Romance Author Michelle Abbott
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#EggcerptExchange: Kim Headlee

2/29/2016

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Today for the Eggcerpt Exchange I'm hosting Author Kim Headlee with an excerpt from her book, Liberty, and an interview with her character, Rhyddes.
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Book Information

(http://kimiversonheadlee.blogspot.com/p/liberty.html; also http://libertynovel.com)
TITLE – Liberty, second edition
SERIES – N/A
AUTHOR – Kim Iverson Headlee
GENRE – Historical Romance (ancient Rome)
PUBLICATION DATE – Dec. 2014
LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 464 pages/118K words (excluding backmatter)
PUBLISHER – Pendragon Cove Press
COVER ARTIST – Natasha Brown

INTERVIEW about winning 2015 BooksGoSocial Best Book international award for LIBERTY: https://youtu.be/UcjvCJ-TjN8


​Book Blurb

​Winner BooksGoSocial Best Book 2015.
 
They hailed her “Liberty,” but she was free only to obey—or die.
 
Betrayed by her father and sold as payment of a Roman tax debt to fight in Londinium’s arena, gladiatrix-slave Rhyddes feels like a wild beast in a gilded cage. Celtic warrior blood flows in her veins, but Roman masters own her body. She clings to her vow that no man shall claim her soul, though Marcus Calpurnius Aquila, son of the Roman governor, makes her yearn for a love she believes impossible.
 
Groomed to follow in his father’s footsteps and trapped in a politically advantageous betrothal, Aquila prefers the purity of combat on the amphitheater sands to the sinister intrigues of imperial politics, and the raw power and athletic grace of the flame-haired Libertas to the adoring deference of Rome’s noblewomen.
 
When a plot to overthrow Caesar ensnares them as pawns in the dark design, Aquila must choose between the Celtic slave who has won his heart and the empire to which they both owe allegiance. Knowing the opposite of obedience is death, the only liberty offered to any slave, Rhyddes must embrace her arena name—and the love of a man willing to sacrifice everything to forge a future with her.


​Watch the Trailer


​Buy Links

Worldwide Amazon Kindle link
Worldwide Amazon paperback link
BARNES & NOBLE PAPERBACK 
Nook
Inktera
iTunes
Kobo
Oyster
Scribd
Smashwords
GOODREADS 


​Excerpt from Chapter 1: Rhyddes’s home under attack

Rudd shed his shock and sprinted for the living compound, calling his children by name to help him defend their home: Eoghan, Ian, Bloeddwyn, Arden, Dinas, Gwydion, Owen.

Every child except Rhyddes.

She ran to the wagon, unhitched the horse, found her pitchfork, scrambled onto the animal’s back, and kicked him into a jolting canter. The stench of smoke strengthened with each stride. Her mount pinned back his ears and wrestled her for control of the bit, but she bent the frightened horse to her will. She understood how he felt.

As they loped past the cow byre, a Pict leaped at them, knocking Rhyddes from the horse’s back. The ground jarred the pitchfork from her grasp. The horse galloped toward the pastures as Rhyddes fumbled for her dagger. Although her brothers had taught her how to wield it in a fight, until now she’d used it only to ease dying animals from this world.

But the accursed blade wouldn’t come free of the hilt.

Sword aloft, the Pict closed on her.

Time distorted, assaulting Rhyddes with her attacker’s every detail: lime-spiked hair, weird blue symbols smothering the face and arms, long sharp sword, ebony leather boots and leggings, breastplate tooled to fit female curves . . .

Female?


​The warrior-woman’s sword began its descent.


​Character interview of Rhyddes, heroine of LIBERTY

Thank you for visiting us today. We understand that you have quite a tale to tell. Let’s start with a few questions about you, and then you can tell us about the book.
 
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I am Rhyddes ferch Rudd, which in your tongue means Freedom daughter of Red. The blood of ancient Celtic warriors flows in my veins, though I am a farmer's daughter by the circumstance of my birth.
 
How did you first meet your writer?
My bones were discovered by some men and women of her era, almost two millennia after I was laid to rest. Because of the wealth of gladiator-themed grave goods buried with me, these people surmised that I must have been a popular gladiatrix. But it was Kim Headlee who unearthed the details of my story for all to read.
 
Do you sneak into your writer’s dreams?
Most certainly, though oftentimes I find the realm quite crowded with many other folk with whom I am not acquainted.
 
Did you ever think that your life would end up in a book?
What is a book?
 
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would have a tighter rein upon my tongue, which often buys me more trouble than I can afford.
 
We’d love to hear about your setting. Where and when is it and what makes it special?
My life spans much of the reign of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, one of a very few men ever to claim that title who did not abuse his power for personal gain. When my lover Aquila came to me with news that this man was in danger, I could see the loyalty and respect—and concern—in Aquila's eyes, and for that reason alone I chose to help him protect his sovereign, even though I cared not who ruled and who died in that gods-cursed empire.
 
Tell us about your journey. What are your goals and what obstacles stand in your way?
More than anything—even more than my freedom—I yearn to be Aquila’s equal. As a foreign slave in an empire where citizenship stands paramount, where an arena fighter such as I can only be considered the equal of other gladiators, actors, undertakers, and whores, this goal seems impossibly remote. Aquila has declared that he would renounce his aristocratic status, wealth, and power for me, but I cannot in good conscience allow him to destroy himself on my account.
And yet the gods have granted the impossible to other mortals. I pray that I am worthy to receive such a boon from them, for surely divine assistance is the only way for Aquila and I to bridge the social chasm that separates us from a lasting future together.
 
Without revealing too much, what is your favorite scene in the book and why?
While fighting in the bowels underneath the massive Flavian Amphitheater, better known to you as the Colosseum in Rome, I chanced upon the bestiary. My odious owners were unfortunate enough to be there too. I am certain the tiger enjoyed the hunt, especially its conclusion, though I daresay I enjoyed it even more—even though it placed me in peril of my life. I shall leave it for you to imagine the details of what I witnessed in that dark, dank labyrinth and beyond.
 
Do you like the way the book ended?
Does a cygnet enjoy shedding its scruffy plumage to become a sleek adult swan? Of course it does; don’t be an asinus!
 
Would you be interested in a sequel, if your writer was so inclined?
If I understand your meaning correctly, you refer to the telling of another tale. My beloved brother Owen shall be the focus of such a tale, along with the woman whom he is destined to rescue, love, and marry—despite the fact that her people and ours are blood enemies.
 
Did you help your writer come up with the title or do you know how this title was chosen?
The title of my tale is Liberty, the word in your language that translates to the Latin word Libertas, my arena name, which I adopted since Rhyddes is too difficult for the Romans’ stiff tongues.
 
Thank you, Rhyddes, for stopping by and letting us get to know you.
And thank you for taking the time to converse with a lowly gladiatrix-slave. I earnestly pray the association shall not bode ill for the preservation of your social status.


​About Kim Headlee

Kim Headlee lives on a farm in southwestern Virginia with her family, cats, goats, Great Pyrenees goat guards, and assorted wildlife. People and creatures come and go, but the cave and the 250-year-old house ruins—the latter having been occupied as recently as the mid-twentieth century—seem to be sticking around for a while yet. She has been an award-winning novelist since 1999 (Dawnflight 1st edition, Sonnet Books, Simon & Schuster) and has been studying the Arthurian Legends for nigh on half a century.


​Follow Kim

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The “100 THINGS WE ALL WONDER ABOUT NONNIE JULES” Blog Tour

2/27/2016

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​GIVEAWAYS:​

Comment on this post for a chance to win:

(2) $10 Amazon Gift Cards
(1) $5 Amazon Gift Card
(2) e-book copies of “THE GOOD MOMMIES’ GUIDE…”


​ULTIMATE PRIZE GIVEAWAY #1:

Anyone who purchases a copy of “THE GOOD MOMMIES’ GUIDE…” “DAYDREAM’S DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE’S FRIEND” or “IF ONLY THERE WAS MUSIC” and send to me a copy of the purchase receipt to nonniejules@gmail.com, and also leave a comment along the tour, will get their name entered into a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card!  One entry for each book that is purchased, whether in e-book or paperback format.  Purchases must take place between 2/14/16 – 2/29/16.  If you’ve already purchased all of my books, then feel free to gift a friend, just for the chance to win!!!  Spend a little, and you could win a lot!!!


​ULTIMATE PRIZE GIVEAWAY #2:

​Anyone who reads and posts a review of “THE GOOD MOMMIES’ GUIDE…” “DAYDREAM’S DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE’S FRIEND” or “IF ONLY THERE WAS MUSIC” and sends the link to their review to nonniejules@gmail.com, will get their name entered into a drawing for a $20 Amazon gift card!  One entry for each book read and reviewed.  Reviews must be posted between 2/16/16 – 3/15/16 to be placed into the drawing.


Interview


Q:  Are you a full-time or part-time writer?

A:  I am a full-time writer, although I only get to write less than part-time, so let’s just call me a full-time RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB Servant!  There, that’s closest to the truth!

Q:  What makes your books stand out from the crowd?

A:  Well, Mims, let’s go with what makes my writing stand out from the crowd.  I write by my own rules, no one else’s.  When folks mention these writing handbooks and guidebooks, I’m like “What?  I’ve never even heard of those.”  I am the dictator of what I write, and how I write it…hands down.  Yes, I’m that kind of INDIE!

Q:  You joke a lot about being ‘mean.’  We don’t get that from you, so what’s the real story?

A:  I’m extremely loving but, I’ll share with you what most of my friends say and maybe that will give you some idea… most of them say things like:  “Well, I’m so glad you’re MY FRIEND,” OR “I’m glad I’m on your good side.”  I would say that I can be a little meanie, but it’s always justified.  Wait, let me stop right here, honestly, we should all stop and pray right now over my temper.  But, I’m still so very loving!  LOL

Q:    You speak very candidly about yourself and sometimes the picture you paint, isn’t always that pretty.  Why do you do that?

A:  Most people live in a world where they want us all to believe that they’re angelic…especially the ones that aren’t.  I like to be true about everything and when someone looks at me and says “Oh, you’re so sweet…” I accept that, but I might also follow that compliment up with something like, “Well, not always.”  I just like being honest, especially about myself.  When we meet people, most often we’re trying to put our best foot forward and it’s usually a façade.  With me, if I start off by telling you about my “true” self, then there’s only one way I can go in your eyes, and that’s up…because I’m going to give you the ugly truth about me from the beginning, which the norm in this society, is to tell people how awesome we are, right?  I remember my daughter’s Principal said to me at the end of a school year, when we were leaving his campus, he said: “None of what they said about you was true. You have been truly awesome for the past three years.”  They, being the administration that I had fought against for so long, to make things better for our kids.  Which brings me to this, I like to say, “Don’t judge me by my friends, judge me by my enemies.”  That means, take a look around and see who speaks the least highly of me, even in our book club.  The ones who do the least for others, or the ones we’ve had to point out their Code of Conduct violations to, or even a member who didn’t get to have their way in the club…those are the ones who will have something negative to say.  And there you have my “truth.” 

Q:  What is your favorite mantra?

A:  I have a couple: “I give it to you straight, no chasers” and “I’m a straight-shooter.”
To follow Nonnie’s tour and to get more of your questions answered, please visit her Blog Tour Page on the 4WillsPub site http://wp.me/P43s9i-FEw.  Thanks for stopping by today and good luck on winning some of these great prizes!


​CONTACT NONNIE VIA:

Twitter

Facebook

Blogs www.nonniewrites.wordpress.com , www.BooksByNonnie.wordpress.com &
www.AskTheGoodMommy.wordpress.com
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Buy Link: Amazon
Link to the trailer: 
https://youtu.be/g2gNns8ZVFI
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Buy Link: Amazon
Link to trailer: https://youtu.be/qbUK3XQ5-dA 
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Buy Link: Amazon
Link to Trailer: 
https://youtu.be/fQBnt0wix88
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Buy Link: Amazon
Link to trailer: 
https://youtu.be/zg15rptFN2g
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    Author

    Michelle Abbott lives in the UK and hates describing herself in 3rd person.

    She writes new adult romance about heroes who fight against the odds and are protective of their girl.

    She's an avid reader of romance, is addicted to coffee and loves wine and chocolate, so yeah, not the most healthy eating and drinking habits :-) She spends way too much time online when she should be writing. She collects teddy bears and occasionally knits a couple of rows on a sweater she started years ago, which she may eventually finish in time to wear for her funeral :-)

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