The Tantalizing Sequel

Yes, it's in the works, the follow up to my debut novel The Tantalizing Tale of a Bitter Sweetheart : Champagne Wishes and Cupcake Dreams which has been referred to as "pure entertainment" and a "lively romp". I assure you all that the sequel will be nothing less than entertaining.

What can be expected from the pages of the sequel you ask? Well, with a name like The Tantalizing Tale of a Conflicted Fashionista: Handbags, Hang-ups and Haute Couture you can be sure to enjoy some high fashion drama and immense mess ups on the part of the lovely yet peculiar Portia Delaney,

 All in a brand new and intoxicating setting, readers will be invited into the cutthroat high-fashion industry and cringe along while Portia finds herself in vise- like binds stirred up by both career matters and matters of the heart. If you've read my first novel, you know exactly what that setting is. If not, go get it at My Bookstore .

Just a reminder to all to follow along with my current book tour that is continuing on until October 27th and is orchestrated by Chik Lit Plus . You can check out all of the stops and read up on the stops from the past week by visiting my News and Events page on my new and improved author website.

A book can inspire, entertain, enlighten, motivate, inform, delight, revitalize, renew, energize, release, captivate, promote, provide, enrich, and most of all can be like magic in the palms of your hands. It is for this reason I read and write endlessly, to experience all of that magic for myself and to do my best to provide it for others.

Remember that you can always connect with me personally via my website at http://www.jessicaashleydafoe.com/

In addition, please feel free join me on Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8419937.Jessica_Ashley_Dafoe  if you want to begin your own Q&A with me. I'm happy to answer all questions, even the wacky and the weird. The wackier the better! I love thought provoking and intriguing questions, let's just be sure to keep things PG....we're just getting to know each other after all.

"The Tantalizing Tale is fabulous! It would make a great love movie. I couldn't put it down." - Caroline Jones

If you've yet to see it, check out my trailer for my novel, The Tantalizing Tale of a Bitter Sweetheart by clicking here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzUCspmOebw

Please follow the links below to learn more about the Because I am a Girl cause initiated by Plan International:

http://becauseiamagirl.ca/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_AQA1xb4Is&feature=youtu.be

http://plan-international.org/

Connect with me  via my author website  http://www.jessicaashleydafoe.com/ where you'll find additional info and learn how to get your hands on a copy of The Tantalizing Tale of a Bitter Sweetheart.

Happy Reading!
Jessica Ashley Dafoe

The Tantalizing Tale on Tour

The day before the day has finally arrived. That day before the day being, the day that my social media blog tour begins!

 For a whole month's time, in conjunction with Chick Lit Plus, my novel will be featured and reviewed by a variety of American book enthusiasts.  In addition you'll have the opportunity to find out a little more about me via some fun and informative Q&A sessions and interviews. Want to know my inspiration for my debut novel and writing in general? Hope to learn what motivates me to keep on with my writing and where it is that I most prefer to create? Need to know whether I prefer heels or flats,

 chips or chocolate,

 vampires or zombies (yeah that's right) ?

Then follow along with all the stops here:
http://www.clpblogtours.com/2014/09/the-tantalizing-tale-of-bitter.html


Also, remember that you can always connect with me personally via my website at http://www.jessicaashleydafoe.com/

 In addition, please feel free join me on Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8419937.Jessica_Ashley_Dafoe  if you want to begin your own Q&A with me. I'm happy to answer all questions, even the wacky and the weird. The wackier the better! I love thought provoking and intriguing questions, let's just be sure to keep things PG....we're just getting to know each other after all.

Lastly, I'd like to add how wonderful it is for me to hear that you're enjoying my novel. I would love to create a photo gallery of all of you lovely folk enjoying the read so feel free to take selfless selfies  of you reading The Tantalizing Tale of a Bitter Sweetheart and send them directly to me via the contact page on my author website (link at the bottom of this post). You will likely find yourself featured in the gallery, you beautiful creatures!

'The Tantalizing Tale of a Bitter Sweetheart....very readable and entertaining.' -Dr. Andrew Cook, Raucous Publishing Co. , UK.

If you've yet to see it, check out my trailer for my novel, The Tantalizing Tale of a Bitter Sweetheart by clicking here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzUCspmOebw

Please follow the links below to learn more about the Because I am a Girl cause initiated by Plan International:

http://becauseiamagirl.ca/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_AQA1xb4Is&feature=youtu.be

http://plan-international.org/

Connect with me  via my author website  http://www.jessicaashleydafoe.com/ where you'll find additional info and learn how to get your hands on a copy of The Tantalizing Tale of a Bitter Sweetheart.

Happy Reading!
Jessica Ashley Dafoe

These Are a Few of My Favourite Things - From Launch Parties to Pumpkin Spice Lattes!

The tail end of summer and the transition into the dazzlingly vibrant colours and cooler temperatures of fall time, believe it or not, is most certainly one of my favourite times of the year. Although I bid adieu to the lazy days of summer and say hello to the daily 8-4 grind, once more, I also say hello to some of my most favourite things:
-Pumpkin Spice Lattes (and pumpkin everything for that matter)

-A new cozy and work wear appropriate wardrobe

-Halloween costume hunting

-The Christmas/New Year's countdown

-Lower weekend airfare prices so I can zoom off to New York and Chicago on a whim

-Regular meet ups with friends on the town (summer often causes a hiatus to this due to travelling M.I.A.- ness )

-And I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture. I LOVE FALL!



One new item that has been added to my transition into the fall season this year,  and one which I most certainly would not hesitate to add to my 'Most Favourite Things About Fall' list, has been to distribute my novel to local bookshops around Toronto. It has been unbelievably wonderful to chat with book vendors and bookshop owners. I have had the pleasure of meeting some incredibly remarkable and kind individuals who have not thought twice about stocking my novel. Book City, one of my favourite independent bookstore chains in the city, has been especially welcoming. Below,  you will find a list of the Toronto locations at which you can find my novel in store by the month's
end!

Ottawa is most certainly next on my list, followed by Montreal. By holiday time I will have an updated list of locations in those cities as well.

On a different note, I do love to reflect on the summer that has passed us so swiftly with a fondness, especially seeing as it included the launch of my novel.  I couldn't have asked for a better reception of my efforts and I was over-joyed to have hosted my first launch/signing event.

Thank you once again for all of the support you've shown me! I've enjoyed every moment of the journey and look forward to what the future holds in store.

The most recent review about The Tantalizing Tale of a Bitter Sweetheart from a lovely reader:
"Just finished this awesome book. It was such a fun and smart read. The main character had such a great personality, she was very relatable and had a very fun best friend. It's a love story that focuses more on the main character's life development with the romance as an added bonus. I thoroughly enjoyed reading every word.... I encourage you all to read it!!!" -Sarah Richards, Facebook 

Just a reminder of the outlets at which you can purchase a copy of the novel:

In Store-Toronto:
Book City Bloor West Village
Book City St. Clair & Yonge
Book City The Beaches
Another Story Bookshop
BMV Books

Print and Ebook
Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.de
Amazon.co.jp
Barnes & Noble/ Nook Books
Chapters/Indigo

Ebook:
Kobo Books
ebookmall.com
iTunes

Print online only:
Powell's Books
Waterstones
Friesen Press Online Bookstore

If you've yet to see it, check out my trailer for my novel, The Tantalizing Tale of a Bitter Sweetheart by clicking here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzUCspmOebw

Please follow the links below to learn more about the Because I am a Girl cause initiated by Plan International:

http://becauseiamagirl.ca/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_AQA1xb4Is&feature=youtu.be

http://plan-international.org/

Connect with me on Linkedin Jessica Ashley Dafoe

For copy editing services check out my site by clicking here

Follow me on twitter: Jessica Ashley@City_Rhapsody

Happy Reading!
Jessica Ashley Dafoe

The Motion in the Promotion

The past month has been a whirlwind with the partial distribution and release of my novel leading up to the full release and distribution of it, not to mention the prepping for the launch party (pics to come). I'm in a bit of a daze and feeling as though I'm hovering up in the clouds while watching this phantasm of me, a part of me I've never been aware of until this point, taking on the world of marketing, promoting, sales tracking and networking. Phantasm she is not.

Now before you all begin to think I'm going completely nutty or that I have some alter ego or an insistent and alluring author doppelganger who has hijacked my life, I'll stop you, ease your mind. I am fine, and one whole person. I merely mean, this does not feel familiar. It's a whole new world (go ahead and break out into song with me. Aladdin did have the best Disney soundtrack, after all. Frozen fans, keep your contempt at bay). It does help that the school year is just around the corner so I am able to intersperse some of this novelty with the more familiar, thereby keeping me grounded and focused.

I tell you, it's quite the balancing act and the beam was never my strong point during my years spent taking gymnastics. Things, however, are about to change. I'll stick my landing because it's what I do, whether it's preceded by a graceful journey and an elegant dismount or a shaky and frazzled arrival. I'll get there and I'll reap experiential benefits of it all as I learn and move forward.
I have book signings set up for the near future at Chapters and a lovely independent bookstore here in Toronto about which I will keep you all updated in case you wish to drop by and say hello. My social media and blog tour is set to begin on September 29th, so please refer to this blog for dates as I will be posting them soon. You can follow along with my Q&A sessions and read the posted interviews and reviews. This will be run by Chick Lit Plus

I would like to extend my thanks to those of you who have gotten your hands on a copy of The Tantalizing Tale of a Bitter Sweetheart so early on! I have received great feedback about the novel and am so thrilled to learn that it truly is the entertaining read that I intended it to be from the first moment I began writing. I'd like to encourage you all to join Goodreads. It's a wonderful platform for both readers and writers. One that also allows the two to connect. You can rate and review books you have read, join discussions, post questions to author pages etc. It's really a remarkable site. If you do join, add me as a friend and please offer your thoughts on my novel. Also rate and leave a review if you enjoyed the novel.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8419937.Jessica_Ashley_Dafoe

I will leave you with testimonials from individuals I have spoken with and from reviews I have come across:

"It's really great! Perfect for holiday reading."- Facebook user
"Fun read"- Barnes and Noble customer review
"I loved it!" -Facebook user
"I enjoyed this novel. It was very energetic and entertaining." - Barnes and Noble customer review
"We started reading it and are hooked!"  -Facebook user
"Very funny. A page turner." - Amazon customer review

Just a reminder of the outlets at which you can purchase a copy of the novel:
Print and Ebook
Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
Amazon.co.uk
Barnes & Noble/ Nook Books
Chapters/Indigo

Ebook:
Kobo Books
ebookmall.com
iTunes

Print only:
Friesen Press Online Bookstore

If you've yet to see it, check out my trailer for my novel, The Tantalizing Tale of a Bitter Sweetheart by clicking here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzUCspmOebw

Please follow the links below to learn more about the Because I am a Girl cause initiated by Plan International:

http://becauseiamagirl.ca/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_AQA1xb4Is&feature=youtu.be

http://plan-international.org/

Connect with me on Linkedin Jessica Ashley Dafoe

For copy editing services check out my site by clicking here

Follow me on twitter: Jessica Ashley@City_Rhapsody

Happy Reading!
Jessica Ashley Dafoe

Sweet Success

I held my creation for the first time yesterday afternoon and relished the moment. I've held newly purchased novels in my hands hundreds of times before, gripping the untouched adventures before me tightly, cover yet to be cracked and pages yet to be turned ( some 'adventures' I wasn't so excited about holding, seeing as I was forced to read many unappealing titles while completing my English Lit. degree. Melmoth the Wanderer? gross...then having to present a two hour lecture critiquing its god-awful plot = not equivalent to the current experience I'm describing). But when the novel that is being held is one that I wrote myself, one that I poured my blood sweat and tears into for the past year and a half, one that I have envisioned creating for over two decades now, 'surreal' is the only adjective I can use as a descriptor for this unprecedented occasion in the life of Jessica Ashley.

This achievement alone makes me feel beyond thrilled and, yes I'll say it, completely proud of my accomplishment. I will forever cherish this monumental moment regardless of the successes that are to follow.

Looking ahead to the near and also the more distant future that I have planned for this novel, my calendar is certainly filling up. My social media tour is set to begin on September 29th, and will be hosted by Chick Lit Plus. In preparation for this, I will be interviewed by various reviewers and media members, have my novel reviewed by reputable bloggers who will then post these reviews to their own blogs, and will gain advertisement opportunities by having excerpts of my novel posted on different media outlets. This tour will run from the end of September until the end of October. Stay tuned for dates!

In addition, I will be marketing (finally) to the independent bookstores in various North American cities, setting up signings at local Toronto independent stores (further along I will also be organizing these in other cities as my schedule allows. I am still a full time teacher after all!)

The most immediate item on my schedule, however, is my launch party! This Sunday, I'm looking forward to welcoming family and friends to help me celebrate the full launch of my novel. What better way to close out a wonderful summer :)

Thank you all once again for your continued support! I've added the list of outlets that are currently selling my novel. More will be added by month's end


Print and Ebook
Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
Amazon.co.uk
Barnes & Noble/ Nook Books

Chapters/Indigo

Ebook:
ebookmall.com
iTunes

Print only:
Friesen Press Online Bookstore

If you've yet to see it, check out my trailer for my novel, The Tantalizing Tale of a Bitter Sweetheart by clicking here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzUCspmOebw

Please follow the links below to learn more about the Because I am a Girl cause initiated by Plan International:

http://becauseiamagirl.ca/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_AQA1xb4Is&feature=youtu.be

http://plan-international.org/

Connect with me on Linkedin Jessica Ashley Dafoe

For copy editing services check out my site by clicking here

Follow me on twitter: Jessica Ashley@City_Rhapsody

Happy Reading!
Jessica Ashley Dafoe

Get it. Got it? Good.

Even while enjoying a getaway to a childhood haven of mine, a place that one would have once considered quite remote and rustic, that had only dirt roads and natural landscape, a place that I expected to have zero connectivity to the web, wifi, television etc, I am surprised to find this not the case. A private beach that runs along the southern coast of one of my favourite provinces, is not so secluded and private anymore. How things change. I suppose for the better as these changes are actually allowing me to update you as to the locations and distributors that now carry my novel.

Full launch is not until the end of August, however my publisher is sporadically releasing it to distributors as that date approaches. Below is an updated list of the outlets you can now get your hands on a copy in either print or ebook or both!


Print and Ebook
Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
Amazon.co.uk
Barnes & Noble/ Nook Books

Ebook:
ebookmall.com
iTunes

Print only:
Friesen Press Online Bookstore

I look forward to seeing many of you at my launch party near the end of the month! There you can get a signed copy for a discounted price and $1 of each purchase will go to the Because I am a Girl initiative.

If you've yet to see it, check out my trailer for my novel, The Tantalizing Tale of a Bitter Sweetheart by clicking here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzUCspmOebw

Please follow the links below to learn more about the Because I am a Girl cause initiated by Plan International:

http://becauseiamagirl.ca/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_AQA1xb4Is&feature=youtu.be

http://plan-international.org/

Connect with me on Linkedin Jessica Ashley Dafoe

For copy editing services check out my site by clicking here

Follow me on twitter: Jessica Ashley@City_Rhapsody

Happy Reading!
Jessica Ashley Dafoe

Ebook presale now on!

I will make this post short and sweet, the pre-sale is now on for the ebook version of my novel.  You can get an epub version for only $2.99 now by clicking here


I'm ecstatic to say that copies are being printed in paperback and hardcover and all will be available in full by August 22nd, 2014.

Thanks ya'll for your continued readership and support! I'm also happy to add that I'm one chapter in to the writing of the sequel. Thank god for summertime :)

f you've yet to see it, check out my trailer for my novel, The Tantalizing Tale of a Bitter Sweetheart by clicking here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzUCspmOebw

Please follow the links below to learn more about the Because I am a Girl cause initiated by Plan International:

http://becauseiamagirl.ca/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_AQA1xb4Is&feature=youtu.be

http://plan-international.org/

Connect with me on Linkedin Jessica Ashley Dafoe

For copy editing services check out my site by clicking here

Follow me on twitter: Jessica Ashley@City_Rhapsody