Happy Birthday to Us and U.S. too!

Happy Birthday to Mocha Memoirs Press!



If you've been a part of Mocha Memoirs for the last four years, you know that July is our BIRTHDAY Month! Not only is this the month of the United States' birth, but also ours.

Mocha Memoirs Press began in 2001, but reopened our doors in July 2010 with the hope of spotlighting fantastic fiction in the genres of science fiction, horror, fantasy, and romance. Since we’re giving gifts, it’s Christmas in July! What’s in our holiday sack?

Gift #1-New fiction! Four new titles will launch our TOIL, TROUBLE, AND TEMPTATION line.

Gift #2- MMP GIFT bag. It will include the following:

1.      A sample of our books (both horror anthologies, a science fiction title, two erotic romance titles, and a fantasy title).

2.      A MMP tee-shirt.

3.      A MMP journal to write down your own inspiring ideas.

4.      Starbucks® coffee

5.      Other surprise goodies.

6.      All will be contained in a MMP cloth bag or be spilling out of it.  

(You have to sign up for the MMP Newsletter at http://eepurl.com/Yjas1).

Gift #3-Black Friday sale in the summer-All Christmas and holiday stories are .99!

Gift #4-Sizzling Deals for HOT summer nights-All erotic romance titles are $2.99 or LESS! With many below $2.00!

Gift #5-Select science fiction, fantasy, and horror titles are $1.00 or 0.99.

 

$.99  or $1 Horror, SF, and Fantasy titles:

• Drink My Soul by Rie Sheridan Rose
• Descent into Madness by Michael LaRocca
• Still Another Day by Janet Eckford
• Dragon’s Champion by Wynelda Ann Deaver
• Huntress by Siobhan Kinkade
• The Soul Cages by Nicole Givens Kurtz

 

So, join us in the fun!

 

Nicole Givens Kurtz

Owner

 

Valjeanne Jeffers stops by to chat

What is your main characters name?

My name is Priscilla Abigail Changeling

Does she have a nicknames/pet names?

My close friends call me “Butterfly”

What was your life like growing up?

I don’t remember much from my childhood since I’m not from this world. Many of my memories were washed away and remain very foggy. I did spend some years in an orphanage before I was later adopted by a maiden aunt, Gertrude Evening. When I was 18 while I was being educated governess, she disappeared into and another magical being took her place. . . watching over me from the shadows.

Before your story began, what were your hopes for the future?

I just wanted to be normal—I wanted to be able to get angry or cry without strange things sprouting from my back! I wanted to work as a governess for family without being harassed by my male employers. After all, I can’t help the way I look, now can I?

What changed that?

The day Mrs. Flanagan fired me a new world was revealed to me. . . a world of erotic delights and freedom. On that day the other Tishri came to me and showed me the path so that I could be reunited with those of my kind, those lost to me when I was a child.

How would you describe your personality?

I am an even tempered young woman, rather prim and prudish. . . except when I am aroused. Then I become a wild thing! Once I am unbound I can’t control myself and I don’t want to.

How would you describe your looks?

My long face is a comely shade of sepia and I have large hazel eyes. My beasts are full, my is waist small and my hips rounded. I try to disguise my womanly figure with loose clothing (because of my jealous female employers) but it never helps.

What’s your greatest talents?

I speak four languages, French, Italian, Swahili, and German. I’ve been educated in Astrology, Classical Literature and Geometry. But my greatest talent is my love of life and willingness to learn and accept new things. I am strong too—much stronger than I look.

Who are your closest friends?

The other, Tishri, and my lover, Luis. Both helped me remember who I truly am

Who do you love?

Luis, a man unlike any I have ever known. He found me in our dreams. . . and the author of my story, Valjeanne Jeffers.

Who do you hate, and why?

’

What do you think is going to happen next?

I will live with beings like me and visit Earth from time to time; whenever I chose to.

What do you think of your author?

I believe Valjeanne knows just what men and women desire most of all: freedom. . . and to love and be loved.

Did she get your story right?

She certainly did!

Do you want another story to show what happened next?

Hmmm, what an intriguing idea! Perhaps, so that human folks could know more about us— but not too much. I would also like to see more of writings about me and my lover, Luis’s erotic adventures. We might even decide to live as humans for awhile . . .

But that is another story.

Blurb:

Priscilla has reached a crossroads. Her spells are becoming more frequent. She can't continue to pass for human—not without making a decision that would turn her into a zombie. Does she embrace her unearthly power or turn her back on it forever? If she refuses her birthright, she'll be ordinary, human. It would also mean bidding farewell to the gorgeous denizen who visits her each night, taking her to otherworldly heights of pleasure.

Excerpt:

Priscilla, a sepia-skinned young woman with large hazel eyes, leaned against

the servants' entrance of the brick house, trying not to cry again. Her bosom heaved

with conflicting emotions...outrage, anger and fear.

I did everything I could to stay out of his way! The man's been chasing me around the

house since I got here!

The young woman remembered the harsh words, from just minutes ago,

between her and her former employer, Mrs. Emily Flanagan. Their argument had

ended in Priscilla's tears and dismissal.

Priscilla felt her cheeks flame. An instant later, there was the familiar warming

sensation between her shoulder blades that always accompanied strong emotion. Her

shoulders bunched and seemed to grow in size, pushing against her corset. Priscilla bit

her lip hard and took deep breaths, trying to steady her nerves.

Mrs. Flanagan had found her husband, the honorable Judge Herbert Flanagan,

pinning Priscilla against the wall, trying to grope her. It wasn't the first time Judge

Flanagan had done this. But it was the first time Mrs. Flanagan had caught him.

Buy link: http://mochamemoirspress.com/mocha-faeryland-31-days-of-steamy-mocha/

Author's Bio

Valjeanne is the author of Immortal, Immortal II: The Time of Legend, Immortal III: Stealer of Souls, The Switch II: Clockwork (includes books I and II), Immortal IV: Collision of Worlds and several short works of fiction.

Her writing has appeared in numerous anthologies including: Steamfunk!, Griots: A Sword and Soul Anthology, PurpleMag, Genesis Science Fiction Magazine, Pembroke Magazine, Possibilities, 31 Days of Steamy Mocha, Griots II: Sisters of the Spear (in press), Drumvoices Revue, Say It Loud: Poems About James Brown, The Ringing Ear: Black Poets Lean South and Liberated Muse: How I Freed My Soul Volume I (also under Valijeanne Jeffers and Valjeanne Jeffers-Thompson).

Valjeanne Jeffers is a graduate of Spelman College, a member of the Carolina African American Writers' Collective and The Traveling Round Table of Fantasy Bloggers. She works as an editor for Mocha Memoirs Press and is also co-owner of Q and V Affordable editing. Preview or purchase her novels at: http://www.vjeffersandqveal.com

Ten Successful Authors Speak to You

You have to be a reader to be a writer, at least that's what I always thought. You have to read the styles of others, find out what you enjoy, find out what you don't enjoy and mold/craft your own style to showcase your unique voice.

It's also important to read in many different genres to see what other writers are doing with different subjects. Ed McBain, the author of the 87^th Precinct series, had a writing style that was short and to the point, but also delivered a lot of information in very few words. His word pictures were easy to imagine because he provided just enough detail. Same goes for Robert B. Parker, Raymond Chandler, and some of Octavia Butler's works.

C.S. Lewis has a markedly different style. Where as Ed McBain is quick and hard-bitten, I find that C.S. Lewis offers a softer, more descriptive style. He sets you firmly in his scene and continues to add nuances of smell, sight and sound even as you read. When you finish reading a scene in his books, its almost as if you've been there.

Alice Hoffman is the magical word spinner, the one who transports you with the unique juxtaposition of her words and usage. She puts two disparate things together, writes about words cutting your tongue and people smelling of burnt lemon sugar.

These authors wrote in whatever style spoke to them – and you should too.

Ten quotes from successful authors – some about writing and some not...

"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. " — Raymond Chandler

"If your writing doesn’t keep you up at night, it won’t keep anyone else up either".— James M. Cain

"Writer's block? I've never heard of a plumber complain about plumber's block." — Robert B. Parker

"Avoid Prologues. They can be annoying, especially a prologue following an introduction that comes after a foreword." — Elmore Leonard

"If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot." — Stephen King

“Books may well be the only true magic.” ― Alice Hoffman

"You can make anything by writing." — C.S. Lewis

“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” ― Madeleine L'Engle

"First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you're inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won't. Habit is persistence in practice." — Octavia E. Butler
The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say. --Anaïs Nin

Bonus:  Never be afraid to sit a while and think.--Lorraine Hansberry

Find me on the web.

Guest blogger Author Nikki Prince

Hello all I thought I would just introduce myself this first time.  My name is Nikki Prince and I became a author for Mocha Memoirs Press last July 2012 when they published my short story Mocha Kisses for their 31 Days of Steamy Mocha submission call.  A little bit about that later.

I'm a mother of two who developed a love for reading and writing romance at the early age of 12.  From the first moment I picked up a Mills and Boon romance (British part of Harlequin), I was hooked.

I still have the first story I started (no I didn't finish it, but perhaps one day I will) when I decided I could do it just like the authors I was reading at the time. Yep, I thought if they can do it I could do it.  Long story short through my life's journey, working, having kids, traveling etc., I was finally able to settle down long enough last year and get my first book published with Mocha Memoirs Press. It's a short story called Mocha Kisses and it's a best seller at All Romance Ebooks!

It's been an exciting ride since last July when Mocha Kisses was published.  I love the Mocha Memoirs Press family from the Publisher, the authors and to the readers.  I can expect that the reader can look for some exciting reads to come out from this Publisher!

Now let me tell you a little about Mocha Kisses.  It's a 4000 word short and it features friends turned lovers Meredith and Ronan meet up over books and latte's. Be warned this isn't a tame love story...it's as hot as it is short!


Blurb:

Two mocha lattes and a pact.
Though a decade apart in age and from different ethnic backgrounds, will their mutual love of books and addiction to mocha lattes make for one evening of pleasure or something more for geeky Ronan and Meredith? 
Meri didn't think Ronan was serious about their agreement to spend time together if both were single by her thirty-fifth birthday. After all, he was still seeing that redhead when they made the pact.

Ronan worried Meri would think him too young for the kind of commitment he wanted from her. Can one chocolate-drenched encounter overcome all their obstacles and concerns?


You can buy it here:
Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Mocha-Kisses-Days-Steamy-ebook/dp/B008L1G3F6/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1361981930&sr=8-5&keywords=nikki+prince

All Romance Ebooks:
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-mochakisses-887854-149.html


Also you can find me here (I don't mind hearing from you):
Twitter: @AuthorNPrince
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NikkiPrinceAuthor
Email: NikkiPrince@writeme.com