new author

Have a Heart
Broken heart symbol
Broken heart symbol (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

My heart hurts. It’s true. I have been blissfully ignorant of one thing while I attempted to take the next step on my publishing journey. Book reviews.  I always knew that there would be others reviewing my story and my writing skills once I got my book out there, but never could I imagine the emotions flowing through me after reading each one.

I tell myself to quit checking them, but I can’t help it. I know certain reviews could potentially make me a better writer for addressing each of their concerns, but I hadn’t considered the fact that some people forget that authors are only human and have feelings too. Especially those with private accounts and unidentifiable screen names. How convenient for them. (more…)

Share the Love
Love heart uidaodjsdsew

Love heart uidaodjsdsew (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Thank you so much for all your support!! Whether you have purchased my book, shared the news or given me your writing advice from your informative and inspiring blogs, you’ve all been a major part of my self-publishing journey thus far, whether you realize it or not. For that I thank you. (more…)

Here it is… my new book cover!!

Here it is. The moment you’ve all been waiting for. Okay, so maybe it’s only the moment I’ve been waiting for. It’s my TWISTED cover reveal…

Twisted by Christa Simpson.

Twisted by Christa Simpson.  Cover by Razzle Dazzle.

Twisted is my debut novel of a three book series. It’s a contemporary romance with a paranormal twist. Don’t be fooled by the genre “New Adult”.  There is very tasty adult content in it. Click here to read the back cover blurb: https://christasimpson.wordpress.com/twisted/ (more…)

One of my favourite Twisted excerpts…
Mouth 6

Mouth 6 (Photo credit: Bernard DURET)

In light of the fact that I have finally found my new book cover, I’d like to share one of my favourite excerpts from my debut novel TWISTED.  Read on for a sample of the relationship between Abigail Jenkins and Edwin Santora.

Here goes…

Being inside his personal space was incredibly awkward.  It wasn’t exactly the place I had expected to be this morning, but there I was, wearing nothing but a barely there bra.

My eyes flashed away from his glimmering aqua glance and landed on his luscious smiling lips.  Lower yet, my eyes focused in on his smooth chest peeking out of his crisp white, mostly unbuttoned shirt.  Damn it.  He looked like a tasty morning treat, his shirt fully tucked into those black slacks hung handsomely from his masculine hips.

I swallowed the lusty lump from the back of my throat.  “Sorry,” I said softly.  I didn’t even know whether I was apologizing for getting in his face or eyeing his body like a piece of man candy. (more…)

The Liebster Award Goes To…
Liebster Blog Award
Liebster Blog Award (Photo credit: ObscuredDreamer)

Me?  Who knows?  I’m told I’ve been nominated for the Liebster Award.  Thanks to Cassandra Janey for nominating me!!  You can check her blog out here: http://cassandrajaney.com/

So according to her post, the Liebster Award is mainly for new bloggers with less than 200 followers, in hopes of helping them to become discovered.  Keep reading to see who I nominated.  It could be you!!

In accordance with the rules, I have to write 11 random facts about myself, answer Cassandra’s 11 questions, and then nominate up to 11 blogs myself.  Fun stuff!!  After that, my nominees are supposed to thank me for nominating them, mention me in their blog and do the same as I’ve done here.  Here goes…

11 Random Facts About Me:

1)     I have a cat named Dashington.

2)     My daughters love to dance as much as I do.A man and a woman performing a modern dance.

3)     I couldn’t downhill ski if my life depended on it.

4)     My first concert was Bush in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

5)     I was the captain of my college varsity volleyball team.

6)     I believe in love at first sight.

7)     My favourite food as a kid was lasagna.

8)     I’m surrounded by the Great Lakes but I’ve never seen an ocean.

9)     I am so not a morning person.

10)  I met my hubby at a Stag and Doe.

11)  I drive a van, even though I spent most of my life stating that there’s no way in hell I’d ever drive a van… ever. Lol.

(more…)

Where do you draw the line?
Writing

Writing (Photo credit: jjpacres)

So you’ve spent countless hours learning how to write a rockin query letter and a slammin synopsis.  You think you finally nailed it.  And then, after a rewrite and two edits later, you are certain it is ready.  Until you hit the dreaded SUBMIT button. (more…)

I need your help!! Do I edit this word out?

One of my beta readers has brought up a concern with my TWISTED manuscript and I’d like to discuss that with you today. “Ragging”: not the most pleasant word no matter which way you look at it.

Polkadot Princess by Jenica Simpson.
Polka Dot Princess drawing courtesy of Jenica Simpson.

Wikipedia suggests… “Ragging is a practice in educational institutions… that involves existing students baiting or bullying new students.”

That is not the term I am referring to here now. Consider the “vulgar slang” version of the word.

UrbanDictionary.com suggests “ragging” is: Menstruating. i.e. when a woman has her period. The origin is possibly from the days when women had to use rags as sanitary towels.
“She’s always moody when ragging – she’ll be better in a day or two.”

 BAM!! That’s exactly what I’m talking about.
First off, let me give you the scenario. This is an excerpt from Chapter Four of my TWISTED novel, when Abigail Jenkins realizes that she has caught feelings for her ex-boy toy and current housemate Edwin Santora. I’ve highlighted the sentence in question.

(more…)

Writers’ Challenge – 777 Excerpts from the TWISTED series

I read about a fun little challenge being shared between authors and thought it would be fun to post my results.  This should be fun!!

Following are excerpts from my TWISTED manuscript (book one) and my draft TWIST AND TURN manuscript (book two).  These are seven line excerpts from the 7th line in my manuscript, the 7th line on page 7, and the 7th line on page 77.  Let’s see what happens!! (more…)