Christmas in Snow Valley, Six Clean Romances for the Holidays - Launch Day Special! One Week Only

LAUNCH DAY SPECIAL - ONE WEEK ONLY!!! 

GRAB YOURS TODAY! 
These new Christmas stories are heartwarming, thoughtful, romantic, and delicious!

Christmas in Snow Valley is only $.99 until November 8th.

Amazon * iTunes * B&N * Smashwords * Kobo

Snow Valley, Montana, is a small community with the tradition of doing Christmas big. Festivities begin with tree lighting in the town square the day after Thanksgiving and continue until the culminating romantic Christmas Ball. From the Polar Express to a Winter Carnival, there’s something for every wonder-filled  child—and every couple who’s in love—or about to be.


An Unexpected Kiss by Cindy Roland Anderson

Lucy Phillips doesn’t want to spend her Christmas vacation dodging her ex-boyfriend, so when he turns up at the airport to give her a ride home, Lucy panics and asks a complete stranger to kiss her. Although the kiss is incredible, Lucy never expects to see the guy again. Is it bad luck or destiny when Lucy comes down with a sore throat and the new doctor in Snow Valley is none other than the guy she kissed at the airport?


Feels Like Love by Jeanette Lewis

Christmas in Snow Valley is the perfect way for April Winston to introduce her city slicker fiancé, Scott Mecham, to life on a farm. If only Wade Hadley, hometown boy and high school sweetheart, will cooperate! But Wade has no intention of letting April go without a fight. This Christmas, Wade is determined to overcome their painful past and show April that she already has what she’s been seeking all along.


Full Court Devotion by Cami Checketts

Kazlyn is too busy with her schooling and future plans to enjoy life, let alone fall in love with a man who has heartbreak written all over him. Tyrese Hamilton, a college basketball star and major heartthrob, is intrigued when Kazlyn doesn't pursue him or even seem interested. Ty's career is in jeopardy, and he needs a miracle and Kazlyn to save him.


The Christmas Eve Kiss by Taylor Hart

When Molly O’Hare gets a prediction that she will kiss her true love on Christmas Eve, she thinks it’s utterly ridiculous. But when she gets teamed up with Kevin Snow, aka her ex-boyfriend, to decorate a Christmas tree, things start to change. Too bad getting over the past is hard and seeing him kiss another girl is even harder. Now Molly is left with a choice—run away from home and heartbreak or let Christmas work out a miracle all of its own.


Risking it all for Love by Award-Winning author, Kimberley Montpetit

Ever since her high school boyfriend's death from a car accident three years earlier, Jessica Mason and her hometown of Snow Valley, Montana with all its awful memories have NOT been compatible. Running away to New Orleans on a ballet scholarship, Jessica cringes when she thinks about confronting Pastor John and the community church--she doesn't want to talk about God, not after He took Michael, the boy she was going to marry ever since third grade.

In the local scene of funky New Orleans, Jessica seeks out Madame LaBlanc, hoping Michael will absolve her of her guilt the night of the car accident in a seance, but the spirit world is silent and she fears the grief will drown her.

Finally succumbing to family pressure, Jessica reluctantly returns for Christmas - and the little town of Snow Valley does Christmas BIG. When she visits Michael’s grave in the church yard, Jessica is shocked to meet handsome James Douglas, Pastor John’s nephew, who’s studying for the ministry. No, she is NOT going to be attracted to someone who wants to be a preacher! Definitely not compatible! But James Douglas is unlike any minister-in-training she's ever met. James can not only dish back Jessica’s finely-tuned sarcasm but understands grief all too well, turning Jessica’s world upside down.

Can Jessica forgive herself for that terrible, fateful night? Can she take another risk on love?


Blue Christmas by Lucy McConnell

As head of Snow Valley hospital's fundraising effort, Paisley Hackett barely has time to organize the craft show, cookie decorating party, and the annual Christmas Ball. What she doesn't have time for is falling in love with Clay Jett, the incredibly handsome bass player who sweeps into town. She's been burned by a tourist romance before and, with everything going on, Paisley will have to work overtime to protect her heart from Clay and his swoon-worthy ballads.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Au Revoir & A Book Party at The King's English for WHEN THE BUTTERFLIES CAME!

I'm packing today and leaving bright and early tomorrow, Wednesday, for Utah for my son's graduation from BYU and a family reunion and my book signing at The King's English on Saturday, August 17th at 11:00 a.m.! If you can't come you can order a signed copy by phone and they will ship it to you!

Please come if you're in the area! We're doing butterfly trivia, behind-the-scenes publishing stuff, making butterfly necklaces, and having butterfly cake! Oh, and I'm signing stacks of books! :-)

Until later next week!

xo,
~Kimberley

SO, SO SO EXCITED!!! Awesomely cool book trailer for WHEN THE BUTTERFLIES CAME!!!

It's here, it's here! And you all know how much I adore book trailers! Well, maybe you don't if you're new here. But J'ADORE book trailers!

Especially the ones such good friends help me put together. I found the images and chose the music (with help from some links to peruse from Audio Jungle) and the marvelous and talented Shayne Leighton put it all together and tweaked for me endlessly.

Hope you enjoy! Let me know - and please share if you've a mind . . . THANKS, friends!!!

My other book trailers with Nua Music, using images and film I took on location in the swamps and bayous of Louisiana with Cajun girl's doing the voice-overs: 

THE HEALING SPELL, SCHOLASTIC

CIRCLE OF SECRETS, SCHOLASTIC

In the comments, let me know about other book trailers you've particularly liked. Happy Day!

xo,

~Kimberley

Guest Blogger, Monique Bucheger, with thoughts on writing and life!

Please help me welcome, Monique Bucheger, author of The Secret Sisters Club with a heart-felt, personal guest post about why she writes. Don't forget to enter her fantastic giveaway! (Rafflecopter below).

        

The give-away includes: A $25.00 Amazon gift certificate, a set of all three of her new books as well as a set of her novels as e-books. Enter the Rafflecopter down below! Check out the blog tour links, too. Enjoy!

And heeeeere's Monique . . . 

Thank you, Kimberley, for allowing me to be a guest blogger on your blog today. I’m still new at this, but I am going to plunge ahead and hope my ramblings make sense.

Because I’m in the middle of promoting my middle grade Ginnie West Adventures series, I have been asked a lot of questions lately about my characters, my family, what I want people to get out of my books, why do I write, and numerous others.

Some are easy to answer: I love quiet and Dr. Pepper when I write, thank you, and some questions make me really stop and ponder: Yes, I do believe writers can influence people with the stories they choose to share, for good and for bad. 

Why do I write “slice of life family dramas” when fantasy worlds are so much fun to escape to?

Bad things happen in real life: illnesses, deaths, school shootings, hurricanes, child abuse and we wonder if there is a purpose to life and if so, what that is. That answer varies for each person. Especially when those events happen to someone we know personally. Sometimes we are devastated and discouraged and have a hard time coping. 

And then I start paying attention to the stories of strength, hope, and common decency that always spring up in response: ordinary people doing extraordinary things, neighbors going the extra mile with their kindness to offer comfort and service in times of need, strangers helping one another in crisis, treating each other the way you would hope someone would treat your parent or child if they were in such a dire circumstance and my faith in humanity is strengthened once again. I am grateful when people write those stories.

And that is why I write “slice of life” stories at the moment. My husband and I were foster parents for 12 years and fostered over 120 kids. Some of their stories are heartbreaking. When writing a book, new authors are often counseled to “write what you know into a book you would want to read.”

I deal with the dark subjects of child abuse and abandonment in my Ginnie West series in a way I hope empowers victims, abusers, and people who want to help both by providing a strong family who isn’t afraid to help others and share their strength with those that need it. The West family has known many trials and faced much sorrow, but at the end of the day, they stick together. 

I think we need more of that in our crazy world of little accountability for individual actions.

One day I may branch out to fantasy, but for now, the stories that call to me are the ones that mimic real-life heroes on the home front. I have 5 teenagers as well three older and four younger children. Life is tough, but I want my kids to know that they are tougher, and the way to get through life isn’t by hardening their hearts, but by treating others with the kindness we all desire.

Thanks for having me. Laugh lots … love much … write on.

Wise words - thank you so much, Monique! The reasons you write echo many of the same reasons I've written the stories I have.

Would you like an autographed, personalized copy? Visit Monique's page here to order:

http://moniquebucheger.blogspot.com/p/paypal-safer-easier-way-to-pay-online.html

Social networking links: 

Monique's blog:http://moniquebucheger.blogspot.com/, 

FB: http://www.facebook.com/monique.bucheger 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MoniqueBucheger

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Schedule for Ginnie West Adventure Series by Monique Bucheger

12/13/2012    http://www.dorinewhite.blogspot.com/2012/12/monique-bucheger-interview-with-author.html#more

12/19/2012    http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-secret-sisters-club-by-monique.html

   

12/21/2012    http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-secret-sisters-club-by-monique.html

12/28/2012    http://thethingsilovemost.blogspot.com/2012/12/ginnie-west-adventures-by-monique.htmlv

12/31/2012  http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-secret-sisters-club.html

1/2/2013   http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/2013/01/blog-tour-secret-sisters-club-and.html

 1/7/2013    http://www.bradenbell.com/bradens-blog.html

1/8/2013    cindymhogan.blogspot.com

1/9/2013    http://blog.juliereece.com/

1/11/2013    http://valeriesteimle.blogspot.com

1/12/2013   www.astorybookworld.blogspot.com

1/14/2013    www.ordinaryhappilyeverafter.com

1/15/2013    www.tristipinkston.blogspot.com

1/16/2013    http://www.kimberleygriffithslittle.blogspot.com/

  1/18/2013    http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/

1/21/2013    http://www.karen-hoover.blogspot.com/

1/22/2013    http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/

1/23/2013    http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/

1/23/2013   http://www.ldswomensbookreview.com/wordpress/

1/24/2013   

1/25/2013   

1/28/2013   

1/29/2013    http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/

1/30/2013    http://rachellewrites.blogspot.com/

1/31/2013    www.jlloydmorgan.com

1/31/2013    http://cranberryfries.blogspot.com/

2/1/2013    http://kbrebes.blogspot.com/

   

 

The Ghost Tour is Coming . . . and you don't want to miss it!

THE GHOST TOUR for my friend and crit partner Carolee Dean!!!

Begins Next Wednesday, October 3rd

right here on this blog! 

Scroll down for all the fabulous blog stops and a myriad of jewelry prizes!

A paranormal novel in verse - purchase here!!!

Coming October 3, 2012
The FORGET ME NOT Ghost Tour.

Visit the following exciting blogs to learn about the ghosts of Raven Valley High School, get sneak peaks of the poems, and win special book themed jewelry and other prizes (available to residents in the US and Canada only).

GHOST POSTS will go live on the dates below but until then you can check out these cool blog sites.

And be sure to watch the book trailer!

October 3
The Nine Circles of Raven Valley High (Poem):
Discover the connection between the Nine Circles of Raven Valley High and Dante's Inferno-Purgatorio. Discover which ghosts live where, and why.

Blogger: Kimberley Griffiths Little
Link: Kimberley's Wanderings

Prize: Forget Me Not bracelet (by Sherri Erler)

October 5
Paranormal Activity Video:
Watch Video footage of the Girls in the Stacks as they travel to RVHS looking for ghosts.

Bloggers: Girls in the Stacks
Link: Girls in the Stacks


Prize: Raven Necklace (by Shauna Mellady)

October 8
The History of Raven Valley High:
Find out about the history of the school as a convent, military institute, and private university, and then discover why it sat vacant for ten years.

Blogger: Brenda Drake
Link:

Prize: Raven Skull Earrings (By Shauna Mellady)

October 10
Interview with Elijah McCall:
Explore his fascination with Shakespeare (he spent a month speaking in iambic pentameter) and learn why he can see ghosts.

Blogger: Elana Johnson
Link: Elana's Blog

Prize: Shakespeare Mask Necklace (by Debi Hennigan)

October 12
Exclusive interview with the Ghost of Ernest Hemingway:
Ally Cassell records her experiences in a moleskine journal, just like Ernest used to do. Find out why he's the only one she can confide in.

Blogger: Lisa Schroeder
Link: Lisa's Blog

Prize: A Hand Painted Raven Journal (by Kristen Hodges)

October 16
Poe-Pac Mash Up:
A "Raven" inspired poem Ally wrote about 2Pac as a substitute teacher.

Blogger: Damaris Cardinali
Link: Good Choice Reading



Prize: 2Pac Poster and Poem (artwork by Christopher Jochens)

October 17
Raven Mania: Learn interesting pieces of Raven Mythology. Discover the names of the ravens that belonged to Odin, the Norse god of death and poetry and find out why they were referred to as Observation and Memory.

Blogger: Heidi
Link:Open Book Society
Prize: Observation and Memory Glass Bead Necklaces (by Debi Hennigen)

October 22
Interview with main character Ally Cassell:
Find out how she ended up trapped on the hallway and her plans for getting out.

Blogger: Kari Olsen
Link: A Good Addiction


Prize: Raven Feather Book Mark (by Shauna Mellady)

And if you live in Albuquerque, please come to the book launch party:

Alamosa Books

8810 Holly Ave. NE

Albuquerque, NM

505-797-7101

Saturday, Oct. 27

6:00-7:00 p.m.

music, food, costume contest,

raven trivia challenge, and prizes

Doesn't it sound awesome and spooky?? I mean, an interview with Hemingway and hunting for ghosts!!!

Mark your calendars! (And I've read the manuscript while Carolee was writing the book and it's FABULOUS!!! She is a rising literary rock-star!)

~Kimberley

Celebrate with me - it's Party Time!!!

 
Since this gorgeous little gem is now making its way into the world, I figured it was time to officially celebrate!

A FREE COPY OF THE SPOOKY, DELICIOUS Circle of Secrets HERE ON Blogger and a SECOND COPY on my LIVEJOURNAL account!


PLUS you can WIN: A Replica of the mysterious charm bracelet from the story! 

For Extra Entries, please blog about Circle of Secrets, Facebook or Tweet!  

Thank you, everybody, for your love and support and friendship! I went through several angsty, gut-wrenching years wondering if I'd ever get an agent or sell a book again. And it was because of all of *you* that I kept my faith and hope alive!

And for those that follow me closely, Circle of Secrets is the novel I wrote a year ago on Book Armageddon Deadline - in six weeks! So pleased and happy about it!

One of the first reviews on Goodreads blew me away a few days ago: 

"Hauntingly beautiful. Terrifying, yet compelling. One of the best Middle Grade novels I've read in years. Kimberley Griffiths Little is a master at bringing readers the perfect story with the exact flavor of the Bayou mixed in. I also recommend her previous novel, The Healing Spell." LuAnn Brobst Staheli, Teacher, Reviewer and Writer

Now that's the kind of review that makes you cry!!! 

 

Book Launch Parties!

So the partying keeps on going! It's been a great, blessed few weeks.

Here are some pictures from a book event at the brand new Tome Community Center near where I live. I met the woman who runs it when I spoke at the Los Lunas Library and I was their very first event at the center! I'm honored!

It was a delightful afternoon! I spoke, showed lots of pictures, we gave away cute plush baby gators, had food and punch, and played "Name The Gator" and the kids all got to take home pictures of the gators from the swamps.

UNFORTUNATELY, I did not get any pictures until it was all over! But here are a few of the room and the tons of balloons and the food and the cute girls and their grandmother who put the event together. We had a nice turn-out for such a small town, too. And I sold lots of books!







These cute pictures were on all the doors!





It got really windy as we left and the balloons were being quite unruly!




Since I'm six feet tall in my heels, I got down on my knees so I wasn't a giant next to these very cute girls.



THANK YOU Regina Griegos and the TOME DOMINGUEZ COMMUNITY CENTER!!!

IT'S HERE!!!

IT’S HERE!!!

After months of planning, preparation, hard work, and lots of waiting, The Healing Spell is finally on the shelves. So let’s celebrate!!!

Have a New Orleans French Beignet!
To help celebrate this momentous occasion I’m holding another

AWESOMESAUCE, BAYOU GET-DOWN, LET'S DANCE GIVEAWAY!

This is REALLY easy. 

Just post a comment and you're entered!  

If you want to tell your friends and family about it, go right ahead but it is *not* required. 
I just want to celebrate with y'all!  
 

The prize package contains:

1 Autographed copy of The Healing Spell by Kimberley Griffiths Little

1 Autographed copy of The Last Snake Runner by Kimberley Griffiths Little

1 copy of a Barbara O'Connor book - my favorite southern middle-grade writer! (Your Choice of Barb's Greetings from Nowhere or How To Steal a Dog or The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis)

1 Super Soft and Very Cute Plush Swamp Gator From Stuffed Safari

1 Giant bag of M&Ms

1 Box of Twizzlers

You have from July 1^st to July 15^th TO ENTER!

Turning the Conference Notebook Page . . .

If you missed my post last Friday about author Bree Despain's workshop on Paranormal Young Adult books, go here: Peek Into My Notebook . . .
Josi Kilpack is a Very Cute Author with lots of energy and enthusiasm and the writer of delicious romantic suspense who gave a great workshop on how to make your first Bookstore Booksigning or Book Launch Party a great success.

BEFORE THE LAUNCH PARTY:

1. When you're scheduling your book party, don't schedule more than two hours. Ninety minutes is even better. You don't want the party to lag and you don't want to get tired and feel yourself and your smile drooping. Ninety minutes is plenty of time to give your talk, do your dramatic reading, autograph books, visit with everyone and eat all that great food.

2. Door prizes are fun! Something simple and not too costly, but prizes give it a real festive air and get people excited to attend.

3. Guest List: Invite everyone you know, no matter where they live. You never know when they might be in town the day of your book signing and attend!

4. Send Invitations no more than two weeks before. People will forget if you send them out too early. Your invitations can be a postcard, a note on cardstock, flyers on community bulletin boards, your email list, Facebook Friend's list, Twitter, and an announcement through your website. Create a Facebook Event with details. (My own personal note: I get invitations to events on FB that have no details of location, town, address, or time of the event so don't forget those details!) Include On-line Ordering for those who can't attend the event.

5. Pace your Social Networking Announcements. Don't saturate announcements through your online venues and bore people or bug them with all the me, me, me talk.

6. Invite the Media. Send out invitations to librarians, teachers, the local newspaper and radio, other writers, neighbors, potential readers and past readers.

THE NIGHT OF THE LAUNCH PARTY: 

7. Dress For Success: Coordinate with your book cover! Not too formal (don't wear a cocktail dress and pearls unless that's the kind of party you're putting on and have let your guests know ahead of time, but truly, it's not needed for a book signing.) But not too casual (no jeans or jammies ot T-shirts).

8. Take full advantage of THE NIGHT! Have a sign-up email sheet for those who want to get on your mailing list.

9. Give each guest attention - make things positive. Let your guests know you were glad they were there. Don't be monopolized by your long-lost roommate from twenty years ago who wants to catch up and keep you in a corner.

AFTER THE PARTY IS OVER: 

10. Feel good about what you've done, the work you put into it, the time and money well spent. No Regrets! For those people who could not attend and ask how the book launch went, be enthusiastic and DO NOT bemoan all the people who didn't show up. Even if all you had was 5 people ACT AS IF IT WAS THE GREATEST NIGHT OF YOUR LIFE AND YOU HAD A FULL HOUSE. Your attitude and enthusiasm will infect your non-attendees to run out and get your book. And they won't miss your next party!

11. Send THANK YOU NOTES to the bookstore and its employees and all those friends and family who helped you out. Blog your Thank You's. Facebook Thank you's to all your attendees.

12. Evaluate: Do more people know about your book after your launch - whether they attended or not? Think about what you would do differently next time? What have you learned?

HAVE A GREAT BOOK LAUNCH AND HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!