A Storm Is Coming - Next Monday. Are You Ready?

Hi ALL!  It's me...I wanted to take a few moments to connect with you regarding my latest book, A Storm Is Coming - 6/15/15!  Can I just say...whewwww?  Why?  Because so far in my writing career, this has been the ultimate challenge as I continue to grow as a creative artist.  For those of you who are familiar with my work, you'll find that I've never written a complete character like Braylee Hinsdale.  In my opinion, the closest I've come to it would be Sandra Catchings from the Out of Nowhere books (The spinoff - The Battle Within - coming August 2015). 

A Storm Is Coming is the first of two books but book 2 is currently scheduled for a Christmas release.  So, there won't be a long wait!

While I've said A Storm Is Coming was the most challenging book to write...it was also the most fun!  I'm hoping you'll enjoy reading it as much as I've enjoyed living, breathing, and writing these characters over the past several months.  And, because you're so AWESOME please continue to read below for the expanded synopsis, a clip from the book, and an opportunity to win a free digital copy!  That's just for you for all of your support!

SYNOPSIS:  A Storm Is Coming is about a beautiful and tough as nails corporate attorney, Braylee Hinsdale, who must use every trick in the book to keep the handsome and powerful Alexandro Manchetti from losing everything.

Alexandro is powerful, handsome, ridiculously sexy and has just suffered an unimaginable loss. 

He needs her skills as a kick-ass attorney to win what he's being told is unwinnable.  His case is unlike any other Braylee has ever faced.  It will demand everything from her.

From the beginning, the pull of his sexy to her sensuousness was almost impossible to deny.  A romance between them is simply out of the question.  But, what can they do when neither can escape their red-hot attraction?

Some have said they can sense when A Storm Is Coming, but neither were prepared for the storms ahead.

COMING 6/15/2015

CLIP FROM THE BOOK

      The fire between them and the lure of making the impossible possible were almost irresistible.  Almost.

      He saw it the moment she’d made her decision.  Alexandro was already planning his next move to woo her into taking his case.  He didn’t give up easily and he wanted her.

      Braylee slowly slid from the desk and stood as she smoothed down her dress, “Your stock prices are crap.  So, I’ll take my retainer in cash.  I’ll email you where you can wire the funds.” As she turned to walk back into her office Braylee threw one more caveat over her shoulder, “You wanted the best…now you’ve got it.  I just hope you can handle it.”

WIN A FREE DIGITAL COPY

THE FIRST 20 PEOPLE TO CONTACT ME VIA MY WEBSITE  WITH A COMMITMENT TO WRITE AN HONEST REVIEW ON AMAZON WILL RECEIVE A FREE DIGITAL COPY.  CONTEST ENDS 6/12/15 AND WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED BOTH HERE AND ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE.

(If you're not comfortable leaving your full name & email in the comments then scroll all the way to the bottom and click on the contact me button and provide me your full name & email address)

The Love of A Good Man

The Love of a Good Man 

In the famous words of Al Green’s Love and Happiness 

Something that can make you do wrong

Make you do right

Love... 

Love is such a powerful emotion.  You can find yourself in some precarious situations all because of it.  As a matter of fact, my mantra has always been “love doesn’t care who it falls in love with so pick wisely with whom you spend your time.”

Yes, when you’re with the wrong person, you can find yourself asking the question, what the hell was I thinking?  Were those police lights? 

I’m sure most of us have been stuck on stupid at least ONCE in our lives.  And, if you haven’t, as my grandmother used to say – just keep living.

In my most recent book release, FAITH-Her Love Story, it’s safe to say that the title character was definitely stuck on stupid for a while – LOL!  But, once she was no longer bound…common sense slowly but surely began to resurface.

Having the love of a good man can also have the opposite effect.  That same emotion that can make you want to do wrong…can make you want to do RIGHT!  It can bring out a vulnerability and a softness that some women find safer to keep hidden deep within their secret place.

Oh yeah, don’t get me started on putting on that voice or spending all day trying to figure out how to make his favorite meal…when you don’t even like to cook!  And, that’s just the simple stuff that I’m willing to admit to.  I’ll keep some of the more shall we say…outlandish things to myself. But, I’m happy and he is too *wink*. 

Anyway, I’m a Romantic Fiction Author whose main female lead characters will always be written from the perspective of an African American woman.  However, she will be open to love from whomever will treat her the way she wants to be treated. 

How is it that she wants to be treated? Well, let me tell you…like she is the most important person in his world.  A world where she is loved with a burning passion, protected at all costs, and cherished as if she is the most precious gift on the planet. 

When you’re with the right person, there is almost nothing you won’t do…for love.

I HATE YOUR BOOK COVERS!

THE REVIEWS ARE IN...

I HATE the Covers of IR/MC/AA Romance Novels

Why doesn't the character descriptions ever match the people on the covers?  Why don't the cover models look African American when the main characters are African American? This is a message that authors are hearing loud and clear. 

You've heard the legitimate excuse of limited options for African American/Multicultural images and that's TRUE.  I've also been asked, "LaShawn why don't you just ask someone to pose for you and take the picture?" Unfortunately, there is a lot more that goes into it than that.  If it were that easy, you'd have more authors doing it.  Not to mention, most authors, especially independent authors, have very limited budgets.  Don't I wish it were as easy as grabbing a camera…pointing and shooting a ridiculously attractive person for the cover, but unfortunately it's not.  

Therefore, we've/I've been forced to use photos from the different photo houses...until today!  Because you have been so loyal and good to me...I'm EXCITED to be able to share only with you some behind the scenes footage of a photo shoot I was able to put together for the best readers ever!  Meet Faith and Terrance (the make-up and hair-stylist too) for my next release...FAITH

When you talk...I listen!  I hope you love this couple as much as I do. 
FAITH coming soon.

LaShawn

IS ROMANCE DEAD?

I write romantic fiction because I believe there is nothing better than the feeling of being In Love.  That human connection between two people that surpasses the physical into a realm that is unexplainable;  That feeling of being suspended in air, the quickening of your heartbeat, the butterflies in your stomach, your skin prickling with sensitivity – as a matter of fact ALL of your senses of touch, smell, and taste roaring to life.  Quite simply that is the purpose of ROMANCE. 

I asked the question of my readers, What is Romance?  Because as a romantic fiction writer, I wanted to get to the heart of the matter, I wanted insight into producing a better experience in my books. 

However, for many, they just simply haven’t had time for romance and couldn't answer the question personally.  Have our lives become so increasingly busy with working, taking care of children, a parent, a household and more, or a combination of all of the above, that Romance seemingly has become an afterthought; only something to read about.    

Think about that for a minute…is romance really only in books?  When asked about it, most individuals found it difficult to articulate what they need and/or want from their partners.

Well, for me, without romance…the physical act of being together…it’s just well…less.  Romance is one way of staying connected to your partner mentally, spiritually, and physically.  

So, think about that question.  Ask yourself…What is Romance and how do you want to be Romanced?  What would make you feel as if you’re suspended in air?  If you can answer that question…great! If you can’t….take some time to really think about it and share it with your partner.  Then, ask your partner the same question.

But, if you’re currently not In Love,  my hope is that my books will give you an experience that for a few hours at least… will make you believe you are.

Sound off…tell me your thoughts!

KEEPING IT SEXY

Have you ever run into someone whose energy is such that they just ooze sexiness and it has absolutely nothing to do with how they look?   I’ve seen both men and women have that extra something that makes them that much more attractive.  Don’t get me started on a certain brand of cologne that drives me crazy.  It has been known to wake me up from a deep slumber.

Lately, I can’t say that I’ve been feeling my sexiest.  I used to be a pretty fit person.  However, after having a child in my mid-thirties and after nine years, I’m still using that excuse for not having lost ANY of the baby weight.   Now, if I’m honest with myself, I am overweight for my height and I do need to lose about 30-40lbs BUT that still shouldn’t take away my sexy.

That got me to thinking?  Do you feel sexy?  Just what is sexy?  What does sexy even mean?  The problem with that question and so many like them, is that sexy can mean any number of things to many different people.  For some, sexiness is directly connected to body image, for others it’s a frame of mind, and for others it may be something else entirely. 

That got me to thinking…maybe my SEXY was tied too closely to my outer appearance.   After reading the article in the Huffington Post – How Taking Nude Photos of Myself Helped Me Get Over My Body Issues, I realized that was EXACTLY the case. 

So, I’ve decided to take on this challenge.  I’m going to deal with my body issues (loving me in all of my glory) AND lose some weight; losing the weight is to get healthier not sexier.  Not only am I going to start taking nude photos of myself (on a Polaroid…hopefully THAT can't be hacked), but over the next 30 days I am also going to do twenty minutes a day of hardcore physical exercise while incorporating more water into my daily diet.  That’s it…nothing else for now. 

I’ll keep you posted on both my mental and physical progress.  My hope is some of you will join me.  We can tackle this common issue together while we encourage each other in the process. 

My first check-in will be Sept. 1, 2014!

LaShawn

LOVE, LIFE, and VOWS

This has been one interesting week!  Let me announce that I've just sent my copy of Love, Life, and Vows over to be edited.  Fingers crossed that we'll get a September 2014 release date.  

With that housekeeping out of the way, I've seen some very interesting commentary over this past week regarding the Ray and Janay Rice incident; thought I'd add my two cents.  For those of you who live on a planet far far away without any connection to the outside world, Ray Rice is a famous football player who until this week, played for the Baltimore Ravens.  He was cut for being caught on video in an elevator punching his then fiancé now wife, in the face so hard that she lay face down, on the floor for almost a minute or more...unconscious. I won't say he was cut by the NFL because they have a zero tolerance policy for domestic violence. But, I will say now that this has become public his 2 game suspensions for this horrific act was changed to a termination and being indefinitely suspended from the league.  However, his wife, Janay Rice, has decided to support and stand by her man. 

My opinion is simple.  Violence is NEVER okay for either a man or a woman.  Relationships are messy, love is messy and life can be so darn messy.  I understand Janay's need to want to protect the man she loves.  I WON'T judge her...that is a common symptom of being a battered woman.  Vows are meant to be kept...if possible.  But, I'm of a mind when a relationship becomes dangerous, when love becomes dangerous, and when your life is in danger...leave. It's sometimes easier said than done but do whatever you have to do, call whoever you have to call, run as fast as you can...but leave.

Do you think vows are the ties the bind?  Speak on it!