The General's Wife

Please meet author Sara R. Turnquist today. Sara is doing a virtual book tour for The General's Wife, her historical romance available from Clean Reads.

Sara will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use this link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f1913

Blurb

“Go home!” Ismene is speechless as she reads those words written in blood on the walls of her new home. The young, raven-haired Grecian beauty had traveled all the way from her homeland to marry the Pharaoh’s top general. But she never expected this. The hatred of the Alexandrian mob for their Greek rulers is right in front of her. It is the first of many threats she will receive. Things are escalating out of control. Damaged crops and horses turned loose at night are one thing. But when Ismene receives a death threat, it becomes clear that there is a spy within her own household. She would turn to her husband to deal with this issue, except he left for battle by order of the Pharaoh. Not knowing whom to trust, she fears for her safety as well as the entire ruling class of Egypt.

Excerpt

Once they were alone, he gathered Ismene into his arms. “Love, are you truly all right?”

“I am.” She sighed, closing her eyes and just breathing in the scent of him. “Now.”

He kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back. When he closed his eyes he could still see the scene that he had come upon when he had found her on the balcony, and his blood ran hot. He forced his mind back to the present.

“I have a surprise for you.”

“Truly?”

“I thought I might read to you.”

“Oh?” She pulled back to look into his face. “That is a pleasant surprise. I think, sir, that you have found my weakness.”

“I think you know mine too, milady.” He said, drawing her in for an intimate kiss.

Author bio and links

Sara is originally from middle TN. After a short stint in Memphis, where she earned a degree in Biology and began a career as both a Zoo Educator and a Sleep Technician, she then followed a dream to work for a large zoo in Orlando, FL as an Educator. Once she and her husband started their family, they moved back to Tennessee. Sara and her husband now enjoy a full life with their three beautiful and very active children. Sara enjoys many creative outlets – singing, piano, drawing, drama, and organizing anything. And even though she has enjoyed her career as a Zoo Educator, Sara's great love of the written word continued to draw her to write. She has always been an avid reader and, for many years, has been what she terms a “closet writer”. Her travels and love of history have served to inspire her to write Historical Fiction. Sara has made several trips overseas to the Czech Republic. Her time among the Czech people and the landscapes of the country inspired her and greatly influenced her work on her debut novel, The Lady Bornekova, set in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. Sara is also a member of the ACFW.



How to reach me:

Website/URL: saraturnquist.com
Twitter: @sarat1701 Facebook: Sara R. Turnquist, Author - www.facebook.com/authorsararturnquist Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/saravturnquist/


Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Generals-Wife-Sara-R-Turnquist-ebook/dp/B01A9FDT9E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453141274&sr=8-1&keywords=the+general%27s+wife

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-generals-wife-sara-r-turnquist/1123223438?ean=2940157880965

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-general-s-wife-1

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/606098

iTunes: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-generals-wife/id1076223420

Guest blog - A letter from an aspiring author

Please note that I am not saying that I have all the answers. In fact, I am still fairly new to the game. But I want to share what information I have gleaned while it is fresh in my mind. I am a few years into the game (having signed my third contract about a couple of months ago). I think it is important that we share what we have learned and leave the porch light on, so to speak, so that the writers coming behind us can find their way along the path. When I was an aspiring author (and still am, to a large extent), I wondered about what I needed to do, what I needed in my arsenal, and what my day needed to look like. I will try to help you out with those questions as much as I can...
Write the book. First, you need to delve into writing the best book you can. You are likely an aspiring author because you have a story inside of you trying to get out. You have found that inspiration. Get it out on paper. Do what you can to write the best book. This may involve learning how to write. Well how do I learn how to write?
Read books about the craft of writing. Some of my favorite books on the craft include The Emotion Thesaurus and the other books in that series. And most of the books out there about deep point of view, specifically Rivet Your Readers With Deep Point of View. There are tons of books out there on the craft of writing. You just have to get started somewhere.
Go to conferences. I cannot say enough about the difference that investing in conferences has made in my writing. Learning from the experts, networking with other writers, having the chance to learn from pitching your work to an agent/editor...these are just a few of the gems that come from going to a good conference. There is likely a conference near you (it may be small, but I recommend starting small). And there are larger conferences, even some in specific genres. 
Find a critique group. If you can, join a writing critique group, even if it's online. Find a good one. What I mean by that is there should be at least one person in the group that is published. Or else, you may end up in a situation where the blind are leading the blind. Also, some groups can end up tearing down the more talented writers...that's not what you want. So be on the lookout for
that. A good critique group is going to give you feedback, but give it constructively.
Mentor. As you continue on your journey, see if you can hook up with a mentor. Maybe it will be someone in your critique group who is farther along than you are; maybe it's someone you come across at a conference. But a mentor is an invaluable resource.
Write the book. Are you still writing that book? Cause that's what it's all about. You have to have the book. It's all about the book.
Learn about querying. Query Shark is an amazing resource about how to write a query. Also, be mindful to research the agents/publishers you want to submit to, they each have their own submission guidelines. Some will want a cover letter, some won't. Some want a formal book proposal, some want just sample chapters. Just be mindful and FOLLOW THEIR GUIDELINES to the letter.
Build a website/blog. You need to start building a PLATFORM. I know that sounds like a big, scary word. But, if you plan on marketing (another scary word) your book, you need to have your own website and, probably, a blog. Instead of delving into everything that makes up a platform, I'll just focus on why you set up a website and blog. You want a place where your fan base can come and visit you. You do not own Facebook/Twitter. They can change the rules on you in an instant. You do not want to rely on one of these social media outlets to be your only internet presence. So, set up your own website and start a blog. This is one of the best pieces of advice I can give you about platform.
Read other authors’ blogs. I follow 5 blogs every week and make regular comments on these blogs to get involved in these communities. This is a piece of advice my mentor gave to me. It’s a great way to not only learn, but also network.
Write the book. In the end, it's still about the book. These other things are ways to enhance your experience as a writer/author. But, you cannot forget that it is about your idea, your story, your novel. Never lose sight of that. And there will be days when you don't feel like spending time with your book, editing, revising, or writing. But it is important to spend that time in your work, creating. Just tryto make yourself sit down and start working, once the pump is primed, the juices just might start flowing. You won't know until you try.