tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post1440981242481920723..comments2024-02-13T12:54:34.770-05:00Comments on Flowers of Quiet Happiness: Bleeding Heart Blog Tour {Interview, Review, & Giveaway!}Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590701834142754842noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-8714285818329994862013-08-27T23:54:14.577-04:002013-08-27T23:54:14.577-04:00Thank you, Kate! And Amber too! Y'all are very...Thank you, Kate! And Amber too! Y'all are very sweet. :) And I can't wait for <i>Forget Me Not</i> myself!Karahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09590701834142754842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-57383104362323618792013-08-27T23:52:59.785-04:002013-08-27T23:52:59.785-04:00Thanks, Ysa! I had a lot of fun with this intervie...Thanks, Ysa! I had a lot of fun with this interview. And of course Amber is beyond wonderful to work with! This past week and a half are <i>very</i> exciting! Thanks so much for stopping by. :DKarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09590701834142754842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-52798538740831051112013-08-27T23:50:45.291-04:002013-08-27T23:50:45.291-04:00I'm glad you understood what I was trying to s...I'm glad you understood what I was trying to say, Amber. It can certainly be kind of hard to know if I'm getting my point across exactly like I mean to. <br /><br />"atmospheric and character-driven" I can definitely agree with those descriptors! That's an excellent way to describe your writing. Your characters felt real in that they struggled to decide exactly how they <i>did</i> feel about themselves and their situations. Real people's feelings are complicated and you showed that well.<br /><br />I admit, if I found your book on the shelf it may not have enticed me to read it immediately. But since it was <i>yours</i>, I did read it and I am so, so happy I did! The "darker aspects and plot twists" didn't actually bother me at all. :D This may be a good lesson for me not to judge based on what I "think" I will enjoy.<br /><br />So I'll stop apologizing and just say how very glad I am to have read this story and I will absolutely be looking forward to <i>Forget Me Not</i>. And any future stories too!! ;DKarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09590701834142754842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-16686100978312060242013-08-22T00:59:13.344-04:002013-08-22T00:59:13.344-04:00Aren't Kara's blog and words lovely? :) I&...Aren't Kara's blog and words lovely? :) I'm so glad you enjoy hearing about BH and FMN, as I know I talk about them a lot, LOL!<br /><br />I actually just put together a site for <i>Forget Me Not</i> - to be added to in the next few months. :) You can find it <a href="http://forgetmenotnovel.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">HERE</a>, if you're interested!<br /><br />~AmberAmber Holcombhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-54777806071914494332013-08-21T21:28:25.338-04:002013-08-21T21:28:25.338-04:00Great review and interview, Kara! I love hearing a...Great review and interview, Kara! I love hearing about Bleeding Heart and Forget Me Not!Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08508705863477611189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-18563055084488761122013-08-21T21:01:02.417-04:002013-08-21T21:01:02.417-04:00I'm so glad you're having fun with the blo...I'm so glad you're having fun with the blog tour so far, Ysa! There's plenty more to come! :)<br /><br />God bless you, too!<br /><br />~AmberAmber Holcombhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-20651676671335272442013-08-21T19:22:53.964-04:002013-08-21T19:22:53.964-04:00Awesome Kara! I love the review, and the interview...Awesome Kara! I love the review, and the interview!!! <i>Amber</i>, I am lovin your blog tour so far! :o D <br />SO EXCITING!!!! <br /><br />God bless both of you --- all of you! :o ) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08620325378517025554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-23080382014493236112013-08-20T03:21:45.772-04:002013-08-20T03:21:45.772-04:00I just want to give you a great big hug right now,...I just want to give you a great big hug right now, Kara! I totally know what you mean - it's so hard as a reviewer sometimes to know how your words will come across, and it's not always easy to convey all your feelings! But I definitely appreciate your honest review, and you balanced it with great encouragement. :D I know I'm a short-winded writer, and that's not always a good thing! I tell myself that it means my writing is focused and not boring (i.e.: rambling), but I do realize it means I skim over things and jump around a bit, LOL. :P You made some very valid points, and I believe my editor would have liked a bit more detail, as well. I think my writing is more atmospheric and character-driven, focusing on the emotions and "feel" of the settings, if that makes sense. Again, I totally realize that there is room for exploring more and growing in my writing. :) I'm glad you felt that about the towns, that they were their own sort of characters, too!<br /><br />Thank you again for all of your thoughtfulness and kindness! Please don't feel like you have anything to apologize for, because you have no reason to at all! I'm just blessed that you all were willing to read it and didn't hate it for the darker aspects and plot twists. :P Wasn't quite sure how that would go down, LOL!<br /><br />~AmberAmber Holcombhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-57421329472766589812013-08-20T03:14:36.038-04:002013-08-20T03:14:36.038-04:00Thank you, thank you, my friend, for all the kind ...Thank you, thank you, my friend, for all the kind words!! I'm blessed by such supportive readers and blogging friends! Thank you for helping me to follow my dreams! :)<br /><br />~AmberAmber Holcombhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-88169096463700236572013-08-20T03:13:00.667-04:002013-08-20T03:13:00.667-04:00Awww, Kara! I'd love to share lots more storie...Awww, Kara! I'd love to share lots more stories with ya'll! ;) And I'd totally appreciate the continued encouraging tweets - thanks so much! ;D<br /><br />~AmberAmber Holcombhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-63378607134074278602013-08-20T03:11:27.211-04:002013-08-20T03:11:27.211-04:00So glad you all are intrigued by Forget My Not! Th...So glad you all are intrigued by <i>Forget My Not</i>! Thought maybe since it's a prequel and you know where some of the characters end up in book 2, it might not seem as interesting... But I do hope that knowing some of the end results won't ruin the journey. :)<br /><br />As for Myghal, I believe the proper pronunciation is "Ma-hail" - but I've always thought of him as "Me-gall," hence the reason I have the characters call him by his butchered, "American" name. ;)<br /><br />Here's a link for the name: <a href="http://members.ozemail.com.au/~kevrenor/cfnames.htm" rel="nofollow">Cornish First Names</a><br /><br />~AmberAmber Holcombhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-27024020011487492712013-08-20T02:30:26.386-04:002013-08-20T02:30:26.386-04:00Amber, I really did like your story! I'm not j...Amber, I really did like your story! I'm not just saying that either. It made me want to keep reading to find out what would happen. I think you have an amazing talent for writing. Really mean that! I apologize if my review seemed a little harsh. I actually just edited it to note that some of the parts that bothered me could have been changed some in the final edits, so I hope I don't discourage anyone from reading it. I would feel terrible if that happened! :/<br /><br />As Rissi said, the time jumps make the relationships feel much more real. She has an excellent point. And the traveling only bothered me in the moments that I wanted more details about a scene and that just means that you had me invested in the details and scenery and the places themselves! :) I actually felt like the towns were as important as the characters, I could really picture Virginia City. Does that make sense?<br /><br />What I mean is, I'm really glad I read your book!Karahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09590701834142754842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-3250355888124665252013-08-20T02:20:51.319-04:002013-08-20T02:20:51.319-04:00You make a good point, Rissi. Without the time jum...You make a good point, Rissi. Without the time jumps, the development of the love story would feel much more rushed. That's very true, now that I think about it! :) <br /><br />I do hope I didn't come across as not liking the story though. Because I really did! It was very hard to put down and I was happy to have several hours available to simply sit and read it all in one go. I wanted to be honest though and not just gush about it simply because I think Amber is awesome herself (which she is! ;). I just edited my review actually, so that it would be a little more clear that I loved the story a lot!<br /><br />I definitely want to reread it again. I'm sure there were things I couldn't remember while writing this review. And it's worthy a second read anyway! :D<br /><br />Today brought some happy things, so I'm doing pretty great at the moment! Thanks for thinking of me. :)Karahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09590701834142754842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-80337940137008036802013-08-20T02:03:30.458-04:002013-08-20T02:03:30.458-04:00This interview was so much fun, Amber! I'm so ...This interview was so much fun, Amber! I'm so happy that I got to be a part of all this awesomeness with you! :D<br /><br />I really did enjoy your story. I hope that was apparent in my review. It held me riveted to my seat. Of course that was helped by the fact I was in an airplane, but still. I would have been riveted regardless! ;)<br /><br />I was truly impressed with your writing ability, and I know that you'll only get better as you write more and more. You have a wonderful gift, my friend! Don't ever give up. I will gladly read whatever you write! :DKarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09590701834142754842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-25609223673946753792013-08-20T01:59:06.335-04:002013-08-20T01:59:06.335-04:00You and me both, Rebeka! I know Amber will only ge...You and me both, Rebeka! I know Amber will only get more amazing as a writer. Could tell immediately upon starting her story. She's definitely quite talented! :)<br /><br />You liked Myghal and Zachary too?! Aren't they the sweetest men? I really wanted more of both, which means we'll get lots more stories from Amber. Pretty please! ;D<br /><br />Amber, I will definitely cheer you on all the time via twitter if that means I get more Zachary! And Myghal! You just let me know what you need, okay? ;PKarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09590701834142754842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-37494096290836836152013-08-20T01:53:56.352-04:002013-08-20T01:53:56.352-04:00Thanks Ganise! :) I'm really looking forward t...Thanks Ganise! :) I'm really looking forward to <i>Forget Me Not</i> as well! The little that Amber has shared just has me more and more intrigued and curious! :D<br /><br />Yay Amber! Can't wait for more Myghal! :D By the way, how do you say his name?Karahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09590701834142754842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-20436167794230225792013-08-19T19:08:53.839-04:002013-08-19T19:08:53.839-04:00I so agree, Rissi - honesty is so important in a b...I so agree, Rissi - honesty is so important in a book review! How can you trust when a book reviewer recommends something if they aren't honest about their thoughts, you know?<br /><br />I appreciate both of your perspectives on the plot. :) I hope there was an "epic" feel and that the traveling was interesting to read about on some level - I guess I want to try to keep things interesting for me as a writer and reader. ;)<br /><br />I'm so honored you would be willing to read <i>Bleeding Heart</i> again! I hope the second-time around can be with the paperback version - or at least the final Kindle version - so it might be a little bit smoother of a reading experience. :)<br /><br />((Hugs))<br /><br />~AmberAmber Holcombhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-47831147347002484252013-08-19T18:43:04.193-04:002013-08-19T18:43:04.193-04:00Wonderful review, Kara. Like we've discussed b...Wonderful review, Kara. Like we've discussed before, I loved the honesty in this review - it's the top rule to book reviewing. :) <br /><br />I noticed all the travelling involved in the plot also and I would agree that perhaps there should have been a bit less. That being said, I didn't mind the time spans as it lends more authenticity to the romantic relationships - the longer the time frame, the more believable the realism in the relationships are. <i>Bleeding Heart</i> is a lovely novel and I suspect that it'll be one I'll like even better the second time through (especially given that I did have to put it aside a couple times to meet deadlines). That to me, is the best kind of book. <br /><br />Hope things are going well for you, Kara. :)Rissihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11378400717440822186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-11193788392718204232013-08-19T14:33:40.335-04:002013-08-19T14:33:40.335-04:00Thank you so much for your support, Rebeka! And th...Thank you so much for your support, Rebeka! And thank you once again for the inspiration to make one of those future projects about Zachary. :) It's fun to see that Kara liked him, too!<br /><br />~AmberAmber Holcombhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-26126123348275269582013-08-19T14:32:46.163-04:002013-08-19T14:32:46.163-04:00Awww! Good friends, indeed - that's what you a...Awww! Good friends, indeed - that's what you all have been to me! :)<br /><br />Thanks so much for the kind words! And I'm really eager to start editing <i>Forget Me Not</i>...I know there are some things I need to change, but the basic storyline should stay the same. :) I'm glad I could intrigue you! ;)<br /><br />~Amber<br /><br />P.S. Gotta love Myghal! I definitely hope to give him his own story. :DAmber Holcombhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-57586359151796136512013-08-19T14:30:03.835-04:002013-08-19T14:30:03.835-04:00Kara, thank you so much for allowing me to share m...Kara, thank you so much for allowing me to share more about <i>Bleeding Heart</i> here on your lovely blog through that fun interview! I'm glad you like the soundtrack and found that song fitting where I placed it. :) <br /><br />And thank you for your very thoughtful review!! I appreciate your honest feedback. I'm thrilled you liked the characters - they're very dear to me, as you can imagine. :) <br /><br />((Hugs))<br /><br />~AmberAmber Holcombhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-44237196586321835682013-08-19T09:13:45.456-04:002013-08-19T09:13:45.456-04:00I loved getting so much background on the book in ...I loved getting so much background on the book in this interview, and the review was very well written--great job, Kara and Amber! :) I am so excited about Amber's future projects!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13171567731644896572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-27568454936749837002013-08-19T08:53:36.274-04:002013-08-19T08:53:36.274-04:00And the review is very accurate! Good job. Kara! I...And the review is very accurate! Good job. Kara! I agree with you. Especially on the idea of Myghal getting a story!!Ganise Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07842222143939902393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5087298869735390985.post-68919519220804487322013-08-19T08:46:10.818-04:002013-08-19T08:46:10.818-04:00Good morning, y'all! Great to see this, today....Good morning, y'all! Great to see this, today. Conversations between the both of you seem to always be fun :) Good friends. And excellent questions, Kara! It's very clear that you carefully thought about them.<br /><br />Everything about Bleeding Heart is lovely, the characters, the setting. So good to learn more about them. And yes! I absolutely agree with your choices of five things you can't live without, Amber! <br /><br />Forget Me Not is intriguing me more and more... Hmmm. Way to pique our curiosities, Amber :)<br /><br />Thanks for sharing this!Ganise Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07842222143939902393noreply@blogger.com