Carol is offering a giveaway of her book, Always. This can be either an e-copy (International) or a print  (US only) book, whichever the reader prefers. So be sure and leave her a comment to be entered into the drawing.

Tell us about yourself.

I am both a romance writer and a therapist. I married when I was nineteen and went on to earn my degrees. The really amazing thing is that I still both love and like my husband. We went to grad school together and now work in the same practice. Never let anyone tell you relationships are easy. They can be, however, very rewarding.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be, and why?

I’m a big city girl. My husband grew up in western New Jersey. He’s way more tolerant of small town life. He teases me about living in the back of beyond someday. I’d go nuts. I have a daughter finishing her residency in ER in Brooklyn. We love visiting her and we get the bonus of spending time in New York. My adventurous husband enjoys us navigating the subway system there.

What genre(s) do you write in and why?

I write contemporary romance mostly because that’s what I read. I love reading and writing about couples finding their way to connection in relationships. It’s my thing. In my other job as a therapist, I get to help people work through relationship conflicts. I think relationships can be maddening, but they help us find the best in ourselves.

Tell us about your current series/WIP.

I’m currently writing the second in my up-coming series Blue Collar Boys. My heroes—Case, Noah and Tyler–run an architectural salvage yard. They take apart old buildings, saving what they can. These items are then sold as building materials or are repurposed into other items. The brothers work with their hands, as well as, their brains. The first three books in the series will be coming out in October, November and December of 2015.

What inspired your latest book?

To be honest, I watch a lot of home improvement television….

What is your favorite part of writing?

Characterization is my favorite part of writing. I love words and I love using them to craft people who come alive

How does your family feel about your writing career?

Ironically, I have an extended family that doesn’t read much. My husband—also a therapist—loves sports. He reads about sports, but no fiction. He completely supports my writing, though, and he is convinced that I’m brilliant. My daughters are also very supportive of my writing. After determined effort on my part to help them deal with reading issues as kids, they are now both readers—to my very great relief. One is a medical doctor and the other will soon graduate with her Ph.D. in psychology.

Do you write under a pen name? Why or why not? How did you choose it?

I write under a pen name because of my dual careers. I don’t ever use clients or their information in my books, but I don’t want them worrying about that.

Where can readers find your books? Print/Ebook?

I have a website and my work is listed on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Ibooks and Smashwords. My older books can be found in print, as can some of my newer titles.

Are you participating in any reader contests?

I usually run a monthly contest on Fresh Fiction and often run contests on my blog.

Do you have any upcoming FREE promotions you would like to tell us about?

My book, Hating Christmas, is free through the month of January.

 EXCERPT From ALWAYS by Carol Rose

One 

All the rough spots in Elinor Prescott’s life could be traced back to the same source: money. And here she stood, face-to-face with it.

Across the street, the pale, gleaming limousine sat arrogantly ensconced in the No Parking zone in front of town hall. A highly polished symbol of conspicuous consumption that stood out in the small town of Bayville, Louisiana, like a diamond amidst pebbles.

Elinor felt her hackles rise. No doubt about it, Cole Whittier had come back home with a splash.

She punched the crossing button on the utility pole again, willing the signal light to change. Everything seemed to be conspiring against her today. Even the early-afternoon air held an unusual winter bite, tugging at her skirt and slicing through her sweater. If that darned light didn’t change soon, she’d be late for the council meeting.

She didn’t even know the man, but she wasn’t happy with Cole Whittier. Because of him, the grapevine had buzzed all morning, the phone interrupting her work repeatedly. Clients called on the slim pretext of checking their tax records from 2009, and friends called on no pretext at all.

The light changed, and Elinor hoisted her bulky briefcase, stalking across the intersection.

“Mornin’, Miss Elinor!” An elderly lady waited on the other curb, her wrinkled face bright with excitement. “You goin’ to the council meeting?”

Elinor sighed to herself. The last thing she wanted to hear was more speculation about Millionaire Whittier. But she didn’t have the heart to snap at Mrs. Thibadeaux.

“Yes, ma’am,” Elinor responded. “I am.”

“I hear that sweet boy, Cole Whittier, is in town.” The elderly woman sighed gustily. “He always was such a gentleman.”

“So I hear.” Elinor smiled, shifting her briefcase to her other hand.

Mrs. Thibadeaux leaned forward conspiratorially. “They say he has lots and lots of money these days,” she said in lowered tones. “Did you see that beautiful car?”

A sudden gust of wind sliced through Elinor’s sweater. “Yes, ma’am, I did,” she said, shivering as she glanced in the direction of Mrs. Thibadeaux’s nod.

The older woman clutched her coat tighter. “My, my, that wind’s terrible. You should be gettin’ inside, honey. I’m sure the meetin’ will be starting anytime.”

“I know,” Elinor said, a hint of irony in her voice as she waved goodbye and turned to walk swiftly to the town hall.

The whole town was buzzing with the news. Hometown boy Cole Whittier was back, and he’d come back a millionaire. The gossips seemed to forget that Elinor hadn’t lived in Bayville when Cole Whittier had gone off to seek his fortune fourteen years ago.

She’d only come back to her father’s hometown two years before, and only then because her mother had died. Respect for Mama’s feelings had kept her far from Bayville, but with Mama gone, she’d felt rootless. Coming back to the place that had sheltered her father’s family for generations had seemed a natural choice. Seeking out her grandfather, her only living relative, couldn’t hurt Mama now.

The small, unremarkable town of Bayville in northeastern Louisiana had felt like home, even though she’d only visited here once before. And now, for the first time after throwing herself headlong into community life, Elinor felt a twinge of regret. She wasn’t looking forward to today’s town council meeting.

The last thing she wanted to do was watch Mayor Stephens making a fool of himself drooling all over Cole Whittier’s millions.

Buy links–

http://www.amazon.com/Carol-Rose/e/B001KI1OVA/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1421006668&sr=1-2-ent

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/always-carol-rose/1107484983?ean=2940016711560

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/101448

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/always/id481674395?mt=11

 BIO

Carol Rose is an award-winning author of contemporary romances. She has written twenty books, including Always and Forgotten Father. Her books have won numerous awards, including a final in the prestigious Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award.

Carol is an active member of the North Texas Romance Writers, the Dallas Area Romance Writers and the Yellow Rose chapter. A frequent speaker at writers’ groups and conferences, she has taught workshops on characterization and, creating and resolving conflict. She works full time as a therapist.

Her husband and she married when she was only nineteen and he was barely twenty-one, proving that early marriage can make it, but only if you’re really lucky and persistent. They went through college and grad school together. She not only loves him still, all these years later, she still likes him—which she says is sometimes harder. They have two funny, intelligent and highly accomplished daughters. Carol loves writing and hopes you enjoy reading her work.

www.carolrosebooks.com

www.twitter.com –  carolrose@carolrosebooks

https://www.facebook.com/carol.rose.author

How did you get started writing? I’m an avid reader and always thought I’d like to try writing a novel. I had an idea for a story and when it wouldn’t leave me alone, I sat down and started writing. The first attempt was a time-travel romance written on yellow pads and it was terrible. I came up with another idea and began again. I bought some writing books, took online writing classes, joined a local writing group, bought more writing books, joined RWA, and bought more writing books. I read the writing books in the evening and applied what I learned to my manuscript the next day. My friends (a proofreader and a former journalist) read my work and offered critiques. I rewrote until I had something I could be proud of.

Tell us about your current series. I have two books published in my Caught Series (romantic suspense). Caught in Cross Seas is set in Angel Beach, a fictitious beach town on the Oregon Coast. This story features Harlie Cates, a bakery owner and homeless advocate who wears plaid Converse All Stars, Clay Masterson, a country music superstar who is searching for his missing father, and a serial killer. Book two, Caught in the Spin, was released November 2. It’s set on a cattle ranch outside Nashville and features Clay’s best friend and foster brother, former bull rider Tom Black, and single mom on the run, Tallie Peters. I’m currently writing book three.

Some of the characters in this series are a bit quirky. There is humor, sexy romance with some hot cowboys, and a few serious issues for the reader to chew on. Caught in Cross Seas tackles homelessness, alcoholism, and societal pressure on women. The characters in Caught in Spin deal with domestic violence. Book three (untitled at the moment) will explore survivor’s guilt.

Tell us about your hero. Give us one of his strengths and one of his weaknesses. In my latest release, Tom Black, the hero in Caught in the Spin, is a former champion bull rider. His strength is his competitive nature. When he sets a goal, he goes after it. This is also his weakness. Injuries from a bull riding wreck ended his career and Tom has difficulty dealing with his failure. Twelve years after the accident, Tom still doesn’t want to be reminded of who he was back in his glory days.

Tell us about your heroine. Give us one of her strengths and one of her weaknesses. Tallie Peters, the heroine in Caught in the Spin, is a single mom who is an assistant to one of Nashville’s leading music managers. Her strength is her love for her son. She’ll do anything to protect him from his abusive father. Fear is her weakness. She knows what her ex-husband is capable of and is terrified he will kill her and take her son.

What is your next project and when will it be released? My next book is a stand-alone novel called Tangles and I hope to have it released in late spring.

What inspired this book? Tangles is the story of a man who unexpectedly finds himself in the position of caregiver for his mother who has Alzheimer’s disease. The story was inspired by my husband who found himself in a similar situation when his father was diagnosed with inoperable prostate cancer and at the same time, his mother’s Alzheimer’s disease escalated. We had young children at the time and his parents required 24/7 care. After a particularly rough day, my husband wondered how he’d keep going without losing his mind. He loved his mom but was having difficulty dealing with the disease. I asked him, “Can you imagine being in this situation with someone with whom you didn’t have a good relationship?” and Tangles was born.

How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book? Not likely at all. I may use characteristics of someone I’ve met, but I’d never base a character on a real person. I don’t want real people inhabiting my head for the length of a novel.

What are you reading now? Working Stiff by Annelise Ryan. I love her sense of humor and how she’s created a realistic female sleuth—body image problems and all.

Excerpt | Caught in the Spin

Tallie and Harlie rounded the end of the barn and stopped in a huge pole building bursting with activity. A flatbed hay truck sat alongside the building where a man on a boom truck operated a motorized hook swinging hay bales between the truck bed and barn. Men on top of the haystack caught the bales against their chaps-covered legs using large hooks and set them in place. Tallie watched the hay fly through the air and cringed as the empty hook swung back, sure someone would get hurt. Several moments passed before she realized one of the guys on the stack was the man she needed to see. Clay Masterson was bucking hay.

Despite the shed’s open-air construction, the space inside was stifling and Tallie fanned herself. The truck was almost empty when she caught sight of another man working the stack. With an effortless toss and a push with his thigh, he stacked a bale weighing a hundred and fifty pounds or more, flexing well-formed shoulder muscles. The job completed, he chucked his leather gloves aside and ran his hands through his straight, midnight-black hair, pushing it from his face. Even though he was sweaty and covered in chaff, Tallie couldn’t stop staring—maybe even because of it. His damp shirt stuck to the angles and lines of his body. The temperature around Tallie jumped a notch and she couldn’t blame the weather.

Clay grabbed a handful of hay and dumped it on the man’s head, causing him to utter a few good-natured expletives. Clay laughed and dodged before his smiling victim could retaliate.

“That is the finest-looking man I’ve ever seen,” Tallie said with an appreciative sigh. Harlie laughed and Tallie covered her red cheeks with her hands. “Did I say that out loud?”

“You did. Which one are you talking about?”

Tallie looked up, her eyes drifting back to him. “The dark-haired one. Not that I don’t think your husband is handsome,” she quickly added. “But I’m not ill-mannered enough to drool over him when I’m standing next to you.”

“It’s okay if you did,” Harlie said with the smile of a confident woman. “I’m getting used to it. And I agree with you that both of them are enjoyable to look at. I’ve often wondered if Montana produced any ugly boys.” She laughed. “It looks like they’re done with the truck. I’ll introduce you.”

Amazon Link for Caught in the Spin:  http://amzn.com/0991589025

Amazon Link for Caught in Cross Seas:  http://amzn.com/0991589009

**ON SALE NOW** Caught in Cross Seas Kindle version is currently on sale for .99 cents

www.sharleenscott.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sharleen-Scott-author/670018299725749?ref=br_tf

Hello everyone. Please help me welcome Cynthia Clement to my blog today. Cynthia will be giving away and ecopy of one of her books to a lucky reader, so be sure and leave her a comment to be entered into the drawing.

Tell us about yourself

I live in Northern Ontario with my husband of thirty years and our teenaged son. I’m a lifelong learner and love researching strange and bizarre topics. The more unusual, the better. I enjoy ghost hunting, the paranormal, travel, sewing, and quilting.

Have you had other careers before becoming a writer?

I’ve been writing since my teens, but it hasn’t always been the main focus of my life. After university, I worked for the telephone company for several years as an operator and service representative. Then I married my husband. We owned a Christmas Tree Farm north of Toronto, lived in northwestern British Columbia for several years, and then settled in Northern Ontario. I’ve planted and pruned trees, taught office skills and writing, worked in retail, been an office administrator, tourist information officer, and most recently, a nurse.

How did you get started writing?

I can still remember the first short story I wrote in high school. It was called My Irish Castle. My English teacher loved it and thought I had talent. That gave me the incentive and confidence I needed. I haven’t stopped writing since then.

What genres do you write in and why?

I write historical and science fiction romance, although I am working on a Women’s Fiction series right now. I love history and grew up reading Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, and the Brontes. I have a degree in Biology, and hence my love of Science Fiction. I write romance, because I believe in love and second chances.

How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?

I’ve written nine books and published seven. Three science fiction romances and four historical romances. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be The Seduction of Sarah, because it was the first book I sold. It took almost ten years of writing courses and hard work before I was able to sell a book to a publisher. I’ll always remember the excitement of finally achieving my dream.

How does your family feel about your writing career?

My family is very supportive, especially my husband. In the early years I think they thought of it as a hobby, but once I started to write on a daily basis and publish, they realized I was serious about pursuing it as a career.

What advice can you offer to anyone deciding to self-publish?

My advice is to write the best book you can, and to find readers who like what you write. After you’ve written your book, write another. Self-publishing is not easy. There are some aspects that are fun, like choosing your cover, but for the most part it is hard work. I spend a good portion of each day working on the business of writing.

Do you have critique partners?

Yes. I don’t know what I would do without my critique partner. She is tough and I love it. When my plot or characters are inconsistent I know she’ll tell me like it is.

What’s next for you?

I’m busy with edits for the next book in my Science Fiction series aHunter4Hire. It’s set to be released at the end of January and titled aHunter4Ever.

 The Seduction of Madalyn by Cynthia A Clement

 On Sale from January 17, 2015 – January 23, 2017    $0.99

 Available on Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Seduction-Madalyn-Cynthia-Clement-ebook/dp/B00GRLZDZS

‘A man, elegant in black, stood separate. Madalyn’s heart skipped a beat as she recognized Mr. Carter. He had entered the galley just as the auction began. He was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed. His eyes were indifferent as he stared at her. A shiver of dread ran up her spine. This was the man who had bought her.’

Madalyn stows away on The Folly to follow her kidnapped brother to the new world. When she is discovered, she is auctioned off, and forced to wed the highest bidder, Nathan Carter. She is determined to find her brother and return to England, but when passion flares between her and Nathan, all she desires is his touch.

Nathan’s plan to set Madalyn free is thwarted, and he finds himself compelled to wed at gunpoint. He agrees to help Madalyn find her brother, but the marriage is to be annulled at the earliest opportunity. Despite the growing attraction he feels towards Madalyn, he has loved and lost. He may want and need her, but he is determined never to love again.

Excerpt from The Seduction of Madalyn

She bit her lip as she tried to imagine what kind of woman could break Nathan Carter’s heart. Before last night she would have sworn that he didn’t have a heart, but his kisses gave her pause.

“A penny for your thoughts.”

Madalyn jumped at the sound of Nathan’s voice. She turned away from the mirror to see him standing at her bedroom door.

Nathan grinned. “I hope your reaction means that you’re happy to see me.”

“You startled me.” Madalyn took a deep breath. “I wasn’t expecting you to come in without knocking.”

“I thought we had already settled that last night.” Nathan shut the door.

“I might have been dressing.”

“Annie assured me that you were ready.” Nathan leaned against the door. “You look stunning.”

Madalyn flushed. There was warmth in his voice and a gleam in his eye that she recognized as admiration. Never had a man looked at her in such a way before. A rush of heat spread through her body.

“Annie insisted on dressing my hair up.”

“She knew I had a surprise for you.” Nathan reached inside his jacket and pulled out a long thin black velvet box. He walked over to the dressing table.

Madalyn gasped when Nathan opened the box. Inside were a ruby necklace and two matching hair combs. Nathan lifted the necklace and fastened it around her neck. Vibrant stones sparkled within a circlet of gold that surrounded her neck. From this, a spray of larger rubies dropped onto her chest. It was stunning and complimented her gown beautifully.

Madalyn fingers flitted across the necklace. “It’s magnificent.”

Nathan removed the two combs and placed one on each side of her upturned hair. “They reminded me of you.”

“Me?” Her voice was little more than a squeak.

“You’re all fire and warmth.” Nathan leaned close to her ear. “Passion flickers just below your surface, ready to burst into flames at the slightest provocation.”

A shiver of excitement shot through her body. Nathan nibbled at her ear and she quivered in his arms. He tilted her head and captured her lips in a searing kiss. Madalyn lost all sense of time as her body burned with need.

Desire came to life within her, reaching the very depths of her soul. Passion was ignited. A hunger for more sent her into Nathan’s arms. She melted against him, the hardness of his body sending tremors to her lower body. A curl of pleasure wrapped itself around Madalyn until she pulsed with need.

“Should we forget the ball?” Nathan’s hand held Madalyn against his body, letting her feel the extent of his arousal.

“Would that be wise?”

Nathan sighed. “We’re already causing enough speculation. It wouldn’t do to feed the gossip mills with more.”

Madalyn wet her lips, shivering at the lingering sensation of pleasure that remained from Nathan’s kiss. “You’re right of course.”

Nathan touched her lips, caressing them lightly with his fingers. “Now you look like a properly loved bride.”

Author Bio

Cynthia spent most of her childhood with her nose in a book. She began writing stories in her teens, but it wasn’t until her forties that she took her writing seriously. She enjoys reading and collecting books, quilting, sewing, gardening and great conversation. She has a BSc in Biology and a BA in anthropology and recently graduated from nursing. Cynthia enjoys writing the type of books she reads. She writes historical, and science fiction romances where time and space meet love and honor. She lives in Northern Ontario with her husband of thirty years, her teenage son, and their two dogs.

Author Links

Website:  www.cynthiaclement.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cynthia-A-Clement-Author/124053354459215?sk=manager

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/CynthiaAClement:

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/CynthiaClement

Who is Khloe Adams?

Khloe:  The truth about Khloe is she’s not one author but three. We tease in our bio that we met on an elevator at the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention, and the elevator became stuck.  But not to worry. We write romance, not horror. A male model from a romance cover was trapped with us. He kept us very entertained. Afterward, we needed a drink to cool down and headed for the nearest bar. One thing led to another and we decided to form a partnership in July 2013 and write about independent women and strong, sexy guys. We really like elaborating on the male model part—shoulders like a Viking ship, abs that practically burst through his Polo top, and thighs the size of rockets—because if we gave the basic facts, it would put everyone to sleep when they read our bio.

How do the three of you work together?

Khloe: The three most important things to remember when working as a team is to leave your ego at the door, respect each other’s suggestions and opinions, and laugh—alot! Just try writing a sex scene together! Every decision we make—from plots to social media events to covers—has to rep Khloe as a united voice who writes hot and sexy romances with a touch of humor.

What releases do you have out now?

Khloe:  Donut Shop Diva – Miranda’s Complete Story Books 1 -4. It’s about Miranda, one frustrated girl donut shop owner and diva until she finds herself up to her elbows in delicious hot men. One is a mega-sexy pro quarterback and the other one is a badass FBI agent. Forced to choose one, she hopes her choice won’t break her heart.

What inspired you to write this serial?

Khloe:  I used to own a donut shop and football players and cops would come in all the time.  I had the title HOT & GLAZED in my head for a long time.  Suddenly, it all clicked and led to the Donut Shop Diva Serial.

After “Donut Shop Diva ­ Miranda’s Complete Story, what is your next Work in Progress? When can we expect that to come out?

Khloe:  Great question. The next story will be about Rachel who is Miranda’s younger sister.  In her early twenties, Rachel is a free-spirited, fun-loving Donut Shop Diva and co-owner of HOT & GLAZED. She’s a prize-winning pastry baker who meets her match in a competition. He’s an Italian stallion who also happens to be a gourmet chef. The book will be released Winter  2015.

Will you be branching out in other genres?

Khloe:  In the Spring, I’ll be publishing a hot & sexy historical romance where the heroine is no shy quiet maiden who has every intention of seducing  her honor-bound guardian.

Is there anything you’d like to tell any potential new readers/fans about you, your books, sales, upcoming events, etc?

Khloe:

• It’s great connecting with readers on my Facebook and Twitter!
• The Donut Shop Diva Serial – Miranda’s Complete Story Books 1 – 4 are currently available on Amazon. That includes HOT & GLAZED #1, HOT & LEI’D #2, HOT & CUFFED #3 and HOT & HOOKED #4.
• On January 20th, Khloe will appear on Facebook from 10pm to 11pm EST at The Wrong Way Release Party hosted by Casey Harvel. (If you’re interested in attending please friend me/message me on Facebook or email me at khloeadamsauthor@gmail.com)
• Rachel, Miranda’s sister, will have her story coming out Winter 2015
• Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter found on my website for a chance to win a prize and learn about new releases. A winner is randomly drawn once a month.

How can readers find you?

Khloe:

http://www.khloeadams.com

http://www.facebook.com/authorkhloeadams

http://www.twitter.com/khloeadamsbooks

http://www.pinterest.com/khloeadamsbooks

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8634603.Khloe_Adams

Thank you Cindy, for this awesome opportunity. It was great meeting you.

Excerpt from HOT & LEI’D Book 2 in Donut Shop Diva Serial    

I licked the cherry nipple off the tip of a hand-crafted, pyramid-shaped, glazed donut that my sister had dubbed the booby. The cherry sweetness wasn’t enough to make me forget that I was hurtling through the air over the lush mountains of Maui to the small town of Hana in a flimsy nine-seat puddle-jumper. But it helped.

“Let me get this straight,” said the skinny guy sitting across the narrow aisle from me. “You’re dating Aiden Knight.”

I wouldn’t exactly call it dating. Ten days ago, Aiden and I had shared a mind-blowing one-night hook-up that changed me in ways I couldn’t describe. “Aiden bought my plane ticket.”

“Aiden Knight? The superstar NFL quarterback?” His gaze swept over me. “You sure are cute but you don’t seem like his type.”

He was right about that. At five feet, two inches, I’d never qualify to be a super model. At nearly twenty-five years old, I was practically over-the-hill for sashaying down the runway. I wasn’t a classic beauty, but I had been told more than once that I had pretty blue eyes, a nice smile and thick honey-blonde hair.

I shrugged. “Definitely not a super model.”

“Then you must be somebody famous,” the guy said excitedly.  “Who are you?”

“Miranda Hunter. My sister and I own a donut shop near downtown Denver.” Politely, I held the box of donuts toward him. “Would you like a booby?”

“Don’t mind if I do.”

I watched as he took a bite. As soon as the sugar and dough hit his taste buds, his squinty eyes popped wide, and he exhaled a moan that sounded like an orgasm.

“Wow,” he said, “that was really good.”

“Thanks,” I said with pride.

Our shop, HOT & GLAZED, had been open for a little over a year, and we were already starting to make a decent profit—although not enough to pay for anything like this trip from Denver to Maui.

My younger sister, Rachel, was a brilliant master baker, and I handled the business end with sales, promotions and accounting. My framed CPA certificate hung on the wall of our tiny office next to the kitchen. My ultimate plan was world domination of the donut world, building a national franchise of HOT & GLAZED all across the country. Rachel and I were on the golden road that led to a brilliant career, financial success and independence. I had been a driven woman with no time for fun… until I met Aiden.

The plane took a crazy jump. A gross, oily smell hit my nostrils. The whir of the engines changed pitch, and it sounded to me like they were screaming: Don’t let us crash, please don’t let us crash. I grabbed another booby and crammed it into my mouth. Stress did this to me. I ate everything in sight. Would the five pounds I’d probably gained from scarfing down almost a dozen donuts cause this teeny-tiny plane to plummet? When the pilot—not a ticket counter person but the guy who sat at the controls—checked me in at Maui International, he asked how much I weighed. The plane was so small they sat us according to poundage.

I closed my eyes and prayed this trip was worth my anxiety. That Aiden Knight was worth it.

AMAZON: http://bitly.com/1yMGUAO

BIO

The truth behind Khloe Adams is—she’s not one author but three. Plus, one of the authors is a USA TODAY Bestseller and has written over 75 books. Together, they write hot and sexy contemporary romance with a touch of humor.

Their story began when they met each other on an elevator at a Romantic Times Convention. Only this was no ordinary ride. The elevator became stuck between the fiftieth and fifty-first floors at the hotel.

 But don’t get worried. They write romance, not horror.

 They were trapped with a male model from the cover of several steamy romances. He kept them very entertained. Afterward, they needed a drink to cool down and headed for the nearest bar.

One thing led to another and they decided to form a partnership and write about independent women and strong, sexy guys. With the help of modern technology, they’ve managed to do it. Two of them live in Florida, and the other one lives in Colorado. A recent USA TODAY review said, “Khloe Adams writes hot with a flair—great humor.”

Their debut serial Donut Shop Divas features four bite-sized erotic romances focusing on Miranda’s story:  HOT & GLAZED #1, HOT & LEI’D #2, HOT & CUFFED #3 and HOT & HOOKED #4.

(Website — Facebook — Twitter — Goodreads  links)

GIVEAWAY:

Win a $20 Gift Card and a heart necklace. US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

N. N. Light is doing a giveaway of a $5 Amazon gift card to someone who comments what is your most romantic moment that happened to you. She’ll pick a winner the following day. So be sure and leave her your comments.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be, and why?

If I could live anywhere in the world, I would live on a small island like St. Kit’s in the Caribbean. I am tired of the cold weather up here in Canada and the crush of people surrounding me. There’s something so peaceful about St. Kit’s. The people down there are so easy-going and everything moves at a slower pace. I think Ernest Hemingway (my writing mentor) was on the right track when he lived in Key West and Cuba.

 What advice do you have for other authors wanting to self-publish?

Do your research and go into it with eyes wide open. The publishing industry is changing and it has never been easier to publish a book. That being said, it’s a very competitive market and you’re competing with well-known authors who have a huge marketing presence. Do your research and make sure you know what to expect. Things come up and you have to be prepared.

 What went into the process? Writing, editing, cover design, formatting, etc. Share your ups and downs and how you went about it. If you used a service, can you share?

The road to publishing has been an adventure to say the least. I started the journey signing with a small press, parting ways amicably, getting my rights returned to me and self-publishing. Deciding to self-publish was a no-brainer for me because I had a following clamoring for my book, Princess of the Light. I didn’t want to wait because I was afraid I would lose all that hard-earned buzz about my book.

In a matter of  two weeks, I revised, edited and proofread my book. I hired a cover artist and Erica Petit designed the magnificent Princess of the Light cover. It was exactly what I was looking for and everyone loves it!

The most difficult part for me was the formatting. I had no experience with formatting and after several attempts to do it myself, I contacted a company to format my book. I needed it done for both Kindle and Smashwords. The company I hired was Ebook Launch (http://ebooklaunch.com/) and they were affordable, professional and did a superb job. I plan on using them in the future for all of my formatting needs.

Like anything in life, the road to publishing was filled with ups and downs. I learned so much from the experiences I had, though, and knowledge is power. I now know what to expect the next time I publish a book.

All self-pubbed books are rumoured to be shoddily edited. What do you say to that?

My first reaction is they really haven’t been reading much. I have read several books published this year by the Big 5 publishers that were poorly edited. I have read several self-published books that have been edited perfectly. I think no matter how it is published, a book has a 10% chance of being shoddily edited. Mistakes happen and I, for one, am glad my readers can be forgiving.

What is most difficult for you to write? Characters, conflict or emotions? Why?

Wow, this is a tough one for me to answer. There have been characters, conflict and emotions that have been hard for me to write about. If I had to pick one, it would be conflict.

Describing the conflict I see playing out in my head is hard. I know what is going on because I am creating it but it takes work to transfer it from my mind to words on paper.

Give us an elevator pitch for your book.

Destined to be the Princess of the Light, Mary must restore hope in a homeless man known as the Walking Man, risking everything she hold dear (including the love of her life, Joe) or die at the hands of the demons sent to vanquish her.

 Do you write under a pen name? Why or why not? How did you choose it?

Yes, I write under the pen name, N. N. Light. I chose to write under a pen name because I wanted to keep my privacy. My author life and my personal life are separate.

I chose N. N. Light because my husband and I wrote Princess of the Light together. Both of our real names start with the letter N. The last name Light was pretty easy to come up with because we are spreading the Light by sharing this book. Plus, it is easy to remember.

Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?

The most rewarding thing for me is having someone come up to me and tell me how much they enjoyed reading my book. I love to read and I wanted to write a book I would love to read several times. It’s lovely when other readers get the inspirational message of my book and want to read the next book in the series.

Thank you, Cynthia, for having me on your blog today. I had such a great time and I hope your readers will root for Mary as she battle the darkness.

Title: Princess of the Light

Author: N. N. Light

Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance

Blurb:

Gabriel, the Archangel and Messenger of God – yeah that Gabriel, visited Mary Miller. He told her, as the key she is destined to spread the Light and vanquish the Darkness. Her first assignment is to restore the soul of the Walking Man. Sounds simple enough until she’s thrown in the face of evil, and then Joe Deacons enters her heart. This battle just got a lot more complicated. She must complete her mission without losing all she loves.

Book Cover Graphic Artist Credit:

Illustration : streamy digital

Model : VictoriaAndrea

Photo : shutterstock/depositphoto

Excerpt:

Sunshine peeked through the curtains of my bedroom. A ray of light shone on my pillow and in the distance, a dog barked. Probably Chopper, ready for his morning walk.

I glanced at my alarm clock and the time was nine o’clock. Ugh. My alarm wasn’t set to go off for another ten minutes. The light shone through my eyelids and I covered my eyes with my hand—maybe I could fall back asleep for just a little while longer. A few unsuccessful minutes later and there came a soft tapping from my bedroom door. Bummer.

“Mary?” It was Amber. “Are you awake?” she called softly.

My eyes fluttered open, apparently not quite ready to give up on the last few minutes. I rolled my head, stretching my neck as I let my mind comprehend what Amber was saying. Then I sat up, clicked off my alarm before it started making the irritating buzz, and said, “Yes. Come in.”

Amber opened the door and walked to the bed to sit down. The confused look on my roommate’s face was enough to know that something was going on. “Amber, what’s wrong?”

Amber leaned closer and said with a whisper, “Joe is here.”

“What do you mean, here?” I asked, as if here could possibly have more than one meaning.

“I came home this morning to find him sitting on the steps. I think he was waiting for you to get up or something.”

I smiled and my cheeks grew hot. “Well, did you let him in?”

Amber stood up and laughed. “No, I told him to go away,” she teased. Then she made a pshht sound and added, “Of course I let him in. He’s making coffee for us in the kitchen.” Then, she giggled as I stumbled out of bed. “Mary,” she whispered, “he brought you flowers.”

My mind started to race and I wondered why he was here so early—and making coffee no less. Should I take time to shower or just go find out what was going on?

I grabbed my most conservative purple robe and put it on. Then I turned to Amber and surprised her with a hug. I couldn’t help myself.

“He brought me flowers?” I asked, incredulously. “How sweet!” I squeezed Amber’s hand and quickly shuffled to the kitchen.

Joe was standing there with a cup of steaming coffee in one hand and a beautiful bouquet of purple flowers in the other. I gasped and looked into Joe’s eyes with love. The first time he waited for me outside the bookstore he’d had purple flowers. This time he had purple flowers and a cup of coffee. I could get used to where this was going.

“Good morning, beautiful!” Joe smiled and seemed to look right into my soul. If my cheeks got any hotter, they might melt off.

The very presence of him was already making my knees go weak. He was freshly showered, shaven and dressed in casual attire.

I didn’t know what else to say, so I simply replied, “Hello.”

Buy Links:

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/469480

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/princess-of-the-light-nn-light/1120170709?ean=9781502438454

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Light-N/dp/1502438453

Amazon Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/Princess-Light-N-ebook/dp/B00N19FDKO

Amazon UK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Princess-Light-N-ebook/dp/B00N19FDKO

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/princess-of-the-light-1

Indigo: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/princess-of-the-light/9781310880230-item.html?kwid=princess+of+the+light&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0

iTunes/ iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/princess-of-the-light/id913013798?mt=11

Paperback: https://www.createspace.com/5008419

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23009005-princess-of-the-light

Newsletter:

Sign up for my Princess of the Light newsletter to get exclusive FREE content no one else can get: http://ymlp.com/xghjsueygmgh

Author Bio:

N. Light was born in Minnesota, lived in Southern California only to move to chilly Ontario, Canada to marry her beloved husband MR N. She is blissfully happy and loves all things chocolate, books, music, movies, art, sports and baking. She has been telling stories since the age of five and her mantra is to spread the Light. Most of the time you can find her on Twitter or getting new ideas on how to spread the Light on Pinterest. She is a proud member of ASMSG, Independent Author Network and Marketing for Romance Writers.

Part of the proceeds of Princess of the Light will go directly to food banks in order to feed the hungry and help those in need. With only 7,500 books sold, N. N. Light will be able to set up a monthly endowment for the local food bank.

I’d love to connect with you either via email or via these various social media sites:

Website: http://princessofthelight.com  

Blog: http://princessofthelight.wordpress.com 

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/nnlight 

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/NNP_W_Light

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/nnlight

Email: nnlight@outlook.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/PrincessOTLight 

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/n-n-light/90/1a7/902

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/118060034268079734144/posts

Triberr: http://www.triberr.com/nnlight 

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/nnlight 

Independent Author Network: http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/n-n-light.html

iAuthor: http://www.iauthor.uk.com/princess-of-the-light:10294