Welcome C Becker

Fitting Words into a Neat Little Page

After a year of corresponding back and forth with my editor on the manuscript for Saving Euphoria, the time had come to push forward into the galley stage. I waited on pins and needles to see the layout in book format for the final proofing. Since Saving Euphoria is also in print, I wanted to be extra attentive and eliminate widow and orphan lines. If you haven’t heard of the terms, a widow is when the first line of a paragraph is left by itself on the bottom of a page. The orphan is when a solitary line is carried over to the top of the next page. Depending on your source, the two definitions may flip flop. Remember the old English rules about leaving two lines in a paragraph at the bottom and top of a page? The rules are out to haunt us again. Solitary lines are frowned upon because it leaves too much white space around that part of the page. Some publishers will allow the one line on the bottom of a page, but avoid the short line on top of the next page. Other publishers won’t allow either, and some aren’t bothered either way.

When I began my galley edits, I took the widows and orphans seriously. After all, this novel was my baby and I wanted it to look like all the other professional books on the market. Correcting all the one lines became a game. I started at the beginning and corrected each orphan and widow page as I found them. Sometimes I would find a shorter word, other times, I’d add in another word or two.  Page by page, chapter by chapter, I’d cross my fingers hoping to find a page or two that didn’t need adjusting. I worked on it for two weeks, but finally, came to the end. Such satisfaction! Each page on my novel follows the rules and avoids orphans and widows and the lines are still “squared off,” which is another story.

Most writers may never notice the typesetting on a page. If someone does notice a book that has orphans and widows, it might not even bother them. For me it sticks out like a sore thumb, which is why I corrected them. In the age of eBooks, widows and orphans don’t matter because when the font size in the screen changes, the lines with orphans and widows aren’t noticeable. For hard copy and paperback books, however, the formatting is obvious. Computer programs like Microsoft Word gives a writer the ability to control widow and orphan lines on documents. If you’ve never tried it, go to HOME tab, click on the tiny arrow under the Paragraph corner, click the tab for Line and Page Breaks, under Pagination, make sure you click Widow/Orphan control. It’s that easy. Now make sure the Line Alignment wasn’t altered in the process and you’re set! (That’s the line numbers matching on each pair of pages). The process helps to have a patient editor, like my fabulous editor, who will work with you. 

 

 

 

Blurb:

Hailey Langley and her children struggle to cope with the shocking and mysterious death of her husband Mark. Her teenaged son is rebelling, and Hailey is dealing with physical and mental challenges as well.

Tom Parker, Hailey's former partner from the Special Crimes Agency, comes back into her life. He warns her to trust no one even as he tries to rekindle the flame that connects them.

Everyone has secrets, even Parker, and some of those from the past threaten to destroy the present. Hailey fights to move forward after losing Mark, but she needs to figure out if she can trust Parker and risk taking another chance on love.

Excerpt:

He moved closer, his breath warming her face. “I don’t want to be a friend. I want more.”

Her eyes blurred. “It’s only been six months since Mark died.”

“Life goes on, Hailey. Mark’s gone.”

“Six months, Parker.” Tears burnt like acid splashing in her eyes. Six months was not nearly enough time to let go.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say it that way.” Parker reached over and held her hand.

The tenderness in his touch made an instant connection to her heart. Ashamed at her heart’s betrayal, she yanked her hand away and wiped a tear off her cheek.

He held her hand again and whispered. “I love you, Hailey. I always have. Somehow, life or fate, or whatever it is you want to call it, got in our way. I kept my distance when you married Mark, but I never stopped loving you.” He tightened his grasp on her hand. “Now I feel like an idiot because I waited too long.”

“Parker, please. I’m not sure I even want to get involved with someone again.”

“You’ve become so miserable. You’re a strong woman.” His face hardened. “Mark wouldn’t want you to waste your life grieving. He’d want you to go on—and at least try to be happy.” He caressed her cheek with his thumb. “I think deep down, you know it.”

Few people had her pegged so well. She bit her lip, “I do.”

Buy Links:

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09SVMXYZT

The Wild Rose Press: https://www.thewildrosepress.com/bookauthor/c-becker

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/saving-euphoria-c-becker/1141022852

iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/saving-euphoria/id1612065577

 

Bio:

C. Becker is the author of Finding Euphoria and Saving Euphoria. She is currently working on the third book to the Euphoria trilogy. As a medical technologist in a former career, Becker has never outgrown the attraction of using science in everyday life. 

When she’ s not writing, Becker enjoys hanging out with her family and Jack Russell, playing the piano, reading, and gardening.

Contact info:

Website https://cbeckerauthor.wixsite.com/cbeckerauthor

Twitter https://twitter.com/cbeckerauthor

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CBeckerauthor/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/beckercee/

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60471332-saving-euphoria

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/books/saving-euphoria-by-c-becker

Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/C.-Becker/e/B07NRWPWX3

 

Get to know C. Becker better by signing up for an email newsletter https://mailchi.mp/7a51fa024f7a/cbeckerauthor

 

Barnes & Noble Book Signing

I attended my first in-person book signing at Barnes & Noble over the weekend. My first in more than two years, I should add. Because, you know, COVID. I’ve been to a few outdoor festivals, but this was in an actual bookstore, with real readers, whose sole purpose was to buy books. It was a great signing for multiple reasons. 

 

1.     It let me get my feet wet after two years of embracing my introverted self. And it helped me overcome my anxiety of being social around people and talking about my books.

2.     It let me practice talking to readers and engaging them in conversations about books.

3.     It also let me practice all the other “Hi, I’m a romance author” actions necessary for participating in a book signing.

4.     I met the Barnes & Noble store managers. That’s key when you are an author and want to set up book signings in the future.

5.     Bonus: I met a radio personality!

 

And after two years of staying in my house, I needed the practice. Plus, I spent the afternoon with my critique partner and fellow author, who is always fun to be around. And, the Princess joined us, and gave us some much-needed feedback from a key demographic.

 

I’ll be at several other book signings this summer. Next up is the Morris County Authors event on June 4. In the meantime, I have branding and social media work to do. Plus writing, of course. Because this is a process that never ends!

 

* * *

 

Want to know where I’ll be? Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook!

 

And if you join my newsletter, subscribers who show up at events get special prizes.

Sale Alert!

Blurb

 

Lies. Betrayal. A blown undercover mission.

After ten years away, DEA agent Jarrett Brandt heads home to pay his respects to his deceased brother and hide out from the cartel kingpin who wants him dead. The last thing he needs is Marissa, his high school sweetheart, tempting him with her sassy smile and showing him the life he gave up. Add on his judgmental parents, and he’s ready to hit the road.

Widowed mom Marissa Reinn never had much luck with the Brandt boys. First Jarrett broke her heart, then she lost his brother—her husband—to a bullet. Vowing to uncover Jarrett’s secrets, she succumbs to the passion still burning between them instead.

When a team of assassins find him, Jarrett and Marissa will have to work together to survive and protect her son. How will they seize their second chance at love with their lives on the line?

 

Tagline – Rekindling the flames of love has never burned so hot.

 

Excerpt

 

“You can trust me, Jarrett. I won’t tell your parents anything you don’t want me to.” She sighed and stood as well. “You used to tell me everything. We never kept secrets.”

Jarrett paced between the coffee table and fireplace. “My parents’ opinion doesn’t matter. Dad would still throw up my juvie record or the fact that I’m not a cop, even if I was a model citizen. I’m not that lost, angry kid anymore. I know who I am now, and it’s not someone you’d want to know.”

“I disagree.”

“God, you don’t understand. Marissa, I’ve missed you so damn much. I’ve laid awake so many nights wondering what my life would’ve been like if I’d stayed here.” When he made love to other women, he imagined Marissa beneath him or above him, panting his name. When the nightmares of blood and gore faded, he dreamed of her. Those bittersweet memories and what if scenarios were almost worse than the nightmares. “I’ve done things I’m not proud of.”

“I hated you after you left, but I’ve gotten over it. Everyone feels regret and guilt over something. It’s all about being human.” She dashed away her tears. “I told you mine last night. Will you please show me the same courtesy?”

“I can’t.”

“At least tell me what you did last Christmas. Jason made it crystal clear that he didn’t want you alone. He wants you to have a tree.” She pointed at the Douglas fir. “Well, there you go. What did you do last year?”

Jarrett licked his dry lips, heat swelling in his cheeks.

He’d joined the Consuelo gang last December and spent the holiday in a slummy apartment with five thugs who sold cocaine on the streets of Albuquerque. Living around his drug of choice had nearly destroyed him.

“What about your last birthday?” Marissa blocked his path and braced her hands on her hips. “Did you have cake or go out with a bunch of buddies and get drunk? Did something horrible happen? Why won’t you tell me anything?”

He shoved a hand through his hair. “Damn it, Marissa. Yeah, I got drunk. A few of us went to a strip club where I fucked two dancers in a backroom. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

Her eyes widened as she stepped back.

Way to go, you fucking idiot. He brushed his shaky hands on his button-down shirt to steady them. “Marissa—”

She strode past him with a high head and left the room.

Her cold shoulder skewered him, but he didn’t deserve better.

 

Add to Goodreads - https://bit.ly/aherosheartgoodreads

Check it out on BookBub - https://bit.ly/aherosheartbookbub

 

Download Links

 

A Hero’s Heart is now on SALE for .99 cents. Deal lasts from May 1-31.

 

Amazon – https://bit.ly/aherosheartamazon

Barnes and Noble – https://bit.ly/aherosheartnook

Apple – https://bit.ly/aherosheartapple

Kobo – https://bit.ly/aherosheartkobo

Google Play – https://bit.ly/aherosheartgoogleplay

Universal link – https://books2read.com/aherosheart

 

About the Author

 

Amber Daulton is the author of the romantic-suspense series Arresting Onyx and several standalone novellas. Her books are published through Daulton Publishing, The Wild Rose Press, and Books to Go Now, and are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats. 

She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats. 

 

Social Media Links

 

Universal link – https://linktr.ee/AmberDaulton

Newsletter Sign Up (free ebook to new subscribers) – https://bit.ly/amberdaultonnewsletter

Barnes & Noble Signing

 Guess what? I've got a ton of in-person events scheduled--I even have masks with my logo on them--and I can't wait to see readers again! 

This Saturday I'll be at the Barnes & Noble in Woodland Park, NJ--for NJ people, this used to be Paterson--from 1-4 pm. I'll be there with my critique partner, Miriam Allenson. She also writes contemporary romance. Her books are fast-paced and quirky and you'll love them. I'll be signing A Reckless Heart and Unlock My Heart. And I'd love you to visit with me!

Even if you already have the books, autographed ones make great gifts for others! 

Hope to see you there!

Welcome, LB Griffin

Title: The Twenty-One-Year Contract
Tagline:
Only a simple shoebox, but with life-changing secrets…
 
The Twenty-One-Year Contract
Kathleen Gray—talented, a little wild, at times rebellious, but always popular—has a fun, easy life in rural Somerset, with a doting family. 
Suddenly, they are gone, everything is changed, and she has only Uncle Jack. Try as he might, he cannot be father and mother to her—he has a business to run and his own life to manage.
Kathleen takes a chance and becomes Kate Westfield, fending for herself in London, with a new life built on her hopes and dreams and new friends. She could hardly have imagined that one of those friends has a shoebox full of answers.
20^th Century fiction>romance>mystery>suspense>drama>thriller
 
The Twenty-One-Year Contract was inspired by a whole host of people I’ve been fortunate to know, teach, and work with over the years. My stories are based on courage and survival. The people I met don’t think or see themselves as courageous or survivors, but they sure are. 
 
SNIPPET FROM The Twenty-One-Year Contract 
‘After a glass of water, Jack made himself a cup of tea and returned to the job in hand. This was going to be much harder than he could ever have imagined. Working deep through the night, Jack methodically sifted through volumes of paperwork until light inched its way through the curtain. Though he felt thoroughly ready for bed, he continued searching, his aim to find at least a smidgen of information about his niece. Randomly tidying up as he went, Jack noticed an encyclopaedia oddly extended over one of the top shelves. He tried pushing it back into place. It was jammed. It looked awkward. Pulling it out to check the depth of the book, he found a box file hidden behind. Upon the side panel was one word, capitalized in thick bold lettering: KATHLEEN As the hazy sunlight grew, puzzled, Jack pulled the curtains to lend natural light, took the file off the shelf, sat back in Henry’s chair, and looked inside…’
 
A bit about the author:
There is one thing that LB Griffin loves more than writing, or travelling, and that is her family. She is happily married and lives in the UK surrounded by her family. She loves a good cup of tea and British strawberries, but always enjoy a glass of fizz. She has always worked around the full-time job to help to pay the bills. She held a variety of jobs which she believes has informed her characters honesty. She has worked in school kitchens, been a cleaner and bar work, was a secretary, social worker and Lecturer. When she submitted her debut Secrets, Shame and a Shoebox in 2020 she was planning to ‘trek’ the world. Her debut was released in 2021. The sequel, The Twenty-One-Year contract will be released late Spring 2022. Both books are standalone, but if you love Harriet, she will most definitely pop up in the Sequel.