One Word At A Time

Werewolf Legends & Lore with Dani Harper + Giveaway!

2012-01-29T20:13:00.000-08:00

I'm excited to have my Kensington sister Dani Harper here today!! She just released the third book in her Changling trilogy, Changeling Dawn, and she's here to talk about some pretty fun stuff!
Plus, there's a GIVEAWAY!!

Dani's shapeshifter series about the Macleod family and their friends! Long-lived and able to become wolves at will, they call themselves Changelings. Almost two centuries ago, they were forced to flee the wolf exterminations in Scotland and start a new life in the wilderness of northern Canada.

Today, that wilderness has been largely settled, and an entire community has sprung up around the Changelings. The Macleods and their pack live as humans most of the time, hiding in plain sight. But there’s just enough unspoiled forest left for them to joyfully run as wolves whenever they please. They seem to have the best of both worlds – but there are still dangers lurking for their kind. And love, when it arrives, brings dangers and complications of its own.

The two highest laws in the Changeling world are never harm a human and never turn a human against their will. The wolf within, however, has its own primal rules. If a Changeling’s life is in danger, the wolf will emerge to defend it. It will also rise, unbidden, to defend a mate at all costs. And Changelings mate for life.

Each book in the series can stand alone, because each focuses on one member of the Macleod family. The first novel is Changeling Moon, the second is Changeling Dream. The third novel was just released, Changeling Dawn. For info and excerpts, check out Dani's website at http://www.daniharper.com.

Hi, I’m Dani and one of my hobbies is collecting wolf and werewolf myths and legends, and I’ve brought seven of my favorites to share with you.

In some European legends, particularly in Scandinavian countries, some rivers and streams are said to be "lycanthropic". This means that you can become a werewolf just by drinking the water! Lycanthropic water is said to possess a "lurid sparkle" and a faint smell that is like nothing else. As it flows, the water makes sounds that resemble human voices, and dogs and horses are afraid of it.
Reports of an enormous wolf-like animal in North Wales date back to 1790, when a stagecoach travelling between Denbigh and Wrexham was attacked and overturned by an enormous black beast almost as long as the coach horses. Known as the Welsh Werewolf, its attacks continued for a few years then mysteriously died out. Two centuries later, beginning in 1992, over 70 sightings of a large wolf-like animal have been reported!
In Mexico, the werewolf is called the "nahual". A nahual is a witch who can shapeshift into a black wolf or coyote. According to the legend, not every witch can achieve this transformation -- only a few have a natural gift. In addition to having the inborn talent, the witch must also jump over a wooden cross, or go into deep trance-like sleep, or put on an animal skin, or cover his or her body with an ointment made of herbs.
Werewolves in Sweden and Norway are called the ‘Varulv’. According to the legends, these people become werewolves by choice by putting on an enchanted article of clothing such as a belt. They are not necessarily evil, and in fact, in some stories only the most faithful could achieve the transformation!
In Latvia, ancient texts show that the wolf was honored as a deity or as a servant of God. In old Latvian folk songs the wolf is called God's dog. When wolves howled, they were once said to be praying to God and should not be ridiculed or hunted. The Greeks of Athens also had great respect for the wolf and decreed that any man who killed one had to pay for the funeral for the animal.
The 11th Century Russian Prince Vseslav was considered to have been a werewolf and capable of superhuman speeds. One account says: "Vseslav the prince judged men; as prince, he ruled towns; but at night he prowled in the guise of a wolf." A commemorative coin, showing Vseslav and a wolf, was released in 2005.
Legend says that the town of Gubbio, Italy, was being terrorized by a large wolf that preyed on both livestock and humans. Saint Francis was said to have the power to talk to animals, and he went alone to speak to the wolf about its habits. He was successful in negotiating peace between the villagers and the wolf, and the creature lived among them like a dog for the rest of its li

If you enjoyed the above, consider pressing the LIKE button on my Facebook Fan Page. I post wolf and werewolf trivia there every day!

GIVEAWAY!

One lucky commenter will win a signed copy of Changeling Dawn. This is an International giveaway and a name will be drawn at random on Tuesday, Feb. 10. There are several ways to earn points to better your chances of winning -- the first step is to leave a comment or ask Dani a question!

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Guest A.J. Brower + Giveaway!

2012-01-23T22:32:00.000-08:00

I'm part of the RWA's Mystery and Suspense Chapter, affectionately known as Kiss of Death. It's an awesome group of writers with similar interests and goals. Kiss of Death offers fabulous online courses, a tight-knit, supportive membership, a stellar annual contest for published and unpublished authors alike. I've learned so much through this chapter, I can't even being to imagine where my writing career would be without them!

As part of our Kiss of Death blog tour, I have fellow KODer, A.J. Brower with me today talking about why she loves romantic suspense. And she's giving away an ecopy of her recent release, A FAMILY TO DIE FOR. Just comment to enter!

A FAMILY TO DIE FOR

When high school chemistry teacher Mike Garretson learns one of his ancestral relatives was the victim of identity theft, long before it became the preferred crime of today’s white collar thieves, he suddenly finds himself having to prove it before he ends up as dead as his murdered grandmother. Mike’s only hope of winning the family inheritance is to hire historian Dr. Jennie Foster. But as she begins to uncover nearly century-old family secrets, Mike fears the feisty and brainy Jennie may discover more than he wants her to know.

Jennie’s happy to climb around in her mysterious and aloof co-worker’s family tree. At least until she discovers Mike has a few secrets too. As the ancestral body count rises and a modern killer discovers what they’re looking for, will Jennie lay her life—and her heart—on the line for a man who refuses to let her into his?

Romantic Suspense is Pure Awesome

I have the coolest volunteer job in the world. I’m president of Kiss of Death, the Romance Writers of America chapter for suspense and mystery. Why is this is so awesome? Because…

Kiss of Death. Say that to your mother, your next-door neighbor, the teenager at the cash register. It implies both love and murder, the twisted circle suspense writers often build into their stories. And the reaction you get is worth saying it over and over. Kiss of Death. Kiss of Death. Kiss of Death. Love it.
Murder. Not all mystery and suspense involves murder, but a lot of writers in this genre love to kill off people. Your boss at work turned down your vacation request? Have a serial killer cut out his heart, since he must not have one anyway. Your significant other didn’t take the garbage out again? Put some rotting body parts in the trunk of his or her car. That’ll teach ‘em, and you’ll feel great.
Romance. Toss in a couple of innocent bystanders, a cop with issues, or an assassin trying to make good. Put their lives in danger and force them to figure out who’s behind it or what’s happening to save their lives. Then, watch them fall in love hard and fast, because who has time for a warm budding romance?

I get to be president of an organization of 500 people who write stuff like this. Damn, I’m lucky. I think I’ll go bond—and kill off a character.

A.J. is one of the many talented authors who belong to the Romance Writers of America’s Kiss of Death chapter. At Kiss of Death we believe that every great romance should include suspense. Whether a spy thriller in Regency times, a paranormal romance with a revenge-seeking zombie, or a traditional serial killer after the heroine, romance relies on suspense, leading the reader through the trials of the heroine and hero to see if they will get their happily ever after ending. If you can call your writing suspenseful, then the Kiss of Death has something for you! Find out more and join at http://www.rwamysterysuspense.org and follow us on Twitter at @RWAKissofDeath.

A recent explorer into writing fiction, A.J. has been working in public relations and marketing for many, many years, including publication of a few freelance articles on the side. Most of her experience was acquired in a 25-year career in the Air Force, where she still serves as a reservist. Her first romantic suspense novel, published in 2009, called on a lifelong interest in genealogy and history. Her other manuscripts use the same pastime, as well as an itinerant life that involved living in 14 states and two other countries. Unlike most writers, she doesn’t think writing is a lonely career. She’s made many friends and calls on their knowledge and expertise on a regular basis.

What do YOU love about romantic suspense? Comment to enter for a chance to WIN
an ecopy of A.J.'s A FAMILY TO DIE FOR.

Welcome Tracy Sumner, Author Extraordinaire!

2012-01-17T22:27:00.000-08:00

I'm welcoming one of my Kensington sisters to One Word at a Time today! Tracy Sumner has been awarded the National Reader’s Choice, the Write Touch and the Beacon – with finalist nominations in the HOLT Medallion, Heart of Romance, Rising Stars and Reader’s Choice. Her books have been translated into German, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish!

It doesn't have to be December to settle into a great holiday season romance! And while Tracy's most recent work happens to have a holiday theme, JEEZOHHELL, look at that cover! I'd read that any time of year!!! She also has a number of other fabulous works to choose from and she's giving away several today! Your meaningful comment will enter you for a chance to WIN a set of ebooks including the TIDE series and her holiday novella!!

An award-winning holiday novella, TO DESIRE A SCOUNDREL.

Tanner Barkley was set on forgetting the love of his life. Until fate threw Katherine Peters into his path for an unforgettable holiday of passion.

Don’t forget the first rule when dealing with scoundrels.

Never wager more than you are willing to lose.

Especially in matters of the heart.

To Desire a Scoundrel: Buy link

“A bad boy…and a lively, independent woman. An excellent sequel!”

~ All Romance Bookstore Reviews

“A searing passion…a sexy tale filled with great verbal repartee!”

~ Romantic Times

Tracy, can you tell us a little about TO DESIRE A SCOUNDREL?
TO DESIRE A SCOUNDREL: A CHRISTMAS SEDUCTION was originally published by Kensington, but I have rights back, and have released the eBook on my own! It’s a sequel to TO SEDUCE A ROGUE, out in early 2012! Yes, I released the holiday novella first – for the Season!

Tell us a little about TO DESIRE A SCOUNDREL what inspired you to write it?
When I finished TO SEDUCE A ROGUE, I really had this great feeling about Adam Chase’s best friend, Tanner Barkley. Very cynical, secretive, sexy, in other words, the perfect hero! And who better to pair him with than the daughter of the somber chaperone in ROGUE? No daughter of such a severe woman could suffer fools easily.

And we all know how foolish a man in love can act.

Then my editor invited me to participate in a Christmas anthology and TO DESIRE A SCOUNDREL was born.

Katherine Peters is made for Tanner, and for the first time, I wrote about a hero who realizes this simple fact before the heroine! (If you recall, in ROGUE, Adam is clueless until nearly the end. Even Tanner tries to tell him the error of his ways. How sad is that?)

When you start writing, do you already have the story plotted out or do you let the characters dictate what will happen?
I do have SOME things I want to happen. It’s often more things I want the characters to SAY. But much of what happens is dictated by my characters.

What inspired you to write in your genre? Is this the genre you started writing in or have you morphed to this one?

I wrote YA stuff in high school. Think The Outsiders. But I read my first romance novel (LaVyrle Spencer’s VOWS) in college…and I’ve never looked back. As a writer or a reader. I love historical and contemporaries.

Do you have a favorite character you have written?
Noah Garrett from TIDES OF LOVE is kinda my guy. He’s a sexy nerd – a marine biologist. Perhaps I should say that he is the perfect guy in my mind. Intelligent+, kinda, tortured, complex, gorgeous.

Who was the toughest character for you to "get right" that you have written so far?
Maybe Tanner in TO DESIRE A SCOUNDREL. It’s hard to write a hero who is very conflicted and closed to love without making him appear “un-heroic”. I like my hero AND heroines to have an edge. I have an edge, so I write with one. But you have to temper that with kindness, caring, vulnerability…something to garner support from your reader. Plus, I have to like them, too!

Do you draw inspiration for your characters from real life? Any fun stories you could share?
Well, this one is really funny. When I started my first novel, TO SEDUCE A ROGUE, I was dating this guy who used to be a marine biologist. And I really wrote the novel without thinking that much about how I knew about marine biology, etc. And later on, I realized that he would probably read the book or hear about it and think it was about him. I was mortified!Because Noah was all my creation. Seriously.

What do you find the hardest part of writing?
Writing! Putting butt in chair and PRODUCING.

Name one thing that your readers would be surprised to know about you.
For someone who writes HEA (happily ever after) stories, I’m a bit cynical about the long-term prospects of many relationships I encounter. I’m the person who rolls her eyes at weddings. I’m not the crier.

Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Wine! And romance novels. Jack and Jennifer on Days of Our Lives from the late 80s/early 90s. Someone has a website (Devoted to Deveraux) with all the old clips – and I’ve been enjoying the hell out of it.

Does music influence your writing? If so, do any of your stories have a theme song?
I like the theme music from Out of Africa. Makes me want to create.

If your story was optioned for a movie, who would play your characters?
Noah Garrett: Harrison Ford/Indiana Jones -- as the Professor (not the guy with the whip)
Zach Garrett: Josh Lucas (Jake Perry, Sweet Home Alabama)
Tanner Barkley: Leonardo DiCaprio (Billy, The Departed): part bad boy, part sweet man
Adam Chase: Again, H Ford (Han Solo) Stubborn as hell, fights love, vulnerable

Where were you when you got your first contract? Who did you tell first?
Funny! My mother called me (I think I was living in Chicago at the time) and told me an editor with Kensington had called her. I freaked! I submitted my manuscript without including a phone number. They had to TRACK ME DOWN!!!

How old were you when you read your first romance book?
19

What author causes you to “go fan girl”/squeal over/anticipate upcoming books?
Well, Judith Ivory did. But she’s not writing anymore, I don’t think.

If you still have one of those pesky non writing jobs what is it?
I’m a graphic designer. Which I love.

What are you currently working on, and what else is in the wings?
Okay, the grand plan, if I can get the butt in chair deal going, is to finish a Victorian historical with light paranormal elements AND an edgy, sexy contemporary. I don’t know if I can finish both in the year. I also have an anthology coming out with a group of authors in April. Check out my website for release information!

If you could co-write with another author who would it be?
Stephen King. Ashley March in romance. Julie Anne Long.

How do you pick your characters names?
Research, names I hear that I like. What fits the character. What I can break down. I’m very fond of nicknames for characters.

Do you prefer the love at first sight approach or a steady growth throughout?
First sight. It’s a fantasy!

Where can readers find you?
Website: www.tracysumner.com
Twitter: @SumnerTracy
Facebook: Facebook.com/TracySumnerRomanceAuthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5259839.Tracy_Sumner

What other works do you have out right now?

Tides of Passion: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005WVPFH0

Tides of Love: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0066B1XTY

Tracy’s story telling career began when she picked up a copy of LaVyrle Spencer’s Vows on a college beach trip. A journalism degree and a thousand romance novels later, she decided to try her hand at writing a southern version of the perfect love story. With a great deal of luck and more than a bit of perseverance, she sold her first novel to Kensington Publishing.

When not writing sensual stories featuring complex characters and lush settings, Tracy can be found reading romance, snowboarding, watching college football and figuring out how she can get to 100 countries before she kicks (which is a more difficult endeavor than it used to be with her four-year-old son in tow). She lives in Charlotte, NC, but after spending a few years in “the city”, considers herself a New Yorker at heart.

Leave a comment or question and enter to WIN a set of ebooks including the TIDE series and Tracy's holiday novella, TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL!!

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Celebrating My CP's First Indie!!

2011-12-24T11:12:00.000-08:00

I'm thrilled to announce my critique partner, Elisabeth Naughton (best CP in the world, btw) has released her very first Indie novel!

Eli is an expert at crafting real characters you can't get enough of, creating heart-wrenching conflict and raising the stakes at every turn. Her heroines are strong, her heroes are hot and her stories are filled with angsty, sexy twists and turns.

WAIT FOR ME is her very first Indie release, a contemporary romance with so much depth and even a little suspense thread. An awesome read!

I'm celebrating the release and the holidays by giving away *5* copies of WAIT FOR ME!!

All you have to do is help us spread the word of Elisabeth's new release. Each shout is one entry, so the more you shout, the more chances you have to win!

A woman without a past…

After a tragic accident left her with no memory, Kate Alexander struggled to fit in with a husband and world that didn’t feel right. She’s had no reason to question what friends and family have told her, not until her husband is suddenly killed and she finds a photo of a young girl in his office. A girl who can’t be anyone but a daughter Kate didn’t know she had.

A man desperate for a reason to live…

Ryan Harrison lost his wife in a plane crash five years ago. To cope with the pain of her loss, he dedicated himself to his job and to raising their daughter. Now a successful pharmaceutical executive, Ryan has everything a man could want—money, fame and power—but he’d give it all up in a heartbeat for just one more day with the woman he still loves.

Two lives about to converge.

As Kate begins to dig into a past she doesn’t remember, evidence leads her to San Francisco and puts her on the path toward Ryan, a man who sees in her the woman he loved and lost. Kate feels a draw to Ryan, one she can’t explain, but is that feeling enough to convince her this is where she’s supposed to be? As Ryan and Kate search for answers, they uncover lies long buried, a passion hotter than either expected and a danger that threatens…even now…when the second chance they’ve both been searching for is finally within reach.

You WANT this read!! Good luck!

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Interview & Giveaway with Linda Poitevin

2011-12-14T22:24:00.000-08:00

My guest today, Linda Poitevin, is the author of a new urban fantasy series, The Grigori Legacy, from Ace Books. Book one, SINS OF THE ANGELS is now available! Book two, SINS OF THE SON, releases in May 2012.

The series looks fabulous and when I saw it on the shelves at Walmart on my regular travel stop to work, I couldn't resist picking up a couple copies for giveaway! So be sure to leave a comment or ask Linda a question to be entered to win!

SINS OF THE ANGELS

A detective with a secret lineage. An undercover Hunter with a bullet-proof soul. And a world made to pay for the sins of an angel…

Homicide detective Alexandra Jarvis answers to no one. Especially not to the new partner assigned to her in the middle of a gruesome serial killer case—a partner who is obstructive, irritatingly magnetic, and arrogant as hell.

Aramael is a Power—a hunter of the Fallen Angels. A millennium ago, he sentenced his own brother to eternal exile for crimes against humanity. Now his brother is back and wreaking murderous havoc in the mortal realm. To find him, Aramael must play second to a human police officer who wants nothing to do with him and whose very bloodline threatens both his mission and his soul.

Now, faced with a fallen angel hell-bent on triggering the apocalypse, Alex and Aramael have no choice but to join forces, because only together can they stop the end of days.

Linda, what’s your favorite thing about SINS OF THE ANGELS?
I love how Sins of the Angels speaks to readers in such different ways. It fascinates me that some consider it a paranormal romance while others focus on the police procedural/mystery aspect and hardly seem to notice the romantic element, or how some readers are drawn in by the mythology behind the story and others like the thriller aspect. I personally love books that cross the genre lines and so I’m thrilled that I seem to have created that kind of story myself.

What is your strategy in creating villains? Tell us about Caim, your villain.
I really tried to make Caim as fully three-dimensional as possible. To me, that meant delving deeply enough into his character that readers didn’t just know what his motivation was for his actions but also that they understood it—and could even feel sorry for him on some creepy level.

What do you love most about this book/series?
I love exploring the god/angel mythology (with my own twists!) in a real-world setting. I’ve tried to keep the reaction of Alex, my heroine, as real-to-life as possible when she finds out about the existence of angels—and of an actual Heaven and Hell. The challenge of doing so has really made me grow as a writer, I think, and growing is always good. :)

Does your novel have a theme? How did that come about?
Choices. I feel very strongly that every decision we make in our lives comes down to a personal choice we’ve made, whether or not we’re even aware that we’ve made it. In Sins of the Angels, I explore how those personal choices impact not just us, but the entire world…or in the book’s case, the universe.

How does your family view your writing career?
My husband and daughters are extremely supportive and very proud of me. Sometimes I think they’re even more excited about my publication than I am, lol.

How do you keep in touch with your readers?
I’m on both Twitter (@lindapoitevin) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/LindaPoitevin) at least once a day (and WAY more often when I’m procrastinating!), and I also have a blog through my website. I love, love, love to hear from readers and answer all comments…promise. :)

How would you best describe your books?
Supernatural thrillers.

What would you write if you could do write anything you wanted to write?
I may be the luckiest writer in the whole entire world, because I’m already writing it. :)

What are your current projects?

Sins of the Son, Book 2 of The Grigory Legacy, is currently at the typesetting/proofreading stage, so I’m waiting to get it back for a final read. In the meantime, I’ve started work on the third book in the series (currently unnamed, much to my great angst!).

Where can we find you online?
My website is at http://www.lindapoitevin.com.

Do You Believe That The Cup Is Half Empty Or Half Full?
Half full.

Are You An Introvert Or An Extrovert?
Definitely an introvert.

Are You A Window Person Or An Aisle Person?
Window.

Do You Like Short Or Long Hair On A Guy?
Long.

Ever Hit A Jackpot On A Slot Machine?
Sadly, no.

Which do you like more—rainy days or snowy days?
Depends on the temperature…and the season!

What is Your Favorite Beverage?
Coffee is my most necessary one, but apple wine is my favorite. :)

Are you a night or a morning person?
Morning…much to my husband’s great disgust.

Are You Usually Late, Early Or Right On Time?
On time. I’m an obsessive clock-watcher.

We're giving away 2 copies of SINS OF THE ANGELS today and 5 handmade bookmarks.

Just leave a comment or a question for Linda for a chance to win!

International giveaway!

Linda Poitevin was born and raised in B.C., Canada’s westernmost province. Growing up in an era when writing was “a nice hobby, dear, but what are you going to do for a living?”, Linda worked at a variety of secretarial jobs before applying to be a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Due to an error in measurement, however, she was turned down when she didn’t meet the height requirement of that time. Undeterred, Linda became a civilian member in the force and was a dispatcher for two and a half years, during which time she met her husband, a police officer.

Following their transfer to Ottawa, Linda went on to become a real estate agent and then a human resources consultant before starting a family. She has been a stay-at-home mom ever since and has homeschooled her youngest daughter for the last nine years. Now that she has realized writing can be more than a nice hobby, she continues to live her dream of being a cop vicariously through her characters.

Linda currently lives near Ottawa with her husband, three daughters, one very large husky/shepherd/Great Dane-cross dog, two cats, three rabbits, and a bearded dragon lizard. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found in her garden or walking her dog along the river or through the woods.

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ESCAPE & ENJOY WINNER!!!

2011-12-13T14:10:00.000-08:00

It's time to announce the winner of my Escape & Enjoy Mega Giveaway!

12/15 Update: Deb and her husband have other plans, so they can not accept the prize. With the help of my fabulous twitter followers, I've choosen another winner! Michelle O'Boyle, a cute little Texan I'm hoping will be able to swing airfare. We'll see....

*****

Update: Maria, unfortunately, can't accept the prize. She has important family business already planned that weekend. Trying again...ALTERNATE WINNER chosen by Maria Pena: DEB PELLETIER!

*****
The prize:
A 7 day stay in 2br/2ba condo at Red Wolf Lakeside Lodge!
With a rack rate of $429/night, this stay is valued at over $3000!

How I listed entrants:
My intake widget gave me a list of entries each day and each entrant recieved a number in the order it was received. A total of exactly 300 entries were recieved.

How I chose the winning entry:
My husband, each of my two daughters and I chose a number between 0 and 301. I added those four numbers and divided by 4.

My number: 16 (my favorite since I was a kid)
My DH's #: 193
My DD1's #: 17
My DD2's #: 236

Total: 462/4 =115.5

I called the family for a tie-breaker; 115 or 116? 1 vote for 115 and 2 votes for 116...so...

The winner is: MARIA PENA

If for some reason Maria is unable to claim the prize as stipulated in the giveaway rules and guidelines, we will choose another winner.

Thanks for playing everyone.

Check back February 1, when I will be running a big release month grand giveaway with

two vacations -- and this time, east coasters won't feel left out!

Catherine Mann is in the HOT ZONE!!

2011-12-08T01:00:00.000-08:00

It's no secret I'm an Alpha, military-type hero lover, right? I've probably made that plenty clear somewhere along the way, haven't I? Well, we've definitely got some yummy Alpha military yumminess going on here today!

Catherine Mann visits with info on her new release, HOT ZONE, Book 2 in her Elite Force series featuring hunky Pararescuemen. And she also shares some fun personal facts as well.

Make sure you comment about your favorite aspect of the military romantic suspense genre
to enter the giveaway for one of Catherine's novels up for grabs today!

HOT ZONE

Days full of danger…
For Pararescueman Master Sergeant Hugh Franco, it’s all about saving other people’s lives. Then he moves on. But when he pulls beautiful Amelia Bailey and her adopted nephew from the rubble of a catastrophic earthquake, he finds himself entangled in their lives in ways he could never have imagined…

And desire-filled nights…
Amelia’s trip to the Bahamas to help with an international adoption has been no vacation, but the hardest part is yet to come. As Amelia and Hugh are pulled unawares into a deadly smuggling scheme, simmering beneath their growing need to protect each other is a compelling attraction they’re both determined to deny…

“Elite Force” series:
Book 1: COVER ME, July 2011
Book 2: HOT ZONE, December 2011
Book 3: UNDER FIRE, May 2012

“Mann’s tender yet heart-pounding story vividly creates the chaos of both disasters and love.”

– Booklist

Catherine, tell us about your upcoming release, HOT ZONE.
Thanks so much for having me here on your blog today! I’m thrilled to be celebrating the release of HOT ZONE, the second book in my “Elite Force” series about Air Force pararescuemen. They’re also known as PJs, in reference to their earlier days when they were called Para Jumpers.

What’s your favorite thing about HOT ZONE?
Having the opportunity to showcase these unsung military heroes who live by the motto “These things we do that others may live.”

What sparked the idea for this series?
I’ve long been fascinated by this basically unknown military unit – a very small unit. There are only about 350 pararescuemen total and they go through much of the same grueling training as other special ops individuals.

What creates the biggest conflict between your hero and heroine?
My hero falls in love too easily (he’s been married 3 times!) My heroine lost the love of her life and wants nothing to do with that kind of heartbreak again.

What is your strategy in creating villains?
Ahhhh, villains! I love creating villains with unexpected nuances. Villains should have reasons and motivations, even if they’re twisted. And this villain has definitely twisted by years of abuse as a child… But if I say more, it’ll give away part of the story!

What was the hardest part of this book to write and why?
The heroine works with therapy dogs, trained to help military vets suffering from PTSD. As a military wife, writing about that kind of pain carried by our veterans was especially difficult.

What do you love most about this series?
Writing about smoking hot alpha males in uniform!! (And finding the perfect heroine to conquer each hero’s heart. ;)

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Suzanne Brockmann has – without question – been a generous mentor from the very start of my writing career. She has shared her time, her insights, her readers, her support. She’s a gifted and caring person. I can never thank her enough.

How does your family view your writing career?
My kids and husband are every bit as proud of me as I am of them! (And that’s a lot!) My kids love to embarrass me in book stores by shouting at the top of their lungs, “Oh my God! Is that THE Catherine Mann?!”

What entity do you feel supports you most in your writing career outside of family members?
I have the best critique partner a writer could ever ask for! Harlequin Blaze & Historical author Joanne Rock has been my critique partner since long before either of us made that first sale. Now, Joanne’s written about 50 books and I’ve written over 40, and she still has the most awesome insights to share.

What is your writing routine?

Write until my vision blurs? LOL! Okay, seriously, I set page counts for each week. If I meet my goal by Friday, I get the weekend off. If I don’t, I have to work through the weekend to catch up. This also provides incentive to my family to stay out of my hair during the week if they want to play on the weekend.

What are you reading now?
I just finished J.R. Ward’s ENVY.

What is in your TBR pile?
I just preordered Joanna Bourne’s THE BLACK HAWK. (By the time this interview goes live, I will have read it!)

What is your preferred genre to read for pleasure?
Honestly, I’m a very eclectic reader across genres, although I do have to say I’m happiest when a book has at least some romantic thread.

Do you have a second career? (Yes, motherhood counts!)
My flyboy husband and I have four children, although three have left the nest for college now. And I also serve on the Board of Directors for my local Humane Society.

What did you do before you became a full-time writer?
I have a Master’s degree in Theater and I worked as a theater school director in Charleston, SC.

How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula?
I’m a big fan of Christopher Vogler’s THE WRITER’S JOURNEY. I use it for plotting – great in helping tie in emotional turning points with plot landmarks.

What would you write if you could do write anything you wanted to write?
I’m absolutely blessed to be writing exactly what I want to write. :)

What do you most like about writing? Least like?
I love being able to wear my PJs all day long if I wish. Although sometimes, I miss having people around me. I guess that’s why I spend so much time online!

What would you say is your biggest writing quirk?
I foster puppies and special needs dogs for my local shelter, so it’s not unusual for me to be writing with a pack of 4-6 dogs at my feet.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Read. Watch movies with my family. Walk my dogs. I’m a homebody!

What are your current projects?
HOT ZONE, “Elite Force” bk 2, Sourcebooks – out now!
PROTECTOR, “Dark Ops” bk 4, Berkley, March 2012
HONORABLE INTENTIONS, Harlequin Desire, April 2012
UNDER FIRE, “Elite Force” bk 3, Sourcebooks, May 2012
GUARDIAN, “Dark Ops” bk 5, Berkley, September 2012

Do You Have Any Undiscovered Or Hidden Talents?
I worked as a puppeteer to make extra money in graduate school.

Do You Believe That The Cup Is Half Empty Or Half Full?
Overflowing!

Are You An Introvert Or An Extrovert?
I’m a shy extrovert. :)

Are You A Window Person Or An Aisle Person?

Aisle!!! I feel too closed in by the window.

Do You Like Short Or Long Hair On A Guy?
Military cut short or completely shaved. Very hot!

Ever Hit A Jackpot On A Slot Machine?
Nope. Not a gambler. Would rather spend my money on a meal out or a new outfit.

Are You Afraid Of Heights?
Not in love with them.

Do you prefer your mattress soft or hard?
Firm!

How many pillows do you like to sleep with?
As many pillows as I can fit on the bed.

Which do you like more—rainy days or snowy days?
Rainy days! I’m only a fan of snow on Christmas Day. The rest of the year, I prefer my warm beach.

What is Your Favorite Beverage?
I’m trying to give up Diet Cokes – not easy! So I guess I would say chocolate tea is my current favorite.

Are You A Heavy Or Light Sleeper?
Used to be a deep sleeper, but after so many years of keeping my ears open for the kids during the night, I’ve become a light sleeper.

Are you a night or a morning person?
Night owl. Totally.

At The Beach Would You Rather Play In The Sand, Or Play In The Water?
Read a book while lounging in a beach chair.

How do you keep in touch with your readers?
I can always be found online:
Website: http://catherinemann.com
Facebook: Catherine Mann (author)
Twitter: CatherineMann1
e-mail: Catherine@CatherineMann.com

USA Today bestseller Catherine Mann has over two million books in print in more than twenty countries. A RITA Award winning author, she writes military suspense for Sourcebooks and Berkley, as well as steamy romances for Harlequin Desire. Catherine resides in Florida with her military flyboy husband and their four children.

What is your favorite aspect of the military romantic suspense genre?
Comment to enter the giveaway for one of Catherine's novels or bookmarks up for grabs today!

Joyce Lamb Talks About TRUE SHOT on Release Day!! Whoo-hoo!!

2011-12-05T21:45:00.000-08:00

First off -- SPANKALICIOUS release day Joyce!! True Shot releases today from Berkeley Sensation! Head out and get your copy today!! (Buy links below book description.)

Joyce and I met through common author friends and I've always enjoyed Joyce's bubbling spirit, positive personality and amazing drive! She's the Energizer Bunny on steroids!

(Yes, that is green you see glowing in my eyes. What? Didn't I mention I demon-shift when I'm jealous? That is Elisabeth's fault...but we're not going there. This is JOYCE's day!)

Joyce is giving away a copy of TRUE SHOT, TRUE COLORS, TRUE VISION
and five custom handmade bookmarks today, so comment to win!

TRUE SHOT

Special FBI operative Samantha Trudeau's unique psychic abilities help her catch the most elusive criminals. They also put her in the path of a sadistic adversary when she discovers she's actually working for a rogue cell-and into the confidence of a handsome journalist with his own potentially dangerous secrets.

Buy this at:
Barnes & Noble || Amazon

Read on >>

Joyce, how do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula?

Hi, Joan! Thanks a bunch for having me today!

As for how I develop my plots and characters: I pretty much start with a "what if?" question (every writer's favorite question!). What if a female government spy and a sweet but hunky civilian ended up on the run together? What if the spy somehow lost her memory and it was up to the untrained civilian to get her to safety while holding off some unrelenting bad guys? Then I build from there.

The characters most often come from the plot -- how would a certain kind of character respond in my "what if?" scenario. Of course, once I start writing, the characters become fully formed and start messing with all my plans. Grrr. While that can be frustrating, it's mostly just really cool, because that means the characters are three-dimensional enough to exert their influence on the story. And, oh my, does that sound completely crazy?

How would you best describe your books?

My books would make really fun action adventure movies. I love action adventure movies, but most of the time I end up disappointed in the lack of character development and relationship-building. That's what's awesome about writing novels -- the medium gives a writer the time and space to fully develop a meaningful relationship between the characters -- and with the reader. True Shot in particular could become the coolest television show, because there's a ton of potential for episodic stories, sort of like Alias (secret government spies) crossed with The Dead Zone (psychic who experiences other people's memories).

What would you write if you could write anything you wanted to write?

I would write exactly what I'm writing. I love romantic suspense, and adding the paranormal psychic angle opened up a new world where I make the rules -- or subvert them if I want to. Though I will admit that it's crossed my mind that I would love to write for television. In fact, if I got to choose, I'd love to write for The Good Wife. Such a great show!

What do you most like about writing? Least like?

What I most like is the therapy. Go ahead and laugh. But, seriously, if I didn't write stories where the bad guy gets what's coming to him and the good guys win and the important people live happily ever after, I'd be spending a boatload of cash on therapy. I worked out some major frustration with my "day job" as a journalist through the first True, True Vision. In that, Charlie (the heroine) fights her newspaper's tendency to look past the misdeeds of a big advertiser in order to protect revenue. Her actions aren't without consequences, but the therapeutic part for me is that I got to spout my opinion about the role of newspapers in keeping the Powers That Be honest. Media in general doesn't do that all that well anymore, and as someone who's dedicated her life to seeking out the truth … well, it's frustrating. So that side of Charlie most definitely represents a part of me that has needed to work out some issues.

What I least like about writing: The time I spend holed up by myself, falling behind on what's going on with my family and friends. Writing is rewarding, but it's a solitary activity, and since I have a day job, I have to use much of the time I'd have for a social life glued to my laptop.

What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?

Just this past weekend, I did a booksigning with Nora Roberts. It was awesome! Not just because I was sitting a few feet away from Nora Roberts, though that was pretty cool, but because I also was in the midst of a couple of hundred devoted romance novel fans. It was truly inspiring seeing their enthusiasm for Nora and her books. And, heck, when it turned out a couple of them were there to see me, well, that was amazing.

Which is your favorite of the books you have written?

Most definitely True Shot. It's fast-paced, has lots of action and the hero, Mac, is to die for. I flipped the hero and heroine in this one, so the hero (Mac) is the somewhat naïve civilian and the heroine (Sam) is the kick-butt government spy. But even though she's endlessly competent and can handle a gun, she still ends up needing him to help her. I love it when super-strong characters have to admit they need assistance -- and I love it in True Shot when mostly passive Mac gets majorly alpha when Sam is threatened.

What would you say is your biggest writing quirk?

My biggest quirk is probably … in order to write the super hot love scenes that I write, I sometimes need a glass of wine first. I definitely need to get loosened up before I can get down and … dirty.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Sleep. : ) I'm also hopelessly devoted to my TV. I'm constantly on the lookout for a show that surprises me, like Buffy the Vampire Slayer did back when it was on. Right now, I think that show is Revenge. The multilayered characters and twisty-turny plot keep me guessing -- which is tough to do to a writer. I'm the one who leans over in the movie theater and tells the friend next to me what's going to happen next. That usually earns me a punch in the arm, but I just can't help myself. I see stuff coming! But TV shows that keep me guessing rock my world: Right now, those would be The Good Wife, Justified, Haven and The Closer. I haven't checked out Once Upon a Time yet, but I've heard good things about it.

What are your current projects?

One of my current projects is True Shot, which comes out today. It's the third in my True trilogy (True-logy!) about three sisters with unique psychic abilities. True Shot is Sam's story, who ran away from home at 18 and got into some La Femme Nikita-like trouble that landed her in a secret government agency as a psychic spy. She's always wanted to go home, to go back to her family, but she can't without endangering the people she loves. When she learns the government agency she works for has gone rogue, she flees. Enter Mac, a journalist on vacation trying to get his head together after some bad stuff happened to him. He runs into Sam when she's at her most vulnerable and in desperate need of help. Being the good guy he is, he goes above and beyond to help her out, which just leads to more trouble for them both.

I love these two together -- Mac is funny and sarcastic, while Sam is deadly serious. Even when the stakes are at their highest, Mac is dealing with the situation with humor -- because that's the only weapon he knows how to use. Mac and Sam are the perfect foils for each other.

My other current baby isn't actually a book. It's my romance novels blog at USA Today, Happy Ever After. HEA launched in October and has been a total blast. HEA is all about celebrating romance novels, the readers who read them and the writers who write them. I'm lucky enough to be in the unique position of working for a major media outlet and also being a romance novelist. I wanted to somehow blend my two professions, so when I got the idea for a blog about romance novels, I took it to the Powers That Be, and HEA was born (thank you, PTBs!). I love, love, LOVE being able to give positive, smart attention to romance novels, readers and writers. Few media types really understand what we do and why we love reading/writing romance. I get it because I'm a part of it -- which means the major media coverage that the romance industry gets through HEA is from an insider point of view, someone who gets it and who doesn't look down on it as hokum (love that word!). I hope you'll get a chance to stop by HEA and check it out! We're at happyeverafter.usatoday.com. And, hey, maybe you'll want to follow HEA on Twitter: @HEAusatoday.

Where can we find you online?

You can find info about my books and me at JoyceWrites.com. I certainly wouldn't be offended if you wanted to "like" me on Facebook, at facebook.com/authorjoycelamb. And you can follow me on Twitter: @JoyceLamb.

Thanks so much for having me, Joan! And I can't WAIT for Fever to come out!

Joyce is giving away a copy of TRUE SHOT, TRUE COLORS, TRUE VISION
and five custom handmade bookmarks today!

Tell us, is there a TV show that constantly surprises you?
Give your opinion to enter the giveaway + lots of other options below!

The day Joyce sold her first novel, Relative Strangers (now available as a 99-cent e-book), she almost hung up on her agent’s assistant, thinking she was a telemarketer. See, she'd given up on getting published and had decided to learn how to play the piano. Apparently, the universe was not impressed by her (in)ability to tickle the ivories.

Her second novel, Caught in the Act (now available as a 99-cent e-book), was a 2004 RITA finalist in the romantic suspense category. Nora Roberts won that year. It was truly an honor just to be nominated!

True Vision, the first in her True trilogy, won a Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in single title romantic suspense from the Kiss of Death chapter of RWA. True Vision was also awarded the HOLT Medallion for Best Book by a Virginia Author from the Virginia Romance Writers.

Besides writing, she loves to play tennis and board games and hang out with friends. Her guilty pleasures include The Real Housewives of New York, Project Runway and So You Think You Can Dance. She doesn't have time to be ashamed.

Freelance Writing - What You’ll Give Up to Get Paid Big

2011-12-01T08:12:00.000-08:00

Freelance Writing - What You’ll Give Up to Get Paid Big
Courtesy of Jared Heath

We always hear about how freelancing can be tough, and it’s true. It’s tough to get your business up, it’s tough to keep business up, and it’s tough to grow. But beyond the business aspect of freelancing, it can be hard to sell something you created. Something you put your heart into. This post is my experience as a freelance writer, but you can substitute “writing” with carpentry, sewing, iron works, or whatever it is you do to keep food on the table.

Perhaps it’s just sentimental to treasure your writings so much—I mean, it’s not even ink on paper anymore. One glitch and everything is gone. Fire couldn’t destroy Shakespeare’s works as fast as a crashed computer can consume creativity. But then again, it’s more than words on a page, isn’t it? You create something every time you grab a pen or sit at a computer. You are responsible for a genesis with each keystroke—right?

Any of you who have done freelance writing know that it’s not always that glamorous. Sure, we all like to dream that our blog is suddenly going to explode with followers and comments next month, but by and large, the writing we do is not exactly the same caliber as Leaves of Grass. Even though we may execute the article, blog post, or website quite masterfully, I don’t remember any college courses on great works that had any number of the subjects I’ve been asked to write on in the anthologies.

But that’s not really the point, is it? It’s not what we’re writing about. Sometimes writing posts about storage units, carpet cleaners, medicare, or anything is exactly what we thrive on. “Write about a storage shed,” your client says. “And make it cool!” And you do. Time and again. When you don’t want to. When you don’t feel like it. When your inspiration is dead. You still do it, even if it takes you a few rounds to get it right.

When you count the cost of what you do—what we do—you have to ask yourself what the cost is of not getting your name out there. Forget the fame; you have to be willing to put your name on each piece you submit to every client. Suddenly your writing leaves that dark corner of the internet where it feeds off itself and only your mother and your old high school friend read it (sometimes). Now you have the pain of visibility. The shame of a bad post. And more importantly, the thrill of a sentence that works like you never knew it worked.

What’s the cost of selling your writing—or anything else? Your pride, perhaps. It’s a heavy toll, to be sure, and it’s one that most of us haven’t learned to pay. What’s the worth? Well, that’s something we each have to decide.

Joan here...it's a deep topic, one I find myself asking a lot now-a-days as I give up just about every leisure activity as well as most self care needs to get in all my writing as well as the promotional requirement I deem necessary for the growth and development of FEVER.

So what do you think? In your opinion, what is the line for you? What is too much to give up for that goal you're striving for, (if not writing)?

One lucky commenter will win a copy of FEVER upon release, Feb 28, 2012,
eBook or print, worldwide.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jared Heath is a freelance writer who writes for 203kready.com and lives for his two passions: his writing and his family. It’s not always easy, but doing what you love for the ones you love is worth it.

For the love of Xanax...FEVER excerpt

2011-11-30T10:40:00.000-08:00

In discussing stress yesterday on Twitter, I promised a friend this fun passage from FEVER...for Xanax lovers everywhere...

Setting: An all-hell-breaks-loose kinda thing; gunfight in house that catches fire... (I mean, why just send in a man with a gun when you can set the house on fire too?)

Alyssa: heroine, Teague: hero, Mitch: Alyssa's brother, Luke: Teague's former best friend/antagonist-turned-ally, Vasser and Burton: Villains.

       Luke grabbed her arms and pushed her back. “I said get out of here.”

         Then he turned and disappeared into the smoke and flames.

         The first hint of sirens perked Alyssa’s ears. She turned toward the sound with a new fear filling her heart. Firefighters were coming. Cops wouldn’t be far behind.

         “Teague!” she called into the house. “Mitch! Luke!”

         Grunts sounded in the murky din, amongst the angry roar of fire and pop and crack of old wood. Something flew past the door where Alyssa stood, and she jumped. It hit a wall, bounced off, darted across the floor and stopped at her feet. A gun.

         She reached for it. Teague appeared, skidding across the floor. He grabbed the weapon and looked up at her. “Get out of here, goddammit! Don’t you ever listen?”

         Vasser walked out of the mist, gun pointed down at Teague’s chest, blood dripping from his forehead. “Didn’t I ask you that once, you stupid sonofabitch?”

         Teague tilted his chin to his chest, lifted his foot and kicked at Vasser. The other man dodged, but not completely and went down with a scream.

         Teague disappeared once again into the swampy darkness.

         “No, Teague! Cops are coming.” Alyssa peered through the smoke and stepped further into the house with the tail of her shirt pulled up over her mouth. “Luke!” Smoke invaded her eyes like thousands of tiny needles. Tears poured down her cheeks as she pushed further into the gloom. “Mitch!”

         Scuffling sounds came from somewhere to her left. She started that direction, but Teague caught her arm from behind. “You’re not going in there.”

         She yanked her arm from his grip and turned on him. “Stop pulling at me and help me get them out.”

         Someone rammed into her and she pitched sideways, her breath locked in her chest. Teague caught her as the other person hit the floor. Mitch. Alyssa registered the blood covering his face in the second before Burton pointed a gun at Mitch’s chest.

         “No!” Alyssa heard her voice, but didn’t register the sensations of speaking.

         Everything beyond that whirled into a successive blur of motion. Teague struck out. The gun flew from Burton’s hand. A scavenge then a struggle for the weapon. A shot.

         Alyssa screamed—a rip in her throat and a stab in her heart.

         Burton collapsed on top of Mitch.

         “Mitch!” She kept screaming his name, coughing, wheezing, screaming. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. Couldn’t live without him. “Mitch!”

         “Goddamned fucking fat bastard.” Mitch pushed Burton off him and hefted him to the side using his whole body.

         A shaking whoosh of air left Alyssa’s chest. She swallowed back the urge to throw up in relief. “Oh, my God.”

         Mitch slowly got to his feet, rested his elbows on his knees and met Alyssa’s eyes. “I’m fine, Lys.”

         “Fine?" she wheezed. If this was an anxiety attack felt like, she was going to be far more liberal handing out Xanax prescriptions in the future. “I almost watch you get killed and that’s all you have to say to me? I’m fine?”

Fun with Larissa Ione + Giveaways!!!

2011-11-29T04:22:00.000-08:00

Winners:

We're having a little fun with Larissa Ione today! She's UBER busy with the release of IMMORTAL RIDER, so when I asked her over to the blog, I gave her something really easy to do and something fun for us to read! A Twitter-type interview with fun, fascinating and frivilous facts about Larissa!

Comment or choose one question to answer for yourself and enter to win:

1 of 3 copies of Larissa's last release ETERNAL RIDER

1 of 5 custom handmade bookmarks

IMMORTAL RIDER

The signs are everywhere...disastrous world events. Evil rising up, unleashed upon the innocent. The prophecies were there...but no one listened. Until now. The time has come for those who can either usher in Doomsday...or prevent it. They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Arik Wagner, a soldier with the U.S. Army's paranormal unit, the R-XR, kissed a girl and liked it. And then he went to hell as punishment. Where he's spent weeks being tortured...and plotting revenge.

Limos, Horsewoman of the Apocalypse, isn't your average girl. She's immortal, dangerous, and her fiancé is Satan himself. In a moment of weakness, she gave in to her desire and kissed Arik, triggering her fiancé's wrath - and his claim on her. In order to save Arik, and the world, Limos must make a dangerous pact with her recently turned evil brother, Pestilence. A deal that might just cost her her soul...and her heart.

Now, let's learn some fun stuff about Larissa!

Do You Like Going Window Shopping?
Yes!

Can You Tell If Someone Is Lying To You?
Usually.

Do You Have Any Undiscovered Or Hidden Talents?
I kill watch batteries. Like, within hours. Can't wear anything but wind-ups!

Are You The Same Person You Were As A Child, Or Much Different?
I'm happier!

Do You Believe In Destiny?
Sort of...

Ever Broken Any Bones?
Both wrists (at the same time)

Have You Ever Felt Like You Hit Rock Bottom?
Yes

Are You A Touchy Feely Person?
*shudders* No

Do You Like Eating Out At Restaurants?
Love it!

Any Tattoos?
Two. Demon caduceus from my books on my right ankle and a Vulcan IDIC from Star Trek on my hip.

Have You Ever Cheated On A Test?
Maybe...*g*

Do You Have Any Weird Habits?
I only shave one leg per day.

Have You Ever Walked Out On A Movie At The Theater?
No

Have You Ever Regretted One Of Your “Romantic Encounters”?
Er...yes.

Do You Believe In The Afterlife?
Definitely

Ever Been Addicted To A Game?
Oh, yes. Any D&D computer game!

How Did You Rebel As A Child?

You name it...

First impression of your significant other.
Yum

Do You Like To Go Camping?
Yes...as long as it's in a camper. I hate the tent thing!

Can't Stand Being Around People Who_________?
Brag

Do You Believe In Extraterrestrials Or Life On Other Planets?
I do!

Have you ever had a job where you had to wear a uniform?
Several

Are You A Window Person Or An Aisle Person?
Aisle - so I don't have to climb over people to go to the bathroom!

How Do You Like To Celebrate Your Birthday?
By pretending it didn't happen.

How Do You Like To Spend New Year's Eve?
Sleeping. Yep, I'm a BLAST!

Have You Ever Been Hit By A Girl?
Yep. And I hit back.

Are You Afraid Of Heights?
Yes

Have You Ever Gone Cow-Tipping?
Ugh...that's horrible!

Do you prefer your mattress soft or hard?
Very soft!

Do you believe in snipes?
They exist!

Do You Like Rainy Days Or Snowy Winter Days More?
Gimme snow any day!

What is Your Favorite Beverage?
Beer

Are You A Heavy Or Light Sleeper?
Light. So very, very light.

Do You Have Any Phobias Or Fears?
I'm insanely claustrophobic. I'm still traumatized by Mission: Space at Epcot Center because it was so tight!

Ever Been To A Strip Club?
More than one!

Ever Won The Lottery?
I wish!

Are you wearing socks right now?
Yep. I'm rarely without them.

Last food you ate?
Chocolate creme Oreos

Do you need to do laundry?
Always

Have You Ever Fired A Gun?
I earned a marksmanship ribbon in the Air Force, so... :)

Given A Chance, Would You Bungee Jump?
Hell, no.

Favorite Thing To Spend Money On?
My pets

Have You Ever Ridden In An Ambulance?
Yep...was a certified EMT!

Do You Have A Recurring Dream?
I often dream of my daughter. Except I don't have a daughter. It's weird.

Do You Snore Or Steal The Covers Or Roll Around In Your Sleep?
All of the above

Last concert you went to?
Brooks and Dun

Before you started this survey, what were you doing?
Playing with the dog

What is the last thing you watched on TV?
NCIS

Would you ever consider living abroad?
In a heartbeat

What time is bed time?
10 PM

Have you ever won a trophy?
Yes...in 4-H

What's under your bed?
Dustbunnies

What do you do most when you are bored?
Read

What are some of the different jobs that you have had in your life?
Fast-food worker, waitress, video store clerk, security officer, bartender, EMT, meteorologist

Can you tie a maraschino cherry stem with your tongue?
Yes

Comment or choose one question to answer for yourself and enter to win:

1 of 3 copies of Larissa's last release ETERNAL RIDER

1 of 5 custom handmade bookmarks
Open Internationally!

Cyber Monday Giveaway Blitz!!!

2011-11-28T08:34:00.000-08:00

HAPPY MONDAY!!

Enter Pavarti Tyler's Cyber Monday Giveaway Blitz for a chance to win:

2 prize packs (US only)

5 ebook copies of Two Moons of Sera (International)

TWO MOONS OF SARA
In a world where water and earth teem with life, Serafay is an anomaly. The result of genetic experiments on her mother's water-borne line Serafay will have to face the very people responsible to discover who she really is. But is she the only one?

You can find Pavarti online at Blog | FaceBook | Twitter

PRIZE PACKS:
A print copy of 2MOS
A canvas bag
A Pavarti T-Shirt
A copy of Hush Hush in one Fallen in the other
Shadow on the Wall Collectible Magnet
Shadow on the Wall Note Cards
Fighting Monkey Press Note Pad
Shadow on the Wall promotional post card

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Six Sentence Sunday

2011-11-27T08:49:00.000-08:00

From FEVER...(Heroine, Alyssa and her brother, Mitch)

“Do you know him?” Alyssa asked.

Mitch aimed his iPhone at the man through the windshield, manipulating the photo until he had an amazingly clear close-up of the guy. “What, you think I know every spy in the business?”

“Yes,” she said and tapped his temple, a sign he often used to indicate what he humbly referred to as his stellar brain.

A big, boyish grin set off sparks in those beautiful green eyes and transformed Mitch’s face into the one Alyssa knew and loved with all her heart. “That’s the sweetest thing you’ve said to me in years.”

Joanne Kennedy & Hot, Dark and Cowboy!

2011-11-21T21:38:00.000-08:00

Today I'm happy to welcome Joanne Kennedy! Joanne's newest cowboy romance, Tall, Dark and Cowboy with Sourcebooks released November 1st and is available everywhere books are sold (links below). I've got my own review for you and an interview from Joanne.

As always, we've got some great giveaways as well! Danielle at Source has generously offered 2 copies of Tall, Dark and Cowboy for giveaway today and I'm giving away five custom handmade bookmarks! So get out there and tell us what you love most about cowboys! YUM!

TALL, DARK AND COWBOY

She's looking for an old friend. . .

In the wake of a nasty divorce, Lacey Bradford heads for Wyoming where she's sure her old friend will take her in. Bit her high school pal Chase Caldwell is no longer the gangly boy who would follow her anywhere. For one thing, he's now incredibly buff and handsome, but that's not all that's changed. . .

What she finds is one hot cowboy. . .

Chase has been through tough times and is less than thrilled to see the girl who once broke his heart. But try as he might to resist her, while Lacey's putting her life back together, he's finding new ways to be part of it.

Available at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Booksamillion | iTunes

My Review:There are three things I’m a sucker for: A tortured hero, a reunion story and, yes, a hot cowboy. And while it may seem like this predisposes me to fall for Hot, Dark and Cowboy before I ever opened the pages, believe it or not, I’m not that much of a pushover. While those story lines may initially hook me, they don’t keep me if the writing’s weak or the pacing’s sluggish or the characters’ are lack-luster.

Which means my love for Hot, Dark and Cowboy is genuine.

I always enjoy a strong heroine, and while I don’t like where Lacey has been—acting as a trophy wife for a wealthy older man, I do appreciate that’s she’s learned from her mistakes and is now standing on her own, bent on making a new life for herself. I love her smart mouth and the way she holds her own with the sexy, Alpha cowboy she’s paired with.

Chase’s past is more heartrending—the farm boy turned mouthwatering cowboy. His longstanding infatuation and unrequited love for Lacey makes him the instant underdog we root for and shows the reader he’s got the staying power for a lifetime. He is endearing, pleasant and entertaining throughout.

The chemistry between Lacey and Chase is hot and grows hotter with each encounter. The love scenes are steamy and passionate – have something cold to drink nearby.

This is one of those books I love to hate…those, “Okay, just one more chapter…” books that have me up until two in the morning when my eyes are burning and I can’t keep them open any longer.

This is the first of Joanne's books I've read -- it definitely won't be the last! Joanne’s writing is clean, her dialogue is fun and witty and her pacing is fast.

Tall, Dark and Cowboy is a fun, fast, entertaining read!

Now, more from Joanne:

Joanne, tell us about Tall, Dark and Cowboy.
“Tall, Dark and Cowboy” is about Lacey Bradford, an ex-trophy wife who flees a dangerous divorce and runs to the one person who’s always cared about her. But her old friend Chase Caldwell has changed from a gangling farm boy into a sexy, muscular cowboy, and the loss of his family turned him into a bitter and resentful man who’s not about to help the woman who broke his heart. Lacey decides it’s time to end her habit of letting men take care of her and begins to build a new life of her own in Chase’s adopted Wyoming hometown. But when her ex’s criminal cronies turn up, the cowboy can’t resist helping a damsel in real distress.

What’s your favorite thing about the book featured here today?
I love the characters. On the surface, Lacey is different from most of my heroines. She was raised to privilege, and she’s a little spoiled. But deep down, she’s a strong, resilient woman—and Chase brings out the best in her. As for Chase, he’s a good man struggling to rebuild his life and overcome bitterness and sorrow.

What creates the biggest conflict between your hero and heroine?
Lacey doesn’t realize that her ex-husband cheated Chase’s family out of their property. He lost the future he’d always counted on, and he thinks it’s Lacey’s fault.

What is your strategy in creating antagonists/villains?
I think antagonists are the hardest characters to create, because they so easily devolve into stereotypical villains. I was struggling with this in an earlier book when I went to a great workshop by agent Donald Maas. He pointed out that in the villain’s mind, nefarious actions are totally justified. Everyone thinks they’re the hero of their own story, so I try to see the plot from the villain’s point of view. It helps me see that they’re simply flawed people too, just like the hero and heroine. It’s just that their flaws are worse!

Is there a message in this novel that you want readers to grasp?
The book is about starting over, in your life and in your heart. Chase and Lacey both need to learn to put the past behind them. It’s about forgiving yourself and the people around you so you can be your best, truest self.

How does your family view your writing career?
My husband helps a lot with the website and newsletter, but more importantly he’s proud of me and very understanding about my occasional spaciness when I’m lost in a book and not thinking clearly about the real world (that happens a lot). He’s funny, supportive, and understanding. No wonder I write romance novels.

What is your writing routine?
I’m not really a morning person, so I take care of the business aspects of writing in the mornings. Creativity sets in around 11:00, and I work on and off for the rest of the day. There’s no set routine; I just write whenever I don’t have to do something else.

How do you keep in touch with your readers?
I love Facebook! I’ve met so many people online that I consider friends, and it’s so easy to keep in touch and share what we’re doing. It’s great that when you “click” with someone at a conference or writing retreat you can keep in touch so easily. And by the way, I’m listed on Facebook as “Joanne Kennedy Books.” I post lots of fun Western stuff and try to give readers a sense of what it’s like to live in Wyoming.

What are you reading now?
I just read The Book of Bright Ideas by Sandra Kring. I loved it; the characters are wonderfully real. Now I’m reading The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker, which is also fabulous and beautifully written. I read a lot of romance too – I’m just going through a literary fiction phase right now.

What would you like to tell readers?
Just thank you! It means so much that people want to share the world I write about and spend time with the characters I create. I love what I do, and I know I’m very lucky to have the support of readers.

What did you do before you became a full-time writer?
I’ve worked in bookstores most of my life. I owned a used and rare bookstore, and managed several independent and chain bookstores. It’s really a dream come true to have my own books on the shelves.

I’ve also been interested in animals all my life, and I’ve dabbled in everything from chicken-keeping to horse-training. That’s why my books always have animal characters that are as important as the human ones.

What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?
Stories are important, but characters matter most. When we think of the classics we loved, we don’t think of the plots; we think of Jane Eyre, Elizabeth Bennet, Heathcliff, Scarlett O’Hara. Strong, true-to-life characters create their own stories and make a book memorable.

How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula?
I think it’s essential for writers to know as much as possible about the mechanics of putting a plot together and creating an arc for readers. I don’t do a lot of outlining or preparation, but that knowledge is a part of me now and definitely informs my writing. You have to study and learn until a sense of story becomes internal, something that’s automatic.

What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?
A comfortable desk so you don’t hurt yourself spending hours crouched over the computer. A space, however small, where you have a few personal talismans and touchstones that remind you of your true self. A willingness to accept and learn from criticism, and a desire to make every story the best it can be. Most important of all—a supportive family.

What do you most like about writing? Least like?
What I like is the way stories unfold and fit together. Sometimes different aspects of a voice “click” in a subconscious way and it feels like magic.

What I like least is sitting at a computer all day! I recently had neck surgery and it’s frustrating that I can’t stay at the keyboard as long as I want to.

What would you say is your biggest writing quirk?
Writing itself is just one big quirk. It’s never off my mind. Everywhere I go, I listen for snippets of conversation and look for events and people I can use in my books. It makes life brighter and more meaningful when you know you can save pieces of your experience and show them to other people.

Which is your favorite of the books you have written?
That’s like asking me to pick a favorite child! I love Cowboy Trouble because it was my first-born and has so much of “me” in it. I love One Fine Cowboy because the hero of that story, Nate, has connected amazingly with readers, and because it won me an RWA RITA nomination, which was an honor I didn’t expect. I love Cowboy Fever because I admire the heroine so much and it’s about therapy riding, a cause very close to my heart. And I love Tall, Dark and Cowboy because while Lacey and I are very different, we had to learn the same lessons and find our strength.

What are your current projects?
I just finished my fifth book, Cowboy Crazy, which stars a rodeo cowboy. I’m very excited about it, and think it might be my best—although I love the one I’m working on now, which is called Cowboy Tough. It’s about a New York artist who comes to a dude ranch to teach painting workshops and butts heads with their outfitter, a former rodeo cowboy.

Where can we find you online?
My website is at www.joannekennedybooks.com, and I’m on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joanne-Kennedy-Books/114277591920110.

We've got 2 copies of Tall, Dark and Cowboy for giveaway and 5 custom handmade bookmarks! So get out there and tell us what you love most about cowboys!

About the Author

Joanne Kennedy is the author of three previous contemporary Western romances for Sourcebooks. She brings a wide variety of experience, ranging from chicken farming to horse training, to her sexy, spicy cowboy stories. She is a 2011 finalist in the prestigious Romance Writers of America RITA© Awards, for One Fine Cowboy.

Joanne lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where she is working on her next book, Cowboy Crazy (June 2012). For more information, please visit http://joannekennedybooks.com/.

Cynthia Eden and ANGEL OF DARKNESS Interview & Giveaway

2011-11-15T21:40:00.000-08:00

Super special guest today **VBG** Cynthia Eden, my fellow Kensington Brava author with her uber-sexy upcoming release, ANGEL OF DARKNESS!

And Cynthia is also giving away a copy of the book! Whoo-hoo! Open Internationally!

ANGEL OF DARKNESS

As an angel of death, Keenan’s job is to collect the souls on his list. He’s carried out his duty for two thousand years and never faltered once. Until he meets Nicole St. James. When the moment of death comes, Keenan hesitates, and instead of taking Nicole, Keenan touches the vampire who’s attacking her.

Cast out of heaven for disobedience, Keenan plummets to earth. Six months later, he finally manages to track Nicole to a bar in Mexico. He’s stunned to discover that the woman he remembers has undergone a dramatic change—she’s become a vampire. And when he realizes that she’s the target of all manner of enemies—other vampires, demons, even shifters—he’ll do whatever it takes to protect her, even if all hell breaks loose…

Cynthia, tell us about your upcoming release.
ANGEL OF DARKNESS tells the story of an angel who falls for a vampire. Literally. Poor guy—he doesn’t know what’s happened until it’s too late…angels don’t handle lust—or love—very well.
What’s your favorite thing about the book featured here today?

My hero is a virgin. Yes, that’s my favorite thing. I’d been wanting to write a virgin hero for a long time now—and here he is! In my “world” angels don’t feel emotions or human needs until they fall, so my angel knows nothing about lust. Lucky for him, my heroine is happy to teach him a few things.
What creates the biggest conflict between your hero and heroine?

Ah…well, my hero, Keenan, is an Angel of Death, so that means his job is to take souls from this realm to the next. At the beginning of my book, Keenan is supposed to take my heroine’ soul (i.e., kill her), but he doesn’t. He can’t. So he falls because he was tempted, and he didn’t carry out his duty. If Keenan wants to get his wings back—and earn his way back to heaven—he has to complete his original mission. He has to kill my heroine. That’s their big conflict.

Why did you put these two together?
I like to work with opposites when I write. My hero (an angel) and my heroine ( a vampire)—they’re definitely opposites. On all kinds of levels.

What is your strategy in creating villains?
I like to create a villain who is…good. Wait, let me clarify. He’s bad, of course, he is, but can’t bad people also have good parts? No one is 100% evil, just as no one is 100% good. So when I crafted my villain, I wanted to show that there could be some redeeming qualities in him. Those qualities just might be buried very, very deep. And who knows? Sometimes, villains can later turn into great heroes.

What do you love most about this book/series?
These books are set in New Orleans, and I was able to incorporate a lot of real locations in my story. I’m a frequent visitor to New Orleans (maybe too frequent?), and it was so much fun to put some of my favorite spots in the stories. I actually went back to New Orleans recently, and I filmed from those locations. I’m making videos so readers will be able to “see” those spots, too.

Is there a message in this novel that you want readers to grasp?
Yes, redemption can be possible, for anyone. No matter what we do or what happens to us, hope will always exist.

Thank you so much for taking the time to interview me!! It’s been a pleasure!

Order Cynthia's new release here: Amazon

Cynthia is also giving away a copy of ANGEL OF DARKNESS to one lucky winner!!
Enter below -- Open Internationally!

Cynthia Eden is a national best-selling author of paranormal romance and romantic suspense novels. Her books have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, and her novel, DEADLY FEAR, was named a RITA® finalist for best romantic suspense.

Interview & Giveaway with Lori Wilde

2011-11-13T22:26:00.000-08:00

Update 11/16/11 7:07am: I will include all entries received until I get around to choosing a winner this morning **G** Thanks for coming by!!

Today's guest is New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Lori Wilde. She has sold 64 novels and novellas to four major New York Publishing houses.

Her new release The Christmas Cookie Chronicles: Carrie: A Twilight, Texas Story releases tomorrow, November 15th. We've got giveaways -- and I'm trying out Rafflecopter, so let me know what you think!

Come join a meeting of the First Love Cookie Club!

“On Christmas Eve, if you sleep with kismet cookies under your pillow and dream of your own true love, he will be your destiny.”

Carrie MacGregor doesn’t believe this—not one bit. She might be a “paid up” member of the Cookie Club and the local Sweethearts Knitting Club, but she’s not about to give in to the forced ho-ho-ho of the season. And why?

Mark Leland. When he left town he broke Carrie’s heart. Now, the local-guy-made good is back, hosting the reality show “Fact or Fantasy.”

Fact: Mark broke her heart. Fantasy: her friends think they’ll be getting back together. But could the magic of a Twilight, Texas Christmas make Carrie’s secret dreams come true?

Get your copy at Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Lori, tell us about your upcoming release.
I’m very excited about these three Christmas ebooks that continue to follow the adventures of the club members from my Twilight, Texas series. Book one is about Flynn MacGregor’s sister, Carrie, who’s fully coming into her own as a woman, when the handsome man she impulsively married in Vegas when she was seventeen comes back to town determined to debunk the Sweethearts myth.

What’s your favorite thing about the book featured here today?
Getting to revisit characters I’ve known and loved right along with my readers.

What sparked the idea for this book/series?
The huge success of my Twilight, Texas series. I’d left a lot of loose ends dangling and these ebooks were a way for readers to find out what happened to all those secondary characters when they get books of their own.

What creates the biggest conflict between your hero and heroine?
The hero a reality TV host come back to town to debunk the romantic myth that brings tourists flooding into Twilight. If he debunks the myth, it not only threatens the town, but his happily-ever-after with Carrie.

Why did you put these two together?
I wanted to explore the dynamics of a hero who made a huge success paired with the woman he left behind in order to achieve that success.

What is your strategy in creating villains?
The villain in this book is the hero’s boss. She’s in the story to put pressure on him to chose his fast lane lifestyle over his hometown and high school sweetheart.

What was the hardest part of this book to write and why?
The hardest part is juggling my schedule. I teach writing, am going to school for my Masters degree and I write five books a year.

Tell us something unusual about rhe creation of this book.
To research the hero’s career, I had to watch a lot of reality T.V.

What do you love most about this book/series?

Getting to revisit the characters and town. I really love Twilight, which is based on a real town where I once lived.

Is there a message in this novel that you want readers to grasp?

That dreams can come true if you just dare to believe!

Does your novel have a theme? How did that come about?
All my novels have themes. I consider the theme before I ever write the book. The theme guides ever aspect of my writing from character development, to plot, to the choice of clothing the characters wear. I believe theme is one of the most important elements of any good story.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Stephen King

Who or what has influenced your writing, and in what way?
My father. Before he retired he was a teacher, journalist and songwriter. He gave me Dwight Swain’s book, Techniques of the Selling Writer when I was thirteen. He’s my real mentor.

How does your family view your writing career?
They’re very proud and supportive. I couldn’t ask for a more supportive family. I’m blessed.

What entity do you feel supports you most in your writing career outside of family members?
RWA.

What is your writing routine?
It’s crazy and follows no set pattern. If I’m on deadline I’ll write 60-80 hours a week or more. So I’m writing from the time I get up, to the time I go to bed. If I’m not on a tight deadline (which is rare), I’ll get up and write for three to four hours in the morning and then take the rest of the day off.

How do you keep in touch with your readers?
FB, Twitter, Blog, email, snail mail, newsletters.

What are you reading now?
I usually read three or four books at once. I’m reading a book on health, a book on psychology, a book on writing and the ARC of Piper Maitland’s Acquainted with the Night. It’s an awesome book!

What is in your TBR pile?
Um, do you have all day? I have a TBR that stretches to the ceiling.

What would you like to tell readers?
Keep reading! Authors wouldn’t exist without you. Thank you, thank you. I am so grateful for readers.

What is your preferred genre to read for pleasure?
Historical fiction.

Do you have a second career?
I’m a writing teacher and now, an editor for Entangled Books.

What did you do before you became a full-time writer?
I was a registered nurse for 20 years.

What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?
Emotion, emotion, emotion, emotion. And a compelling voice.

What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you started writing?
How extremely difficult it is. I would have worked harder much sooner.

How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula?
The plot springs from character. Fully develop your characters and you’ll know your plot. I use the Enneagram to create compelling characters.

What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?
Persistence, determination, stubbornness.

How would you best describe your books?
Heartfelt.

What would you write if you could do write anything you wanted to write?

Honestly, I can’t answer that. I write what I know will sell. I make a living doing this. I can’t afford to indulge my whims. This is a career for me. I love storytelling, but I want to write what readers want to read.

What do you most like about writing? Least like?
Everything. I live and breathe it. I love how hard it is. What I like least? The fickleness of the publishing business.

Which is your favorite of the books you have written?
They’re all special in their own way.

What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?
Hitting the NYT and USA Today list. It only took 20 years.

What would you say is your biggest writing quirk?
Hmm, not sure what this means. Probably my intensity. I’m pretty single-minded about writing. I truly eat, breathe and sleep it.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Watch movies. Knit. Play angry birds. Travel.

What are your current projects?
I’m currently writing a new three book series for Blaze. I’ve also got a new series coming up with Avon next year about cutting horse cowboys.

Where can we find you online?
www.loriwilde.com

Do You Have Any Undiscovered Or Hidden Talents? If So, What?
I can tie a cherry stem with my tongue.

Are You The Same Person You Were As A Child, Or Much Different?
Much different! I’ve was extremely shy to the point of pathology. I knew I had to overcome that if I wanted to be a writer. Yes, writers need to be extroverted at times. So bit by bit, I learned to put myself out there. Now, I have so much fun, I’d never go back to being shy.

Do You Believe That The Cup Is Half Empty Or Half Full?
Half-full.

Favorite Midnight Snack?
I recently got healthy, so that’s changed. Once upon a time it would have been chocolate chip cookies. Now it’s spaghetti squash with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. I feel so much better now!

Are You An Introvert Or An Extrovert?
I’m still an introvert, but I have to get out every two-three months or I go stir-crazy.

Are You A Window Person Or An Aisle Person?
Aisle! Don’t hem me in.

Do You Like Short Or Long Hair On A Guy?
Short.

Ever Hit A Jackpot On A Slot Machine?
Nope. I don’t play slots.

How many pillows do you like to sleep with?
Two since I tore my rotator cuff.

Do you believe in snipes?
Nope.

Which do you like more—rainy days or snowy days?
It rarely snows in my neck of the woods, so snow.

What is Your Favorite Beverage?
Iced tea.

Do You Have A Recurring Dream? What Happens In It?
It’s the unprepared dream. I’m back in nursing, the shift is over and I haven’t done a thing.

Are You Usually Late, Early Or Right On Time?
I am usually right on time; but I’m married to guy who runs late. It drives me crazy when he makes me late.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Lori Wilde has sold 64 novels and novellas to four major New York Publishing houses. She holds a bachelors degree in nursing from Texas Christian University and a certificate in forensics. She has also served as the RWA National conference workshop chair and PAN retreat chair. In 2007 she was honored by her local college as alumna of the year.

Lori is a past RITA finalist and has four times been nominated for Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award. She’s won the Colorado Award of Excellence, the Wisconsin Write Touch Award, The Lories, The More Than Maggie, the Golden Quill, The Laurel Wreath and The BestBooks of 2006 Book Award.

Her books have been translated into 22 languages and excerpted in Cosmopolitan, Redbook, Complete Woman, All You and Quick and Simple magazines. She lives in Texas with her husband Bill.

NYT Bestseller Anita Clenney Interview, Excerpt + Giveaway!

2011-11-09T07:33:00.000-08:00

Today, I welcome NYT and USA Today Bestseller Anita Clenney! Anita's celebrating the release of her second book in the Highland Warrior series, Embrace The Highland Warrior. And we have a giveaway of a copy of the book and 5 custom handmade bookmarks. Simply comment to enter!

Anita, tell us about your upcoming release.

Here’s a blurb:

Cody MacBain let the woman of his destiny slip away. A member of an ancient clan of Scottish warriors, he grew up beside Shay Logan as her secret protector, but his heart compelled him to become more. Until Shay’s true identity was revealed, and the fated pair’s chance was gone…

But danger will drive them back into each other’s arms…

Shay fell for the boy next door, suspecting nothing of the ancient secrets he guarded. After a stinging betrayal, she’s determined to banish the memories of her first love forever. But the past can’t let go, and the boy she once loved has returned to her a warrior determined to protect her from the unspeakable evil fate has planned…

What’s your favorite thing about the book featured here today?
I love the emotion between Cody and Shay, the powerful connection they shared, and I love watching them try to reconnect now. They’ve changed so much, but the elements of their past are still there. I also love having all the warriors from Awaken helping them out. In the midst of turmoil and confusion, it gives a feel good element.

What sparked the idea for this book/series?
A dream.

What creates the biggest conflict between your hero and heroine?
A terrible betrayal, and secrets that will make your heart ache.

Why did you put these two together?
These two just seemed so natural. They belonged together, then all the secrets got in the way and messed up a good thing.

What is your strategy in creating villains?
I love my villains, one of them in particular. In fact, he’s so great I want to make him a hero. It’s either that or go back and do a prequel. His backstory is just wonderful. I don’t know how I come up with them. I can’t explain it. They’re just there. And I have so many of them. I love it.

What was the hardest part of this book to write and why?
Love scenes. I’m never sure how far I want to go.

Tell us something unusual about this book (i.e. in its creation, execution, production).
This second book was the first manuscript I ever wrote. It was originally a romantic suspense. I started writing the first book in this series, what is now Awaken, about six months later. When my agent saw Awaken, she said this is the one. She was right. She always is. I knew this had to be a series, and I realized that the first manuscript was the perfect second book of the series. So the first became second and the second became first.

What do you love most about this book/series?
I love this series. The warriors have become like family members to me. I love hidden treasure and secret things, old keys and graveyards and all those eerie things. They’re all in here. And I absolutely love that connection between a woman and a man that defies the universe to stop it.

Is there a message in this novel that you want readers to grasp?
There are some underlying messages. Evil doesn’t come up and say, “Hello, I’m evil.” But mostly, when readers pick up my books, I want them to laugh, cry, gasp, maybe even scream.

Does your novel have a theme? How did that come about?
I’m rotten at figuring out themes. It’s about Secret Warriors, Ancient Evil, and Destined Love. The series started with a dream and a very vivid imagination.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
If I had to choose…Elizabeth Peters who wrote the Amelia Peabody series.

Who or what has influenced your writing, and in what way?
I think the stories I loved influenced me. I read, I felt, and I wanted to do it myself.

How does your family view your writing career?
They’re very supportive and proud of me. My husband is waiting for me to get rich and buy him a ranch.

What entity do you feel supports you most in your writing career outside of family members?
My critique partner, Dana Rodgers is amazing. She’s such a help to me.

How do you keep in touch with your readers?
Mostly email. It’s so great getting emails. That was something I wasn’t quite prepared for. What a thrill.

What is in your TBR pile?
I get a headache just thinking about it.

What would you like to tell readers?
Please buy my book…oh, you were serious. I adore this series, and I hope you do too. There are so many wonderful writers out there, that I cherish every reader who spends their hard earned money and time on me.

What is your preferred genre to read for pleasure?

I have varied tastes ranging from romance to mysteries. I love Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series and I also love Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series.

Do you have a second career? (Yes, motherhood counts!)
If motherhood counts, I have two! I spend a lot of time with my hubby and kids, but I do write full time.

What did you do before you became a full-time writer?
I was staying home with the kids for a few years, but prior to that I worked in real estate, and I was an administrative assistant. I’ve also booked shows and traveled with Aztec Dancers.

What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?
Good storytelling, really nailing down the characters and the emotion.

What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you started writing?
The importance of writing faster.

How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula?
No formulas. I get an idea (this series started with a dream) then I mull it over and as the story unfolds in my head I make lots of notes, and then I start writing. I usually have a synopsis before I start actually writing the story.

What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?
Only an imagination and some method of getting it down. Typewriter, computer, notepad.

How would you best describe your books?
Mysterious, suspenseful, romantic, adventurous, sprinkled with humor. I love blending genres.

What would you write if you could write anything you wanted to write?
I love this series, and I also love mysteries. I’m working on two mystery series now.

What do you most like about writing? Least like?
I love brainstorming, creating the plot twists for a story. Least like…promotion. I adore meeting readers, but I don’t like feeling as if I’m pushing my books.

Which is your favorite of the books you have written? Awaken is the story of my heart, but I also love Embrace. I don’t know. That’s sort of like asking which child you like better.

What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?
It’s been amazing to see my book on the shelf.

What would you say is your biggest writing quirk?
I find it hard to write if I’m not motivated.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Other than spending time with my family, I’m usually on some kind of obsessive kick. It might be collecting candle holders or mirrors. I can devote an unhealthy amount of time to those things.

What are your current projects?
This series, a paranormal romantic mystery series, and a cozy mystery series.

Do You Have Any Undiscovered Or Hidden Talents?
I can smell a TJ Maxx from a mile away. I’m like a TJ Maxx bloodhound.

Are You The Same Person You Were As A Child, Or Much Different?
I have a lot of the same characteristics, but now they’re molded in different ways.

Do You Believe That The Cup Is Half Empty Or Half Full?
Depends on the day, usually half full.

Favorite Midnight Snack?
Whatever is the quickest.

Are You An Introvert Or An Extrovert?
Introvert who loves people.

Are You A Window Person Or An Aisle Person?
Window.

Do You Like Short Or Long Hair On A Guy?
I like both, but I probably lean toward long.

Ever Hit A Jackpot On A Slot Machine?
No. I’ve never been gambling. I spend all my time and money at TJ Maxx.

Are You Afraid Of Heights?
Uncomfortable.

Do you prefer your mattress soft or hard?
Soft.

How many pillows do you like to sleep with?
Lots.

Do you believe in snipes?
Only if they’re named Wesley.

Which do you like more—rainy days or snowy days?
Snowy.

What is Your Favorite Beverage?
Diet Pepsi or Coke.

Are You A Heavy Or Light Sleeper?
Light.

Do You Have Any Phobias Or Fears?
Goofy ones. I don’t fear the real things that I should be afraid of.

Are you a night or a morning person?
NIGHT!!!

At The Beach Would You Rather Play In The Sand, Or Play In The Water?
I’ll dig in the sand for lost jewelry. Did I mention I love jewelry?

Do You Have A Recurring Dream? What Happens In It?
I do have recurring dreams, a few of them. It would take far too long to explain them since I don’t fully understand them.

Are You Usually Late, Early Or Right On Time?
Promptly 5 minutes late.

Where can we find you online?
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Blog
Goodreads
Redroom

About the Author

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Anita Clenney writes paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Before giving herself over to the writing bug, she worked in a pickle factory and a preschool, booked shows for Aztec Fire Dancers, and has been a secretary, executive assistant, and a real estate agent. She lives with her husband and two children in suburban Virginia. To find out more information, please visit http://www.anitaclenney.com/, follow her on Twitter @anitaclenney, or like her on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/anitaclenneyAUTHOR.

Some places Embrace can be purchased:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Booksamillion
Apple

We’ll leave you with an excerpt from Embrace:

Cody sighed. Might as well get it over with. He removed the shackles, returned them, and bent over her. “Shay, wake up.”

Her eyes flew open. She planted both hands against his chest and shoved, knocking him on his back, then sprang on top of him. “How dare you handcuff me to a bed?” she yelled, punctuating each word with a shake that rattled his brain. He didn’t fight back. She had to get it out of her system, and he didn’t blame her. He’d be more than pissed if someone shackled him.

She landed a fist into his stomach, and the breath rushed out of him. Okay, enough was enough. He captured her hands and rolled, trapping her under him.

“Get off me, you oaf.”

“I’ll get off when you stop beating the snot out of me.”

She let out a war cry and lunged for his throat, teeth bared. Intrigued, he hesitated a second too long, and she sank her teeth into his neck. A jolt of desire shot straight to his groin. He’d never been one for the rough stuff, but damn! He pulled back before she could do more than leave a bruise. He trapped her legs with his and held her hands above her head, letting his full weight press her into the soft mattress. She still struggled but could move only enough to get him excited.

“I’m sorry, Shay. I had to do it. It was too dangerous to let you go traipsing through the woods. I had to keep you safe.”

“What if he was hiding in one of the other bedrooms and sneaked in here while I was handcuffed to the bed? You left me so I couldn’t even protect myself.”

“Lach heard him out in the woods, but that’s why I locked the door, just in case. If this guy had broken it down to get to you, you would’ve screamed, and I would’ve come running. I was never far from the house.” He’d heard every name she called him.

Her eyes still flashed fire, but her breath was steadier, and she kept glancing at his mouth. He thought that was a good thing. He wondered if she’d calmed enough not to hit him, because he should move. She had to notice the effect all the wiggling around was having on him. He felt her hips push against his, and he groaned. He relaxed his grip and lowered his head, letting his lips touch her chin. He kissed his way to her mouth, and she head butted him in the nose.

While the stars exploded in his head, she shoved him aside and bolted out the door. He jumped up and went after her as she pounded down the stairs. He caught up with her outside. She was swinging her purse like a whip, headed for the car.

“Where are you going?” he demanded.

“Get away from me.”

“You can’t leave.”

“Watch me.” She opened the door. “I’m tired of people hiding things from me. I thought you were going to stop. Now you’re handcuffing me to the bed.”

“I explained it to you.”

“Don’t touch me,” she said, jerking away when he grabbed her arm.

“You’re not leaving.”

Shay straightened her shoulders. “You can’t stop me.”

He grabbed her, tossed her over his shoulder, kicked the car door shut, and stomped up the steps.

“Put me down!” Shay kicked and twisted, cursing at him. He dumped her on her feet inside the door.

She blew her hair out of her face, and as soon as she could see, she threw a punch at his chin. He deflected it and grabbed her arm. “Stop hitting me.”

“How dare you throw me over your shoulder like some kind of caveman,” she spat, trying to wrench her arm free. It didn’t work, so she used her knee.

“Ah, not there.” Cody trapped her knee. “I made the mistake of letting you leave here nine years ago without listening to me. By God, I won’t do it again. You’ll listen if I have to sit on you,” he growled.

She drew back her other arm, and before she could throw the punch, he had her on the floor and was sitting astride her, pinning her wrists to the floor. She bucked and twisted, but he held her down. “We can do this all night if you want, but you’re going to listen to me this time.”

“Listen to more lies? You’re still hiding things from me. Like the fact that you have Nina’s entire house under surveillance. Like the fact that you’ve got a Bat Cave in your basement. Like the fact that you were in Scotland when the stalking started.”

“You think I’m your stalker?” he yelled. “Me! I’m trying to keep you alive. We’re all trying to keep you alive. That’s what the clan’s been doing your whole damned life, trying to keep you alive! And just like always, you’re making it hard as hell. Your father wasn’t a bloody spy, and that thing in your living room wasn’t a man!”

Anita's publisher will give away one copy of Embrace the Highland Warrior, US and Canada only, please. We're also giving away 5 custom bookmarks!

The question is, besides reading, what’s your favorite thing to do?

Debut Author Theresa Romain Interview & Giveaway!

2011-11-07T21:58:00.000-08:00

Theresa Romain and I met recently, in the last several months, when I discovered we are both agented by the fabulous Paige Wheeler and both edited by the amazing Alicia Condon!

I'm thrilled to have met up with Theresa - she is as sweet as they come! And today we're celebrating her debut Regency historical romance, SEASON FOR TEMPTATION with an interview and a giveaway of 2 copies of her debut plus 5 custom bookmarks!

Two Sisters. . .

Julia Herington is overjoyed when her stepsister, Louisa, becomes engaged--to a viscount, no less. Louisa's only hesitation is living a life under the ton's critical gaze. But with his wry wit and unconventional ideas, Julia feels James is perfect for Louisa. She can only hope to find a man like him for herself. Exactly like him, in fact. . .

One Choice. . .

As the new Viscount Matheson, James wished to marry quickly and secure his title. Kind, intelligent Louisa seemed a suitable bride. . .until he met her stepsister. Julia is impetuous--and irresistible. Pledged to one sister, yet captivated by another, what is he to do? As Christmas and the whirl of the London season approach, James may be caught in a most scandalous conundrum, one that only true love, a bit of spiritous punch--and a twist of fate--will solve. . .

Now an interview with Theresa:

Theresa, tell us about your new release.

SEASON FOR TEMPTATION is a light-hearted smart-mouthed Regency-set historical romance. With a delicious cream filling!

Our hero, James, deals with a family scandal by making an engagement of convenience, then falls in love with his fiancée’s stepsister/closest friend, Julia. Meanwhile, his fiancée has a change of heart. Also meanwhile, there is strong pressure from both families to marry soon, and well. Before James and Julia sort out their difficulties, many strange foods are eaten, several unusual costumes are worn, and a few uncomfortable truths come to light.

What was the hardest part of this book to write and why?

The love triangle was by far the most difficult aspect, because it was very important to me that all three people involved act with good intentions. James and his fiancée, Louisa, are engaged out of duty to their families, just as James and Julia deny their growing feelings out of a similar sense of duty. To me, there’s nothing sexy about infidelity, and I didn’t want any of my characters to cross that line.

How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula?

I wish! I usually get a germ of an idea—in the case of SEASON FOR TEMPTATION, it was something along the lines of “what if one sister fell in love with another sister’s fiancé?” And then: “what if the sisters loved each other deeply, so there were no villains in the love triangle?” I thought it would be interesting to see what happened. I guess that’s as close to a formula as I get: “what if?” and “then what?”

The next step is writing the first three chapters and a synopsis. That takes me much longer than any other stage of the book, because I’m figuring out the characters and the specifics of the plot. The details of the plot often change as I write the rest of the book—I might shift the order of events, collapse some, add others—but the synopsis is sort of like having the framework of a building. Maybe you’ll change the color of the bricks (or whatever), but once the steel struts are up, you know pretty much what it’ll look like when done.

What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?

Time, discipline, and a computer (or a legal pad). Of those, I’d say discipline is the most important. If you have discipline, you’ll find the time. Heck, maybe you’ll even find the computer. (Note: I do not recommend theft.)

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I like to:

Read
Watch silent movies
Play trivia games with Mr. R

But usually, when I’m not writing (or working at my other job—I’m a freelance health editor), I am:

Cleaning up after Little Miss R
Doing laundry
Cooking

We don’t have to talk about how *well* I do those things, do we? I’m hardly a domestic goddess. I’m hardly even a domestic mortal.

Are you usually late, early, or right on time?

Me, on my own? I’m usually within five to zero minutes early. If I’m with Mr. R, we’ll probably be about 10 minutes late. Sorry.

What’s in your TBR pile?

Let’s stick with the mini-TBR pile on my nightstand, because the full TBR is, um, really big. I read several books at once, so here’s what I’ve got going now:

I just started reading Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers, recommended to me by my brother. And I’m glad he did, because it’s a really fascinating analysis of factors contributing to success. (If that sounds boring to you, then I didn’t describe it well enough.)

I’m also reading Rose Lerner’s A Lily among Thorns—gah, she’s a fantastic, fantastic writer. I just love the way she uses language. Also in the “read me tonight!” stack are Kieran Kramer’s If You Give a Girl a Viscount (so clever and funny) and Victoria Dahl’s Real Men Will (I haven’t started this one yet, but I’ve heard it’s most excellently naughty).

In February 2012, a certain novel called Fever by a certain author named Joan Swan will be placed on the nightstand, and the cover will be ogled repeatedly whenever I’m not reading it.

Do you believe in snipes?

Ok, I love that you asked this question, and the answer is yes. My father loves ornithology, and I grew up reading his Roger Tory Peterson field guides (I’m not kidding, I really did). So I know that snipes are real. Though if you don’t live anywhere near water, which is where the real snipes hang out, then a snipe hunt is still a Big Giant Trick that you can have lots of fun with.

What are your current projects?

I’m working on a sequel to SEASON FOR TEMPTATION! It will be released by Kensington Zebra in October 2012 as SEASON FOR SURRENDER. It’ll have a holiday setting and, I have no doubt, a gorgeous cover.

Leave a comment or ask Theresa a question to enter the giveaway for
2 copies of her debut and 5 custom bookmarks!
International.
**MUST** leave a contact email to win!

Theresa Romain holds degrees in psychology, English literature, and history, an impractical education that allowed her to read everything she could get her hands on. She has worked, interned, and translated for libraries and universities, all of which fed her love of books and her fascination with the past. She lives with her family in the Midwest and lives online at http://theresaromain.com. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Order SEASON FOR TEMPATION:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Indiebound • Powell’s
Order the ebook: Kindle • nook

Where Do Characters Come From? + Giveaway!

2011-11-01T23:17:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled to have a very special virtual author friend here today! Many of you already know Elisabeth Spann Craig as the fab author who scours thousands of websites and blogs and tweets the plethora of amazing writing-related links she finds to quality articles. If you don't already follow Elizabeth on Twitter, you are missing out on a major cache of information! (@elizabethcraig).

Yesterday, Elizabeth released the third book in her Memphis Barbeque mystery series for Penguin/Berkley w/a Riley Adams. If you haven't read one of Elizabeth's books, I recommend you pick one up. She is a fabulous writer with fun storylines, twisting plots and quirky, real characters.

She's talking about where those characters come from today and we're giving away 3 copies of Elizabeth's new release HICKORY SMOKED HOMICIDE and 5 custom handmade bookmarks! Just leave a comment to enter.

HICKORY SMOKED HOMICIDE

BBQ-joint owner Lulu Taylor knows pretty much everyone in Memphis who lives ribs. But one person she'd rather not know is Tristan Pembroke, a snooty pageant couch with a mean streak. When she finds Tristan's dead body stuffed in a closet at a party, the police are suspicious- especially since Lulu's developed a taste for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Caught in a situation stickier than molasses, Lulu must clear her name, or risk getting fried...

Where Characters Come From by Elizabeth Span Craig

Writers are frequently asked, “Where do your ideas come from?”

I think most writers have a stock answer to this question. We’ll claim brainstorming or muses, or just random inspiration out of the blue.

Those are all true. But sometimes, ideas come after us. And frequently, they’re in the form of characters. We can actually build a whole book around a great character. For me, and I’m sure it’s the same for many writers, characters are sometimes inspired in unusual ways:

Strangers:

There are tons of characters around us every day. Sometimes I’ll actively go looking for interesting people. Fairgrounds and amusement parks and malls are great for this purpose. It’s amazing how many different types of people you’ll see. Stiff and grim, young and bubbly, odd and self-conscious.

Sometimes these people will even come up and talk to me. Even if I’m not looking for characters, I’ll frequently have strangers come over to tell me the most remarkable things at the grocery store, drugstore, or post office. I think writers are magnets for these folks somehow—and they don’t even realize that’s what we are. The cool thing is that writers can take bits of one person (maybe their appearance) and bits of another person (their unusual gestures or diction or humor) and create a character that’s an amalgam of the two.

Acquaintances who don’t realize they’re characters:

Sometimes characters appear at the least expected times. There was another mother at my son’s soccer game once. She was scheduling me on the team snack calendar. I was smiling and nodding, but I didn’t hear a word she said because I was thinking how perfect she’d be as a character in the book I was writing. Even better that I didn’t know anything about her and that she was a stranger—in this case, it was her appearance that was so great. She was perfect for a particular bit part. But I missed my date to bring snacks and had to leave the game to grab some when my week came up. :)

Characters who create themselves:

Then, sometimes, you have characters who are too big for their britches. They hop into your head with confidence and they’re not like anyone you’ve ever met. Although they’re supposed to have a bit part in your book, they aren’t content with the role. Next thing you know, they’re taking over your book! They’re scene stealers—they have the best punch lines and shine in the spotlight. These are characters who don’t know their place…you really have to watch them. It’s how my supporting character Cherry ended up with a sidekick role in the Memphis Barbeque series.

Friends who give us insight into our characters:

Sometimes, the opposite problem happens—you have characters who really don’t know their role in your book. They listlessly bumble through their lines and you’re wondering what on earth they’re doing in your story at all. You’re just about to fire them for poor performance when there’s a breakthrough. I wasn’t really getting a handle on one of my beauty pageant characters for my new book, Hickory Smoked Homicide. Beauty pageants can be a big deal in the South, but they were something that I wasn’t personally involved with and was always happening on the periphery of where I was---maybe there was a Miss Anderson waving from a car in a Christmas parade I was watching, etc., but that was about the extent of my involvement. I was aiming for a spoofy, fun look at the pageant world, but I kept hitting a wall.

I was a third of the way through the book and about to scrap the whole concept and start over when I picked up my daughter from a playdate. The mom there asked me politely how my book was going. I’d been struggling with it the whole time my daughter was playing at her house, so I admitted, “You know, I’ve got a big problem with the book.” I told her my concept and the trouble I was having with this character. She said, “Come on inside and have a cup of coffee with me. I’ll give you the dirt on the pageant world.” And she did! There was plenty of motivation for murder there, she assured me. And she gave me a fascinating perspective from someone who’d been involved in small-town pageants.

What we’re all looking for, both readers and writers, is a good character—someone to love, someone to root for, someone to hate. And inspiration comes in unusual ways, sometimes.

Who are some of your favorite characters? Did they come to life for you? Comment to enter to win 1 of 3 copies of Elizabeth's new release HICKORY SMOKED HOMICIDE or 1 of 5 custom handmade bookmarks!

Books (US Shipping)
Bookmarks (International shipping)

**MUST** provide contact email to WIN!

Elizabeth’s latest book Hickory Smoked Homicide released November 1. Elizabeth writes the Memphis Barbeque series for Penguin/Berkley (as Riley Adams), the Southern Quilting mysteries (2012) for Penguin/NAL, and the Myrtle Clover series for Midnight Ink. She blogs daily at Mystery Writing is Murder, which was named by Writer’s Digest as one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers for 2010 and 2011.

Writer's Knowledge Base--the Search Engine for Writers
Twitter: @elizabethscraig

Marie Force and the Book of Her Heart + Giveaway!!

2011-10-27T21:19:00.000-07:00

A warm welcome to Marie Force, an author I both admire and appreciate. Her enthusiasm is infectious, her love for her work tangible. I'm thrilled to have her here today.

She is giving away a copy of her new release TREADING WATER and 5 custom handmade bookmarks today! Simply leave a comment to enter.

The Dream Comes True—My Way

Thanks so much for having me today, Joan! This has been one of the most exciting weeks I’ve had yet as an author, which is saying something as there have been a lot of exciting weeks this year. A year ago, I took the plunge as an “indie” author by self-publishing some of my unsold books. Since then, I’ve sold nearly 150,000 ebooks, a number that astounds and delights me.

On Tuesday, the book of my heart, TREADING WATER, went on sale as an ebook. I wrote TREADING WATER more than six years ago, and its two sequels, MARKING TIME (coming in November) and STARTING OVER (coming in December), were finished five years ago. These three are still my favorites of all my books, the three I am most proud of, and the three I’ve most wanted to put in the hands of readers. Because they aren’t “conventional” romances where boy and girl meet in chapter 1 and their love story unfolds from there, they didn’t fit neatly anywhere in the crowded fiction marketplace.

After success of my first six self-published books, I decided to go for it and publish the TREADING WATER trilogy on my own. This week, I had the supreme pleasure of seeing TREADING WATER officially on sale. Finally!

Here’s a brief summary of the book:

Love is the last thing on Jack Harrington’s mind when he sets out to meet Andi Walsh’s flight. Recently back to work after spending more than a year tending to his comatose wife, Jack is focused on getting through each day and caring for his three daughters. However, the moment he sets eyes on Andrea Walsh, the interior designer who has come to decorate the hotel his company is building in Newport, Rhode Island, Jack begins to wonder if Andi might be his second chance. After a disastrous marriage, Andi, single mom to a hearing-impaired son, isn’t exactly looking for love, either, but that’s what she finds with Jack. The two embark on a long-distance relationship fraught with challenges as they balance the needs of their children and dueling careers while Jack continues to care for his wife, Clare. Just when Jack thinks his life is once again settled, he is confronted with a new challenge that tests him in ways he never could've imagined, leaving him to wonder if "happily ever after" is in the cards for him.

Readers have responded with tremendous enthusiasm for Jack’s story. One of them called it “riveting, wrenching and unforgettable.” I liked that! What I’ve also loved is readers telling me the book makes them question what they would do if they found themselves in Jack’s situation. It was a lot of fun to write a story about a man who thinks he knows himself very well and has a good sense of what he’d do in any given situation. Then he finds himself in an untenable situation in which black and white beliefs become tinged with shades of gray.

Yesterday, Amazon sent an email to my past customers letting them know that TREADING WATER was now on sale. By the end of the day, the book was ranked at No. 19 for all of Kindle and No. 2 on the contemporary romance Kindle list. The book of my heart is now a Kindle bestseller! Yesterday was a VERY good day!

I’d love to hear from readers today about a dream you had that you never gave up on. Did your dream come true? I’ll give away a copy of TREADING WATER to one commenter AND 5 handmade bookmarks as well (your choice of those pictured above)...6 winners in all.
Enter! (International!)

The Great Book Giveaway with RJ Silver!

2011-10-26T01:00:00.000-07:00

I am really excited about this special event we're calling The Great Book Giveaway! Today, I have guest RJ Silver with me. RJ is a former thriller writer who fell in love and changed life paths. He now writes lighthearted humor and romance in an effort to add something positive to the world.

To that end, he's here today giving away 2 free books -- to EVERYONE! By downloading his books and telling others about them (provided you like them, of course) you'll be drawing attention to his Foundation for underprivilidged children of Asia.

Many of you have heard or even read The Princess and the Penis (P&P). Tremendously popular on Amazon, P&P was downloaded over 400,000 times in just 8 months. Today, RJ is giving it, and another of his books, away free. Nothing to sign up for. Nothing to fill out. Absolutely no strings. Do a good deed for charity and get a gift in the process. A true win-win!

You can tell when I'm excited about something--I talk a lot! I guess I'll let RJ have a turn...*zipping mouth* *ushering RJ to the stage*

FREEBIES FOR A GOOD CAUSE
I spent most of my life being selfish, in love as well as my quest for fame and fortune as a writer.

Fittingly, I never found either.

Then I started travelling Asia and witnessed something I couldn’t accept: children without hope or opportunity. Children who, unlike me, wouldn’t get a fair chance in life.

In the midst of this discovery, I also met an extraordinary woman, one who had been one of those hopeless children at one time in her life, but who, through incredible strength and determination, managed to put herself through school, obtain two university degrees, and emerge from her poverty to become a teacher herself.

That’s the moment my selfish pretensions finally fell away, I fell in love, and I immediately threw away my supposedly promising career as a thriller writer to write quirky romantic stories of love, hope, and humor instead.

That was one year ago. Recently, one of my books, The Princess & the Penis, hit # 2 humor, # 5 Romance, and # 25 overall at Amazon.

Now I’m trying to use this success to pull off something far more worthwhile: the creation of a foundation to help underprivileged children in Southeast Asia get out of bad situations and into good homes that provide love, care, and a proper education. You can read more about this cause at http://www.rjsilver.com/foundation/ , but sometimes a picture’s worth a thousand words:

That’s me – the little green alien, because personal recognition/achievement no longer matters to me. It’s the cause that counts.

And here’s the really good part—not only can you help a child in need without shelling out a cent, you get a gift in the process. This is a win-win! Simply utilize the FREE coupon codes listed below to download two of my very popular books!

Both can be downloaded in any format you wish, using the links and coupons shown. Even better, these links/coupons can be shared with your family, friends, and anyone else you like. They’re unlimited until they expire on November 10, 2011.

How does having you read these books help my cause? When people read these books, they tell others – lots of them. In its first free release, The Princess & the Penis was downloaded 400,000 times. The exposure from the books in turn brings exposure to the Foundation and the sales of the books after the free period ends ultimately funds the Foundation.

That’s it! Simply read the books (they’re only about 30 to 40 minutes each), and, if you like them, tell others about them via email, Twitter, etc. That word of mouth will go a long way to helping me achieve the momentum I need to get the Foundation moving.

So don’t wait! Help a child and grab a great read now!

A beautiful, chaste, and completely naive princess encounters a strange lump in her mattress. The lump soon morphs into a shape familiar to everyone but her, triggering her curiosity and her father’s greatest fears. He frantically tries to intervene, but having a large phantom phallus in a curious maiden’s bed is never a good combination.

Link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/32400
Coupon: EJ89K

Gerry Lankin has a problem. All his life, women have been hitting him over the head, usually for good reason. Recognizing he’s at fault, he’s about to make big changes in his life, when he bumps into three older men at the airport. They convince him that the key to romantic happiness isn’t self-improvement; it’s finding a woman with low expectations.

Gerry’s about to discover just how wrong three old men can be.
Link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94142
Coupon: NT26P

If you’re feeling truly inspired and want to take the next step in helping a needy child, you can write a review on whichever platform you typically buy your books (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.), because our success is truly all about you telling others.

Wait! There are more prizes!!

BONUS: Share your review here and WIN! We’ll be thanking the first 10 reviewers with a free t-shirt, and the next 10 with a free coffee mug, both with the Foundation logo. All t-shirts and mugs will be shipped free of charge from Zazzle.

Everyone who posts a review here may request a free custom handmade bookmark from Joan...examples shown in prior blog posts...with the Foundation logo.

Thanks for your support. Here’s hoping we’ll soon be laughing our way to good deeds!

RJ Silver

RJ on Facebook
RJ on Twitter
RJ on Goodreads
Contact RJ

Laura Bickle Interview & Her New Pocket Release: SPARKS

2011-10-25T04:00:00.000-07:00

My guest today has a fascinating background -- one perfectly suited for fiction!! We're talking about her new release from Pocket Books, SPARKS, book #2 in her Anya Kalinczyk series.

Laura Bickle has an MA in sociology-criminology (research interests: fear of crime and victimology) and a BA in criminology. She has worked in and around criminal justice since 1997. Although she does read Tarot cards, she's never used them in criminal profiling or to locate lost scientists. She recently took up astronomy, but for the most part her primary role in studying constellations and dark matter is to follow her amateur astronomer-husband around central Ohio toting the telescope tripod and various lenses.

Writing as Laura Bickle, she's the author of EMBERS and SPARKS for Pocket - Juno Books. Writing as Alayna Williams, she's the author of DARK ORACLE and ROGUE ORACLE.

More info on her urban fantasy and general nerdiness is here: http://www.salamanderstales.com/

Laura/ Alayna’s blogs
http://www.salamanderstales.blogspot.com and http://delphisdaughters.blogspot.com

She’s a proud member of Word Whores.

She’s at Facebook, and Fangs, Fur, and Fey.

WITHOUT A TRACE...

Anya Kalinczyk is the rarest type of psychic medium, a Lantern, who holds down a day job as an arson investigator with the Detroit Fire Department—while working 24/7 to exterminate malicious spirits haunting a city plagued by unemployment and despair. Along with her inseparable salamander familiar, Sparky, Anya has seen, and even survived, all manner of fiery hell—but her newest case sparks suspicions of a bizarre phenomenon that no one but her eccentric team of ghost hunters might believe: spontaneous human combustion.

After fire consumes the home of elderly Jasper Bernard, Anya is stunned to discover his remains—or, more precisely, a lack of them; even the fiercest fires leave some trace of their victims—and she is sure this was no naturally occurring blaze. Soon she’s unearthed a connection to a celebrity psychic who preys on Detroit’s poor, promising miracles for money. But Hope Solomon wants more—she’s collecting spirits, and in a frantic race against time, Anya will face down an evil adversary who threatens her fragile relationship with her lover, her beloved Sparky’s freshly hatched newts, and the wandering souls of the entire city.

Laura, tell us about your upcoming release.
My current release is SPARKS, from Pocket Books. By day, Anya Kalinczyk is an arson investigator for the Detroit Fire Department. By night, she's the rarest kind of spiritual medium, a Lantern. While other mediums allow spirits to use their hands and voices to communicate, Anya incinerates them. With the help of her fire salamander familiar, Sparky, and a ragtag group of ghost hunters, Anya chases down unseen threats to her city.

In SPARKS, Anya’s investigating a rash of spontaneous human combustion cases. With the reluctant assistance of a soul collector from the Underworld, she must track down the supernatural source of the fires and keep Sparky’s newly-hatched newts safe from a malicious psychic.

What was the hardest part of this book to write and why?
The beginning is the most intimidating part of a book for me to write. The blank page is a scary place, full of doubts and 'what if's.' Procrastination is my greatest enemy at that stage.

The easiest part for me is the last quarter of the book. Then, I can see how all the factors come into play and the plot threads begin to tie up. It's sort of like running downhill - exhilarating and exciting.

Tell us something unusual about this book (i.e. in its creation, execution, production).
Research is one of the pleasures of being a writer. And I got to research spontaneous human combustion for this book. I was really amazed at the number of theories about how this works...including the theory of the 'phosphenic fart.' In this idea, digestive gases gather and catch fire in one's digestive tract.

Yeah, I know. Bizarre. But fun to see if I can get the heroine to mention that in the story. And if I can get my editor to laugh, that's an additional bonus.

What do you love most about this book/series?
Sparky, Anya's fire salamander, is a lot of fun to write. Sparky is a composite of all the pets I've had. He's snuggly, petulant, protective, and snarky. As a fire salamander, he can affect electrical fields and fire...he's been known to chew on cell phones, blow up microwaves, and set of sprinkler systems in the crime lab.

He has a favorite toy that he cuddles with at night...a Glow-Worm. I had a Glow-Worm toy as a child. I was terribly afraid of the dark, and it really helped. I still give them as gifts for baby showers.

Is there a message in this novel that you want readers to grasp?
I think that my books tend to really focus on how the heroines balance their inner lives with their outer lives. My protagonists tend to have hidden lives with supernatural powers that they must keep secret from their day jobs.

What did you do before you became a full-time writer?
My background is in library science and criminal justice. I worked in criminal justice for more than ten years, and recently made the switch to working in a public library. Being surrounded by books and chasing down the answers to research questions is a special kind of bliss.

So, I guess you could say that I'm a part-time writer. Maybe someday it will become a full-time occupation.

Which is your favorite of the books you have written?
I think my favorite is ROGUE ORACLE - which I wrote under my pseudonym, Alayna Williams. Tara Sheridan survived an attack from a serial killer that left her scarred for life. She's withdrawn from her professional life as a criminal profiler into a self-imposed exile that's both physical and emotional. In ROGUE ORACLE, she's working to unravel a series of murders that has its roots in the Chernobyl disaster and resolving her relationship issues with an enigmatic federal agent.

I like working with broken heroines because people are flawed in real life. The story also forced me to face some of my own fears about vulnerability in relationships, which was a really scary and exciting experience.

What would you say is your biggest writing quirk?
Wonder Woman helps me write. Seriously. My Wonder Woman collection is on the shelves beside my desk. I've been collecting Wonder Woman since I was a kid, and she always reminds me to try out new ideas, to think outside of the box.

Do You Have Any Undiscovered Or Hidden Talents? If So, What?
My husband and I are amateur astronomers. I also belly dance a bit...but not in public. Nobody needs to see that, trust me! ;-)

I initially became interested in belly dancing because I wanted to help overcome my shyness. Since I spend so much time in my head, it helped me think of my body a bit more, get outside of myself. I still wouldn't dance in public, but it's a lot of fun to get together with a group of women to laugh and shimmy.

Do You Like Short Or Long Hair On A Guy?
Short. I could never be with a guy who has better hair than I do (which, admittedly, is not hard).

How many pillows do you like to sleep with?
Two. One usually winds up on the floor, and I usually wake up with a cat wrapped around my head.

Are You A Heavy Or Light Sleeper?
Light sleeper. I hear all the things that go bump in the night, and then worry up stories to go along with them.

Where can we find you online?
Website: http://www.salamanderstales.com/
Blog: http://salamanderstales.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/laurabickle
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Laura_Bickle

Thanks for being with us today Laura!

SPARKS is available for pre-order from Amazon and Barnes & Noble

THE CRAFT OF COFFEE HOUSE READING

2011-10-23T23:17:00.000-07:00

At some time, every author will be asked to read their work aloud. Print, ebook, fiction, non-fiction, adult novel, chilren's book, there will be a seminar, a writer's workshop, a reader's gathering, a Thanksgiving dinner with the family...and you will be asked to read.

I specifically requested this post from Sherry because I heard her read when we were at a class together at Margie Lawson's home in Colorado. I was charmed. Mesmerized. Enchanted. Not only is Sherry a stellar author, she is an amazing reader.

And as I draw near my debut release, scheduling appearances and workshops, I know I need to learn how to read my work aloud. After hearing Sherry's expertise, I knew there was no better place to learn.

GIVEAWAY: Sherry is generously offering a copy of her short story collection, Storyteller, to be awarded to a random commenter. Share your favorite editing tool or reading experience and you could win! (Must share your email as well.)

THE CRAFT OF COFFEE HOUSE READING
By Sherry Isaac

Of all the phobias in the world, public speaking is one of the most commonly shared. For new writers, sharing their work with another can be terrifying, even if the other person is a trusted friend.

No wonder. When we write, we put a little of our soul on the page.

No surprise, then, that the idea of reading in front of an audience paralyzes many authors.

In the words of Women of the Underworld author Kelley Armstrong, “While publishers do want you to have a website (and Facebook and Twitter and blog and an endless list of other online “opportunities”) it doesn’t replace the need to get out to stores and conventions and readings.”

Storyteller Launch at Prana Cafe, Toronto
Photo by J. Nichole Noel

Perhaps that is why sites like Goodreads are so popular: that connection between writer and reader, storyteller and audience.

Ah. The audience. If we want to sell, we need an audience. What better way to build an audience as you journey toward the publication of your first book, than to share your genius in the neighbourhood library or cafe?

Storytelling is an age-old tradition. As writers, we have the honour, and the obligation, to play our part.

So, what makes a good read? While there isn’t the space to fit all of the details into one blog post, we can explore five basic elements.

Length

Audience time is limited, and so is your time behind the mike. 8-10 minutes makes a good read. Longer, and you risk losing your audience.

Always check with your host in advance. You may only have two!

Storyteller Launch at Prana Cafe, Toronto
Photo by J. Nichole Noel

Style

Keep your audience engaged with humor, light tales, or stories alive with action. This doesn’t mean you have to write Hollywood crash ‘em up car chases, but avoid long streams of heavy narration.

Put aside the tear-jerkers and go for something up tempo. Not that sad or poignant tales don’t work, but since you’re probably not privy to what other authors are bringing, go with the light stuff. Too much sad material can wear an audience down, but an audience won’t be disappointed if every story has them on the edge of their bistro seat, or rolling in the library aisle.

Audience

Keep your listening audience in mind. The venue you are reading at may not be the best place to share your political views, or explore the first draft of your erotica novel.

Time

To me, a polished read revolves around two basic, principles: time allotment, and time spend in rehearsal.

Time allotment is straight forward. If you don’t know what your time allotment at a reading venue is, ask. Then, select a piece based on that answer.

Don’t count on your host to stop you when you’ve reached your time limit. They won’t. Because it’s rude. But, it is more rude to ignore your time limit so choose courtesy instead and use a timer.

I repeat, use a timer.

We’re writers. We are in love with our words. Just like we hate to hit that delete button and destroy our little darlings, we want--once we get over the cafe reading heebee jeebies, that is--to share them out loud with the whole wide world.

Resist the temptation to go over. A paragraph turns into a page turns into two more minutes and the next thing you know, you’ve gone over time.If your piece does not fit into the allotted time, do not read faster. Choose a different piece, or consider a cliff-hanger. It works. Viewers all over the world waited an entire summer to find out who killed JR!

Rehearsal

Try on the clothes you plan to wear. Practice eye contact by rehearsing in front of a mirror. Allow for pauses, pay attention to pacing.

Rehearse with your timer! Rehearse and rehearse and rehearse. Then, like the nuances of a familiar song, you will know when to pause, when to look up, when to soften your voice.

Rehearsing your piece out loud is a great editing tool. And who couldn’t use a neat and easy editing tool?

GIVEAWAY: A copy of my short story collection, Storyteller, will be awarded to a random commenter. Share your favorite editing tool or reading experience and you could win! (Must share your email as well.)

MAGGIE finalist and winner of The Alice Munro Short Story Award, Sherry Isaac’s tales of life, love and forgiveness transcend all things, including the grave. Sherry represents one-third of the Romance & Beyond blog trio. Visit her website, sherryisaac.com, like Sherry on Facebook, become a fan on Goodreads, and follow her on Twitter.

Author Sarah Grimm Interview + Giveaway!

2011-10-19T01:00:00.000-07:00

Sarah Grimm is here talking about her new release After Midnight, and we're giving away 5 custom handmade bookmarks AND an Ecopy of After Midnight! Simply leave a comment to enter. Open internationally.

Sarah, tell us about your latest release.
She wants to forget her past.

He wants to reclaim his.

Sometimes the moment that changes everything comes After Midnight.

Thirteen years—that’s how long Isabeau Montgomery has been living a lie. After an automobile accident took her mother’s life, Izzy hid herself away, surviving the only way she knew how. Now she is happy in her carefully reconstructed life. That is until he walks through the door of her bar…

Black Phoenix singer/front man Noah Clark came to Long Island City with a goal—one that doesn’t include an instant, electric attraction to the dark-haired beauty behind the bar. Coaxing her into his bed won’t be easy, but he can’t get her pale, haunted eyes nor her skill on the piano out of his head.

Can Noah help Isabeau overcome the past? Or will her need to protect her secret force her back into hiding and destroy their chance at happiness?

What’s your favorite thing about the book featured here today?
That even though Izzy views herself as damaged, through Noah's love she rediscovers that she's beautiful.

What sparked the idea for this book/series?
Teenage fantasies about meeting and marrying a rock star, combined with the maturity to know that a twenty-something musician is not happily-ever-after material. Add to that the picture in my mind of a woman alone in a bar, playing the piano. That picture spawned a series of 'what if' questions which led to After Midnight.

What creates the biggest conflict between your hero and heroine?
Music. It’s what brings them together as well as threatens to tear them apart.

What was the hardest part of this book to write and why?
Isabeau’s childhood was so tragic all the scenes that dealt with it were extremely hard to write. But the most difficult was the scene where her step-father (for lack of a better name) sits Noah down and tells him about losing Izzy’s mother in the car accident, followed by immediately losing Izzy in a court battle, and how these events shaped Isabeau into the woman she is today. I can’t really get into it too much without giving away any spoilers, but it is a traumatic scene that was emotionally draining for me to write.

How does your family view your writing career?
They accept it as a normal part of who I am and are proud of the fact that I have achieved my goal of becoming published.

What is your writing routine?

I do my best writing in the morning when the rest of the house is still asleep. I wake up around 4:30 seven days a week. Not necessarily by choice, my internal alarm clock just goes off at that time. If I don’t sit down and write in the morning, chances are good I won’t get any writing done that day. I’m too easily distracted by the million other things I need to get done – grocery shopping, the day job, orthodontist appointments, or house cleaning.

How do you keep in touch with your readers?
My all time favorite way to chat with readers is face to face. Unfortunately, I don't get enough of that with my hectic work schedule, so I settle for keeping in touch with readers through my blog, online chats, and email. I love to hear from readers and encourage them to email me at sarah @ sarahgrimm.com.

What are you reading now?
Rafe’s Redemption by Jennifer Jakes, and Jezebel’s Wish by AJ Nuest

What is your preferred genre to read for pleasure?
Contemporary romance. A close second is contemporary romantic suspense.

Do you have a second career? (Yes, motherhood counts!)
Besides being the mother of two teenage sons, three mini schnauzers, a guinea pig, a rescued kitten in need of a home, and three orphaned mice—whew, that’s a lot to type—I’m the bookkeeper for my husband’s boat repair business and work full time as the bookkeeper for a local farmer.

How would you best describe your books?
I write sizzling, dangerously sexy contemporary romance and romantic suspense.

Which is your favorite of the books you have written?
Definitely After Midnight. Every author I’ve ever spoke with has one story they truly believe is THE story of their heart. After Midnight is mine. Isabeau Montgomery is the owner of Izzy’s Bar, a child prodigy, piano phenom—a woman who is hiding behind a lie of her own making. She’s just so very tortured, her past so full of tragedy… She deserves a happy ending and Noah is just the man to share it with her.

What are your current projects?
While writing After Midnight, one of the secondary characters kept telling me he needed his story, so I'm writing that one now. Midnight Heat is a reunion romance, and although I had no plans to make it so when I started, it looks like it may become a romantic suspense.

Are You The Same Person You Were As A Child, Or Much Different?
I am much different. I’m still a dreamer and impulsive, but I’ve learned to control the impulses and think before I speak.

Do You Believe That The Cup Is Half Empty Or Half Full?
Half full.

Are You An Introvert Or An Extrovert?
Extrovert.

Are You A Window Person Or An Aisle Person?
Window. I want to see where I’m going.

Do You Like Short Or Long Hair On A Guy?
Short.

What is Your Favorite Beverage?
Diet Coke.

Are you a night or a morning person?
Morning.

Are You Usually Late, Early Or Right On Time?
Early.

Where can we find you online?
Website: http://www.sarahgrimm.com
Blog: http://www.authorsarahgrimm.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/SGrimmAuthor
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SarahGrimm.Author

Sarah lives in West Michigan with her husband, two sons and three miniature schnauzers. Between mom's taxi service, parts runs, and answering the phone for the family marine repair business, Sarah can be found curled in her favorite chair, crafting her next novel.

Comment to enter for 1 of 5 custom handmade bookmarks AND an ecopy of After Midnight!
Open internationally.

**MUST** leave contact email to WIN!

New FEVER Excerpt

2011-10-18T08:18:00.000-07:00

When Dr. Alyssa Foster is taken hostage by a prison inmate, she knows she's in deep trouble. Not just because Teague Creek is desperate for freedom, but because the moment his fingers brush against her skin, Alyssa feels a razor-sharp pang of need...

A man with a life sentence has nothing to lose. At least Teague doesn't, until his escape plan developes a fatal flaw: alyssa. On the run from both the law and deadly undercover operatives, he can only give her lies, but every heated kiss tells him the fire between them could be just as devastating as the flames that changed him forever...

A fun little excerpt from FEVER.

Setup: My hero, Teague Creek, has escaped prison with accomplice, Taz, a white supremacist, and taken my heroine, Alyssa Foster, hostage. Alyssa has been terrorized by the ordeal and recently smacked across the face by Taz. They are now driving along their escape route after narrowly missing being captured at a roadblock. Alyssa has seen hints of Teague's abnormal body heat, benefited from but disbelieves his healing abilities and senses a strange attraction to him.

Excerpt: Alyssa rested her head against the car window, questions swirling in her brain like a dirt devil. Was she having some kind of chemical reaction to the metal? An allergy she hadn’t known of before? Sensitivity to a new cosmetic or medical supply?

Even with the cool glass pressed against her cheek, her face still felt like it was going to split. Although, she had to admit, the pain had ratcheted down after Creek had touched her, which was another oddity logic couldn’t explain. Along with the way her libido skyrocketed in reverse proportion to her pain.

This whole situation was beyond bizarre. She was caught somewhere between scared-out-of-her-mind and freaking-ready-to-jump-him every time he touched her.

Snapped. She’d finally snapped. Just like her mother and brothers said she would if she didn’t slow down. Didn’t ease up. Didn’t stop working and start living. What they’d never understood was that her work was her life. Only, maybe that’s where she’d gone wrong, because look where that had gotten her.

By the dashboard clock, they’d been driving an hour and a half. With every minute closer to nightfall, Alyssa’s anxiety amped. Her fatigue also dragged at her, not to mention the grind of her stomach reminding her she hadn’t eaten in nearly twenty hours. And the way her mind pinged around beneath her skull didn’t help with the developing stress headache.

Where were they going? Why did they keep her? What were they going to do to her? She found herself wondering about death, what it would be like to get to that final moment. Those lead to thoughts of her patients, ones she’d lost, ones she’d saved, which then lead back to her work and her future. And the circle started all over again.

Taz had mellowed with time and blaring classic rock. He sang along with an endless lung capacity, his chorus almost more painful than her throbbing face, aching wrists or morbid thoughts.

“Take me down to the Paradise City where the grass is green and the girls are pretty,” Taz belted, completely off key. “Oh, won’t you please take me hooowooome…”

Creek hadn’t looked at her for over an hour. At least not directly at her. He sat as far on the other side of the bench seat as he could get without climbing out of the car. Every time she moved so much as her little finger, he cast a surreptitious side-glance at her. Since the incident with the roadblock, he’d dropped the whole idea of her changing clothes, which was good. She was not getting naked, or even close to it, in this car with these guys. For any reason. Ever. Period.

Despite the sheer noise level and her mounting anxiety, Alyssa had to force her eyes to stay open, her mind to catalogue landmarks. She needed a plan. Several plans. One for every situation that held the possibility of escape. But right now her brain felt as numb as her butt and if she didn’t get blood flowing, she’d definitely pass out—Guns and Roses at a hundred and thirty decibels, or not.

Alyssa straightened away from the window. That one movement gave her Creek’s complete attention. He stiffened and twisted toward her, fingers curled into his hands, resting on his thighs. And she had to admit, he looked more human in street clothes. A lot more like one of those intriguing bad-boys. But she’d already seen the tattoos. She knew where he’d come from. He was not the typical good-looking, rough-around-the-edges man she liked. He had hurt her. Would hurt her again if he deemed necessary. Had told her so himself. Yet…something about him suggested that wasn’t entirely true. Maybe his attempts to ease her pain. Maybe his efforts to shield her from Taz. Of course, maybe it was just her own warped psyche bending reality.

She lifted her cuffed hands and gingerly peeled the tape off her lips, grimacing as it pulled at the tender skin. Creek made no move to stop her, only watched with a guarded expression.

She looked directly at him, meeting those very light, intense blue eyes. “I’m car sick, I’m hungry and I have to pee.”

One brow lifted. His mouth quirked. “You’re sick and hungry?”

With that one look, Creek turned into a regular guy off the street. Only he was a guy who would stop traffic. A guy who would warrant double-takes. A guy she would have tripped over herself to meet under normal circumstances. She had to glance down at her cuffed hands to get her head on straight. In less than a second the anger and fear swung back around full force.

“I always get sick in the back seat of a car,” she lied, “and I haven’t eaten since midnight. But more important, my bladder is going to burst if we don’t stop for a bathroom.”

Creek heaved a sigh and rubbed his eyes. “Stop somewhere, Taz. A quiet gas station with a bathroom in the back would be good.”

“Screw that,” Taz said. “Why should we give a shit about what she needs?”

“Because it was your decision to kidnap me, and it was your decision to keep me.” She’d had enough. The tension, the bizarre emotions, the uncertainty had turned her into someone who said and did irrational, extreme, uncontrollable things. Someone she didn’t care to recognize. “Now you have to deal with the consequences. As opposed to you, I’m human. I have human bodily needs. If you don’t address them, we’ll all be very uncomfortable, very soon.”

“Put the tape back on that big mouth of hers, Creek, or I’ll stuff it with something that’s sure to shut her up.”

Alyssa’s back went up. Her mouth opened to spew something fierce and foolish, she was sure. But someone touched her first. She jumped and turned toward Creek. His big, warm hand closed over her forearm with just enough force to send a message. The same message he delivered with that potent stare: don’t antagonize him.

He didn’t look away from Alyssa as he talked to Taz. “You find me a private bathroom, and I’ll make sure I tire her out good.”

Alyssa jerked her arm back. Why she’d thought for a flicker of an instant they were on the same side she didn’t know, but his nasty retort put everything in perspective. When would she learn men were all the same? Crude. Selfish. Controlling. Competitive. Self-serving.

And these men were the worst of the worst.

“What’s wrong with what you got, Creek? If I’d known you were gonna waste all this time, I’d have made you drive. I know just how to fill a couple hours with a dink like that.”

Alyssa’s throat convulsed. The thought of rape pushed at the edges of her mind, but she shoved it right back out. Someone would die first. And it wouldn’t be her. She’d already catalogued every possible way she could use her own body to end another’s life, because her body was her only weapon.

“Just take the first exit with a gas station once you hit highway five,” Creek said. “Pick the lousiest dive you can find.”

“This is a shit hole, man, everything is a dive. Nothing but niggers and spics live here.”

“Just find something and stop.”

They slowed and traveled down the ramp. Taz hummed with anticipated trouble. “I don’t like it.”

Alyssa shifted in her seat. She did have to pee—bad—but, more, she needed to develop a plan for when they stopped. “How long?”

“Couple minutes.” Creek surveyed her, mouth turned down in disapproval. “Take off your shirt.”

She scrunched one side of her face in contempt. “No.”

“The blue thing has the hospital logo on it.” He gestured at her with one careless hand. “Everyone’s going to be looking for you in those…”

“Scrubs,” she finished for him. “And, let me rephrase so you understand—hell no.”

He met her eyes with determination and a set jaw. “Take it off, or I’ll take it off for you.”

“Aw, yeah,” Taz piped up. “Now we’re gettin' some action.”

Alyssa had to press her mouth tight to keep from telling the idiot to shut up. When she made no move toward taking her shirt off, Creek slid over the vinyl bench and snagged the hem that had come untucked hours ago.

Alyssa leaned away, her cuffed hands pushing at his. A sweep of panic heated her chest. “No. Don’t. Leave me alone.”

Taz laughed and chanted “go-go-go”.

Creek grabbed the back of her shirt and pulled it up and over her head. Then yanked the fabric down her forearms to rest in a bundle where her hands came together in the cuffs. The cool air prickled her skin beneath the white tank top remaining. She curled in on herself to keep the exposure to a minimum. That’s when she noticed the hole in her scrubs, irregular brown marks along the edge. She wasn’t imagining things. He had burned her.

Taz kept glancing in the rear view mirror, and hit a curb as he pulled alongside a closed gas station-slash-mini mart, where painted blue circles delineated men’s and women’s restrooms. He shoved the car into park, twisted and laid one arm over the seat.

“Look what the skinny bitch was hiding under those baggy clothes.” Taz’s excited, bright eyes raked over Alyssa and fastened on her breasts as if he could see through her clothes. “Thought I felt a melon in there. Keep going, Creek. I wanna see that rack.”

Stomach in her throat, Alyssa scanned the area, searching for an escape route. For someone who could help her. But the gas station wasn’t closed as she’d first thought. It was abandoned. Tendrils of panic coiled around her lungs.

Creek put one big fist over the cloth around the chain between her hands, shoved the door open and dragged her across the seat. Would he beat her? Burn her? Kill her? She forced her mind back to the vulnerable areas of the body she would target: a fist to the temple, flat of the hand to the nose, knuckles to the philtrum, side chop to the adam’s apple—

“Keep watch,” Creek said to Taz as he pulled Alyssa to her feet and grabbed the smaller bag of clothes from the floorboard. “Don’t do anything. No stroll, no smoke. Nothing, got it?”

Taz jerked his chin. “Am I gonna get a piece of her when you’re through?”

“We’ll see.” Creek slammed the door and towed Alyssa toward the bathrooms.

No. She couldn’t go in there with him. She’d be trapped. But running wasn’t much of an option either. The landscape around the deserted gas station was a barren sea of flat dirt and scraggly shrubs. Nobody within screaming distance. No haven within running distance. But the approaching darkness might actually be her friend.

Without any solid plan, Alyssa gathered all her strength, drove down with both hands then jerked upward. To her utter shock, her hands wrenched free of his grip. A second seemed to float, suspended in time, before she could make her feet move.

As the surprise cleared from Creek’s face, he swiped a grab for her hands. Alyssa spun and pushed into a kick start. Gravel slipped beneath her feet. Creek grabbed the back of her tank. Fabric ripped. Bra snapped. He whipped an arm around her waist. Twisted her body. Slung her over his shoulder. Just that quick, as if he’d done it countless times before.

“Fucking A,” he growled. “You are the biggest pain in the ass.”

“Let me go.” Alyssa beat on his back with the cuff edge, kicked her feet, twisted. Nothing loosened his grip. Nothing broke his stride. And his body heat had ramped up again.

Creek was still muttering as he kicked in the bathroom door. The bang made Alyssa flinch. Taz’s full-bellied laugh followed them until Creek slammed the door shut.

You can preorder your copy of FEVER at the following locations:
Amazon (print & Kindle)
Barnes & Noble (print & Nook)
Booksamillion

Debut Author KC Klein with Interview and Giveaways!

2011-10-16T22:18:00.000-07:00

KC Klein's sexy futuristic time-travel, DARK FUTURE, released in ebook last week and is currently on Amazon for only .99 cents!! That's right!! What a bargain!! The print version will be available November 8th.

Welcome debut author KC Klein with an interview and giveaway!!

Simply comment to enter to win:
1) Ebook copy of DARK FUTURE
2) 1 of 5 custom handmade bookmarks!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I want to thank Joan for inviting me here on her blog. I’m always happy to connect with readers and talk to other people about my passion—books.

I am so excited to announce the release of my debut novel, DARK FUTURE, by Avon Impulse, an imprint of HarperCollins. I have always been captivated by dark, gritty heroes and the worlds that create them. But I also like to take a break from the dark side, so don’t be surprised if you see some fun, sexy contemporary westerns coming from me.

DARK FUTURE:

Awakened in the middle of the night by a future version of herself, Kris Davenport is given a mission: go forward in time to save the world—and His life. Of course, her future self doesn't tell her who he is, just sends her into an abyss and straight into an alien invasion.

He turns out to be ConRad Smith, the callous, untrusting Commander of Earth's army and the world's last defense. There's only one way to know for sure if this strange woman is an alien spy—slice her throat. Except, he didn't anticipate the heat he would feel as he interrogates the hot-tempered, warm-blooded woman. For a man whose sole focus has been survival, she's more temptation than he can handle. But a world on the brink of destruction leaves no room for love…and time is running out.

KC, tell us about Syon, your villain.
Oh, I am so glad you asked about my villain. I haven’t had the opportunity to talk about him yet. My villain’s name is Syon, and he’s an older man who’s in a position of authority in my futuristic society. Syon, like all good villains, is very conflicted. On one hand he’s infatuated with my hero, ConRad, and on the other Syon can’t stand to see my hero happy. Syon loves to bring people to the brink of death then nurse them back to health. Ugh, very creepy, but of course that’s what makes a great villain.

Does your novel have a theme? How did that come about?
I didn’t start off with a theme in mind, it just happened. But I believe the theme in DARK FUTURE is what would you sacrifice for love? What would you sacrifice for the greater good? Are you willing to give up your life? How about your true love’s life? It’s a dark theme, but it fit the characters and the world.

What entity do you feel supports you most in your writing career outside of family members?

I think it’s so important to have a support group of like-minded individuals. Your family can only understand the craziness of being a writer for so long. Writers need other writers to tell them that hearing voices in their head is normal. I think being part of RWA and having a good crit partner is essential, and I am blessed to have both. So here’s my shout out to my fellow RWA peeps and Erin Kellison, the best crit partner a gal could ever have.

What is your writing routine?
Like almost every woman I know it’s about keeping all the balls in the air. I work outside the home two to three days a week, have two school age children, and am very active with my volunteer work. Put that on top of keeping up on my marriage, my health, and home, well, it is a pretty crazy life. But there’s a reason we women have a large S imprinted on our chests, right?

My writing days usually go something like this. Wake up at 5 in the morning for a run or workout at home, get kids and hubby off, then wade through about twenty emails before sitting down and trying to write for three hours. Then it’s pick up the kids from school, homework, dinner, and if I’m really doing well and still can keep my eyes open, another hour of writing.

Thank you so much for having me. This was so much fun.

You can find KC Klein online:

Twitter
Facebook
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Simply comment to enter to win:
1) Ebook copy of DARK FUTURE
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KC Klein is the author of Dark Future, a sexy futuristic time-travel. She became serious about writing three years ago and was as surprised as anyone when her stories took a turn toward dark and snarky. Today, she divides her time between taking care of her family and driving in circles around Arizona, too busy creating stories in her head to pay attention to mere road signs.

Review of A TOUCH OF CRIMSON, Sylvia Day Interview + Giveaway!!

2011-10-09T21:46:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to have Sylvia Day here today! The first book I ever read of Sylvia's was Pride and Pleasure, her February historical romance release. I was beyond entertained; I was impressed. So much so that I wrote a detailed review of Pride and Pleasure on Savvy Authors. As many of you know, I'm a lover of craft, and was thrilled to find not only how much stellar craft Sylvia utilizes in her writing, but how she manipulates those elements to take her storytelling to the highest level.

I was excited (though not surprised) to find that same level of mastery in A TOUCH OF CRIMSON. Really fabulous books are always more difficult to review, not unlike they are to write. All the elements intertwine and play off each other to weave an intricate tapestry of plot and subplot, emotion and intellect, character and setting. I toyed with the idea of making this a two-part review, but decided to spare you my blathering and hit the high points of what I loved most about A TOUCH OF CRIMSON.

Comment or ask Sylvia a question to enter to win:

1) A copy of A TOUCH OF CRIMSON
2) 1 of 5 custom handmade bookmarks

A TOUCH OF CRIMSONAn angel with immense power and insatiable desire, Adrian Mitchell leads an elite Special Ops unit of the seraphim. His task is to punish the Fallen--angels who have become vampires--and command a restless pack of indentured lycans.

But Adrian has suffered his own punishment for becoming involved with mortals--losing the woman he loves again and again. Now, after nearly two hundred years, he has found her: Shadoe, her soul once more inhabiting a new body that doesn’t remember him. This time he won't let her go.

With no memory of her past as Shadoe, Lindsay Gibson knows only that she can't help being fiercely attracted to the smoldering, seductive male who crosses her path. Swept into a dangerous world of tumultuous passion and preternatural conflict, Lindsay is soon caught between her angel lover, her vampire father, and a full-blown lycan revolt. There’s more at stake than her love and her life--she could lose her very soul...

My Review:
A TOUCH OF CRIMSON begins with action and intensity--my favorite way to get things going. Immediately, I recognized the depth and number of characters. As this is the first book in a paranormal series, the ground work must be laid. This is often a difficult task, and in the hands of a lesser writer, would surely confuse, if not lose, readers. But Sylvia creates a world filled with various species, the Sentinels, the Lycan and the Fallen, and rules governing those species’, yet never makes the complex complicated.

This also shows how Sylvia trusts her readers, how she respects their ability to follow her threads, pick up her clues, utilize their intelligence to soak up all the information she's offering. I respect an author who believes her readers are sophisticated and intelligent and writes to that audience.

With her lyrical prose and fresh description, Sylvia guides the reader expertly through each group's description, culture, powers and conflicts. She deftly illustrates how each species is both at odds with and in need of the others, outlining a tight web of conflict, all while moving the story forward with action and spicy dialogue.

When you look below at Sylvia's answer to the question on creating villains, you may understand why I found the villains in A TOUCH OF CRIMSON so gripping. They felt more developed to me than most villains. A familial-type group much like the Sentinals or the Lycans, the Fallen have suffered immensely – the head of the family, a fallen angel, has lost his wings at the hands of Adrian, who himself says it was wrong to take them. And Syre’s son, Torque, who losses his wife at the beginning of the story, again at Adrian’s hands. Their loss and suffering make them sympathetic villains – my favorite kind.

The heroine in A TOUCH OF CRIMSON, Lindsey, is as wounded as the rest of the crew, though you’d never know it with her kick ass attitude. She never backs down, but is driven to hunt by memories of her beloved mother slain by vamps when she was a child. There is something deep inside that tells her she has an obligation to utilize her given abilities to right this tragic wrong, all of which made her very empathetic.

Adrian, the hero, is suffering penance for his history of wrong-doings by losing the love of his life--Shadoe in Lindsey’s body with no memory of Adrian--over and over again. He is fighting her father, the villain, for her love, an age-old conflict that tugs at heartstrings. Each man believes he’s doing the right thing for her, each says he is doing it out of supreme love for her, yet each hold their own private agenda – it’s like a train wreck from which you can’t look away, hoping to see survivors emerge from the wreckage.

The complexity of species and cultures crossing in this novel makes for many unexpected twists and turns during the course of the story. And while the questions for A TOUCH OF CRIMSON are answered within this book, many others remain, dragging the reader's interest to future books. Numerous well defined secondary characters and intriguing story lines make this first of the series rich in its own right, while priming the reader for the series as a whole, because after reading A TOUCH OF CRIMSON, you won’t be able to stay away from the remainder of the trilogy.

Sylvia's Interview:
What sparked the idea for this book/series?
Really, the idea was sparked by a combination of an editor and my existing Marked series. The editor sent a note to my agent saying that if I wrote a paranormal romance series with alpha heroes, she wanted to see it. My Marked series is where I’d introduced my Dominion world, which encompasses the entire hierarchy of angels. The Marked series focused on the lowest sphere and I always knew I was going to explore the other spheres and ranks at some point. The editor’s prodding had me thinking along paranormal romance lines and the story of the Watcher angels struck me. Angels who fell from the heavens for lust and love. How could I not write about that? It’s just too awesome. In the end, the editor who prodded me forward with the idea isn’t the editor who won the auction for the series, but I’m grateful to her all the same and always will be. The idea was there in my mind, but she gave me the impetus to get it down on paper now rather than later.

What is your strategy in creating villains?
I’m not sure I have a strategy, but I try to see my villains as complete characters, like my H/h. Unless they’re mental defectives, they’ll have facets of their character that aren’t horrible. They’ll have things they care about, things they’ll fight for. They can cry and feel pain, they have dreams and disappointments. Ideally, I like to understand their motivation—maybe even relate to it—even if their means doesn’t at all justify the end they’re going for.

Tell us something unusual about the creation/execution of this book:
The Renegade Angels series is a trilogy. Now, a trilogy can either be a set of three individual works that are connected by characters and/or theme, or it can be a single work divided into three parts. The latter is what the Renegade Angels series is--one story, divided over three books. That’s been a rocky road to travel, because I have to answer some questions in each book, but not all. Each book features a different couple and their romance, with each couple picking up the baton from the couple before as they all race to the finish. I have to set up each book so that a reader could pick up #2 or #3 and get the gist, but since it took an entire book to tell Act #1 and Act #2, I don’t have the room to rehash what’s already happened in detail. And all three heroes are also antagonists, which means there are shades of heroism and villainy in each one.

What do you love most about this book/series?
The characters are so many shades of gray. They surprise me all the time. And it’s a challenge to write. I’ve never tackled anything with this type of construction before.

Are You A Window Person Or An Aisle Person?
Aisle. I don’t like having to ask someone to get out of my way, because then I’m dependent upon them to be polite and do so. Plus I don’t care what’s out the window; my nose is in a book and I’m not looking anyway.

Are You Afraid Of Heights?
Yes, I am. *shudder*

Comment or ask Sylvia a question to enter to win:

1) A copy of A TOUCH OF CRIMSON
2) 1 of 5 custom handmade bookmarks

International

**MUST** leave a contact email to WIN

Author Bio:
Sylvia Day is the national bestselling, award-winning author of over a dozen novels written across multiple sub-genres — contemporary, fantasy, historical, futuristic, science fiction, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy — under multiple pen names: three! A wife and mother of two, she is a former Russian linguist for the U.S. Army Military Intelligence.

Sylvia is a lifelong California resident who loves to travel. Her adventures have taken her to Japan, Holland, Germany, France, Mexico, Jamaica, and all over the United States. Born in Los Angeles, she grew up in Orange County (the O.C.), and later lived in Monterey, Oceanside, and the Temecula Valley.

She is a Japanese-American who enjoys the many Japanese cultural events in Southern California as well as frequent family jaunts to Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Sea World. Her childhood career aspirations were few — become a dolphin trainer at Sea World or a bestselling novelist. Obviously, the dolphin trainer career took a back seat.

NYT Bestseller Caridad Pineiro on THE LOST + Giveaways!

2011-10-07T21:46:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to have Caridad Pineiro on the blog today! She's hear to give a little background about her latests release, THE LOST. Make sure you leave a comment or ask Caridad a question to be entered to win a lost T-shirt, an ebook of Caridad's ROOKIE OF THE YEAR and 1 of 5 of my custom handmade THE LOST bookmarks. (Couldn't post them here, but see prior giveaways for example.)

THE LOST:
Adam Bruno is no ordinary millionaire. The heir to an ancient race possessing a dark, powerful magic, he can shapeshift and create energy. His gifts make him a living weapon and have forced him to live in seclusion. But now an inhuman force hunts down Adam-just when he finds someone who makes him feel more human than he ever imagined possible . . .

Home from combat in Iraq, Bobbie Carerra wants only peace, yet soon joins Adam in a terrifying battle against paranormal enemies who hide in plain sight. She’s drawn to his strength of mind and body; he’s attracted to her courage and intoxicating energy. Their scorching passion can either transport them to the heights of ecstasy or-if Adam’s powers rage out of control-destroy them. But when an invisible brotherhood tightens its nets and someone Adam trusts betrays him, only a heartrending decision can save them.

Thank you so much for having me here today!

One of the things I love best about being a writer is being able to share so many of my favorite things and that includes the places and things that I’ve been lucky enough to experience first hand.

For example, I based the THE FIFTH KINGDOM on my travels to Mexico and a hike up the side of a Mexican pyramid despite my fear of heights.

THE LOST is located along one of my really really favorite places – the Jersey Shore. I’m not all that far from the beach and regularly go down to take long walks through all the assorted towns in order to research places for the novels in the Sin Hunters series.

Take the chase scene in THE LOST where Bobbie and Adam are forced to confront some men who have been following them. To write that scene, I walked nearly three miles from my usual haunts to Belmar and then Avon-by-Sea and back. Along the way I snapped photos of where the pivotal scene would occur in front of the Avon Pavilion.

When I was done with that, I turned my attentions to the other locations for the book, especially the town of Ocean Grove, also know as God’s Little Square Mile.

Bobbie Carrera has her condo in Ocean Grove and there are a number of scenes along the boardwalk there as well as the big black moment when Bobbie confronts Adam and asks him to have faith. I knew as I wrote that scene that there was only one place where it could happen: On the Auditorium Grounds in front of the famous Great Auditorium.

You may be wondering why I would pick somewhere like the Jersey Shore for a dark and sexy paranormal romance like THE LOST.

For starters, it’s possibly the last place that you would probably expect an ancient race of energy gatherers to be hiding out – the ol’ “hide in plain sight” concept.

Second, there is nature all around at the shore, from the ocean to the river to the many wetlands and small islands where a race like the Hunters could go to collect energy without being detected.

Not that Adam understands anything about being a Hunter at the start of THE LOST.

Adam is the missing son of Hunter leaders and has no clue that he possesses such powers. All that Adam knows is that he is different and that difference has kept him isolated from most of the world around him. It is only when he meets Bobbie and is drawn into a civil war he knew nothing about that Adam truly comes to understand the immense powers of which he is capable.

I hope you will like finding out more about Adam, Bobbie and the Hunters as well as my beloved Jersey Shore. Maybe you’ll even be able to visit one day and talk a long stroll with me through the many beautiful towns that call to me so powerfully. Maybe you’ll even see a familiar site from something I’ve included in one of the SIN HUNTER books.

Thanks so much for having me here today! I appreciate you taking the time to come by.

Make sure you leave a comment or ask Caridad a question to be entered to win the following:

1) a lost T-shirt

2) an ebook of Caridad's ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

3) 1 of 5 custom handmade bookmarks

Shirt (US/Canada only)
Bookmarks & ebook (International)
**MUST** leave contact email to win!

Caridad Piñeiro® is a multi-published, NYT bestselling author. Born in Havana, Cuba, Caridad settled in the New York Metropolitan area, attended Villanova University and St. John’s University. In additions to writing, Caridad is a partner at her law firm in midtown Manhattan.

Review, Interview + Giveaway with Jody Hedlund & The Doctor's Lady

2011-10-02T23:01:00.000-07:00

Jody Hedlund is one of the fabulous authors I met on Twitter. I've admired her thoughts on writing, the writing life and developing a career as an author. I've appreciated the genuine warmth and sincerity that comes across even online.

Leave a comment or question for Jody to enter for one of these prizes:
1) A copy of The Doctor's Lady
2) 1 of 5 custom handmade bookmarks
Open Internationally

The Doctor's Lady released early September and I was lucky enough to receive and early copy for review. This is the first novel I've read by Jody, but it won't be the last. Her debut, The Preacher's Bride, is near the very top of my TBR pile. And I was thrilled to hear recently that we will all be blessed with more of Jody's talent as she has secured a three book deal with Bethany House. (YAY Jody! Congratulations!)

The Doctor's Lady

Priscilla White knows she'll never be a wife or mother and feels God's call to the mission field in India. Dr. Eli Ernest is back from Oregon Country only long enough to raise awareness of missions to the natives before heading out West once more. But then Priscilla and Eli both receive news from the mission board: No longer will they send unmarried men and women into the field.

Left scrambling for options, the two realize the other might be the answer to their needs. Priscilla and Eli agree to a partnership, a marriage in name only that will allow them to follow God's leading into the mission field. But as they journey west, this decision will be tested by the hardships of the trip and by the unexpected turnings of their hearts.

Review:
This novel was so much more than I expected. As inspirational romance is not a genre I read often, I suppose my expectations were a bit out of whack. :) Going off the cover, the cover copy, the genre, the publisher I was ready for a light love story and lots of rich historical fact.

Boy, did I underestimate! The Doctor's Lady went above and beyond my every expectation.

While the cover copy explains the external conflict that fuels the hero and heroine's cross-country journey and hints at a touch of romance, it doesn't begin to scratch the surface of all the depth beneath the cover. The Doctor's Lady is filled with characters so real I often felt as if I could reach out and touch them; their struggles so universal, every human being could relate on some level. Their commitment to fulfill their God-given calling while struggling against broken hearts, dashed dreams and dimmed hopes created strong internal conflicts while the untamed Western lands and the hardships they brought created a very real, very threatening external antagonist.

Click for larger view

The Doctor's Lady is filled with sigh-worthy moments--those turning points, sometimes epiphanies, sometimes small flickers of revelation, when the hero or heroine would make a self discovery which would bring them closer to the other--a relationship the reader can see is part of the reason God brought them together on this mission, but one neither character is willing to give in to.

The hero, Eli Earnest, has a wonderful character arc. His stubbornness and preconceived ideas give way to a new perspective and a fresh respect for not only the heroine, Priscilla, but for women in general, seeing them as strong individuals rather than his previous opinion of them as "liabilities" because of their weaknesses. The reader also gets to watch him slowly fall in love with Priscilla, all while he ignores the signs.

Priscilla starts out strong, but becomes even stronger as the book moves forward. One of the things I loved about the heroine was the way she could be so very strong, yet never need to overpower or bully or use harshness to show her strength. She never lost that feminine softness, no matter how rough the road became, as that made me respect her all the more--woman to woman. I found it especially enjoyable to watch her grow stronger in one aspect of her personality while softening in another to allow Eli into her heart. A very complex character growth that Jody portrayed artistically.

Through it all, the external conflict never wained. At every turn in the road, every fork in the path, new conflict arose, testing the characters will, their determination, their commitment all while showing their internal growth.

I'm a picky reader. Someone who has to have something pushing me forward to the next page--personal conflict, character growth, plot twists, action. I won't hang out for lingering description, although I value beautiful prose. I'm not patient enough to wade through paragraphs of historical facts, no matter how fascinating. I need stuff (a highly technical term) to happen--internally, externally, it doesn't matter. But something has to happen to get me to move forward.

I couldn't stop moving forward with Jody's book. There were nights I purposely didn't pick up the book because I knew I wouldn't put it down and I had to get sleep for work the next day.

Oh, and don't let the genre fool you...Jody is absolutely fabulous with sexual tension. The attraction between these two sparks from the beginning and the heat only grows throughout the story. But one of the elements that makes that desire so strong between them is the development of their emotional bond along the journey. Their attraction and love for each other is truly a beautiful thing to watch grow in front of your eyes.

And I'm thrilled with the excerpt she chose to post because it's one of my favorite moments in the book. I think it's the moment my heart completely opened to Eli and I knew Priscilla's would too. This excerpt is the perfect example of so many passages in The Doctor's Lady that gave me "Ahhh" moments.

What’s your favorite thing about the book featured here today?

I had a lot of fun writing the wedding night scene. Because Eli and Priscilla agreed to a marriage in name only, they have no plans to consummate their marriage. However, nobody else knows their secret. And so after the wedding, Priscilla’s mother and sister help her get ready for her first night with her new husband. They turn back the covers on the bed, brush her hair, and give her instructions on what to expect. While they’re doing this, Priscilla gets really nervous. And a little later when Eli finally comes into the room and sees her in her nightgown with her hair down, he gets nervous too.

I enjoyed exploring the growing attraction between them, the awkwardness of being thrust together in the same bedroom (after only knowing each other for about a week), and then watching them figure out how they’re going to handle the physical aspect of their relationship for the duration of their trip West.

What creates the biggest conflict between your hero and heroine?

One of the biggest conflicts is that Eli, the hero, didn’t want to have to take a woman to the West. He thinks it’s too dangerous and would rather go alone. However, in order to start the mission to the Nez Perce (and receive funding for the trip), the Mission Board leaves him with little choice—he either must take a wife or give up his dream of going west.

Priscilla, the heroine, on the other hand, wants to prove that she is strong enough for such a trip and life in the west. She believes she has all of the qualities necessary. However, as the trip progresses, they face one life-threatening danger after another but meanwhile begin to fall in love. Eli’s growing love for Priscilla only makes him all the more determined to keep her safe. He’s even decided to give her an annulment and send her back home if needed.

Who or what has influenced your writing, and in what way?

If I had to pick one person who has been the most instrumental in shaping my writing career, I’d have to single out my mom. When I was growing up, she facilitated an environment that fostered my love of writing and my creativity. She read a lot to me, allowed time for plenty of free play, believed in me, taught me to work hard, and encouraged me to dream big. Because of that, I grew up knowing I could do anything I set my mind to. Even today, she’s still a huge part of my writing career, cheering me on and encouraging me in countless ways.

What is your writing routine?

Since I have 5 children ranging in ages from 6 to 14, I have often have trouble finding uninterrupted writing time! But usually I try to carve out a couple of hours each afternoon to meet my daily word count goal (or chapters when I’m editing). Whatever I don’t finish during the afternoon, I come back to after my kids are in bed.

I also have a couple of mornings a week where I get a few extra hours of writing time, and I also take the entire day on Saturday to write.

Which do you like more—rainy days or snowy days?

I’m going to have to say rainy days. I love the blowing wind and the way the leaves and raindrops patter against the house. On those dark days, I light scented candles and drink hot tea.

And while I like snowy days too (I am a Mid-Western girl born and bred!), by the end of the winter I get tired of all of the shoveling that we have to do!

Where can readers find you?

I hang out on Facebook here: Author Jody Hedlund
I also love to chat on Twitter: @JodyHedlund
My home base is at my website: jodyhedlund.com

Excerpt from Chapter 5 of The Doctor’s Lady by Jody Hedlund:

(When Eli knows he has to ask Priscilla to marry him in order to fulfill his dream of going west. He sneaks into the classroom where she is teaching and . . .)

A burst of laughter near the back of the narrow schoolroom finally commanded her return to earth and to her classroom.

“Now, children. You are disobeying our rule for silence.” Her gaze lingered on the board for a second longer before she tore herself away and pivoted to face the class.

The younger children perched in their desks near the front of the room, and the older children sat in the back near the entrance—mostly the girls who weren’t privileged enough to attend Female Academy in Troy where she’d done a significant amount of her schooling.

The students’ wide smiles greeted her, and the sunshine pouring in the large windows lit their faces. She had only to follow their glances to the back row to see the source of their laughter.

Her fingers flew to the cameo at her neck.

With his long legs tucked awkwardly under a desk and his hand raised, Dr. Ernest watched her with a solemn expression that didn’t match the merriment in his eyes.

“Miss White.” He lowered his hand. “I have a question.”

She stared at him speechless, a strange mixture of excitement and apprehension stirring in her stomach.

“Some scientists say that Ceres isn’t really a planet.” He hunched his back to fit onto the small bench, and his knees pushed against the flimsy desk top. “After all, it’s located in the asteroid belt.”

What was he doing back in Angelica? And how had he managed to sneak into the school without her hearing him?

His shirt and waistcoat were crisp and clean. Without his hat, the wild, untamable waves of his hair had rebelled against his obvious attempts to smooth them down. He’d shaven the shadowy layer of stubble, but his smooth, tan skin had a scruffiness he couldn’t shed. He was as well groomed as any gentleman she’d ever met. But for all his efforts, there was still something rugged about him—and something dangerously appealing.

Her hand fluttered to the wisps of hair that floated about her face. Surely he wasn’t back to carry out Mother’s marriage charade.

Even from the furthest row of the classroom, his winter blue eyes caught hers with their intensity. For a long moment she couldn’t breathe. Nor could she look away. He was a flame, and she was the little girl who’d been warned not to touch. Only she couldn’t remember why she ought to stay away, especially when every nerve in her body urged her to reach out.

“And Ceres is too small.” A grin teased the corner of his mouth, almost as if he knew he was getting the reaction from her he’d intended.

She forced herself to start breathing again, calmly. If he thought he could steal into her classroom and flirt with her, then just wait until she joined in. She’d had plenty of practice in her younger days, when she’d been much more carefree. He’d be no match for her ability to beguile.

“Why, Dr. Ernest.” She tilted her head. “You said you had a question. And all I’ve heard are statements.”

“Excuse me, Miss White.” His grin widened. “Course, you’re right.”

She lifted her lips into her sweetest, most practiced smile. “Would you like to try rephrasing your statement and show the children how to ask a proper question?”

“Certainly,” he drawled. “For such a pretty lady like you, how could any man say no?”

The older girls tittered. Their flashing smiles and flushed cheeks were evidence they had already fallen prey to his winsome ways.

She braced herself. He wouldn’t so easily sway her. After all, he’d made it quite clear he wasn’t interested in her.

“So . . . ” he started.

If he wasn’t back because of her, why was he sitting in her classroom intent upon engaging her in playful banter?

“So, my question is this.” A shadow filtered through his eyes and snuffed the laughter in them, making them too serious. And when he extricated his legs from the desk, instead of rising to his feet, he lowered himself into the aisle onto one knee.

She stifled a shiver.

“Miss White?” His gaze found her again.

The intensity sent her heart into wild dash. Her fingers went back to her throat, to the delicate cameo, to the pattering of her pulse beneath.

His eyes spoke the words before he could get them out. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

©Jody Hedlund, 2011

Leave a comment or question for Jody to enter for one of these prizes:
1) A copy of The Doctor's Lady
2) 1 of 5 custom handmade bookmarks
Open Internationally

*MUST* Leave a contact email to WIN!

If you have trouble commenting try :
~ a different browser
~ leaving a comment w name and URL
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~ email me and I'll post your comment (joan @ joanswan.com)

Jody Hedlund is an award-winning historical romance novelist and author of the best-selling book, The Preacher's Bride. She received a bachelor’s degree from Taylor University and a master’s from the University of Wisconsin, both in Social Work. Currently she makes her home in Michigan with her husband and five busy children. Her second book, The Doctor’s Lady released in September 2011.

Interview, Excerpt & Giveaway with Catherine Ryan Hyde!!

2011-09-29T03:00:00.000-07:00

I have a very special guest today--Catherine Ryan Hyde, multiple award-winning, bestselling author of 18 novels in mainstream fiction and young adult fiction. You may know her best from the book-turned-movie Pay It Foward. Since the blockbuster hit, she's gone on to publish 12 more successful novels.

She is giving away 3 copies of DON'T LET ME GO along with 3 custom handmade bookmarks pictured below today! Simply leave a comment or questions to enter.

Catherine and I live in the same area of California and met about a decade ago when Catherine gave a small, private course on writing. I don't remember how I found the class and I didn't know who Catherine was at the time, but it must have been fate, because Catherine gave me my first solid footing in writing fiction, a footing that has everything to do with how far I've come.

Catherine taught me how to write a query letter and synopsis and went on to show me how to immediately grab a reader and then hold their attention through the pages, and even after trying various other styles, I always came back to Catherine's teachings because they were solid, smart and savvy. Catherine's instruction along with her industry knowledge was the foundation for the connection I made with my current agent and my first sale to an editor.

Moving forward, Catherine continued to inspire authors with occasional courses on craft-related topics and a "support-group" of sorts where authors from the area would get together and share their recent accomplishments or disappointments and talk over industry topics or problems. While I was in her class and mentioned my then-6th grader's love of reading, Catherine arranged a visit to her class at the local elementary school to discuss writing. She has always been endlessly generous with her time, knowledge and experience.

Her writing is both poignant and breathtakingly real, her characters starkly realistic, her conflict biting and complex. I am particularly awed by her stellar craft in all aspects of storytelling and prose. If you haven't read Catherine's work, you haven't witnessed raw, emotional storytelling at its finest.

I can't say I've ever had someone I've considered a hero, nor have I ever admired any particular societal icon, but when it comes to writing, I'd definitely consider Catherine Ryan Hyde my mentor. And I'm thrilled to have her here today.

She releases her latest novel, DON'T LET ME GO today!

GRACE
Ten year old Grace knows that her mum loves her, but her mum loves drugs too. There's only so long Grace can fend off the 'woman from the country' who is threatening to put her into care. Her only hope is...

BILLY
Grown-man Billy Shine hasn't left his apartment in years. People scare him. And so day in, day out, he lives a perfectly orchestrated, silent life within his four walls. Until...

THE PLAN
Grace bursts into Billy's life with a loud voice and a plan to get her mum clean. But it won't be easy. Because they have to take away the one thing her mum needs most...Grace.

Catherine, tell us about your upcoming release, DON'T LET ME GO.

Don’t Let Me Go is the story of Grace, a 10-year-old girl whose mother has fallen deeply into drug addiction. Grace is almost entirely unsupervised when we meet her. She lives in a run-down, six-unit apartment house in a bad section of L.A., and she’s about to end up in the foster care system. Except one of her five neighbors, Rayleen, had some bad experiences in foster care. And she makes up her mind that Grace is not going there. And she pulls everyone else in the apartment house together to make sure nothing bad happens to the girl. And these are not the kind of people who would otherwise have been pulled together. They’re the kind of people who seem destined to live their lives apart. Even Billy gets involved, the neighbor no one besides grace has ever met, or even seen. Because he doesn’t go outside. And he doesn’t talk to people. And he doesn’t have a life, because he’s afraid of life. But Grace gets in where no one else can. And these five really disparate people team up to save Grace, but Grace saves them. Even though they didn’t exactly know they needed saving. But, looking back, it seems pretty clear.

What creates the biggest conflict between your hero and heroine?

I love this question, because I get to make a hero and a heroine out of a 10-year old girl and an agoraphobic ex Broadway dancer. But that’s Grace and Billy.

The biggest conflict between them comes in the form of Billy’s neuroses. Grace wants—needs—him to do these things that seem so basic to her. Like go outside. And much as she loves him, it’s hard for her to be patient with his shortcomings. But in time she learns to accept him more or less the way he is, though she never pulls any punches about the fact that she finds him weird. Well, most people would find him weird. But Grace doesn’t really mean it as an insult, which is why it works.

Why did you put these two together?

I just love exploring this oddball type of relationship. I love bonds between characters who become family even when they’re not related by blood. I love it even more when they’re not related by much of anything.

I like to explore non-sexual bonds, because they tend to be far quirkier. We know why people are drawn together if the people are two consenting adults. It’s a pull we all understand. But what forms a bond between two people like Billy and Grace? As a novelist, questions like that one give me a lot to explore.

Is there a message in this novel that you want readers to grasp?

The obvious novel (Pay It Forward) aside, I really try not to have any particularly overt messages in my work. I don’t want to be too didactic or appear to preach. I think it’s the novelist’s job to entertain, rather than teach. But, now, here’s the catch. I think it’s great when the reader learns something about the human condition from one of my novels. But I don’t want to be seen as teaching.

An old writing mentor of mine once said (regarding flashbacks, which many feel are to be avoided), “If you have to use a flashback, by all means do so, but don’t get caught.” I think that’s the point I’m trying to make about message. I want the reader to feel they discovered something in my books, not that I tried to force-feed it.

That said…I think the point I was trying to make in Don’t Let Me Go is that fear keeps us alone. But we need each other. It’s so easy to avoid each other, because it’s so complicated to deal with people. So fraught with emotional and logistical landmines. But what we lose in being alone is so much greater than the trouble we avoid. It’s the kind of lesson that could go right over the head of a grownup, while a 10-year-old kid could grasp it easily.

How do you keep in touch with your readers?

Any way I can. Any way they want me to. I have my email address on my website. And it’s my actual address. The mail comes to me, and only to me. I don’t have an assistant weeding these out for me. I just like to hear from readers. So I correspond with readers fairly regularly by email. And of course there’s Twitter and Facebook, and that’s another way readers and I can interact.

What are you reading now?

Second Nature by Jacqueline Mitchard.

What would you like to tell readers?

That it’s not a line when I say I like to hear from readers. I really do. It makes this a far less solitary profession. I love to hear what readers did and did not like about the books. I love it when people tell me favorite lines. I love it even more when they tell me about their own life experience as it relates to what they read. It means a great deal when relative strangers give me pieces of themselves like that. It has value.

I also want to tell readers to never judge a book by its movie.

Where can we find you online?

My website: www.catherineryanhyde.com
My blog: http://www.catherineryanhyde.com/blog/
Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/crhyde
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Catherine-Ryan-Hyde/55974126195
Twitter: http://twitter.com/cryanhyde

I could go on, but…I’m guessing, armed with that, you’ll find me.

Here's an excerpt from DON'T LET ME GO:

“Who brought you home from school?” he asked Grace.

He sat perched on the very edge of his sofa, watching her look around his apartment. Watching her peer at all of his photos again, as if she hadn’t just examined them the previous day.

He couldn’t focus away from his lack of sleep. It left his nerves raw, and feeling as though they’d been recently sandpapered.

“Felipe did,” she said. “That way Yolanda wouldn’t have to take off from work. Because they don’t pay Yolanda when she takes off from work. She can take off. But then she just loses the money.”

“And Yolanda is…”

“My mom’s sponsor.”

“Sponsor? What kind of sponsor? What does she sponsor her to do?”

“In the program. You know. Like an AA sponsor, except Yolanda is NA.”

“Oh, good lord, that explains a lot,” Billy said, wishing after the fact he hadn’t said it out loud.

“What does it explain?”

“Forget I mentioned it. That’s me in an Equity waver production of The Iceman Cometh.”

“I understood the picture better before you told me that.”

“So how did Jake Lafferty find out I was going to be taking care of you?”

“Oh, that’s easy. Rayleen had to go talk to him. Because Felipe didn’t want to come pick me up at school, because he figured Mr. Lafferty would give him a hard time about it. So Rayleen had to go talk to Mr. Lafferty, and I had to go, because otherwise I would have been alone with just my mom, who was asleep, and then if the county came to check on me, that would be bad. So I went along. And, wow, he was really mad. But Rayleen didn’t act like she was one bit scared of him. She just told him Felipe was gonna pick me up from school, and he better just stay out of it. He didn’t like it much, but he just sort of said, ‘Why should I care? Do whatever you want.’ But then he wanted to know where I’d be after Felipe went to work, which seemed weird to me, because, a minute before that, he’d just said he didn’t care. I told him a lot about you.”

“Oh. OK. That explains a lot.”

“You say that a bunch, did you know that? What does it explain?”

“It explains why he came down here and asked personal questions.”

“What kind of personal questions?”

“Well…how can I tell you…if they’re personal?”

“Right,” Grace said. “Duh. Sorry.”

“What did you tell him about me?”

“That you used to be a dancer and an actor and a singer…”

That explains a lot, Billy thought, but he kept it to himself.

“…and that your name was Billy Shine, but that your first name used to be Rodney or Dennis or something…”

“Donald. Actually.”

“Oh, Right. Donald. Sorry. And I told him your last name used to be Fleinsteen, but you changed it to Shine, because Fleinsteen wasn’t a dancer’s name.”

“Feldman,” Billy said, suddenly even more tired.

“Oh. Feldman. Where did I get Fleinsteen?”

“I wouldn’t venture to guess.”

“There you go talking weird again. I guess I told him wrong. What’s this one? Is this you dancing?”

She held up a framed photo that had been sitting on the end table near the couch. It was indeed a photo of Billy dancing.

“Yes. In fact, it’s me dancing on Broadway.”

“What’s Broadway?”

“It’s a street. In New York.”

“It doesn’t look like a street. It looks like you’re dancing inside.”

“Right. In a theater. On Broadway.”

“Oh. Is that good?”
“That’s about as good as it gets.”

“Too bad you don’t do this anymore. I mean, since you loved it so much.”

“Well, look at it this way, Grace. If I were still dancing, I’d be on Broadway right

now, and then who would look after you?”

“True. But that’s another thing I was thinking we could talk about, because if you were still a dancer—”

“Maybe we should play the quiet game,” Billy interjected.

“What’s the quiet game?”

“You know. The one where we try to see who can go the longest without talking.”

“Ugh,” Grace said, putting the Broadway photo back in the right place, but at the wrong angle. “Sounds really boring.”

“I’m just so tired, though,” Billy said, leaning over and fixing the angle of the Broadway photo. “I didn’t sleep last night. I’m just not sure how much more energy I have for talking.”

Grace appeared suddenly in front of him, bouncing up and down on her toes, her hands on his knees.

“Will you teach me to dance?”
“That takes energy, too.”

“Please, Billy? Please, please, please? Please, please, please? Pleeeeease?”

Billy sighed deeply. Wearily.

“OK,” he said. “I guess it takes less energy than listening to that.”

Don't forget to leave a comment or ask a question to enter to win:

1 of 3 copies of DON'T LET ME GO
Each with a custom bookmark

*MUST* leave contact email to WIN!

Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of 18 published and forthcoming books.

Her newest releases are Jumpstart the World (Knopf, Fall 2010) and Second Hand Heart (Transworld UK, Fall 2010). Forthcoming is Don’t Let Me Go (Transworld UK, Spring 2011) and When You Were Older (Transworld UK, Fall 2011).

Newer novels are Becoming Chloe (Knopf, 2006), Love in the Present Tense (Doubleday, 2006), The Year of My Miraculous Reappearance (Knopf, 2007), Chasing Windmills (Doubleday, 2008), The Day I Killed James (Knopf, 2008), Diary of a Witness (Knopf, 2009), and When I Found You (Transworld UK, 2009).

Both Becoming Chloe and Jumpstart the World were included on the ALA’s Rainbow List. Jumpstart the World was chosen as a finalist for two Lambda Literary Awards. Love in the Present Tense enjoyed bestseller status in the UK, where it broke the top ten, spent five weeks on the national bestseller list, was reviewed on a major TV book club, and shortlisted for a Best Read of the Year award at the British Book Awards.

Older works include the story collection Earthquake Weather, and the novels Funerals for Horses, Pay it Forward, Electric God, and Walter’s Purple Heart.

Pay It Forward was adapted into a major motion picture, chosen by the American Library Association for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than 23 languages for distribution in over 30 countries. The mass market paperback was released in October 2000 by Pocket Books and quickly became a national bestseller. It is still in print, and was rereleased in a trade paperback edition in April of 2010.

More than 50 of her short stories have been published in The Antioch Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, The Virginia Quarterly Review, Ploughshares, Glimmer Train, The Sun and many other journals, and in the anthologies Santa Barbara Stories and California Shorts and the bestselling anthology Dog is my Co-Pilot. Her stories have been honored in the Raymond Carver Short Story Contest and the Tobias Wolff Award and nominated for Best American Short Stories, the O'Henry Award, and the Pushcart Prize. Three have been cited in Best American Short Stories.

She is founder and former president (2000-2009) of the Pay It Forward Foundation. As a professional public speaker she has addressed the National Conference on Education, twice spoken at Cornell University, met with Americorps members at the White House and shared a dais with Bill Clinton.

Interview + Giveaway with Diana Cosby and HIS DESTINY!

2011-09-27T21:42:00.000-07:00

Diana Cosby, International Best-Selling author (and fellow Margie Lawson grad) , is with me today talking about her upcoming release HIS DESTINY, on sale this October, and chocolate cake! Yes, you heard me right! Chocolate cake! In fact, she's sharing her very own special recipe of chocolate cake! YUM!!

We've got lots of giveaways and lots to talk about!
Remember to leave a comment or ask Diana a question to enter for one of the following prizes:

1) An ARC of HIS DESTINY
2) Claymore letter opener with a sheath (shaped like sword)
3) 1 of 5 custom handmade bookmarks

THEIR SECRETS WILL DRAW THEM TOGETHER

As one of England's most capable mercenaries, Emma Astyn can charm an enemy and brandish a knife with unmatched finesse. Assigned to befriend Dubh Duer, an infamous Scottish rebel, she assumes the guise of innocent damsel Christina Moffat to intercept the writ he’s carrying to a traitorous bishop. But as she gains the dark hero’s confidence and realizes they share a tattered past, compassion—and passion—distract her from the task at hand…

BUT THE TRUTH MAY TEAR THEM APART

His legendary slaying of English knights has won him the name Dubh Duer, but Sir Patrik Cleary MacGruder is driven by duty and honor, not heroics. Rescuing Christina from the clutches of several such knights is a matter of obligation for the Scot. But there's something alluring about her fiery spirit, even if he has misgivings about her tragic history. Together, they'll endure a perilous journey of love and betrayal, and a harrowing fight for their lives…

Diana, tell us about your upcoming release.

His Destiny is Sir Patrik Cleary MacGruder’s story about redemption. A tortured soul, he yearns for a family who believes him dead, and he is determined to somehow mend a bond he shattered. But he doesn’t count on saving a woman he believes is Scottish, her betrayal, or that amongst the setting of Scotland torn in a war for its independence, to find love.

What’s your favorite thing about the book featured here today?

My favorite thing about His Destiny is the characters, their struggles, the challenges they overcome to find peace with self as love; Patrik as Emma both hold dark secrets that can destroy them.

What sparked the idea for this book/series?

I love fairies as crystals. I thought how neat to create a series where by inventive means, each heroine takes a crystal belonging to her respective hero before she flees. I’ve had a blast incorporating that aspect in each MacGruder brother book.

What creates the biggest conflict between your hero and heroine?

As a child, Sir Patrik Cleary MacGruder’s family was murdered before his eyes by English knights. Since, he’s despised the English. The heroine, an English mercenary, is hired by an English advisor to gain Patrik’s trust and learn the secrets he knows. His Destiny begins by the heroine pretending to be a Scottish woman in distress, setting up an event where Patrik ‘saves’ her. The biggest conflict is that Emma doesn’t count on falling in love with Patrik, and being forced to decide if she can walk away from her mission or tell him the truth.

Why did you put these two together?

Sir Patrik Cleary MacGruder is a tortured hero, a strong knight who would easily overwhelm most women. So, I knew the heroine must be as strong as him, hence I made her a mercenary. Then, I knew his heroine must be English, whom he despises with his every breath. When I paired the two in a dynamic setting, sparks ignited.

What do you love most about this book/series?

That the common theme woven throughout the MacGruder brothers series is, “All is not what it seems.”

What is your writing routine?

Each day after my morning work, I write until I reach my daily goal. When I’m writing new pages, I write 5 pages a day. When I write, I normally have a Macintosh candle going and listen to soundtracks like Braveheart, Rob Roy, or Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

How do you keep in touch with your readers?

Daily on Facebook. Otherwise, e-mail, newsletters, book signings, speaking engagements, and other venues. I love trying new things, and recently appeared at a wine festival where I performed the waltz with a local dancer. Too fun!

What would you like to tell readers?

To always follow your heart and believe in yourself. Dreams are vision of what you can become.

What is your preferred genre to read for pleasure?

Romantic suspense any setting.

What did you do before you became a full-time writer?

I’m a retired Navy Chief, AGC(AW). I was a meteorologist/oceanographer.

What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you started writing?

To trust myself. Each story is unique, and only we can tell our story.

How would you best describe your books?

Scottish medieval romantic suspense. Think Braveheart meets Romancing The Stone.

Claymore Letter Opener - Click for larger image

What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?

My life goal is to make a positive difference in others’ lives. In addition to volunteering for Habitat For Humanity as well as other charities, I donate 10% of my royalties to a charity of my choice. As my career grows, my dream of making a larger difference in others life is realized. It’s truly humbling. I have many future goals, buy a working dog for a local police station, buy a fire truck for a local fire department, sponsor an entire home for Habitat For Humanity, with my largest goal being to open a place where military members can stay for free with their families during rehabilitation.

International Food Bank Food Drive:
In addition, I have an annual International Food Bank Food Drive as when you give a person who is struggling a warm meal, you give them hope. To participate:

Between 1 November 2011– 4 December 2011, when you donate to a local food bank, post on my Facebook page or Facebook Fan page, then I'll add you in the drawing. On 5 December I will draw a name from those received and post the winner’s name on Facebook. The winner will receive an autographed set of the MacGruder brother series: His Captive, His Woman, His Conquest, and His Destiny. I'll sign the books and send them priority to whomever you would like to give a personal Christmas present!

What are your current projects?

I’m currently working on a story for a Highland Vampire anthology coming out in 2012. Other authors for the trilogy include Hannah Howell, who is an amazing story teller!

I’m preparing for a book signing tour in Scotland during the summer of 2012!

Do You Have Any Undiscovered Or Hidden Talents?

I LOVE to bake, and I often create new recipes. A favorite is, “Diana Cosby’s Awesome Texas Chocolate Cake.” It has layers of devil food cake, ganache, whipped topping, and shaved chocolate. **Recipe below**

Do You Believe That The Cup Is Half Empty Or Half Full?

Half full, rising, and I believe each day is filled with enormous blessings.

Are You An Introvert Or An Extrovert?

Introvert.

Which do you like more—rainy days or snowy days?

Each are amazing and inspire me.

Are you a night or a morning person?

Definitely a morning person!

At The Beach Would You Rather Play In The Sand, Or Play In The Water?

Play in the water.

Are You Usually Late, Early Or Right On Time?

Early.

Where can we find you online?

Website
Facebook

Diana Cosby's Awesome Texas Chocolate Cake

Devil’s Food Cake mix
Ganache
Whipped topping
Chocolate shavings
Chocolate frosting (*I make homemade.)

Ganache:
.1/2 cup heavy cream
.1 lb. semisweet dark chocolate
*In a heavy saucepan, bring heavy cream to a boil. Remove from heat, mix in chocolate, stir until melted. Chill ganache until peanut butter consistency.

Directions:
Bake two 9” layer cakes according to directions. Once cooled, set first layer on a cake plate. Add coat of ganache. Layer with whipped topping. Next, add second layer of cake. Coat with ganache. Frost side of cake. Layer top with whipped topping. Sprinkle on top with chocolate shavings. Chill until served.

Note: I love baking as creating recipes. With a passion for chocolate, I thought the pairing of devil’s food cake, ganache and whipped topping would be yummy. The addition of the whipped topping cuts the sweetness of the cake, making it moist and rich and a perfect anytime cake.

Enjoy!

Most people think of retirement as a time to relax. For me, retiring from my job as a Navy Chief Meteorologist/ Oceanographer allowed me to pursue my passion—writing romance novels. With 33 moves behind me and having traveled through many more countries, I was anxious to create characters who reflected the amazing cultures and people I’ve met over the years.

My years of living in Europe drew me to write in the medieval time frame. After watching the movie Braveheart and with my passion for writing complex plots, I knew I had to write in this volatile medieval timeframe, hence the MacGruder brothers were born.

I have many passions in life, but one that resonates in my life is that of giving. I firmly believe that each of us can make a positive difference in another person’s life. There are so many charities that I believe in. With each book I sell, I will tithe ten percent of my royalties to a charity of my choice. Some of the charities I've chosen are:

-The National Trust for Scotland, which acts as guardian of Scotland’s magnificent heritage of architectural, scenic and historic treasures.

-Habitat For Humanity [http://www.graysonhabitat.org/], which gives a deserving family more than a home, but a foundation upon which to build their dreams.

-Ducks Unlimited [http://www.ducks.org/], which supports wildlife and wetlands conservation.

His Captive-Alexander MacGruder
His Woman-Duncan MacGruder
His Conquest-Seathan MacGruder
His Destiny - Oct 2011 Pre-Order now!
Highland vampire anthology: Title/Release date TBA

Remember to leave a comment or ask Diana a question to enter for one of the following prizes:

1) An ARC of HIS DESTINY

2) Claymore letter opener with a sheath (shaped like sword)

3) 1 of 5 custom handmade bookmarks

Book and bookmarks International

Claymore letter opener US/Can only

*MUST* leave contact email to WIN

If you have trouble commenting try :
~ a different browser
~ leaving a comment w name and URL
~ leaving comment as annonymous w email/name in message
~ email me and I'll post your comment (joan @ joanswan.com)

JOURNEY OF A DEBUT AUTHOR

2011-09-25T22:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Journey of a Debut Author Blog Tour!

Although my debut FEVER doesn't come out until Spring 2012, I thought it would be fun to let readers and prospective authors in on what goes on behind the scenes of getting a debut author prepared for publication. At each stop we’ll discuss one step of the process, I’ll give examples from my experiences and some of my favorite, NYT bestselling authors will also answer questions relating to their debut experience.

Of course, I can’t seem to show my face without giving something away, so I’ll be offering books by the guest offer of the day on each stop of the tour!

The tour's first stop will be at Romance at Random on October 3rd, where I'll be talking about The Call, and Lauren Dane, USA Today and NYT bestselling author guests with me, answering questions about her debut experience in publishing.

I’ll be giving away copies of Lauren’s novels INSIDE OUT and UNDERCOVER to two lucky commenters -- open Internationally! Stop by and enter to win!!

Stop by ROMANCE AT RANDOM on OCTOBER 3rd to WIN!!

Writing a Series with Elizabeth Aston + Giveaways!

2011-09-22T07:13:00.000-07:00

My guest today is Elizabeth Aston, born in Chile to an impeccably English father and a distinctly un-English Argentine mother. Educated by Benedictine nuns in Calcutta, Fabians in London, and Inklings at Oxford, she has lived in India, England, Malta and Italy. Her Mountjoy books (originally published by Hodder) were inspired by years of living in York, where her son was a chorister at the Minster, and depict the unholy, unquiet, and frequently unseemly goings-on of an imaginary northern cathedral city and its peculiar inhabitants.

Her other books include the bestselling Darcy series – six historical romantic comedies set in the world of Jane Austen, and a contemporary novel, Writing Jane Austen. These were inspired by her love of Jane Austen – her heroes, her heroines and her wicked sense of humour.

Elizabeth Aston on Writing a Series:

What is it about a series that draws the crowds? Familiar characters? A familiar world? Stories that have a life beyond the last page?

The most usual series novels are found in the world of crime, where the same cop/PI/detective returns, book after book, to solve new crimes. We get to know the sleuths, with all their faults and fancies, vices and virtues, and we are happy to be able to spend more time with them and their circle than we would ever get in a single volume.

I’m not a crime writer, so my books are different. I’ve written two series: the first the Mountjoy sequence of romantic comedies, set a while ago in an imaginary city and county in the north of England. The other series of novels are six historicals set in a post Jane-Austen world, beginning with Mr Darcy’s Daughters, which are about the imaginary family that Darcy and Elizabeth have some two decades after their marriage at the end of Pride and Prejudice.

Neither of these series started out as such. The Mountjoys began with a single book, Children of Chance, now published as a prequel, and then, having created that imaginary world, I and my agent and publisher all wanted more of it. So I wrote a new book, with a new heroine and a new happy ending, but grounded the story once more in the city of Eyot (loosely based on York), and the surrounding countryside. Favourite characters from the first story came back: the cellist, Sylvester Tate; his witchy, second-sighted housekeeper, Lily; the wicked, amoral and fascinating Valdemar Mountjoy and his troubled son, Thomas.

Two more books were asked for, and by now I had quite a cast to draw on, who could return and feature in the new novel so readers can pick up on what happened to them after the end of their stories. It was the same with the Darcy series: one story led to another, each self-contained, but each enriched with characters and references to people and events in the other books.

For a writer, a series can be both a benefit and a restriction. Once you have your setting, once you’ve built your world, that’s what you write about. You can take your characters out of the main location, as I do in Volcanic Airs, where the Mountjoys and their friends and relations all decamp to an idyllic island of Sicily, but even so, part of the story still takes place in Eyot, and that’s where the roots of the novel are firmly planted. And the characters can - and should - grow and develop, but you have to work with what’s already happened to them. There’s no going back and inventing a different back-story for them.

How long should a series be? Both of mine came in at six books, and for me, that was enough. I felt it left both readers and author, satisfied but not sated, and, like a good guest, one shouldn’t overstay one’s welcome.

Might I return to either world, the delicious and intriguing city of Eyot or the fascinating and dashing world of London in the early nineteenth century?

Maybe. The characters and settings are alive for me as they always were, and questions come into my head, I wonder what happened to…? Maybe a novella or two, just to keep in touch, say hello, see how they’re all getting on.

As with all good friends, one never wants to lose touch.

What do you love about a series? What is your favorite series?

Comment for a chance to win 2 prizes:

1) A copy of Children of Chance, the prequel of the Mountjoy series.
Elizabeth will pick a winner of this ebook next week!

2) All commenters will be entered for the Grand Prize: a lovely hematite bracelet and earrings. Elizabeth will pick a lucky winner mid-October.

International

MUST leave contact email to WIN

Trish McCallan Talking Alphas w Excerpt + Giveaway!!

2011-09-20T01:00:00.000-07:00

I met Trish years ago when we critiqued for each other. I'm so very thrilled to have her here today as a guest, talking about her new release, FORGED IN FIRE. Zane is just as yummy as an alpha can get and Trish's writing is as deep as her characters and as visceral as the twists in her plots. And, boy, oh boy, do I love what I see she's done with good ole Zane!!

Leave a comment to be entered for a chance at:
1) An ecopy of FORGED BY FIRE
2) 1 of 5 custom handmade bookmarks

International!

FORGED BY FIRE

Beth Brown doesn’t believe in premonitions until she dreams a sexy stranger is gunned down during the brutal hijacking of a commercial airliner. When events in her dream start coming true, she heads to the flight’s departure gate. To her shock, she recognizes the man she’d watched die the night before.

Lieutenant Commander Zane Winters comes from a bloodline of elite warriors with psychic abilities. When Zane and two of his platoon buddies arrive at Sea-Tac Airport, he has a vision of his teammates’ corpses. Then she arrives—a leggy blonde who sets off a different kind of alarm.

As Beth teams up with Zane, they discover the hijacking is the first step in a secret cartel’s deadly global agenda and that key personnel within the FBI are compromised. To survive the forces mobilizing against them, Beth will need to open herself to a psychic connection with the sexy SEAL who claims to be her soul mate.

The Protector by Trish McCallan

Hands down, my favorite romantic hero is the protector. I like them alpha too, dripping with testosterone. It doesn’t matter what the sub-genre is, as long as the book has a sexy, alpha protector for a hero.

Pretty much every sub-genre has this type of hero, although they are most common in romantic suspense, or romantic thrillers. In this sub-genre the hero is a usually in law enforcement, or perhaps a spy, sometimes a military man. They serve their city, or county or country and protect an unsuspecting and somewhat naïve population from everything from rapists to terrorists. Many of these heroes are gruff, often damaged by what they’ve seen during their forays into the seamier side of life. Or they can be tortured by past horrors, and past betrayals. Almost all of them are highly sexual, as though that alpha protectiveness goes hand in hand with a ramped up sex drive—which is no surprise really, when you consider all that testosterone. *BG*

The protector archetype thrives in romantic suspense and some of my favorite romantic suspense heroes fall within this archetype. Linda Howard excels at writing this kind of a hero. And I count several of her novels among my favorites. To Kill and Tell, Mackenzie’s Pleasure, Dream Man, Burn—these are all on my keeper shelf. And then we have Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooter Series, sexy SEALs out to save the world. Maya Banks’ KGI Series and Stephanie Tyler’s Shadow Force Series both fall within the umbrella as well.

But the protector is just as popular in dark paranormal romance. In JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, the entire reason behind the formation of the brotherhood was to produce a sub-species of vampire warriors capable of protecting their race from an ancient enemy determined to eradicate them. In Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed Series, The Order formed to protect humans and vampires alike against their own kind who had been lost to blood lust. Elisabeth Naughton’s Eternal Guardians straddle and protect two worlds, both of which would face obliteration without them.

It’s no surprise, I suppose, that when I started writing my own heroes fell beneath this umbrella. In previous books my heroes have been homicide detective, but in my new series—The Forged Series—they are Navy SEALs.

Cool, controlled, deadly—the heroes of Forged in Fire are seasoned warriors who face death with without hesitation or blinking an eye. They do it because they are protectors. Each and everyone one of them. They’d give their life to protect this country and the citizens who inhabit it.

So what heroes do you have on your keeper shelf that would fall beneath this umbrella? Enquiring minds want to know, and my TBR shelf is looking for a couple of new series!

I’m including a short excerpt here of my protectors in action. I hope you enjoy!

Excerpt: FORGED IN FIRE

“Let’s hope that woman of yours shows up ASAP. Much more of this drought and you won’t remember what to do with her.” With a flash of white teeth, Rawls reached over to punch Zane’s shoulder.

The moment Rawls’ fist made contact, every muscle in Zane’s body clenched. He froze, his breath locked in his throat. His vision blurred.

Click.

It was a subtle sound. A switch flipping inside his head. An image flashed through his mind. Quick. Brutal. Ugly.

Rawls sprawled across a bank of narrow seats. His blue t-shirt splotched with black. Blood dripping from limp fingers. A fixed stare glazing his blue eyes.

The vision vanished.

“Son of a bitch.” Sheer disgust vibrated in Cosky’s gritty voice. “We’re on stand-down. This is a civilian flight. Regardless of that all-too-familiar look on your face, we cannot be in any goddamn danger.”

But he didn’t dislodge the hand Zane clamped around his bicep.

This time Zane was expecting the vision. He tensed anyway, his body contracting into one giant charley horse.

Click.

He strained to capture as many details as possible as the new vision flashed through his mind.

Gray eyes locked and empty, already filming with the unmistakable haze of death. Black hair saturated with blood. Hands clenched. He was splayed across a narrow aisle, dark blue upholstered seats rising on either side of his head.

When the image vanished, he released Cosky’s arm and wrestled air back into his lungs.

“Tell me this is a joke,” Cosky demanded.

Zane shook his head and gripped the back of his neck with both hands.

“What did you see?” Rawls finally asked.

Zane drew a shallow breath. “You dead. Cosky dead.”

“From boredom?” Cosky asked dryly, one black-as-sin eyebrow arching. “We are going to a wedding.” A quick glance at Zane’s face, and a glint of steel darkened his gray eyes. “Where’s this going down?”

“On the bird.” Zane frowned. “Couldn’t tell whether she was in flight. Didn’t get a good enough look.”

Cosky turned to study the boisterous crowd. “When do you ever?”

“Which bird? Over or back?” Cosky braced his hands on his hips and studied Zane’s face. “Either fits the three-day window for those flashes of yours.”

“Today.” Zane nodded toward Rawls’ blue-clad chest. “Same clothes.”

Cosky grunted. “I don’t suppose you saw who killed us?”

“When have these damn things ever been that accommodating?”

“Fuck.” With a disgusted shake of his head, Cosky dropped his chin and scowled at the worn carpet. “What about the wounds?”

“Lots of blood. Could be a gun. Or a knife.”

“A crash?” Rawls broke in quietly.

“Doubtful. Neither of you were burned. We’re looking at some kind of weapon.”

Cosky frowned. “It would be easier to smuggle a blade through security, but few people are good enough to take us on with a knife. Chances are it’s a gun.”

Zane pushed away from the wall. “Whatever’s going to happen is bad enough to take the three of us out.” The flashes never centered on him, but if Cosky and Rawls were in danger, he was as well. “We need to get hold of Mac.”

As the OIC of SEAL Team 7, Commander Jace Mackenzie had the pull to get the plane grounded and the passengers searched.

“Question.” Cosky’s attention zeroed in on Zane’s face. “What are we going to tell him? We don’t know what’s going to happen, who’s behind it, or what kind of weapons will be used. If Mac gets this bird grounded, only to have nothing show during the search, the backlash is gonna be a bitch.”

“What are you suggesting?” Zane cocked an eyebrow. “That we skip the wedding, keep our mouths shut and let events play out?”

“Don’t be an ass. I’m saying it would be handy to have some solid intel to pass on for a change.”

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