Please help me welcome Christy McKee to my blog today. Be sure and leave a comment to be entered into the prize drawing.

Thank you so much for having me on your blog on this beautiful fall day. Having your debut novel published is a dream come true for me and I am so happy to share a bit about Maybe Too Good to Be True with your readers.

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

If you add up all of the qualities of Pierce Hastings, you’ll end up with a man and a half. He’s handsome, not pretty but rugged, intelligent, and is best known for his strength as a cool headed strategist. In business and in his personal life, he effectively analyzes, assesses, and strategizes to achieve his desired outcome. His family calls him the “fixer” because he solves their problems so they don’t have to. His interference though is not always welcome, especially when he falls for an independent woman and he tries to influence her decision on accepting a job. One zealous step over the line and Pierce the strategist, morphs into Pierce the control freak. Standing on the sidelines while someone he loves waffles on an important decision, is the most difficult thing he’s ever had to do.

What genres are you drawn to as a reader?

My tastes are fairly eclectic and range from dark vampire tales (ala Lara Adrian) to the slap stick, laugh out loud humor of Susan Elizabeth Phillips, or perhaps “issue oriented” Jodi Picoult. When I pick up a book— there are two or three scattered around the house—my mood, stress level, and need to escape tend to dictate which one I’ll pick up.

Do you write under a pen name? Why or why not?

Yes, I do, simply because I would like my private life to remain private. I chose “McKee” to honor my namesake and great grandmother, whom I knew through stories told to me by my father. Christina Ann McKee raised her orphaned grandson, my father, to adulthood. When her parents nearly perished in the dust storms in Kansas, she almost singlehandedly rescued them and brought them back to Ohio where she started a chicken hatchery that supported all of them. She was a determined woman who instilled the belief in my dad that he could accomplish anything if he put his mind to it. That’s why I became, at least between the pages, Christy McKee.

Did you have several manuscripts finished before you sold? If so, did you send them out yourself?

I had only written Maybe Too Good to Be True before I sold, BUT it had gone through four complete incarnations and spent a year under the bed before I hauled it out, coughed, sneezed, dusted it off, and started querying online to epubs.

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

Without a doubt it’s the pure joy you feel when a publisher says they want your book. The reward is validation of your work. I don’t care what your job is, if you never get positive feedback, you might start to question your value. I did and I know when I’m trying to sell my next project, I’ll probably have some of the same doubts again.

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

There are many new emerging markets today for writers; so many more opportunities now with e-publishers that didn’t exist five years ago. I would encourage new writers to participate in events like online pitches to publishers that many web sites like SavvyAuthors.com offer. Be sure your book is finished, revised, polished, and ready to go before you pitch it. The last thing you want to happen is that an editor likes your three chapters and synopsis and wants to see the full and it isn’t written. If they have a need now, you’re out of luck. Also, do your homework and find out what editors are specifically looking for now. Don’t send a YA fantasy to a sweet contemporary line. Most important, never quit.

Giveaway
Today, one lucky commenter will win a free copy of Maybe Too Good to Be True. Be sure to leave your email!
Maybe Too Good to Be True

Buylinks
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Maybe-Too-Good-True

Bookstrand:
http://www.bookstrand.com/maybe-too-good-to-be-true

Coffee Time Romance:
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookStore/pubs_product_book_info/museitup-publishing-c-98/maybe-too-good-to-be-true-p-8532?zenid=64b39640f2d9d31c7d87a56b91468212

Omni Lit:
https://www.omnilit.com/product-maybetoogoodtobetrue-918176-149.html

All Romance:
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-maybetoogoodtobetrue-918176-149.html

Muse It Up Publishing:
https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=358&category_id=176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1

You can find me:

http://www.christymckee.com

http://christymckeewriter.blogspot.com

http://twitter.com/ChristyMcKee

Maybe Too Good to Be True 8-15-2012

Gabrielle March is summoned to an oceanfront estate in Massachusetts by the matriarch of Atlantic-Hastings International where she is presented with a hefty block of shares as amends for a crime committed against her family. The stock—worth several million dollars—can give her the means to make her dream of starting her own video production company come true if only she can muster the courage to break free from her past and believe in her unique creative talent.

Pierce Hastings, son of Gabrielle’s benefactress, grudgingly agrees to take her under his wing and acclimate her to Atlantic-Hastings. Never one to mix business with pleasure, Pierce stuns himself when he ignores his own self imposed rule. Gabrielle’s complete lack of artifice, unvarnished honesty and quirky sense of humor are intoxicating to him―and he’s rapidly becoming addicted. He’s blindsided when Gabrielle confesses that, in spite of her growing feelings for him, she will never fit into his world of power and privilege. Pierce has never encountered anyone who suffers such destructive self doubt.

Excerpt for Maybe Too Good to Be True by Christy McKee

“Newspapers were never very favorable to my father,” he explained. “To the best of my knowledge, a newspaper reporter has never been invited to this house.” He wouldn’t tell her that his father referred to them as a pack of ill-bred, bloodthirsty hounds. Edward Hastings refused to return calls or grant interviews to any newspaper.

“Are you insinuating that I’m here under false pretenses?”

From beneath his sunglasses, Pierce looked directly into her fiery green eyes. “No, not at all Miss March. I was merely stating a fact.”

“The fact is, Mr. Hastings, it is not a reporter’s job to be favorable. They are in the business of finding and reporting the truth.”

“Nobly put, Miss March.” The woman certainly didn’t pull any punches.

“I hope this will put you at ease, Mr. Hastings. I own the newspaper. It’s been several years since I single-handedly set out to ruin anyone.”
Sarcasm, even with a lovely Southern accent, was still sarcasm.

“I see.” Pierce sounded duly impressed. “That’s certainly an accomplishment for such a young …” He froze when her eyes narrowed. What the hell was wrong with him? He careened from one blunder to the next.

“Tell me, is it my age or the fact that I’m a woman that bothers you?” Her face was considerably more colorful than the rest of her and he knew it had nothing to do with the heat.

Pierce was no chauvinist and certainly had no prejudice against successful females. After all, he’d been married to a talented trial attorney. Hadn’t he put his wife through law school? Hadn’t he supported Glenna in every way until she made partner in her firm and then announced that she’d changed her mind about having children and, by the way, she didn’t want to be his wife anymore either.

“I didn’t mean that you weren’t responsible.” His eyes returned to the very entertaining Miss March who had just snapped up the ball and was ready to run with it.

“What would someone like you know about responsibility anyway? You’ve probably never put in an honest day’s work in your entire over-privileged life. Flying around the world trying to stay one step ahead of reality. One of these days you’re going to have to come down to earth and see what it’s like in the real world.”

Where did the woman get her information? She’d obviously pegged him as some sort of wealthy derelict. Fired up, she was something. Misinformed maybe, but she had balls of steel. “For a newspaper woman, you’re lacking in your facts, Miss….”

Frenzied barking drew Pierce’s attention skyward. Just as he looked up a huge black creature soared through the air, plunging down on top of him, upending his float and catapulting him to the bottom of the pool.

Max exuberantly dog paddled to his mistress and was rewarded with an affectionate pat on his broad head. “Perfect timing, Max.” Gabrielle smiled and broke into laughter.

“What did you do, signal him to attack?” Pierce sputtered, trying to locate his five hundred dollar sunglasses.

“Don’t be silly.” She laughed. “It’s just Max’s way of thanking you for the afternoon snack.”

Max offered up a cheerful bark. The behemoth black dog actually looked pleased with himself. He was a retriever for God’s sake; he should be down there looking for Pierce’s glasses.

BIO:

In one media or another, Christy McKee has written her entire life. In middle school, she started a neighborhood newspaper in her hometown in Ohio. Stories about whose poodle just had puppies or where the Millers spent their vacation were pretty boring—at least to her— so she embellished with a few bits of overheard gossip which got her into big time trouble with the neighbors. Amid a flurry of apologies issued by her parents, Christy’s news operation folded overnight and she was shipped off to a nearby summer camp. Clearly she was not cut out to be a newspaper woman.

Christy’s degree in Radio-TV-Film opened a world of creative possibilities. She enjoyed her work as a reporter and news anchor in Missouri and Ohio, but after a few years she gave in to her creative itch and moved into production. Although not as glamorous as being “on air” it satisfied her growing passion to create a story and characters—even if those characters only existed inside a 30 second TV commercial. It was a short time fix for someone who craved a more diversified range of opportunities. Christy took a brave leap—sacrificing a regular paycheck— to work as a full time freelancer, writing/producing everything from travel brochures to radio commercials. It wasn’t enough— she wanted to create her own fictional world and fill it with unforgettable characters. Finally three years ago, Christy beat back self-doubt and embraced the risk and exhilaration of writing and never looked back.

After four incarnations and a year under the bed, Christy’s debut novel Maybe Too Good to Be True will be released in August, 2012. She lives in Ohio with her family and her two “Lab” assistants, Gracie and Lambeau.

Please help me welcome Jessica E. Subject to my blog today. She has a special prize for one lucky commenter, so be sure and leave her a comment.

Thank you so much, Cynthia for having me on your blog today!

Tell us about your current story.

Sudden Breakaway is the fifth story I’ve written for the 1Night Stand line. Each story matches people together who have been unlucky in love, yet are willing to give it one last go to find that one person (sometimes more than one) in their life. In some cases though, the participants are unknowingly sent on these dates, an application sent on their behalf by someone close to them.

Sudden Breakaway matches Paige Brown, a recruiter for the Space Service, with Jared Barnes, a former Marine, who recently stepped in as guardian to his preschool-aged niece and nephew.

What inspired your latest book?

With Sudden Breakaway, I wanted it to be the last 1Night Stand story I wrote to deal with the characters mentioned in my previous four. In many ways, it is my “break” from them. (Though I still have more 1Night Stand stories to write.) While it does not deal with any specific characters mentioned previously, the space station from Unknown Futures is mentioned, as is the Space Service mentioned in some of the others as well. I wanted to include different situations though, have it on Earth, and include a hockey game. I also wanted to include a Space Service recruiter.

Originally, I had planned to use the man who had recruited Flavia in Unknown Futures, but he just didn’t work for me, and I chose a female recruiter instead. The inspiration for the children came from my own household.

Do you have critique partners?

Yes! And I love them to pieces. I have four: DL Jackson, Layna Pimentel, Rebecca Royce, and Zee Monodee. They each have their strong suits when it comes to critiquing, and none are afraid to tell me like it is. They are all fabulous writers as well, and I love reading their stories.

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

LOL This is a funny question, since the answer is highly. I don’t write characters specific to people I know, but I do often include their situations. One of my current works-in-progress takes place in a small town, and since I know people who live in one, I listen to the rumors and include some in passing in the story relating to minor characters.

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

I have a small basement window that looks out on the fence around our property, and the sky. Occassionally, I do get visitors looking inside, such as baby birds, and my kids when they’re playing outside. One night, when I was up late doing paperwork for a new contract, I had a stray cat spying in on me. Yes, I jumped, but didn’t scream.
Inside, my office is an organized mess. LOL I know which pile of paper things are in, but we are renovating, so I have extra things in my office right now. I do have a large bookshelf as well, which makes me smile every time I look at it.

What is your favorite dessert/food?

I LOVE pasta, and for dessert, frozen yogurt.

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

I write romance, mostly alien (sci-fi) romances, but I do have a contemporary romance and a paranormal romance title as well.

Do you prefer to read in the same genres you write in or do you avoid reading that genre? Why?

I read all kinds of romance, mostly sci-fi, contemporary, and paranormal. I also read young adult, suspense thrillers, sci-fi, dystopian, and fantasy. I don’t compare myself to anyone, and every author I read helps me to learn what I like and what I don’t, no matter what genre.

Thanks again for hosting me today, Cynthia!

Sudden Breakaway Blurb

Dressed in her black designer suit, Paige Brown recruits men and women for the Space Service. After the end of her marriage, and several failed recruiting missions, she yearns to find a way out of her lifelong contract to live a normal life. To find love again.

Jared Barnes’s life had been flipped upside down by two little kids. When his former Commander’s wife shows up to give him a reprieve, he jumps at the chance for a break, and to visit his former squad. But it is not his buddies he meets in the private suite at the hockey game, instead a woman who has been the star of all of his recent fantasies.

Releases September 7 from Decadent Publishing and other ebook retailers.
More information and Buy Links here: http://www.markofthestars.com/wp/?page_id=9958
Giveaway!!

Leave a comment for your chance to WIN a $5 Amazon.com gift card. Be sure to include your email address in the body of your comment. Winner will be chosen September 10, 2012.

Bio:
Jessica Subject started writing to encourage her daughter to read. Now she writes to keep herself grounded. Although she reads many genres, she enjoys writing Science Fiction Romance the most and believes everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after. She lives Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her husband and two kids and loves to hear from anyone who has enjoyed her stories.
Website/Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Amazon

Please help me welcome Allie Ritch to my blog today. She’d love to have lots of comments and if you want to win you must leave a comment and include your email in the comment.

What genre(s) do you write in and why? I write erotic sci-fi and paranormal romance. I enjoy a good love story, and I especially like the fantastical elements that science fiction and the paranormal bring to the table. Turning up the heat on the love scenes just adds to the fun.

What is your favorite part of writing? Writing is a playground for my imagination. I’ve always liked being creative, and the written word has proven to be the best outlet for that part of me. The process is still hard work, but it’s a labor of love.

What is your next project and when will it be released? I started a series of erotic sci-fi romance novels called the Alien Sex Ed series. Alien Sex 101 and Alien Sex 102 are already available from Liquid Silver Books. Next up is Alien Sex 103, which is slated for release on October 15, 2012. If all goes according to plan, then the last book, Alien Sex 104, will land a contract and be released sometime in 2013.

Where do you get the ideas for your stories? Where don’t I get ideas? I’m constantly finding new inspiration for my work, sometimes from the most unexpected places. For instance, I got the idea for Switching Positions from a discussion with a friend about how hard it is to be a woman in our society. That got me thinking, and I realized men don’t exactly have an easy time of it either. Next thing I knew, a whole story emerged about a planet where gender roles are reversed. Then I got the idea for my Alien Sex Ed series from a small comment I made in Switching Positions about a Sex Ed class the heroine took in school. My main inspiration for Mating Season was a wildlife documentary. You’d think I was talking about a documentary about polar bears since Mating Season takes place on an arctic planet with huge frost bears, but it was actually a show about cheetahs. A female cheetah was being stalked by some amorous brothers and was going to great lengths to get away from them. Bingo: the idea for Mating Season. Shila, a frost-bear shifter, is being pursued by two shifter brothers who want her for their own. Shila runs from them and is eventually rescued by Koll, who takes her as his mate and offers his protection.

Tell us about your hero. Give us one of his strengths and one of his weaknesses. In Mating Season, Koll lives on the arctic planet of Jensen. Because he grew fast and got so big he towers over his fellow villagers, he doesn’t really fit in. He’s strong and responsible, but he’s a loner who is rough around the edges. His greatest strength is his ability to deal with whatever the frozen wilderness throws at him. This is definitely a guy you’d want guarding your back. His weakness is his low self-esteem. He doesn’t realize how his antisocial attitude has contributed to him feeling like an outsider. A community is so much stronger than one lone person.

Tell us about your heroine. Give us one of her strengths and one of her weaknesses. Shila belongs to a race of shifters that take the form of the enormous frost bears that prowl the ice floes on Jensen. The instincts of the bear are very much mixed up with those of the woman. As a big, strong person herself, she appreciates Koll’s size and ability to protect her, and his occasional grumble and growl turn her on. She is very in tune with nature, concentrating on her basic needs first and foremost. Her greatest strength is her self-sufficiency. Shila was able to survive the death of her first mate and their unborn twins, and she has managed to stay one step ahead of the males stalking her. One of her weaknesses, however, springs from her dual nature. It’s hard to balance the bear’s need for a solitary roam with the woman’s desire for companionship and community. Can Koll bridge the gap and satisfy both of her natures?

Do you prefer to read in the same genres you write in or do you avoid reading that genre? Why? I enjoy reading lots of genres, especially those mixed with romance. Historical, fantasy, sci-fi/futuristic, paranormal, contemporary, etc. Seriously, the list goes on. I find reading too many books in the same genre right in a row can get boring. It’s like listening to nothing but one type of music; eventually you want variety. If I had to pick two favorites, then sci-fi and paranormal romance definitely stick out. Most of the time, I don’t avoid these genres. However, I do refrain from reading them when I’m busy writing a work of the same type. So no reading sci-fi when I’m drafting a new sci-fi romance. I don’t want echoes of another author’s voice in my head when I’m creating something of my own. During such times, I still read, but I select something in a totally different category, like historical romance.

Tell us a little about yourself and your latest book. As I mentioned, I write erotic sci-fi and paranormal romance. In Mating Season, I got to blend my two favorite genres by creating the planet of Jensen, which is populated by shifters and regular villagers. The shifters, who are called the Children of Nanook, are the creatures of myth. The progenitors of the Children of Nanook had a single humanoid form, but their bodies were susceptible to the bacteria of Jensen when they first settled the planet. The myth goes that their leader, Nanook, bound his spirit with that of the frost bear in order to create a new race that could survive in the arctic wilderness. Shila is now a descendent of this new race, while Koll is part of a village founded long ago by a separate, non-shifting group of pioneers. The two races usually don’t have much to do with each other, but love can have a unifying effect. In their different ways, both Koll and Shila are struggling to fit in and find their place in life, and they discover what they’re looking for in each other’s arms.
***
About the Author:
Allie Ritch is a multi-published author of erotic sci-fi and paranormal romance. She has an active imagination and enjoys entertaining others through storytelling. Allie lives in her own little world in the Southeastern United States, where she spends time appreciating the ocean and sunshine. To learn more about Allie, you can visit her website/blog at http://allieritch.wordpress.com.
***
Excerpt from Mating Season:
It was that time of year again. The snow was already thick on the ground, and Koll’s village prepared to hole up for the brutal winter. Highlighted by the frosty glow of the moon and stars, the gently rolling land around him was bathed in bluish white from horizon to horizon. To the north, the mountains stretched skyward while the sparse trees stood like naked skeletons. It was easy to get lost in the endless haze, but Koll kept his sled hound, Greyfell, on a steady homeward course.

He also kept a careful lookout. There were many predators on the arctic planet of Jensen. The terrain was rife with giant wolverines, spear-toothed cats, and enormous frost bears that prowled the ice floes. Some said Jensen was the last true wilderness left in the universe, which was what had attracted the immigrants who’d settled on this planet generations ago. Untamed nature was both beautiful and deadly, and this time of year could be especially dangerous as food grew scarce. Winter was the season of endings. And beginnings.

Koll blew out a loud sigh and watched his breath fog and disappear in front of his face. Although he should have known better, he’d thought to make a new beginning for himself this year. This was the season when the single men of the allied villages went courting. More precisely, it was a time for those looking to settle down to hunt for a possible wife.

When a man found a female he wanted, he offered her a ribbon bearing his family color—in Koll’s case, a damn unfortunate color. If the woman accepted, she wore it in her hair as a warning to other males and moved in with him for the winter. Come spring, if the pair decided they suited, they married and used the breeding season to start their family. If they were unhappy, then they simply parted ways, free to try with someone else next year.

Koll had seen this mating dance before. Seen it but had never experienced it. No female had ever accepted his ribbon, not from any of the villages nearby. He blamed his size.

From an early age, Koll had grown fast and hadn’t stopped until he’d towered over his peers. His childhood awkwardness had been a source of amusement to the village kids, and they’d excluded him from most of their games. Puberty had only added bulk to his tall frame, turning him into a muscled giant.

He wasn’t a gentle one, though. Koll knew how to be gentle and never looked for trouble, but he was not an easy man. Having learned to control his strength, he was now a seasoned warrior. Usually he did battle with the elements and the beasts that prowled these lands, but the men on the other side of the mountains had been known to raid his village during lean times.

As a mature male, his size and strength should have been an asset, proof that he could protect and provide for a female. Instead, he frightened most women with his large body, dark looks, and gruff manner. As for those females who weren’t put off … well, men didn’t hold a monopoly on lechery. Unfortunately, the women who were attracted to his size, or at least the size of one body part in particular, never seemed interested in more than a night or two.

Koll wanted more. He wasn’t the quitting kind—stubborn, his mother would have said—which was why he hadn’t given up hope. That’s how he found himself here in the dead of night, trekking endlessly through the snow on his way back from the distant village of Idona. Year after year, he ventured farther and farther abroad in the hope of finding a wife. He’d even lined his sled basket with furs to keep her warm and comfortable for the ride back to his home. But his sled was empty of occupants because he’d failed. Again.

“None of them would have suited me anyway,” he groused, trying not to wince at the memory of his recent rejections.

His sled hound twitched an ear in response. Fully in travel mode, Greyfell focused dead ahead and kept his pace steady. Then he did something Koll knew better than to ignore. With an audible breath, Greyfell broke stride to smell the air. His head popped up, his lungs inflated, and his ears swiveled forward as he scanned the terrain.

Koll threw the brake before unsheathing the knife at his belt. He went as still as his hound, letting his gaze slide over his surroundings. The muffled crunch of snow caught his ear just before Greyfell released a soft whine.

Ready for an attack, Koll spun to face the threat and froze in shock. The source of the commotion was closer than he’d expected—close enough that he knew he’d be dead were this a hungry frost bear sneaking up on him. Fortunately, it wasn’t a beast he faced. There, limned by moonlight, stood the most breathtaking woman he’d ever seen.

Her hair was so white it was nearly transparent as it drifted down to curl just beneath her cheekbones. Those cheeks were rosy from the cold—a pretty contrast to skin almost as pale as the snowflakes. His first impression was that she was an albino. Then he saw her eyes. They weren’t colorless or gray or even the pale blue of a clear winter sky. Instead, they were rich brown, full of depth and life. They were also pleading.

“Please.” Her full lips delivered the word before she swayed forward. She would have collapsed if his reflexes hadn’t made him fast enough to catch her.

Mindful of the blade in his hand, Koll wrapped his arm around her waist to hold her up. He received the second shock of the evening when he realized she was tall enough he could tuck her head under his chin. Even through the fur coats they both wore, he felt her full breasts pressing on either side of his sternum instead of landing somewhere near his navel. His groin heated before he got his mind working.

“Please,” she murmured again.

“Are you hurt?” His voice came out even more like a growl than usual.

Trying not to jostle her, he pulled her to the side of the sled. Her head lolled back on the furs as he laid her in the basket and leaned back to look at her. He kept his knife out.

“Answer me, woman. Are you injured?”

“No.” Her eyelashes fluttered as she fought to stay conscious. “Please help. They’re stalking me. Can’t run … can’t run any farther.”
***
Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Cynthia. It’s the next best thing to visiting Centauri 🙂
And now for the really fun part. Visitors, leave your e-mail address in a comment, and you’ll be entered to win a free book—winner’s choice of either Mating Season or Switching Positions.

To learn more about my work, you can find me at the following URLs:
Website/Blog: http://allieritch.wordpress.com
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/allieritch

Liquid Silver Books Buy Link: http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/books/matingseason.htm
ARe Buy Link: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-matingseason-882394-140.html
Amazon Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Mating-Season-ebook/dp/B008MICWMG/ref=la_B007NL8FMO_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1342620628&sr=1-5
—

Hey Cynthia,
Thanks so much for having me over! It’s lovely to have a conversation with another adult without having it end with the words, “Because I said so!”

Jami,
I’m really glad you stopped by. I want to remind everyone to leave Jami a comment and be entered into her drawing for a $10 gift card.
Now on to the interview.

What is your typical day like? What is your writing routine like?

Very, very different than the “writer’s life” my younger self had created. Instead of inspiring natural landscapes of majestic mountains or idyllic, pristine beaches outside my window, there are stucco walls of my neighbors’ homes, rocks have replaced grass and sand, and those few trees who can survive the Arizona summer are trying desperately to grow on limited amounts of water. I share an office with my hubby and where as others may dream of the day they can retire, I dream of the day where I will have my own office…and it will be beautiful!
When I was younger, I was convinced that as a writer I could set my own schedule, spend time at quaint little cafes and write while indulging in my love of people watching and good teas. Reality is being the proud mom of two boys, the owner of a huge walking fur rug, and the more organized half of a happily married couple which translates into very little “me” time. Those pesky things like food, shelter, family medical insurance all come with a price tag labeled “the-job-that-pays-the bills”. However, I can’t complain too much, because for the last sixteen years I’ve been blessed with a telecommuting position with the same company. It’s been a huge boon.

With all of this, my day starts with a woof when my walking fur rug’s stomach demands food, dragging two boys out of bed and into clothes, pushing them down the stairs to get ready for school, herding them out the door so I can dash back upstairs for my endless rounds of meetings that, I swear, comprises the fourth level of hell. Then, before I know it, the boys are back home with questions that could not be asked of the teachers. Oh no, they must be directed to the parental units. Then the boys want food, the hubby wants attention and maybe by 9 pm, I may be able to take a breath. I learned years ago that if I want to write, I have to make the time. So I do. I’m a horrible mom who bails every week for one day, leaving everyone to fend on their own so I can get time away from all those things that will pull me away from your characters and your world. It has taken years to get over the guilt of putting my writing first even for that short of time, but it’s an essential part of nurturing my creative side. I’m a firm believer if parents make time to do something for themselves, they will actually be better parents/partners to their families. No matter how busy my week is, I know at the end of it, there will be at least 6-8 hours of nothing but me and my MacBook Air.

Summer messes up my writing routing and since the boys just started school again, I’m hoping to use my lunch hour to chip away at my writing. That way, even if it’s only a couple of sentences, I managed to make progress! Those sentences, they can add up fast.

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

Most difficult? Probably emotions. I have no problems delving into the darker aspects of human nature, but trying to capture an individual’s essence when they’re all balanced and not emotionally damaged, can actually be a challenge for me. I put my characters through a great deal so I can dig deeper into their psyche, because I know if I dig deep enough, I’ll find that little unbalance part of their personality, then I can exploit it.

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

It’s not so much people per se, as various aspects of their personality. I find I tend to note certain personality traits and incorporate those into my characters. I’ll take a couple of different traits, throw them in the bowl, add a few odd spices, let it spin in the creative blender for a bit, before pouring it out to discover what’s been created. I love people watching, and I bet most writers could indulge in the past time for hours on end. It’s so intriguing to see what triggers unique reactions.

Do you have critique partners?

Yes and we have named ourselves The 7 Evil Dwarves (www.7evildwarves.wordpress.com), although we currently have eight of us in the group. We’re all Speculative Fiction writers and our ages range from early twenties to late sixties. Without them, I wouldn’t have had the courage to put my stuff out there so my awesome editor could find me. I’m a huge proponent of critique groups—they’ll be the only people who’ll understand the madhouse that lives in your head.

What genres are you drawn to as a reader?

I’m an avid reader and will devour any well written story so long as it sucks me into their world. I’ve read it all (and I’m not ashamed to admit it!). High fantasy, Sci-Fi, Romance (from sweet to bodice rippers to erotica to paranormal), military thrillers, mysteries of all sorts, and my current favorite—Urban Fantasy. There are many conversations out there about writers reading what they write, and why you should or shouldn’t do it. For me, I enjoy reading in my genre, but I still mix in others, just to spice it up. It allows me to visit fantastic worlds others have created and discover new voices and perspectives.

Do you have any rejection stories to share?

I spent two years getting rejection after rejection. The hardest part of the whole experience was how many times that elusive publishing goal was brushing against my fingertips only to disappear. I had so much great feedback from editors and agents, they loved my voice, they loved my world, they loved my characters…and then there was the “But…” There wasn’t enough sex, the idea of science experimenting on supernatural has been done, it was too dark, etc. Some reasons made me laugh, some confused me to no end, and there were some that I had to shake my head and move on. In the end, I learned to recognize that if more than one person had the same feedback, it needed to be fixed. If not, it may just be a personal thing—not everyone is going to like your writing—and that’s totally okay.

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

I know you’ve heard it over and over again, but DON’T GIVE UP! Seriously, to succeed in this industry you need to embrace perseverance, which is just another way to say you’re stubborn. Stay true to yourself and your characters. They are screaming inside your head for a reason, give them a voice. You can listen to the naysayers, you can drown in the massive amounts of advice floating in the writing community, but pick out the pieces that resonate with you. Hone your craft, strengthen your voice, bring your world to life and keep going.

Excerpt from Shadow’s Edge: Book 1 of The Kyn Kronicles:

Walking into the dim house, Raine braced herself for the smell which usually accompanied a violent death. She knew that smell. It was distinctive. It reminded a person of raw meat, coppery blood. A scent warning you that whatever you found, it wasn’t going to be recognizable.

She was a few steps behind the two men and coming down the short entry way when she realized there was no odor. No blood, no raw meat. She let out the breath she was holding. Yet, there were spine tingling traces of magic raising bumps along her skin as she drew closer to the front room.

Two agents passed her, heading out of the house, small evidence bags in their gloved hands. Osborn stopped just to the left of the entry way to the front room. In the middle of the opening, Gavin came to a halt blocking Raine’s view. She stepped around to his right and came to an abrupt stop, puzzled.

Bane Mayson was sprawled on the faded green couch under the picture window. At first glance the scene didn’t make sense. There were no visible wounds, no horrific mutilations, nothing to show how he died. Just the skitter of magic down her spine, making the deceptively calm scene in front of her much more ominous.

“Can you give a positive ID?” Osborn’s rough voice pulled her gaze back to him. He was looking at Gavin who wasn’t answering. She tilted her head to find out why then realized Gavin was looking at her.

“What?” she asked.

“I’ve never met him,” he said blandly. “Just spoke to him on the phone.”

“Oh.” A little disconcerted, she turned back to the waiting agent. “Yes, that’s Bane Mayson.”

Excerpt from Shadow’s Soul: Book 2 of The Kyn Kronicles:

“Good gods, girl. Didn’t I teach you better than that?”
The sound of Cheveyo’s sharp tone jerked her head up. Scrambling to her knees, she met the disgruntled gaze of her mentor.

“Obviously not,” she snapped back.

A small grimace that might have been a strained smile appeared on his tired face. A part of her relaxed a bit at his presence, but he didn’t look good. Weariness and pain had carved deep niches around his mouth and eyes, drawing his skin tight over his high cheekbones. The normal bronze of his skin was a pale olive. Gone was the fierce, dominating Magi. In his place was a hard, battle-weary warrior.

“Cheveyo,” she started, but he waved his hand cutting her off.

“I know, we have to get me out of here, yadda yadda.” He raked a hand through his collar length hair, as he slid down some invisible wall to sit across from her. Placing his hands on his upraised knees, he just looked at her.

His assessment made her uncomfortable.

“Didn’t expect me to answer your knock?” A faint thread of humor twisted through his words.

His question threw her back to when he had first created this bond between them. Her concerns on how linked they would be had resulted in his reassurance that the only way the door would open was if she went knocking and he answered her.

“Actually we were hoping you would.”

He raised an eyebrow. “We?”

Before she could respond, the feel of nails scoring her skin set her on her feet. She spun around to face the thick barrier of fog behind her. She hissed as another scrape peeled against her magic. Cheveyo’s hand on her arm stopped her from stepping forward.

“Raine.” He turned her away from the fog. His six-foot-six frame towered over her. She didn’t let it stop her from yanking from his hold.
“What?” she snarled. Screw authority. Right now they were in deep shit and they needed to get out.

Bio:
Growing up on the Arizona-Mexico border, Jami Gray was adopted at the age of 14 and suddenly became the fifth eldest of 37 children. She graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s in Journalism and three minors-History, English, and Theater. Shortly after marrying her techie-geek hubby (who moonlighted as her best friend in high school) she completed a Masters in Organizational Management from University of Phoenix Oregon.

Now, years later, she’s back in the Southwest where she’s outnumbered in her own home by two Star Wars obsessed boys, one Star Wars obsessed husband, and an overly-friendly, 105-pound male lab. Writing is what saves her sanity.

Shadow’s Edge: Book 1 of the Kyn Kronicles and Shadow’s Soul: Book 2 of the Kyn Kronicles are available now in paperback and ebook format.

You can find me at:
Buy Link: www.BlackOpalBooks.com
Website: www.JamiGray.com
Assc. Blog: www.7EvilDwarves.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jamigray.author
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JamiGrayAuthor

BUY LINKS:
Shadow’s Edge: Bk 1 of Kyn Kronicles
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0061CAXJ4
Nook: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Shadows-Edge-The-Kyn-Kronicles-Book-1/Jami-Gray/e/2940013239838
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-shadow039sedgethekynkroniclesbook1-625433-139.html
Black Opal Books: http://bookstore.blackopalbooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15&products_id=15
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/101023

Shadow’s Soul:Bk 2 of the Kyn Kronicles
Black Opal Books: http://bookstore.blackopalbooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15&products_id=36
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Shadows-Edge-The-Kronicles-Book/dp/1937329151/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340473392&sr=8-1&keywords=jami+gray
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-shadow039ssoulthekynkroniclesbook2-848561-139.html
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadows-soul-the-kyn-kronicles-book-2-jami-gray/1111742135?ean=2940014698955
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/174291

Tell us about your current series

Paradise Pines Series currently consists of five stories set in the mountain community of Paradise Pines and the journey that brings the three Benjamin sisters and five MacGregor brothers to settle in the former gold rush town. I chose the time period during and right after the 1849 Gold Rush because of the vibrant people who traveled far and wide to seek their fortunes in gold.

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

March, 2013, is the release time for my second book in the Paradise Pines Series — Marriage Bargain. The dusty trail of a wagon train leads west, but Darrah Benjamin finds it a pathway to love and forgiveness when an arranged marriage becomes much more than a convenience. Wagon scout Chase challenges her determination with his promise — she’ll give him her heart and invite him to her bed before they arrive at their destination. Darrah will shape her own destiny and claim a woman’s spirit along the way.

Do you have critique partners?

I have been so blessed with the critique partners who have entered my life. I claim most of them as part of my family now. I learn by example. Because they’ve extended great patience and taken time to show me how to strengthen my stories, I create more vibrant characters, descriptive surroundings, and most important of all — what point of view is, I can call myself an author now. POV will follow me forever. At the beginning of my first story, in a paragraph with five sentences, I wrote four POVs with one being that of a rock. My chapter mates will never let me off that hook.
What is most difficult for you to write? Characters, conflict or emotions? Why?
Conflict is the most difficult for me to write. I get attached to my characters and don’t like making them unhappy. I would hate to count the times my critique partners have told me to rewrite my story because there is no conflict. Now I begrudgingly toss in all the angst I can create, and amazingly my characters survive and end up winners in the end.

Please tell my readers a little bit about your book

Sassy Amalie Renard, a poker-playing saloon singer, shakes up Paradise Pines, a former gold-rush mountain community by turning the saloon’s bar into her stage. Her amazing voice stirs the passions of the hotel owner, a man who anonymously travels tunnels at night providing help to the downtrodden as the mysterious Night Angel. Declan Grainger agrees to subsidize the building of a music hall to fulfill Amalie’s dream, but a bounty for her arrest could spoil his plans. Distrust and jealousy stir flames of malice and revenge threatening to destroy their town. Drawing from past experiences, Declan and Amalie turn to each other to find a way to save the community.

Do you or have you belonged to a writing organization? Which one? Have they helped you with your writing? How?

I’ve belonged to Romance Writers of America since November, 1999. Through this organization I’ve joined land chapter Sacramento Valley Rose, and online chapters From the Heart, Hearts Through History, and Celtic Hearts. Belonging to these chapters and becoming a multi-term board member for most of them, I have made lifetime friendships with authors, found critique partners, taken classes and attended ten national conferences. Yes, I’d say joining RWA has been one of the best things I’ve done for my writing career.

Do you write under a pen name? Why or why not?

My pen name is Paisley Kirkpatrick. My decision to go with a pen name was security. Through the years I’ve seen some authors stalked, and with the way our society is now, I thought having a different identity would be best. Besides, I rather like my writing name. It represents part of my family and a gorgeous place in Scotland.

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

Yes, NEVER give up. I wrote for 22 years before I got my first publishing contract. My friends say I am stubborn, but I prefer to say persevering. It never entered my mind to quit. What would I do with all my spare time if I wasn’t putting words into my computer? Surround yourself with great teachers, learn all you can from classes and reading books, attend conferences, and make contacts. Authors are the best kind of friends to have.

BIO
My husband of 43 years and I raised two daughters. Now that he’s retired I am working at my chosen profession of author. It’s great that he supports my love of writing and lends a comment every now and then. We have been fortunate enough to travel — his favorite place is Germany and mine is Scotland. I have been a member and on the board of the Sacramento Valley Rose Chapter of RWA for 13 years, and work with the online chapters From the Heart, Hearts Through History, and Celtic Hearts.

EXCERPT

Different colored bottles of whiskey and beer reflected in the mirrors along the wall behind the long wooden bar. Perfect. That’s where she’d start her evening.

She slipped off her cape and handed it to Declan. His appreciative gasp brought a smile to her lips. Having men ogle her appearance was hardly new. She’d learned early to use her looks to her advantage. The way Declan’s eyes heated with appreciation when he cast a glance at the deep cut of her décolletage reminded her how good it felt to be a woman.

“Now you’ll see who I really am.”

Declan grabbed her arm. “Don’t let them forget you’re a lady, Amalie.”

She cast him a wicked smile. “The name’s Lily Fox. Believe me, honey, Lily’s no lady.”

She approached a couple of gamblers and leaned over slightly to give them full effect of her daring dress. “Would you mind helping me, gents? I have need of your table for a moment.”

The men jumped to their feet in unison, their cards forgotten. Amalie took the nearest man’s outstretched palm, stepped onto a chair, over their cards and up onto the long wooden plank bar.
“Good evening, boys.” She strutted along the length of wood, avoiding whiskey glasses and kicking away eager hands.

The saloon girl stopped caterwauling. The room went still. She had everyone’s attention, just the way Lily liked it.

“Get down, young woman. This ain’t no place for you to prance about,” the barkeep snarled in outrage.

Ignoring the scowling face with the handlebar mustache, she kicked up her heels. Adding a dance step, she pranced back and forth the length of the makeshift stage. Lily reveled in the whistles and disregarded the uncouth remarks. She was in her element. “My name is Lily Fox and I’m here to entertain you tonight.”

With the flick of her hand, she caught the attention of the stunned piano player. “Play something quick and lively, will you, honey?” She glanced around the room of excited faces and turned on her brightest smile.

Website: http://www.paisleykirkpatrick.com/
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Paisley+Kirkpatrick

http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-333/Paradise-Pines-Book-One-cln-/Detail.bok

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Paisley-Kirkpatrick?keyword=Paisley+Kirkpatrick&store=ebook
Blogs:
Sweethearts of the West http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com/
Scandalous Victorians http://slipintosomethingvictorian.wordpress.com/
Voices from the Heart http://voicesftheart.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1272262167

Please help me welcome Lois Winston, writing as Emma Carlyle, to my blog today. Lois will be giving away a paperback copy of her book Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception, so be sure and leave her a comment to be entered into the drawing. Also for the month of August she will donate $500 to breast cancer research for every 1000 Emma Carlyle books sold.

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

I write romance, chick lit, romantic suspense, women’s fiction, and mystery. The first book I sold, Talk Gertie To Me, was humorous women’s fiction. The next book, Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception, was a romantic suspense. Then I switched gears and began writing the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries. Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun and Death By Killer Mop Doll are the first two books in the series. Revenge of the Crafty Corpse will be out in January with at least two more books to follow. And now I’ve also embarked on an indie career, publishing some of my older romance, romantic suspense, and chick lit books that won awards but for one reason or another, never sold. Why I write in all these genres? Simple. I write in the genres I love to read.

How much time do you spend promoting your books? What works best for you?

I’ve never put a stop watch to the amount of time I spend doing promo, but like most authors, I’d really rather spend the time writing. Unfortunately, we all have to get the word out about our books because if we don’t, no one will know they exist.

That said, because I’m so new to indie publishing, I can’t say what works best for me. I’m trying to do lots of guest blogs. I also use Twitter. I don’t do Facebook. I know some of you will gasp at that, but it’s the rebel in me. I don’t like FB’s tactics of switching privacy setting without telling people, and I don’t like that it’s so easy for hackers to access what’s supposed to be protected information. I also don’t like the fact that FB has become a haven for bullies and sexual predators. So I’ve vowed to become the last person on the planet not on FB. Will it hurt my sales? Nothing I’ve seen (and I’ve done quite a bit of research about this) indicates that authors on FB sell more books than authors not on FB.

How has your experience with self-publishing been?

I’m relatively new to the world of indie publishing and am publishing under the pen name Emma Carlyle. I released my first indie book, Hooking Mr. Right, the end of June. Finding Hope followed a week later. Both are romances, and both were RWA Golden Heart finalists back before I sold my first book. I’ve since also released Four Uncles and a Wedding, which is chick lit, and Lost in Manhattan and Someone To Watch Over Me, both romantic suspense.

I decided to indie publish because…well, why not? So many other authors were publishing books that NY didn’t want for one reason or another, and they were finding an audience for those books. Just because no NY publisher is interested in a book, it doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with the book. In traditional publishing there are many factors that come to bear on whether or not a manuscript will be bought. Often the reasons for rejecting a manuscript have nothing to do with the quality of the writing or the story and everything to do with the bottom line. Publishers buy books they think will make them a profit.

Am I making tons of money? No. I’ve been told that it takes several months and quite a few books. However, I have seen a steady increase in sales. Hopefully, both time and word-of-mouth will eventually increase sales even more.
Where do you get the ideas for your stories?
Most of my story ideas come from either news stories, observation, or both. I’m a total news junkie. I read two newspapers a day and watch the news in the morning and evening. When I’m in the car, I usually listen to the all-news station.

The idea for Hooking Mr. Right came to me after a friend divorced her husband. Remember The Rules? That book became her bible in her search to land a new husband. One day I went to the bookstore with her, and she spent over $200 on a stack of how-to-catch-a-man books. My head began spinning with ideas.

Finding Hope came about from a combination of my cousin’s unsuccessful attempts with in vitro fertilization and a story in the news about a fertility doctor who was using his own sperm to fertilize his patients’ eggs.

I got the idea for Four Uncles and a Wedding after seeing a news story about speed dating. One very funny scene in the book is based on a German study from several years ago that said men who ogle women’s breasts live longer. Another is based on an ad I saw at the back of a car magazine. (I was desperate for something to read while waiting for a doctor appointment and had forgotten to bring a book. I had my choice of outdated copies of Car & Driver or Sports Illustrated. The doctor was running way behind, so I wound up flipping through all of them. You never know where you’ll find inspiration!)

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

Depends on the person. ;-D Some of the characters in my books are based either in part on someone I’ve known or a combination of people I’ve known. In my Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, Anastasia’s mother-in-law is based almost entirely on my own mother-in-law. I’m sure that’s why some of my husband’s family no longer speaks to me. However, in my defense, my sister-in-law loves the books and thinks Lucille is hilarious.

One of the great things about writing fiction is that instead of getting mad, you can get even, literarily if not literally. Have a nasty neighbor whose dogs are constantly soiling your yard? Kill her off in your next book! It’s quite cathartic!

Was your road to publication fraught with peril or a walk in the park?

Neither. It was fraught with frustration. I wrote for ten years before I sold my first book. During most of that time my pile of rejection letters more often than not contained the phrase, “love the story/voice but…” On too many occasions, I was the victim of either editors leaving, lines folding, or marketing not knowing how to sell the book. Traditional publishing is all about the right book landing on the right editor’s desk on the right day. For me, it often turned out to be the right book and the right editor but the wrong day.

What do you have planned for the future?

I’m contracted right now for a total of 5 books in my mystery series. I’m currently writing the fourth book. I’ll also be writing at least one 10,000 word short between releases of the series books. These are stories connected to the series but will only come out as ebooks and sell for $1.99. The first, Crewel Intentions, will be out October 1st.

With my indie career, I have several other books to finish editing and release. My goal is to have them all available by the end of the summer.

I have the rights back to Talk Gertie To Me and Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception. They’ll be coming out as ebooks soon, along with an original novella that’s a sequel to Talk Gertie To Me.

I also have ideas for other books, and at this point I’m not sure whether they will be Emma Carlyle books or Lois Winston books. So much is happening so fast in publishing that I’m not quite sure whether or not I want to bother submitting these books to NY. I’m taking it one day at a time and keeping my options open.

What did you want to be when you were a child? Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

I wanted to be an astronaut — the first woman astronaut in NASA. The problem, though, is that I suffer severe motion sickness, and NASA wasn’t interested in astronauts who toss their cookies at the least sign of turbulence!

Writing came to me much later in life. I always enjoyed writing while in school, but the last piece of fiction I wrote was for Freshman Comp in college — until about 17 years ago. I was on a business trip, and although I rarely remember my dreams, one night I had a quite vivid dream that stayed with me.

The story unfolded over consecutive nights. I wasn’t part of the dream, nor did I know any of the people in the dream. It was like watching scenes from a movie. I started thinking about these people during the day. They wouldn’t go away! Finally, I decided maybe if I wrote the story down, I’d get it out of my system.

It didn’t work. I’d been bitten by the writing bug and couldn’t stop writing from that point on. By the way, that first story, after many revisions and eleven years later, became Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception, the second book I sold.

Amazon Buy Link:

One lucky commenter will receive a paperback copy of Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception. So be sure to leave a comment.

Bio:
Once upon a time there was an author who began writing romance. She won awards for her unpublished manuscripts and eventually sold two romances, both of which also won awards. Life was all hearts and flowers and hunky heroes until one day she was attacked by a glue gun wielding amateur sleuth who forced the romance author to write her story. Thus, author Lois Winston turned her attentions from romance to mystery, writing the critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries. However, Lois found she had more romance stories to tell. So she decided to split her personality, remaining Lois Winston for mystery, becoming Emma Carlyle for romance, and diving into the digital publishing revolution. Visit Emma at http://www.emmacarlyle.com and visit Lois at http://www.loiswinston.com.

Excerpt from Hooking Mr. Right:
“The trouble lies in the Y chromosome.” Thea took a sip of her coffee and glared across the black Formica-topped desk at her editor, waiting to pounce on Grace if she challenged her statement.
“How so?” Grace leaned back in her chair and sipped her own coffee. Over the rim of the cup an amused expression played across her face.
“Simple genetics, really. Women have two X chromosomes. Men have an X and a Y. Do you know what the definition of Y is?”
Grace set her coffee cup on her desk and raised her eyebrows. “No, but I suppose you’re about to tell me.”
“Y is an X with a broken leg.”
Grace stared at her as if Thea had lost more than a suitcase in her recent, abrupt move from San Francisco to New York. “And your point?”
“Broken! Don’t you get it? Defective!” Thea slammed her hand onto a pile of unread manuscripts teetering on the corner of her editor’s desk, nearly toppling the unwieldy stack onto the floor.
Grace grabbed for her cup, barely averting a brown tidal wave.
“Ergo,” continued Thea, waving her hand in the air to punctuate her explanation, “there is no doubt that women are superior to men. No defective genes. Obviously, man was a rough prototype. God looked at Adam and said, ‘I can do better than that.’ Then he created Eve.” She placed her cup on the edge of the desk, leaned back in her chair, crossed her arms over her chest, and offered her editor a triumphant smile.
“So this explains why you cancelled your wedding and high-tailed it out of San Francisco? Defective male genes?” Grace shuddered. “Do me a favor, will you, Dr. Love? Keep these newly developed, radical theories to yourself. Unless, of course, you want to go from the New York Times Bestseller List back to an auditorium-size classroom packed with bored freshmen.”
Doctor Love. Thea winced at the nickname the press had dubbed her secret alter ego, Dr. Trulee Lovejoy. In truth, she did wish she could return to the classroom and the comforting monotony of teaching Sociology 101 to less-than-eager first year students. Not that she possessed an all-consuming passion for her chosen career in academia, but with everything she had lost over the past few years, at least she’d still have her integrity. However, she could no more turn back the clock and regain her compromised professional ethics than she could restore her family’s lost fortune. At least her popular how-to guides for finding the perfect mate had kept the collection agencies at bay.
“Some love expert! I couldn’t even keep my own fiancé from sleeping with my sister.” Thea raised her head and challenged Grace. “Now aren’t you glad I chose to publish under a pseudonym? Think of the public relations disaster I’ve averted. News flash: Doctor Love Causes Coitus Interuptus after Catching Sister and Fiancé in Flagrante Delicto on Eve of Wedding. Update at eleven.”
“Too erudite and wordy.” Grace brushed away the imaginary headline with a wave of her hand. “Who’d understand all that Latin?”
Thea grimaced. “I can think of at least two people.” Her brainy, Stanford-educated younger sister came to mind. As did her sister’s equally brainy, MIT-educated research partner who also happened to be Thea’s ex-fiancé. Too late Thea had discovered Steve and Madeline were engaged in far more than metaphysical debates while researching distant solar systems and spatial anomalies.
“Yes, well…” Grace fidgeted in her chair, her gaze dropping to her lap.
“It’s okay, Grace. I’m dealing with it. Putting three thousand miles between myself and them helps.”
“Out of sight, out of mind?” Grace raised her chin and met Thea’s eyes. “Come on, I know you better than that. You’re hurting.”
Thea exhaled a deep sigh and shrugged. “Guilty as charged.” She glanced over at the large scheduling calendar covering half of one wall in Grace’s office and laughed. The sound hung in the room, echoing with pain and resonating with irony.
“Just think, three weeks ago today my biggest concern was that the rehearsal dinner was getting cold because Steve was off in some corner deconstructing the theory of relativity. I used to dream we’d someday travel to Stockholm to pick up his Nobel Prize.” She leaned forward, propped her elbows on the desk and scowled at her nearly empty mug. “It just never occurred to me that the award would be for causing my world to stop spinning on its axis.”
Grace reached across her desk and patted Thea’s hand. “Trust me. You’re better off finding out the truth before the wedding rather than afterwards.”
“Speaking from experience?”
“More than I like to admit. Maybe I should take some of Trulee’s advice.”
“Get real! If you have any sense, Grace, you’ll let me out of my contract and forget about that third book. Finding Mr. Right? Hooking Mr. Right? I’m a fraud. I don’t know the first thing about how to get a man and keep him. I’m a thirty-two year old sociologist with a lousy track record when it comes to the male species. How can you trust me to write credible books on the subject when I can’t even trust my own judgment where men are concerned?”
Grace shrugged. “Maybe we both need to follow your advice. Others do and swear by your books. Besides, I’m not letting you out of your contract. Trulee Lovejoy is the best thing to happen to this company in years.”
“Trulee Lovejoy.” Thea shook her head. “What was I thinking? How did I ever let you talk me into that awful pseudonym?”
“If I remember correctly, I had a little help from a lady named Margarita. Several ladies named Margarita, actually. Besides, I’m hurt. You insisted on an alias, and I came up with the perfect nom de plume for you. After all, who would you believe when it came to matters of the heart, Dr. Trulee Lovejoy or Dr. Althea Chandler?”
Thea scowled. “Right now I’d suggest you might have better luck with Lassie.”