Category: Southern Crime Family series

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 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 Giveaways, Jake, Newsletter, Southern Crime Family series

Newsletter Author Carla Swafford: Giveaway

Posted on by Carla Swafford, Author

I bet that heading got your attention. Everyone loves a free book. If you follow me on Facebook, you’ve seen my post about a giveaway to subscribers. The book is Jake: A Southern Crime Family Novel.

So you want to know how to win a copy. Send me an email to authorcarlaswafford @gmail.com (no spaces) and say Happy Holidays. And I will draw 8 names to win four paperbacks and four ebooks (one book per winner). Winners will be announced Christmas Day.

You may know that Jake has two brothers, Sen and Ethan. Their books were due out 2021 and 2022, but things happened that threw me off my schedule. So I’m hoping Sen will be out the end of next year and Ethan the following year if not sooner. Don’t worry, Jake’s book does not end on a cliff hanger. He solves his old man’s murder. But it does leave a couple questions unanswered. Sen’s and Ethan’s stories will happen in the same timeline as their older brother’s and will answer those questions. They have their own mysteries surrounding their father’s death and by the end of each they are solved.

He motioned his gun toward her, his face still in the shadows. “Strip.”

“What? Her whole body flushed with embarrassment and hunger.

“You heard me.”

“Is this how you get women in bed with you?”

Jake Whitfield and Angel Tally

Be sure to go and preorder Savage Champion. The ebook is ready for preorder. Only 99 cents from preorder to first week after published. Then the price will go up. If you prefer a paperback, it can be preordered in the next month or so, but it will be for $10.99.

“Then you understand this. I’ll not let him harm one hair on your head. Do you understand me? You’re mine.”

Ronan Michaels in Savage Champion

Just a little side story about my writing. Before my first book sold to HarperCollins, I had written 11 books. The first one they published was #10. They decided on the title Circle of Desire. I had called it Out of The Shadows. I was in the middle of writing the second book for them when my buying editor left the company. OH, NO! See, the editor who believed in you and your writing has left and you don’t have a cheerleader any more. Oh, well, after the third book, my new editor wanted a new series. I sent her a few ideas and we talked about them. She wanted something different. That’s the way the business goes. I’ll tell you another time about my experience with Random House.

Merry Christmas!

Carla

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

Newsletter: Author Carla Swafford – What’s new?

Posted on 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

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

Author Carla Swafford Newsletter: Interview & Sale

Posted on 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