Posted in Advertisement, Book Signings, Savage Champion, Sen, Special Price, Writing

Newsletter: Author Carla Swafford – On To The Next One

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 Book Signings, excerpt, My Books, Newsletter, Savage Champion, Special Price

Newsletter: Author Carla Swafford – Trudging Along

So many manuscripts, so many stories to write. I’m presently working on editing another paranormal romance, and then I have three more books (one is romantic suspense, and two are contemporary romances: one with an asshole billionaire and the other I’m co-writing with my friend Betty Bolte) to finish this year. We’ll see if I can get it all done. Eeek!


Be sure to pre-order Savage Champion before April 23, 2024. Apple Books, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo Books, Only 99 cents.

***Excerpt (unedited): Tori helps Ronan experience “Death Sleep” as a vampire for the first time.***

“What’s happening? My legs and arms feel so heavy.” Ronan’s puzzled tone was expected. I’d felt the same way when the first death-sleep came over me. 

He stumbled toward the bed, an angry look came over his face.

“What have you done to me?”

“Shh. Do you not feel it? The sun is just moments away from peeking between the trees. When you’re first reincarnated, a fledgling has difficulty staying awake beyond sunrise.” 

I helped him into bed, and he stretched on his back across the mattress. 

His unwarranted anger was so typical of a male vampire. Aggressive and territorial, the young vampire was unpredictable, but I hopefully waylaid the worst by providing an outlet for  his aggression.

“Isn’t it bothering you?”

“The longer you’re a vampire, the longer you can withstand the lure of the death sleep. Rarely, can a new vampire stay awake through dawn and never to high noon.” 

I watched him fight the sleep like a child, though nothing about the way he looked was childish. The black cotton shirt, unbuttoned to mid-chest, and black jeans along with his dark hair and olive skin, the combination gave him a dangerous air. Heated desire taunted me. Temptation to touch him while he slept almost overtook me. He would resent that. It would be too much like taking advantage of him during a weakness. 

His eyelids were at half mast. The beautiful depth glistening in the bedroom’s lights as he tried to keep me in his sight. He slowly closed them and snapped them back open, then they closed again. 

I lifted his large, rough hand to my lips and pressed a kiss to the back.

“Relax. I’ll watch over you until it’s time for me to join you. Guards surround the place and the house is secure. Wolfric wouldn’t have reached the ripe old age of a millennium if he was careless.” 

Immediately, his hand fell limp and his body sank further into the mattress. His chest no longer rose and fell with his breathing, and I knew his heartbeat would be near to nonexistent. I brushed the back of my fingers against his cheek, his skin was cold to the touch. Like death.

Wolfric was too wary to have vampires sleep in his bed when death sleep overtook him, if he did. I really had no idea. Only once, had I been near another vampire during death sleep. It had been when I traveled to Atlanta on Wolfric’s orders. 

There, the large vampire colony had consisted of artists and musicians. Though during that period, I’d spent most of my time recuperating from my wounds and controlling my urge to kill every deviant in a twenty-mile area, I’d allowed a tall blond male vampire to slip under my guard. 

The slightly older vampire had never met an instrument he couldn’t play and my body had been no exception. He’d been the only vampire I ever made love to or slept with before Ronan. After the Atlanta experience, I spent my sexual desires on my servants. Less of a distraction and I didn’t have to pretend softer feelings to achieve satisfaction.

Looking down at the man beside me, a softening around my heart eased the ache I endured for so long. I loved him, but how long would it take before he decided I was wrong to change him. 

Tired and no longer feeling the brew, I pressed my body to his and kissed him on the cheek. His shoulder was perfect for my head to rest on. 


I will be at the Capital City Author Event with many, many others. Please come by and say hi! Per Michelle Rls Sewell, founder and organizer, visit downtown Montgomery, AL, rich in history and southern hospitality, to meet some of your favorite authors of various genres. The Capital City Author Event will host over 80 authors/vendors, including many locally from Alabama, on May 17-18, 2024, Friday and Saturday.

LINK FOR MORE INFO: https://CCAE2024.eventbrite.com


Hope you stayed warm and read a lot like I did.

Hugs.

Carla

Posted in Book Signings

A Great Event Happening Next Year

Here is the information about the HUGE author book signing moved from this year (and last year) to 2022. Let’s meet!

Complete list of authors are shown at the bottom. Don’t forget it can change without notice.

General Event Information:
Capital City Author Event
May 20-21, 2022


Venue / Hotel Information:
Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center
201 Tallapoosa Street, Montgomery, AL 36104

Get your Tickets herehttps://ccae2022.eventbrite.com

Meet/Greet:
Capital City Carnival – Food, Fun, and Games
Friday May 20, 2022 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Live Music/DJ, Carnival Style Food, Table Games (with attending Authors), and Cash Bar
Ticket Cost: $15

Author Signing:
Saturday May 21, 2022 11:00am – 4:00pm
VIP Ticket Cost: $25
Includes 1 hour early entry in the event from at 11:00 am, Special VIP Swag Bag, VIP Lanyard, and 1 Scratch-off Ticket (Scratch-off prizes include chances to win Amazon gift cards, raffle basket tickets, book cash, and more)
General Admission Ticket Cost: $5

Entry into the event from 12:00pm – 4:00pmAll raffle basket proceeds and door donations will be given to our event charity:Montgomery Humane Society Adoptable Pets

Room Block Information:TBA – Once new Room Block Link it available it will be posted


Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CCAEReaderGroup/
Facebook Like Page:https://www.facebook.com/CapitalCityAuthorEvent.MGM/
Email: CapitalCityAuthorEvent.MGM@gmail.com

Author / Vendor Interest Form: https://forms.gle/XUBubRCdDXXonppv7

Posted in Book Signings, Circle of Danger, Circle of Deception, Circle of Desire, The Circle series

Book Signing February 8, 2020

MR-BN-Social-2400x1200Be sure to come and meet me. I’ll have copies of Circle of Desire, Circle of Danger and Circle of Deception available to sign. For the people who are in my Readers Group or purchase a copy of my book, I have swag to give you. So much fun!

For those who already have the books, take a picture of  yourself holding the book and show me the picture and I’ll give you swag!

For everyone else, I have book marks and excerpts (and possibly candy) to give out.

See you there!

Posted in Book Signings, Jake, Writing

A Little Something

Jake adThe other day, one of my writer friends was setting up a press release for our book signing at Barnes and Noble (The Summit) in Birmingham, Alabama on February 8 from 1 to 3 p.m.  And she asked a couple questions you might be interested in seeing the answer.

As a local author, what about Birmingham and Alabama inspires you? How do you weave your local experiences into your stories?

A well-known fact of the South, it’s rich with culture and history. The people love to tell about what happened to them and their relatives with rarely any of the good bits left out. My dad and his dad were big talkers and big readers. No surprise that I am too. So when you mix a reader with someone who likes to talk, they often turn out to be a writer. That’s me.