Joya Fields' guest spotlight visit

Hey Everybody,

Check out fellow Decadent author Joya Fields' newest release, Sidelined Afterlife. Enter her contest for a chance to win a prize!!

Sidelined Afterlife by Joya Fields: A contemporary romance with a ghostly twist.

Short Blurb:

Communicating with ghosts has only ever brought Veronica Matthews pain and grief. Afraid to love and lose again, Hunter Anderson needs her help, but she resists risking her heart. Can a ghost help them break through a barrier of mistrust and guilt?

Blurb

Psychic and medium Veronica Matthews hates being able to communicate with the dead and the nearly departed.  What good is it if she can’t lead the police to the victims of violent crimes before they die? But when her neighbor comes to her for help, she’s torn—until she understands that the ghost haunting him is more dangerous than any she’s encountered….

After losing his wife in a tragic accident, ER doctor Hunter Anderson’s only solace is his work and a ghost is jeopardizing that. Turning to his neighbor seems like his only choice, but spending time with the passionate woman, and her sassy attitude, might do more than save his life…

She can’t risk her heart. He’s afraid to love and lose again. Can a ghost help these two souls to live again?

Excerpt:

   “I am an idiot. The biggest idiot ever. If you want me to pierce something for you, to prove I’m an idiot, I have some sterilized instruments upstairs in my apartment.”

   Her tongue poked against her cheek, signaling a laugh that wanted to erupt. Suddenly, he really wanted to be the one who could make her laugh. “Maybe I could do your lower lip?”

   Her short laugh erupted. A sweet, melodic sound that filled the small apartment.

   His gaze stayed on that full mouth and he lifted his fingers closer, compelled to touch her.      She stared at him with wide eyes as he traced the corner of her mouth lightly with his finger.

   “I’m a liar. I could never tarnish something as beautiful as this.”

Christ. What a line. Where had those words come from? But he meant it.

   Her breath was hot against his finger as he traced the line of her lower lip. Her gaze held his. His stomach growled again, breaking the spell, and she blinked and leaned against the sofa.

   “You know what? We never had dessert,” she said.

He had room for dessert. But not the food kind. He swallowed to quell his appetite for her. “Uh…how about I make an ice cream run? Then we’ll get to work.” Enough of this temptation. He needed to get away from her, from this pull she had on his body and emotions.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER: $25 Amazon or B&N giftcard, Sidelined Afterlife notebook, "Dead people see me" t-shirt GIVEAWAY
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Purchase links for SIDELINED AFTERLIFE:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Decadent Publishing
All Romance eBooks

Joya’s Bio:

     Joya Fields has had over 100 stories and articles published in local and national magazines. Her debut novel, a romantic suspense, was a NJRW GOLDEN LEAF WINNER FOR BEST FIRST BOOK OF 2012 and was nominated for RT Book Reviews 2012 Indie Press/Self-Published Contemporary Romance award. Since then, she’s published four more books with even more on the way.

 

Connect with Joya

www.joyafields.com

Twitter: @joyafields

Facebook Author Page

Goodreads

Amazon Author Page

The Road to Publication

 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ME AND RESOLUTIONS!

Actually we’re not married. But…today is the one year anniversary of signing my contract with Decadent to publish Resolutions. I can tell you honestly, putting my name on that little piece of paper was one of the best feelings I’ve ever experienced. It was a long haul for me to get to that point in my writing career.

A writer has to have alligator tough skin. If you let the rejections take you down the pity road, your career will be a short one. I think most published authors out there will tell you they received multiple rejection letters before the gates to Reader Land finally opened and welcomed them. Personally, I have enough rejection letters to wall paper my bathroom. There are so many ‘No thank you emails’ with my name on them floating in cyber space, a new hole in the ozone has opened.

But if you’re determined to have your dream, keep tapping on the keyboard. Read the rejection notes, nod and smile, then move on. By the way, you may want to listen to rejection suggestions. I ignored a big piece of advice until I noticed a pattern. The submission editors were giving the same counsel. So, I put on my big girl panties, sucked it up, and got over myself. I broke down and made the change. It worked. The first publisher I sent the new and improved story line to offered me a contract. YAY Decadent Publishing!

The editing process started in March and many edits later, Resolutions went live on September 10^th. The editors at Decadent know their stuff! My perfect manuscript was in reality, not so perfect. Thank goodness the publishing team was there every step of the way pointing out the endless flaws that needed correcting. I am forever grateful the submission editor decided somewhere in the mess of written words, was a decent story.

Decadent’s cover artists are beyond excellent. When I saw my cover art for the first time I cried. It was perfect. One of my earlier blog posts is about the necklace the Eve model wears on the cover. It’s identical to one my hubby gave me last year. There’s no way the photographer or anyone involved in the shoot could’ve known. How eerie is that? I declared it an official Twilight Zone moment. I think you’ll agree the cover for Resolutions is awesome!

Next on the journey to publication, I received a release date. More tears. After drying my eyes, I somehow managed to call, text, or email everyone I know to tell them I had a release date. They needed to get their wallets open and ready.

There was a frenzy of getting ads in place, sending ARCs, and begging for reviews. Getting the word out about a new book is a lot of hard work. I began trolling the social networks full time. I stepped up my game and shamelessly promoted myself. I even broke down and started this blog. Again, it’s a lot of work, but if you want your book to sell, you’ve got to get it in front of people. I’ve cheated a bit by roping my niece into being my virtual assistant. I’m a computer idiot and she’s a stay at home mom. We work well together and I get a little more time to write then I would’ve been allotted if I tried to do it all. Definitely worth the money!

As any writer will tell you it’s a long journey from idea to publication. It can be bumpy as hell, but that’s why God gave us the brain power to invent seat belts. My personal seat belt is my family. They are my strongest supporters, my most blatant cheerleaders (and critics), and the people I can turn when I take a hit from a bad review or another rejection letter. Many writers say it’s a lonely job, but at the end of the day I’m never alone as long as my family is along for the ride.

My best advice to new authors is to never, never, never give up on your dream. Keep writing. Enjoy the ride no matter how long, how bumpy, or how many dead ends you meet. Did I mention to never give up? I promise it’s more than worth it.

Now I’m off to celebrate my anniversary. I’m going to eat the biggest piece of cake I can handle…with two scoops of ice cream!

PS…Have I told you Resolutions will soon be available in print? I think I’ll make that three scoops of ice cream!