Loving The Small-Town Preacher’s Son & Loving The Small-Town Hero), I had bare-chested men on the ebook covers and farm scenes on the paperback with that same thought.

The second reason is social media (especially TicTok). Even though you can mark your sites for 18 and over, there are adults who complain (makes you wonder if some are competitive authors) and others who get upset when their child sees the pictures, even though most social media have age limits (13?). It’s hard being a parent nowadays. Kids want to participate in what’s popular, but most of social media is adults only. Plus TikTok is strict (no male nipples, no people with guns even if book covers, you know, like on suspense books). Yeah. I’m a little bitter about that.

Party Online

On July 16, there will be an old-fashioned online party in the Facebook group called Southern Sizzle Readers. If you’re interested in meeting new authors, hearing about their books, and possibly winning a prize or two, come and join the group. Be sure to put 7 p.m. central, July 16, on your calendar. Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/southernsizzle

Errors In Books

The other day, I was on an author panel and the question came up about why do so many books today have errors, even the big name authors with the big publishing houses.

If you’ve been reading my posts for a time, you know I make errors. My posts are edited by only me. Shocker, right? Ha! While my books, and hopefully all the books by other authors, have been edited by professional editors. Not by your cousin who made A’s in English, or the guy down the street who’s a big fan. After I write a book, I go over it twice more (includes reading it out loud). Then send it to my copy editor. She makes comments and corrects the obvious mistakes I missed. And she sends it back to me. I go over her notes and make more changes. And yep, I send it back to her and she checks it once more. After that, I look at it again. Yep. Once again.

At the big publishing houses, the editor looks over an author’s book and makes notes to send to the author to make changes. That editor is only looking at the whole story. (I’m going to use female pronouns to make it simpler). Then after the author makes the changes she agrees to, it’s sent to the copy editor. The copy editor then corrects the grammar and make more notes for the author to check on possible needed changes. After the author changes or okays what the copy editor has done, it will go back to the copy editor and/or the editor. Then sometimes, it’s formatted and sent to the author one more time to look for anything that might have been missed.

Speculation only: If you noticed I mentioned the editor and copy editor suggest changes. I believe sometimes they will not suggest changes to the storyline, if the author is a big name. Thus why we often read our favorite New York Bestselling author and get frustrated by the errors or long dragged-out scenes in their books. It’s like they didn’t want to take a chance of messing with the author’s “magic.”

Look Out

For those who haven’t asked for the short story, Kidnapped For A Day, be on the look out. It should show up free on B&N, Amazon, etc. In September, I plan to discounts several of my books. I’ll remind you again.

Hugs. Keep reading,

Carla

Posted in An Atlanta Edge Hockey, Audio, Crossing The Line, Fake Play, hockey, Holiday, My Books, Newsletter, Reading, Recommendations, Writing

Newsletter: Author Carla Swafford – What Are You Reading?

Posted on by Carla Swafford, Author

Pep Talk

Last evening while watching a romantic movie (shocked?), a commercial came on for Peloton, and they said, “run your own race.” I like the message. It can be applied anywhere in a person’s life, but especially writing. Authors are running a race to hit best seller lists, have more reviews, write more books, etc. Authors, like many people, can be competitive too. But what’s so important is not to worry about other authors’ successes, but concentrate on your own. Compete against yourself. It’s a healthier way to live.

Hockey Season

If you’re watching hockey (or not), be sure to pick up my books with the fellows of Atlanta Edge. Fake Play has a female goalie in it. Of course, the MMC is hot and in the NHL. And the other book, Crossing The Line has an ambitious Russian skater who screws up and must apologize big time to the sweet woman in his life. The FMC is a puck bunny and has a big secret. As all of my books, they’re spicy.

Fisting a handful of hair at the back of her skull, I bring her lips to mine. Her sweet submission and game-for-anything attitude has kept me interested in her more than any puck bunny prior.

Roman Volkov

Reading

Yes. I actually make time to read. I read in bed before I get up and start the day, I read in the car (of course, my husband’s behind the steering wheel; otherwise, I’m listening to an audio book). Then I read on my porch at some point during a beautiful day. Then I read before I go to sleep at night. A little obsessive? Nah.

There are a few authors I want to mention. No, I don’t know them personally, but I’ve enjoyed several of their books and “discovered” them recently.

If you love medieval romance, then you need to read Alice Coldbreath. She writes medieval (knights & ladies, etc.) set in a fictional country similar to Britain. She also writes Victorian romance. I’ve enjoyed those too.

If you love criminal romance, be sure to check out S. J. Tilly. I’m reading her Alliance series. They’re standalones. I’m on book four. Book two (King) was my favorite so far.

Then author C. M. Stunich’s book, Throwaway Prince. This is not for everyone. Some people would call it a dark romance. The hero is unique to say the least. Be aware it has a cliffhanger. She hasn’t published book two.

Thankfully, I’ve read more good ones than not. The weird thing was I purchased an old book (audio) by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. I messed up. I was thinking it was The Wolf And The Dove (Medieval Romance), but it was her The Flame And The Flower (pre-civil war US). I loved the book back in the 70s, but it’s not my cup of tea now. So frustrating. I hate to return books (audio or whatever).

Beta Readers

Savage Champion is still with my editor. I’ve heard back from a Beta reader. It appears I need to smooth out the romantic relationship between the main characters and define my villain a little more. By the way, if you’re interested in being a beta reader, you can contact me on my website.

Be sure to pre-order the book at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo Books, or Apple Books.

Hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s day. If you don’t have a sweetheart or one who will give you chocolate (or treats), go and buy your own. As a romance author, I hit the shelves the next day for romantic giveaways.

Regards.

Carla