Clash of the Titles: Readers, You Be the Judge!!!!

Clash of the Titles, Where Authors Compete and Readers Judge

The literary website, Clash of the Titles, launched with a bang, and has increased in momentum ever since. They’ve had phenomenal authors, from historical romance writer, Lena Nelson Dooley to fantasy writer extraordinaire, Janalyn Voigt. Today Jennifer Slattery, Marketing Representative for Clash of the Titles, will highlight six COTT participants.

Shannon Taylor Vannatter was one of our first competitors and all of us at COTT applaud her support and courage. Her novel, White Doves, competed in the Best Opening Hook category on October 18th-22nd.

“I enjoyed being on COTT because I think it’s a unique way of introducing readers to new authors,” Shannon said. “And I love unique, focused blogs. I loved getting reader feedback and the experience made me pay even more attention to the opening of my books.”

Her opening was unique. “I had fun writing the opening of White Doves,” she said, “because it was a role reversal of the heroine checking out the hero for a change.”

Readers loved Shannon, and her competing novel, White Doves, as well! “I already want to see if anything develops between Laken and Hayden,” said one intrigued reader.

As did we! Laken Kroft, the heroine of White Doves, left home eight years ago and never looked back. Who knew when she applied for the promotion to postmaster that she’d end up in Romance, Arkansas, and move closer to her parents and the local gossip maven? But then she meets the dashing Hayden Winters who has his hands full raising his paraplegic nephew, Brady, and wrestling guilt over having caused the child’s injury. When the boy’s father, Laken’s brother, turns up, and starts talking custody, Laken’s influence is Hayden’s only hope. But who’s side is she really on? Will there mutual bond with the seven year old boy be enough to draw them closer or rip them apart?

I’m not telling! You’re going to have to read the book for yourself! Find out more about White Doves, Shannon, and read a few real life romance stories at http://www.shannonvannatter.com.

Lena Nelson Dooley, author of Love Finds You in Golden New Mexico competed in our Best Opening Hook Historical.

“I took part in the COTT because I felt it gave the author and readers another way to connect,” Lena said. “And it got our words in front of readers. I was pleased with the outcome and pray for its continued success. I was glad to have Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, featured. This Heroine-in-Peril, Mail-Order-Bride-gone-awry story was a good fit. Readers have fallen in love with the secondary characters as well as the main characters in this historical.”

In Love Finds You in Golden New Mexico, Lena takes us back to an 1890, Golden New Mexico, mining town where men far outnumber women. So when an old wealthy miner named Philip Smith finds himself in need of a nursemaid, he places an ad for a mail-order bride--despite the protests of his friend Jeremiah. Hoping to escape a perilous situation back East, young Madeleine Mercer answers the ad and arrives in town under a cloud of suspicion. But just as she begins to win over Philip--and Jeremiah himself--the secrets she left behind threaten to follow her to Golden...and tarnish her reputation beyond redemption.

You’re dying to know what happens next, aren’t you? Now you have two must have’s for your winter reading list! Visit Lena’s website and blog to find out more about her and her plethora of novels! www.lenanelsondooley.com

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Gail Pallotta competed in our best Weather/Nature category with her sweet e-book, Love Turns the Tide. “I was thrilled to have my excerpt chosen for Clash of the Titles,” Gail said. “It offered exposure for Love Turns the Tide in such a unique way. Even though putting one’s work up for voting is difficult, I liked the idea of letting the readers decide.”

In Love Turns the Tide Cammie O’Shea suffers through a broken engagement and relocates to Destin, Florida to take a new job. Struggling to get over her heartache and loneliness, she tries to renew her faith in the midst of petty crimes committed at her condo. When Vic Deleona comes to her rescue, she grows fond of him. But she gets an offer to return home. Amid fear and confusion she must make difficult decisions.

Does her fear paralyze her? Cloud her judgment? Guess you’ve got another book to add to that rapidly growing list, don’t you? Find out more about Gail and her novel at her personal website, http://www.gailpallotta.com and her blog, http://www.gailpallotta.blogspot.com

Janalyn Voigt likely had one of the most unique entries with her fantasy novel, DawnSinger. She was excited to participate in COTT because she saw it as an excellent way to promote her upcoming release.

“With my book still awaiting its release date in Fall, 2011, participation in COTT helped me gear up for promotion,” Janalyn said. “I enjoyed having the COTT crew's help in getting the word out about Dawn Singer, my epic fantasy adventure. My website received a surge of traffic the week of my clash, and I still get visitors from Clash of the Titles.”

We, at COTT, were very pleased to learn about Janalyn’s positive experience, which led to a special friendship between her and her competitor.

“I enjoyed the friendly rivalry between JoAnn Durgin, my competitor, and myself,” Janalyn said. “We've kept in touch. I worried I'd stress about competing but participating in Clash of the Titles was fun. I appreciated that we both lived with our stories for more than a decade before writing and placing them for publication. I believe that together we modeled perseverance for the readers of COTT.”

That is a great story, and a great reminder to us all. Perseverance pays off. We enjoy celebrating the finished product with our authors, and have been very pleased with the family atmosphere our site has created.

DawnSinger is the story of Nalyn, a young maiden who answers a summons to Torindan, High Hold of her people. Her companion, Spreil, must choose whether to reign and rule in his homeland or serve in Torindan. Ancient Prophecy requires Nalyn to release the Dawn King, and salvation, into Elderland by an impossible task. But first she must overcome her own wayward heart. Will she learn in time that sometimes victory only comes through surrender?

Save your pennies, because it looks like DawnSinger is another one of those “must reads”! Find out more about Janalyn and this captivating story at http://janalynvoigt.com, http://authorhaven.blogspot.com/ and her blog, http://bookreaderscentral.blogspot.com/

Eleanor Gustafson, author of The Stones: A Novel of King David, had a unique COTT experience. (lol) She said, “The whole COTT concept is dull and dreary…NOT!! This was a fresh approach, and some of my friends who participated really enjoyed the process. Hey, it looked like fun—which for me is one of the essentials of life—air, water, and fun (not necessarily in that order).”

But what surprised her most? “The tie vote! Was this an historic first—two clashers actually clashing on the number of votes?”

She goes on to say, “Some found my weather selection good but challenging to read. I could blame it on the necessity of disguising character names, but the David story is complex. It deals with ugliness but yes, glows with grace. AND The Stones makes the Bible version of David’s life come alive for most readers. Try it, and let me know—thumbs up or down. If you don’t believe me, check out the Amazon comments—all five star.”

The Stones is a retelling of King David s life from his teenaged anointing to his death as seen through the eyes of Asaph, a Levite historian. Fictional in scope, yet with amazing scriptural accuracy, The Stones provides a revealing, behind-the-scenes glimpse into biblical history with all the twists, turns, thrills, and romance of the world s great drama.

As you can see, we’ve had a great fall at Clash of the Titles and we are looking forward to an even better winter. Come join the fun at Clash of the Titles, where authors compete and readers judge!

Jennifer Slattery is a freelance writer, columnist, novelist and the marketing representative for Clash of the Titles. In 2009 she won first place in the HAWCN writing contest, book category and in 2010 she placed second in the Dixie Kane and fourth in the Golden Pen, Inspirational category for both. She has a weekly marriage column on the Reflections in Hindsight website and has been published in numerous other publications. You can find out more about her and her writing at http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com.
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