Street Team Giveaway Prizes for DEADLY DECOR launch

My STREET TEAM CAPRICE works hard for me, leaving reviews, liking and sharing on Facebook, handing out post cards to friends and family and generally spreading the word about my Caprice De Luca home staging mystery series. To celebrate the launch of DEADLY DECOR on June 3, 2014, I'm having a giveaway just for my street team.  Below are collages of the prizes.  I'll give directions on how to enter in my Facebook group, our Yahoo group and in email.

Thank you for all you do to make my Caprice De Luca home stager mystery series a success!

Best,
Karen

Leather and silver charm bracelet                                        Caprice style gauzy tote bag
Lavender sachet                                                                  Hammered brass fashion bracelet

Small hummingbird garden flag                    Sparkly heart key chain       Print copy NATHAN'S VOW
Cocker Spaniel tote bag                                                                         Cocker pups mouse pad

Starbucks gift card $10                   Decorative glass cat                                  Lady 3D magnet
Puppy lady and Patches 3D magnet                                                                  Amazon gift card $10

Puppy Lady mouse pad                                                                     Beaded vintage style evening purse
Pop Art spatula                                                                                 Stuffed decorative cat


If you're visiting this page and you'd like to know more about TEAM CAPRICE, click STREET TEAM CAPRICE!!!

FACEBOOK LAUNCH FOR DEADLY DECOR with more giveaways on June 3, from 7-10 p.m at:

Karen's Facebook Author Page

©2014 Karen Rose Smith

IN TOUCH with KAREN ROSE SMITH ezine
Karen Rose Smith's romance website
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An Interview With #Narrator Leslie Ellis--The Search For Emma by Karen Rose Smith

I've developed 16 books into audiobooks through ACX.com.  Each time I post a project for auditions, I consider the point of view of my main character as the foremost aspect of choosing a narrator.  I was sure I wanted a woman narrator for ALWAYS DEVOTED, though many of my romances are narrated by male narrators.  ALWAYS DEVOTED--a romance/mystery--is definitely Emma's story.  So I went on a search for the perfect voice for Emma.  I sent messages to narrators, asking them to audition.  I received several auditions for the novel after I uploaded the audition script.  Leslie's audition easily stood out from all the others.  As soon as I heard her voice, I knew she was perfect to tell this emotional story.

My readers often ask me about my narrators and the process of reading an audiobook.  That's why I do interviews with my narrators.

So...let me introduce my actor/narrator for ALWAYS DEVOTED, Leslie Ellis.

Leslie, can you tell me where you were raised?

I was raised outside of Boston, MA.

Did you read a lot as a kid?  As an adult?

It's funny, but I didn't read a lot as a kid.  I came from a very academic family and I was the black sheep, so to speak.  I just wanted to act and sing.  I really enjoy reading now, when I have the time and I love supporting my friends who have become indie writers!

Where did you attend college?

I attended Carnegie-Mellon University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Acting and Music.

What did you expect to do after college and, in reality, what did you do? 

After school, we all shipped out to New York City to take the world by storm.  While I was there, I played some lead roles on Broadway (Griz in CATS; LA CAGE AUX FOLLES; CITY OF ANGELS) and Off-Broadway in a revival of THE ROTHSCHILDS.

Since those early days, what else has furthered your career?

Since my days in New York City, I've acted in movies, industrial films and commercials and become a hard-working voice over artist.  I narrated before for films and then got into book narrating, which I absolutely love.

Why did you decide to begin narrating audiobooks?

I have listened to audiobooks forever and always thought I could be good at it.  I love the variety of characters that I have to embrace and analyzing the different ways, pitches and speeds of their voices.  Teenagers speak VERY differently from their dads!  I would love to get into doing more accents in future books as I studied dialects in school and absolutely love acting with dialects.

Can you explain to our readers what is involved in the process from setting up a home studio, to editing, to putting the book for sale.  How long does it take?

In my case, I had some help setting up my home studio.  I got advice from a fellow narrator in LA and a friend in Nashville who is a professional studio engineer.  I use an AT2020 USB mic and either Audacity or Protools.  Both of these programs make it very easy (albeit time consuming) to edit the files once I have them read down.  I think people would be really surprised to find out how much time goes into one hour of narrating.  As I'm approaching it from the standpoint of an actor instead of a reader/narrator, I'm sure it takes me a lot longer because I really need to get the characters and their emotions right.  I will work anywhere from three to six hours to produce a finished hour of audiobook.  I work through ACX.com so they handle all of the sales elements of the finished book.

I want to mention here that Leslie is a perfectionist in the best way, redoing an audition piece until it's right, going over editing to improve sound in question.  When I hired Leslie, I knew she was the voice of my heroine and she never wavered from that.

What is the toughest part of narrating?

Keeping my voice in shape.  In addition to books, I do professional voice overs, sing demos and do live music shows.  I have to keep disciplined about warming up, talking, singing and resting!

Why narrate a romance?  

I have narrated young adult books, mysteries and what they call "Chick Lit."  I've also narrated tech stuff.  ALWAYS DEVOTED was my first romance novel and it intrigued me.  I wanted to make the sensual scenes sound really real--not corny or overly dramatic.  I took the challenge because I've been told my voice would lend itself well to a romantic story.

Leslie's take on the love scenes was perfect.  Not overly dramatic, not underplayed, but just right.  Perfect for the tone of the book.

Can anything in an author's history sway you toward narrating thier book?

If I'm doing a book for royalty share, I have to feel that author has a sense of sales and promotion because that's the only way I get paid.  When I'm not sure of what to expect, I often opt for the union per hour wage to ensure I use my time wisely.

What do you like to do most when you're not narrating?

I would say singing, acting and songwriting.  I love flipping around among all of it.  It keeps things interesting!


Find out more about Leslie at http://www.leslieellis.com

Hear a sample of ALWAYS DEVOTED or buy at:

ALWAYS DEVOTED Audiobook on Amazon

ALWAYS DEVOTED Audiobook on Audible




ALWAYS DEVOTED now avaiable in audiobook

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©2014 Karen Rose Smith

IN TOUCH with KAREN ROSE SMITH ezine
Karen Rose Smith's romance website
Karen Rose Smith's mystery website

#Cats and #Dogs in Karen Rose Smith's #Cozy #Mystery Series

I am an animal lover. When I decided to write a cozy mystery, I wanted dogs and cats to play a part in my sleuth's life because they play an important part in mine.  My amateur sleuth, Caprice De Luca, takes in strays and finds them loving homes.  In the first book, STAGED TO DEATH, which was released in December 2013, readers get to know Sophia who was named after Caprice's nana's favorite actress, Sophia Loren.  Caprice found this beautiful calico soon after she bought her house and considered her a "welcome to the neighborhood" gift!  Sophia's turquoise carpeted cat tree and her tablespoons of dairy cream (not all cats can digest dairy but Sophia can) keep her quite happy and content--along with Caprice's love and affection, of course.

In book 1, Caprice has also taken in a stray dog--part Pomeranian and part Shitzu--whom she named Dylan after the folk singer.  Caprice, at 32, is a retro gal.

In this first mystery, two yellow tabby kittens also come into Caprice's care.  She names them Creamsicle and Stripes.

In DEADLY DECOR, book 2 of the series, Caprice and Sophia are again best buddies...until Caprice finds a stray Cocker Spaniel in her mom's heirloom tomato plants!  (Her sister Bella calls her a stray animal magnet.)  To top off this discovery, Caprice learns this canine is pregnant.  She names her new friend Shasta because she is the color of the Shasta daisies in Caprice's backyard.

To give you a glimpse into book 3, GILT BY ASSOCIATION, Caprice finds a gray tabby kitten in her backyard one cold winter night.  This book has a Valentine's Day theme so guess what she names the kitten. If you've guessed Valentine, you've guessed correctly!

And, by the way, what do you think happened to Shasta's pups in book 2?

Read DEADLY DECOR to find out.

©2014 Karen Rose Smith

DEADLY DECOR on Amazon (preorder)

DEADLY DECOR Barnes & Noble (preorder)

FACEBOOK LAUNCH PARTY

June 3, 7-10 p.m. EST

Karen's Facebook Author Page

IN TOUCH with KAREN ROSE SMITH ezine

Karen Rose Smith's romance website 

Karen Rose Smith's mystery website

#Flowers In Honor Of #Mom by Karen Rose Smith

Mother's Day is a bittersweet holiday for anyone who has lost his or her mother.  Remembrance is so important.  Avoiding loss just brings more of it.  At times, embracing it is the best therapy.  One way I remember my mom and embrace her again, is to plant her favorite flowers in our gardens.  These forget-me-nots which are truly appropriate bloom every year around Mother's Day. They spread their little blue blossoms far and wide and can be transplanted to different locations.  My mom loved them.

When I was a child in elementary school, I often took flowers to my teacher.  (My mom was an elementary school teacher and I know how she appreciated them.)  In May, my mom and I would go to our backyard early before school started and cut a bouquet to take along.  We have a traditional lilac.  But we also planted these reblooming lilacs.  They're gorgeous in spring but will bloom again a few times over the summer.  Remembrance throughout the season.

At my childhood home, we had a small bank near a fence.  Fuchsia and white creeping phlox adorned that bank.  Even though we had a particularly harsh winter in Pennsylvania this year, the creeping phlox are more beautiful than I've ever seen them.

You know how you get that "welcome home" feeling when you see your front yard?  In the spring, fuchsia azaleas bloomed under our dining room and living room windows at my childhood home.  Although azaleas are sometimes have a difficult time wintering, the ones there lasted from the time we moved in until the year I had to sell the house.  We've had trouble growing them where we live now, but we bought two little bushes last year that somehow made it through this winter. They're blooming.

At Easter and Mother's Day, we often gave my mom hyacinths which were one of her favorite flowers.  She loved the scent.  One year as she was growing older and couldn't plant them, she returned one to us to plant in our garden.  Twenty years later, it's still growing.  Hyacinths are one of the first flower signs that a new blooming season is upon us.  This garden which also has her favorite summer flowers--like daisies, roses and zinnias--is my way of feeling closer to her.

May your mother's hand touch yours in some way this Mother's Day.

©2014 Karen Rose Smith

IN TOUCH with KAREN ROSE SMITH ezine

Karen Rose Smith's romance website 

Karen Rose Smith's mystery website

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#Breadmaker #Oat and Honey #Bread

When I mentioned on Facebook that I made Oatmeal Bread in our breadmaker and posted this photo, friends asked for the recipe.  So I thought I'd post it here in case anyone else would like to try it.  We make our own bread to avoid preservatives and plastic wrap that taints the taste of the bread.

This recipe came with our Oster Breadmaker.  I'm not a fan of wheat and we're trying to eat healthier. So we tried oats!

Oatmeal Bread

1 and 1/4 cups water
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
3/4 cups quick-cook oats
1 and 3/4 teaspoons salt
3 and 3/4 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons oat bran
2 tablespoons dry milk
2 teaspoons active dry yeast

1. Measure and add liquid ingredients to the bread pan.
2. measure and add dry ingredients (except yeast) to the bread pan.
3. Use your finger to form a well (hole) in the flour where you will pout the yeast.  Yeast must NEVER come into contact with a liquid when you are adding ingredients.  Measure the yeast and carefull pour it into the well.
4. Snap the baking pan into the breadmaker and close the lid.
5. Press "Select" button to choose the Basic setting.
6. Press the "Crust Color" button to choose light, medium or dark crust.
7. Press the "Start/Stop" button.

This breadmaker was a gift that I enjoy constantly.
Have a great "breadmaking" experience!

©2014 Karen Rose Smith

IN TOUCH with KAREN ROSE SMITH ezine

Karen Rose Smith's romance website 

Karen Rose Smith's mystery website

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Spring Edition of IN TOUCH with KAREN ROSE SMITH--News, Photos, Contest

It's spring!!!! Finally.  And I have so much news for my readers.  I've included the latest releases, DEADLY DECOR (Caprice De Luca home staging mystery series) launch party info for June 3, book signings, giveaways and ongoing projects, as well as "around the house" photos of my gardening and my constant companions--my cats: Ebbie, London and Zoie Joy.

As usual in my newsletters, there is a contest for a print copy of STAGED TO DEATH as well as a sparkling Hello Kitty keychain.

I hope you enjoy this latest edition.  Good luck in the contest!

Best,
Karen


 IN TOUCH with KAREN ROSE SMITH newsletter

#Cat Trees, Cat condos and Cat steps (including cute cat #photos) by Karen Rose Smith

Anyone who reads my blogs or follows me on Facebook and Twitter knows that I'm a cat lover. I've had cats as companions since I was about eight years old which has helped me learn about their habits, preferences and needs. At the moment my husband and I are parents to three rescued cats--two are thirteen years old (Ebbie--a beautiful sable/black cat, and London--a gray tabby).  The little one Zoie Joy (a black feline with half a tuxedo) is two.

Ebbie

Zoie

Just as we try to make the humans we live with happy, the same is true of taking care of cats and dealing with their personalities.  Cat trees, cat condos and cat steps help keep ours happy, healthy and contented.

It seems to be the nature of felines to want to perch high in a room to overlook the window, yards and everything inside.  A floor to ceiling cat tree can fit in a corner by a window and serve several purposes.  A cat can be high off the ground and feel safe.  He or she can share the space with a sibling and still have her or his own space.  Most cat trees are carpeted and can be used as scratching posts.

Zoie

Zoie

Cat condos come in all sizes. Some include a secluded space where a feline can feel secure.  Our smallest, Zoie, likes burrow holes to take naps.  Usually condos are sized to fit right at a window so cats can be entertained by the world outside without being harmed by it.  Condos are usually carpeted or covered with sisal for happy scratching.

London and Zoie

Ebbie and Zoie

Our oldest cat, Ebbie, hurt her back a few years ago.  She wouldn't move from my bed for about ten days, except to use her litter box.  I found a set of stairs she can easily climb to see out a window.  I've expanded them with a bench on one side and boxes on the other to give her a little room to spread out when she's hurting.  She didn't particularly like the steps in order to climb to the bed.  But she did like this hassock type condo for that purpose.  It gives her enough space to be able to get a good footing to hop to the bed.  (We move everything around to suit their needs and ours!)

London and Zoie

Ebbie, London and Zoie use all of the above.  We've been collecting them for many years. Here are a few places where I found condos, steps, and cat trees.

Drs. Foster & Smith

Petco

Amazon (pet supplies)

Zoie

In my Caprice De Luca home staging mystery series, Caprice is an animal lover too!  She takes in strays and finds them homes.  She has a long-haired calico named Sophia and has equipped Sophia with a floor to ceiling, turquoise carpeted cat tree which my cover artist put on the cover!

Staged To Death at Amazon

Staged To Death at Barnes & Noble

©2014 Karen Rose Smith

IN TOUCH with KAREN ROSE SMITH ezine

Karen Rose Smith's romance website 

Karen Rose Smith's mystery website

Karen's Facebook Author Page