Chat and Giveaway...Intimate Betrayals Blog Tour

The question that I am posing is this: When it comes to strong male characters, what is your definition of the ultimate Alpha Male? Everyone has a weakness, so what would his weakness be?

Just post your answer/comment. One winner will be chosen to win both hardcopys of my books (US only) and one set of ebooks (international).

Good luck and Im interested in your thoughts.

Come Chat with Me .. Intimate Betrayals Book Tour Chat!

So far, this tour has been fun! I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of great people and look forward to meeting even more. I've had great hosts and giveaways, had fun creating posts that I hoped were interesting..and there is still more to come. Since this tour, Ive had the opportunity to do character interviews. I love those! They give me a chance to flesh out the characters even more and give you a better understanding of who they are and why they do what they do.

If you haven't had a chance to encounter my fav characters, read my books, or even the reviews, please stop by tomorrow night @ 9pm EST to get acquainted with them.. and me. I would love to talk to you and answer any questions, address your topics, etc. The floor is yours and it's your chance to get inside my head! Let's talk.



As an added bonus, there is a chance to win one hardcopy of each book (US residents only) for one commentor for stopping by and leaving a comment to a proposed topic of the nights conversation. Ebooks will be available for international residents as well. The topic/question will be announced tomorrow night.. see you then.

Another Musical Inspiration That I Use

 In case you didn't know, I love jazz music. Mostly smooth jazz. But growing up with my grandmother, I was introduced to a large variety of sounds of music. She was a connoisseur of music, full of culture....and I loved that once I grew up a little more. To be exposed to other cultures, thoughts, rituals, sounds, ideas is a great way of expanding yourself beyond your reality. This song by 3rd Force has been one that I listen to from time to time. There are only particular songs on this CD that I like. This one is titled Echoes of A Dream.

When I write to it, I can envision a hot sex scene...and it really helps me to loosen up with a glass of wine. Just listen to it.. it has sort of an animalistic sound or quality to it. If you let yourself go with it and really feel it, you can see it! If you read my book, Intimate Illusions, this is the song that would have been playing when Naomi was introduced to The Ladies Club lifestyle at the Grand Hotel Party she attended (in the beginning of the book).

Anyway...take a listen. Pull out your headphones, hit play, lay back and close your eyes, listen... and tell me what you think... can you feel it too?

 Ok, here is another one.. not jazz.. but some diversity (neosoul) I thought I would throw your way. Im sure that most of you have never heard of her before. It's by Amel Larrieux, titled Gills and Tails... very talented young lady...not of the popular culture, but quality at its best!... real music..no bumping and grinding, etc.. very nice!



Spring Into Summer Blog Hop Giveaway Winner

Hello All,

Sorry, I am late announcing the winner! Anyway the winner is....thruthehaze!


Congrats!  I havent yet figured out how to add actual numbers to the comments section (if anyone knows, please email me) so I just counted down to posting #22.

Also, I am still playing around with therandom generator..never used it before now.. soI wasnt able to show.. but I promise that #22 is what was chosen. Hopefully by the time i run another contest, I will have figured it out. In the meantime....


throuthehaze said...I would watch it. Once a month is a long period in between though...once a week would be better

I follow you via GFC (Throuthehaze)
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

June 19, 2011 3:22 PM

Intimate Betrayals Blog Tour- How a Diva is Made

If you have been following this blog tour, then you may some questions about one of the main characters, namely Naomi Saunders, and want to know more about her. This post gives a little more indepth info about this fiery character and gives a little more insight into her world and how she thinks.

What is a Diva you ask? Well, according to Urban Dictionary, a diva can be one of the following:

a.)    A female version of a hustler.

b.)   A bitchy woman that must have her way exactly, or no way at all.  Selfish, spoiled and overly dramatic.

c.)    A woman that is perceived as a bitch, or self- absorbed, which in some cases they are. A diva is a woman who has self -confidence, self -respect, and hella swagger. She knows who she is and exactly where she is going. Her style and attitude is on point even when she is not trying.

Ok, I think you’ve got the picture now. Let me introduce you to Naomi. All of those characteristics mentioned above are all wrapped into one person.  The question now becomes what made her that way?

We all don’t come out and proclaim ourselves to be diva’s or even attain our desires to be diva’s… from the start anyway, that is. In Naomi’s case, that is exactly what she set her sights on and obtained.

Coming from meager beginnings, Naomi was not the ideal model of a child molded from perfect, privileged life. Being the product of an absent father and drug abusing mother that had multiple partners at a time, it’s a wonder she really kept her sanity…or did she?  To a certain extent, she did. She made her mind up that she was going to have the exact opposite in her life that her mother showed her. College, a man, a great job….all that went down the tubes as she got older and realized that her life was not turning out the way she expected.  Living on the south side of Chicago amongst hustlers, thieves, and crack heads was not exactly showing her the way.

Her plump body attracted no one except for the hideous men her mother brought home. So fighting was inevitable to keep her cookies intact. Exit left stage.

College years at Illinois State was just the beginnings of her diva-hood. Delving into acting classes and drama was an outlet for her…one that she found enjoyable. So much so that she began to envision herself as her roles…literally. Nabbing a great guy helped her self -esteem as well…although her plumpness was an obstacle, she was able to keep her hold on men, using her fast talking and eagerness to please. Who wouldn’t want a person that catered to any and every beck and call? She found that in Kevin Styles. He taught her things that she’d only read about, imagined or dreamed. He was her life, her everything.

Tasting the pleasures that he brought to her, bolstering her esteem and confidence, Kevin created something in her that she’d longed to have and didn’t realize that the developed traits she’d acquired would stick with her and follow him throughout. Devoting herself to being the best at all she could, to obtain the life that she wanted and yearned for; had tasted once to have it taken away, no matter what the cost was to get it is what Naomi set out to do… thus a hella Diva was born and let loose on the world.

Now that you have a little more indepth knowledge of Naomi's diva-ness... grab a copy of the book and see for yourself how she brings her role to life...only in Naomi style.




**Be sure to enter the giveaways through out the blog tour to win you free copies and check back here as well for possible other swag**

Intimate Betrayals Book Blog Tour Kickoff!

Please join me @ Shameless Romance Reviews for my kickoff to the Intimate Betrayals Blog Tour tomorrow, June 19th! The tour will run through July 3rd. There will be giveaways throughout the tour, author interviews, character interviews and a chance to chat with me live right here! I would love to connect with you all at some point and share my experiences and hear about yours!



Look forward to meeting you and hope to see you soon!

Spring Into Summer Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Spring Into Summer Blog Hop! This giveaway/hop is hosted by Coffee and Romance and Release Notes. This is only my second hop that I have participated in and I'm excited to be a part of it! This should be fun and interesting! 

Ok, so here is what I’m giving away. You have the opportunity to win both copies of both of my ebooks, In Between Lies and Intimate Illusions and a $10 gift card from Amazon.com. (You can see reviews and excerpts on the corresponding links to the left.)

To win all you have to do is answer the question below, be a follower of my blog (A Novel Life…Shawna Hill’s Blog), and leave a comment (a general answer to the question or whatever else you want to say) and be sure to include your email if it’s not included in your profile.

Question #1:  Would you consider watching a short 10 minute monthly video series spin off based on a book?

This giveaway will run from 12:00AM Friday, June 17 @ midnight through 11:59 PM Tuesday, June 21st   and is open to international  readers, so all can enter!  The winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced on Wednesday, June 22nd. Good Luck!

Be sure to hop over to the other blogs for more giveaways! Enjoy!

Two Reasons Why I Work So Hard

I came across some pictures on my FB page today. Here are pics of my two children. They are the two most important people in my life! They are the reason why I do what I do. I try to instill so much into them and know that what I tell them, only half of it they will listen to and retain. I hope that isn't true, but is most likely since they are still so young and innocent.

I try to see things from their eyes, feel from their little hearts and listen with their censored ears. I find myself staring at these little people in awe and just wonder what goes through their minds at any given moment. I can remember a time when I was as young as they are, thinking how great life is, what I wanted to be when I grow up, and having no cares whatsoever! Thoughts such as what color shirt I was going to wear, what color crayons I was going to use to "color an decorate" the walls LOL!! The days seemed so long and lazy.. nothing like today; fast paced and always in a hurry, no time for anything anymore except work, cook, and sleep (if that). They truly don't know that right now they have it made; the life!  I want them to enjoy every minute of it and I want to enjoy it with them because like I said in an earlier post, time stands still for no one.

Anyway, I guess I'm finished reminiscing and reliving my thoughts as a child, but I do plan to stay a child at heart and strive to see the beauty and innocence in the world, no matter how much I have been subjected to jaded thoughts and actions. It's hard for me to because as they say, ignorance is bliss, that rings true.

Featured Author in Write ON!

Hi All,
Just wanted to do a quick post about a feature spot that I am very appreciative of. A great author friend of mine has featured me on her page today!  Write ON!, created by Kimberly Ranee Hicks, features aspiring and unknown African American indie authors. Her passion is to share the knowledge, network, and possibly make some great things happen! I was thrilled to find that my info had been passed to her and was happy that she reached out to me for my information, as I love to network ans share all the same. There is enough room for us all.. so spread the word and check out her page. She is truly a talented sista!

So to show her some love, I am doing the returned favor! Check out Kimberly Ranee Hicks! Author/Poet  at Write ON!, as well as bring some love to her book, Silent Knight,  that she has set in the 70's! According to her, the 70's was "good times" and according to her, "I find myself wishing I was back there because I just don't like the direction our world is in now."

Intimate Betrayals Blog Tour/Giveaway

I will be at Shameless Romance Reviews  June 19th, talking about her Intimate Betrayals tour and giving you an opportunity to own both of my releases "In Between Lies" and "Intimate Illusions"! Plus a $30 or $15 gift card to amazon!

Here is how it works:
1. There will be 2 winners. First picked will receive both books and $30 gift card. Second picked will receive both ebooks and $15 gift card. You have until July 3rd to comment, winner announced July 4th!

2. Most be a follower of Shameless and A Novel Life...Shawna Hill's Blog

3. Leave a comment on both blog spots

Open to US and International!

I see that a couple of people have already entered! So head on over to Shameless and enter!
Good luck!