Behind The Book: Diamonds N’ Roses (Chapter One)

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Behind the Book is a series in which I give you a behind the scenes look at one of the latest installments of The Diamond Collection. For this round, I will be focusing on Diamonds N’ Roses: Part Five of The Diamond Collection.

Diamonds N’ Roses was released on December 25, 2016 and is available at the following online retailers: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million.

Other Available Titles in The Diamond Collection: Diamonds in the Rough, Diamonds are Forever, The Ace of Diamonds, Black Diamonds, The Diamond Tiara (Part Six) and Dirty Red Diamonds (Part Seven)

CHAPTER ONE: THE LION’S DEN

To kick it off, let’s start with Chapter One, which is entitled “The Lion’s Den.” The chapter’s title was partly inspired by the show, Empire, and by the primary setting of the scene – Jay’s office at his club, Sapphire. For those of you who are unfamiliar, Jay Santiago is the main male character of the series. At the time of this chapter, he is engaged to the book’s main female character, Carmen Davenport.

This chapter is a mix of reality and fantasy. I wanted to pick up where Book Four, Black Diamonds, left off, which was at the re-opening of Jay and Carmen’s soul food restaurant, Blue Magic. I also wanted the book to open with a bang. This chapter is an intimate scene between Carmen and Jay, which begins with the two sharing a couple of drinks. One in particular, was VSOP, which I chose on purpose as an ode to one of my favorite singers, K. Michelle (she has a song called VSOP).

Their intimate moment is “interrupted,” by Carmen’s soon-to-be ex-husband Kane. This was to show that the love triangle between these three is still on-going despite Carmen and Kane being in relationships with other people. The end of the chapter is where the fantasy comes into play (I won’t share this spoiler) and is a foretelling of what is to come later in the book.

The Diamond Tiara and Dirty Red Diamonds are NOW AVAILABLE for PRE-ORDER!

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The Diamond Tiara and Dirty Red Diamonds are now available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million. 

💎The Diamond Tiara (Paperback – $15; Kindle/ Nook – $2.99)

💎Dirty Red Diamonds (Paperback – $10; Kindle/ Nook – $2.99)

OFFICIAL BOOK TRAILER: Dirty Red Diamonds (Part VII of The Diamond Collection)

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Career-defining moments are not only years in the making, but also few and far between. What was supposed to be a night celebrating her wins, Carmen’s world is turned upside down when her fashion brand’s anniversary party becomes a bloodbath.

Fifteen people are left dead including members of the terrorist group, Artemis 66. When the group’s leader goes off the grid, Carmen receives a tip from a former Triad agent of a potential lead in the Entertainment Capital of the World.

Dirty Red Diamonds is a tale of what happens when Vegas’ bright lights meets Brookstone’s most famous players.

Release Date: 06.07.2022

Thug Luv Instrumental Remake by TifsterBeatz

Official Book Trailer: The Diamond Tiara (Part Six of The Diamond Collection)

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Ask anyone how New York-born fashion designer, Carmen Santiago (née Davenport), rose to fame and the first reference you’ll get is her multi-million dollar fashion empire, Flame, Inc. The second reference you’ll get is the fashionista’s high- profiled relationship with business mogul, Jay Santiago.

What many don’t reference is the driving force behind Carmen’s success, Flame’s Vice President, Tiara Washington. A Brookstone native, she’s had the reins of the company since its infancy. With a career in fashion that spans more than two decades, fashion greats describe Washington as Flame’s backbone.

As the fashion brand continues to stay on everyone’s lips, so does its major player, Carmen Santiago. After her lavish wedding in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Carmen is whisked away to sunny St. Lucia. The first three days are pure bliss until one phone call sets off a nonstop cycle of drama, scandal, deception, and lies.

Release Date: 06.07.2022

Dirty Red Diamonds: Part VII of The Diamond Collection

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Career-defining moments are not only years in the making, but also few and far between. What was supposed to be a night celebrating her wins, Carmen’s world is turned upside down when her fashion brand’s anniversary party becomes a bloodbath.

Fifteen people are left dead including members of the terrorist group, Artemis 66. When the group’s leader goes off the grid, Carmen receives a tip from a former Triad agent of a potential lead in the Entertainment Capital of the World.

Dirty Red Diamonds is a tale of what happens when Vegas’ bright lights meets Brookstone’s most famous players.

The Diamond Tiara: Part VI of The Diamond Collection

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Ask anyone how New York-born fashion designer, Carmen Santiago (née Davenport), rose to fame and the first reference you’ll get is her multi-million dollar fashion empire, Flame, Inc. The second reference you’ll get is the fashionista’s high- profiled relationship with business mogul, Jay Santiago.

What many don’t reference is the driving force behind Carmen’s success, Flame’s Vice President, Tiara Washington. A Brookstone native, she’s had the reins of the company since its infancy. With a career in fashion that spans more than two decades, fashion greats describe Washington as Flame’s backbone.

As the fashion brand continues to stay on everyone’s lips, so does its major player, Carmen Santiago. After her lavish wedding in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Carmen is whisked away to sunny St. Lucia. The first three days are pure bliss until one phone call sets off a nonstop cycle of drama, scandal, deception, and lies.

2022 New Year’s Resolution

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This is my resolution for 2022.

I started this novel in my early twenties before a single book was published.

I revisited it in August of 2018. I would write, stop, and start back.

I never fell out of love with my characters. I only struggled with finding the right story to tell. Over the course of three years, bits and pieces would come.

Now as I read the pages, it amazes me how the story went from here to there. Some things I kept, some things I didn’t. Some things even happened I didn’t initially plan on.

One thing is for sure, I will always write the story I want to read.

While I don’t have a release date, I have faith.

Santiago season has begun. 💎

Front Cover of The Diamond Tiara

Diamonds N’ Roses is now available!

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diamondsnroses copyDecember 25th marked the release of the fifth installment of The Diamond Collection, Diamonds N’ Roses.  The book is currently available in print and E-book on Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, BooksAMillion.com, etc. The e-book edition is $2.99 and the paperback version of the novel is $10.00.

While I am excited about the release of my fifth novel, the release is bittersweet. Throughout writing the fifth book, I fell out of love with novel writing and with my characters. Due to this, my interest grew in screenwriting and I started working on new storylines with fresh characters. This helped as I began working towards a Master’s degree in Fine Arts with a concentration in writing for the stage and screen at Queens University (Charlotte, NC). Balancing work and school caused my attention to be swayed away from the novel and almost delayed the release of the book, but thankfully I (along with my fantastic editor) was able to finish the project on schedule.

At this time, it is imperative that I take a break from the series as I focus my attention on other projects. This does not mean that the series has come to a close, but it means that at this time I do not have a release date in mind for the sixth book, The Diamond Tiara, or for future works. However, the project has been started (which those of you will see who have purchased a copy of Diamonds N’ Roses.) I hope you enjoy this new book and remember to keep shining!

Vogue

#RazzleDazzle

Book Spotlight: Pluff Mud Murders

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New Release: Pluff Mud Murders by Ann Carpenter

 
Atlanta, Georgia:
Local author releases brand new suspenseful read, Pluff Mud Murders now available at Amazon.com.

Mandi Christine Kerr,an
American actress, director.
 
 
 

Book Description: Riley Jordan has come home to Charleston to begin a new life—a life interrupted when she was a young child, and still haunted by vague memories of danger and mystery. After years of living the fast-paced life of New York’s publishing world, Riley will be the editor-in-chief of Charleston’s Premier
Health Magazine.
It should be the perfect life. But things are not what they seem.
Soon, Riley, who has suffered amnesia since a traumatic event in her childhood, finds herself embroiled in the past history and current events of the powerful Radisson family, a family whose evil deeds have evaded the long arm of the law, and whose influence reaches far beyond the city limits. When Riley is confronted with three tiny coffins upon a visit to the former Radisson Estate, she begins a journey into the past that will bring her into contact with Summer Radisson and her sister Hayden. Forced by current events to return to her tortured past, Riley is confronted with long-buried secrets that have an impact not only on her life, but on the lives of Alex Keys, a detective who is trying to find out who she really is, and his former partner, Phil Leatherman, who was forced from his position in the department because he knew too much. Under suspicion herself, Riley vacillates between wanting to remember whatever may have happened, and a desire to put the past—whatever it might reveal—behind her, and start life over. But the past is imposing itself upon her very life. As she learns through a series of revelations, “Death is the key that opens the door to the past.” This epitaph from Jefferson Radisson’s grave may indeed provide answers to the secret that has been buried too long—and that will finally set Riley free.

 
 
About Ann Carpenter:

Ann Carpenter is the author of three novels, Pluff Mud Murders, Circle of Player, and The Mystical Doll House. She is the founder of Kidz By Dezign, and lives in Atlanta, Ga with her husband and granddaughter.
Website: http://acmysteries.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ann.carpenter.9406
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/PLUFF-MUD-MURDERS-Ann-Carpenter-
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29775244-pluff-mud-murdersebook/dp/B01CAZ9ZQM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461169588&sr=8-1&keywords=pluff+mud+murders 
 
 
 

Check out a Sneak Peek of Diamonds N’ Roses!

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diamondsnroses copyHello Diamonds,

It is my birthday and as a special gift to you all, I would like to share with you the first seven chapters of Diamonds N’ Roses. This draft of the novel has not been professionally edited, but will give you insight on what to expect in Part Five of The Diamond Collection.

This sneak peek is available exclusively on Amazon’s Kindle. The price is currently set at .99, but a free promotion for the preview will run for the book, starting on Thursday, April 14th – Monday, April 18th. Click the Diamonds N’ Roses book cover to be directed to the book’s Amazon’s page.

For those of you who do not have  a Kindle, please drop your email below or send an email to crownjewelzpub@gmail.com and a PDF of the special preview will be delivered to you. I hope you enjoy and happy reading! Razzle Dazzle!

Vogue

How to Start a Gratitude Journal and Embrace It + Giveaway

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Being Starkey discusses gratitude journals and is hosting a giveaway!

Being Starkey

How to Start a Gratitude JournalI’ve always been a journal-er. I remember as a child, I used to write down my inner most thoughts in my journal or diary. I stopped journaling for a while, and started focusing on my blog. However, last year I picked it back up and started a gratitude journal. It was a dedication to my little cousin who lost his life last year to gun violence. Before he passed away, he was working hard and wanted to give us a small Christmas gift. I used the money to get a journal and a nice pen. His bright personality made an indent in each and every one of our lives. My goal was to use the journal to write down those small blessings that we sometimes take for granted. It truly helped me to grow and appreciate the small things.

Oprah Winfrey shared, “I know for sure that appreciating whatever shows up…

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