Monday, February 2, 2015

Special Guest & Giveaway: Candis Terry



SweetSurprise

Series: Sweet, Texas, #4
Publisher: Avon
Publication date: January 27th 2015
Genre: Contemporary

Playing naughty or nice . . .

Fiona Wilder knows all about falling in lust. Love? That's another story. Determined not to repeat past mistakes, the single mom and cupcake shop owner is focused on walking the straight and narrow. But trouble has a way of finding her. And this time it comes in the form of a smoking hot firefighter who knows all the delicious ways to ignite her bad-girl fuse.

Can lead to heartbreak . . .

Firefighter Mike Halsey learned long ago that playing with fire just gets you burned. He's put his demons behind him, and if there's one line he won't cross, it's getting involved with his best friend's ex. But when fate throws him in the path of the beautiful, strong, and off-limits Fiona, will he be able to fight their attraction? Or will he willingly go down in flames?

Or a sweet surprise!


Please Give Candis Terry a big welcome today as she gives us some writer tips!


Thank you so much for having me here today!

Often I’m asked how I first became published. It was no easy task, I can tell you that! I spent 22 years working on becoming a better writer, sending in query letters, crying over rejection letters, revising manuscripts for editors and agents who may or may not give me a chance, all the while trying to keep hope alive that yes, one day I’d be a published author. I’d have that chance to see my work in bookstores. I’d get to participate in a booksigning and meet readers. I almost gave up. In fact, the book I finally sold had been meant to be my last attempt. Being told for 22 years that you “aren’t good enough” can wear you down. Now, after almost four years and eleven books of being published, I look back on my journey and wonder how the heck I ever made it this far. But I’m darn glad I stuck to it.

One of the most phrases a writer hates to hear is “the slush pile.” I’ve had plenty of experience with that evil entity and I have a few tips for writers who feel like they send off their work only to either never hear back from an editor or agent, or, not hear back for an absurdly long amount of time. My advice comes from personal knowledge.

How to stay out of the slush pile.

1. Try to make personal contacts whenever you can. If there’s a local writer’s conference that features agents and editors, plan to attend. Get that one-on-one, face-to-face connection you can’t get anywhere else. When you make that connection, make it memorable. If you pitch your story, do it from your heart, not an index card. Give the editor/agent a sense of how much you love your story and why. This is literally how I sold my first book.

2. Pay attention to new editors that are looking to build their own house of authors. They may have “Associate Editor” as their job title, but they work the same as a regular editor.

3. Keep your eyes open on publisher’s websites for contests to submit your work. Also check out specific genre writer’s chapters as they often acquire an editor or agent to come onto the website and accept pitches online.

4. Most importantly, make sure your work is as shiny as a brand new star. Make sure it’s something you really want an editor to see, to view you as a professional—not a wanna be. And make sure you are submitting the right work to the right editor/agent. If you have an opportunity to make that connection, find out what they publish or acquire. Nothing frustrates a publishing professional more than a writer who has no idea who they are. If you pitch a murder mystery to an editor who only acquires children’s books you are shooting yourself in the foot.

5. Set yourself up for success. Be prepared at all times, so that when an opportunity to make that all important connection arises you are ready and confident, not scrambling like a crazy person. It doesn’t matter whether you are an extrovert or an introvert, believe in yourself and your story and present yourself as a person who is passionate about what they’ve written. You are not robotic. I guarantee you will make a good impression and that agent or editor is very likely to go back and really take a look at what you’ve accomplished.

Good luck!

“Where you’re concerned, I’m not sure I have any control.”

Fiona swallowed. Something warm and forbidden swirled in the pit of her stomach, then wound its way into her heart and other vital parts of her body. In the old days she’d tug him closer and take what she wanted. But this was a new day. A new Fiona. A more responsible Fiona who, unfortunately, couldn’t seem to get this man off her mind.

“Then maybe this won’t work out.” She eased her hand from his and instantly missed the fire in his touch.

“Maybe.” Those broad shoulders beneath that fresh cotton T-shirt lifted in a nonchalant shrug. “I’m willing to give it a shot if you are.”

Give what a shot, she wanted to ask. The actual work? Or the sexual tension that ignited between them like gasoline and matches?

A sigh expanded her chest. “If you’re going to work for me there can’t be any flirting. Or touching.”

His smile widened to a grin. “It’ll be a pleasure working under you.”

Oh boy."-- Candis Terry, Sweet Surprise

71Mtg2GDfIL._UX250_Candis Terry was born and raised near the sunny beaches of Southern California and now makes her home on an Idaho farm. She's experienced life in such diverse ways as working in a Hollywood recording studio to scooping up road apples left by her daughter's rodeo queening horse to working as a graphic designer. Only one thing has remained constant: Candis' passion for writing stories about relationships, the push and pull in the search for love, and the security one finds in their own happily ever after. Though her stories are set in small towns, Candis' wish is to give each of her characters a great big memorable love story rich with quirky characters, tons of fun, and a happy ending

Find Candis @

Win a Sweet Surprise Cupcake Prize Pack!

Includes:
  1. The first 3 books in the Sweet,Texas series
  2. 2 packs of gourmet Sprinkles cupcake mix
  3. a 12 pack of beautiful vintage flower-printed cupkcake tin liners
  4. A (cup)cake stand 
  5. and a baking charm necklace


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