Meet and Greet the Book Beat Babes

The Book Beat Babes are dedicated to providing you with the latest and greatest in the book industry, making our blog a must for any dedicated writer or reader.

Get to know us from our bios below. For more, click the Book Beat Babes left column pics, where you'll find handy links to our websites. 

Also, don't forget to check the Mark Your Calendars feature in the right column to keep abreast of our upcoming guests. You won't want to miss them!

SUNDAYS - DEBRA ST. JOHN

Debra St. John has been reading and writing romance since high school. She always dreamed about publishing a romance novel some day. Her dream came true when she started writing sultry contemporary romance with sexy heroes and spunky heroines for The Wild Rose Press. Although she's a country gal at heart, she lives in a suburb of Chicago with her husband, who is her real life hero.

She is the author of The Corral Series, which includes her debut release, This Time for Always, a Champagne Rose and Rosebud bestseller at The Wild Rose Press. The second book in the series, This Can't Be Love, was Love Romance Cafe's Best of 2010 Contemporary Winner. This Feels Like Home will complete the series when it releases in January.

Her holiday stories include A Christmas to Remember, An Unexpected Blessing (Thanksgiving), and The Vampire and the Vixen for Halloween.

Wild Wedding Weekend completes her bookshelf.

MONDAYS - C.A. (CHRIS) VERSTRAETE
Christine Verstraete is an award-winning journalist and author who enjoys writing the unusual. Her stories have been featured in several anthologies including Timeshares and Steampunk'd from DAW Books, and in Darlings of Decay and The Tall Book of Zombie Shorts. Her new book, GIRL Z: My Life as a Teenage Zombie, came out in August. Learn more at http://cverstraete.com and her blog, http://girlzombieauthors.blogspot.com.

buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Girl-My-Life-Teenage-Zombie/dp/0979478898?&linkCode=wss&tag=cverboomin-20

In Miniature Style II ebook: http://tinyurl.com/6kmt4ya

TUESDAYS - BOOK BEAT BABES BIOS

WEDNESDAYS - MORGAN MANDEL 
Morgan Mandel’s not only addicted to reading and writing romances,  mysteries, and science fiction, but also can’t stop herself from hanging out on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and other social media sites. She confesses to getting Good Paul, her husband, also hooked on Facebook and Youtube. When she’s not indulging in those addictions, she’s out walking her dog, Rascal, going to local festivals, or hunting for finds at rummage and garage sales.

Since she loves escaping into a fun, romantic story, she offers the same to her readers in her releases, Her Handyman, and her other chick lit, Girl of My Dreams.

Morgan's serious side is evidenced in her latest release, the Blessing or Curse Collection of 5 short stories, the sequel to her thriller, Forever Young: Blessing or Curse. Before that, came her romantic suspense, Killer Career, and her Chicago-based mystery, Two Wrongs.

Morgan’s websites: http://www.morganmandel.com & http://www.chicklitfaves.com
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/morganmandel

THURSDAYS - DL (DEB) LARSON

DL Larson always thought she’d be a city girl, but instead, she has spent the last 40 years surrounded by corn fields.  She lives in northern Illinois and enjoys the outdoors, especially gardening, and hanging out with her family that continues to grow.

Reading is a big part of DL’s life, both professionally as a writer and as a Children’s Librarian. 

She likes being in the know, seeing firsthand what folks like to read.  Going back to school as an adult rejuvenated her desire to become a novelist.  The writing awards she received lifted her up and reinforced her drive to tell the best story she could.  Her second novel, Promises To Keep was a 2008 Reader’s Choice Recipient. Her latest release, Promises My Love, has received great reviews and is available on Amazon.com in e-book or book form.

DL is a WindyCity member of RWA. 

Visit DL Larson's website at http://www.dllarson.com and connect with her on

Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/DL-Larson/207514909372586

DL's Books are available at her Amazon Author Page:

http://www.amazon.com/DL-Larson/e/B00DVQLB30/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

FRIDAYS - TERRI MORRIS

Over the past two decades Terri Morris has been a frequent presenter and writer on tax and business issues for writers.   Writing as Annie Bruce, she published her first work of fiction in the fall of 2012 – a romantic suspense set in the Chicago area.  Annie Bruce is the name of her great-great grandmother who was married to Wallace Bruce, a world-renowned poet and scholar in the late 19^th and early 20^th century.  Terri is very proud of her Scottish heritage but just can’t choose a favorite Scotch because there are too many wonderful ones available.  Determined to continue sampling to narrow down the possibilities she, however, remains conflicted about Haggis.

SATURDAYS -  MARGOT JUSTES
Born in Poland, Margot Justes has lived in some of the world's most wonderful places, including Israel, France and South Africa. Currently living in the Midwest, she has taken her love of art and travel and cultivated it into unique settings and stories for her writing, 2007 brought her a contract for her first novel A Hotel in Paris.

A Hotel in Bath was released in February 2013, and Margot is currently working on her third book in the hotel series, set in Venice, Italy. 

She finished her first paranormal novel Blood Art, released in September 2013, and is hard at work on another one. 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Art-ebook/dp/B00FWA8YMO/

Barnes and Noble: 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-art-margot-justes/1117138799?ean=2940148376415

Margot Justes is a Member of Romance Writers of America, and is a past president of the Chicago North RWA Chapter and the Chicago Chapter of Sisters in Crime.

She loves to hear from readers.
mjustes@earthlink.net

Posted by Morgan Mandel - Blog Owner, Who's Excited to Be Part of Such a Great Blog Team!

P.S.  Comments are Always Appreciated! 

Welcome Award Winning Author, Dyanne Davis! by DL Larson

Dyanne Davis is a Multi-Published, Award Winning author of 16 novels. She has written dozens of articles for on-line magazines. She was one of the authors for the Premier Edition of, New Love Stories, magazines. Dyanne lives in a Chicago suburb with her husband of 43 years, William Sr.

She has been a presenter of numerous workshops.
She hosts a local cable television show in her hometown, “The Art of Writing,” to give writing tips to aspiring writers. Interviewing some of her favorite authors, LA. Banks, Robin Schone, Donna Hill, Melody Thomas, Ann Marcela, Cathie Linz, Jade Lee, Jenna Petersen and many more has been the highlight of doing the show. You can catch some of the clips on Youtube.

Her first novel, The Color of Trouble, was released July of 2003. The novel was received with high praise and several awards. Dyanne won an Emma for Favorite New Author of the year.

In February 2007, Misty Blue was a finalist for best cover and best romance sequel. Dyanne was a finalist for author of the year. Misty Blue garnered an Emma win for best book cover.

Dyanne writes under a pseudonym for her vampire series. Her first vampire novel, In the Beginning, was released in June of 2007 under the name of F. D. Davis.

Dyanne has a local cable show in her hometown to give writing tips to aspiring writers.

Dyanne also writes a vampire series under the name of F. D. Davis. You can reach her at:
davisdyanne@aol.com. 
www.dyannedavis.com 
adamomegavampire@aol.com
www.adamomega.com

An Interview with Dyanne:
1. You were a nurse for many years, what inspired you to turn to writing?

I've always written in one form or the other. I started reading at four and always wanted to be able to create my own stories. I tried many times to submit badly written work to magazines and book editors. After receiving rejections, there would be huge chunks of time where I wouldn't write at all. It wasn't until I joined RWA and Windy City that I learned the craft of writing. And more importantly, I learned how to develop a thick skin, how to take rejections. I was where I needed to be, with a group of writers who were going through the same things. We also had published authors in the chapter who gave us encouragement and the drive to continue. Not to name drop but I'd like to pay homage to a few of them, as they were very important in my writing career and to many of the other writers in our chapter who went on to become published.

Cathie Linz, the self proclaimed mother hen of the group who has given so much encouragement to all of us. I respect her and love her probably more than she will ever know. Then there's Lindsay Longford (aka Jimmie) When I sold my first book the editor wanted me to take something out, I refused because Jimmie had loved it. Later when I told Jimmie about it, she called me crazy, and advised me to always listen to my editor. Myrna Mackenzie and Margaret Watson were very giving of their time. Then we have our three time Rita winner, Susan Elizabeth Philips. At one of my very first meetings she asked me what genre I was writing and who I was targeting my work to. To me she was speaking Greek. I was just writing. LOL.

Of course that was almost seventeen years ago. Hopefully you can tell how influential ALL of the members of Windy City were in my career. They were my learning center, my support, and my inspiration.

2. Tell us about your TV show. How did you come up with the idea of interviewing writers?


The Art of Writing, is a cable show that is done in a state of the art studio, in Bolingbrook IL. My husband, Bill, is the producer. About nine years ago, Jennifer Stevenson of Chicago North was at an author fest in Bolingbrook, and Bill was filming it. She asked Bill to develop a show for romance writers. Several of us thought it was a good idea. I was assigned to badger Bill into doing it. At the time, then Chicago's number one female D.J of WGIC, Niki Woods, young and beautiful was going to be the host. I would pull guests from Windy City and Chicago North. Bill thought it best that I co-host just in case. During that time Nikki was super busy and much sought after so I reluctantly agreed. LOL. Turns out Bill had been seeing into the future on that one. Nikki was only able to do three shows. I've been doing the show for eight years now.

It has been one of my greatest joys. I am in awe of the amount of talent and never tire talking to writers. I love how their minds works, how their creative process mimic or differ from mine. And I totally enjoy showing my little corner of the world, that romance writers are so much more than viewers may have thought.

I have interviewed New York Times, and USA Today best selling, authors. I have interviewed Emma award winners (of which I am one. YEAH) and every writing award you can name. I've interviewed writers whose work I've loved, L.A, Banks, Robin Schone, Jade Lee, DL Larson. I've interviewed every writer at Windy city published and yet to be published who were brave enough to come on the show. I had Todd Stone, author of Boot Camp for writers, in a kilt, Philip E. Clark, a wonderfully gifted numerologist. Cindy Muntz, with so much positive energy it makes me smile just writing her name. She's a psychic medium and clairvoyant. She's also writing a book. There has not been one guest I haven't enjoyed. I even had Sarah Stone, the only guest who did a concert. If I continued on with the names I'd be writing until next week. Oh, what the heck. LOL. These are some of the authors who have graced me with their presence. And I want to publicly thank them and all of the rest. Seriously, I was told I didn't have a word count….but…..

Simone Elkeles, Barbara Keaton, Lisa G. Riley, Deadri King Bey, Earl Sewell, Ann Clay, Kathy Thigpin, Cathie Lintz, Ann Macela, Adrienne Giordano, Wendy Byrne, Luisa Buehler, Jenna Peterson, Jess Michaels, Melody Thomas, Kelle Z. Riley, Jackie (Wallis) Blythe Gifford, Tracey Devlyn, Denise Swanson, Mary Jo Burke, Margaret Watson, Allie,a Keena Kincaid, Susan Gibberman, Tom Hernandez.

3. You're an award winning novelist with 16 books to your credit! Tell us about your writing career and what book is your most memorable for you?

Make that seventeen novels, and eight novella! I was trying to think which so far would be most memorable and I think I'll say my second novel, because as writers we stress so hard over being a one book wonder. Also I learned a lot of great lessons from that book. I got lost in the telling of it and gave it over to the secondary characters. My three brilliant critique partners pointed it out to me, and of course by then I knew it as well. But that was the way my muse was giving it to me and I liked it. When my editor received it she politely told me the same things my critique partners had, but she also said the publisher had contracted for a romance, not a story about a brother and sister and that if I wanted the sister to have a story I should write her one. (I thought I already had) LOL. Anyway, because of my editor's forcing me to give all the great scenes to the heroine I received a contract for the third book, which was my first 4 star review from Romantic Times. My lesson: Do not allow secondary character to run away with the story.

4. What is your writing regimen? Do you use an outline or let your characters take you on a journey? Do you write everyday? Are you a morning or evening writer? Tell us!

Hmmm. My writing regime? Generally I work on at least two things at once. I'm a pantser so I almost never use an outline. The exception: My paranormals. I was forgetting who was in it and details about the characters. Because of it being a series, I had to have some continuity, especially about things such as eye color.

5. How do you reward yourself for your accomplishments?

I don't really reward myself I just start another project. I guess I should answer that by saying I don't deny myself anything before the accomplishment.

6. What are you reading right now? Who are some of your favorite authors?

Right now I'm reading a novel written by the son of my all time favorite vampire's writer's (Anne Rice) son, Christopher Rice. I'm only two pages in. Oh I just thought of a reward I give myself. When I write so many hours I reward myself by reading larger chunks of whatever book I'm reading instead of the snippets I do during little breaks. And I always have a book to read. I don't know how to survive a day without reading. Books are all over my house, in my car and in both bathroom. TMI…but I don't like idle time. I have to read.

7. How did you make the transition to sci-fi romance? Did you have to change your name or did you want to?

I don't really write sci-fi per say. I hate the idea of world building, for me it's too much info to remember. I write paranormal, vampires, demons, ghosts, and psychics. I use F.D. Davis because my readers were used to me writing romance. Readers will become very angry if they buy your book expecting one thing and get something else. It was because of L.A. Banks that I decided to go with my initials. Some readers of her vampire series may not even be aware that she began her career writing romances.

8. What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

For aspiring writers I would say first and foremost to finish the book. Then try as hard as you can to get a thicker skin.

9. Any other comments you'd like to share?

As a writer, it's not a necessity for you to attend, workshops, conferences, or to join RWA and a local chapter. But the support, the love, the learning, and to be with other writers who know the pain of rejections and will share in your hard won victories, is something that is worth more than the cost of belonging to RWA, It's like being in a family.
Thank you Dyanne!

Connect with Dyanne at:

davisdyanne@aol.com. 

www.dyannedavis.com 

adamomegavampire@aol.com

www.adamomega.com

Please leave a comment to welcome Dyanne Davis to Book Beat Babes!

Happy Turkey Day! by DL Larson

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I just got home from a day with family! It was wonderful, rowdy and good to see relatives I see only a few times a year. Tomorrow, my family will be coming to my house and we will do the same thing all over again.

This time of year may be hectic, but my family does hectic pretty darn good. Most of my family will not be participating in Black Friday shopping. I decided long ago there isn't anything I need that badly to fight crowds or stand in long lines. I know, I know, bargains are falling off the shelves, coupons over-flow the newspapers and extra attendants are in place at the stores. Still, I prefer to stay home on Black Friday.

Now, on Saturday, I plan to venture out. It's "Small Business Day" on Saturday. It's a day to stop at your local stores and give them some business too! Business as in purchase something! Small businesses compete with the large super-chain stores all year long and I'm glad they have their own special day now. Small businesses built this great country and although prices may be cheaper elsewhere, I plan to shop at small businesses on Saturday. I enjoy the neighborhood atmosphere, unique gifts and friendly clerks.

Regardless where you shop this weekend, be safe, be wise, and may the shopping fairy always be close by to help you pick out exciting presents for your loved ones.

Til next time ~

DL Larson
www.DLLARSON.com