Julia Barrett's World

Yeah, some days it’s like that!

Rebecca at Dirty Sexy Books wrote a genius piece back on February 23 entitled -

The Ten Biggest Mistakes Authors Make On Their Websites.

You can check it out here:  (and I asked her permission to quote her, thanks Rebecca!)

http://www.dirtysexybooks.com/Dirty_Sexy_Books/Home/Entries/2010/2/23_The_Ten_Biggest_Mistakes_Authors_Make_on_Their_Websites.html

The first mistake she mentions is the lack of a website.  I have to agree.  In this internet age I’m shocked when I try to find information about an author and her books and google turns up bupkiss!

The second mistake?  No blog.  She’s right – every single day isn’t necessary but a once a week would be nice.  I do get frustrated when I hope to hear what other authors are up to and they have a site, but the last post was a year ago.  Where are you, my friend?

Uh-oh, the third mistake is to bury our stuff under a nest of links.  Guilty as charged?  I try to keep my links to the side but sometimes I wonder if I have too many – but I love those links!  Each one means something to me.  I’ll try to keep in mind, simplify and minimize!

Fourth – link bait for bloggers – Ladies, we need a hook so bloggers find us interesting, you know, like a freebie, a short story that ties into our upcoming release, a freebie for readers and fans.  Okay – workin’ on it!

Five – ignoring your website – that kind of ties in with Mistake Number Two.

Six?  A picture of myself?  Are you effin’ crazy?  I have deep and abiding personal reasons for NOT having a photo.  I do have an icon.  I know it’s not exactly me, but my icon is a smiling redhead, like me!  If you read Captured, you know what I look like and you know what kind of potty mouth I have.

Seven is very important, IMO.  Mistake Seven – They don’t promote anyone but themselves.    This one is of such significance that I think I’ll quote it in its entirety:

Your website is one of your best marketing tools, and so this statement might seem counterproductive, but don’t always talk about yourself.  That’s right, talk about other books, places, and people too.  It’s uncomfortable to visit a site that sells itself too hard, so to avoid that trap, spend some time promoting your favorite authors.  I love to visit Charlaine Harris’s website because she blogs about what she’s reading every few weeks.  Maybe you’re wondering, what if I read something that stinks like a road-kill skunk?  Then preserve your reputation and don’t mention it (let an asshole like me stomp on it), but be sure to give props to the books that you DO like.

Mistake number Eight – We forget to mention and/or link to the reviewers who review our books.  Rebecca suggests a separate review page that contains links to all our book reviews.  Again – workin’ on it!

Number Nine – Author’s don’t interact with their fans.  Well, I do and most authors I know do.  My fans are precious to me.  If they take the time to comment or email me, I will reply.  I’ve been on the non-receiving end.  I’ve written to authors to tell them how much I enjoyed their books and I never hear, so…their books come to mean less to me.  On the other hand, when an author responds, his/her books come to mean a great deal more.

Last but not least – Number Ten – We don’t offer a high-resolution image of the cover.  Sorry, my website won’t always support a high res cover image and I suck at sizing.  Some authors are really savvy.  They know exactly how to fix these things and they are on my most admired list.

I am terrible when it comes to taking advice – stubborn, headstrong, impulsive, but Rebecca has made some excellent points.  I’m trying to learn how to learn when it comes to this blogging stuff.  Thanks!

In other news – Beauty and the Feast - waiting for your recipes and go visit with the delightfully irreverent Chris and her kitties at Stumbling Over Chaos to see how to win a copy.  http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/

Brynn Paulin is hosting me over at Wednesday Wonder Writers:  http://brynnpaulin.blogspot.com/

Stop by!

Author Donna George Storey has a great little novella in The Cougar Book – Comfort Food.  I have a copy of the book to give away, signed by me cuz I have a story in there too – great minds think alike!  Speaking of websites, here’s hers -

http://www.donnageorgestorey.com/

Okay, done for the day!  Julia

P.S.  Just finished:  Game Change.  Just started:  The Lady in the Tower.

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Good God in heaven I’m tired!  I’ve spent the day finishing up Book Four of Daughters of Persephone - Tempus Fugit, Time Flees.  Bloody exhausting and exhilarating at the same time!  Of course, I only have the cover for Books One and Two, but it, the cover, that is, bears repeating.  Or perhaps bares repeating.  I do love that cover, so Dune-ish in a hot naked guy butt sort of way.

So…news…Chris at Stumbling Over Chaos is stumbling over Beauty and the Feast, my upcoming contemporary romance from Resplendence.

http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/

Stop over there and check things out – I’ll be giving away a free copy of this delicious, smoking hot romance.

I’m still running my recipe contest here – I’ve tried Lil’s bacon-inspired croissant sandwiches, Jen’s black pepper parmesan biscotti and Dana’s Lemon Cheesecake and so far, we’re on a big hitting streak!  Leave your recipe and you might win a copy of Beauty and the Feast.  My contest runs until April 1.

In other news, Tessie Bradford’s fabulous book, Possessing Eleanor, comes out today with Resplendence as does The Devil to Pay, by Pamela Labud – buy link:

http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/

Okelie dokelie – ’nuff for tonight.

Oh gosh!  Over at Author Island in the Tiki Hut with my excerpt from Logical Lust’s The Cougar Book today.  I would love to have you drop in!  http://authorislandtikihut.blogspot.com/

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I got a great recipe for Lemon Cheesecake from Craftydana – check out her link on my interesting sites list.  Yummy cheesecake!  Remember, you can win a copy of my upcoming Contemporary, Beauty and the Feast, by submitting a sexy recipe – the contests will last until April 1.  Project Bacon, also on my links, suggested a great sandwich yesterday so we tried it with phacon instead of bacon, being the devoted lacto-ovo vegetarians that we are.  Honey, that sandwich was one of the high points of my culinary life.  It is hellaciously good!

Larissa gave me a wonderful review of Captured and she hasn’t read much science fiction – here’s the link:  lala’s book corner – http://www.larissaslife.com/

She says, “I loved the growth both characters go through and how much they teach each other and come to rely in one another. It’s a beautiful love story and both Ekkatt and Mari are great leading characters and sooooo hot together.”

I better gear up to write a sequel because that’s what everyone is asking for, including Larissa.  C’mon brain, dream!  Dream!

Ooh!  In other news, Captured received a Recommended Read from Dark Diva Reviews.  I am thrilled.  Thanks, Stacey!

Stacey’s Review: Julia Barrett created a unique, new world and plot with Captured. The characters were so well fleshed that I became a part of their lives and never wanted the book to end.

Mari is a strong female lead. Despite the tragedies of her past and being forcibly taken to a new planet as human meat, she remains upbeat and in control. I could relate to her: from her feelings after waking up naked in a cage, to wanting a seemingly impossible future with her alien lover. She’s a rough-around-the-edges woman that you have to root for!

Ekkatt is conservative and traditional with a heart of gold. His life progresses smoothly until he captures Mari. With her flaming red hair and large dragon tattoo, he is drawn to her. She questions everything happening to her on the voyage to his planet and forces him to acknowledge that humans are not mindless animals. He risks everything to help the little earthling and soon becomes enchanted by her feisty personality.

The sex is hot, and Ekkatt is certainly one alien to be desired! Nothing is rushed between the two, but progresses naturally and believably. I’m skeptical to even call this an erotic read because the book doesn’t use sex as a crutch at all. The plot is strong and stands alone. The dialogue is laugh-out-loud funny, at times, and always true to the characters.

Even after finishing the book, I had a smile on my face and kept imagining Mari and Ekkatt’s future together. Sigh. I was rooting for a HEA and was not disappointed. There is even the potential for a sequel.

My only complaint is the hours of lost sleep because I couldn’t stop reading! Bravo to Ms. Barrett. I will definitely be picking up her future novels and highly recommend, Captured.

Rated 5 Delightful Divas and a Recommended Read by Stacey!

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Project Bacon has some major sexy food-related stuff going on right now and this month is all about food – remember?  Beauty and the Feast!!!

http://projectbacon.wordpress.com/

Wait!  I take it back!  Project Bacon has an even more decadent post today!  I am a vegetarian, but I am so obsessed with this site!

Still waiting for those recipes.  I have three copies of Beauty and the Feast to give away.  Leave them in a comment or email them to me at Julia@JuliaRachelBarrett.net

I’m on the Examiner.com

http://www.examiner.com/x-5288-Salt-Lake-City-Romance-Novels-Examiner~y2010m3d5-Help-me-welcome-Erotic-Romance-author-Julia-Barrett

Check out the interview, I love to read your comments!

Let’s see if Mia Watts, Fran Lee, Katalina Leon, Stacey Espino and C.J. Black are playing tag!  You can find their links on the right side of my website.

Many thanks to Sandy M. and the Duck Pond for the surprise book promo and fun interview earlier this week.

http://goodbadandunread.com/

Announcements!

Coming from Resplendence on March 9th, The Devil to Pay by Pamela Labud!

http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/

My Fair Lady meets The Devil and Daniel Webster – a regency paranormal romance – Could a book sound any more delicious?

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A quick note and I’ll stop by later!

Captured is up on Amazon and available for download on your Kindle.  Go for it!  My hubby did!

http://www.amazon.com/Captured-Siren-Publishing-Classic-ebook/dp/B00371V7WO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267807147&sr=8-1

Remember the contest – I want your sexiest recipes!  Oh…and I received my hard copies of The Cougar Book yesterday.  It’s fabulous!  Anyone want a signed copy?  Leave me a recipe and you could win one of those too!  This book is hot!  My story, of course, is hot and sweet, ‘cuz, you know, it’s kinda like me.

Releases:  Out of the Shadows, by Cammie Eicher, the first in the Shadow Ancient series,  Resplendence Publishing. This vampire romantic suspense creates a new mythology of vampires, and features a dark and sexy vampire hunter forced to protect the Ancients’ child of prophecy — and the woman who eventually must choose between her love for him and her promise to protect the newborn.

Buy Link: http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/

Check out Cindy Spencer Pape, she tagged me!  http://cindyspencerpape.blogspot.com/

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Beauty and the Feast

releases with Resplendence on March 16th.

The contemporary romance includes Eva’s recipes – you can find them at the end of the story.

To celebrate, I’m hosting a recipe contest.

Send me your sexiest, your most sensual recipe sometime over the next month, and I will choose three winners!  I’ll feature your recipes and your fake names (real names if you like) on my blog and send each of you a copy of Beauty and the Feast.

Feel free to leave your recipe as a comment here or email your recipe to me at Julia@JuliaRachelBarrett.net

I’ll announce the winner on April 1st, along with the winning recipes.

I’ll start!  Here’s one of Eva’s favorites!

Eva’s Wet Sauce

1 cup tomato sauce

1 small can tomato paste

½ cup dark balsamic vinegar

½ cup dark brown sugar

¼ cup molasses

¼ cup Worcestershire sauce

¼ cup soy sauce

1 tsp. granulated garlic

1 tsp. kosher salt

1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper

1 tsp. smoked paprika

2 tsp. Tabasco

Whisk together and store in fridge.  Use as a marinade or dipping sauce.

Enjoy!

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Stay Tuned

I’ll post later and update you with everything.  OMG.  I have an interview to do today for The Good, The Bad, and the Unread – going up tomorrow!

A giveaway of Beauty and the Feast – my upcoming release with Resplendence – on Stumbling Over Chaos.

A contest on my own blog.

A newsletter to get out…

See the above picture?  That’s me!  Talk to you later!

Oh…in the meantime, check out Project Bacon – that recipe may make a convert out of me!

http://projectbacon.wordpress.com/

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ANNOUNCEMENT:

I’m the guest blogger over at Book Lovers, INC.

The topic?   PASSION!

Head over and leave a comment and you could win a copy of My Everything.  *See their review below…

http://book-lovers-inc.blogspot.com/

Molly Daniels posted an interview with me today over at her blog.  I had so much fun with her questions and I didn’t even know she planned to put it up today!  Thanks, Molly!

http://mjdaniels.blogspot.com/

Hi-ho, hi-ho…it’s off to work I go…

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Tied for first – Jennifer and Beth.

Coming in a close second – Mindy.

Answers:

The Wizard in The Wizard of Oz.

John Smith in Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Guy in Galaxy Quest.

Ripley in Aliens.

Imhotep in The Mummy.

White Goodman in Dodgeball.

Annie, or Joanna Stayton in Overboard.

J.C. Wiatt in Baby Boom.

Norman Maclean in A River Runs Through It.

Thanks for participating!

Back to work on the sci fi menage – wink…wink…wink…

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I love mindless movies.  Totally love them.  The more mindless, the better.

Here’s a little mindless movie trivia.  I’ll leave the questions up for a few days.  Whoever can come up with the most correct answers will win a very nice prize – a copy of my upcoming contemporary romance from Resplendence, Beauty and the Feast, and ten dollars in Strandbucks for use at Siren-Bookstrand!  Yay!

Leave a comment here and email me your answers at Julia@JuliaRachelBarrett.net

Who says, and in what movie does he or she say the following -

A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.

Who says, and in what movie does he or she say this -

That left of yours is a thing of beauty.

Who says, and in what movie does he or she say this -

Didn’t you guys ever watch the show?

Who says, and in what movie does he or she say it -

Let go of her, you bitch.

Who says, and in what movie does he or she say this -

Death…is but the beginning.

Who says, and in what movie does he or she say this -

Fuckin’ Chuck Norris.

Who says, and in what movie does he or she say this -

Caviar should be round and hard and of adequate size, and it should burst in your mouth at precisely the right moment…

Who says, and in what movie does he or she say this -

...and anyway, I  really think I’d miss my sixty-two acres in Vermont.  I mean, Elizabeth is so happy there…and…well, you see…there’s this veterinarian that I’m seeing…

Last, but not least, and this is not from a mindless movie, but from one of my very favorite movies adapted from one of my very favorite stories…who says, and in what movie…

Maybe all I really know about Paul is that he was a fine fisherman.  “You know more than that,” my father said.  “He was beautiful.”

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Yup, it’s that time again.

Release Day from Cobblestone Press.

My Everything is a sweet, spicy, exciting romance/suspense.

Blurb:

Security consultant Ben McCall is alone.  His wife and unborn child are dead, victims of an assassination attempt meant for someone else.  Grieving, he disappears.  When his best friend is in danger, Ben resurfaces only to find his friend isn’t the target of a murderer, he is along with his sister Angel.  On the night of his return, Ben unexpectedly comes face to face with a woman from his past.  She needs his help.  He learns that he needs hers even more.

Grace Adams is one of the walking wounded.  Her husband died two years ago.  One night she is incapacitated.  A man comes to her aid.  He’s the man she fell in love with years before, Ben McCall.  As the passion between them reignites, Grace too becomes a target of the madman who stalks Ben.  She, Angel and Ben must use their wits to stay alive as they fight a man desperate for revenge.

Check it out:  http://www.cobblestone-press.com/index.htm

In other news…Romance Junkies is running a fun Valentine’s contest.  Here’s the link to my contribution:

http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjvalentinescontest/JuliaRachelBarrett.html

Here’s the main page for the contest:

http://www.romancejunkies.com/contests.html

Enjoy!  Hint…breathes fire…

**Dana is the winner of My Everything from Stumbling Over Chaos!

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I’d rather be in Paris

or working on my current and/or next project (cuz it’s gonna be fuckin’ great)…but…

I’m one of the lucky ones on my block who has a job, so by God, I’m there.

At least my kitty is home and on the mend and my dog and I got out for a hike early this morning on muddy trails loaded with deer tracks.  Big deer, little deer, medium deer.  Yesterday I watched the mating ritual of two gorgeous, huge red-tailed hawks.

The female, at least I assume it was the female, landed on one of the highest branches of a tall, bare oak tree.  The male followed with a low, raspy cry.  As I watched, he handed her something that got her all excited.  She kept bobbing her head and adjusting it in her claws, poking at it, plucking at it, while he stood on a branch facing her looking like he was all that.  Since my dog and I were the only other large creatures around, I stood and watched for about twenty minutes without interruption.  The female would spread her wings and flutter them gently, bob her head up and down.  She repeatedly touched the male with her wing tips.  It was so dang sweet.  Now that’s love.  Hope they build a nice big nest and raise a couple of beautiful chicks.

So…working the next four days.  My Everything comes out tomorrow – hope I have time to celebrate, but I doubt it…maybe Monday.  See ya!  Julia

***New link for the contest at Stumbling Over Chaos – to win a copy of My Everything!

http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/archives/5864

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My Everything

release date:  2/12/10

Cobblestone Press

http://www.cobblestone-press.com/

Contest – win a copy at Stumbling Over Chaos

http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/?p=5864http://

The contest runs through February 11th.

Mia Watt’s F.U. is up on that site also.

Otherwise, I am too pooped to pop!  I think my kitty may be able to come home today or tomorrow but now the other two are acting a bit sick.  Keeping my fingers crossed that they are tougher than Rico and can hang on without any near death experiences.  With love, Julia

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*Enjoy Seven Days of Valentines with Siren-Bookstrand Authors*

Get all your romance over at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SirenBookstrand/

You can win ebooks and Strandbucks by reading the following post and answering one simple question…send your answer to: sandys36@yahoo.com

I’m offering a copy of Captured, my sci fi romance with Siren.

So…follow along here…Have your read or seen The Princess Bride?  The heroine and hero, Buttercup and Wesley are star-crossed lovers.  They dislike each other, fight a growing attraction,  and when they finally admit their true feelings, Wesley goes off to earn his fortune so he’ll be worthy of his true love.  Unfortunately, he vanishes and Buttercup believes him to be dead, killed by the Dread Pirate Roberts.  Apathetic, knowing she will never again experience true love, she agrees to marry the evil Prince Humerdinck.  And then Wesley returns and the passion between Wesley and Buttercup reignite.

My husband and I lived through a similar story.  We fell in love at a young age, were separated by time and distance, and had no contact whatsoever for six years.  In the meantime, I married the evil Prince Humperdinck.  The man who is my husband, the new Dread Pirate Roberts, returned and saved me.  Our true story is every bit as romantic and harrowing as The Princess Bride.  I’ll post it sometime!

For a chance to win a copy of Captured and Strandbucks, answer this question correctly – In what romance does a character say the following: “You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The first is never get involved in a land war in Asia. The second, only slightly less well known, is this: never go up against a Sicilian when death is on the line! Ha ha ha ha ha ha –” Email your answer to Sandy, sandys36@yahoo.com

Captured:  Blurb

Mari never expects to find herself caged in a cargo hold on a spaceship. She quickly learns from her captors she’s headed to the meat market. When they try to return her to hypersleep, she resists. After allowing her to stay awake, Mari realizes her survival depends on connecting with the male in charge, Ekkatt. She must make him see her as a sentient being or she will end up as dinner.

Ekkatt has never spoken to any human. They are valued for one thing, the money they bring at auction. The Attun race are vegetarians, but other species prize human flesh and bring in good money. Then the female with red hair speaks to him and forces him to admit she has a name. Mari throws Ekkatt’s entire life into question, the biggest question…can he watch her sold to the highest bidder?

Happy Valentine’s Week!

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Siren-Bookstrand authors are running an amazing week-long Valentine’s contest.  You can win ebooks and Strandbucks to buy books from Siren.  Sign into the Siren Reader’s Group for links to the blogs and contest give-aways.  My day is tomorrow, so check back here and find out how to win a copy of my science fiction romance, Captured.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SirenBookstrand/

You can find my interview over at the Logical Lust blog.  Leave me a comment and on Valentine’s Day, I’ll draw a name for a signed hard copy of The Cougar Book.  Link:  http://bit.ly/ZWnZq

Stumbling Over Chaos is running a contest for a copy of My Everything – my suspense romance coming out with Cobblestone Press on February 12th.  The contest runs through the 11th.  http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/?p=5864http:// Head over and leave a comment.  The book makes for a fun, sexy afternoon read.

There’s a contest running over at Romance Junkies too!  I just don’t know exactly where it is – but I think there are lots and lots of freebies over there!

In other news, my kitty will recover from his life-threatening illness – it was touch and go all weekend and he finally turned the corner.  The vet called to give me the good news.

The winner of Mia Watt’s F.U.?  Linda!  Here ya go!  Mia will contact you.  Congratulations!

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