Today is the LAST official day of the ENTWINED RELEASE CONTEST. ENTWINED officially hits store shelves tomorrow!!! In honor of release day, I’m going to be giving away a BUNCH of prizes, so be sure to check back here tomorrow!!

Now on to day 15…

(I’m going to be reposting the contest rules at the beginning of each post. If you’ve already read them, scroll down for today’s post and questions.)

To celebrate the release of ENTWINED, I’m giving away a BUNCH of prizes. There are two parts to this contest:

PART ONE :
Post the ENTWINED widget (below) on your FB page, blog sidebar, tweet about the contest and/or book, email your friends and spread the word…basically, any way you talk up the book or contest will enter you for one of three $25 gift cards to the online bookstore of your choice. Winners will be selected after I return from RWA Nationals, the first week in August. Once you’ve done that, email me at elisabeth@elisabethnaughton.com and tell me blabbed about ENTWINED. Be sure to put ENTWINED Release Contest in the subject line. (If you already posted the widget from the blog post I did last week, you’re already entered.) Enter as many times as you like. Every time you spread the word about book 2 in the Eternal Guardians series, send me an email.

PART TWO: Each day for the next two weeks I’ll be giving away AWESOME prizes and spotlighting some fabulous authors. Comment on the daily post to be entered into that day’s drawing. Winners will be chosen randomly from comments and will get to pick their prize. Once a prize is chosen, it’s crossed off the list. Here are the prizes you can win:

Got Demon? Mug from author Saranna DeWylde
Beneath the Surface by MJ Fredrick
Primordial by Denise Agnew – won by Melanie (day 9 winner)
His Darkest Embrace e-arc by Juliana Stone – won by Diana (day 5 winner)
Unbridled by Beth Williamson – won by Jeanette J. (day 10 winner)
Huddle With Me Tonight by Farrah Rochon
Relentless by Lauren Dane – won by Minnchica (day 7 winner)
Revelation (ecopy) by Lauren Dane – won by Pam K (day 8 winner)
Sunrise in A Garden of Love & Evil by Barbara Monajem – won by Barbara E (day 3 winner)
All He Desires by Anthea Lawson
The Phoenix Charm by Helen Scott Taylor – won by Lindsey E. (day 11 winner)
Animal Instinct (ecopy) by Michelle Pillow – won by Cathy (day 10 winner)
$10 Starbucks Card from Phyllis Bourne
Montana Dawn by Caroline Fyffe
Dangerous As Sin & $10 Borders Gift Card from Alix Rickloff – won by Robin L (day 2 winner)
Ancient Whispers by Marie-Claude Bourque
Forged of Shadows by Jessa Slade – won by Cyberclipper (day 5 winner)
Shadow Bound by Erin Kellison – won by Giada (day 3 winner)
Lord of Pleasure & $10 Starbucks Gift Card from Delilah Marvelle – won by Jody F (day 7 winner)
$20 Borders Gift Card from Joan Swan – won by Limecello (day 1 winner)
Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden won by Nikki (day 6 winner)
Forbidden Highlander by Donna Grant – won by Julie (day 4 winner)

I’ve saved the very best for last. Today, my guest is my fantabulous critique partner, whose first romantic suspense will be out soon from Kensington. Please welcome…

Joan Swan!

I’m not much of a blogger.  I love reading them, just not writing them.  For whatever reason, writing about the writing process adds to the tedium and drains all the creative pleasure for me.  And since I don’t believe anyone wants to read about the monotony of my ordinary day, the result is that I don’t blog much.

One of the things I do like to talk about is how to start writing, keep writing and feel good when you’re writing.  Anyone who writes knows what a struggle it is.  Even readers who follow writers know, because we’re always talking about it.  We can’t help but talk about it.  Because…yeah, writing is a labor of love, like raising children or building a house or starting your own business from the ground up.

For all you writers out there, here are 10 tips I’ve put together that have been key to my writers inner journey. 

 TRUST…your gut, your heart, your uniqueness; your agent, your editor, your critique partner

GROW…master your craft. Strive for your next book to be better than your last in every way. Never stop learning.

PERSEVERE…even if all you can manage is one word at a time.

STAY POSITIVE…cultivate gratitude. Find the silver lining. Every little bit helps.

BE SELECTIVE…in who you trust, who you associate with, who you elicit feedback from.

TAKE THE HIGH ROAD…always. In the end, you’ll be glad you did.

VENT…in private with someone you trust. It’s healthy. It weeds out negativity and makes room for positivity.

BE YOURSELF…you are as unique as the publishing industry. Celebrate that.

LOVE YOURSELF…treat yourself with patience, kindness and understanding—the way you would treat your best friend.

BELIEVE…in fate, in luck, in karma, in timing, but most of all, believe in yourself.

To be entered into today’s drawing, share your tips for writing, staying positive or just plain getting through the day.