TAKE FIVE on a New Release Magic Carpet Ride with Elizabeth Alsobrooks and STOLEN SECRETS!

I'm thrilled to have one of my critique partners (and good buddy!) Elizabeth Alsobrooks stop in today to Take Five regarding her brand new release STOLEN SECRETS. A novella spinoff with secondary characters from her ILLUMINATI Urban Fantasy series, it's filled with adventure, fantasy and some pretty hot sexy times. I LOVED it! Welcome Elizabeth, who brought along some seriously cool promotional teasers, and Take Five . . .

"Take Five" with Elizabeth Alsobrooks and STOLEN SECRETS

1. Secret Societies! Treasure hunters! Egyptian Gods and Goddess! You've got it all going on, girl. How fun was researching this book, and how much was fact vs. imagination?

I love research, especially location research. Our trip to New Orleans where you were researching your By Moonlight series and I was researching a setting from my second Illuminati book was a blast! Believe it or not, the foundation of my world-building is based upon hard research I morph in my imagination, from locations, mythology, history, conspiracy theories, and even legends from ancient to modern times.

2. STOLEN SECRETS is a novella. Why did you decide to follow the first novel, THE BOOK OF LIFE with a shorter tease rather than the second book of the series, THE TREE OF LIFE (both of which are great, BTW!)

Thanks! My Illuminati series is Urban Fantasy, so really long, as in the first one was 600 pages plus. It takes a long time to do that much research and writing and my readers were growing impatient, wanting their Illuminati fix. Also, I try to create complex characters, people I myself could admire or would want to know personally—even the secondary characters. So I thought it would be fun to do some sexy, quick-read romantic spinoffs showcasing some of the secondary characters. I was hoping it would make seeing them in the larger works more fun, too!

3. You wear two pretty big hats, those of author and publisher. How do you balance your time between your books and client books (though I'm sure living in sunny Arizona makes it easier!)?

If only I knew how to juggle. If not for the publishing hat I would probably have 20 novels completed and already published since retiring from my day jobs. My own work takes second place, almost always. Recently, however, I have decided to spend at least one day a week (as in there are 7 days in the week) for my own work, and I have tried to stop replying to most emails on the weekends, unless they’re deadline related.

4. What's in the future for your mythological characters? More books? More crossovers like the short story in THE KEEPER'S SECRET from Tell-Tale Publishing's Annual Horror Anthology? We want to see more of them!

I am in love with Egyptian mythology and superstitions, mythology in general, actually. I collect world-wide fairy tales and legends and love chasing after some unheard of superstition or legend’s source, which is why everything I write has some paranormal or supernatural element and always mythological elements. I have a third book already planned for my Illuminati series, The Sea of Life, and a 4th is begging for a completed synopsis, The Origin of Life. I see a lot of spin-off series in there too. They’re fun to write and the length is inviting to someone as busy as me. That includes the horror stories too. I really enjoyed writing The Opal Ring. Who doesn’t find Jinn interesting? I’m also toying with the idea of a dark paranormal that has entered my imagination. So many ideas, so little time. Like I said, if not for the many hats, I would have a ton of publications already out there.

5. You've got some pretty cool promo, from website to book trailers and more! First, do you do most of your own or farm it out, and second, how important do you feel self-promotion is for an author and where can a writer get the most bang for the buck? (You'll notice how sneakily I tucked in some extra questions!)

I do my own website, but I farm out the main ingredients, like the trailers, covers, promo posters, etc. I also hire out the formal PR, though I do my own social media and 2 blogs, Book Bling and the 18th on an author group blog called Paranormal Romantics. The company farms out most everything.

Due to many hats, I have a lot of contacts and resources in the field that individual authors may not, so can always get recommendations for the best and most affordable in all areas of media. My inbox is a steady stream of “offers” for just about anything you can think of.

I would recommend that anyone who writes fiction should join their local Romance Writers of America chapter and you will instantly access plenty of veteran know-how and expertise. Also, for free online help, join Marketing for Romance Writers. Their yahoo group is a running stream of PR and publication questions and answers, with a ton of self-promotion opportunities and service provider evaluations.

Authors who do little or no promotion will have a hard time broadening their fan base. Period. The best way to gain “real fans” is to build relationships with readers. No one can do that for you. Even the big name authors do meet-and-greets and a fair amount of their own social media. Being an author is a business and that means learning to use social media and attending live events, and guest appearances on blogs, like this one—and not just when you have a new release. Consistency is key if you want to constantly grow your fan base. More fans equal more sales. That said, I’m happy to be here! Thanks for having me, Nancy.

Amazon | Goodreads

Offered an enormous sum by an anonymous benefactor for the acquisition of an ancient ceremonial relic, a sum that would keep the antiquities shop in Cairo her father left her afloat while she continued her own archaeological pursuits, Lady Isabella Valentine was distracted rather than tempted, then suspicious, when the dashing young Bedouin slipped in just before closing and promised her a deal she couldn’t refuse--for the very same relic. Despite his sensual appeal, she did refuse him, sending him away. But neither of them know of the evil power they are up against, or what hidden dangers await them in the tomb of the high priest.

Prince Mukhtar, son of Sheikh Abdul Kummel al-Rahman, leader of the Hassana, is on a sacred Illuminati mission for Isis to retrieve something stolen from one of her temples over a thousand years ago. This mortal disbeliever though an enchanting English rose, however beautiful she might be, is clearly in the power of the Usurper and must be persuaded to help him, one way or another.

About Elizabeth Alsobrooks

Now that her children have flown from the nest, Elizabeth lives with her personal editor, Hudson (AKA Maltese), and husband, Kenton, (AKA Irish-Scotsman) at the foot of the beautiful Santa Catalina Mountain Range in Oro Valley, AZ.

She loves to sit on her patio sipping coffee and reading or brainstorming plots and enjoying the grandeur of her breathtaking mountain views.

Elizabeth calls herself a pantser on steroids. The first book of her Illuminati series flowed like a psychic muse channeled it from her fingertips to the keyboard. She wrote 120,000 words in 45 days. "After the first couple of chapters, the characters took over. They knew what they wanted and what they were willing to do to get it." She is more reluctant to discuss how long it took to edit and revise her manuscript.

Her love of mythology and ancient literature and history were the backbone for her series, and the Sigma Force series by James Rollins inspired the fast-paced adventures (He recently told her at a literacy fundraiser that he found that flattering, as no one had ever told him he was inspiring before!).

A friend compared Elizabeth's series to what it would be like if Ford and Jolie stepped through the Stargate, tried to kill each other, and ended up falling into a love as seemingly hopeless as Romeo and Juliet. Elizabeth claims she pictured a blond "The Rock" as the hero when she was writing, but that Jolie, with lavender eyes, would fit her heroine just fine.

Currently, she is dividing her writing time between book II in her Illuminati series and a New Adult spinoff series. Book 1 in the Immortal Sins series is titled Daughter of Ancients.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You're only One Click away from the excitement. You don't even need a magic carpet (or to get sand in your shoes!) to enjoy the adventure, but feel free to take one if you've got one. This is one treasure worth pursuing! Happy reading!