Tag: The Grunt

The Grunt 2: Coming This Summer

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the-grunt-2

The Grunt 2
Synopsis:
“Marines don’t know how to spell the word defeat.” Gen. James “Mad Dog” Mattis
Staff Sergeant Brett Black is a decorated, career force recon Marine dedicated to Country, Family and God. Married to the colonel’s daughter, Courtney Black, the father of two and prepping for a promotion, his world is finally on track after a long history of unfortunate events.

However, while on a special op in in Afghanistan, Brett is severely wounded trying to save the life of a friend. Immediately, he is shipped back to the U.S. with the expectation of being medically retired for injuries sustained in the line of duty. Only for a man who has only known one way of life his entire adulthood, the prospect of being kicked of out the Marine Corps creates an internal crisis and an external family conflict. Will he be able to fight back to the man he was to stay in his beloved Corps?

Courtney Black is a new bride with a bubbling stepson and a brand new baby girl; however, she doesn’t want to just be a military wife her entire life. So, when her husband is injured, she sees an opportunity for them to leave Camp LeJeune and start a new adventure across the country, especially when Brett’s son’s biological father comes out of the shadows and threatens to fight for full custody. It’s her job to keep her family together, and for once in her life, she has a new found respect for her mother. Will she be able to find the balance between personal aspirations and family obligation?

Looks like the honeymoon is officially over the Black family. Read the love story about two young hearts as they discover that marriage is nothing about convenience but everything about sacrifice, honor and unity.

The 6th book in the Lonely Heart Series, The Grunt 2, by national bestselling author Latrivia S. Nelson.

 

Official Fan Page on Facebook

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bwSo, I’ve been listening and I’ve been trying to deliver.  And I know that you all are tired of having to sift through personal “stuff” on my pages just to get the basics.  Many of you don’t care what I ate for lunch or hear the chatter between “us” that goes on about why Dmitry’s eyes are a different shade of  blue from Ivan’s.  You just want to know when the next book is coming out, where the next book signing will be,  watch the latest book trailer or interview, post your questions and move on.

In fact, quite a few of you have suggested to me (to the point of asking Megan to get on it) to have a normal Fan Page on Facebook that you can “Like” without having to see 1,000 pictures of my children.  LOL. I get it.  And you know what???!!! It’s finally here.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Latrivia-Nelson/1435352090024075?ref=hl

This page is devoted strictly to readers, very much like the blog and everything else, but again, there are different fans who need different things and I am so happy to help.  I’m grateful for you and as long as I can possibly meet your requests, I will do so.

Here is the link.  “Like” me today, join and stay updated on what’s going on.  Also, feel free to post and share your own book reviews and blog entries.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Latrivia-Nelson/1435352090024075?ref=hl

Also, just to let you know there is a fan page for The World in Reverse, https://www.facebook.com/NicolaAgostoSeries?ref=hl.  Check it out today:-)

 

XoXo and all that jazz,

 

Latrivia S. Nelson

 

100 Copies of The Grunt for Wounded Warriors by Latrivia S. Nelson

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You all know how I love the military.  My husband’s service to the Corps is something that we are very proud of.  So in celebration of Memorial Day this year we are going to give away 100 copies of The Grunt to various Wounded Warriors around the country.  Now, I know that there are vets everywhere and many are not housed at the bases.

I’m reaching out to you to ask that if you know of vets who love to read, please send me their information so that we can get them a copy in the mail or on their e-readers.  I plan to match the paperbacks with PDF copies and purchase copies for people online.

We’re currently looking into Gift Certificates for the Kindle and Nook or ways to charge copies on a company account for readers.  We have done this in the past very successfully and we want this drive to be awesome.

The Grunt is something that both men and women can read and it’s been received very well worldwide.  Let’s use this opportunity to share the book with those who have sacrificed so much.  Please send an email to Latrivia@LatriviaNelson.com with the title “100 Wounded Warriors”.

Thanks again,

Latrivia

Tri-State Defender Does Great Story on Latrivia S. Nelson

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It’s always awesome to be highlighted at home. The Tri-State Defender did an excellent story on me. I just wanted to share it with you.  Thanks so much to the TSD for this.

http://tri-statedefenderonline.com/articlelive/articles/7411/1/Author-helps-power-explosion-of-interracial-romance-novels/Page1.html

 

Author helps power explosion of interracial romance novels
By Tri-State Defender Newsroom | Published  Yesterday | Arts & Leisure | Rating:
Making love a black and white issue
Special to the Tri-State Defender
Native Memphian Latrivia S. Nelson sat down in front of her computer in 2008 and wrote her first novel, “Ivy’s Twisted Vine.”

Latrivia S. Nelson writes interracial romance novels that “women from all walks of life can identify with and enjoy.” (Courtesy photo)

Today, “Ivy’s Twisted Vine” is recognized as the largest interracial romance novel in the black woman/white man (bw/wm) genre to date, with many readers referring to it as the “bible of IR.”
“I write interracial romance novels that women from all walks of life can identify with and enjoy,” said Nelson. “The heroines are strong, beautiful, curvaceous and smart. They know what they want out of life, and they go for it. What man, black or white, wouldn’t want them?”
Sales didn’t soar with her first book, but her dreams did. Since then, Nelson’s following has gone from 500 readers to over 50,000. She has fans in over 38 countries and across the U.S. In 2011, she wrote the number one bestselling novel on Amazon’s Multicultural bestseller’s list, “The Grunt,” from her Lonely Heart Series and stayed on the list for over four months. During that time, she also had a second book on the top twenty list for multicultural romance, “The Ugly Girlfriend” (2011).
Nelson’s love for books surfaced as a child. She wrote stories and regularly recited them to her families. In high school, she once sought her mother’s “true feedback” about one of her books by telling her mother that she’d copied pages from a reference book for a class project.
At The LeMoyne-Owen College, Nelson’s alma mater, she wrote for the “Magician” newspaper. She also served as vice president of the Student Government Association and as president of her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., before she went on to be Ms. LeMoyne-Owen College in 2001 and graduate with honors in 2003. Later, she received her MBA from Strayer University.
With a long history in public relations and development, she has worked for nationally recognized companies such as The Carter Malone Group and Trust Marketing, and for the non-profits ALSAC/ St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The Memphis Redbirds and the National Civil Rights Museum. And while she was afforded the opportunity to write, her passion was unfulfilled.
Trace Nelson’s inspiration for interracial romance and it leads to family roots.
“As one half of an interracial marriage, I wanted to dispel certain myths and give women and men in those types of relationships something to read that positively highlighted them,” she said.
Nelson married Adam Nelson, a decorated United States Marine in 2005, and the couple has two children.
Highlighted in hundreds of reviews and interviews, Nelson visits readers in myriad places throughout the nation. Her last stop was at the “Beautiful Trouble Eat and Greet” in Winston-Salem, N.Car., and her next appearance will be at the Romance Slam Jam in Little Rock, Ark., where she will be a guest speaker on the interracial romance genre.
“I surround myself with positive people. New York Times bestselling author, Brenda Jackson, is a dear friend of mine, and I look up to her and what she has done for the romance genre as a whole,” said Nelson. “On the home front, I have mentors like Beverly Robertson and Deidre Malone, who have groomed me for years. These women have also taught me to be vigilant in my desire to be the best and do the best that I can.”
In the last four years, Nelson has written 12 novels and novelettes. Five of those titles have been national bestsellers. From the popular romantic suspense series, “The Medlov Crime Family,” her next book will be out on March 28, 2011, entitled “Saving Anya.”
Nelson has ensured a way to get her work out to the world as well as help other aspiring authors. She founded RiverHouse Publishing in 2010 and has offices in the Clarke Tower in Memphis and on Broad in Manhattan, NYC.
“I wanted to give bold authors a chance to let their voices be heard on their own terms,” Nelson said about her publishing company.
And she’s done just that with five authors signed to RiverHouse Publishing, LLC and five new authors set to be introduced this year.
(For more information on Latrivia S. Nelson, visit http://www.latrivianelson.info or http://www.riverhousepublishingllc.com. You can also reach her at 901-322-6191.)

 

A Friend Lost to Cancer – Xavier Dolino Will Be Missed

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He spoke three languages fluently: French, Italian and English.  Educated in Europe and the States, he had a way with people.  Everyone loved him, adored his smile and laughter, appreciated his knowledge.  On top of being brilliant, he was beautiful.  Hair as black as midnight, deep set brown eyes and a pensive, serious stare, analyzing the world and all in it.  Xavier Dolino was a wonderful man.  Before finding my soul mate, Adam, Xavier was my boyfriend.  But more than that he was my friend. 

And as far as an inspiration, he inspired thousands and the co-founder of Hour of Power and an international health guru.

His friends in Dublin, Ireland knew him for his serious workout sessions at his studio and his rock hard abs cut to perfection.  I knew him as something graceful and charismatic.  A man that I could talk to about just about anything and often did.  We would spend hours on the phone talking.  The cell phone bills were ungodly. 

I can’t believe that he is gone.  Just a year ago, we were talking about his last trip to Italy to live off the land and ride bikes through the countryside.  Two years ago he was at the Arnold Classic defying physics with his intense workout regiments.  Even though I had moved on with my life and he had moved on with his, we were still dear friends, because we had never crossed each other or done anything wrong to each other.  We simply were at different points in our lives. 

Then there was Baby Joe.  The best Boxer in all the world.  He was man’s best friend, especially Xavier’s.  I remember once he sent me a picture of Baby Joe in a Bruno lime green outfit.  I had had a horrible week and needed cheering up.  Xavier knew just the trick.  I opened my email and laughed for days. I still thank him for that. 

Both French and Italian,  he had a wonderful way of seeing the world.  We often talked of his time in Florida while studying abroad and how those had been some of his most exciting memories as a young man.  I used to try out my French on him, holding long conversations butchering his native tongue, but he was kind.  He would indulge me and only correct me afterwards, always starting off the conversation with “you are magnificent, but you messed up a few words, love.”  Then he would say it the right way and it always sounded better coming from his mouth.  We did the same in Italian.  Often, when I would get really excited about something, I would speak to him in Italian and French at the same time.  He would laugh, but he always understood me.  I gave a new meaning to bilingual. 

When my husband was ill a few years ago, he would send words of encouragement.  He would share personal things with me to give me hope.  I never once heard him speak a negative word…not in all the years I knew him. Not one negative word about anyone or anything, even when he got sick last year. 

His friends held him in the highest regard.  Gordon was one of his best friends.  How he loved Gordon.  But he always spoke of all his friends in the highest regard, like he was surrounded by royalty.  He had a way with making everyone feel special.  His team of guys was his second family.  He would always send me pictures of them – a group of happy fellows and women who were always striving for a more healthy world.  The last time I spoke with him, he was training for a 2011 event where he was working out like crazy.  He reminded me of Adam in that way.  I guess that I’ve always loved athletes, people willing to take their bodies to the next level through mind over muscle. 

I miss him as I’m sure that everyone does, especially his dear brother, Daniel, his parents and his friends back home in Ireland.  He would always come to the states for the Arnold Classic.  I’ll miss hearing about his trips and hearing about his dreams.  But I’m glad to have known him.  I wouldn’t give that time up for anything. 

He was the kind of guy that would make a beautiful leading role in one of my romance novels…the kind of guy that you fall head over heels in love with after a few pages.  I’m sure in the future, I’ll try to make a story around him, though I’m sure it will never capture all of his beautiful essence.  It will have to be my way of memorializing him. 

I’m sure that hundreds of thousands of people have stories like mine.  They have friends, family, loved ones who have been taken away by cancer.  And just like Xavier, they had a story that shouldn’t have ended so soon. 

As I write this with tears, I know in my heart that we must continue to fund cancer research.  We must find a cure.  We have lost too many already. 

I worked for AlSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for a while in college.  As an intern there, I developed and implemented Stepping for A Cure, a program that reached out to HBCUs nationwide and encouraged Greek organizations to coordinate step shows that would benefit sickle cell research as well as other catastrophic diseases.  My boss, Chuck Donlin, was the kind of man who supported a good thing.  He pushed me to make it happen and the Memphis Police Department and local alumni chapters of all the Divine Nine were there to support me.  It was a marvelous event, but it was the purpose that really pushed me to see it through.  It was about saving lives…saving people through working together. 

Shortly after taking the job, I lost a friend from high school, Matt (my first kiss) who passed away and was buried on September 11th.  I never made it to his funeral, but I remember feeling so sad when I heard that he had passed.  A friend came by my mom’s house and told me.  I grew up with him from fourth grade until graduation.  On my first day at a new school, Matt became my first friend.  He gave me a kiss under the tires on the playground.  He never got the chance to graduate from college, marry, have children.  He too was taken from the world too early.  There were many others.  My own grandmother (paternally) fights the disease every day. 

Cancer does not discriminate.  It’s a tool of the devil to rob, kill and destroy.  But I know that Jesus came so that we might have life and have it more abundantly.  Through him there has to be a cure…an answer.

I pray for Xavier’s family and every family like his. I pray for my own family.  And I still appreciate that God allowed these people to have lived and to have touched as many lives as they did. 

I took this from another close friend’s blog.  He said, ”

It is his mentor and close friend Dragan Radovic, who today has invited everyone who knew Xavier (or would simply like to honour him) to perform 100 continuous lifts of any dumbbell. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing today – to take 5minutes from your schedule to do these 100 lifts. To take a minute’s silence to remember the man…then take 5minutes of physical action to honour what the man stood for.  It is absolutely what he would have wanted.”

I got to 50, Xavier.  You know me…

I’ll miss you, Xavier. 

Here are some links of him doing his thing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3G8jcatqnc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JF6xuchrOA&feature=related

XoXo and all that jazz,

Latrivia S. Nelson

Awesome Interview with the Legendary Koko Brown for The Grunt

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This truly has been a crazy week.  We’re currently working on the foundation for our new imprint, Taboo, a project that will launch in the summer of 2012 for Interracial Romance Readers globally.  I’ve been writing up a storm on The Chronicles of Young Dmitry Medlov: Volume 4, The World in Reverse and Saving Anya.  Plus, I have completed seven book club meetings and it’s only Tuesday.  However, I’m doing what I love, and because of that I know that I’m blessed.

Koko Brown really made my week with the latest review of The Grunt.  Words cannot express how proud I was to read this. I woke Adam up from his nap and made him read it twice.  Even he had to smile, and those who know Adam know how hard it is to make him smile.

So, I want to share this review with you.  Here’s the link.  Please check it out.  Respond.  Tell her what you think and share it with others. 

Link: http://kokobrown.net/2011/09/whos-in-the-hot-seat-author-latrivia-nelson.html

Thanks so much to all the reviewers who have taken the time to write a review about The Grunt and thanks so much to all the readers who have read the book.  Thanks to Koko for making my week go a little smoother. 

Hope all is well.

XoXo and all that jazz,

Latrivia S. Nelson (one happy woman)

The Grunt Looks Great in Paperback!!! And it’s only $8 on My Site!!!

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Today, I received the proof copy of The Grunt in paperback.  When it was delivered, I was expecting another book from another author, but when I opened the box and realized that it was my book, I freaked out!  I can’t wait for you guys to get it in your hands.  I went for a matte finish this time, and Kandace Tuggle, my partner in crime and my exclusive and very awesome book designer, did an excellent job of putting my concept together with her own.  The book is only $9.99 retail, only $7.99 on my site, and is now available for pre-order. 

It will be available for sale on September 1st.  Can you say awesome?  In a few days, I’ll get The Ugly Girlfriend in print also.  The retail price for it is $9.99, but a reader brought up a very important point.  She said that she had already purchased the e-book and wanted the paperback for her collection.  So, she wanted to know if my readers who ordered from my site could get a discount.  Makes a lot of sense, right? 

So, I’m adjusting my prices.  The Grunt will be available on my site for $7.99 and The Ugly Girlfriend will be available on my site for $6.50.  And Finding Opa!  will be available for $6.99.  Don’t forget shipping and handling.   If you purchase on the .info site, you have to add shipping and handling. 

Essentially, you can get The Lonely Heart Paperback Pack with all three books for only $19.99.  You’re saving over $5 on my site for all three books versus other sites, plus you get an autograph (not that it’s worth muchJ, but I think it’s sort of cool).

I realize that many of you have already read the book, and I thank you so much for your support, but if you want to share the book with a friend or family member, with a mom, sister or best friend, then please consider gifting it.  I know that I plan to.  My mother-in-law and mom do not do the e-book thing, so they always wait for it to come out in paperback so that they can enjoy it with the rest of us. 

I just can’t express how happy I am right now.  I love the tangible product.  I’ll probably spend the rest of the evening just staring at it.  Then, I have to get back to typing.  I’m working hard on V4.  It has to be short, cover a lot of different subject matter and move Dmitry to the next level.  Talk about a day!

A side note.  The other night, I sent out a blog entry where I just vented up a storm.  However, there was one great thing that came out of that.  I had a chance to hear from you.  You shared how much you appreciate my support, you made me remember who I am, and whose I am, and you made me feel special.

Now, this wasn’t an attempt to get attention, and I don’t want you to ever think that I would stoop to doing something like that.  It was a genuine cross roads for me that I had an opportunity to share with you.  And words cannot express how you guys have made me feel.

As a full-time author now, I have so much joy.  I get to entertain you guys for a living, and it’s amazing.  How many of us have shared private conversations?  How many of us have spent half the night responding to emails?  The relationships that have been established through these stories are priceless.  And I need to remember that instead of letting people get under my skin. 

So, let’s celebrate! Pre-order your books today, and let’s get ready for a global conference call soon on The Grunt.  I’m thinking that we should do it in September.  We haven’t done it in a while, but it’s long overdue.

Anyway, I’m done ranting…until tomorrow.

XoXo and all that jazz,

Latrivia

New Review from Ivolve Beauty for The Grunt & The Ugly Girlfriend !!!!

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Writing gives me pleasure for several reasons.  I love to entertain people and take them from the real world into some new place with new people, and I love to meet new people through my books.  The readers, reviewers, publishers, conventioneers, etc. are all amazing.  Normally, I get the reviews later than everyone else, because I’m always in my office or in my “room” at home behind a desk, typing on the computer, music blasting in my ears, television playing – away from the world and everyone around it.  However, lately, I’ve been getting out.  So, I’ve been getting the reviews as they post, and I have quite enjoyed it.

My latest review has come from Chaz over at IvolveBeauty.com.  They have been reviewing my work since I first started, and I always thoroughly enjoy reading what they have to say.  So, I want to share this with you and ask that you visit their blog from time to time to see all of the wonderful offerings they have on their page regarding “the total woman.”