Newsletter – Page 9 – Carla Swafford, Author

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

Newsletter: Author Carla Swafford – What’s new?

Posted on October 4, 2023October 28, 2023 by Carla Swafford, Author

Well, I’d been thinking of changing Jake’s cover for a while. When I came across this picture, I knew it was time. He looks so much like Jake as I described in the book. Excerpt below.

The last few mornings, waking in bed with Jake was nothing but a fantasy come true. Earlier, when she walked out of the en suite bathroom, the light behind her spotlighted the man sprawled over the mattress. Her heart almost stopped from the decadent view. The top sheet draped off the side revealed a muscular back, lean hips with taut buttocks perfect for squeezing. Powerful thighs any ball player would be proud of topped off long calves and feet. He groaned, and her gaze shot up. Her face warmed at the thought of being caught staring, but one eye partially covered by thick, blond-tipped strands remained closed. His hair stuck out in the way only men looked sexy. Brawny arms half hidden beneath the pillow he hugged reminded her of how he held her at night. Tight and shielded. The bristles on his jaw highlighted the overall impact of a dangerous man resting.

I considered having Jake’s paperback cover different (SFW) as I did the covers for Loving The Small-Town Preacher’s Son and Loving The Small-Town Hero, but I decided to stay with this one. Hard to give it up now I found the perfect one. Besides, the cover is already safe-for-work though you probably know the internals are naughty and spicy as we like.

Don’t worry, most likely my future ebook covers will have the sexy, shirtless guys on front. I only want to give those who are shy an option to buy a paperback with a safe-for-work cover.

Presently, I’m working on a paranormal thriller (a bit horror) romance. It will probably be published under another name, most likely Carla Reese, as it will be so different than my romantic suspense and hockey romances. Don’t worry. After the paranormal, I plan to finish up the Southern Crime Family Trilogy, and then another hockey romance. Geez, I have so many books planned. I just need to get organized.

Between November and December, I plan to do a few small giveaways through my newsletter and maybe even some special pricing on my books. You’ll be the first to hear about it.

Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook (carlaswaffordauthor), Tiktok (authorcarlaswafford), and Instagram (carlaswafford). I’m also on Goodreads, Pintrest, Tumblr, Snapchat, BookBub, Whatsapp, and maybe Radish next year.

Oh, don’t forget if you haven’t asked for your free copy of the short story Kidnapped For A Day, be sure to send me an email at authorcarlaswafford@gmail.com asking for a copy. For Subscribers only.

Best regards.

Carla

Jake, Loving The Small-Town Hero, Newsletter, Writing

Author Carla Swafford Newsletter: Interview & Sale

Posted on September 20, 2023October 5, 2023 by Carla Swafford, Author

Over the years, I’ve been told readers love to revisit characters. They can show up in a new book or even a blog interview. So I thought you might be interested in hearing from Jake and Angel of JAKE, A Southern Crime Family Novel. (The book JAKE is not a cliff hanger for the couple, but the other brothers have a piece of the mystery to solve.) Their story isn’t finished, because Sen’s and Ethan’s stories are yet to be published, hopefully next year, but let’s pretend they were interviewed by a local news reporter the day after their ‘forced’ marriage. (The marriage happened about half-way or so through the book.)

Reporter: Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Whitfield. Being from rival families, the excitement of you two getting married has the small town of Marystown in an uproar. Was that why someone fired on you during the wedding, Mr. Whitfield? As you were also shot at on while your father was being buried? Does someone not want to your families to be united?

Jake: Call me Jake. Look at my bride. Her ebony hair with red tips and all that goth gear she wears, you know she’s into kinky shit. Yep. She’s different. I like it. Besides with that plump ass in black leather, she’s made for spanking, who wouldn’t be jealous of me?

Reporter: I think you may be in trouble. Your wife is glaring at you.

Jake: [smiling big] She can glare all she wants. She knows who’s boss in the bedroom.

Reporter: [cough] Mrs. Whitfield, rumor is, you two had to get married because of your relatives’ wills.

Angel: [still glaring at Jake] As you know, such a stipulation is not valid. Please call me Angel.

Reporter: Yet, here you are married. Mr…uh…Jake, what are the police doing about the shooter or shooters?

Jake: [he narrows his eyes and looks away] Sand County Sheriff Department is looking into it. But I don’t hold out much hope. They haven’t arrested the person who killed my father and her grandfather. So I don’t expect an arrest for the other shootings.

Reporter: Yeah. right. [cough] Angel, I heard you’ve taken over your grandfather’s businesses. Are you and Jake and his brothers going to combine the…the…organizations?

Angel: No. My grandfather’s businesses will be transferred to my brother when he comes of age. I’m his guardian.

Jake: [Smirks] Now, sugar, you know your grandfather’s will made me his guardian.

Angel: [Glares again at Jake] We’ll talk about that later.

Jake: Sure. In the bedroom, while you’re on your knees.

Angel: Yeah, you and whose army?

Jake: You know you like it. Plus I could always ask Sen to help. He loves to share and watch. Or Ethan, tying up women is his thing.

Angel: Over my dead body…no, correct that. Your dead body. [Pulls out a knife from her boots and starts to clean her nails with the sharp tip.]

Reporter: [Looking nervously back and forth between the two] Okay. I guess I better end it here, folks. [The reporter turns off his recorder and runs for the door.]

A heads up, the second book in the Small-Town duo will be on sale September 23 to 25, 2023. Be sure to get your copy.

Hope you enjoy the book.

Be sure to tell your friends.

Thanks.

Carla

Newsletter

Author Carla Swafford: Everyone Likes Free Stuff

Posted on July 23, 2023March 18, 2024 by Carla Swafford, Author

(If you don’t see pictures, be sure to click on Display Images)

Got your attention with that subject line, didn’t I? It normally pulls me in. I promise this isn’t a gimmick.

First free item. I decided as a thank you to those who follow my website/blog or signed up for my newsletter (they are the same now), I will provide you with a free copy of ebook Kidnapped For A Day (The Circle Organization short story). Just email me at authorcarlaswafford @gmail.com and ask for a copy. Then in 48 hrs you should receive a “redemption link” from Amazon (for US recipients). If you live outside the US, let me know in your email, and I’ll arrange another way to send you a copy.

A side note: The short story was published in a book called What A Day! with other authors. So I had to write a tame story. It’s rated PG-13 instead of my usual X.

You must be on my subscriber list to receive a copy . If you received this notice via email from me, then you’re a subscriber. If you receive this from someone else or read it on my website, you are not, and if you would love a copy. Sign up for my newsletter. Click here for subscriber link.

“Really, how many women could resist snuggling up to a broad-shouldered, long-legged man with such inscrutable gray eyes?”
Kidnapped For A Day: Short Story
Carla Swafford

Second free item. In August, I will provide a free presentation called Save The Story (No Sagging Middles). If you’re a thinking about becoming a writer, or you’re a beginner or been doing it for years and want to improve your plotting or pump up the middle (or use guides to help your pantser story), then this will be perfect for you. It’s based on Blake Snyder’s Save The Cat. His original book was for screenwriting, but it applies for novels too. You can find it, plus many others geared toward novel writing, on Amazon.

If you’re wondering, I’ve provided this program to two Romance Writers of America chapters (numerous times), two public libraries, a large conference, and soon in September to the Georgia Romance Writers organization. The presentation is geared toward romance, but you can use it for any genre (thriller, sci-fi, YA, etc.).

The program will be on Zoom. If you plan to attend, be sure to do two things: (1) fill out the form here and I’ll confirm I received it, Then I’ll email you before the date with instructions on how to join the Zoom presentation. (2) In the meanwhile, sign up for a Zoom account (free) at Zoom.us and be prepared by watching the movie Pretty Woman, if you haven’t before .

When: August 26, 2023; Saturday, 12 noon on Zoom. Where: Coming to your desktop, laptop, or phone via Zoom. How long: 45 minutes plus 15 minutes of question/answer time at the end. This is open to anyone, but I do have a cap. So sign up soon.

Just a heads up. My latest books have two covers. One for ebook (Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited only), and one for paperbacks (everywhere). I’m planning to provide them in hardback too.