Purple Prose:
tour

It's a little bittersweet. About a month ago, I started contacting blogs to see if I could possibly add them to my CROSSING THE DEEP book blog tour. Every blog, except maybe three that I never expected to answer anyway, either said they would OR they would do facebook/twitter posts.

All in all, I had EIGHTEEN blog stops! *thud*

Thanks to all of the blogs, the people who have put up with me for the past 2 weeks on this book blitz, readers, people who comment, buyers of the book, etc. It has been a pretty special 2 weeks for me.
Here is a list of the participating blogs. Please go over and show them some love :)
Oct. 8th
Mom's Tool Box (How the Bible in 90 Days program Influenced me to write the book)

Oct. 9th:
Shakin' the Foundation (Questioning your faith)
Walking In Faith 4 Him (Forgiveness)
A Word of Encouragement (Encouraging others)

Oct. 10th:
K.Victoria Chase (Author Interview)
Sweet Blessings (If God gives you the passion, He will give you the time.)

Oct. 11th:
A Pause on the Path (Is your 'thing' what you expected?)
Student, Mama, Cook (Time for yourself)
A Song Along the Way (Young Adult Novels)

Oct. 12th:
She Fancied Herself a Writer (How to manage -semi- chaos)
I Love Devotionals (Unto the End of the World)

Oct. 15th:
Undivided (When you see no way out)

Oct. 16th:
Do This in Remembrance of Me (Alone in a Crowded Room.. or Forest)
Daily Surrender to Jesus (Author Interview)

Oct. 17th:
Imitation by Design (Why I write Christian Fiction for Young Adults)

Oct. 18th:
My Daily Walk in his Grace (When We Know Better)

Oct. 19th:
Just a Little Place to Write (A Wild and Crazy Ride to Publication)
Keepin' It Real (Author Interview)

** THANKS TO LAURA from Beholding Glory and Cyndi from Walk in Grace and Beauty for tweeting and facebooking about the book release :)
And, of course, it wouldn't be a book blitz without buy links ;)

BUY LINKS: Amazon Barnes and Noble Astraea Press
Wow! A great read for teens or adults. Wonderfully written. From a great start to a fantastic finish. I can't wait for her next book.-- Review from AMAZON Bought this book today and cannot put it down! I will be finished by tomorrow and I am so excited as each new chapter and character develops! -- Review from AMAZON Kelly Martin is an amazing author! She really sets the bar high for her first novel. I really enjoyed reading this book. The descriptions of the Smokies alone make you feel like you are right there with the characters. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from her -- Review from Amazon ... If you enjoy fiction (and even if fiction isn't really you're thing) you'll be entertained by this young adult novel. I would certainly recommend it for any lover of a good action/adventure story. -- Review from AMAZON

I'm so excited to announce that Monday will begin a one week blog tour for SAINT SLOAN put together by the AMAZING Megan from Reading Away the Days.

I'm so excited for this tour because these are blogs I've never visited before and can't wait to find new favorite places on the web. We will have reviews and book spotlights. I haven't read the reviews yet, so it promises to be an interesting week ;)

ALSO, I'm so excited and nervous because May the 10th, the winners of the Grace Awards will be announced!! (*squee*) Crossing the Deep is up against two amazing books and it truly is an honor just to be nominated... however... I've never got to say an acceptance speech so I'd love to win and type one out to put on the blog lol. (Who am I kidding? I'll probably write one anyway ;) )

AND Crossing the Deep is #13 in Teen Religion on Amazon today!!! I nearly fell over. It has never been so high in ranks! Head over and check out what the fuss is about.

CROSSING THE DEEP ON AMAZON CROSSING THE DEEP ON B&N (NOOK)
Here is the blog tour schedule for next week! HUGE thanks to Megan for setting this up. If you have a YA book, I highly recommend her :)

Saint Sloan Blog Tour Schedule 6th May- Book Spotlight @ http://www.bethannmasarik.com/
7th May- Review @ http://www.sheiladeeth.blogspot.com/
8th May- Review @ http://www.authorstowatch.com/
9th May- Review & Excerpt @ http://www.fatedparanormals.blogspot.com/
10th May- Review @ http://www.mydevotionalthoughts.com/
11th May- Book Spotlight @ http://www.readingawaythedays.blogspot.com/
12th May- Review @ http://justinevandale.blogspot.co.uk/ Giveaway- Win a $25 Amazon Giftcard
Giveaway is open to everyone that can receive amazon giftcards
Giveaway Ends 31st May 2013
Giveaway will be put on all blog stops!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Megan McDade http://readingawaythedays.blogspot.com - YA review blog http://readingawaythedaysblogtours.blogspot.co.uk/ - FREE YA blog tours available
TWITTER: @Teamwolf1988

After doing all the hard work yesterday with a 13 blog tour for my new book, SAINT SLOAN. I decided to take it easy today and let someone else write for me ;) And you guys are in for a treat. Lynn Spangler is here to talk about her new book! Here she is:

First of all, I'd like to thank Kelly for having me as a guest on her blog today.

How do I fit writing into my day? I don't work which is a major plus when one chooses writing as a profession. I generally write in the mornings after I've had a cup or two of coffee running through my system. I have two places I write. My office and my comfy recliner. When writing in the recliner, I often have my furry canine daughter as my co-pilot (she's next to me as I write this post.) As a housewife, I also do such things as laundry while I'm writing. I simply take a break to change the wash around or fold the dried laundry. Then I pick up where I left off, usually without skipping a beat.
I generally do not write over the weekend or in the evenings unless I have edits due. This allows me to spend time with my husband and daughter who are either working or in school when I write in the morning. I feel this schedule is an excellent balance between writing and what is truly most important to me -- my family.

While this writing process is not overly prolific, it works for me. It took me about a month to write my recently released story, Whiskey Whispers of the Past. I'm no speed demon by any stretch of the imagination but I'm comfortable with my writing situation.

If inspiration strikes me in the afternoon or evening, I have a notebook I keep next to my trusty recliner (can you tell it's my favorite seat in the house?) I'll jot down plot ideas or even continue the storyline. I'll add whatever I wrote in my notebook to the story the following day. I also use my iPad to do research and the like. It may sound like a quirky system but it makes my journey as a writer much easier.

I hope you enjoyed hearing a little about my writing schedule today. I'd also like to thank Kelly again for having me. Have a great weekend everyone!



Blurb:

Kendra thought her life was her store; Chance thought his revolved around his addiction. What if they’re both wrong?

Looking for a new start, Chance Daniels moves from hectic, big city living to a small town in South Central Pennsylvania. He decides opening his own music store on Main Street will help him beat the demons of his alcoholism. He discovers the beautiful business owner from across the street may be the lift he needs to beat his addiction. But little does he know that parts of his past unbeknownst to him are about to come to light. Chance receives strange objects in the mail and the woman he falls in love with is nearly run down by a crazed driver.
Kendra Strafford, owner of Strafford’s Candle Creations, finds herself drawn to the tall, handsome man from Los Angeles after starting a standing weekday coffee date with him. She can’t help but fall in love with him, despite his addiction and the strange happenings that seem to surround him. Her own brush with death only draws her closer to Chance.
Was her accident just an accident or was it part of a more devious scheme arising from Chance’s hidden past and will they overcome the bizarre occurrences besieging them to explore their developing love?

Excerpt:
"I hear someone is looking at the old Donaldson's building."
Kendra peered out the front window of her candle shop, Strafford's Candle Creations, toward the brick façade of the adjacent building. She saw the local real estate agent and her good friend, Nancy Lewis, walking toward the old structure. The converted row house had once contained Donaldson's Hardware Store, which had been a fixture of Main Street, right across from Kendra's establishment.
"Oh, yeah? I wonder what business someone would put in there," her assistant Deanna commented.
Kendra frowned as she sipped the now lukewarm coffee then set the cup on the glass shelf beside her. "I don't know. Rumor has it it's someone new to the area. A guy looking to make a fresh start, from what Nancy told me. She said the buyer told her he needed a change of pace and a new locale. Why he'd end up in such a place as Jonerstown is beyond me. This area isn't known as a hotbed of business like York or Harrisburg."
"I don't know. Jonerstown is a nice town. Perhaps its charm won him over."
Kendra nibbled her lip — a habit of hers when deep in thought. "Maybe." A quick glance at her watch indicated it was nearly time to open the shop. "How's our merchandise looking? Do we need to restock anything?"
"No, we're good. I took care of that chore last night while you were in the dungeon replenishing our inventory."
Kendra stepped to the counter, which was tucked in the back corner of the sales floor. "Really? A dungeon? Where I come from it’s commonly called a basement. Hand me the duster. It's time to open and I haven't completed the dusting yet."
Glancing around her shop, she surveyed the three rows of gleaming glass shelves filling two walls of the sales floor. Floor units graced the center of her shop, reflecting the brilliance of the morning sun against the ceiling of the store. The shelves were stocked with candles in a vast array of sizes, shapes, colors, and scents. She inhaled, marveling at the combination. Oh, how she loved the fruits of her labor. Every day her wares brought a feeling of warmth and pride.
She strode to the storefront, unlocked the door, flipped the Closed sign to Open, and went about dusting the shelves while rearranging a candle or two along the way.
"Wow. You've got to see the guy meeting up with Nancy."
Kendra spun around, gazed out the window again, and was greeted by a pleasant surprise. The man shaking Nancy's hand stood about six feet tall at a guess. He was dressed in well-worn blue jeans and a black t-shirt that fit snugly over his arms and chest. "Hmm. At least we'll have some eye candy to stare at. He reminds me of a boxer with the trim, muscular build."
"I like the spiky hair sticking out in every which direction. Too bad we couldn't see his face."
Yeah, too bad. The body is killer.

Buy Links:
Astraea Press: http://www.astraeapress.com/#!/~/product/category=662245&id=21793303
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Whiskey-Whispers-Past-ebook/dp/B00C2IT036/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1364466003&sr=8-2&keywords=Lynn+spangler Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/whiskey-whispers-of-the-past-lynn-spangler/1046342284?ean=2940016543536

Today is the big 13 stop (you read that right. I added another stop!) blog tour. It has been an ambition undertaking to be sure (13 blogs in one day required a LOT of writing lol).

On the tour, I have a lot of cool snippets:

• Want to know how Aaron and Sloan met? It has to do with a party, a mustang, and the side of the road. READ ABOUT IT HERE...

• Want to know how the brother's Ray and Aaron get along? Hint: They have a bit of the same love/hate relationship as Damon and Stefan on The Vampire Diaries-- without the killing ;) READ ABOUT IT HERE and HERE (this scene is too good not to have added twice :) )...

• Want to read about Sloan and Aaron's first little flirt fest (it's at a four way stop... ) READ HERE...

• Want to get the 'gossip' in Chapel Hill about the Hunter brothers? (It's not gossip if it's true ;) ) READ this SNIPPET

• Want to read about how to write 'clean' fiction (even if it's darker fiction)? Read HERE...

• Want to read about Sloan and her mom having the 'talk' (not 'that' talk)? READ HERE..

• Want to have the best conversation in the comments section EVER? READ HERE...

• Not sure you'll like the novel? Read the full synopsis HERE.

• Want to read an author interview with me? Click HERE and HERE

• Want to talk about reading or writing 'hard' topics in fiction? CLICK HERE...

• What mysteries are in SAINT SLOAN? Find out HERE

• Still not sure? Read the BACK COVER BLURB HERE

THIRTEEN STOPS. THIRTEEN PLACES TO READ ABOUT the Amazon Bestselling novel, SAINT SLOAN. I'd appreciate the support, the opportunity to be on all of these blogs, and especially all of you readers! You make this all worth it :) I truly hope you enjoy my novels, get something out of them, enjoy the romance, suspense, and mystery. If you do, tell you friends and neighbors. Word of mouth is still the best way to get the word out :)

CHECK OUT MY FACEBOOK PAGE TONIGHT AT 7 pm CENTRAL TIME FOR A GIVEAWAY CELEBRATING TODAY! YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS IT! https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Kelly-Martin-Author/136506059763138

BIG thanks to all these blogs who have allowed me to take over for today!!

J. Andersen: http://www.readbetweenthelinesbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/03/kelly-martin-saint-sloan.html

Sherry Gloag: http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.com/2013/03/kelly-martin-and-saint-sloan.html

Patricia Kiyono: http://networkedblogs.com/JIntt

Wendy Knight-- http://writethroughthenoise.blogspot.com/

J.F. Jenkins-- http://adragonslove.blogspot.com/2013/03/saint-sloan.html

Christi Corbett-- http://christicorbett.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/guest-post-kelly-martin/#comment-4318

Felicia Rogers-- http://feliciarogersauthor.weebly.com/1/post/2013/03/meet-kelly-martin.html

E.A. West-- http://thewestcorner.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/welcome-author-kelly-martin/

J.L. Salter-- http://taketwoonromance.weebly.com/1/post/2013/03/welcome-guest-kelly-martin.html

Zanna Mackenzie-- http://www.zannamackenzie.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/the-one-day-blog-tour-with-author-kelly.html

Lynn Spangler-- http://www.lynnspangler.blogspot.com/2013/03/in-spotlightkelly-martin.html

Nancy S. Brandt-- http://nancysbrandt.com/2013/03/thursday-book-promotion-saint-sloan/

Lucky number 13: Lisa Orchard-- http://lisaorchard.wordpress.com/

READ SAINT SLOAN AND WANT TO READ MORE? CHECK OUT CROSSING THE DEEP, my first Amazon bestselling novel!

AMAZON
BN

Tomorrow is the big SAINT SLOAN one day blog tour!!! I have THIRTEEN blogs participating!! (eep!)

Also, at noon Eastern time, the Pitchmadness 'winners' will be revealed (My entry is at http://www.brenleedrake.blogspot.com/ ). I'm hoping for a bite from an agent (as in a query plus pages, or heck, even a full!)

It's going to be hopping around here tomorrow!!! STAY TUNED!

It's been awhile since I've posted. I haven't forgotten ya'll, just got busy.

Have you ever heard of pitchmadness? Well, if not, it's a contest where you enter a 35 word pitch and the first 250 words of your novel. 'Slush readers' read the pitches and choose their favorites. Then the team captains pick 15 each (60 total). Those pitches are loaded on the websites and the participating agents get to 'bid' on the pitches (the rules will be up tomorrow).

WELL, I'm SO Excited because my 4th novel (wow... I can't believe I've written FOUR!) was chosen to be on #thedreamteam by captain Brenda Drake! I'm OVER THE MOON! Honestly, I never thought it would go that far. I love it, but I didn't know if others would. Even if I don't get an agent, I had confidence now that this is a good book and has potential :) Fingers crossed!

In other news, Thursday is the day I lose my mind ;) (just warning you ahead of time). I've decided to do a blog tour--- but not just ANY blog tour. A ONE DAY BLOG BLITZ.

TWELVE people (you read that right) have graciously turned their blogs over to me to help get the word out about SAINT SLOAN (sequel is being plotted now... leave a comment if you are on Team Aaron or Team Ray-- *I* know who she ends up with, but you never know... I *could* be persuaded ;) )

On Thursday, I'll post the blog links as well as how I did in Pitchmadness!! It's going to be an interesting week!! (Plus, I'm getting my content edits back for B.I.G. is Beautiful! Squee!)

Here are the WONDERFUL people who have agreed to host me on their blogs:

Wendy Knight-- author of Feudlings
J.F. Jenkins-- author of The Corruption of Mila
Christi Corbett-- author of an upcoming June AP release :) (her blog: http://christicorbett.wordpress.com )
J. Andersen-- author of At What Cost
Felicia Rogers-- author of Labor of Love
Patricia Kiyono -- author of The Calico Heart
E.A. West-- author of Imperfect Beauty
J.L. Salter-- author of Rescued by that New Guy in Town
Sherry Gloag-- author of Vidal's Honor
Zanna Mackenzie-- author of The Love Programme
Lynn Spangler-- author of an upcoming AP release (March 28th!!) www.lynnspangler.blogspot.com.
Stephanie Robertson-- (here's her blog: www.thewritesteph.com )

*Some authors have more than one novel out... I'm just giving you a sampling. Click on their Amazon author page and learn more about their books :)*

HUGE thank you to all the authors who are helping with this! :)

One thing I would like to ask... I have a small medical test on Wednesday I'm a little nervous about. I'm sure it'll be okay, but I wouldn't mind some prayers :) I'll give you more information on it in a different post.

SAINT SLOAN and Grace Award Nominee CROSSING THE DEEP available now published by Astraea Press~ Pure. Fiction.

It has been a whirlwind week for me!

First, SAINT SLOAN came out and we had an awesome release party on facebook.

Then, SS hit the Amazon best seller list in Teen/Religion (happy dance!!)

And then something awesome happened (more on that in a later post ;) )

And finally, this week, I'm on the SAINT SLOAN blog tour where I get to visit lots of cool blogs and talk about the book (my favorite thing ;) )

Here is a list of stops... Please head on over and check them out :) And many MANY thanks to the fine ladies who have graciously offered to host me :)

SAMANTHA COMBS WRITES: http://samanthacombswrites.blogspot.com/2013/03/how-do-you-make-taboo-not-be-too-hot.html

NELL DIXON: http://nelldixonrw.blogspot.com/

SHE FANCIED HERSELF A WRITER: http://yackyjan.blogspot.com/

ZANNA MACKENZIE: http://zannamackenzie.blogspot.com/

SWEET BLESSINGS: http://www.jenifermetzger.org/

BOOK BOOST:

and I'll also be visiting Rachel Van Dyken's blog sometime soon :)

BUY LINKS:
AMAZON
BARNES and NOBLE
ASTRAEA PRESS
ALL ROMANCE

I'm so excited! Today is the release day for my second novel, SAINT SLOAN. I can't believe I'm a multi-published author!!! (are you kidding me?!?!?!)

I'll be at work today (late because we are having a long faculty meeting) and I won't be home to add the buy links to this post. When I DO get home, I will. If you are interested in finding it for yourself, please do... IF you do, please put them in the comments so others can see them :)

Also, on facebook Friday night from 7:30-9:30 pm central time, I'm having a SAINT SLOAN release party. There will be games, prizes, and me... YOU ARE ALL INVITED :) https://www.facebook.com/events/501488796581760/

Tomorrow, I'll have my 'how I got published' story up on this blog. Next week, I'm having a blog tour :) Busy, Busy.

And here's the moment I've been waiting months for... I can now show you the cover of SAINT SLOAN (eep!).

When Sloan Bridges is seventeen years and three hundred, sixty-four days old, her dream of having a perfect birthday is shattered. Home alone after spending the afternoon working on a science project at the new boy’s house, Sloan is brutally attacked in her kitchen by a man she can’t recognize. The only clue she has to go on is what he whispers in her ear, “You deserve this.”
The police have one suspect—Aaron Hunter, older brother of ‘the new boy’, who picked Sloan up a few nights before as she ran from a party. Adamant that he didn’t do it, Aaron begs Sloan to believe him. For her part, Sloan doesn’t know who to trust. She never saw her attacker’s face, and when she does picture it, it’s Aaron’s face she sees standing over her.
Trying to move on is impossible with a former best friend who taunts her and gives her the moniker, “Saint Sloan”, an ex-boyfriend who doesn’t understand why she changed a few months before her attack, and Aaron’s brother, Ray, who makes Sloan smile but has a side she doesn’t understand.
With her attacker ready to strike again, Sloan has to figure out who would hurt her and stop him before he finishes what he started.
Happy birthday to her…
BUY LINKS: AMAZON: COMING SOON-- PLEASE CHECK THROUGHOUT THE DAY BARNES AND NOBLE: COMING SOON-- PLEASE CHECK THROUGHOUT THE DAY ASTRAEA PRESS-- http://www.astraeapress.com/#!/~/product/category=662245&id=20839143
Kelly's Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kelly-Martin/e/B009O5CZL4/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/martieKay
And facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelly-Martin-Author/136506059763138

Hi guys :)

For today's sweet Saturday Sample, I decided to post a short, short snippet from Saint Sloan-- coming out Feb. 28th, 2013!!!

What you should know for this: Ray is the new guy... well, kinda new guy. He, his mom, brother Aaron left Chapel Hill 9 years before... Now Aaron and Ray are back, sans mom (dun. dun. dun). Our main girl, Sloan, is going to Ray's house to work on a biology project.

Want a little more backstory (like what happened between Sloan and Ray's brother, Aaron?) CLICK HERE... (The link will take you to a post from October before Sloan was ever edited... So keep that in mind ;) The Sweet Saturday Sample today has been edited... and edited... and edited ;) Enjoy.)

Ray laughed, clearly amused by her jubilation over automobiles.

“Well, let me be the first person to wish you a happy early birthday.”

She didn’t have the heart to tell him that Aaron had beaten him to it. “Thanks.”

“Eighteen, huh? I can’t wait until I’m eighteen.”

“Why?” Like she couldn’t guess. Eighteen meant freedom, ditching the parents, being an adult, voting…

“Then I won’t be a minor anymore. I won’t be anyone’s ward or need a guardian. I won’t be anyone’s burden.”

The sadness in his voice made her want to hug him. Her excitement over being eighteen and his came from two very different places. No one should think of himself as a burden. Donna had told her once that everyone had a purpose in God’s plan, even if they didn’t know it.

“I’m sure your brother doesn’t think of you as a burden.”

His eyes shifted to hers. “You have no idea how my brother thinks.”

Would you be interested in hosting me on my book blog tour for Saint Sloan? I have some dates free during the week of March 11-15 if you are interested. Email me at kellymartin215 yahoo... :)

Today, I'm super excited to have NELL DIXON, author of Lights, Camera, Poltergeist on my blog! Nell is a fellow Astraea Press author and writes 'Romance with Heart'. I used to love 'Ghosthunters' (until 30+ year old me started having nightmares about it and had to stop watching... sigh), so this book seems right up my alley :)
HERE's NELL:

Hi, and many thanks for inviting me to talk about Lights, Camera, Poltergeist! My latest release from Astraea Press.
This story is set in a crumbling Scottish Manor House, ancestral home of Sir Giles, Laird of Fingelly. The Ghost UK TV team are there on Valentine’s Eve to make a live show about the poltergeist who is alleged to haunt the Manor.
When I was younger I toured many of the fortified Manor Houses that are dotted along the Scottish borders. Many of them are quite spooky places and ideal as a setting for a story full of ghosts, romance and mystery!
Things don’t just go bump in the night, sometimes they throw tea cups! As the presenter for Ghost UK, the leading TV show investigating paranormal activity, Fae thought she’d seen it all. Until a Valentine’s Eve live show from Scotland’s Fingelly Manor upsets both her preconceptions and her love life.

Fae snuggled down deeper into the chunky knitted roll neck of her sweater and wished she could shake off the eerie sensations. She puffed out a sigh and watched her breath condense in the air before her face. It wasn’t only the room that was chilly. The relationship between herself and John had taken on a distinctly frosty tinge lately too. She strolled across the room to the huge diamond leaded window that would have filled the room with light if it hadn’t been shrouded in dust and some dark red velvet drapes that had seen better days. Out in the corridor the electricians and tech staff were hammering and cursing the ancient electrical wiring. The afternoon light had already started to fade and fingers of frost were beginning to form at the corners of the window. A flicker of movement near the trees on the far side of the lawn caught her attention and she leaned forward, almost bumping her nose against the glass in her quest to see what it was. Whatever or whoever she thought she’d seen had vanished and she relaxed back on her heels. Working as a presenter on Ghost UK had made her jumpy. Every dark corner now held the possibility of something spooky. In such a deserted spot it was unlikely that anyone would be outside in the grounds, especially in this freezing weather. “Fae, darling, there you are!” She turned around to see her producer, Tim, sweeping towards her. She pasted a fake smile on her lips when she saw he was accompanied by the owner of the house, Giles McGinty, Laird of Fingelly. She’d already met Giles when she’d arrived and her impressions hadn’t been favourable. “Giles has invited us all to dinner tonight before we start filming. Isn’t that marvellous?” Tim raised his eyebrows at her. “That’s very kind.” Fae was quick enough to pick up the signal. Giles smiled at her, his gaze lingering just a fraction of a second too long on her bust before raising his gaze to her face. “The pleasure is all mine. I’m looking forward to getting to know you all better before the filming.” She suppressed a shudder as his dark eyes locked on her face. “John and I will look forward to it.”
© Nell Dixon 2013 http://www.nelldixon.com Romance with Heart You can get a copy of Lights, Camera, Poltergeist from all good etailers, including: Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Lights-Camera-Poltergeist-ebook/dp/B00AW5JC9I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357229745&sr=8-1&keywords=lights%2C+camera%2C+poltergeist
Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lights-Camera-Poltergeist-ebook/dp/B00AW5JC9I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357229677&sr=8-1

Why not read more about Fae in Cue Me In? Haunted happenings in a Welsh Castle. http://www.amazon.com/Cue-Me-In-ebook/dp/B005XSEQJU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357038762&sr=8-1&keywords=cue+me+in

Happy 2013!!!! Last year went so fast, I have a feeling I'll be writing my 'end of the year' post next week ;)

I've been reading a lot of blog posts about resolutions, and I thought I'd do the same. Maybe 'resolutions' isn't the right word, but my goals for the year.

I'm following Brenda Rodgers from Triple Braided and divided my goals up into 5 parts:

Spiritual

• Keep up with the 365 daily reading and post on my Encourage 365 blog
• Spend at least 15 minutes a day actually studying the Bible
• Have a prayer request notebook to keep beside computer to write down any prayer requests I see throughout the day
• Pray over prayer requests more than once a day
• Pray before writing/editing/promoting. Ask God if I'm going the right direction He has for me.

• Pray for my husband daily
• Watch one movie a week with him (that's a big thing for me because I have a hard time sitting for two hours without writing)
• Pray with him before bed
• Keep the clothes and dishes washed every night (at least one load washed and put up every day), make the bed, deep clean the bathrooms 2x a week, get back on the 'cleaning train' I was on 2 years ago...

• Listen closely to them before I say an automatic 'no'
• Take more pictures as they grow
• Understand that a 'mess' isn't the end of the world even if I am tired
• Nightly prayer requests from them
• Some sort of nightly devotional

• Read at least 10 books this year
• Lose hopefully between 20-50 pounds
• Not be so hard on myself
• Take a deep breath when I feel myself getting upset

• Finish BIG is Beautiful by February
• Work on blog tour for Saint Sloan (coming out soon)
• Write 50,000 words for March deadline submission for Astraea Press
• Write and submit 4 short stories to various places
• Work out a marketing plan
• Work out a blogging schedule
• Work toward a goal I won't name on here but is a big one for me in the next 5 years

Today is the first day of November which means it's time for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo... www.nanowrimo.com).

It also means that 1 year ago, I wrote the first words to what is now 'CROSSING THE DEEP'.

It has been a long year lol

I have a great story in mind for this year. Lots of twists and turns. Unknown characters. Who to trust? What's going on... Ahhhhh! moments. I really love the story, in my head.

And I'll love to get it down on paper as well...

But...

there is something that is holding me back.

Now, I've been through Nano. I know how time consuming it is to write a book, edit, query, worry, stress, sign a contract, edit again, edit again, edit again, market, tweet, blog tour... and I know how hard it is when it doesn't sell like you'd hope. I mean, it's not bad, but first time authors (I think) might set the bar too high.

That leads me to the issue today. I have 3 kids, a full time teaching job, a husband (who honestly has been kinda lonely the past year), a house that doesn't care if Mama wants to write, bills to remember, supper to cook, dishes to wash... etc, etc, etc, excuses, excuses (but good ones, mind you). I'm trying to justify in my head (and honestly to my family) how another year of all of this is worth it in the long run.

How do you do it? How do you justify all of the work for a book that might not even be published or if it is? How do you ask your family to 'bear with you for one more year' to follow your dream when it could be hurting them?

I wish I had answers. I wish I could just write the perfect novel the first time (hahaha). I wish I could just get these self-doubt feelings banished forever (but I understand that is the life of a writer).

Ideas? Thoughts? Slaps upside my head?

Like I said... GAME ON!!!! :) (for now)

~Kelly

CROSSING THE DEEP has gotten some awesome reviews :) Here are some of them:
B.K (amazon comments)
I purchased this book on a Friday night and had finished it by Saturday night. I tried to put it down and get things done (I have 3 kids!) but I just couldn't. The story line and great characters kept sucking me back in.

Although I am a firm believer in God, I haven't had much interest Christian fiction myself, but this was a great book overall. The author does a very nice job of building believable and likeable characters. The plot starts rolling right away and you won't get bored or hit any lulls in this story.

You will walk away from this story still thinking about the characters days later.

Great story, you won't be disappointed you purchased this one!

C.S (Goodreads Review)
Went into this book with a preconceived notion that it would be ho-hum as I'm not a fan of many books that involve religion or prayer. But I was so pleasantly surprised and quickly fell in love with Rachel and Asher and Rachel's faith gave me something to think about. Wonderfully written and so enjoyable and NOT predictable. Hoping there is going to be a follow up and it becomes a series. Well done!

B.H. (amazon comments)
Kelly Martin is an amazing author! She really sets the bar high for her first novel. I really enjoyed reading this book. The descriptions of the Smokies alone make you feel like you are right there with the characters. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from her!

S. (amazon comments)
Wow! A great read for teens or adults. Wonderfully written. From a great start to a fantastic finish. I can't wait for her next book.

C. (amazon comments)
Once I started this book I simply could not put it down! Crossing the Deep keeps you on the edge of your seat. Crossing the Deep is a thought provoking young adult Christian fiction story that tells about a church youth group's hiking trip to the Smoky Mountains and obstacles that they have to overcome in order to make it safely back home. Definitely a great read!
W.K (amazon comments)
The cover alone captures your attention & leads you to a great story written by a new up and coming author. A refreshing young adult Christian novel sure to please!
R (amazon comments)
If you enjoy fiction (and even if fiction isn't really you're thing) you'll be entertained by this young adult novel. I would certainly recommend it for any lover of a good action/adventure story.
B. (amazon comments)
Bought this book today and cannot put it down! I will be finished by tomorrow and I am so excited as each new chapter and character develops!
M.W (amazon comments)
What a great book from a first time author! I enjoyed it so much. The characters were very interesting and the plot kept me guessing. Please keep writing, Kelly Martin, I'm looking forward to your next book.
B.H. (facebook post)
I started reading it last night and finished it today. I couldn't put it down. You are a wonderful writer and I can't wait to read more. Wow! I highly recommend that all of you read this!
S.T. (author page post)

I started Crossing the Deep yesterday and couldn't put it down! I stayed up late to finish it. Excellent book!

B.G. (on a blog tour comment section)
WOW! I love that you started on a spiritual quest to read the Bible and ended as a published author! I love the "blurb" and can't wait to buy the book!
Have you read the book people are calling 'not your typical' Christian novel? If you have, I'd love to hear from you! If you haven't, please go to Amazon and read the first 3 chapters to see if it is up your alley. I think you'll enjoy it.
BUY LINKS: Amazon Barnes and Noble Astraea Press

Friends, I've been all around the blogphere promoting my new book and (strangely) NaNoWriMo (wanna know more? Go to http://www.nanowrimo.com )

Here are a few of my stops on the blog tour, talking about my Nano experiences, and a sneak peak at CROSSING THE DEEP!

THURSDAY'S SNIPPET-- JOSELYN VAUGHN
(Here is a snippet of my snippet... it's like looking in a mirror in a mirror ;))

“If you get that riled up from a little peck on the cheek, I’d hate to see what would happen if you got a kiss on your lips,”
Asher yelled, folding his arms with that same smirk he’d had at the snack machine. Rachel’s cheeks burned like fire, knowing what she must look like, staring all swoony-eyed at Sid. When did she start swooning? “On second thought,” Asher said, narrowing his eyes, “maybe it would be a fun thing to see.” WANNA READ MORE? CLICK HERE! :)

Masquerade CREW-- ONE PIECE OF NANO ADVICE Last November, I decided to participate in my very first NaNoWriMo. Some thought I was crazy (they might have been right), but I did it none-the-less. I ‘won’ NaNo before Thanksgiving much to the happiness of my family and my poor, worn-out fingers.

What I ‘won’ was a very horrible first draft with multiple points of view, head hopping, run-on sentences, and characters with multiple personality issues.

In short, I won myself a mess.

The Masquerade Crew (http://s.tt/1qicq) (CLICK TO READ MORE :))

My Daily Walk in His Grace One of my favorite things to read in the Bible is God’s ‘smack down’ on Job. Truthfully, I feel bad for Job. Here he is, all upset over his kids’ dying, and he does what we all do—we blame God. It’s like now days when we watch the news. God doesn’t get credit for sunny, beautiful days—but if a hurricane or an earthquake happens, it is “An Act of God.” Both acts are from God, but He only gets credit for the bad things. CLICK TO READ MORE...

BIG THANKS to all these blogs for hosting me/allowing me to guest post this week. I appreciate it. :)

~Kelly

Have you bought your copy?

Wanna chance to win a KINDLE FIRE? CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS...

The book tour rolls on :)

Today, I'm at Imitation by Design (which I think is one of the coolest names for a blog ever. Do you know where it came from?)

I'm talking about why I write Young Adult Christian Fiction and why I see a need for more of it.

Imitation by Design

I’m going to preface this by saying I love a good vampire book as much as the next red-blooded girl. I enjoy monster book. I will even entertain a book about angels (and not the typical ones from Heaven). So don’t think I’m bashing those types of books because I’m not.
But (oh yeah, there’s a but…) I do believe there has to be a balance in the world between those types of books for young adults and Christian books.
At my local Lifeway Christian Bookstore, there is a grand total of two bookshelves dedicated to young adult fiction. And not two full rows either, two partial rows with maybe twenty different books to choose from. Folks, that’s not many. CLICK TO READ MORE...
~Kelly
P.S. If you've bought CROSSING THE DEEP, would you consider leaving a review on amazon, goodreads, or barnes and noble? Good, bad, or ugly. This book has been just mine for almost a year. I'd love to see what others think.

Sorry this is up so late (my husband was using the desktop computer which is easier to type blog posts on :) )

The Book Release Blog Tour is still going on :) Today, I'm touring at...

Do This in Remembrance of Me
There are times when we feel alone even when other people are around us. During those times, we need to remember that we are never truly alone. Even in a room full of strangers, Jesus is with us… always… even unto the end of the world. CLICK TO READ MORE...

Daily Surrender to Jesus
He will be with us always. Always. Jesus will never leave us. Never. In the midst of the deepest trials, hardest struggles, loneliest, scariest moments, He is there. In the midst of every joy, every celebration, place of rest, and time of peace, He is there. CLICK TO READ MORE...

Please stop by, leave some comments, read these ladies' wonderful blogs, and check out Crossing the Deep if you are so inclined (buy links are on the sidebar... I'm not ashamed to point that out lol).

Have a great night :)

~Kelly

Last week, I was blissfully on Fall Break. I slept later than usual (well, as late as the 2 year old would let me). I ate what I wanted. I laid around in my pajamas. I played with my kids. I stayed up late.

I released a book and was on two Amazon Best Seller lists :)

This Monday, I'm back up early, fixing to get the girls up and showered, and try to keep my sleepy eyes open.

I'm also still on the book tour :) Today, I'm at Undivided talking about when you see no way out.

I'm also part of a big giveaway. Several authors have gotten together to giveaway a KINDLE FIRE! (How cool is that! If you have one already, it would make a good Christmas present to someone else).)

Interested? Click HERE for details.

If you haven't bought CROSSING THE DEEP (my debut novel), I encourage you to head over to Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.com and read the free sample and what others are saying about the book (links are on the sidebar). I'm actually pretty humbled and excited about the response.

Well, it's time to get back in the groove again. Have a great day!
~Kelly

The end of the giveaway ($10 Amazon Gift Card and a $10 Barnes and Noble Gift Card) is coming fast! Make sure you enter by clicking HERE.

Good morning, Friends :)

Today I'm at two blogs on the tour. It's been an amazing week! I can't thank all of the bloggers enough for letting me on their sites and to you for buying the book OR doing the other things on the entry form. I appreciate it :) I've you've read the book already, tell me what you think (good, bad, and ugly).

The blogs I'm at today are:

I Love Devotionals

There are times when we feel alone even when other people are around us.

During those times, we need to remember that we are never truly alone.

Even in a room full of strangers, Jesus is with us… always… even unto the end of the world. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...

She Fancied Herself a Writer I’m excited to be here today! I have a topic that’s near and dear to my heart that I wanted to talk about. In this crazy, fast-paced world, how do you find the time to do something you (not as a mother, as a woman) want to do? There has to be a balance between what you are (a wife and mother) and what you *also* are (a woman with dreams). CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...

“Almost there,” David announced to the insomniac few like himself.
“So, that means we can come back to the land of the living, right?” The familiar echo of Sid’s voice bellowed, letting Asher know that his precious quiet had ended.
“I’m just happy that you aren’t snoring anymore.” Asher grinned, looking out the window at the mountains.
“The rumors of my snoring have been greatly exaggerated,” Sid said as he turned on the overhead light, causing Asher to flinch and fight the urge to smack him.
“Yes, to answer your question, brother, you can turn on the light. Although, your fellow travelers might want to bless you out — and not in the most Christian of ways —for blinding them at this most unpleasant hour.”
“Can I volunteer?” Asher asked, only half kidding.
Sid shook his head at Asher and said to his brother in the driver’s seat, “They’ll get over it.” He stretched his arms over his head and adjusted his staple, never-­‐‑left-­‐‑behind red cap. Asher didn’t think he’d ever seen him without it and probably never would. The biker dude on that fifties-­‐‑based show his grandma used to watch had his leather jacket. Sid had his ugly red cap. It was the way of the world.
“Wouldn’t be so sure of that,” David chuckled as others woke up in not great moods and began throwing things at Sid.
BUY LINKS: Amazon Barnes and Noble Astraea Press

Click HERE to enter the Release Week Giveaway!! A $10 Amazon gift card and a $10 Barnes and Noble gift card will be given away. Good luck :) UPDATE: CROSSING THE DEEP is on two of AMAZON'S BEST SELLERS LISTS!!

• #21,718 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #32 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Children's eBooks > Sports & Activities > Sports
  • #58 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Children's Fiction > Sports & Activities

In this crazy, fast-paced world, how do you find the time to do something you (not as a mother, as a woman) want to do? In my opinion, there has to be a balance between your duties as a wife and/or mother, and your duties to yourself as a woman. It’s not easy. As a writer trying to get my books out with a full-time/out of the house job, three kids, a house, and a husband who would like it cleaned occasionally, I have very lovely purple and black bags under my eyes. Plus, at 31-I have some of the most spectacular threads of gray… er silver… in my hair. But, to me, it’s worth it. But don’t let me kid you… it is a sacrifice (and everyone in your family will feel it)—I don’t have much free time to do anything other than mama/teacher stuff and writer stuff, but that’s okay. CLICK TO READ MORE

David manned the wheel, and Asher hoped he was wide awake and full of caffeine. In addition to the youth pastor, he saw a light coming from some sort of electronic device; a computer tablet or e-­‐‑reader, a row back on the other side of the van. Curious, he rose up a bit to see over his seat. Whatever it was gave off enough light to see that it was a girl. He thought her name was Rachel.-- From Chapter 1, CROSSING THE DEEP
BUY LINKS: Amazon Barnes and Noble Astraea Press
~Kelly

Be sure to enter the giveaway for a $10 Amazon Gift card or a $10 Barnes and Noble gift card. CLICK HERE.

Hello lovely people! Yesterday (release day) was exciting and exhausting lol. I'm so glad my kids were so worn out too that they let me sleep late (such good kids :) ).

It is day 3 of the book tour! I have 2 stops today:

K.Victoria Chase

Which character did you find most difficult to craft and why?
Strangely Rachel was. I didn’t want her to be too ‘goody-goody’ but I wanted her to be sweet. I wanted her to have a backbone and in the earlier drafts she didn’t as much. Also in the earlier drafts, Asher was a total jerk lol. He mellowed a lot. He’s much more laid back, not to say he doesn’t have a small, tightly wound string holding himself together that he’s afraid of snapping at any second… which *spoiler alert*... CLICK TO READ MORE
~Sweet Blessings~ Today I am so excited to welcome Kelly from Kelly Martin Stories/Oh That Mom Again! Kelly is a dear bloggy friend who encourages me and has written fiction short stories for the Woman to Woman Magazine. I am beyond thrilled for Kelly as her very first fiction story just came out yesterday! I am also thrilled because her book is a young adult book! My fourteen year old daughter takes after me in that she is a book worm. It is so hard to find clean, uplifting things for her to read. We downloaded Kelly's book yesterday and my daughter is loving it! CLICK TO READ MORE
I wanna thank these sweet ladies for hosting me (along with the other awesome blogs who have/will take me in this week. I appreciate it!) Have you bought the book yet? Leave a comment and let me know what you think :) BUY LINKS: Amazon Barnes and Noble Astraea Press

Asher Jenkins shouldn’t have been in the church van. He was neither religious nor a church member, two qualities everyone else on the trip shared. Asher knew all too well there were worse places he could be, much worse places, and that realization put him in the seat next to his best friend, Sid.