Spotlight On: Niecey Roy

I'm thrilled to welcome fellow Wild Rose Press author Niecey Roy to my blog today. Welcome, Niecey, can you tell us a little about yourself? 

I’m a romantic comedy flick junkie. I prefer to be barefoot, but if I have to wear shoes, I will almost always choose a pair of cute heels. I prefer summer over winter (I hate being cold). If I had the metabolism of my before-kids-days, I’d eat pizza three times a week. If I’m not craving pizza, I’m craving Asian food. Oh, and I’m obsessed with learning how to plant a successful garden, but I really have no idea what I’m doing. So far, I’ve only killed roses, though. And roses are the one thing I really, really want in my yard!

Tell us about Fender Bender Blues and where we can find it. 

Right now you can get Fender Bender Blues eBook FREE on Amazon!!!

The print book is available for purchase at Amazon and The Wild Rose Press.

Here’s the blurb:

Her life took a wrong turn. He's driven by success. They didn't count on crashing into love... 

Rachel Bennett loved her job until the day she finds herself doubting her choices. Now she's hunting for a new career, but starting over isn't easy. Her plan is simple—no distractions until she finds her dream job. She didn't plan on fate throwing her a curveball in the form of a fender bender with a sexy guy in an expensive suit.

Craig Larsen is a wealthy, successful business owner with a plan of his own: survive his current PR nightmare and stay away from his overly determined ex-girlfriend. His need for control and personal success is turned upside down when he meets Rach, a sassy redhead who can't drive.

Soon they find themselves battling with Rach's grumpy old neighbor, toilet-papering the trees of a high school nemesis, and fighting over the last slice of pizza. Can two very different people plus one fender bender equal a chance at forever?

"Classic cars, garden gnomes, and steamy romance? My kind of book!"
~Bestselling Author Kate Perry 

Describe your writing in three words.

Sexy smooches and happily-ever-afters…(just don’t count “and” ha!)

What was your first reaction when you got a glimpse of your cover art?

I was so happy with it. It was the most exciting, intense feeling of “it’s real” that I’ve ever had. Well, at that moment, it was. The day I held the print book of Fender Bender Blues in my hand is now officially the most exciting, intense feeling of “it’s real” I’ve ever had!

What is something readers would be surprised to learn about you? 

I have stage fright. Yes, around people who know me personally, I almost never shut up. But get me in a room full of people I don’t know and stick a mic in my hands, I’m a mess. My hands get all clammy, my knees go weak…and I stutter and say dumb things. Ha!

Where can we find you on the web? 

Come visit me on my website at www.nieceyroy.com or hang with me on my blog at www.nieceyroy.com/blog/

I’m also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/NieceyRoyRomanceAuthor and twitter https://twitter.com/#!/NieceyRoy

 “Now what?”

“Nothing.”Rach sniffed.

Craig shifted to eye her warily. “Since when do you answer me with single words?”

“Since I decided I’m not talking to you,” she answered with a shrug, crumpling up the white paper wrapper from her sub.

Craig leaned his face in close to her neck and enjoyed the startled jerk of her shoulders. Her eyes opened wide in surprise. His breath shifted a few strands of hair at the nape of her neck as he whispered, “Why, because you want me?”

“You’re incorrigible,” she said, breathless, her cheeks flushed.

She’s enjoying this. The thought pleased him. Rach was on her back beside him now, her eyes closed. He glanced around the park to see if anyone was watching. No one was. He could swoop in for a kiss and no one would catch him. No one would care, he told himself. She won’t mind… 

“I can feel you staring.”

Craig smiled down at her. “So what.”

She peeked at him with one green eye. “So stop it.”

“And if I don’t?”

Maybe she’d tackle him, push him down on the blanket and…

She didn’t. She promptly closed her eye and went back to pretending indifference. “I’ll hit you, that’s what.”

“Not if I do this, you won’t.”

He’d only meant it to be a short kiss, but the pleasure of touching his lips to hers kept him there longer. Her tongue was velvet soft and warm against his and the slow mating of their mouths quickened his heartbeat even as he told himself, It’s no big deal, just a kiss.

She nipped his bottom lip and sent heat sliding through his body. The woman could kiss.

She whispered soft against his lips, “Now why don’t you admit that it’s you who wants me.”

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Thank You, Ames!

I little something from my dear friend, Amy Lillard.  Isn't it wonderful?

This one is fabulous, too!

 

What do you think? Do you love them as much as I do?

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Choosing Titles

A lot of writers begin a story without a title in mind. They flesh out the characters, envelop themselves deep within the story, and never think about the title until a) one comes to them naturally while writing the book, or b) they are forced to think of one because they can’t submit without the title.

Not so with me. You see, I can’t lose myself in a story if it’s untitled. I can connect with the characters and flesh out their lives, but I can’t spend hours, weeks, and months bleeding on the page without giving that page a name. Talking with friends about my work in progress only works for me if that WIP has a title.

Imagine it: I’m raving about my newborn son or daughter, showing pictures to friends. They ooh and ahh over how handsome he is, and then someone asks, “What’s his name?”

I can’t reply, “I don’t know, it’ll eventually come to me.” Could you?

So the first thing I do is think about the tone of my book. Is it funny? Sexy? Serious? Does a consistent theme run throughout? Something that either the hero or the heroine needs to learn or acknowledge by the end of the book?

Once I’ve decided, then it’s time to brainstorm. I sit at my desk and make a list of words related to my book. Nothing is off limits. I write down everything I can think of that is related to my story, whether it’s an emotion, a setting, or a question. At this point, one word usually jumps out at me – a word I KNOW has to be in the title. From there I play with word combinations and another list takes shape—a list of possible titles.

Here I should probably tell you that sometimes this method works for me, and sometimes…well, not so much. Take, for instance, the title of my first book, Not Without Risk. My original title for this book was Strength to Love. No really, that’s what I called it, which was better than my original title for After Midnight (and no, I’m not telling what that was called). Anyway, back to Risk…The farther I got into the story, the more I hated the title. It just wasn’t right. Then one day I’m typing along and the hero’s mother tells him, “To love someone, to have someone return that love is…It’s a risk, certainly, but what is life if not a risk?”

*insert light bulb*

There it was, the moment when the word clicked into place. Risk. Everything in that book revolved around risk, from the hero’s job, to taking a leap of faith and risking his heart in order to find love.

Here’s another confession. I have a compulsion to see the name of the book somewhere in the book. It doesn’t matter to me whether a character voices it, or thinks it; my titles have to be in the book. This need made naming, or should I say coming up with the correct name for, After Midnight even easier.

The original title broke my rule about following the tone of the book. It was too sappy, and gave the impression the book was light-hearted. I don’t write light-hearted. Yes, everything I write has its happily-ever-after. Yes, the hero and heroine always ride off into the proverbial sunset. But getting there is never an easy journey. I torture my characters, some more than others, and Isabeau Montgomery…she’s a tortured heroine.

Then it hit me. Isabeau owns a bar, the opening scene takes place in that bar after closing. In fact, most of the key moments in the book occur late at night. Night… Darkness… Midnight…aha! There it was.

Sometimes the moment that changes everything comes After Midnight.

Don't miss out!
Get your copy of AFTER MIDNIGHT today for just 99 cents!

(hurry, offer ends 2/08/13)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/11kD7JS
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/TNBRdL

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Spotlight On... Willa Blair

Welcome, Willa, can you tell us a little about yourself? 

Hi, Sarah. Thanks for having me here today! I’m a best-selling and award-winning author of Scottish historical and contemporary paranormal romance. That’s a mouthful, isn’t it? I’m also a recent transplant from the mid-Atlantic to Texas, where I live most of the year in shorts and sandals. I don’t miss the snow at all!

Tell us about HIGHLAND HEALER and where we can find it. 

Highland Healer, my best-selling debut book, takes place in the highlands of Scotland in 1516, three years after King James IV perished along with most of his nobles and clan chiefs, fighting the English just over the border at Flodden Fields.

In the aftermath, James V was a toddler, the Queen Mother was Henry VIII’s sister, and the Regent preferred to spend time in France rather than govern Scotland. Most clans were led by younger siblings who never expected to become laird. And many clans near the border were so decimated that they broke up.

In Highland Healer, when a lowlander army determined to take over the highlands attacks the clan he's negotiating with, Toran Lathan is wounded and taken prisoner, mistaken for the laird of the clan he’s visiting. He escapes and takes the lowlanders' captive Healer, Aileana Shaw, with him.

Highland Healer is available from in print and ebook formats from Amazon: http://ning.it/PbhhUB, at www.thewildrosepress.com and other retailers. Check with your favorite bookseller.

Do you have a favorite character or one that you identify most with?

Aileana has special abilities that she uses to survive once she’s ripped away from her home and family. She has the strength to find her way in a hostile world, make a place for herself and keep herself safe. All of us do that to a greater or lesser extent at some point in our lives. When she meets Toran Lathan, she allows herself to trust him and eventually falls in love. She’s very brave, though she doesn’t know it.

Describe your writing in three words.

Action-packed. Atmospheric. Spicy.

Why did you choose your genre?

When I decided to tackle a historical romance, the fact that I enjoyed the stories set in Scotland that I read over the years, and that I’m part Scottish, made writing a Scottish historical darn near inevitable. All the scifi/fantasy I read while growing up added the paranormal element.

Where do you get your ideas? 

Mostly from flashes of a scene - usually not much more than a picture of a setting, or a really short clip that conveys a place and a mood. I go from there.

How do you do your research?

I read - a lot, and in a lot of genres. I also have reference books on castles and Scottish history, along with that entire library of science fiction and fantasy that I’ve collected since childhood. And thank goodness for the internet. I can spend hours following one link after another, sometimes going down rabbit-holes, but often finding those interesting bits of trivia that add depth and texture to a story, or help to drive the plot.

What advice would you give to the new/unpublished author? 

Finish the damn book. Like many authors, I spent years polishing the first few chapters of several works-in-progress. It wasn’t until I buckled down and finished the entire first draft of one of them that I had the epiphany. I could do this. I could write books. I had the talent, the ability, and the discipline to finish a major project.

Until you get to “The End”, you may be spending a lot of time writing and editing, but you’re not any closer to realizing your dreams. And once you do finish it, that first draft you are (rightfully) so proud of will need editing and revision, maybe minor, maybe major, but you will have accomplished what ninety percent of writers never do. If you’re looking for inspiration, you can’t get much better than that.

What’s next for you? 

I’ve been swamped with promotion since my publisher early-released Highland Healer into the Amazon Kindle KDP Select program in October. But I was thrilled that my debut book quickly showed up - and stayed - on the Kindle bestseller lists. Now that the excitement of Highland Healer’s official release day on 4 January has passed, I can better balance book promotion with actual book writing. The second book, which I’m calling Highland Seer, is with my editor and I’m hoping for a late 2013 release date for it. In the meantime, I’m writing the third book, which I’m calling Highland Troth. Then I plan to get going on a romantic suspense novel that I began during a retreat my publisher held back in October.

Where can we find you on the web?

www.willablair.com
www.facebook.com/willablair 
www.twitter.com/willablair 

Is there anything you would like to ask our readers? 

I’d love to know what makes a book memorable to your readers. What elements of a romance really draw them in and stick with them?

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Friday Quickie

25 quickie facts about Tiffany N. York: 

Birthday? February 6th
Favorite color? Black
Favorite animal? Cat
Siblings? A half-brother and a half-sister 20 years younger
Favorite drink? Coffee with heavy cream/no sugar
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Tutti-Frutti
Favorite author? Jennifer Crusie
Favorite dish? I could eat pizza for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Ice cream flavor? Haggen Daaz Strawberry
Favorite Season? Summer
Plotter or pantser? I used to be a plotter, but now…?
Hobbies? Reading, Gardening, Googling time-wasting topics
Dream vacation? Staying in a grass hut over the water in Bora Bora
Favorite TV show? Friends
Musical preference? Anything I can dance to, and 80s rock
Pet peeve? Typos
Favorite place to write? Wherever there is silence
Favorite song? Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses
Odd family fact? Nothing odd; just dysfunctional like everyone else.
Unforgettable moment? My son popping out after 18 hours of back labor
Favorite superhero? Catwoman
Spicy or not? Nose-running, eyes-watering spicy
Cat or dog? I have a diva Chihuahua and lottsa cats
Favorite candy bar? Lindt Dark Chocolate and White Chocolate balls
Favorite guilty pleasure? Watching Family Guy and American Dad. It’s so raunchy!

Summarize your book Twitter style – 140 characters or less:

41 plus 25 equals a summer fling that turns into much more…

BUY LINK

To learn more about Tiffany and her writing, please visit her website: 

http://tiffanynyorkauthor.com 

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Secret Santa Blog Hop

Welcome to the Secret Santa Blog Hop! Thanks for visiting! You can find the list of participating authors, rules and instructions HERE.

Happy Holidays! I love this time of year! Not because of the gifts or the giving, the delighted children or the family gatherings. Not because of the sappy holiday movies, the caroling, and most especially not because of the cold and snow of a Michigan winter. No, I love this time of year because the day job that works me sixty hours a week in the summer, trickles down to about ten hours a week immediately after the holidays and continues this way through the beginning of March. Yup, it's at this time of year I get to spend long days relaxing with my husband, and long nights with the heroes of my current works in progress. What, you think it should be the other way around? *grin*

In the spirit of holiday giving, I'm awarding one random Secret Santa Blog Hop participant a prize package: A beautiful music note latte mug, a music note ornament, and an eCopy of my award winning contemporary romance, After Midnight.

Entering to win is easy. Just leave me a comment that includes your name, email address, and what you love most about the holidays.

Want even more entries into the Kindle Fire HD giveaway? Here's how to get three: You get one entry for following my blog, one for leaving a comment and one for answering my question.


Question: Sarah loves the cold and snow of Michigan winters. True or false?

Don't forget to return to the main page for the rest of the Secret Santa Blog Hop. Good luck!!

http://www.tabithablake.blogspot.com/p/secret-santa-blog-hop.html

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Friday Quickie

25 quickie facts about Kathryn Knight: 

Birthday? January 13th
Favorite color? Garnet Red
Favorite animal? Cat
Siblings? A brother and a sister
Favorite drink? Coffee
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Coconut
Favorite author? Can’t choose just one!
Favorite dish? Cajun blackened tuna
Ice cream flavor? Edy’s French Silk
Favorite Season? Summer
Plotter or pantser? Combo
Hobbies? Reading, Fitness, Gardening
Dream vacation? A private cruise with family and friends
Favorite TV show? Seinfeld
Musical preference? 80s
Pet peeve? Being called Kathy
Favorite place to write? Kitchen island
Favorite song? Edge of Seventeen
Odd family fact? I found (and bought) a trunk made by my great-great grandfather on ebay.
Unforgettable moment? The day of “the call”
Favorite superhero? Edward Cullen, lol
Spicy or not? Very spicy
Cat or dog? We have both
Favorite candy bar? Lindt Dark Chocolate
Favorite guilty pleasure? Naps

Summarize your book Twitter style – 140 characters or less:

Former friends reunite at Silver Lake to solve an old mystery; as paranormal events escalate, Rain and Jason get a second chance at romance.

BUY LINK

To learn more about Kathryn and her writing, please visit her blog:

http://kathrynknightbooks.blogspot.com

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Friday Quickie

25 quickie facts about Christine Elaine Black: 

Birthday? December 7
Favorite color? Plum
Favorite animal? Leopard
Siblings? 3 brothers
Favorite drink? Tea
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Chocolate Amaretto
Favorite author? Pauline Gedge (Ancient Historical)
Favorite dish? Stir Fry
Ice cream flavor? Neopolitan
Favorite Season? Fall/Autumn
Plotter or Pantser? Pantser (mostly)
Hobbies? Reading, writing, musical theatre
Dream vacation? Tour the Mediterranean
Favorite TV show? History Channel
Musical preference? Broadway Musicals
Pet peeve? Not enough hours in the day to write
Favorite place to write? At home, at night
Favorite song? Can't pick a favorite song - so many great ones
Odd family fact? My parents lived in the same house for 50 years - wow.
Unforgettable moment? My daughter's stage debut
Favorite Superhero? The everyday hero
Spicy or not? Spicy romance but not food
Cat or dog? Love cats but allergic.... :(
Favorite candy bar? Mars Bar
Favorite guilty pleasure? Daydreaming about my handsome main characters

Summarize your book Twitter style – 140 characters or less:

Carissa distrusts the handsome soldier who rescues her son. Can Maximus win Carissa before fear and revenge tear them apart forever?

BUY LINK

To learn more about Christine Elaine Black and her writing please visit her blog:

 http://christineelaineblack.blogspot.ca

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Welcome Guest Blogger Rolynn Anderson

CAN YOU FIND YOUR FATHER IN YOUR NOVELS?

You have a retired soldier in your family, don’t you? I can’t wait for you to meet Walter Solvang, a retired Army General, one of the main characters in FADEOUT, the first in my Funeral Planner Suspense Series. He’ll remind you of your own friends or relatives who have served our country admirably. The General has many attributes of my own father who served as a career Army officer. Yup. I’m an Army brat.

Walter looks and talks like my dad - a white crewcut, great posture, and physically fit even though he’s been retired for a few years. His speech is peppered with Army terms.

Unlike my father, when Walter retired from the service at the age of sixty, friends came to him for help in designing proper memorials for servicemen and women. Working with his wife, Amy, they soon set fees for their services. In no time at all, This is Your Life, Inc. was born: they planned memorials for those who desired unique, less conventional services.

The General choreographs splendid celebrations of a soldier’s career. He’ll dress a mannequin in service blues, lay out all the medals earned by the soldier, carefully labeled, display patches of units the man or woman served in. The General arranges for the trumpeter, the flag, the 21-gun salute; he provides the music proper for a send-off as well…the service anthems as well as ‘Taps,’ to end the service.

He pays attention to detail and gives proper homage in every memorial, which is why he becomes a sought-after event planner.

The General is imperfect as we all are. He’s missed out on family time and he related to his four sons more easily than with his eldest child, a daughter. What’s more, when FADEOUT opens, he’s lost his wife.

What kind of life will he lead without his true commander in chief, Amy? And what will he do with his daughter, who seems lost without her mother? I can’t wait for you to find out when you read FADEOUT.

The question is: Can you find your father in your novels?

Jan Solvang has spent her life avoiding conflict and commitment. Six months ago, she left a marriage proposal and a job in Seattle to care for her dying mother. Now she's stuck with her mother's California house and her mother's dog, filling her mother's shoes as a memorial planner with her estranged father. 

Roman Keller thrives on conflict, writing documentaries that reveal the flaws of the famous. Jan’s challenge is to help him write a positive eulogy for a grandfather he disliked, but Roman is more interested in her other client: a powerful attorney with a dark past his family wants buried with him. If Jan stands behind the family and Roman goes for the exposé, who’s in danger and who wins? 

The tension between them pulls tighter as each discovers the other is keeping secrets. But if they tell the truth, will they destroy any chance for love? 

ROLYNN ANDERSON
SUSPENSE SPIKED WITH ROMANCE
http://www.rolynnanderson.com


LAST RESORT-print and download at Wild Rose:
http://tinyurl.com/682vwgv

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/3cq6d7b

FADEOUT in print and download at Wild Rose:
http://tinyurl.com/8b9wyau

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/9yo9wwq

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Friday Quickie

25 quickie facts about Mariah Lynne:

Birthday? March 18
Favorite color? Pink
Favorite animal? Lion
Siblings? 1 Brother
Favorite drink? Iced Tea
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Licorice
Favorite author? Agatha Christie
Favorite dish? Angel Hair Pasta with Marinara Sauce and Meatballs
Ice cream flavor? Pistachio
Favorite Season? Summer
Plotter or pantser? Plotter
Hobbies? Swimming Traveling (when I can)
Dream vacation? African Photographic Safari
Favorite TV show? The Closer
Musical preference? Soft rock
Pet peeve? Backstabbers
Favorite place to write? My Family Room
Favorite song? Always On My Mind
Odd family fact? My father’s great great uncle was the Duke of Naples (passed down by word of mouth only)
Unforgettable moment? Witnessing first hand the last Space Shuttle Atlantis launch
Favorite Superhero? My Husband –My Best Fan
Spicy or not? Not
Cat or dog? Dog
Favorite candy bar? Hershey Bar with Almonds
Favorite guilty pleasure? Dark Chocolate and Champagne

Summarize your book Twitter style – 140 characters or less:

THE LOVE GYPSY finds true love and befriends time travelers. When her two worlds collide, the romance is magical!

BUY LINK

To learn more about Mariah Lynne and her writing please visit her website:

http://www.MariahLynne.com 

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Friday Quickie

25 quickie facts about Andrea Downing:

Birthday? April 3rd
Favorite color? Black
Favorite animal? Horse
Siblings? One older bro
Favorite drink? Jim & Ginger
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Island Punch
Favorite author? Michael Chabon
Favorite dish? Anything cooked by my daughter
Ice cream flavor? Phish Food
Favorite season? Winter
Plotter or pantser? Pantser
Hobbies? Reading and Riding and Travel
Dream vacation? Visiting a ranch, having an early morning ride in the mountains with a breakfast cookout
Favorite TV show? Upstairs, Downstairs (orig. version)
Musical preference? Country/Western
Pet peeve? People who promise to phone back and don't, especially when phoning them back means getting stuck with an automated call system
Favorite place to write? My study in NYC
Favorite song? Rainin' You by Brad Paisley
Odd family fact? My daughter was born in Aberystwyth, Wales
Unforgettable moment? Birth of daughter, & first showjump
Favorite Superhero? My daughter's boyfriend, Daniel Safon!
Spicy or not? Moderately spicy
Cat or dog? Both
Favorite candy bar? Cadbury's Twirl
Favorite guilty pleasure? Hot Fudge Sundaes and spending too much on vintage Native American jewelry

Summarize your book Twitter style – 140 characters or less:

A headstrong Lady, a hot-blooded cowpuncher, a duplicitous father,& a winter that won't end. Will Loveland live up to its name?

BUY LINK

To learn more about Andrea Downing and her writing please visit her website:

http://andreadowning.com

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Friday Quickie

25 quickie facts about Silver James:

Birthday? I’m a Pisces.
Favorite color? Blue
Favorite animal? Wolf and horse are tied (but my Newfoundlands and cat would be upset so Shhhhh!)
Siblings? One brother, deceased
Favorite drink? COFFEE!!! (or margarita depending ;-) )
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Lime
Favorite author? J.D. Robb
Favorite dish? My homemade chili
Ice cream flavor? Chocolate chip mint
Favorite Season? Autumn
Plotter or Pantser? Puzzler
Hobbies? Reading
Dream vacation? Ireland, Scotland, and Wales
Favorite TV show? NCIS (Uhm…Gibbs. Need I say more?)
Musical preference? Depends on my mood—I run the gamut from Celtic to hard rock
Pet peeve? Stupid people
Favorite place to write? My writer’s cave (home office)
Favorite song? Enya’s “Orinoco Flow” or Daughtry’s “What About Now” (See? Eclectic. LOL)
Odd family fact? I have an English highwayman in my family tree and my husband’s traces back to the James Gang.
Unforgettable moment? Birth of my daughter
Favorite Superhero? Thor (gotta love a man with a big…hammer)
Spicy or not? With jalapeños!
Cat or dog? Both
Favorite candy bar? Hersey’s Dark Chocolate with almonds
Favorite guilty pleasure? Café du Monde café au lait and beignets

Summarize your book Twitter style – 140 characters or less:

Secrets, lies and betrayals are more personal under the full moon but when a Wolf loves a woman, he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

BUY LINK

To learn more about Silver James and her writing, please visit her website:

http://www.silverjames.com

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Welcome Guest Blogger J Corti-Petska

Writing two books (or more) at the Same Time

Women were created with the ability to multitask: birthing and caring for children; having a job, sometimes two, outside the home; chauffeuring; being a maid to keep her house clean, keeping the laundry fresh and meals cooked; gardening to make sure her exterior home looks beautiful, as well as the many other areas women have in their lives. I’ve handled all of the above simultaneously—in my twenties. I’ll be 60 in five days, and I now find it extremely difficult to multitask. Especially when it comes to writing.

To be truthful, writing was the one area in which I have never been able to multitask. For whatever reason, I could write only one story at a time. I couldn’t even think about the plot for a different story while writing my WIP. I have tried but failed miserably. Actually, it was often quite humorous.

For those who write contemporary, it may not be as difficult. But I don’t know because I write historicals. I tried writing a historical western while working on a medieval once. It was like balancing and twirling fine china plates on the tip of wobbly poles. Only one survived.

Writing westerns is vastly different than writing medievals—cowboys and knights—how dissimilar can you get? While the basic structure of a romance is the same, culture, attitude and speech cannot compare. About 25 years ago, I had written a few books with a co-author. Because we collaborated on westerns, I decided to work on a medieval that I’d been making notes on for months. We’d take turns writing chapters: I’d write the odd-numbered chapters, she’d write the even-numbered ones. The next book, we switched so we each had the opportunity to write the very first chapter.

One day, my friend called and asked why our 1870s cowboy hero was challenged to a duel—with a broadsword worthy of a hearty knight. Strange, I thought, but soon it faded from my memory. Then a few days later, she called again and questioned the reason I changed syntax. Hmmm… I reread what I’d written and sure enough, I had done just that. It wasn’t until I returned to my medieval that I realized what had happened.

For one thing, a knight doesn’t say, “Howdy, ma’am.” I kid you not. It jumped off the page and smacked me in my face when I went back to edit the chapter. Little nuances of historical westerns had begun creeping up in my medieval. I’d find my characters speaking with a southern drawl. My western characters began to speak quite stiffly. But when I outfitted my knight in denims, I knew I had to make a choice.

To this day, I can’t even think about another story other than the one I’m working on or I’ll lose the momentum in my WIP. Of course, these days, if I have more than one idea floating around in my head, it’s like a cowboy riding his destrier into a stampede. (Yes, I said destrier.) I carry a small spiral-bound notebook wherever I go so I can jot down the ideas popping up in my head. I don’t think on them too long, at least not until I’m ready to write the story based on a particular idea. I’d blame it on aging, but you already know that for the last 40 years, multitasking when writing has not been a waltz around the dance floor for me.

One story at a time, I continually remind myself. Otherwise, I’d never accomplish finishing a single book. I’m curious. How many writers out there can write two (or more) books simultaneously? Uh…would you mind sharing your secret?

DANTE’S FLAME, book 3 of my Italian medieval series (release date July 11, 2012)

Alessandra Podesta writes illicit tales unsuitable for a young lady. Exasperated, her father sends her to visit relatives in Naples to curb her wild imagination. But in her undying need for adventure, she toys with the affections of her tutor and is forced to marry him. When she unknowingly falls into a dangerous game of supremacy between two countries, she trusts the wrong people and endangers her life.

French tutor Dante Santangelo is secretly aiding the French in maintaining their rule over Naples. When he is manipulated into marrying the visiting cousin of the Valente Family, he seizes upon the perfect opportunity to infiltrate the family, who are under suspicion of helping the Spanish. When Alessandra's life is in jeopardy Dante must choose between love and duty. Will he offer up his life to save Alessandra? Or remain duty-bound to the French?

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Friday Quickie

25 quickie facts about Alana Lorens: 

Birthday? April Fool’s Day!
Favorite color? Pine green
Favorite animal? giraffe
Siblings? Three sisters
Favorite drink? Guatemalan coffee, fresh brewed
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Buttered popcorn
Favorite author? Anne McCaffrey
Favorite dish? Fondue
Ice cream flavor? Peanut butter/chocolate
Favorite Season? Fall
Plotter or Pantser? Pantser
Hobbies? Gardening, sewing, reading, WRITING!
Dream vacation? Two weeks at Disney World, staying in the Animal Kingdom Lodge
Favorite TV show? Firefly
Musical preference? Bad ‘80s music
Pet peeve? People who limit others’ right to love
Favorite place to write? Outdoors on a wooden deck overlooking the mountains
Favorite song? Hard to pick just one!
Odd family fact? I married the same guy twice. Wasn’t really a great idea either time. For real.
Unforgettable moment? When I got that first novel contract in hand
Favorite Superhero? Wonder Woman
Spicy or not? Heck, yeah!
Cat or dog? cat
Favorite candy bar? Reeses
Favorite guilty pleasure? Bacon donuts

Summarize your book Twitter style – 140 characters or less: 

Single mom lawyer takes on dangerous domestic violence case, meets hunky cop who wants to protect her, but she won’t let him. Till she falls in love.

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To learn more about Alana Lorens and her writing, please visit her website:

http://alanalorens.com

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Welcome Guest Blogger Karyn Good

What a Girl Needs

Thank you for having me on your lovely blog today, Sarah. It’s a pleasure to be here and to be sharing a bit about my debut romantic suspense, Backlash, with everyone. I thought we might talk a little bit about heroines. We all love to read and write about fabulous female characters. Lily Wheeler, my heroine, is smart, passionate, and determined. At least, I hope she comes across that way. But she’s also human, she makes mistakes. Pride and stubbornness tend to trip her up more often than not.

But Lily does believe in the power of three things: girlfriends who always have your back, a good quality Chardonnay, and the necessity of a fabulous purse or bag.

We all know a close knit circle of girlfriends is good for our health. Women need other women to connect with and share with. These relationships make us happy and keep us sane. Try laughing, crying, and color coordinating your wardrobe with a guy. Even if he’s the love of your life, he’s not going to want to know. Or realize he should care. Or he might care, but not know what the heck to do about it. And who else are you going to complain to about the juicer you got for your anniversary. Or that nightmare blind date you agreed to then wished you hadn’t. The price of face cream.

Then there’s wine. That’s pretty self-explanatory. Or maybe your choice of drink is tea. Or maybe it’s anything as long as you get to drink it uninterrupted.

Our purses. Purses are sacred things, aren’t they? Men are scared of them. Children aren’t allowed to touch them or dig around in them. Girlfriends and total strangers admire them. Also different occasions require different bags, as do seasons. Men don’t understand this either. Lily’s purse is her security blanket. A purse, or handbag, pocketbook, satchel depending on what part of the world you live in, is her must have accessory. Not quite bigger than a breadbox, it’s a repository for all things needed to survive a surprise apocalypse, complete with escaped tic tacs clinging to the inside lining.

But mostly importantly the best heroines act in a way that is true to who they are. Whether they want to take over the world or simply survive the next twenty-four hours. It’s that deeply personal part of them that is revealed throughout the story that makes us love and relate to them.

What’s favorite thing to do with girlfriends? Or share you drink of choice. Maybe you want to tell us what the strangest item is you keep in your purse or bag?

BACKLASH

by Karyn Good

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What he’s sworn to protect, she’s willing to sacrifice to save those she loves...

When dedicated teacher Lily Wheeler interrupts a vicious gang attack on one of her students, she vows it won’t happen again. But her rash interference puts her in the path of a cold-blooded killer and the constable tracking him—a man she has little reason to trust, but can never forget.

Constable Chase Porter returned to Aspen Lake to see justice done, not renew old acquaintances. But when he rescues the woman he once loved from a volatile situation, he realizes his feelings for Lily haven’t lessened over the years.

Now, the dangerous killer Chase has sworn to capture has Lily in his sights. Can Chase and Lilly learn to trust each other again before it’s too late—or will old insecurities jeopardize their future?

Kate crossed her arms and frowned. “What have you done?”

“Nothing. I needed to make it clear I couldn’t care less that he’s waltzed back into town. But things kind of went downhill once he opened the door all dripping wet and gorgeous. And time stopped and I felt sixteen years old again. But then he opened his mouth and started issuing orders. Believe me, I understand the severity of the situation. But when he touched me? I don’t know … there was something.” She flopped back against the booth and sighed.

Kate sat unblinking. “The man’s been back in town for twenty-four hours. Why do you need theories? The severity of what situation?”

“Oh believe me, I’ll get to that horrible part in a second.”

Kate didn’t move. “And there was touching?”

“Well, not really touching. He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. That was all. I shouldn’t have mentioned it. It was nothing.” Lily lifted her shoulders in what she hoped passed for a nonchalant shrug and picked up her coffee cup up again. And set it down. “Okay, I threatened to shove an umbrella up his butt and I left. No big deal.”

Kate nodded in perfect understanding. “No big deal. Because you’re always threatening people with umbrellas.”

“He started it by calling me a Mary Poppins do-gooder.” She rubbed her forehead and let out a deep sigh. “I’m as pathetic today as I was back then.”

“Lily, you were a teenager.” Kate reached over to pat her hand. “Of course you were pathetic.”

To learn more about Karyn and her books visit:


Website:   http://www.karyngood.com/index.html

Facebook:   http://www.facebook.com/pages/Karyn-Good/168409826555843?ref=tn_tnmn

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/#!/karyngood

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Friday Quickie

25 quickie facts about Katherine Grey:

Birthday? April 25th
Favorite color? Yellow
Favorite animal? I don’t think I have one.
Siblings? 4 sisters, 1 brother
Favorite drink? Lemonade
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? I’d be Jelly Belly’s red apple
Favorite author? Too many to name.
Favorite dish? A bowl. I’m kidding, it’s homemade pastitsio
Ice cream flavor? Vanilla.
Favorite season? Summer
Plotter or Pantser? Pantser for the most part
Hobbies? Reading and baking
Dream vacation? Taking my mom to Switzerland. She’s always wanted to go there.
Favorite TV show? Person of Interest
Musical preference? Anything but rap or really heavy metal
Pet peeve? People who don’t know how to use an apostrophe. It drives me crazy!
Favorite place to write? The dining room table
Favorite song? If I have to pick only one then it’s Nessun Dorma sung by Pavarotti
Odd family fact? Even though my mom’s family has lived in the North for generations, we are related to Robert E. Lee.
Unforgettable moment? When I thought I lost my 3 year old nephew in a store. I will never forget that feeling.
Favorite Superhero? Wolverine
Spicy or not? A little, but not too spicy
Cat or dog? 2 Cats
Favorite candy bar? Twix
Favorite guilty pleasure? Wise Cheez Doodles with a good book

Summarize your book Twitter style – 140 characters or less: 

Blaine Hobson wants nothing more than to join his beloved in the grave until he meets a seamstress who is determined to keep him alive.

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To learn more about Katherine and her writing, visit her blog:

http://katherinegrey.blogspot.com 

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Friday Quickie

25 quickie facts about Jennifer Ann Coffeen:

Birthday? July 17th
Favorite color? Green
Favorite animal? Cat
Siblings? Brother and a sister- I’m the middle child!
Favorite drink? Tea
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Cherry
Favorite author? Georgette Heyer
Favorite dish? Pizza
Ice cream flavor? New York Cherry
Favorite Season? Summer
Plotter or Pantser? Panster for sure
Hobbies? Reading, traveling
Dream vacation? Italy- a repeat of my honeymoon!
Favorite TV show? I used to LOVE “Unsolved Mysteries”.
Musical preference? I’m a 80’s 90’s fan.
Pet peeve? Wasting time
Favorite place to write? In a quiet café writing in my notebook
Favorite song? “Moondance” (It was my wedding song).
Odd family fact? I was named after a character in a romance novel!
Unforgettable moment? Meeting my husband in a zombie play
Favorite Superhero? Batman
Spicy or not? Sadly, not.
Cat or dog? Both!
Favorite candy bar? Snickers
Favorite guilty pleasure? An ice cold beer. 

Summarize your book Twitter style – 140 characters or less: 

Lady Madeline Sinclair is searching London for a cursed diamond and nothing can distract her, except the kiss of a jilted Duke.

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To learn more about Jennifer Ann Coffeen and her writing, visit her website:

http://jenniferanncoffeen.com/

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Spotlight On... Allie Hawkins

Today I'm excited to have Allie Hawkins with me at the keyboard. Welcome, Allie, can you tell us a little about yourself? 

In my previous careers, teaching high school adolescents, creating public library programs and developing high-tech marketing materials, I worked mostly with men. I think those experiences give me a good basis for writing heroes who may come off as tougher than many heroes in romance. I think my heroines—independent, sassy and resilient—reflect having to hold my own in male-dominated environments. Acting in melodrama and teaching Spanish tuned my ear to “hear” dialogue. I love writing dialogue—especially between the hero and heroine. Personally, I’m fortunate to have married a man who enthusiastically supports my writing—even though he’s not my targeted audience.

Tell us about UNRAVELED and where we can find it.

UNRAVELED is an e-book available for all devices from The Wild Rose Press (publisher, )Amazon, Barnes and Noble. It’s also available in print from the same sources. Release is tentatively scheduled for early October.

Which character is your favorite and why?

I’m a big fan of the heroine, Quinn Alexander. Her blind loyalty to her brother strikes a cord for me. She reminds me of how easily we can excuse the bad behavior of those we love.

Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series? 

I do have a sequel started, starring my second favorite character in the book. JR Ryder is a maverick cop who falls for Quinn and sets off on a path of quiet self-destruction. Her plea to him to help her find her missing daughter forces him to work with a partner who offers his only hope of redemption.

What is the hardest scene you had to write in this piece?

The hero cheated on the hero four years ago. Writing the scene in which she forgives him and lets him back into her life was tough—because she has deep fears of abandonment. (Her father abandoned her when she was seven).

That would be a difficult scene to write. What are you working on right now? 

MISSING, the romantic-suspense sequel to UNRAVELED.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

I love to dance Zumba. I go to Zumba classes three times a week and find I write much better after kicking up my heels.

I love it! Where can we find you on the web? 

http://alliehawkins.com

Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?

Two questions: What kinds of flaws appeal to you in heroes? How important is it that the hero is a hunk? (That is, what other qualities and values trump good looks?)

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Welcome Guest Blogger Paty Jager

Contest! I’m giving away a $5 Amazon gift certificate to one lucky commenter on this post.


Sarah, Thanks for having me here today!

The spirit Trilogy is three books depicting different times in the lives of the Lake Nimiipuu or the Nez Perce band that lived in the Wallowa Valley where I grew up. The idea for the books came to me after reading a Tony Hillerman mystery. I love the idea of Native American spirits and the stories told my elders that talk of spirits. The good spirits and the bad.

In the first book, Spirit of the Mountain, set before the encroachment of the whiteman on their lands I have the good white wolf spirit battling a bad black wolf spirit. The old good versus evil plays out in the mortal side of the story as well. The first book showed how the Lake Nimiipuu came to love the land of their fathers.

In Spirit of the Lake, the second book, I used a story I’d heard while growing up in the Wallowa Valley and discovered it was a true Nez Perce myth or legend. I put a bull elk spirit living in Wallowa Lake. The legend says that an antlered creature lives in the lake and Nez Perce children were told that if they were bad the creature would come out of the lake and take them away from their families. This legend was one of many that taught children how to behave. This book was set during the time the whiteman was moving into the valley and the Nimiipuu struggled to get along to avoid being placed on a reservation.

 The current release, Spirit of the Sky, is about the third sibling, the younger sister who is a bald eagle. This story takes place along the 1400 mile pursuit of the Army to place the nontreaty Nez Perce on a reservation. Sa-qan, Bald Eagle, watches the battles from the air and tries to help her people but finds it hard to do so as a spirit. When a cavalry officer spares her life and insists he can help her, believing she is a hostage because of her white hair and golden eyes, she is confused by his concern. And later when she returns the favor by saving his life they discover that while they should be enemies, they have a common ground. They both want to stop the slaughter of the Nez Perce.

Spirit of the Sky
by Paty Jager

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To save her from oppression, he must save her whole tribe. To give her his heart, he must desert his career… 

When the US Army forces the Nimiipuu from their land, Sa-qan, the eagle spirit entrusted with watching over her tribe, steps in to save her mortal niece. Challenging the restrictions of the spirit world, Sa-qan assumes human form and finds an unexpected ally in a handsome cavalry officer. 

Certain she is a captive, Lt. Wade Watts, a Civil War veteran, tries to help the blonde woman he finds sheltering a Nez Perce child. While her intelligent eyes reveal she understands his language, she refuses his help. But when Wade is wounded, it is the beautiful Sa-qan who tends him. Wade wishes to stop the killing—Sa-qan will do anything to save her people.

Can their differences save her tribe? Or will their love spell the end of the Nimiipuu?


Excerpt

The plants parted, revealing the contorted face of a soldier squinting down the length of a rifle pointed at them. Girl of Many Hearts squeaked. Sa-qan drew the child behind her, using her body as a shield. As a spirit she could not be killed by a mortal’s bullet.

A man dressed in buckskin pants and a soldier’s shirt with leader markings appeared behind the soldier pointing the rifle at them.

“No, Private! Leave them be!” The command rang with authority. The man’s dark eyes, shaded by the brim of a hat, narrowed, staring at her. “We’re only after the warriors. Go.” He pushed the soldier from the water and stepped closer.

“Are you a captive?” He held out his hand not holding a weapon. “I can help you. Take you from this.” His voiced dropped to a deeper, calming tone.

Sa-qan met his gaze. Should she let him know she spoke his tongue? The compassion in his eyes was a harsh contradiction to the violence still raging through the village. She shook her head and pressed Girl of Many Hearts farther into the river.

He took another step forward. “I can help you. We’re going to keep after these people until they give in. I know the army. They don’t give up.” The sorrow and weariness in his tone puzzled her.

She thought all soldiers thrived on attacking and harassing the Nimiipuu.

“I can get you away from this now, before it gets worse.” He took another step.

His nostrils flared as the stinging scent of burning hide filled the air along with terrified high-pitched screams.

“Damn!” The soldier lunged out of the river and ran toward a group of teepees being lit on fire.

Bio:

Wife, mother, grandmother, and the one who cleans pens and delivers the hay; award winning author Paty Jager and her husband currently ranch 350 acres when not dashing around visiting their children and grandchildren. She not only writes the western lifestyle, she lives it.

She is a member of RWA, EPIC , and COWG. She’s had eleven books and a short story published so far and is venturing into the new world of self-publishing ebooks.

Her contemporary Western, Perfectly Good Nanny won the 2008 Eppie for Best Contemporary Romance and Spirit of the Mountain, a historical paranormal set among the Nez Perce, garnered 1st place in the paranormal category of the Lories Best Published Book Contest. Spirit of the Lake was a finalist in the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence.

You can learn more about her at her blog; www.patyjager.blogspot.com her website; http://www.patyjager.net or on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/#!/paty.jager and twitter; @patyjag.


Blog Tour Contest! Each blog stop has a picture of an eagle in the post. Follow the tour and send me the number of different pictures you see while following the tour. To learn where I’ll be go to my blog(http://www.patyjager.blogpsot.com) or website(http://www.patyjager.net) If there is more than one correct entry I’ll draw a winner on May 21st to receive a $25 gift certificate to either Barnes and Nobles or Amazon, a handmade custom ereader cover, and chocolate. Send your entry number to: patyjag@gmail.com by May 21st.

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