authors | Kaira Rouda

25 11, 2019

Wildfires and Creative Sparks

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:07:12+00:00November 25, 2019|authors, Real You, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Wildfires and Creative Sparks

It’s Santa Ana wind and wildfire season out here in California and I must admit, it’s terrifying. My home burned down when I was in high school. The fire started early in the morning and my whole family was asleep inside at the time. I’ve always been afraid of fire–but now, with these catastrophic episodes igniting all around me, it’s a whole new level. I very much feel for all who have been in these fires paths, and for the first responders working so hard to keep them contained. I’m also asthmatic, so the smoke from these immense fires sends a cloud of particulate pollution into the air that lurks around for weeks, even after the flames are doused. So what does this have to do with writing? I’m forcing myself to imagine this edgy time as being filled with creative sparks. (Non-combustible and imaginary [...]

18 11, 2019

Fierce female crime writers bonding: Bouchercon 2019 is in the books!

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:07:21+00:00November 18, 2019|authors, bloggin, blogs, book tour|Comments Off on Fierce female crime writers bonding: Bouchercon 2019 is in the books!

Never heard of the mystery writers’ conference? That’s OK, I hadn’t either until two years ago when BEST DAY EVER launched and my publisher sent me to this event in Toronto. I’ve been hooked ever since. At Toronto two years ago, and this year in Dallas, I had the chance to meet and visit with the most wonderful women writing crime novels. Of course, yes, there are great male authors there, too, but for me, the most special part of the weekend is the women who write in the same domestic suspense genre as I do. It really is a special bond. So, until next Bouchercon, I’ll miss these faces but fortunately we keep in touch online! Hope you follow me on social media: @KairaRouda on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and BookBub, and KairaRoudaBooks on Facebook. And if you haven't read my first domestic thriller, check [...]

1 06, 2012

Real You: Great summer reads!

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:05:39+00:00June 1, 2012|authors, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Real You: Great summer reads!

I just love it when authors work together to support each other and that's the case with a new Facebook women's fiction writers group I'm involved with! The women are all amazing - and amazing story tellers. So, if you're looking for a great read this summer, consider one of these! You won't be disappointed! Available NOW: Lisa Wingate's BLUE MOON BAY Kaira Rouda's ALL THE DIFFERENCE (yes, that's by me) Heather Barbieri's THE COTTAGE AT GLASS BEACH Camille Noe Pagán's THE ART OF FORGETTING (paperback) Coming Soon! Claire Cook's WALLFLOWER IN BLOOM Mia March's THE MERYL STREEP MOVIE CLUB Amy Hatvany's THE LANGUAGE OF SISTERS (w/sneak peek of HEART LIKE MINE) Margaret Dilloway's THE CARE AND HANDLING OF ROSES WITH THORNS Laurie Frankel GOODBYE FOR NOW Sarah McCoy's THE BAKER'S DAUGHTER (paperback) Marisa de los Santos's FALLING TOGETHER (paperback) You really cannot go wrong [...]

1 12, 2011

Real You: Author Interview! Meet Stacy Eaton

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:07:51+00:00December 1, 2011|author interview, authors, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Real You: Author Interview! Meet Stacy Eaton

Welcome to my first-ever author interview on my blog! I wanted to return the favor since one of my new author friends, Stacy Eaton, hosted me on her blog a month ago! So, without further ado, here's Stacy: Kaira – First let me thank you so much for allowing me to visit your blog! It is such a pleasure to be here today!!! Tell us a bit about yourself : I love forensics – and I love photography. Forensics keeps my interest at my full time job, while photography helps me relax and reminds me about the small moments in life that pass us by quickly! Describe yourself in one word: Controlled What is your favorite season? Why? I am a summer person. I love the heat – love to feel the sun on my face and the breeze in my hair. I hate being cold – it [...]

29 10, 2011

Real You: Authors, writing and the power of community!

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:08:11+00:00October 29, 2011|authors, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Real You: Authors, writing and the power of community!

The writing life can be very lonely. Especially for a first-time novelist who is naviagating a new industry of bookstores, bloggers, online sites, events all the while trying to pursue a dream. The dream? Quite simply: having a book in the hands (or on the screen) of a reader who it's perfect for. The reader who will love the story, be swept up by it, smile/laugh/cry/cheer. That's the ultimate goal and the biggest thrill. There are a lot of steps between my words and those hands. Along the way, I've met an astounding number of supportive authors. From the women who grace the cover of HERE, HOME, HOPE, to the many writers I've been blessed to have blog about the book and me, to the other writers who are friends in social media. It truly has been the unforseen blessing of the entire process. And [...]

15 06, 2011

Real You: A post about Huffington Post

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:09:47+00:00June 15, 2011|authors, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Real You: A post about Huffington Post

I don't know about you, but when I have the opportunity to meet someone who is a mentor-from-afar (aka hero) and she turns out to be in person even more wonderful than you imagined, it's powerful. I had that opportunity yesterday when I listened to Arianna Huffington tell her story. She made an appearance at a brown bag luncheon to benefit the Venice Family Clinic. To get things started, an amazing woman came forward and told her story about how the clinic had been there for her family when they lost everything due to a child's illness. Her story brought the crowd to tears, including Huffington who onsite announced to the crowd she'd decided to feature the woman's story of reinvention on a new section of the HuffPost called Breakover. That was cool. Spontaneous. Creative. Loving. After making that announcement, Huffington - who [...]

20 09, 2010

Real You: Choices

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:16:17+00:00September 20, 2010|aha, authors, choice, Kaira Rouda, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Real You: Choices

I am stuck. Doesn't happen much, because I try to be a woman of action. Afterall, my refrain is put your passion into action. But here's the problem. I need to choose a cover for my novel - Here, Home, Hope - being published in May 2011. But there are two good choices and I'm not sure which one to go with. People do judge books by their covers. It's arguably the biggest, most important decision surrounding a book. The cover conveys visual cues about tone, subject, substance and so much more. And well, that's why I'm stuck. Please, if you like to read women's fiction and you have an opinion one way or another, please let me know! The choices are here, on my Facebook Fan Page, Kaira Rouda Books. And, of course, I'd love for you to become a fan. Pick a cover, [...]

23 06, 2009

Personal Recommendations Beat Out Online Sources

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:28:20+00:00June 23, 2009|authors, branding, entrepreneurs, Real You Incorporated, speaker, women, women in business|Comments Off on Personal Recommendations Beat Out Online Sources

As I was reading my daily marketing news, I ran across a study that found most online purchasers bought because of a personal recommendation from a friend/relative (34%), followed by spouse/partner (25%), then a blogger (5%) and a chat room (5%). Truly, this is no surprise to me. Personal, one-on-one connections are gems. These are the people you trust and depend on. If Oprah tweeted, “Acai is amazing”, but my friend Jane said, “I tried it and it’s not worth the price,” I’d go with Jane. Sorry, Oprah. If you’re out there trying to make a splash in cyberspace, get the movers and shakers talking online and off. And talk to women! Women, your most valuable consumers, are twice as likely as men to recommend a product/service to a friend. Start with a core group of “sneezers”, as Seth Godin calls them. These are influential [...]

9 06, 2009

Summer (Business) Reading Recommendations

By Kaira Rouda|2023-02-07T00:29:10+00:00June 9, 2009|authors, best books award, entreprising women, PINK Magazine, vacation|Comments Off on Summer (Business) Reading Recommendations

Summertime is here! And that means choosing a few great books (or magazines) to take along on vacations…to help your business. Here are a few recommendations: Marketing to Women: How to Understand, Reach and Increase Your Share of the World’s Largest Market Segment by Marti Barletta How to Run Your Business Like a Girl: Successful Strategies from Entrepreneurial Women Who Made it Happen by Cogswell Baskin Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan and Al Switzler. One woman entrepreneur swears the book saved her partnership. The Naked Truth: A Working Women’s Manifesto on Business and What Really Matters by Margaret A. Hefernan If reading magazines is more your style, try: PINK Magazine Inc. Ad Age Fast Company Enterprising Women And of course my summer favorite, Gift from the Sea, by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. It always gives [...]