An Interview with Patrice Wilton

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Cindy Woolf

Patrice will give copies to three lucky winners who sign up for her newsletter at www.patricewilton.com.

How did you get started writing?

I loved to read from the age of twelve on, and decided that if I had one gift, it would be to give back to the world the pleasure of books. My second passion was to discover the world that I wanted to write about. I became a flight attendant for seventeen years, married and then traveled the world with my husband and family. We moved from Canada to Australia for six years, and then to England for three. My children were in school, and I was unable to work in these foreign countries so I decided that the time had come. If I wanted to write, what was I waiting for?? I sat down and wrote my first book– in longhand! A Harlequin romance that was firmly rejected. Who knew that they couldn’t have a married hero? I mean, it was the eighties!! lol. After 20 years of writing, and hundreds of rejection, I found an agent who believed in me, and success as a writer.

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

I write contemporary romance, Women’s Fiction and Romantic comedy. I love all three. They allow me to explore female bonding and the power of friendships, emotional issues, the joy of falling in love over and over again, and to showcase my sense of humor that shocks me at times!

Tell us about your current series.

I have had such positive response with my SERENDIPITY FALLS series and they have been so much fun to write. They are light, sexy, and fun—with a mischievous Cupid who watches over the sweet mountain town in the foothills of Mammoth, California. People believe there’s a love bug in the spring water, or some mysterious force at work. In a town of ten thousand, there’s several weddings a month and divorce is non existent. This collection completes the series, but I’m taking Cupid on the road—to Vegas. This will be another fun, sexy, lol series, hopefully to debut this summer.

What inspired your latest book?

I am currently working on another new series, and the setting is in the Florida Keys. Three young women (sisters) and their mother are running a small seaside resort. They lost their father in the Twin Towers, and living in a small, laid back community gives the eldest daughter (first book) a feeling of safety that she never had living in the city, after 9/11. A Boston cardiac surgeon arrives on his sailboat and books a cottage for three months. He lost his daughter to Leukemia and his marriage to grief. He makes his living mending broken hearts, but he can’t heal his own.

Aw…. don’t you just love it!!!!

What is your favorite part of writing?

The creative journey – discovering who these people are, what they want, and what’s going to happen to keep them from getting it. At some point during the story, I come to a complete halt, and think this is terrible, I have no conflict, where am I going, and then I magically figure it out!

What is your least favorite part of writing?

All of the above!

What is your next project and when will it be released?

My next project is my Paradise Cove series, and I hope it will be released this summer, but it’s in the hands of my agent, so it could take a lot longer!

How has your experience with self-publishing been?

My experience with self-publishing has been wonderful! I never really made it until Kindle came along, and then readers found me! My first book on Kindle, Replacing Barnie, is the first book in my successful Candy Bar series, and it went all the way down to a ranking of 300—out of a million books!) without any help from me. Readers found my books, they loved my stories, and validated me as an author. It was the most rewarding thing of all to read the beautiful reviews, which I do everyday, and know that I achieved my childhood dream. I can make people laugh, and cry, and bring them the joy of reading. Oh, happy me, I am so very blessed!

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

I advise anyone who has a well written, edited book with a professional cover to take that leap of faith and put it up there for the world of readers to discover. If you don’t, who will?

Tell us a little about yourself and your latest book.

I moved to West Palm Beach after a divorce in 2000. I met a wonderful man, a retired golf pro and we have been together for ten years. Between us we have 4 grown children, and are blessed with 10 wonderful grandchildren, a constant joy and delight. I play tennis, golf, and write nearly every single day. I made the USA Today best seller list with two popular box sets last year. I’m am still working hard and fulfilling my dreams!

For anyone who is not published and still holding on to that dream —DON’T GIVE UP! It took me years and years of heartache and rejections, but when I finally found that small, glimmer of success, it made the entire journey worthwhile. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it!!!!

Links for Serendipity Falls

http://tinyurl.com/o7cvhbx amz – 3 book set

#iBooks http://tinyurl.com/lgdhnko —3 book set

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/serendipity-falls

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/serendipity-falls/id891043170?ls=1&mt=11

http://www.amazon.co.uk/SERENDIPITY-FALLS-Patrice-Wilton-ebook/dp/B00H0IPZFU/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416583813&sr=1-4&keywords=patrice+wilton

“These three books are a delight to read,a little spice,a lot of romance and a funny quirk which has the town wondering..”

SERENDIPITY FALLS -“What a cute story. I could see this being a Lifetime or Hallmark movie.”

http://tinyurl.com/krwwey8 AMAZON

http://tinyurl.com/pa3ghn8 b&n

http://tinyurl.com/lmr3a8b IbOOKS

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/serendipity-falls

20% off this weekend Enter code 3E7KVVLX5LK4P
at checkout. details

PROLOGUE

I’m Cupid. You know, that cute, angelic little body that floats around with a tiny bow and arrow? Well, let me tell you something-it’s not so cute when you’re 180 years old. Not in human life, but in Cupid life. We live to be at least 500 or so and give joy and love to the humans who don’t even know we’re here.

Not that I’m grumpy, but this sure is a thankless job. If you have a moment I’ll tell you why. I live in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. It’s a pretty place and a tourist spot due to the spectacular, two hundred foot waterfall that streams down the side of the mountain and pools into an emerald green lake. It’s the last place to fuel up, stretch your legs, or grab a bite to eat before you reach the ski hills at Mammoth, and that mountain is sure aptly named. We’re talking gigantic, with the highest elevation of any ski area around–over 11,000 feet, and if that doesn’t scare you, nothing will.

I tried playing Cupid up there because I like the cool mountain air, and I was fed up with competing in “the big city” with Cupids younger than me, but that didn’t work out. To be honest, I’m scared of heights, so I skedaddled out of there and ended up in this idyllic town. For all my grouching, I’m sure glad I did. The population is small so you’d think I’d get bored and move on, but that’s not the case.

We have a brand spanking new mall that’s attracting visitors to the area, and it has sporting good shops, snazzy boutiques and a slew of big name stores, like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, a Macy’s, even Sears too. There’s also a Multiplex movie theatre, an ice-skating rink, and several restaurants to satisfy your appetite.

I have plenty of people to use as target practice, but still, for all the zapping I do I never get any credit. That’s my biggest beef with this place. The town folk boast about their falls and the natural spring water, and how romance blooms in Serendipity. I listen to them marvel about the unnatural amount of weddings, and I want to stamp my feet. Yes, I do have feet, pointy little ears, and a perfectly good bow and arrow, which I should use to pierce their backsides with. Perhaps, then I’d get some respect!

The only day I ever get recognition is Valentine’s Day, and for me that’s Christmas, Easter, every memorable holiday wrapped into one. I celebrate by binging on chocolate, and although I haven’t met a truffle I didn’t like, I’m especially partial to Godiva. Oh, dear, I got side-tracked, didn’t I?

What I was saying is that in a town of ten thousand, we’re having at least one wedding a month, and they think the water is responsible for that? Come on! I’m shooting pink darts, and I’m not so old that my aim’s off either. I alternate my time between the mall and the restaurant across from the falls where I have the best view, the best leftover nibbles, and can see all the travelers who come through the door.

If you don’t believe me, come by and see for yourself.

Oh, wait. Someone just walked in. A pretty young lady. She’s alone and looks distraught. I better wander over and hear her story. You might want to listen in.

AUTHOR BIO

Patrice Wilton knew from the age of twelve that she wanted to write books that would take the reader to faraway places. She was born in Vancouver, Canada, and had a great need to see the world that she had read about.

Patrice became a flight attendant for seventeen years and traveled the world. At the age of forty she sat down to write her first book—in longhand! Her interests include tennis, golf, and writing stories for women of all ages.

She is a mother of two, has four lovely grand-daughters, and a wonderful man at her side. They live in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he teaches her golf, and she teaches him patience.

Her best selling books are TEN CHRISTMAS BRIDES, the Candy Bar series, the Serendipity Falls series, and her returning war hero series. She is a USA Today best selling author.

An Interview with Bronwen Evans

Posted on March 27, 2015 by Cindy Woolf

Bronwen will be giving away an ecopy of her book, A Kiss of Lies book #1 in the Disgraced Lords series

What inspired your latest book?

My latest book, released 24 March is A TOUCH OF PASSION, a Regency historical romance. It’s book #3 in my Disgraced Lords series. The Disgraced Lords are a bunch of school friends, nicknamed the Libertine Scholars, whose fathers were—not very nice—is putting it mildly. They have an unknown enemy who is revisiting the sins of the father on the sons. The series has an over arcing villain, as well as a different villain in each standalone book, so I had to plot the series really well before I started. I plotted out a series books, one for each of the six men.

M y six heroes are:

A Kiss of Lies, book #1 – Christian Markham, the Earl of Trent – wounded war hero, the gorgeous rake who is faced with confronting who he is, now that he’s been badly burned at Waterloo. He reminds me of Mel Gibson’s character in The Man Without a Face. A man whose world has been turned upside down as he struggles for a new identity. He can no longer use his beauty to glide through life. He has to look deeper inside himself and find out what’s at the core of him as a man. What can he find within himself to make his way in the world?
A Promise of More, book #2 – Sebastian Hawkestone, the Earl of Coldhurst – is a very popular and handsome rake who has the ability to understand and empathize with people. He notices seemingly insignificant details about them and their lives, and easily gets inside people’s heads. He’s able to draw conclusions from them and use the information to his own advantage – especially where woman are concerned. He’s the ultimate seducer. A bit like Jake Gyllenhaal’s character in Love, Drugs, and other Things.
A Touch of Passion, book #3 – Grayson Devlin, Viscount Blackwood – A big, gorgeous rake with a heart of gold. The man who tries to look tough on the outside but is in fact marshmallow inside. He’d do anything for anyone and fiercely protects those he loves with his life. He reminds me of Stefan Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. Silent and intense.
A Whisper of Desire, book #4 – Maitland Spencer, the Duke of Lyttelton – he’s a masculine version of Temperance Brennan from Bones. He’s a mathematical genius, making him England’s most successful card player. But he is deemed cold and distant, emotionally withdrawn, and due to his intelligence he has trouble connecting with people.
A Taste of Seduction, book #5, – Hadley Fullerton, younger brother of the Duke of Claymore – he has, what we term in the Regency period ‘the spare’ syndrome. His only role in life is to be ready to step up if anything should happen to his elder brother. He has little if any self-worth and does everything he can to put himself in harm’s way. Danger is his middle name. He sees no purpose to his life, so doesn’t value it. Like Christopher Chance in Human Target.
A Night of Forever, book #5 – Arend Aubury, Baron Labourd – a French exile with a huge chip on his shoulder. His family fled France in 1789 during the revolution and they lost their estates and wealth. Upon reaching manhood, he’s not had the luxury to be the playboy rake. He had to work hard to restore his family’s wealth and standing in England. He’s serious and determined. He still doesn’t feel accepted here, and with the war with Napoleon, feels like an outsider in the country he’s spent most of his life in. He longs for acceptance. I’ve pictured Olivier Martinez for this character.
Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

I’ve always had a vivid imagination. Romance is about human emotions so therefore I do get ideas from people around me, things I read, news, etc. I’m always amazed at how modern day issues can provide great plots and emotional stories for a Regency historical book. In some areas things haven’t changed that much over the centuries. People still want to be loved and accepted for who they are.

Do you have a view in your writing space? What does your space look like?

I have a really bad back and neck so I find sitting at a desk kills my ability to write for long periods of a time. If my neck goes, I get headaches which incapacitates me. A friend of mine put me onto lap-desks. I sit on the couch or on my bed against the bedhead and use my laptop. So I can pretty much write from most rooms in my house. I live in New Zealand in a pretty area called Hawkes Bay. It’s an agriculture and wine region with a hot summer and a mild to coldish winter (no snow but gets frost in the mornings). Here’s a picture of my view. I’m in a seaside vineyard and have an amazing view. I’m very lucky.

How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book?

LOL – if they are interesting enough perhaps. I tend to create characters that are a combination of many people I meet. I love a hero or heroine with deep-seated emotional issues that are usually there due to something that has happened in their lives. People I meet often have seen or been involved in certain incidents and they are what I sometimes use.

Tell us about your hero. Give us one of his strengths and one of his weaknesses.

Grayson Devlin, Viscount Blackwood is a victim of loss. His family died around him in a carriage accident. His guardian becomes Lord Flagstaff, my heroine’s father. Lord Flagstaff has five sons and Grayson and Robert (the eldest son) became firm friends. Then, at Waterloo, he has to cradle Robert in his arms, as he lies dying on the battlefield. Grayson begins to shelter his heart – to love someone leads to pain. Life is too uncertain to open yourself up and to love is too great a risk. He’s honorable, loyal, and completely loveable if he’d let others in.

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

It’s really all about the story. When you have so many characters in your head you just enjoy the process of telling their story. I’d be a liar to say I didn’t love it when readers enjoy my books. I also realize I’ll not be to everyone’s taste. I’m no Jane Austen. My stories are sensual and action packed.

Tell us about your heroine. Give us one of her strengths and one of her weaknesses.

Lady Portia Flagstaff almost died of influenza when she was sixteen so she decides she owes it to herself to live her life to the full. Unfortunately, what she wants to experience and society’s norms don’t always align. The one things she does no is that she wants to experience love and passion before she dies. Her problem is she’s in love with Grayson but Grayson doesn’t see her as anything other than a substitute little sister. What I love about Portia is how she is so true to herself. Grayson compromises her, but she refuses to marry him unless he gives her his heart. Can you see a conflict there?

Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract?

I know its cliché but keep writing. Even when you sell your first book, a career it does not make. You usually have to have at least 6 + books published before you start to get a bit of a following. Honestly, if you really love telling your stories keep polishing your craft. I’ve taken and still take massive on romance writing course, (anything by Patricia Kay is fabulous), I also make sure to read all the top sellers in my genre so I understand what readers love. I also read the books and analyze them. What has this top-selling author done that makes the story good? I go through each book, chapter by chapter, and look at the character arcs. You will usually see why the book is a success.

What is your next project and when will it be released?

I’m currently writing book #4 and book #5 in the Disgraced Lords series and trying to pull together some outlines for my editor who is chasing more historical romances, but she also wants me to try writing another contemporary. I have a meeting with my agent next week to discuss where to from here.

Give us an elevator pitch for your book.

I hate elevator pitches but all good writers should have them at the ready, you never know who you’ll meet in a lift as us kiwi’s call them.

A vivacious thrill seeker clashes with her dutiful defender—causing irresistible sparks to fly.

Here is my excerpt:

“What the blazes do you think you’re doing here?” Portia winced at the familiar sound of Grayson’s voice.

She glanced up to find his handsome features clouded in anger. He probably had no idea that his scolding tone set her heart racing—and not in fright.

“Merely observing. Unlike you, I suspect.”

He was looking up and down the corridor. “I should tell Robert and let him wring that pretty neck of yours.”

She smiled. He’d said pretty neck. “How did you recognize me?”

Grayson stepped closer and pulled her cloak tightly around her shoulders. She pressed back into the wall. His hand reached beside her ear, and a finger wound around a stray curl and tugged. “I’d recognize hair this vibrant red anywhere. So would many others.”

Breath…She struggled to think as her body reacted to his proximity. His light fragrance sent her senses reeling. “I should have known you’d attend this event.”

A growl rumbled deep in his chest. “Well, I had no bloody idea you would. What would Robert think if he saw you? It would break his heart. He has enough to worry about without his wayward sister causing another scandal.”

What had Robert to worry about? Before she could ask he added, “Your selfishness knows no bounds. First it was your cider business, which you flaunted in society’s face, and now you’re at a Cyprians’ Ball.” He couldn’t seem to look her in the eye. “Why Robert hasn’t seen you married off, I’ll never know.”

“I have no intention of being married off to be a nobleman’s baby maker. I will not marry unless it is to my heart’s desire.”

“Is that why you are here? Are you here to meet a lover?”

“No.” Her anger was aroused by his sanctimonious words. “But if I were, it would be none of your business. I don’t condone one standard for men and one for women.”

“The world is full of inequalities. These are the rules we live by. Robert needs to leave knowing his family is protected. He can’t have his mind filled with worry over his—”

“Leave?” She put her hand up to her mouth to stop the nausea rising. “He’s going to war, isn’t he?” Grayson’s lips firmed, and his curse was her answer. “No.” She shook her head. “He’s the eldest, the heir. He can’t.” She looked at Grayson with wide eyes. “Oh, God. You are both going.”

Grayson could not look her in the eye. “I’m going to fight Napoleon because of Robert, to protect him.”

She pushed her mask off her face. “Why is Robert going? You are the last of your line. You can’t go,” she said crossly.

“Robert is going to watch over your brother Philip. He’s scared the young hothead will try to do something heroic but stupid and get himself killed.”

Portia slumped against the wood. Philip was only a year younger than Robert and four years older than her. Robert and Philip were very close. Philip had been declaring his intention to fight the French. She was sure that if women were in charge of this world, there would not be any war. A woman who bore a child would never want him to fight.

“Can I appeal to the small part of you that is a Flagstaff and ask that you give Robert no reason to worry? At least until this war is over. Then you can go back to your scandalous ways.”

Crestfallen and feeling thoroughly chastised, she nodded. “Of course.”

To celebrate the release of A Touch of Passion this month, Random House Loveswept are giving away a $25 Gift Card, Mug and Lipstick

a Rafflecopter giveaway

USA Today bestselling author, Bronwen Evans grew up loving books. She writes both historical and contemporary sexy romances for the modern woman who likes intelligent, spirited heroines, and compassionate alpha heroes. Evans is a two-time winner of the RomCon Readers’ Crown and has been nominated for an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award. She lives in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand with her dog Brandy.

Bronwen loves hearing from avid romance readers at romance@bronwenevans.com
You can keep up with Bronwen’s news by visiting her website www.bronwenevans.com

Or follow her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bronwenevansauthor

And Twitter https://twitter.com/BronwenEvans_NZ

A Touch of Passion Blurb and Buy Links:

Independent and high-spirited, Lady Portia Flagstaff has never been afraid to take a risk, especially if it involves excitement and danger. But this time, being kidnapped and sold into an Arab harem is the outcome of one risk too many. Now, in order to regain her freedom, she has to rely on the deliciously packaged Grayson Devlin, Viscount Blackwood, a man who despises her reckless ways—and stirs in her a thirst for passion.

After losing his mother and two siblings in a carriage accident years ago, Grayson Devlin promised Portia’s dying brother that he’d always watch over his wayward sister. But having to travel to Egypt to rescue the foolhardy girl has made his blood boil. Grayson already has his hands full trying to clear his best friend and fellow Libertine Scholar of a crime he didn’t commit. Worse still, his dashing rescue has unleashed an unforeseen and undesired consequence: marriage. Now it’s more than Portia he has to protect . . . it’s his battered heart.

Amazon http://amzn.to/1Bqrx2O

Amazon Canada http://amzn.to/1yUMOfv

Amazon UK http://amzn.to/1ucWygI

Amazon Australia http://bit.ly/1zEw2lG

Amazon Germany http://amzn.to/1AkEo57

iBooks http://bit.ly/1EFqsR8

Nook http://bit.ly/1yFzr2u

Kobo http://bit.ly/11iYfmc

Confessions of a Reality Show Junkie by Cheri Allan

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Cindy Woolf

Confessions of a Reality Show Junkie

I am addicted to reality dating shows. I freely admit this. The cheesier, the more dramatic, the more over-the-top, the better. I’m sure I’m rotting my brain, and yet, like an accident scene unfolding before me, I CANNOT LOOK AWAY. I love to watch how people behave (and misbehave!) and analyze and dissect their behavior and body language. It’s people-watching on steroids, and we writers eat this stuff up like an all-you-can-eat cheesecake buffet. (Oh, if only there were such a thing!)

It’s research I tell my husband. (As are all those half-naked pictures of men I view on Facebook. ) But this, as we both know, is pure cow-patty. I watch, because I long to see that one, rare couple that¾despite the unlikelihood of finding one’s soul-mate on a reality dating show¾ bucks the odds.

And I’ve watched them all: The Bachelor/The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, Temptation Island, For Love or Money, Ready for Love, The Millionaire Matchmaker, Love in the Wild… you get the idea. I’ve seen ugly crying, inappropriate groping, and cringe-worthy kisses, and I adore every single salacious minute of it. The knowledge that it could all go horribly, tragically, humiliatingly wrong only makes me watch more. Because, whether these folks are seeking fame, revenge on their ex, or their one true love, they’re bumbling through it all like the rest of us—but in front of millions of viewers.

Now, I think about this fact and it does not escape me that it takes a certain amount of chutzpah (or narcissism) to expose one’s bikini-ready body and bumbling courtships to the general public. I would rather eat nothing but broccoli for a year than date on national TV. Can you imagine? Considering it wasn’t easy for me to reveal to my (then) boyfriend that I was in love with him (I expressed myself so eloquently, he thought I was breaking up with him. True story.) I have a great deal of respect for those willing and able to bare themselves emotionally for my viewing pleasure.

These people are risk-takers in the name of love, and I applaud their bravery. As gut-wrenching and awkward as baring your soul and facing your fears can be, it can also be transforming. In every one of my Betting on Romance novels, my characters are forced to take risks for love. Whether it’s starting over after a failed marriage (Luck of the Draw, Aug. 2014), reconnecting with a high school crush (Stacking the Deck, Oct. 2014), or going on national TV to find a wife (All or Nothing, Apr. 2015) these experiences are scary but life-changing.

Like the contestants on TV, my characters step out of their comfort zones. And, there’s that part of us (not the ‘better him than me’ ugly side of us, but the ‘there by the grace of God go I’ part) that cheers for these characters taking risks we wish we had the guts to take. They’re living life¾and it’s messy and drama-filled and ugly as tear-streaked mascara. It’s relatable.

And wonderfully, imperfectly, beautifully human.

When I watch these men and women expose it all in the name of love… When I watch them speak without thinking and open themselves to public embarrassment, and when¾on those wonderful, rare occasions¾the train-wreck the naysayers are all waiting for doesn’t come to pass… I say to myself, “Ha! Happily-ever-afters DO exist!”

Then I kiss my hubby and thank him for listening through my own drama-filled cry-fest long enough to hear what my heart was telling him all those years ago.

onfession time! Who else is a reality show junkie? What do you watch? Why?

(Commenters will automatically be entered into a drawing for a free ‘Betting on Romance’ ebook of their choosing. Drawing to be held March 30^th. No purchase necessary. Please check back here for the winner!)

EXCERPT – LUCK OF THE DRAW

(A Betting on Romance Novel, Book 1)

“I don’t mind you standing there,” he added as he pushed aside the curtain and stepped from the tub, scrubbing his hair with the towel. “But you are somewhat to blame for this.”

“I am?” she squeaked. Heavens, he was good-looking all wet and frumpled. His water-soaked T-shirt was plastered to his chest. Kate’s tongue became the Sahara.

“Mmm hmm,” he nodded. Now he was finger-combing his hair, a crooked grin making his face boyishly appealing as he dropped the towel on his toolbox. “I was thinking about you, you see—”

“You were?” Kate backed up against the sink, the small bathroom feeling suddenly much smaller. Dangerously small. As small as the pocket in her lungs still capable of holding air. “What were you thinking?”

He paused, his eyes dancing. “I’m thinking I ought to keep that to myself.”

“Why?”

“I don’t think we know each other well enough for me to tell you that.”

Suddenly the flannel of her robe felt very hot on her skin. Kate sucked air through her nose and stared at his lips, that crooked smile teasing her, beckoning her.

“I want to know,” she said, her voice barely a whisper…

AUTHOR BIO

Cheri Allan writes humorous, hopeful contemporary romances. She lives in a charming fixer-upper in rural New Hampshire with her husband, two children, two dogs, four cats and an excessive amount of optimism. She’s a firm believer in do-it-yourself, new beginnings and happily-ever-afters, so after years of wearing suits, she’s grateful to finally put her English degree to good use writing romance. When not writing, you might find her whizzing down the slopes of a nearby mountain or inadvertently killing perennials in her garden.

Cheri loves to hear from readers! E-mail her at cheri@cheriallan.com, like her at facebook.com/cheriallanbooks, friend her at www.facebook.com/cheriallanauthor, find her on twitter at @CheriAllan or visit her website and blog at www.cheriallan.com.

BUY LINKS:

LUCK OF THE DRAW (Book #1) Amazon 1-click: http://amzn.to/1r1VePK

STACKING THE DECK (Book #2) Amazon 1-click: http://amzn.to/1sCELnt

ALL OR NOTHING (Book #3) coming April 2015!

All titles also available in print: www.cheriallan.com

Oh, to be an Elf on this Shelf by Kimberly Dean

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Cindy Woolf

There’s a new holiday tradition that’s popped up in recent years, the Elf on the Shelf. For those of you unfamiliar with the phenomenon, these elves are sent out on scouting missions to help Santa decide who’s been naughty and who’s been nice. So I thought about what the elves might report back to Santa about the characters in my new book, Courting Trouble.

As the title implies, there’s a lot of naughtiness going on, but it’s not that simple.

Sienna is a nice girl who’s put in the position of taking on a naughty job. Jason is a naughty boy, who can be very nice when he likes someone. Sienna always follows the rules, but Jason tempts her to break them. And while Jason might be bossy and rough around the edges, he protects the people who are important to him. That definitely falls on the nice list.

In the end, neither of them is naughty or nice all of the time. That would be boring. What the elves would probably report is that they’re a couple who is nice to each other and naughty together. That’s something that Santa should reward. Don’t you think?

Courting Trouble

When times get tough, how bad does a good girl have to get?

Sienna Blakely is bright, articulate, underemployed and forced to rely on the one asset she vowed never to use – her looks.

With bills piling up, Sienna signs a contract with Luxxor Escort Services. A contract that strictly forbids any sexual contact with clients… And then she’s assigned to companion Jason Sloan. Just meeting the man causes a full-body jolt. Arrogant, powerful, and sexy, he’s trouble. And he can see through the facade she’s erected, right down to the intelligent and sensual woman underneath. He challenges her wits, and he challenges the rules.

Courting Trouble buy links:

Kindle │Nook │iBook │Google Play│Kobo

Now you seem like someone who would fall on the nice list, so I have a stocking stuffer for you. Go get your free copy of my short story, Courting Jealousy here:

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Courting Jealousy

When Noelle hires an escort to accompany her to a charity event, it’s merely to show her ex that’s she’s moved on. Yet she gets more than she bargained for when Dane is assigned to accompany her. Tall, dark, and handsome, he knows how to arouse jealousy. He also knows how to arouse her!

Kimberly Dean is an award-winning author of romance and erotica. She has written for seven publishing houses, both domestic and international, and has recently focused her efforts on the exciting world of self-publishing. When not writing, she enjoys movies, sports, traveling, music, and sunshine. In her mind, a beach, some rock ‘n’ roll, and a good book make for a perfect day.

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All I Have to Do is Dream by Kimberly Dean

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Cindy Woolf

It’s always interesting what I run across when I’m doing research for a story. For my Dream Weaver series, which kicks off with Dream Man, I did a lot of research on the subject of dreaming. It was fascinating to learn about the sleep stages, what happens during REM, and what dreams might mean. Yet one article I kept regarded daydreams or mind wandering.[1]

According to research results, on average people aren’t thinking about what they’re doing thirty to forty percent of the time. That’s a lot! The human brain just seems hard-wired to wander. Most often, the mind slips to everyday things such as “to do” lists. Fantasies are the next most common, with worries coming in third. In this way, the human mind seems to devote time to problem solving or planning for the future.

My wandering thoughts are like everyone else’s… I go to my “to do” list. Yet my “to do” list includes my writing. If I’m stuck on something, the answer often comes to me in these little flashes of random thought. If I think too hard, though, the answers just won’t come.

So how do your daydreams work? Do you get more than grocery lists and carpooling schedules? Do you think the list is in the right order? I’m curious about what’s more interesting – your daydreams or the ones you have at night?

[1] Science Paying Attention to Not Paying Attention by Malcom Ritter, Associated Press, http://www.msnby.msn.com/id/17690541/

Dream Man

Each night, Devon Bradshaw dreams of him – her fantasy lover. She can feel his heated gaze on her and hear his deep breaths, yet as consuming as their shared desire is, they can’t connect.

Until she performs a love spell.

Cael Oneiros is stunned when Devon appears on his cosmic plane. For months, he’s watched over her as her Dream Weaver. As a sleeper assigned to his care, his job has been to lead the beautiful redhead into REM sleep. Visiting her each night, though, has led to deeper feelings. He wasn’t supposed to fall in love with her, but he has.

Now every night Devon visits Cael, their connection grows – but even the most innocent of spells can have repercussions.

All around town, people are acting strangely. Tempers are short, and chaos is starting to reign. Nobody is dreaming. Nobody except Devon.

When her dream man shows up in flesh and blood, she has to decide if he’s really the man of her heart… or the demon of her dreams.

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Life in the Indie Lane by Jinx Schwartz

Posted on March 14, 2015 by Cindy Woolf

Life in the Indie lane: Amazon’s Kindle Publishing Direct and BookBub been berry, berry, good to me.

My paraphrase of Saturday Night Live’s character Chico Esquela’s catchphrase, “Baseball been berry, berry, good to me,” is apropos to my writing experience. After almost fifteen years of mostly unpaid labor, I had a breakthrough that has been berry good, indeed.

Years before my name appeared on any book cover, I was researching family genealogy and uncovered a story I was convinced to be right up there with Lonesome Dove. The Texicans, my epic saga of Texas, involved two years of research and a year of writing, editing, and more editing. It was certain to be the next Great American Novel. After two more years of plastering my bathroom wall with rejection notices, I self-published it. In hardback! Of course with no real publisher, no agent, nada, the marketing opportunities and distribution for The Texicans was non-existent, and I soon ran out of relatives and friends willing to shell out twenty-two bucks for my masterpiece.

Selling by hand was the only option, one that sent me lugging books to everything from goat-ropings to craft shows, but selling an expensive hardback (even this gold-embossed first edition!) proved difficult, so I reduced the price. Okay, I slashed the price just to break even. I still have several boxes of this treasure in case any of you want to latch on to one before it wins that Pulitzer Prize.

Then, a break! Books in Motion, an audio book outfit that rented to travelers, using truck stops and restaurants as a venue, recorded The Texicans. Fame was now surely in the offing when some Hollywood producer listened to my book while tooling down Interstate 5; I was, after all, written up in Truckers Weekly. I considered hanging out near those wire display cases in said truck stops, hawking my wares, until someone suggested I might face jail time for solicitation.

Never one to cave in the face of abject failure, I kept on writing, landed a small publisher, wrote more. And then, just when my publisher and I parted ways, (drum roll here!) Amazon launched Kindle Direct Publishing, and I actually began selling a few books. But the real kicker-in-the-book butt was getting accepted by BookBub for promoting, and a year and a half later, my books tickle Amazon’s bestseller lists. The Texicans is not one of them, but hope springs infernal.

Is there a message of hope here for fellow writers who are clinging onto the Ground Hog Day Roller Coaster of this self-publishing bidness? Yep! Keep plugging, rewrite your books over and over, then edit a bunch, get new covers, and prepare to work several hours a day marketing and schmoozing. It ain’t easy, but with enough hard work (and KDP and BookBub) you can earn a living.

BY THE NUMBERS
Late 2011: Enrolled in Kindle Direct Publishing

Summer 2012: Finally got my books enrolled in KDP Select and had my first FREE giveaway. Gave away a total of 70,000 books, sold 5,000. Keep in mind, these are 70,000 readers who probably never heard of me or my books.

2013 August: My first BB Free Promo. Gave away 50,000 books on that one, then did three more. Total books given away: 160,000

2014: Nine BookBub campaigns for freebies, 1 BB for a .99 deal with Kindle Countdown. Gave away another half-million books, made several best seller lists, and earned a ranking of 121 in overall Amazon sales.

Oh, yes, BookBub and Amazon been berry, berry good to me.

But why and how? In a word: Series.

My Hetta Coffey series, all six of them, are the key; I offer a free book through Amazon and pay for BookBub, and sign up for every other promo site (free and paid) I can find. Yes, I spend around five hundred dollars for each promo, but sell-throughs of my other books in the series are paying for them before noon on the first day. And, giving away over 600,000 books in three years has introduced me (and my character, Hetta Coffey) to scads of new readers world-wide.

As a result, I have a following of fabulous readers who send me emails letting me know how well (or not!) I’m doing. I am forever grateful to them for giving me the best publicity a writer can get: word of mouth. Am I getting filthy rich? Nope. But each year gets better, I make new friends all over the planet (and a few I’m not really sure live on this particular one), and they encourage me to write faster. A win-win, in my book.

As for promoting, I have hitched my wagon to the Amazon/BookBub method of introducing my books to readers, and have incorporated a dozen other promo sites touted by fellow authors. Will this mode of marketing eventually head for a bar ditch? Some say yes. Many authors are very unhappy with the new Kindle Unlimited program that only pays us around a buck forty a book—great for those with .99 cent books, but for the rest of us has to make up the diff in pure volume.

So, for now, I for one will ride this train using my personal three V’s: Volume, Visibility, and Velveeta. If the first two fail, I keep a stash of the third.

EXCERPT FROM JUST ADD SALT: BOOK 2 of the Hetta Coffey Mystery Series.

Ten minutes later Jan stormed the boat. Before I could open my mouth, she held up her hand to stop me. “Hetta, if you are going to tell me you want to go to Mexico without the Jenkins men, do not waste your breath.”
“Just one word?”
She gave me a dubious nod.
“Professional captain.”
“That’s two words, but what do you mean?”
“How about if I hire a sure-enough United States Coast Guard certified delivery captain to take Raymond Johnson to Mexico? We can stop off along the coast, make a little dough, then on to Cabo. When we’re ready to come back, Jenks and Lars should bfi finished in Kuwait.” That last bit was a stretch, but I thought it sounded good.
“We can’t afford a captain. I think. What does one cost?”
“Not to worry, dear, for we have a benefactor. I signed a contract with Tanuki today, one which will prove very lucrative for us. All we have to do is stop off in someplace called Magdalena Bay in the Baja, do a little grunt work for a couple of weeks, then head for Mariachiville.”
“Tanuki? They hate you. And what do you mean by ‘us’?”
“I told them I needed an assistant. You are, as of now, a marine biologist specializing in gray whales. Pull your credentials together, I need to fax them ASAP.”
“Hetta, I am an accountant, with a degree in math and a masters in accounting. I don’t know a whale from a goldfish. The closest I’ve been to a whale is when you conned me into that whale watching trip off Monterey. Getting so close to those overgrown guppies scared the crap out of me. I don’t have any credentials.”
“Details, details. Truth is, we don’t really require a marine biologist because I can get just about all the info I need from the Internet. And, when I called Dr. Craigosaurus to ask him about whales, he put me in touch with a real marine biologist he went to vet school with: Doctor Brigido Comacho Yee, a Mexican naturalist who works out of Scammon’s Lagoon, which is supposed to be whale central.”
“A Mexican named Yee? Vet school? Marine biologists go to vet school?”
I shrugged. “Guess he got a double degree or something. Maybe he does whale surgery. Who knows? Anyhow, Yee will supply us with what we need: his curriculum vitae, which we will use to make your CV. Cool, huh?”
“Illegal, huh?”
“Oh, I don’t think anyone at Tanuki is going to be in a position to be very picky about legalities. Hell, it’s a bootleg project. That’s why they’re giving us the big bucks. Big bucks enough to hire a captain. What do you think?”
“I think we’re headed for a Mexican jail.”
“Oh, pish. Trust me, everything will be fine. Are you in?”
Jan frowned, then shrugged. “Only because I know you’ll go without me.”
“Atta girl. Now, let’s get to work. Gimme that Sea Magazine and let’s find us a bona fide captain.”
After twenty minutes of leafing through boating magazines, I had a list of candidates. I dialed a Southern California number and asked, “Hi, is this Captain Bob?” when a deep voice answered on the second ring.
“That’s me.”
“Uh, can you give me some idea of what it would cost to get a forty-five foot power boat from San Diego to Cabo, with a three to four week layover in Magdalena Bay?” Jan started jumping up and down and giving me dirty looks. “Make that San Francisco to Cabo.”
“What’s the boat maker and year?’
I told him.
“Nice boat. Did you say a four week layover in Mag Bay?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I get three dollars a mile, fifty a day, all expenses paid. Owner buys all fuel and that kind of stuff. I require a week on the boat before departure to check it out.”
I did a quick calculation. It was over fourteen hundred miles to Cabo, and I’d need this guy at least six weeks, at fifty a day. “That’s over six grand,” I squeaked.
“Close. Plus airfare to San Francisco, then back from Cabo. Will the owner be on board?”
“Yes.”
“Add a thou.”
“Hey, you don’t even know me.”
He chuckled. “Just policy. So, you the owner?”
“Uh-huh,” I warily told him. Maybe female owners got charged double.
“How many on board?”
“Just me and my girlfriend.”
After a moment’s hesitation, he quipped, “Honeymoon?”
I slammed the phone shut.
“What happened?” Jan asked.
“Smartass. He thinks we’re a couple.”
“A couple of what?”
“Lesbians.”
Jan broke out laughing. “What do you care? Call the man back, tell him you were cut off. You don’t have to hire him, just pump him for information.”
I hit redial. “Uh, Captain Bob? Sorry, my batteries were low. Where were we?”
“I was about to ask you when you had to be in Mag Bay?”
“Let me see,” I said, pulling out my calendar, “October 5th?”
“You want to get down there that early, you got two problems: time and weather.”
“I know it’s a bit early, but I pulled up an historical website on hurricanes. Magdalena Bay hasn’t really had a bad hit in October since the ‘fifties.”
“Then she’s due. Good luck on finding a captain that’ll leave that early, then hang out and wait for trouble.” Dial tone.

Bio

Jinx has written nine books, including the award-winning Hetta Coffey series. Hetta is a sassy Texan with a snazzy yacht, and she’s not afraid to use it! So’s Jinx.

Raised in the jungles of Haiti and Thailand, with returns to Texas in-between, Jinx followed her father’s steel-toed footsteps into the Construction and Engineering industry in hopes of building dams. Finding all the good rivers taken, she traveled the world defacing other landscapes with mega-projects in Alaska, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Like the protagonist in her series, Jinx was single, with a yacht, when she met her husband, Robert “Mad Dog: Schwartz. They opted to become cash-poor cruisers rather than continue racing the rat, sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge, turned left, and headed for Mexico. They now divide their time between Arizona, San Diego and Mexico’s Sea of Cortez.

Chimera’s Kiss by Michele Callahan

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Cindy Woolf

CHIMERA’S KISS

Blurb:

Forbidden son of Itara, Nicodemus, knows what it means to walk in darkness. For hundreds of years as a Triscani Lord, he led a small army of lost sons, always struggling to maintain some semblance of control over his warriors and their frightening power. Now Nicodemus and his army have been reborn as Darkwalkers, warriors sworn in service to protect three worlds. Their highest priority is to protect the human females, the Timewalker descendants on Earth, from the now dead Itaran Queen’s vengeful daughter and the host of Immortal bounty killers she commands.When a Seer’s forewarning leads him and his Darkwalker brothers to Colorado to save an innocent human female, all hell breaks loose. He’s too late and suddenly the terror-inspiring dark power he wielded for centuries has deserted him. Without it, he’s lost, weak, but determined to protect the Timewalker, Haley Miller. Unfortunately, the stubborn female won’t cooperate and, no matter how much he tries to ignore the pull between them, she Marks him, claiming him. But Nicodemus is no mere human male.Haley Miller is a free spirit, a part-time college student with nothing more on her mind than fun, friends, and graduation. That is, until the day the spaceship appeared over Denver and the unusual birthmark on her shoulder went crazy. The government lied and tried to cover up the sudden alien appearance with an interesting tale of a Hollywood prank. But Haley knows better. She can feel the aliens now, and so can her cousin. When Haley wakes up in the middle of the night with an alien bounty killer in the house, she will do anything to protect her family.

Prepared to lie, cheat death, and steal the unimaginable power of an alien male who claims he was sent to save her, Haley is drawn into a dangerous world she never imagined existed, but she refuses to be a pawn in an alien war. She will stop at nothing to save her cousin and give her Marked Mate exactly what he needs…freedom. She’s a Timewalker, after all. It should be a simple thing to travel back in time to prevent her cousin’s death, even if that means the scarred warrior she’s grown to love won’t remember her at all.

But in love, and in war, nothing ever goes according to plan…

Chimera’s Kiss by Michele Callahan – An Excerpt:

Haley Miller’s eyelids popped open and she stared at the dark ceiling fan that rotated in quiet circles over her head. She was frozen in place by a cold numbness that flowed into her limbs. The icy dread bloated her psychic senses like helium filling a balloon.

Someone’s in the house.

She turned her head to quickly scan her small bedroom from where she lay sprawled in bed. The red numbers on her digital alarm clock read 3:23 a.m. Her desk was littered with books. The hardwood floor and tattered throw rug were bare but for the slip-on shoes she’d kicked off earlier. Frayed and worn through in places, her burnt-orange backpack leaned on the wall next to the closed door. Everything was shadowy and undisturbed except for the steady whirring comfort of the small ceiling fan rotating in the same, steady rhythm that normally lulled her to sleep.

But something was very, very wrong.

She’d been dreading feeling this again, ever since those stupid alien spaceships had shown up over the U.S. a few weeks ago. That was the day she realized her odd birthmark was connected to something not of this world. Something foreign to the Earth completely. Something from another place.

The spaceship had settled over Denver, floating in the sky like something out of a Star Wars movie, and her birthmark had literally heated on her arm until it felt like she was being branded. The circular mark then turned three shades darker and she’d felt an odd buzzing, like it was saying “Hello” to an old friend on some super-secret, inaudible frequency, and she just happened to be the radio.

She’d looked up into the sky from the front porch of her Boulder home to where one of the three spaceships had hovered like a giant floating wasp, and accepted that life as she knew it was over.

Haley had spent the rest of that day hiding in her house like a coward. And, just like nearly every other person on the planet, she’d stayed glued to her TV until it was over. Washington D.C., Denver, and Los Angeles had all been invaded. When the spaceships left a few hours after they’d appeared, she’d nearly fainted with relief.

The government had tried to spin it almost immediately. With only three spaceships, and those only seen over three U.S. cities, it had been easy for the spin doctors to convince most of the world that the whole event was nothing more than a Hollywood propaganda stunt to promote a new science fiction movie coming out later in the year. The majority of Earth’s inhabitants had swallowed the lie hook, line and sinker.

She didn’t believe a single word of it. And neither did her cousin, Danielle, or her best friend, Makayla. The three of them all had one little problem with the movie angle. The new, darker marks in their skins. All three of them had felt something that day. Something bizarre and haunting, because after that, things had gotten weird.

Haley would have bet her life that whoever, or whatever was on those ships, they weren’t friendly, peace-loving, cute little Ewoks from her parents’ old-school Star Wars movie.

The feeling of dread, of evil, she’d had that day flowed through her now, stronger and more frightening than anything she’d ever felt before. She struggled to breathe, and her hands shook like dried aspen leaves in the wind.

“Danielle.” Her barely there whisper got her moving. She threw aside the covers and sat up. Her cousin’s room was at the end of the hall. Haley barely spared a thought for their other two roommates in this rambling, two-story rental home. The other two girls didn’t have the alien birthmarks from hell on their skins, couldn’t feel the aliens’ presence. Not like her cousin, Danielle, who could not only sense their presence, but catch snippets of their freakish thoughts as well.

Their roommates thought the spaceship’s arrival had been, “freaking awesome”. Haley and Dani had been hiding, drinking shots and hoping to feel normal again. Their roomies had hopped in their car and headed downtown, to get closer. They’d believed the Hollywood lie, and Haley hadn’t been able to summon the energy to try to convince them of the truth.

The dark energy rolling through Haley’s body right now left no doubt in her mind that they were in big trouble. She climbed out of bed, her hot-pink pajama shorts and tank all that covered her as she tiptoed, barefoot, to her bedroom door.

Pressing her ear to the old wood, she listened for a few moments, but heard nothing. She lifted her head to scan the room for a weapon. No knives. No gun. Damn. She had the aluminum baseball bat that had once belonged to her younger brother. Her mother had pressed it into her hands and insisted she take it with her when she’d moved into the dorms on campus six years ago. A stupid Little League baseball bat. Hardly a weapon of choice against an alien home invasion.

Better than nothing.

She grabbed the bat and slowly opened her door so she could step into the dark hallway.

Amazon Link for Chimera’s Kiss: http://amzn.to/188yZ5q

BIO

Michele Callahan is a full-time science geek and writer who often makes emergency trips to the store for coffee, pickles, or a Twix candy bar. A confirmed sci-fi nerd, she studied human anatomy, physiology and chemistry before working in the medical field for over a decade. She then returned to her first true love…writing. Michele suffers from a dangerous case of sci-fi/fantasy fever and never turns down an opportunity to sit through a Star Wars, Star Trek, True Blood, LOTR or Matrix marathon. Her favorite things in books? Courageous characters (whom she loves to push to their limits), superpowers, true love, and freakish things that can’t be explained by modern science. Her mother, an English Lit teacher, inspired her love of books and reading, and Michele is eternally grateful.

Connect with Michele:

Twitter: twitter.com/MicheleCallahan

Facebook: facebook.com/michele.callahan.142

Website: michelecallahan.com

Goodreads: goodreads.com/michele_callahan

Email her at michele@michelecallahan.com

Michele’s books include the Timewalker Chronicles (contemporary sci-fi romance), the Ozera Wars (space opera romance) and an upcoming, untitled sci-fi series (2016).

Lipstick In the Old West by Sylvia McDaniel

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Cindy Woolf

Currently I’m working on a series called Lipstick and Lead set in the late 1800s. It’s about three sisters who are bounty hunters, which is very unusual for women of the west. In fact, I could not find any actual bounty hunters that were women. But my girls father made a living bounty hunting and because they don’t want to become saloon hussies they have taken up the profession after several mistrials at other occupations.

But what about lipstick. When did lipstick become available to women of the west? Ancient Mesopotamian women were possibly the inventors of lipstick. They used crushed jewels to put color on their lips and around their eyes. Then Egyptian women used a dye from seaweed on their mouths to give color, but the stain from the seaweed made them very ill. It’s written that Cleopatra, crushed carmine beetles and ants and used the liquid on her lips. Gives new meaning to the word beetle juice.

During the 16^th century, Queen Elizabeth 1, popularized the look of blackened lips, by using beeswax and plant derived red dyes. But by the time Queen Victoria took the throne, makeup was once again taboo. Only low class women and prostitutes used the dyes on their lips and the Catholic Church connected the use of cosmetics to worshipping the devil.

During the 19^th century lipstick was colored with carmine dye, which is produced by tiny Cochineal scale insects native to Mexico and Central America. The insects produce carminic acid, which when you mix it with aluminum or calcium salts it makes carmine dye. It’s like what Cleopatra first used.

During that time period lipstick came in a small pot and was applied with a brush to both your cheeks and lips. The look of carmine was considered unnatural and theatrical, so lipstick was frowned upon. Your normal everyday pioneer woman did not wear lipstick, or she would have been considered a scandalous loose sage hen. Only women on the stage or saloon girls, normally wore the lipstick on both their lips and their cheeks.

In the late 1890s, an oil and wax base was added to the dye giving lipstick a more natural appearance. By this time some women were wearing it at home. Sears Roebuck offered rouge for lips and cheeks in their catalog for the first time in the 1890s.

In Desperate, my western historical novella, the oldest sister, Meg starts using lipstick because it’s the only thing that makes her feel pretty. She dresses like a man, rides a horse like a man, takes care of the family and well…she needed something to make her feel like a girly-girl. So Lipstick and Lead was born, and my pioneer woman is now a trendsetter before her time.

Badass, bounty hunter, wearing lipstick to get her man.

Here is an excerpt from my current Lipstick and Lead book – Dangerous.

Slap her silly, but she was done! Annabelle McKenzie strode down the wooden sidewalk on her way to the bank. Done with raising chickens, feeding cows and goats, and shoveling manure. She wanted to go with her sisters to hunt for bad men. She wanted to be a bounty hunter.

Deep in thought about how she would explain to her sisters how she craved adventure and longed for excitement, she rounded the corner to enter the bank and slammed into the hard chest muscles of a large dark-haired man. The scent of soap and campfire spiraled straight to her center.

This was a manly man, and Lord knew, they were scarce in Zenith, Texas. Where had this specimen come from?

His hat was pulled low over his face, and he grabbed her by the arms, halting her progress. Her head fit just below his chin. She looked up at his strong, rugged jaw and serious face.

Long black lashes blinked over emerald eyes as he gripped her arms. “Slow down,” he said in a deep husky drawl. He kept his head down, barely looking at her. “There’s still plenty of cash left in the bank.”

What a condescending, egotistical, handsome renegade. Not an “I’m sorry” or “Excuse me”, but rather a crass remark about the money in the bank. “Maybe you should watch where you’re going.”

She tilted her head and stared into his handsome rugged features. There was something about him that seemed familiar, yet she couldn’t place him. Somewhere she’d seen his face. She gazed at him. “You’re tall enough you should be able to see a woman coming.”

He nodded, and she gawked at the way his shirt fit his strong shoulders and muscled arms. His lips were full and tempting, made for kissing.

“You’re right, ma’am. I should see a small package like you, barreling around a blind corner. Maybe I need to replace my spectacles with a pair that can see through walls,” he said, releasing her arms.

“Maybe you do.” The oversized giant was smarting off to her; he wasn’t wearing spectacles.

Where had she seen him before? “What’s your name?”

A sly smile turned up the corners of his full, luscious lips. “Why? You plan on having me arrested for running into you?”

The man had an ornery mouth, and she was just the woman to give it right back.

“Maybe,” she said. “I know the sheriff well. It would serve you right for being belligerent and disrespectful.”

He smiled a wickedly sly grin that sent tingles through her. “You have a really nice day.”

His voice was dripping with sweet sarcasm that made her feel like she’d eaten too many cookies. Tipping his black hat at her, he sauntered out the door.

Like a kick from a bull, it hit her.

His face was on one of the wanted posters she had out in her saddlebags.

Amazon iBooks B&N Kobo Google

Lipstick and Lead Series

Desperate

Deadly

Dangerous — February 13, 2015

Daring – April 2015

Determined – June 2015

Deceived—September 2015

Interview with Veronica Scott

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Cindy Woolf

Thanks for having me as your guest today!

Have you had other careers before becoming a writer?

As a matter of fact – drum roll, please – as of March 1st I’m taking early retirement from my job at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab to become a fulltime author! Going to live the dream and I’m very excited. I’ve been cleaning out my office for the past few weeks, in fact. I told my boss the critical success factor for the retirement party would be a really good chocolate cake, so I hope he delivers on that. I worked on special business projects in the area of the Lab where we wrote contracts for everything from services to office supplies to parts for Mars Rovers. It was a fun career but my heart was in writing romance novels.

Cindy: Congratulations on what must be a scary move. But I know you’ll find it most rewarding.

How did you get started writing?

I started writing when I was seven, because there just weren’t enough books around that I wanted to read. My first epic tale featured flying cats, flying horses, princesses galore, and a riverboat captain as the hero. And I just kept writing. In 2010, when my daughters were grown and out on their own, I decided to get serious about learning my craft and really working to become published.

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

I write science fiction romances set in the far future and I write a paranormal series set in ancient Egypt. I’m fascinated by both eras. My Dad was the science fiction influence as I grew up. My Mom had all the Time-Life book on ancient civilizations, and the “sword and sandal” novels. I just thought there needed to be more romance in everything!

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

I’ve got seven books published – two from Carina Press and the other five independently published. I usually say my favorite is my most recent book, but Wreck of the Nebula Dream, my retelling of the sinking of Titanic, set in the far future in outer space, is also a favorite. (And just recently it was favorably reviewed by Dear Author, which was a thrill.)

How has your experience with self-publishing been?

I LOVE self-publishing. In fact, Wreck of the Nebula Dream was my first venture into self-publishing. I’d written the novel before selling my first ancient Egyptian romance to Carina Press. After the flurry of edits and getting the other book released with Carina, I realized 2012 was the 100^th anniversary of the Titanic sinking. There wasn’t time to submit the book to anyone and get it published, not even Carina, so I dove into the independent publishing world. I enjoy the total control over my books – I pick the cover, I write to my own deadlines, I can tell the stories I want to tell, the books can be as long or as short as I feel they need to be, I set the prices and do the promo that seems appropriate (and fun!). And of course I’m not sharing royalties with a publisher. I learned a great deal from working with Carina and I enjoyed that experience, but indie publishing really appeals to me.

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

Publishing is a business and when you publish independently, you’re the person who has to make everything happen. That’s the joy and the reality. I love the creative writing part but I recognize the need to hire strong editors, copy editors, find cover artists (although I’m fortunate to work with two of the best – Fiona Jayde and Frauke of Croco Designs), have the formatting done, upload the books to the ebook retailers myself, troubleshoot problems…And you have to do promo for your books. That part holds true whether you’re published or independently, but it is something to remember.

Give us an elevator pitch for your book.

My most recently published science fiction romance is Mission to Mahjundar. “Blind princess going to her loveless arranged marriage meets Special Forces soldier whose orders don’t include falling in love. When the inevitable happens and they do fall in love, the entire planet is set against them.”

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Before I begin, I usually know the opening and closing scenes of the book, who the hero and heroine are, a few major scenes along the way…and then I just start writing and the story fills itself in as I go and get to know my characters even better. So pretty much a pantster! If I plot the story out in too much detail ahead of doing the actual writing, my Muse feels I’m already done and then I can’t write. The creativity evaporates.

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

I love being able to share my stories with readers! There’s nothing as satisfying as hearing from someone that they enjoyed the book, or they really related to one of the characters, or that they want more about a certain character.

Where can readers find you?

Blog: https://veronicascott.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vscotttheauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Veronica-Scott/177217415659637?ref=hl

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Veronica-Scott/e/B006CUCJ92/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Where can readers find your books? Print/Ebook?

My books are available at all ebook retailers – Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBook, Google Play, All Romance eBooks, Kobo.

I also have several of the books available as audiobooks through Amazon, Audible and iBooks, and all my independently published works are also available as paperbacks through Amazon.

Here’s a short excerpt from Mission to Mahjundar:

Mike Varone, Sectors Special Forces, saved the Princess Shalira’s life during a terrorist incident shortly after arriving on her planet. Shalira maneuvers her father into ordering Mike to accompany her on the journey to her arranged marriage, much to Mike’s displeasure. He has a mission to carry out that has nothing to do with Shalira. He goes to argue with her.

“Would you let the life you saved be lost so soon?” Tears shimmered in the depths of her unseeing brown eyes as she turned her face directly to him. Mike couldn’t look away, even though he knew she wasn’t actually seeing him, or his reactions. He put his glass on the table too hard, cracking the base.

“There are those who don’t want me to reach my wedding. The palace rustles with rumors of plots, schemes in motion to take advantage of this final opportunity to kill me. Once I’m safe with my bridegroom-to-be, I’ll be beyond the schemers’ reach, but I have to get to him.” Shalira rubbed her elegant fingers across the pendant as if it were an amulet giving her strength. “I hope that if you ride with me, those who plan my murder will be afraid to proceed under the attention of outworlders.”

What do I say to this? He hadn’t anticipated an appeal along these dramatic lines. “Do you think the bomb yesterday was an attempt to assassinate you?”

“No, assuredly Maralika was the target.” Shalira shook her head. “The empress is pursuing a host of unpopular actions—forbidding the older forms of worship, tearing down temples, forcing the people to pay taxes to her new gods, consolidating power for herself and her son. My father is not a well man, Major. Everyone knows he doesn’t have long to live, and she plans to rule when he’s gone.”

“But there’s opposition to her?” Mike was aware there was. Planetary politics had been a prominent part of his briefing, but he was curious how much Shalira might add.

“Her son is the heir since my brother was murdered, but the throne of Mahjundar has often been claimed by bloodshed rather than by rule of law. I have to get away from here, before the emperor dies.” She laughed, the sound bitter. “Playing the Princess of Shadows won’t protect me after his death.”

“Princess of Shadows?” Nothing about that in our briefing. He remembered the empress had also used the term to refer to Shalira.

“It’s an old folktale about a girl of royal blood who hid from her enemies in the shadows of the palace walls, disguised as a beggar, until her true love rescued her.” Gesturing to her eyes, Shalira said, “It’s meant as an insult to me, since I can’t see, not even shadows, and I’ve lived the past fifteen years on the fringes of the court, out of the ‘sun.’ I’m tolerated, protected only because my mother was the emperor’s Favorite till she died. If I reach the safety of my bridegroom’s people, then I’ll be safe, free of the empress’s plotting and hate. My mother’s clan is among his subjects.” Shalira blinked hard, and then her face crumpled as she wept.

BIO

Amazon best-seller Veronica Scott is a three-time recipient of the SFR Galaxy Award, as well as a National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award winner, and has written a number of science-fiction and paranormal romances. She writes the SciFi Encounters column for the USA Today Happily Ever After blog. Veronica has two daughters, one grandson and two cats. She loves long blingy earrings, roses, the movie “Aliens” and Mars Rovers.

Getting to know Lisa Carlisle

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Cindy Woolf

Hi, I’m Lisa Carlisle and I write a variety of romance and suspense, from paranormal, new adult, and military, and probably some more! I’m in a great mood today as I just pulled my head out of the rewriting hole and send off my latest paranormal romance, called Dark Stranger, to my editor.

Yes, I made my self-imposed deadline! Big exhale. I may actually be able to cook dinner tonight instead of leaving it all up to my husband as I worked through revisions. He’s a better cook than I am so nobody is complaining. 😉

Dark Stranger is the third part of the Chateau Seductions series, which is set at an art colony housed in a castle on a remote New England island. It takes place in the present, but has a gothic edge. I’m thrilled with how story turned out. When I finished the previous story, Dark Muse, I had the opening scene for Dark Stranger, but nothing else. I don’t plot, but let my imagination wander when I write, and the storyline surprised me. I think it ties up the series quite well. I may write more from the Chateau in the future, but for now it’s a trilogy with each part of the series focusing on a different couple. It’s scheduled for release next month and available for preorder now.

If you’re interested in reading more about the forbidden romances at the Chateau, visit http://www.lisacarlislebooks.com/books/chateau-seductions-series/

Here’s some info about part 1:

Dark Velvet

Chateau Seductions

Grad student Savannah Evans is thrilled to be accepted as a resident to a prestigious art colony. Where else would she be able to focus on her craft of writing poetry in a setting like that of the medieval-styled castle? The remote New England island is a respite from her hectic city life.

When she meets her benefactor, a mysterious French sculptor, her expectations for carefree days writing near the ocean are distracted by unprofessional fantasies about her sponsor.

Antoine Chevalier built Les Beaux Arts on DeRoche Island to bring purpose back to an existence that has lost meaning. He’s wandered the earth for decades and finds solace in returning to art. When Savannah applies for a residency, something about her words touches him. After her arrival, a physical attraction grows between them, which he struggles against. She deserves more than someone of his kind.

Antoine proposes they become lovers during her stay. But the situation turns complicated when Savannah discovers his secret. She had suspicions about his identity, but finds the truth overwhelming. Consumed by her desire for Antoine and faced with a tough decision, she is blind to the danger that has arrived at DeRoche Island.

A New Adult Erotic Romance

Paranormal / gargoyle / vampire / shapeshifter

Reviews

“The setting on DeRoche Island was beautiful, and felt like it was from another time. The chemistry between Savannah and Antoine is sure to draw the reader in as well.
Dark Velvet is the first novella in the Chateau Seduction series. I am very excited to read Carlisle’s next installment!”

“Dark Velvet has a dark eroticism that makes you want to be Savannah. It is a book that is a good, quick and darkly thrilling read.”

“…insanely hot chemistry between the female protagonist Savannah & vampire Antoine. Their intensity starts off right away and you’re not a chapter in before it takes off like a rocket!”

“Sexy, dark, full of intrigue, art, and paranormal sexiness, Dark Velvet has it all in one hot package!”

“An Enchanting Story, as rich and sexy as Dark Velvet – This is a seductive Gothic tale that will draw you in from the first page.”

Buy Now:

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About Lisa Carlisle

USA Today bestselling author Lisa Carlisle loves stories with dark, brooding heroes and independent heroines. She’s honored to be a multi-published author writing in different genres since she’s wanted to be a writer since the sixth grade. For much of her professional career, she’s written non-fiction — but she’s discovered writing romance is the most fun. Her romances have been named Top Picks at Night Owl Reviews and All Romance Ebooks.

When she was younger, she worked in a variety of jobs, moving to various countries. She backpacked alone through Europe, and lived in Paris before returning to the U.S. She owned a bookstore for a few years as she loves to read. She’s now married to a fantastic man, and they have two kids, a cat, and many fish.

Visit her site at http://www.lisacarlislebooks.com/

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