Tag Lyla Payne | Author, Lyla Payne

March 14, 2016May 6, 2016 by Lyla Payne

Secrets Don’t Make Survivors + BIG PRINT BOOK GIVEAWAY

Hey butterflies! It’s that time again – release day! Secrets Don’t Make Survivors is available today!

SDMSFinal To celebrate the releases of both Secrets Don’t Make Survivors and Center Stage on March 15^th, New York Times Bestselling Author Denise Grover Swank and I are joining forces and giving away a whole load of SIGNED PRINT BOOKS throughout the day.

You’ll have the chance to win signed books from authors like Debra Holland, Jana DeLeon, Deanna Chase, Lee Strauss, Melissa F. Miller, Melissa Olson, Melinda Leigh, H.Y. Hanna, Kendra Elliot, Jenna Bennett, Nic Saint, ReGina Welling, LJ Charles, and Diane Capri.

In addition, Denise is contributing a FULL SIGNED SET of Rose Gardner Mysteries and I’m offering the same with the Lowcountry Mysteries!

All you have to do is check our pages throughout the day tomorrow, or come back to this post and click the links every hour to like, comment and enter!

Details: The posts will be open until midnight CDT on Tuesday, March 15^th. We will announce the winners on Wednesday, March 16^th and get the prizes in the mail as soon as possible after that.

9:00 AM: Denise Grover Swank (Center Stage AND Secrets Don’t Make Survivors)

10:00 AM: Lyla Payne (FULL SET of the SIGNED Rose Gardner Mysteries)

11:00 AM: Denise Grover Swank (FULL set of the Lowcountry Mysteries)

12:00 PM: Lyla Payne (A Cutthroat Business by Jenna Bennett, Louisiana Longshot by Jana DeLeon, Cat Killed a Rat by ReGina Welling, A Scone to Die For by H.Y. Hanna, Not Quite Dead by Lyla Payne, and Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes by Denise Grover Swank) – http://on.fb.me/22fh9Z8

1:00 PM: Denise Grover Swank (A Clash of Spooks by Nic Saint, Trouble in Mudbug by Jana DeLeon, Rings on Her Fingers by ReGina Welling, Spirits, Stilettos, and a Silver Bustier by Deanna Chase, and Not Quite Dead by Lyla Payne)

2:00 PM: Lyla Payne (A Touch of Ice, Burned, and Two Hearts by LJ Charles, Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes by Denise Grover Swank, Not Quite Dead by Lyla Payne and Spirits, Stilettos, and a Silver Bustier by Deanna Chase) – http://on.fb.me/1Mj5yvm

3:00 PM: Denise Grover Swank (Secrets Don’t Make Friends and Secrets Don’t Make Survivors by Lyla Payne)

4:00 PM: Lyla Payne (Due Justice by Diane Capri, Center Stage by Denise Grover Swank, Gingerbread Man by Lee Strauss, Secrets Don’t Make Friends by Lyla Payne) – http://on.fb.me/1YSPTKC

5:00 PM: Denise Grover Swank (Rosemary’s Gravy by Melissa F. Miller, The Big Keep by Melissa Olson, Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes by Denise Grover Swank, Not Quite Dead by Lyla Payne)

6:00 PM: Lyla Payne (Secrets Don’t Make Friends and Not Quite Dead by Lyla Payne, Center Stage and Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes by Denise Grover Swank) – http://on.fb.me/1Xr9ss1

7:00 PM: Denise Grover Swank (Known by Kendra Elliott, Center Stage by Denise Grover Swank, Secrets Don’t Make Survivors by Lyla Payne, She Can Kill by Melinda Leigh)

Hop on over to our Facebook pages (Lyla Payne and Denise Grover Swank – Author) to enter during the day. Here’s the link to the initial post with all of the details!

Happy reading!

November 16, 2015May 6, 2016 by Lyla Payne

Helping Hands: A Note about Giving Back

Today, I’m releasing a book called Secrets Don’t Make Friends. Along with being a thriller, a suspense, and a story about friendship, the book is about not only getting free from an abusive relationship, but how difficult it can be to navigate the world after one does.

I know this topic is sensitive, and I know it’s touched more women and children and families than it should. Abuse, whether psychological, emotional, verbal, or physical, makes people feel hopeless. It makes them so afraid to move that they believe there’s nowhere to go. That there’s no way out.

No one should feel like that, but also, it shouldn’t be true. When a person gets up the courage to flee, they should always have somewhere to go. That is why, with the release of this book, I plan to donate $100 to Hope House, a local Kansas City shelter that provides amazing services to my community.

Below is the trailer for Secrets Don’t Make Friends (yay, film degree!). I have decided that if I get 500 shares of the video, I will up my donation to $250. My good friend (and NYT Bestselling Author) Denise Grover Swank, has agreed to match that amount if our shares get over 1000.

So, shortcut:

I donate $100 today because I want to, and it’s a good cause and a good time to give back.

This video gets 500 shares, I donate another $150.

This video gets 1000 shares, Denise donates $250 of her own.

Can we do it!! I think we can!

Here’s the link to the video, in case you’re not YouTube savvy. Thank you, little june bugs, for reading. As always.

xo

Lyla Payne

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November 10, 2015May 6, 2016 by Lyla Payne

Secrets…Revealed

Hey, my little fireflies! Things are happening in Lyla Payne land and I wanted to share them with you!

1. If you’re a Lowcountry reader, there is a novella coming later this month that will be FREE for newsletter subscribers (for a limited time). Make sure you’re signed up here.

2. I’ve been teasing about a book coming in November that’s a secret…not anymore! Secrets Don’t Make Friends is up on Goodreads, and it will be available to you in a week – November 17th! Here’s the cover…

3. You guys are my favorite. Stay tuned for more fun!

xo
Lyla Payne

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August 12, 2015May 6, 2016 by Lyla Payne

You Scratch My Back…

I’ll Scratch Yours! That’s how the saying goes, right (and it’s a good saying, because I mean, who doesn’t love a good back rub now and again)?

If you’re friends with authors, or follow authors on social media, or are (un)fortunate enough to have an author in your family, you probably know that we’re crazy for reviews. And it’s not just because we’re masochists who enjoy weeping into our wine glasses while we read what people think about our little darlings (good or bad), either – reviews matter for a whole host of reasons, not the least of which that the more we have, the more appealing the books are when we submit them for advertising and promotion.

All of that little insight into the terrifying author mind was to tell you this – I recently bundled the first three books plus a novella in my Lowcountry Mystery series (a series about a young woman who returns to the small, South Carolina town where she spent her summers growing up in the hopes that it will provide some shelter in the storm of her life, but instead finds that things are not what they were – and that even the ghosts won’t leave her be) into a boxed set.

It’s for sale on all platforms for $7.99 currently (which is $2 cheaper than buying them all separately), so it’s a good deal as is if you haven’t checked out the series!

I know that many of you have read Gracie’s adventures (thank you thank you thank you!), so of course you wouldn’t need to purchase the bundle, but that doesn’t mean you can’t help me out (or enter the giveaway)!

Here are the links:

Amazon : iBooks : B&N : Google Play : Kobo

***GIVEAWAY***

Here’s the long and short of it: It’s my hope to use this boxed set in a promotional capacity going forward (putting it on sale to get readers hooked for future books) but in order for sites like BookBub and BookGorilla, etc to consider advertising, the boxed set needs it’s OWN reviews. If you’ve read the stories separately, you’re all set – just type up a little review of your thoughts on these 3.5 installments and post!

If you haven’t read the series, now’s your chance!

Once you’ve written and posted a review (any retail site is fine, but Amazon is best!), just come back here and post a link in the comments.

***PRIZES***

EVERYONE WHO LEAVES A REVIEW FOR THE BOXED SET WILL RECEIVE A SURPRISE SWAG PACK IN THE MAIL and be entered to win a grand prize.

THREE people who leave review will have the opportunity to NAME A CHARACTER in the series going forward!

ONE person will win a $25 GIFT CARD to the bookstore of your choice.

***RULES***

The review must be posted by September 15th, 2015.

The giveaway IS open internationally.

Enjoy!

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July 15, 2015May 6, 2016 by Lyla Payne

Need a Little Christmas in Your July?

***Heather Markowski is the winner of my ARC! Thank you everyone for entering AND for sharing your stories – I’m almost in the holiday mood, now!!***

So, I don’t know how the weather is where YOU live, but here in the middle of the USA it is swelteringly, meltingly, humidly, BOILINGLY HOT. Now, I’m not much of a winter person, myself, but even those of us who hate bundling up on those cold winter days might be dreaming of a little frost, cocoa, crackling fires, and dinners with family about now.

What better time to give away one of my paperback ARCs of Mistletoe & Mr. Right (Two Stories of Holiday Romance)??

That’s right – there are TWO novellas combined in this hard copy version, and guess what else – Kirkus says “These fluffy yet sexy romances will wrap readers in warm blankets.” (Romance. 16-20)

HOW COOL IS THAT? SUPER COOL.

Okay. In order to enter to win the paperback ARC, tell me the Christmas/Holiday tradition that you look forward to the most – especially when you’re sweating in the summer heat! I’ll choose one winner at midnight on July 26th so make sure and enter before then!

I’d also appreciate some shares if you have the time! Happy Christmas in July!

in Blog / giveaway 31 comments

May 6, 2015May 6, 2016 by Lyla Payne

Announcing…Free Things!!

Who doesn’t love free things, right?? Well, the first free thing I’m want to tell you about is Not Quite Dead. It’s the first book in a quirky, funny, southern mystery (with non-scary ghosts!) and is also one of my very favorite things I’ve ever written. And it’s FREE everywhere except Barnes and Noble, who continues to love shooting themselves in the foot as far as what they’ll allow indie authors to do on their site. It’s $.99 there, so if you’re a Nook reader, I hope that’s not going to turn you away.

You can find the links to download it here.

There are currently three books in the Lowcountry Mystery series, and although the mystery in each stands alone, the main character (Graciela) and her relationships spill over from book to book. I’ve decided that before the fourth book is released, I’m going to share a novella with you that offers some different points of view from the series and in general just deepens the stories and connections between characters.

The best part is, if you’re signed up for my newsletter you’ll be able to read the novella – Quite Curious – EARLY and for FREE. You’ll need to be signed up no later than June 1, since the first part of the novella will be released June 2.

Here’s the cover:

And the synopsis:

Graciela is hoping that, despite the reappearance of her father—who’s supposed to be dead—her life in Heron Creek might be about the calm down.

Her boyfriend’s mother has other ideas, ones that include getting to know her son’s new squeeze. The proposition makes Beau nervous for more than one reason, a couple of which would be news to Gracie.

Amelia’s therapy appears to be going well, so that’s working in Gracie’s favor, but with trouble brewing in Will and Mel’s marriage, the moonshiners getting more involved in Heron Creek affairs instead of less, and Leo’s sister Lindsay returning from her stint in the state pen, settled isn’t the best word to describe life in the small town.

Gracie is starting to think that maybe seeing ghosts is the least complicated thing about her…and she’s probably right.

Includes POVs from Beau, Will, Leo, Amelia, and Clete.

If you know you’re going to want the final product all together on your device you can preorder it from Amazon or iBooks.

You can also add it to Goodreads!

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November 27, 2014May 6, 2016 by Lyla Payne

ISSUE – PLEASE READ.

ISSUE!
Please read on if you downloaded a KINDLE version of LIVING THE DREAM within 36 hours of its release at midnight, November 25th (this includes PREORDERED COPIES).

I am not sure how this happened, but the original version of the Kindle file contains two Chapter 18’s and NO Chapter 19. This has been corrected and Amazon has promised me that you will all receive a notice and have a chance to update your file.

HOWEVER, they have said this process could take up to FOUR weeks (though it could happen as soon as 5 days). I’m not going to talk about my level of frustration over this, I am simply going to tell you that if you want to read the correct version before then, you’ll need to contact Kindle support (through chat is the fastest) and tell them you want the updated file pushed to your device. People have tried this with great success!

I am very sorry for the inconvenience this has caused, but please know that I have spent every hour of the past two days trying to get it correct as quickly as possible.

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October 24, 2014October 24, 2014 by Lyla Payne

MISTLETOE AND MR. RIGHT COVER REVEAL!!

It’s time for one of my favorite things in the writing process, y’all – a cover reveal! For those of you who haven’t heard, Bloomsbury Spark is publishing my Christmas novella set in Ireland in less than a month!

Here’s the description:

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring…but lust refused to settle in for a long winter’s nap.
She might be all nestled, snug in her bed, by why, oh why, do visions of the wrong guy dance in her head?

Jessica, (not Jessie), figures that nothing could be better than a trip to the Emerald Isle for Christmas break. So she takes a flying leap and follows her boyfriend home for the holidays, not only sure that he will finally agree they’re destined for each other, but also that Ireland will provide the perfect backdrop to the beginning of their happily-ever-after.

But it turns out his family–and his gorgeous ex-girlfriend–don’t feel the same way, and even the family goat seems to be conspiring against her well-laid plans. The only person making the trip worthwhile is the very last one she should be thinking about, but Grady, the local farmhand, has a way of showing up when Jessica needs him most…and least.

USA Today bestselling author Lyla Payne wraps up the perfect holiday novella, ties it with a ribbon of romance, and tops it with a light dusting of snow. Perfect to curl up with under the tree. Just add hot cocoa!

Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd THE COVER!

You can preorder Mistletoe and Mr. Right on Amazon or Barnes and Noble and it will be available November 20th on those platforms, as well as iBooks and Kobo!

So, I think it’s totally adorable – what about you?! Are you excited to meet Jessi(ca)??

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October 20, 2014October 20, 2014 by Lyla Payne

Get Your Official (EXCLUSIVE) Whitman University Rape Whistle!

If you order Living the Dream before the release date (November 25th, 2014) and fill out the form you’ll automatically receive an official WU rape whistle in the mail within a week of release!

They’re also flashlights and keychains PLUS you get Living the Dream for $1 less than the suckers who wait until after release, so there’s no reason not to pre-order from Amazon or iBooks and then come back with your confirmation number.

Oh, and also – if you’re wondering whether you qualify if you’ve already pre-ordered, the answer is YES. Just fill out the form!

In other news, NOT QUITE DEAD (which doesn’t just have ghosts, y’all, there’s plenty of mystery and romance and southernisms and vodka) is on sale this month for just $.99 on all platforms. Join me on my Facebook page for tons of fun and prizes during #HauntedOctober!

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August 14, 2014 by Lyla Payne

Why Not Try Something New?!

Hey, y’all!

So, the majority of you came to read my writing through Broken at Love, the first (and by far most read) installment of the Whitman University series. They’re standard New Adult contemporary romance fare, although I like to think I bring a little something different to the table with my gender-swapped storylines (and of course, my obsessions with tennis and Gossip Girl).

A few months ago I decided to try something different, and released a ghost story-romance-history-mystery-Southern small town tale that tackles the issues of family and friends and the age old question of whether or not it’s possible to go home again with Not Quite Dead.

Guys. I’m so proud of this book. I love Graciela, my main character, with my whole heart and the majority of the book’s reviews make me so happy, because they’re loving the book, too.

It’s ON SALE right now across all platforms for just $.99, and I’d love it if you’d check it out! I know how easy it is to say “meh, doesn’t sound like my thing,” but if I’d stuck to my thing, I would have missed out on some of my absolute favorite books in the past 5 years – Hunger Games, Game of Thrones, Graceline, Shadow and Bone, If I Stay – and my life would be less rich.

Which is not to say my books will change your life, but I have confidence that Gracie will make you smile at least once, and maybe make you cry, too.

And you know what else? If you like it, there’s good news – the sequel, Not Quite Cold, is available now.

Happy Reading!

xoxo

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