Finding Your Zenith

Eliza Payne, Author

[elizapayne]

Hi everyone!  I’ve been kind of quiet lately and when that happens, you just have to know that I am working on things in the background.  I am working on a couple of different writing projects right now but the one that I am releasing next, I am VERY excited about. 

It’s a different genre than I have released in the past.  This novel will be an urban fantasy novel and will explore mythology and the Underworld, while weaving a tale of suspense and love amidst a curse that has been in effect for millennia. 

It’s a revisionary tale of the myth of Persephone and Hades that also revolves around my hero and heroine, Calliope and Holden.  I will have more news going forward and also am working on a cover and excerpt release for the near future.

Personally, I also have a lot going on with the end of the school year nearing and also we are moving next month to another county in our state and it’s been busy time with packing and painting and renovating the new house! 

My first book “Finding Your Zenith” is still available for FREE in the Amazon store and on Kobo and Nook.  In addition it’s available in print on demand format at CreateSpace.  My second book “A Shady Affair” is still available on Amazon for 99 cents. 

Buy links are here:

Finding Your Zenith:      Amazon (FREE) / Kobo (FREE) / Nook (FREE)

A Shady Affair:                 Amazon (99 cents)

  Happy Wednesday everyone and thank you for being such loyal and lovely readers, Eliza xoxoxo

[elizapayne]

PRAISE FOR Finding Your Zenith

Eliza Payne gave us a strong, professional, independent, yet emotionally vulnerable woman in Lexi Greene. It is easy to love her and root for this heartwarming character in every way. – Amazon customer (x)

The characters are well-rounded, each having strengths and weaknesses. The Hero is not your typical muscle-bound emotionally distant he-man's-man, he has vulnerabilities, he's not the strongest man in the book and even a delightfully unexpected romantic streak. – Amazon customer (x)

 “Great romantic thriller by new author, Eliza Payne. Quick-paced, with the action starting right away in the 1st chapter. Just the right amount of steamy, realistic sex scenes.” – Amazon customer (x)

“I stepped out of my comfort zone with this book and I don’t regret it.  I try to stay away from books involving domestic violence or sexual assaults.  They are triggers for me and I have been known to walk away from books that utilize them. This one, however; is on my list of highly recommended books.” – Brandy Dorsch, Paranormal Romance author. (x)

Buy links:   Amazon (FREE) / Kobo (FREE) / Nook (FREE)

[elizapayne]

Hi, everyone! I have great news!  Amazon finally price-matched my promotion on Kobo and Nook and “Finding Your Zenith” is finally free on Amazon Kindle.

Additionally, it got a lot of downloads yesterday and I am really excited to announce that it’s climbing the charts fast.  If you could please reblog to get the word out that this first work of mine is absolutely free so it can climb the charts even more and get it to the top of the bestseller list that would be amazing.

Thank you so much for being loyal and lovely readers.  Happiest of Fridays!  

Buy links:   Amazon (FREE) / Kobo (FREE) / Nook (FREE)

 Eliza Xoxoxo

[romancypants--archive]

Agoraphobia in Romance

So I just finished The Billionaire Beast by Jackie Ashenden and the hero was agoraphobic????!

I have struggled with agoraphobia for islands of time in my life and I’ve been frustrated at times by the way it’s romanticized a lot in media. You know, the agoraphobic genius/poet/artist recluse and it’s not as often portrayed as the crippling, scary, un-pretty phobia that it is.

Of course it would be one of those “horrible, trashy, billionaire romances” that are the first book I happen across to write about agoraphobia in a non-aesthetic way. 

It was just so refreshing to see a character experiencing panic attacks like I did and the book straight up saying “this is agoraphobia. he’s ill and needs professional psychological help and lots of therapy before slowly progressing and becoming healthy.” rather than just glossing it over as a romantic bit of angst that can be cured with a good fuckin’.

But it got me to thinking, are there any other romances with agoraphobic characters? Romance community, help a girl out. I want more of this.

[respectingromance]

The closest I can think of from my personal reading is The Prince of Midnight by Laura Kinsale. For various reasons, the hero retreats from the world and really doesn’t want to leave his castle. I’ve read a lot of reclusive heroes but S.T. is the closest example of what you’re looking for. 

[hplyrikz]

I loved her not for the way she danced with my angels, but for the way the sound of her name could silence my demons.

(via hplyrikz)

[jljarvis-blog-deactivated202605]

Missed Title Opportunity

If I wrote a regency romance, I would call it I KISSED AN EARL AND I LIKED IT.

[elizapayne]

The Romance Reading Process

Me: COMMUNICATE DAMN YOU.

*shakes book*

Me: DAMMIT TALK.

ME: You're both British! YOU SPEAK THE SAME FREAKING LANGUAGE. SO JUST TALK.

*shakes book more violently*

ME: OMG I hate you both. Taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalk.

[elizapayne]

Greetings from my little writing corner of the world!  Today only March 24, 2017 starting at 11 AM EST my second novel “A Shady Affair” will be available for free in the Amazon Kindle store for 24 hours!  Don’t miss out on the chance to own it for free! 

Happy Free Book Friday everyone! 

[elizapayne]

Hello and happy Sunday from my little writing corner of the world!  I have BIG news.  Tomorrow, on February 6, 2017 my second book, A Shady Affair, an erotic thriller, will be FREE on Amazon Kindle!  I am so excited to be able to offer this book for the first time absolutely free to my readers so this gives everyone a chance to sample my writing at no cost to you. Just a little early Valentine’s gift from me to you.   Thank you for being such loyal and lovely readers, xoxoxo Eliza 

Buy link here

[elizapayne]

Today is the day everyone!  If you could, help get the word out.  My latest novel is FREE today.  Link above.  Happy Monday loves!

[elizapayne]

Hello and happy Sunday from my little writing corner of the world!  I have BIG news.  Tomorrow, on February 6, 2017 my second book, A Shady Affair, an erotic thriller, will be FREE on Amazon Kindle!  I am so excited to be able to offer this book for the first time absolutely free to my readers so this gives everyone a chance to sample my writing at no cost to you. Just a little early Valentine’s gift from me to you.   Thank you for being such loyal and lovely readers, xoxoxo Eliza 

Buy link here

[romancingthebookworm-deactivate]

Why Have Romance Novelists Been Dolling Themselves Up?

Armed with makeovers, they are stepping out from the shadows — all in an effort to sell more copies

I…. what? I mean like I don’t even know what to say? This is just total and utter nonsense and I am befuddled.

There’s nothing even valid about ANY of this!?

*rubs forehead* I just. Anyone?

The author offers no concrete examples, no evidence, NOTHING but babbling and what even is that cover image? 

[romancypants--archive]

wtf is this shit

[thebooklrandtheduke]

I…uh….what?!?!?!?!!!!!

[elizapayne]

As a romance author, I am completely puzzled by this. 

[bloomingromance]

A Lady by Midnight; Tessa Dare

Ashley’s Fast & Dirty Review™, because I’m a grad student who works full time while also trying to have a personal life and I don’t have time for that in-depth nonsense.  Will probably contain spoilers.

The Good:

OMG THIS BOOK!  Third in the series and I was hype for it during the second in the series - the hype continued as I read it all in one day.

THE. PUPPY.  First of all, he gives her his dog.  Second of all the mongrel thing saves not only the day, but the entire fucking book.  Just wait until the end, JUST WAIT.  Bless this dog.

She falls into his arms weeping and he thinks: “Who’s hurt you?  Who can I maim or kill for distressing you this way?” And I just want you all to know that I LOVE overprotective brutish heroes.  LOVE THEM.

FAKE ENGAGEMENT TURNS REAL.  Even better than fake boyfriend trope - fake fiance trope - I am 1000% here for it.

“Within this small, slight woman lived so much untapped affection, she couldn’t help but squander it on music pupils and mongrel dogs and undeserving brutes.”  First of all, Samuel, you are not undeserving.  Second of all Kate is pure and beautiful and I am in love with her.

These two…both of them are self deprecating idiots who need and deserve love and affection and THANK GOD they both get it.

She calls him Corporeal when they are making love.  My loins cannot handle this.  

The Gramercys are great, truly.  

My husband had a wonderful time watching me this book as I was either a. smiling uncontrollably, b. laughing uproariously, or c. sobbing.

The Bad:

This book made me laugh until I couldn’t breathe and then weep tears of both sorrow and joy.  In other words - I was an emotional mess, which is bad in a very good way.

The Verdict:

Five Stars

How have I never read Tessa Dare before?  How have I overlooked her?  How is she ruining my life so thoroughly and easily?  How do I love her, let me count the ways…

The Details:

GoodReads

Amazon

Dare’s Site

I got this book for free from my local public library.

[notsomolly]

I love this book so much. This, and Beauty and the Blacksmith are my two favorite Spindle Cove books. So good. So so so good. You need to read Say Yes to the Marquess from her Castles Ever After series before you read Do You Want to Start a Scandal though, because the hero from Scandal is one of the characters in Marquess. The entire Castles series is really good, too, and doesn’t have to be read in chronological order.

[bloomingromance]

Don’t worry, I plan to read all the DARE!!!!! I love her. I’ll get the Marquess next tho!

[elizapayne]

Happy New Year everyone!  

It’s been a rough year all the way around for everyone I think and I don’t think anyone  is  sad to see last year end but some good things did happen for me in 2016 one of which being I finally achieved the life-long dream of becoming a published author.  

To that end, I have big news on the publishing front.  My first book “Finding Your Zenith” is now being offered on three digital platforms:  Amazon Kindle, Kobo and Nook!  It’s also still available in print copy.  I’m so excited to be able to expand my readers market and so want to welcome any new readers to my little writing corner of the world. 

Here is where love abounds and what better way to start the year than reading a story about two people whose world’s collided and they found love together.

So across all platforms (except print because it’s still hella expensive) my book is being offered at the same low price of $2.99!  Also for those of you that prefer the iBooks platform, that is going to be added soon so stay tuned for more news on that.  

I hope that this new year is blessed and prosperous and full of love for each one of you.  

Live in love,

 Eliza xoxoxo

[romancingthebookworm-deactivate]

Sorry if you've answered this before, but do you or your followers have any recs for "we met as children, now we're grown ups and you're cute, but oh no we couldn't" trope? Mostly in regency era? I just read the new Four Weddings and a Sixpence anthology & Elizabeth Boyle's novella was just that... but I want more! Happy new year

RECOMMENDATION REQUEST GUYS!

I know “friends-to-lovers”, but I can’t think of any regency era “we meet again” books. Which when I say it that way makes the trope sound like something a bad movie villain would say…. anyway! I’m sure I own one or two, but I may not have read them yet!

So we’ll but this one out to the community.

Can anyone help Nonnie out?

[thebooklrandtheduke]

I can think of two that may fit that, and I didn’t see anyone else post them:

The Virgin and the Scoundrel by Charis Michaels, and Rules for a Rogue by Christy Carlyle

[gwengold]

[thebooklrandtheduke]

This is pretty much how I picture all bedrooms…

[elizapayne]

Greetings from my writing corner!    It’s been awhile my dear readers.  I put out two books within three months time and after all that writing and editing I was in great need of a sabbatical.  It doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten our beloved characters though.  In fact, they are present in my mind this holiday season more than ever for whatever reason.  To that end, I am offering my debut novel “Finding Your Zenith” for 99 cents through this holiday weekend.  The price will go back up to $2.99 on Monday so be sure to snag your copy before the price goes back up!  

I hope that this holiday season finds you blessed, warm and living in love.  

 Love to all,

Eliza xoxoxo

[elizapayne]

#FBF to one of my favorite reviews as a new author.  Check out what Romance Bookworm had to say about my debut novel “Finding Your Zenith.” The full write up is in the link above.  Happy Friday everyone! 

Buy the book here