Feeling the Fiction

S.R.Claridge writes Mystery and Romantic Suspense novels. Her work has been said to have the energy of Dan Brown, the mystery of Mary Higgins Clark and the humor of Janet Evanovich. Claridge novels will take you to the edge of your seat, keep you guessing until the very end and ultimately warm your heart. It is on the pages of every S.R.Claridge novel that Mystery and Sensual Suspense collide.

For more information on bookings, interviews and upcoming releases, please visit the author website and Facebook fan page.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Make Spring Break Suspenseful

The Candy Shop has been selling like crazy and I'm very excited! Thank you to all of my readers and please remember to write a review and post it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords or wherever you ordered your copy.

If you haven't read it yet, pick it up or download it today. It's a great way to add a little suspense to your Spring Break! :)

"One decision can change everything."

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

SMASHWORDS

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

An Excerpt from the Upcoming Sequel to House of Lies

An excerpt from the upcoming sequel to House of Lies…

Tess depressed the button that made the back of her hospital bed sit up a little straighter and then narrowed her eyes at Shane. “All you wanted to do was steal my joy. I was happy until you started nosing around in my business! What concern is it of yours anyway?”

Shane swallowed hard because she didn’t want her answer to come from a place of anger, but from the love that she felt deep down. “I want nothing more than your happiness and I’m sorry that you think I have somehow robbed you of joy.”

Rising from the bedside chair, Shane turned toward the door. Maybe Braznovich was right. Maybe it was time to give up the fight to save her sister. No! Not yet! Her inner voice screamed and taking only two steps, she whirled back around to face Tess. “It was my concern because I love you. I looked into what you were so deeply into because I cared for your wellbeing. I saw it destroying our family and your life and all I wanted you to do was open your eyes and see what was happening before it was too late.”

“You wouldn’t have been happy until I gave up everything that was important to me!” Tess seethed. “I’m not going to do that. I’m never going to do that, no matter how horribly you persecute me!”

Shane fought the lump rising in her throat and tried to calmly continue. She silently reminded herself that her sister was brainwashed and that the deception she had been living under would not be undone overnight. It was going to take time. “I didn’t ask you to stop believing what you believe or even to stop doing what you do. I only asked that you would take some time to study it from an objective perspective so that you would fully understand the hold that it had on you. The hold it obviously still has on you.”

“I don’t feel that God is telling me to study it,” Tess rebutted.

Shane had heard this excuse one too many times and it grated her like nails on a chalkboard. She stormed to the other side of the bed, pulled open the bedside table top drawer and took out the Gideon Bible. Tossing the Bible unto Tess’s bed, Shane blurted, “Look up James 1:5.”

“I don’t need to look it up. I already know what it says,” Tess spat. “‘If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach; and it will be given him.’” Tess gloated. “I don’t lack wisdom. You do.”

Shane’s breath caught in her chest as a realization rushed over her. She wasn’t talking to her sister. Not really. She was talking to the demonic, blinding stronghold that had taken over Tess. She could see it in the hollow stare of her sister’s gaze. Tess’s body was here but whoever or whatever was peering from behind her eyes was not Tess.

Slowly backing toward the door, Shane fought to keep her composure. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I should go and ask God for more wisdom.”

An evil smile spread across Tess’s face and sent a chill darting up the back of Shane’s neck, the same chill she had felt when she stood face-to-face with Maxwell Sagan. ~

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Lied, Defrauded & Falsified

I received tax information from my ex-publisher (Vanilla Heart Publishing) and couldn't help but laugh. Though she noted what she had paid me for 2013, what she failed to provide in this sloppily, hand-written W-2 form was any element of truth. Book sales? Not included. Statements? Not included. Just a random number for a random payment that matched none of the numbers provided by any of the retailers in 2013. I wasn't surprised...for you see, had she claimed the correct number of book sales she would have had to admit to fraudulent activity and theft.

I wonder... what earnings is she claiming to the government? It might be worth suggesting to the IRS that they audit Kimberlee Williams and Vanilla Heart Publishing, for I am merely one author in a line of many from which she has stolen money and, sadly from some, is still stealing. I just might take this up with my attorney and will certainly register another complaint with the State of Washington and the Better Business Bureau.

You see, for me, this was her last chance to rectify the wrongdoing. Admitting she had stolen from me and taking steps toward restitution prior to sending out legally falsified W-2 documentation would have shown at least some form of remorse, be it small and pathetic. But, that time limit has ceased and the hour of pursuing restitution is now upon us.

To the authors who are currently with Vanilla Heart Publishing, please be aware that Kimberlee Williams is lying to you. She has the ability to print monthly reports of your book sales from Amazon. Also, Amazon pays timely, VERY timely each month and so she should be able to pay you on time as well. No excuse is viable. EVERY excuse and play for your sympathy is a lie. In addition, Smashwords pays every quarter in a timely manner. They are never late and reports can be pulled at any time during the quarter where she can see book sales by title, type and distributor. There is no reason you are not receiving statements and payments in a timely manner. NO REASON!

Thankfully, for me, the Vanilla Heart nightmare is over. I have moved on and found great success. I wish that for every author. If you are with a publisher that is robbing you blind and filling your head with excuses, break free and earn what you deserve from your work. A legitimate publisher will not give excuses because in today's world of technology and minute-by-minute reporting there is no need for excuses.

You deserve to be treated with respect and honesty and publisher's like Vanilla Heart are nothing but wolves in sheep's clothing, preying on new and naive authors. Open your eyes and enjoy the fruits of your labor. ~

Monday, January 20, 2014

If it Scares You...

There are times when I am tempted to play it safe, take the path most traveled and lean toward the conservative side when writing; and then, I stand up at my desk, jump up and down three or four times and shake it off. When I feel this stagnation coming on in life, I jump from a plane, skinny dip or do something else exhilarating to liven things up.

I try to make a conscious effort to live on the edge on paper and in life. That doesn't mean live dangerously, but purposefully. It doesn't mean to live carelessly, but care-freely. I think it means to embrace every chance you're given and whenever you can, choose the path less traveled and leave a piece of yourself on the trail. That is to say, pour a little bit of yourself onto the pages even if it's scary.

Writing my novels has taken me into some dark places. For the Just Call Me Angel series I studied the Mafia and for House of Lies I studied cult groups, past and current. Writing The Candy Shop took me to a new precipice, as I studied the psychological profiles of serial killers. It was uncomfortable and, at times, downright creepy. I dove in nonetheless and I'm thankful I did. The newly found knowledge I embraced added a depth to each story that otherwise would not exist. It scared me, but the positive reviews have made those fearful moments worthwhile. :)

Trying something new or looking at something from a new perspective can cause trepidation. Those feelings are normal. If it scares you a little... you're on the right path. ~

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Sustainable Success

The easiest part of being a writer (at least for me) is the act or art of writing. The hardest part is the marketing and promotional efforts. When I have a writing day planned, I wake up excited; whereas, when I know the day holds nothing more than plowing through marketing strategies and delivering promos, I awaken less enthused. This needs to change and is my first work-related New Year’s resolution.

Dive into marketing and promotion with a fresh feel, a new outlook and a positive attitude.

I won’t bore you with my other business resolutions… suffice to say, if I can tackle the first one I will be content.

So, how does an author effectively market their work? Ah, the age old question. There are many of us out there who often feel as if we are spinning our wheels, but this isn’t happening only in the literary world. It happens with everyone in every field. We don’t see the results we want and we get tired. We slow down. We lose our mojo. It’s natural… but, it is changeable. Success can be sustainable.

In this blog I’m only going to cover the first three steps:

First, start with a cup of coffee….okay, that’s a lie…you’re going to need a pot of coffee. More importantly…start the day with prayer. Thank God for all that you have, for every blessing in your life, and hand Him your hopes, dreams, aspirations and the desires of your heart. Trust me, they are much safer in His hands than yours.

Second, write down every goal you want to accomplish. Big or small, write down them all! Now, tack those goals in a place where you will see them multiple times a day. Print them small and tape them to the corner of your computer screen. Place a copy in the bathroom, on the cover of your cell phone, etc. Make your goals visible.

Third, make a to-do list. Add to it every day and check off items every day. This will keep you organized and help you not to feel overwhelmed. There is a certain satisfaction that comes with checking off an item on your to-do list. Feel the satisfaction. Relish in it. Reward yourself for it and then harness that sense of accomplishment and use it to tackle the next item.

I’ll say it again: Success is sustainable. The key is to take it step by step. It doesn’t happen overnight. It doesn’t come in a whirlwind. It arrives after years of hard work. Dream big, work small… and your dreams will come true. ~

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Christmas Day Giveaway

Merry Christmas! May your day be filled with joy and wonder, love, laughter, adventure and more fun than you can imagine!

To recap, in case you missed the original post, I’m hosting a Twelve Days before Christmas Giveaway (sponsored by Global Publishing Group) wherein I will be giving away free copies of my books plus some of the other GPG author’s books.

Here's how it works... I'll post the giveaway and the first person to email me, gets the free item of the day! Each blog will go live at 8:00am MST (that's 7:00am for you West Coasters, 9:00am for you Mid-Westerners and 10:00am for my East Coast friends.) It’s too easy not to play!

Email me with the subject line: Merry Christmas

Email me by clicking HERE

Here we go!

Sing with me....though I'm going to have to change up the lyrics a bit...

On the twelfth day before Christmas an author gave to me

A free copy of Petals of Blood!

On the eleventh day before Christmas an author gave to me

An S.R.Claridge Ebook of my choice for free!

On the tenth day before Christmas an author gave to me

A Tetterbaum’s Truth ebook copy!

On the ninth day before Christmas an author gave to me

An erotic spanking story!

(The first book in the Elise Dugar Episodes by Author Susan Sanchez)

On the eighth day before Christmas an author gave to me

A Traitor’s Among Us copy!

On the seventh day before Christmas an author gave to me

The truth in House of Lies!

On the sixth day before Christmas an author gave to me

The second book in the erotic romance series.

(Anticipation by Susan Sanchez)

On the fifth day before Christmas an author gave to me

The third book in the Just Call Me Angel series!

(Russian Uprising)

On the fourth day before Christmas an author gave to me

The Spouse in my House ebook free!

On the third day before Christmas an author gave to me

Another Sanchez Erotic story for free!

(Belting Love)

On the second day before Christmas an author gave to me

The Candy Shop for free!

On the first day of Christmas an author gave to me

A book about a Llama named Louie!

(Children’s book by Jerrye Woods, Louie the Llama Discovers Christmas)

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Christmas Eve Giveaway

It’s Christmas Eve! My home and heart are dancing with excitement! I think about how Mary must have felt thousands of years ago, as she rode on the back of a donkey, on the verge of labor. Can you imagine riding on a donkey while nine months pregnant?! And then, to top it off, giving birth in a barn, in the cold, with no drugs and no doctors. I can’t even fathom it, and not just from Mary’s perspective, but from Joseph’s as well. Here lay your wife, birthing a child that isn’t even yours, and you are powerless to provide her with warmth or security. I imagine he paced back and forth and back and forth, gnawing on his nails and praying for their wellbeing. On top of it being a miraculous and historic eve, it was most certainly a stressful time.

Isn’t that true of the holiday season? As wonderful as it is, it comes with a lot of stress. Shopping, wrapping, baking, social events….all thrilling, yet exhausting.

So, to celebrate Christmas Eve, I’m giving away TWO copies of my new release: The Candy Shop

Here's how it works... I'll post the giveaway and the first TWO people to email me, get the free item of the day! Each blog will go live at 8:00am MST (that's 7:00am for you West Coasters, 9:00am for you Mid-Westerners and 10:00am for my East Coast friends.) It’s too easy not to play!

Email me with the subject line: Day Two