November 17, 2011

Welcome Guest Blogger Grace Hood

So just to get it out there, I dislike tooting my own horn. I know it needs to be done, particularly for those of us who have chosen a small press to publish our magnum opuses. Opusi? Opi? Books.

Added to the pressure to promote, there is also the need to write another story, and then another one. We also need to network with our peers, continue to learn our craft (I love online workshops) and, oh yeah, have a life. Where are we supposed to find the time to blog and tweet? Second to that, where are we supposed to find the time to do something interesting enough to blog about? You surely don’t want to hear about my thrilling exploits in the grocery store, my hair-raising experiments in the kitchen (I’m actually a pretty good cook) or my death defying tending of the hens (one of the little bleeps pecks hard enough to draw blood - she is called Nuggets).

All that is leading up to my angsting over writing this guest post. (I guess angsting isn’t a word, since it has that red squiggle under it.)

I regularly visit fellow author blogs, and if they’re guesting on someone else’s blog, I visit there as well. (Guesting is also not a word. Go figure.) I don’t often comment, well, seldom do I comment. Okay, I hardly ever comment. But I do visit and read the blogs. Quite often they are in the form of a questionnaire. Since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I borrowed a few questions. Here are my answers.

I’ve been writing seriously for five years.

Purple.

If money weren’t an issue, I’d travel. Scotland and France are #1 and #2 on my wish list. Scotland because it’s where my ancestors lived. France because I visited eons ago and it’s beautiful.

Coming Undone is an older woman/younger man spicy contemporary, out now from The Wild Rose Press. My first book, Where There’s Heat, also from TWRP, is also a spicy contemporary. I write spicy.

Chocolate, in pretty much any form. My favourite is Coffee Crisp. Second favourite, Hershey’s Kisses.

Up next on my to-do list is getting a couple of requested submissions out the door. Then I’ll dig into a paranormal romance that’s been sitting on my laptop, drumming it’s fingers, demanding to be finished. And yes, it’s spicy.

Camping.

Thank you so much, Sarah, for letting me visit your blog today. I’ll be happy to hang out and chit chat. I’ll also give one lucky commenter a free download of my newest book, Coming Undone.


Grace Hood has been creating adventures for her imaginary friends since childhood. As soon as she discovered, and devoured, her grandmother's stash of medical romance novels, all plots had to lead to a happily-ever-after.

Grace writes full time, concentrating on sexy, steamy contemporary romance, hot paranormal romance, and spicy historical romance.

Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Grace now lives in Maine with her dear husband, two teenagers, three cats, one budgie, one surviving gold fish, and six hens. When she's not torturing her heroes and heroines, she can be found either in her kitchen whipping up something chocolate, or in her yard chasing the hens out of the garden.

Visit Grace here:

26 comments:

Luanna Stewart said...

Good morning, Sarah. Thanks for having me. I'll be in and out today with appointments, but I'll check in regularly. But first - coffee!

Renee Field said...

Great post Grace. Nuggets had better run. We all must embrace our imaginary friends.

christine warner said...

lol...enjoyed today's blog...loved how those answers were just thrown in with no question...and we didn't even need the question.

Nuggets...perfect name for a hen.

As for your book...love the cover and the premise. I haven't read an older woman/younger man story, but I'm sure I'd like it.

Much success with your release :)

Nina Pierce said...

ROFLMBO ... totally spewed coffee on all your interview answers.

I hear you on the time constraints. I haven't figured out how people tweet and blog and facebook and goodread and wattpad and ... oh, yeah, WRITE! I'm good at multi-tasking, but sheesh, it's all so insane!

Hope your blog tour is successful for you, Lu!

Nancy Jardine Author said...

Yes! I love all those squiggly red lines, Grace. Especially the most creative ones when you think you've made the best ever brand new word! You know, I think I need a bit of spice in my life sooner than later...

Judi said...

Hi, Lu/Grace
I admire you for setting up a blog tour. I haven't had the courage yet. I can barely keep up with what I want to write on my stories.
Good luck with your new release.

AJ Nuest said...

Okay, Grace, you seriously gotta try your hand at writing some comedy. You're hilarious. I was laughing out loud at your post. Too funny. And it's hysterical that we didn't even need the questions. Camping. Me too! Fun, fun! I haven't read a Autumn/Spring romance yet, either, but I sure would love to!! Great post, ladies. Oh, and I'm wondering if the hen is called "Nuggets" as a threat...

Liz Flaherty said...

I loved your post. Didn't spew, but could've.

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Spicy. Ya gotta love it. Don't we all need a little spice? Loved the interview and will put your book on my TBR list.

Unknown said...

I want to go back to Scotland and France too. Congrats on the release!

Calisa Rhose said...

Interesting way to get an interview out of the way, Grace. I like it!

Luanna Stewart said...

Wow, I have some catching up to do.

Renee, Nuggets is on borrowed time, let me tell you.

Luanna Stewart said...

Christine, I love the cover, too. The Wild Rose Press does fabulous covers, and my editor, Cindy Davis, is a peach.

Luanna Stewart said...

Nina, glad you enjoyed it, hehe. I can understand why the big name authors have assistants. Worth their weight in gold.

Luanna Stewart said...

Nancy, I have regular arguments with those red squiggly lines. If it's not a real word, it darn well should be.

Luanna Stewart said...

Judi, I guess this is a mini blog tour. Hadn't thought of it that way. That explains why my fingers hurt, hehe.

Luanna Stewart said...

Thank you, AJ. There is subtle humour in my stories, but I don't think I have the chops to try real comedy.

And yes, calling that particular hen Nuggets is a threat, and not so subtle. Her pecking really, really hurts!

Luanna Stewart said...

Hi Liz, thanks for popping in.

Luanna Stewart said...

A little spice is always good, Vonnie. Keeps the blood moving.

Luanna Stewart said...

Georgie, I hope you get to return to Scotland and France, too.

Luanna Stewart said...

Thanks, Calisa. I had fun.

Katherine said...

Great post. I feel the same way about twitting etc. I don't imagine anyone will care if I had a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch today, but I know Twitter's a great way to reach fans and other writers. Guess I'll have to bite the bullet one of these days. Hope you have lots of sales. :o)

Janet said...

Great post, Grace - and much success with the book :)

BTW - I've heard a few of your hen stories and I'd love to read about that on your blog (not Twitter, don't do Twitter, holding out on that one). And, since you are a good cook/baker with a penchant (that's a word, right?) for nutella, I'd read about your kitchen capers, too.

Luanna Stewart said...

Katharine, I've been doing the twitter for a few months and am still not sure how it all works.

Luanna Stewart said...

Janet, are you hinting that I should do more with my poor, deprived blog? LOL Good ideas, which I'll gladly use.

Luanna Stewart said...

I fear I need my beauty sleep. After plugging numbers into a random number generator, the winner of the free download of Coming Undone is...AJ Nuest! Congratulations!!!!

Thank you Sarah, for letting me visit your lovely blog today. I had a fabulous time.