Today I am so pleased to welcome Elle Keaton to Joyfully Jay. Elle has come to talk to us about her latest release, Spring Break. She has also brought along a great giveaway. Please join me in giving Elle a big welcome!
Spring Break releases this Friday, I am both excited and nervous. Really nervous. This is only the third time I’ve been through this and I have terrible nerves, again. Ugh.
Don’t get me wrong, the writing gig is fun. Really, really, fun.
When setting out to write about an imaginary town and the folks that inhabit it, I didn’t expect to be quite so invested. It is imaginary, I made it up! But, I dream about it as if it was real. The characters are quirky and complicated, they make me laugh, cry, and pound the keyboard in frustration. Come on, kiss already!
All my books have an element of reality in them. In Western Washington Geoduck smuggling is a real problem and (quick go do a search) they are really ugly. I’m not one to yuck other people’s food but…not in my mouth. That said, I did see a Geoduck ceviche recipe that looked delicious. Washington State loses millions of dollars in revenue every year as well as a natural resource due to smuggling and since they take up to six years to reach maturity their population is declining. Scientists have found some live to be least one hundred years old—I don’t know how; did they ask it?
As a new author one of the most satisfying aspects of a book release is discovering what it was about the book that spoke to the multitude of readers out in the universe. I know what and who I like when I write and, so far, it has never been the same as another reader. We all come to art (writing is art, don’t get me started there) informed by our own preferences and life experiences. I love the diversity of readers and what they bring away from a story—what makes it the story THEY read. My favorite conversations are with readers about my characters and….I always learn something I had missed — even though I wrote them!
Series are comfort reads for me; potato chips and ice cream – Geoduck ceviche and tortilla chips? As a reader, I absolutely love to revisit old friends in new stories and see how they are doing. Not only to I like to revisit, I absolutely love to re-read, I find something new each time no matter how many times I have read something. Thinking back over the past few years of reading I came up with a mental list of series that not only do I (impatiently) wait for the next installment, I reread the series’ each time a new one is published.
Thank you stopping by today and helping me celebrate the release of Spring Break.
What are readers’ favorite series (of any genre)?
Do you re-read? Who?
What motivates you to try out a new author?
Excerpt
“Look, he seems to like you.”
Sterling squinted at the crazy man.
“Okay, tolerate might be a better word, but that says a lot. He’s not an easy guy to get to know. He doesn’t let his guard down very often.” Adam sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. Definitely crazy.
“Why me?” He did not sound like a whiny bitch.
“For all the reasons I said. Plus, I am going on this goddamned vacation, but I can’t if Weir is here alone. The hotel he’s staying in isn’t going to cut it. He doesn’t have anybody to help him out, all right? Plus, stairs. It works out, too, because if you guys are around Micah will quit worrying about his psycho cat. It’s the perfect solution. Also, I won’t tell the SkPD that you weren’t first at the scene.”
Sterling gaped.
“Shut your mouth, you’re gonna catch flies.”
Sterling shut his mouth.
“So, am I calling Micah and letting him know it’s a done deal, or what?”
“Fine. But this is ridiculous. We don’t know each other.”
“By the end of it both of you will have a new friend; isn’t that sweet?”
Sterling wanted to strangle Adam. If the man weren’t built like a brick shithouse, he might seriously consider it. He had a bar to take care of, a sister to keep an eye on, and other shit he was barely getting a handle on.
Blurb
Sometimes a guy needs a break. Carroll Weir got one–but it wasn’t what he expected.
All he wants is to escape dreary, damp Skagit, WA, for a warmer climate. Instead Federal Investigator Carroll Weir is assigned to a cross-agency case involving geoduck smugglers and a very dead Fish and Wildlife Detective.
Sterling Bailey, the regular bartender at the Loft, likes to think of his customers and employees as family since he doesn’t have his one of his own. Exhausted and tense, Carroll Weir wanders in one night and one thing leads to another. All in a night’s work, right?
Who murdered Fish and Wildlife Detective Peter Krystad? Does the killer have Weir in his sights? Things heat up between them but Sterling and Weir will have to move past their personal history in order to change the course of their future.
The spark burning between them is hot enough to scald, unless they’re careful somebody’s going to get burned.
*HEA No cliffhanger
*Intended for a mature audience, 18+
Bio
Author, photographer, rare Pacific Northwest Native, Elle grew up in Seattle, WA., with the Cascade Mountain range to the east and Olympics to the west. Less than two hours northwest lie the majestic San Juan Islands. To the northeast is the Methow Valley and the scrub deserts of Eastern Washington. Geography ripe with material.
Elle’s series Accidental Roots, mostly set in the Skagit Valley of Western Washington, made its debut spring of 2017. Writing has always been a passion but not something she was able to take seriously until recently. Now her head is full of ideas and not enough time in each day.
Giveaway
Elle has brought a copy of Spring Break to give away to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Saturday, June 10th at 11:59 pm EST.
- By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
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- Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
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- Void where prohibited by law.
Welcome, Elle, and congratulations on the release of Spring Break. I enjoyed Storm Season and have your second book sitting on my Kindle awaiting the right moment.
You asked some questions above ~ I do enjoy series. Some I’ve enjoyed are J.D. Robb’s … in Death titles, Thea Harrison’s Elder Races books, and the Cut and Run series by Urban and Roux plus many more. Do I re-read? Yes, all the time. Most recently I’ve been re-reading Patricia Briggs’ Alpha and Omega series; I also recently re-read Cooper West’s two Guardsmen books. What motivates me to try a new author? Curiosity. Also a good recommendation. Affordability helps.
Congratulations on your release! XD
Hi Elle congratulations on your upcoming release the book sounds really good and I’m adding it to my wish list. What are readers’ favorite series (of any genre)?: I read nearly every genre but mostly M/M and My Favourite series are in particular order and all M/M
“BOATK” by TJ Klune Contemporary
“Hellgate” by Mel Keegan Sci Fi series.
“Cambridge Fellows Mysteries” by Charlie Cochrane Historical
Charlie Cochet’s “Thirds” Paranormal.
Do you re-read? Who?:
The authors that I re-read a lot is apart from the authors above Amy Lane is a real favourite her “If I Must” and “Do-Over” are great books to read when I’m feeling down
What motivates you to try out a new author?: If I decide to try a new author its often the reviews from my favourite blogs sites and I have to be honest and say it’s often the price of the book.
Hi Elle, congrats on your release!
I’m an equal opportunity reader: I read most genres/subgenres. Mostly M/M these days.
What are my favorite series? There are so many, it would take forever to list them all.
I do some re-reads mostly my tried & true favorites: Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels series, Chis Owen/Jodi Payne’s Deviations series, Heidi Cullinan’s Love Lessons series.
The majority of my reading selection is done by challenge categories so I pick my next book based on what fits the particular category I’m trying to fill. I buy based on my wishlist (from blog tours & friends’ recs), price deals, & favorite authors.
I cannot wait to read this one. I love this type of book.
Congrats on your book release Elle!
Mostly these days I just read m/m fiction. I do re-read but only when I get the urge otherwise a read any book that catches my fancy. I like to reread my favorites at least once a year. My favorites are Mystic and Rider by Sharon Shinn, the Nine Kingdoms series by Lynn Kurland, A Matter of time by Mary Calmes, and the list just keeps going.
Congrats on the release! It sounds really interesting as I was for a while addicted to the Game Warden shows on Animal Planet.
I do re-read all the time, mostly comfort reads, but certainly favorite authors as well. The series that I commonly go back to are those by Mary Calmes, TJ Klune, Heidi Cullinan, JL Merrow and Cardeno C. New authors are difficult – sometimes I find them through friends’ recommendations, and sometimes from ARCs.
Congratulations on the release, Elle! And thank you for the interesting post… I did not know about Geoducks…
As for your questions, I am a re-reader, I love reading the books I like once and again. I’ve read the Adrien English Series by Josh Lanyon so many times I can recite whole parragraphs by heart. Some books become comfort reads, as Muscling Through by JL Merrow, so I read them every time I feel down. As for trying new authors, I normally choose them if the blurb/cover of the book looks interesting, and the reviews from the blogs I trust sound promising 😉
I have quite a few series I re-read often. Whybourne and Griffin by Jordan L. Hawk, BDB by J.R. Ward and Purrfect Mates by Joyee Flynn just to name a few! Sometimes I just need the comfort of knowing exactly what I’m getting into.
It’s simple really. I NEED book 3 PLEASE!!!
Congrats on your release! I have tons of series that I follow (and I’m always behind, lol). I try new authors when I like both the blurb and the excerpt and the price is right! I tend to re-read multiple folks like Kaje Harper, JD Robb, Thea Harrison, and many more!
I hope it gets less nerve-wracking to have a new release but it never gets old (0;
I re-read constantly! Josh Lanyon has several series that I’ve re-read many times over the years…Adrien English Mysteries, Holmes & Moriarity, All’s Fair series, Art Of Murder series. She’s got tons of books and almost all are re-readers for me.
Also LB Gregg has a series, Albright & Romano, that I’ve probably read 20 times. They never get old.
I’ve been a re-reader since I was a child. 🙂
I think I tend to choose new books by the blurb (but sometimes blurbs are really good and the book is REALLY BAD), and by trusted reviewers. A good price doesn’t hurt. 🙂