Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Heads in the Clouds Wins New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards: Fiction - Romance!



What a thrill to be a finalist and what a wild thrill to win! 

Traveling to Albuquerque and attending was so much fun, but to completely honestly honest - after the words "The winner is..." there is nothing like hearing your own name. 

(Actually what I meant to say is more like "my heart is filled with humility and gratitude" but it still was a thrill.)




The Book Awards honor the best in New Mexico and Arizona books, as judged by booksellers, librarians, teachers, and marketing experts. The New Mexico Book Co-op is a collaborative partnership with over 1,400 local authors and publishers and is New Mexico and Arizona's largest non-profit featuring New Mexico and Arizona books. The mission of the Co-op is to showcase and help authors and publishers promote and sell books. Every state and region needs an organization like this!

I'm especially honored that Heads in the Clouds was chosen because its setting is very much like the place I live. I used wonderful northern Arizona locations like Montezuma Castle, Montezuma Well, and the Prescott Rodeo. The novel's aviation community may be similar to my own, but not one of the interesting characters are based on my neighbors (well, maybe one or two).
with Paul Rhetts New Mexico Co-op Founder

Anne Hillerman
It was exciting to be with such dedicated book people who where genuinely proud of their profession.
Some of the winning books
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1493730223?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1493730223&linkCode=xm2&tag=amberpolocom-20

Saturday, October 25, 2014

"Reprinted" is in print (and ebook)!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OV585VQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00OV585VQ&linkCode=as2&tag=amberpolocom-20&linkId=NB25HGYAOK36NAYB

At last Reprinted
The Shapeshifters' Library, Book 4
 
is in print. 

It's been a fun journey with my dog-shifting librarians. Their adventures have stretched my imagination and taken me along to some of my favorite places. Now Chihuahua-shifter Pacifico, the smallest and the smartest, has his own story and his own romance. Join this voyage to the warm Caribbean sea to stop werewolf ebook pirates and bring peace to the dog-shifter werewolf feud.

******************

For centuries a magical race of shapeshifting dogs have protected the world’s libraries from evil book-burning werewolves. But when Chihuahua-shifter Pacifico Lopez, techno-genius inventor of Zoogle, the world’s most powerful search engine, discovers a werewolf plot that threatens to destroy the world of books, dog-shifters face their biggest challenge yet.

Werewolf Landy Romero, an editor at wolf-owned World Wide Publishing, and secret book lover, is horrified to learn that Pacifico thinks her own company is sabotaging books. Their quest to track down ebook pirates takes them to a werewolf Caribbean island resort where they discover an e-book thieving sailing vessel called The Cloud, a diabolical book distribution plant, enslaved dog-shifters who hold the secret to the true dog-shifter/ werewolf history, and an unlikely romance.

In this most exciting Shapeshifters’ Library adventure yet, Pacifico and Landy are thrust into the heart of a tropical storm as they battle lies and uncover injustice and betrayal. And the truth, when exposed, will change everything they believe about themselves and their world, forever.


Friday, October 17, 2014

New Mexico - Arizona Book Awards Finalist!

Stacks Image 589 

New Mexico - Arizona Book Award
Fiction - Romance Category 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GDBON8U?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00GDBON8U&linkCode=xm2&tag=amberpolocom-20


So excited.
 I'll be in Albuquerque, NM 
at the Awards Banquet 
on November 21st. 
Until then I'll be dancing with fingers crossed.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

A Greyhound Book Reviewer Interviewed


Welcome Bunny, and thank you for being my first Greyhound reviewer. I hope you didn't consider the biscuits I sent to you a bribe. That was not my intent.

Bunny: No, not at all! They certainly made the book smell nice while I was reading it, though.  A good book is supposed to be one you can sink your teeth into, after all!
 
Amber: Tell me a little about yourself.
 And your blog.

Bunny: I'm an almost eight year old Greyhound.  I came to live with my humans when I was eighteen months old.  I went through all the schooling to race, but they decided that I was too little and sent me off to be a pet instead. 
Since then, I've become a therapy dog, an ambassadog for Greyhounds, a model, a blog writer and a star of the internet.  


My blog is Tales and Tails and it's about the things we do with our humans.
 
We go out and have a lot of adventures.  I want my Greyhound friends and their humans to know that retirement from racing doesn't mean that you go take a nap on the couch and never get up again.  It's just the start of a wonderful and exciting new life.  I have one Greyhound sister, Flattery, a German Shepherd sister, Morgan, and a German Shepherd brother named Küster who works as a Search and Rescue dog.  Anyway, we share things about our adventures and fun places we go together and our jobs.  

Amber: I'm thrilled that you enjoyed my book Recovered. I wonder, did you identify with Bliss, my Greyhound shifter heroine? 


Bunny: I did a little bit, but there were also things that were a little foreign. Most Greyhounds in the United States don't get to run around without a leash on. But, I do happen to love books, especially ones that are illustrated.  I would love working in a library like Bliss does.  I also would love going on a grand adventure like she did.

 
Amber: Have you ever met a dog-shifter?

 
Bunny: No, I can't say that I have, but I've read a few other stories about them. I think it would be rather interesting, to say the least.  I'm sure I'd have a few questions for them, provided they could understand me.

Amber: What would you do if you met a werewolf?

Bunny: I wouldn't be too worried.  I mean, no dog is as fast as a Greyhound, so I could always outrun one if I had to. But, I'd be terribly curious and I'd probably want to have a good sniff of it. I also like to write great stories for Halloween on the blog, so I'd see if I could get an interview and some pictures. If the answer was unfriendly, then I'd high tail it somewhere safe.

Amber: Thank you Bunny for visiting. Besides being a star blogger, you certainly are a beautiful Greyhound and must give so many humans pleasure in your therapy and modeling work. Just make sure you save enough time for reading and book reviewing. 

The Shapeshifters’ Library Book 3: Recovered A Cross Country Canine Cozy Adventure from Ohio to New Mexico, filled with ancient mounds, dog-catchers, rescue groups, and wolfdog issues. Come along with Bliss, children’s librarian and white greyhound shifter, and reformed werewolf Harry as they search for the most valuable library on the planet, chased by Sybilla and Blaze, werewolves crazed to stop them.

For more interviews with canine reviewers 


Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Meet Pacifico, my new hero!




Meet Pacifico Lopez!
Chihuahua shifter Pacifico Lopez was a readers' favorite in Released, the first book in the Shapeshifters' Library series, besides the hero Old English Sheepdog shifter and the librarian heroine.

Smart and feisty, the computer genius's Zoogle internet conglomerate kept the dog-shifters in premium dog food and reference books. In Retrieved Pacifico started a library services company with the smartest RFID codes ever made.

Now at last, it’s time for the smallest and smartest to have his own book. And his own romance.
 
Book 4, Reprinted, will be published in late October!
Soon I’ll reveal the cover for Pacifico’s book, where he’ll chase the love of his life as he battles ebook pirates in the Caribbean, but here's a advance look at this handsome guy.
Light urban fantasy for dog lovers
Librarian dog-shifters and book-burning werewolves
 
Book 1 Released - Liberty and Chronus's story (Golden Retriever & Old English Sheepdog)
Book 2 Retrieved - Godiva and Cynerik's story (Chocolate Labrador Retriever & English Mastiff)
Book 3 Recovered - Bliss and Harry's  (White Greyhound & Werewolf-Dog mix)
 





























An one more thing -

I’m excited to announce the amazing Morgan Kearns has invited me back as a speaker for Buildin’ the Dream writer’s conference 2015!  


And just as exciting, Kris Tualla has booked me as one of the lucky authors for the Arizona Dreamin’ readers’ event 2015. I'm still wondering how these ladies pack so much fun into a few Arizona days. So writers or readers see what they’d got planned..check out their joint website.
 
Heard about Arizona Dreamin'?
It's the most unique reader event around,
and I am thrilled to be a Featured Author for 2015!
The best part is, I have a pair of tickets for my fans and friends - for only $89 each!
Email me if you want them, first come first served.
All the info about the event can be found a
http://arizonadreaminevent.com/

Tickets will go on general sale on September 1st, so let me know ASAP!
amber@amberpolo.com
 

Monday, April 21, 2014

Hearts in the Vortex

It's Springtime in Arizona!

And I'm excited to announce the release of

Hearts in the Vortex
A Sedona Arizona Paranormal Romance

The Most Unromantic Woman in the World Falls in Love – with Two Men – in One Body

No-nonsense attorney Rebecca Dumaurier battles for famous romance writers. But in the Sedona vortex romance spins out of control with a shy trance channeler and a pirate from another time.

This Sedona, Arizona Paranormal Romance is the lovingly revised edition of my first book
"Romancing Rebecca" with a lovely new Arizona cover by Connie Lee Marie.

Never visited Sedona? Don't miss this chance to see the sights!

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

How to Relax with your Dog






As a yoga teacher who specializes in relaxation techniques I’ve taught Kapalabhati, Viloma, Ujjaiyi, and my favorite Alternate Nostril Breathing (which will help you survive many crises).



As a dog lover I know dogs are great relaxation aids and enrich body, mind, and spirit:

  • Walk a dog to get your body moving
  • Sit and pet a dog to calm you
  • Play with a dog to create joy
Here are instructions for a Dog Petting Breathing Technique

  • ·       Find a quiet comfortable spot
  • ·       Place hand on dog’s head
  • ·       Inhale
  • ·       Begin to Exhale
  • ·       Slowly move your hand down the dog’s neck and back while silently  counting to three
  • ·       When you reach the end of the dog begin the inhale
  • ·       Repeat

It may take a few breaths to settle the dog and to find your pace. Breathe in with the inhale and out with the exhale. Begin to lengthen both the exhale and the inhale to at least a count of three for each. Let your belly move with your breath. Close your eyes if you wish. Continue as long as necessary.



Your dog will enjoy these breathing practice timeouts as much as treats.



Notes:



Adapting for the size of the dog - Breathing with a Chihuahua will differ from breathing with a Great Dane. For tiny dogs the movement has to be very, very slow. Or alternatively experiment with more than one petting movement on the exhale. Exceptionally large dogs may take more than one breath to complete the journey. 


No dog? Borrow one or use this practice with cats, horses, and other warm blooded pets (or a human friend.). 


Enjoy and Keep Petting!