excerpt – Page 2 – Carla Swafford, Author

Ethan, excerpt, My Books, Newsletter, Savage Champion, Southern Crime Family series, Writing

Author Carla Swafford – Writer’s Life

Posted on May 13, 2026May 23, 2026 by Carla Swafford, Author

It’s probably been a long time, if ever, since I mentioned what I do as an author. Of course, I write. I try to every day, even weekends, holidays, and vacations. I do have to admit, that usually ends up to be around 40% of the alloted time. Yes. I sit down and open my computer or occasionally open a notebook and write. The other 60% is me doing administrative things.

Such as, I have five books that were published with traditional publishers that did not file copyrights for me. In my ignorance (one contract required them to do it), I thought they would file the copyrights. As you can tell, they did not. Then I wrote six more books for self-publishing and figured I would file later (still ignorant). Not going into boring details, if you don’t file within three months of publishing a book, you can still file, but if you sue or someone sue’s you, you won’t have your full legal capacity.

Not to be too boring, here’s a list of stuff I plan to do or have done as an author in the last month or so.

Update my website
Update 2 writing groups’ websites as a volunteer
Produce my book ads (4 +/- a month) for Instagram, Facebook, & Tiktok
Update by redesigning 3 book covers
Look for pictures on Deposit Photos for future covers or/and ads
Design 4 new book covers
Format 2 books
Copyright 6 books ($45-$65 each to register)
Download 3 books on Ingram Spark
Order 3 books for review
Update 2 blurbs on back
Update 3 paperback books on Amazon
Update 3 ebooks on Amazon
Judge two contests of a total of 9 books
Finish the damn Ethan book
Participate in 2 book signings
Present a short program in a workshop

Authors often redesign covers due to a change in the market. In other words, covers readers are looking for and buying. We always want new fans.

Writing Odds & End

I read or/listen to a book nearly everyday, and often up to three books (ebook, physical, and audio). It does take me a week to finish them, but I can’t imagine going through a day where I don’t read/listen to a book. So first, I want to mention no one is perfect. Goodness, I’m certainly not, yet I guess sometimes finding an error in another book keeps me a little sane. You get me?

Anyway, one book said the girl entered a limo and “sat in the chair.” What? Is that some redneck rigging? SEAT. “Sat in the seat.” Cars, buses, trucks planes have seats. Houses and other buildings, inside and out, have chairs.

Another called a Charger (Dodge) a sports car. Nope. It’s certainly a high-performance sedan, but it sits too high off the ground. I did see Google called it a “sports sedan.” Okay. I agree with that. But a true sports car is high-performance AND low to the ground, such as a Corvette Stingray, Porsche 911, Miata MX-5, etc. Think uncomfortable to ride in long distances, but takes less time to get here.

It all sounds nit-picky, but if it throws a reader out of a story, it’s something to think about and change.

Tidbit From Book: Ethan (unedited)

Ethan had a problem with the way Tomas Montez leered at Karma. With the women he’d dated in the past, he never cared if other men stared or flirted with them. Yet, there he stood glaring at the Garcia cartel’s lieutenant.

From what he’d heard, Montez hung around to assess small local gangs for recruitment. The man’s search was part of why rumors had been flying of a larger organization planning on taking over the Whitfield’s. Between the Savalas Greek mafia and the Garcia cartel, Ethan and his brothers were struggling to keep their people happy and inline.

Throwing an arm across Karma’s back, clasping her waist, he squeezed her to his side as they walked toward the open tent set up on a small rise above the drag strip.

She jabbed Ethan with an elbow. “What are you doing? You’re about to break my ribs.”

He eased up. “Stay near me,” he ordered in a low voice.

“I know how to behave.” She rested her hand on his side above his belt.

“Do you?” He grinned. The flush on her cheeks was so charming.

Ethan’s attention was drawn to the tall woman standing at a table covered with drinks and snacks. She prepared a plate while pressing a phone to her ear with one shoulder. When Karma and Faye said a female special agent had asked about him, he knew his chances were high in finding her, especially after spotting her near a motel the day before. Oh, yeah, that was her. No way would he ever forget how the woman looked. He hadn’t known her name, but he’d been certain she would pop up again in his life. Cold revenge was worth savoring.

Hard Cover

Yes. I changed it again. Just never happy with how the old one looked. I think this will be it (for now). You can purchase on Amazon.

That’s it for now.

Happy reading!

Carla

excerpt, My Books, Newsletter, Sen, Southern Crime Family series, Writing

Newsletter: Author Carla Swafford – Release Date

Posted on June 5, 2025June 17, 2025 by Carla Swafford, Author

Book Signings, Conference, excerpt, Giveaways, My Books, Newsletter, Sen, Southern Crime Family series

Newsletter: Author Carla Swafford – Excerpt

Posted on May 16, 2025 by Carla Swafford, Author

An Atlanta Edge Hockey, excerpt, Fake Play, My Books, Newsletter

Newsletter: Author Carla Swafford – Excerpt

Posted on August 5, 2024August 22, 2024 by Carla Swafford, Author

I felt like it was time to share an excerpt from Fake Play.

First, here’s the blurb.

Nothing like waking up in Vegas wearing only a gigantic diamond ring while sprawled out next to an equally naked stranger.

Connor Ellison

Yeah, yeah, I’m Atlanta Edge’s best winger and biggest prankster, but the coaches and PR department have given me an ultimatum: I must own up to my ill-considered stunt and stay married until the end of the run for the Cup or I’ll find myself being traded.

Lily Jones

I want nothing to do with his insane demand. But he convinces me the best decision is to play along. If we remain married and pretend to be in love, he’s offer to save my ice rink from bankruptcy. What’s another sacrifice for my family? I can put up with him until the end of the hockey season. Then we can go our separate ways.

Easy-peasy. No way will they go to the finals. And it’s not like we’ll fall in love or anything.

Now for the excerpt.

   “You like what you see?” He lifts his arms.
   “Yes. I like looking at you.” I spot several ugly bruises on his ribs, right shin—the area that at times becomes exposed between the skate and pads—and in the middle of his chest. That one worries me. He got it as a result of a slap shot during the game in Toronto. I watched it on the wide screen TV above the concession stand at work. I cringed when he blocked it, even pads can’t protect a person from a dark bruise. Without pads, he would most likely have been badly injured or dead. “What did your trainer say?”
   “He iced it. He’ll check it again before the game tomorrow.” He runs a finger across my lips. “I’m okay.”
   Nodding, I rub my hands over and down his chest, avoiding the bruise. “You’re more than okay.”
   He chuckles.
   The sparse hairs tickle my palms as I follow the thicker trail to his stomach. He sucks in air. I know it’s not to hide a beer gut, he doesn’t have one, but from my light touch. His cock, still hard from my play, jerks as if reaching for my hand.
   My lips quiver.
   “Are you laughing at my dick? You better not.” His teasing tone causes my lips to quirk up into a big smile for a second.
   “I would never laugh at your beautiful penis.” I stroke it with the tips of my fingers and glance up for a moment.
   What is it about him that makes me want to pet and play with him? I’ve never really been comfortable doing all of this foreplay. Not that I haven’t. If you want a real relationship with a man, you know sex in many variations will be involved. They are sexual beings, and treat it like food and air. Just a part of living. While most women require their emotions to be engaged.
   Though I will admit, I find I prefer sex over sharing feelings, but at the same time, I like to ignore both whenever possible. I guess that’s another reason my boyfriends break up with me. They often said I’m hard to read. But with Connor, he’s different. That’s why I decided to go to bed with him even knowing mentally a divorce will be more difficult.
He gets me.
   Oddly, none of my old boyfriends played hockey. Oh, they watched it, but that’s not the same. Maybe it’s the reason I feel closer to Connor. He understands the pressure and the dedication of the sport.
   Why am I thinking of hockey when I’m touching this sexy man’s cock?
   “You’re grinning again. You really need to stop before it hurts my ego.”
   “I doubt I can do much damage. It’s a pretty big ego.
   “Thank you, but it’s average for my height. Obviously, the other men in your life were sad representations of manhood.”
   No longer able to hold back, I laugh so hard tears come to my eyes. He joins in. This is the strangest foreplay I’ve ever been part of.
   While still laughing with me, he pushes on my shoulders and my arms windmill as I land on the bed.
   “Perfect. The way I want you. Legs and arms spread out.” Before I can feel any embarrassment at my unladylike display, he lands on top, being careful to catch himself before flattening me. “If I had known you were so much fun in bed, I wouldn’t have waited so long.”
   “Who says I’d willingly fall in bed with you before today?”
   I’ve never imagined being naked in bed with such a sexy man and comfortably talking about our bodies. I feel a low boil of excitement and yearning. Yet, I’m not afraid of coming across as naive and ungraceful as I usually do in intimate times like this. Our attitude is like old friends enjoying each other’s bodies. Is this how it is to have a friend with benefits? Though we’re married, it’s only a technicality.