WHAT'S NEXT?

Nashville SEAL is again a new series for me. The first book will be featured in an anthology, about an up-and-coming singer/songwriter Nashville star named Jameson Daniels. He's the right kind of visual eye candy I need when writing these books: tall and sexy, great voice, a little shy, but the ladies love him without him having to do anything. He's the focus of all the attention on stage, has a career that is beginning to take off, but a couple of events begin to have him question his trajectory.

A chance encounter with members of SEAL Team 3, fresh from their recent rescue mission in Band of Bachelors: Lucas, involving the terrorist training camp outside of Nashville, they show up to one of Jameson's concerts before going back to their home base in San Diego. You can imagine the lasting impression these fine boys have on my new hero. The wheels start a turning...

We're having a bit of fun too, since I offered to give readers a chance to become part of the new story. We had a Facebook launch party, and Heather Hollister and Karen Henderson won a "name" so there will both be sexy hookups with a Heather and a Karen in this novella. We are also using the name of the bar, Halfway to Heaven, which was a name Melissa Hord Marr came up with. Here's a little excerpt I wrote about Halfway to Heaven:

At twenty-five, he was perhaps starting late, and he was new to Nashville. But playing at Halfway to Heaven did two things, in order of their importance. First, it gave him the chance to meet up with a producer who might buy his songs or better yet, sign him to a record deal. Second, as the name implied, his social life and sexual needs were satisfied every night with a hot girl who would boost his confidence and stroke his ego, as well as a very important body part. He thought the venue name was well chosen.

I think the name is aptly chosen too! We also have a bookstore that will show up called "Read and Feed", a suggestion from Kelly Langford (thank you, Kelly), and Mary Williams came up with a name for a SEAL Bar in Coronado called "Brother's Passion." It's fun to involve my readers in the new stories I'm thinking up. Thank you to all who participated. Many prizes were given out — took me almost 2 days to fill them all!! But it's a nice problem to have.

I hope you are enjoying my Lucas and his merry Band of Bachelors. I'm plotting out the other brothers in this series now. Although I thought I'd have one finished by the end of this year, I think it's most realistic to say it will be February or March of 2016. Sorry to those readers who are anxiously awaiting this.

True Navy Blue series will kick off with a full-length novel with Zak and Amy. Again, although I had hoped this would come out before December, I think it will be after the first of the year. This novella is now available stand-alone on Kindle Unlimited, along with the print and audio versions. (Formerly in the Protect and Serve anthology which has been removed).

WE LOVE OUR RANDOM WINNERS:

REMEMBER, when you are a newsletter subscriber, you are automatically entered to win a random $50 Amazon gift card. This month's winner is:

2coffeepots4me — I'm so sorry I don't have your real name, but you're my kind of gal if you love 2 coffee pots a day...congrats. I will be sending you your gift card as soon as this Newsletter goes out!

BAND OF BACHELORS: LUCAS
IS GETTING GREAT REVIEWS

"What I loved most about this book was the author's betrayal of the men's men this group of guys truly is. They're gritty, raunchy at times, and total bachelors. I think it's probably the most accurate portrayal of a bunch of dudes that I've read. They like their danger high, sex raw, and women strong but understanding. Lucas was a great character to read as well as Marcy. I also loved the suspense aspect and thought how the author pulled the whole plot together was done really well."

I liked this comment so much, I put it on my back cover.

My awesome narrator, J.D. Hart, has finished Band of Bachelors, and we're waiting for ACX to release it any day now. I've really enjoyed this new ride and collaboration. He does a first class job, and each time I am so incredibly grateful he chose to work with me. I know you guys love them as well. All of my audio books are listed on my website here. I have snippets and book trailers J.D. has done for us all, as well as some cool information on the audio process with a great interview this year from Dallas on our collaboration. If you haven't watched it, please do. And if you are an audio virgin? Well, you definitely should listen to this. And feel free to share! It's true, we have way more fun than we deserve bringing these stories to you. It's been one of the highlights of my writing career.

The print version of Lucas out! Just approved the cover. It is an involved process.

Here's a random question. Who do you want to hear from next in the Band of Bachelors? I'll give one winner an audio of Lucas when it's done (about 2 weeks out). You can leave your response here.

Order now:

ASK SHARON:

Our winner this month is Danyelle Wadsworth, who asked, "What is your favorite part about travelling around to all the authors conventions? What was your all time favorite and why?"

As you know, I traveled to 16 conventions and book signings in 2015. Many people thought I was nuts. I have to say that it was exhausting, but one of the best things I did all year. I wanted to make face-to-face contact with as many readers as I could, thinking if I could just meet them and we could talk, they'd be readers for life. And I think it worked. Some readers don't have the income to be able to travel to different conventions, so I try to come to them. Remember, if you are aware of a good reader-centric convention I should attend, please let me know.

What was my best experience? Well, I have to say the interview I did with JD Hart in Dallas was a peak moment for me. It shows how much we love working together. He is the one constant supporter of my work who understands me perhaps better than anyone else. I love working with him each day. I think it shows, don't you?

A Day with the Authors in Nashville has also been the one convention where I met more readers than any other. I found a number of people who have really supported me and joined my team, as well as my wonderful PA, April.

But every convention has plus and minus sides. Even the ones that were less than ideal, gave me new ideas or a perspective on things I'd not thought about. Being an Indie author can be overwhelming. There are no maps for "How To Do It." You have to invent everything, and try to delegate with grace and clarity. It can be exhausting, but that is the only way we learn. Not as many authors work as hard as I do, but that's always been my "secret weapon."

Do you have a question for me? Each month we pick one, so if yours is picked, you get a choice of any of my backlist books, in any format. Hope you win next month!

PIRATE BOUNTY AND KALLYPSOCON

Got to hang out with six other great military romance authors at the KallypsoCon I just attended in Nashua, New Hampshire over Halloween weekend. We got a chance to have dinner with, play with, sit and discuss stories, plots and our writing journeys with about 60 readers, and most of them were readers I'd never met before. Sold a boatload of books, and enjoyed making memorable necklaces from recycled keys left over from my house fire, plus charms and extra items I brought. I even brought a 15# anvil!! (And no, this will not happen today — my back is paying the price...)

I am good friends with Kallypso Masters and her awesome PA, Charlotte (can you clone yourself please, Charlotte?), as well as J.M. Madden, Cristin Harber, and Elle James. And I've been online friends with Teresa Reasor. But Teresa and I had never met. Kennedy Layne and her hubby "Mr. Kennedy" I've never been able to sit down and talk to. What a treat to get to spend time with both these authors and the amazing "Biker Dude"!

The Holiday Inn had a pirate ship, the Bounty, and we all dressed the part — had witches and Day of the Dead characters, as well as saucy wenches and pirate lovelies, our own Captain Morgan and even a biker dude. It was great fun. Something that was outside my own personal comfort zone, but so well planned and flawlessly staged. I know it takes a lot of organization to plan and carry out one of these, and I appreciate how hard Kally and Charlotte worked to allow me to have such a wonderful time and to meet the fabulous readers, most of them from the local area, as well as Canada. We had one lady from Puerto Rico, and another from the UK.

Next year Kally will be doing a cowboy-themed convention and some of these ladies who write about cowboys will be back. As a reader, you definitely should try to attend, if you can. And Casper, Wyoming should be a really fun venue. Maybe I should dust off my boots and get some spurs, ahem.

Darrin White presented me with his own personal challenge coin, which brought me to tears. He has served his country honorably, and is an Eagle Scout Scoutmaster, continuing on with the fine service to his country by mentoring our next generation of fine men. Bravo Scoutmaster White! I salute you! I am sending him a SEAL Challenge coin, as is the tradition in our family as well.

The stories we shared ranged from how we began our military romance writing journey, to funny stories we actually used in our books that came from true stories. Loved the touching account of how Kally brought together Kennedy and her husband, (I don't think there was a dry eye in the place) when we learned how two people who had sworn off romance, got together and not only found true lasting love, but soul mates for life. We not only write romance, we live it. It was awesome for me to be included in this group.

SPECIAL CONTEST

—Sharon Hamilton

FIND SHARON:

www.AuthorSharonHamilton.com